Bret Bielema ready to get spring practice started at Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas coach Bret Bielema met with the media Monday on the eve of spring practice starting for the Razorbacks. He’s ready to get to work and excited about getting a lot accomplished for the next four weeks.

Here are five highlights from his 30-minute get-together:

1. Let the quarterback battle begin

Brandon Allen is gone after three years at the helm, so the competition will be fierce and certainly be the most-watched position battle of the spring. Allen’s younger brother, Austin, has been waiting in the wings for two years. He’s the presumed starter, and the way that long-time beat writers are describing it is that the others will have to knock him off his perch.

But he’ll get a battle from Ricky Town, Rafe Peavey and Ty Storey.

“We’ll have four guys compete,” Bielema said. “The depth chart is based more on time on the field. Austin is ahead and the other three all come in equal. It’s not Austin’s first time out there. There were two weeks where he prepared as a starter and during our bowl practices, we had six practices where we intentionally kept BA out of it so the other guys could get some work.”

2. Welcoming back some injured players

Bielema is excited about seeing running back Kody Walker and wide receiver Keon Hatcher back on the field. The seniors have missed a ton of time due to injuries during their careers and now they’re feeling good.

“Kody is down to about 243 and has dropped 10 or 12 pounds. It’s going to be interesting to see what he can do as an every-down back,” Bielema said. “He’s never been that every-down back here and I’ve asked him if he wants to be the man here. And Keon, he’s itching to get back out there. He’s ready to go. He’s been a good leader.”

3. Some players will sit back with injuries; others gone for now

Wide receiver Drew Morgan will go through drills but won’t be involved in any contact.

“He’ll be limited in practice and we’ll keep a green jersey on him. It’s not major,” Bielema said.

Bielema said Josh Allen is off the team for violating team rules and receiver Cornelius Floyd is academically ineligible. That may be temporary. Bielema said he could be back in May.

Tight end C.J. O’Grady and H-back Austin Cantrell missed a meeting and will be punished Tuesday when the team resumes spring practice.

4. Finding starters throughout the offense

There are a lot of open spots on offense with so many players lost to graduation at practically ever position.

“We’ll have good battles at every position,” Bielema said. “We sent six guys on the offensive side of the ball to the (NFL) Combine, We’ll look at a lot of guys and especially on the offensive line, we’ll move some people around. We want the best players on the field.”

One of those lineman who will get a good look is 6-foot-4, 309-pound sophomore  Hjalte Froholdt, who’s moving over from the defensive side of the ball.

“He made a nice impression,” Bielema said.

5. Looking for big things from tight end Jeremy Sprinkle

Bielema is expecting big things from Jeremy Sprinkle, a 6-foot-6, 255 senior who seems ready to take over for projected first-round pick Hunter Henry.

“Physically, he looks good and there hasn’t been one hiccup (this spring),” Bielema said. “We’ve talked to him, and we’ve told him that he could be like Hunter was, the best tight end in college football.”

The Razorbacks will practice in shorts and helmets three times this week and will have four practices a week for three weeks. Their spring game will be April 23.

Tom Brew

Tom Brew is an award-winning journalist and author who is covering SEC football for Saturday Down South.