T.J. Hammonds – Noteworthy
Running back T.J. Hammonds is not with the team as Arkansas’ spring practice is set to begin Friday, Chad Morris said Monday. “He’s just not on the team right now,” Morris said when asked to expound on Hammonds’ situation. “He’s just not on the team. That’s kind of where we’re at. And is he going to play somewhere else? I just don’t know that.” Hammonds played in four games in 2018, finishing his junior season with 28 rushing yards on 10 carries as well as four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. He did not play following the Razorbacks’ loss to Texas A&M in September in which he totaled six yards rushing on three carries. Hammonds had 355 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 47 carries as a freshman and sophomore, and had 64 receiving yards and a touchdown on 2 receptions. – Northwest Arkansas Times
Ben Hicks – Noteworthy
University of Arkansas Coach Chad Morris said Monday he wasn’t sure who will take the first snap at quarterback when the Razorbacks open spring practice Friday. “We haven’t even scripted that,” Morris said. “I really couldn’t tell you right now. I don’t know. “We’ll get into that. I know we’re working on installs right now. But it’ll rotate through. They’re all going to get an equal number of reps.” Arkansas has four scholarship quarterbacks, but redshirt freshman Connor Noland will miss some practices because he’s pitching for the baseball team. Morris said he anticipates Noland being at next Tuesday’s football practice, and he didn’t rule out the possibility of Noland attending Friday’s practice.
Arkansas’ other scholarship quarterbacks are senior Ben Hicks, a graduate transfer from SMU; redshirt sophomore Daulton Hyatt; and redshirt freshman John Stephen Jones. Junior walk-on Jack Lindsey also will get some work at quarterback, though his primary responsibility is as the No. 1 holder on field goal and extra-point attempts. Hicks is a newcomer at Arkansas, but he’s the most experienced quarterback in the Razorbacks’ system. He played three seasons at SMU when Morris was the Mustangs’ coach. Arkansas offensive coordinator Joe Craddock held the same position at SMU and also coached Hicks. – Northwest Arkansas Times
DeJon Harris – Noteworthy
The unquestioned leader for the defense is middle linebacker De’Jon “Scoota” Harris. That was the top recruiting victory for Morris and defensive coordinator John Chavis last winter. Harris could have skipped his senior year and gone to the NFL draft. Harris has been one of the standouts in winter conditioning, adding to his speed. The entire team is faster. Morris said the second winter with Trumain Carroll, the strength and conditioning coach, has produced needed bulk with no sacrifice to speed. “Our bodies are noticeably different,” Morris said. “The expectations of where we would be in year two were great. We have a different culture. It was mandated and demanded of everyone in our building.”
Morris spoke of the bonding that has taken place over the winter. He said it came down to making sure the behavior was right in all areas of the team. He explained the definition of culture goes back to behavior. “If you don’t like the results, check the behavior,” Morris said. The bond includes a different attitude starting at breakfast before the early morning workouts. The workers at the Jerry & Gene Jones Family Student Athlete Success Center pointed out a difference in the way the players were seated at breakfast. “The entire team was seated at two long tables,” Morris said. “That’s small, but it’s a big deal.” – Northwest Arkansas Times