Calling the Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE — Sophomore point guard Courtney Fortson has declared for the NBA Draft, but has not yet signed with an agent to keep his options open, Arkansas head basketball coach John Pelphrey said in a statement released by Arkansas’ Media Relations department Sunday.

“Courtney is an extremely gifted basketball player,” Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey said. “He certainly has the talent to play the game of basketball at the highest levels and we support him in his decision to explore that option. He has not hired an agent, so the possibility remains that he could be with us next season. More than anything we appreciate Courtney and his family communicating to us his intentions and support his actions whichever they may be.”

Fortson was a second-team all-SEC selection this season and led the Hogs in scoring average with 17.9 ppg. He also led the SEC in assists per game, averaging 5.9 per contest. He was the Razorbacks second leading rebounder by average with 5.4 per game.

Arkansas’ women’s golf team is third place at the SEC Championship at North River Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa, Ala. after two days with a 568 behind Alabama and Vanderbilt, which are tied at 365. Keli Shean shot a 71 and is tied for fourth-place individually.

The Razorbacks are in second place with a 564, four strokes behind Georgia, at the men’s championship at St. Timmons Island, Ga. David Lingermerth shot a 69 Saturday and is in seventh place individually going into Sunday’s final round.

FAYETTEVILLE —After being maligned for being behind the offense, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ defense — particularly the first team — had its best practice perhaps in the Bobby Petrino era in the Hogs’ third scrimmage of the spring.

“I was happy with things we did out there,” Petrino said. “We still have got a lot of work to do and we have a lot of things to clean up, but the thing that showed up was the physicalness of the scrimmage. It was probably the most physical scrimmage that we had with defense running around making hits.

“Defensively I thought they competed hard and were flying better to the ball. Defensively, we didn’t have the errors that we have had as far as assignment errors and not being in the right gaps. They made it a much harder day for the offense to move the ball to the end zone.”

The Razorbacks first-team offense looked the best all day on its first series of the scrimmage. Tyler Wilson capped the 80-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jarius Wright. Wilson completed 14 of 24 passes for 186 yards and touchdown in the scrimmage.

“ The offense got off to a fast start which was different because we started with pressure with the defense blitzing right off the bat instead of being base,” Petrino said. “The offense did a good job of handling it and some guys really made some nice runs.”

The defense, playing more zone than in earlier practices, broke up numerous passes and intercepted third-team quarterback Jacoby Walker twice. Wilson was lucky not to have two interceptions of his own with Ross Rasner and Terrell Williams dropping passes they could have picked off.

“We have been running a lot of man coverage and today we ran a bunch of zone,” Petrino said. “Whenever everybody is looking at the ball, you do touch the ball a lot more. This is the most we have thrown interceptions. That’s not good offensively, but defensively you like to see them break to the ball.”

Arkansas’ running game looked good in spots with Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo Jr. both making solid plays. Johnson (8 carries for 47 yards) took a short pass from Nick Petrino 33 yards for a touchdown, juking a tackler right after the reception and then rumbling through and past the rest of the defense down the sideline.

Wingo (12 carries, 70 yards) got the corner and raced 29 yards for a first down.

“Those running backs, they are all starters to me,” Petrino said. “You just try and find out who is hot. The thing I have been most impressed with Dennis is his leadership. How well he has been doing and how much happier he is. Today his vision was really good. You could stand there and watch the cuts and it was right on.

“The offensive line is sustaining its blocks better and we are getting used to what we are doing in the running game.”

Starting receiver Joe Adams missed his second practice of the week. Petrino said he was dealing with issues and said he hoped the receiver would be back to practice next week.

Back-up quarterback Brandon Mitchell missed his third workout of week after having a death in his family.

The Razorbacks are scheduled to practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week with the spring game held at 6 p.m. on April 24.

Here is a transcript of Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino’s comments following the Razorbacks’ second full scrimmage of spring practice.

BOBBY PETRINO: I was happy with things we did out there. We still have got a lot of work to do and we have a lot of things to clean up, but the thing that showed up was the physicalness of the scrimmage. It was probably the most physical scrimmage that we had with defense running around making hits. The offense got off to a fast start which was different because we started with pressure with the defense blitzing right off the bat instead of being base. The offense did a good job of handling it and some guys really made some nice runs.

Defensively I thought they competed hard and were flying better to the ball. Defensively we didn’t have the errors that we have had as far as assignment errors and not being in the right gaps. They made it a much harder day for the offense to move the ball to the end zone.

ON RB’s: That’s a good good group of running backs. The emphasis today was yards after contact and they were really competing and trying to finish runs and falling forward. Coach Horton was really on them about great backs always fall forward. That was the emphasis and you could see they were working hard on it.

LIKE WHAT YOU HEARD OUT OF TERRELL WILLIAMS? The pads popping? Yeah. He’s very capable of being a physical player. I think he has really matured in spring ball. I think we have got him in the right position and he had some guys out there helping him get lined up and what to do. That’s good because he can just relax and run to the ball and make contact.

ON DEFENSE GETTING HANDS ON BALL: We have been running a lot of man coverage and today we ran a bunch of zone. Whenever everybody is looking at the ball, you do touch the ball a lot more. This is the most we have thrown interceptions. That’s not good offensively, but defensively you like to see them break to the ball.

ON QB’S WITHOUT BRANDON MITCHELL: I thought all three quarterbacks were good at times and missed a few checks. Jacoboy with the twos had a real nice touchdown pass late.
He is a very poised young guy.

TYLER WILSON? Tyler has been good. He’s throwing the ball well. He still presses at times and needs to relax and not worry about the previous play. That’s what Coach McGee is working with the most.

ON RYAN MALLETT: I think Ryan has done an excellent job all spring. He has helped the other quarterbacks. I am impressed that he’s around them discussing the previous play. He is getting some route work and working on his release. Ryan is a gym rat and it’s not hard for him to watch the front and see what’s happening.

ON COMPETITION OL: I think it’s been great. It’s nice to have that much depth ad guys are competing extremely hard for those spots. We might do the spring game a little different and split it up more evenly.

DENNIS JOHNSON MOVING UP? Those running backs (laughs) they are all starters to me. You just try and find out who is hot. The thing I have been most impressed with Dennis is his leadership. How well he has been doing and how much happier he is. Today his vision was really good. You could stand there and watch the cuts and it was right on.
The offensive line is sustaining its blocks better and we are getting used to what we are doing in the running game.

JOE ADAMS? He’s dealing with a couple of issues so he wasn’t out there.

WILL BE HE BACK NEXT WEEK? Yeah, I guess we are waiting to see.

DE’ANTHONY CURTIS STAND OUT? Curtis has had a good spring. I have been really happy with him. He catches the ball any time it’s around. He has great hands and I have been impressed with his ability to run after the catch. He showed that today breaking tackles. We all know how physical he is and that he has contributed a bunch the last two years. I’m happy we gave him the opportunity to play receiver. That’s what he wanted to do and he has shown he can really help us.

SAFETIES: I thought the safeties today were doing a better job on their fits reading off the linebackers and whether to fit inside or outside and doing a better job of tackling. I thought Elton Ford really stood out. He probably came downnhill as well as he has and make tackles at the line of scrimmage.

Scrimmage stats:

Rushing
Dennis Johnson 7 for 44
Ronnie Wingo 10 for 58
Broderick Green 8 for 31
Knile Davis 7 for 21

Passing
Tyler Wilson 9 of 21 160 yards
Nick Petrino 12 of 22 92 yards

Receiving
D.J. Williams 2 for 34
Salters 1 for 7
Wright 3 for 37
Wingo 2 for 12
Childs4 for 40
Gragg 4 for 52
Hamilton 3 for 15
Dennis Johnson 3 for 47
Curtis 2 for 51

FAYETTEVILLE — In one respect, Arkansas defensive line coach Bobby Allen is like the U.S. Army. He’s looking for a few good men. Five or six to be exact, but they need to be at least 6-2, weigh in the 300-pound range, and, oh yeah, run if not like a deer then at least like a fast buffalo.

Big, strong, fast and quick is a tough combination to find in one guy, much less six, but the Razorbacks are creeping closer to the type of talent and depth on the defensive front it takes to compete in the SEC.

“I would like be able to say that we are going to go with five or six guys that can be thrown into the battle at any time and compete and play [on the interior line],” Allen said. “Across the whole whole front, you want eight that can go and play.

“I think everybody has a role and we have some experience coming back. An example is Alfred Davis. He didn’t play a bunch, but there were certain spots where what he brought to the table, he was able to help us. We have to use that to our advantage, but we have to get better at our fundamentals and we have to get better at our toughness and have that want, that desire to compete in practices.”