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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Keon Hatcher missed almost all of the 2015 season with a broken foot. So when spring practice started Tuesday for the Arkansas Razorbacks, there wasn’t anyone as happy as Hatcher to be back out on the field.
“It felt really good to be back out there, running routes, catching some passes,” Hatcher said after the first of 15 spring workouts. “It was a good first day.”
Hatcher was the Razorbacks’ leading receiver in 2014 and was expecting to have a huge year last season before the foot injury in the season opener. With senior Brandon Allen throwing the ball all over the place, Hatcher missed out on some big numbers and a likely NFL draft slot.
Instead he’s back in Fayetteville for one more year, and he’s happy to be part of an exploding receiver corps that also includes Dominique Reed, Drew Morgan and tight end Jeremy Sprinkle, among others.
“I thought we were deep last year, but we’ve really got some great depth this year,” Hatcher said. “We’re going to do some big things. We’ve got a lot of talent out there”
https://twitter.com/4029Mitch/status/714935437115019264
Exciting return for Rawleigh Williams
Running back Rawleigh Williams III was back out on the field Tuesday, which made everyone happy. Many people weren’t sure he’d ever play football again after a horrific neck injury in the Auburn game last October.
Williams, a 5-foot-10 sophomore from Dallas, remained motionless on the field for 10 minutes before he was carted off on a stretcher. He missed the rest of the season, of course, but has made a full recovery and was cleared by doctors to resume full football activities last month. Coaches and trainers are taking a cautious approach however, so Williams will be held out of contact drills all spring but partake in everything else.
“I understand it, but I feel good and I’m really ready to go,” Williams said. “I’d like to do more, but it’s OK. The worst past is listening to the defensive guys. ‘Oh, we can’t touch you’ and all that.”
Williams admitted the injury scared him quite a bit when it happened, but his confidence is back after going through all his rehab without feeling any effects of the injury.
“It’s my decision to play again, and I’m good with it. I told myself that everything will be good. I’m ready to play.”
Good to see @The3rdRawleigh back pic.twitter.com/dR91bfivGC
— John Nabors (@JohnNaborsShow) March 29, 2016
Slimmed-down Walker ready to play every down
Kody Walker never minded running over people as a 260-pound fullback in the Arkansas offense. But now, with massive defections to the pros at the running back position, Walker is being asked to be to be the go-to running back in his sixth year on campus.
He’s ready. He’s down to about 245 pounds now and wants to start the season in the fall closer to 235. He looked quick during the first practice and he feels different too. But it hasn’t been easy cutting the weight.
“I’m really trying to eat right. That’s making the difference,” he said. What does he miss the most? “Oh, man, I love fried chicken, but that’s out. I’ve been eating a lot of vegetables and a lot of grilled chicken. It’s just not the same, man.”
He does admit he feels better carrying less weight. And he looks good too, back to a weight he played at in high school.
“Kody had six-pack abs even when he weighted 260, so he really looks good now,” Arkansas QB Austin Allen said. “He was fast out there.”
https://twitter.com/4029Mitch/status/714936370502893568
Back on the turf for Day 1 ?https://t.co/WVslqRRnyl
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) March 30, 2016
Tom Brew is an award-winning journalist and author who is covering SEC football for Saturday Down South.
