Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

News and notes from Arkansas media availability at SEC Media Days…

I. Double Dip
Schools recruiting Kiero Small out of junior college primarily wanted him at linebacker. Arkansas was the only school to offer him as a fullback, but the Razorbacks are looking at how he might handle both positions this fall.

Small worked some in the spring at linebacker and that should continue when camp opens next month.

“Do you just be satisfied with, let’s say, him playing 15 or 20 percent of the game when we do use a fullback,” Smith said. “We’re going to take a look at him playing some linebacker because that’s a spot we’re a little bit, depth-wise, not where we would like to be. Kiero is a guy we’d like to get some double duty out of.”

Another possibility for double-duty is quarterback Brandon Mitchell, who has been working some at wide receiver. Mitchell is one of the team’s best athletes and Smith said the Razorbacks would like to get him on the field contributing somewhere.

II. Watching Wilson
Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson is under consideration for another major award. His name was released on the Davey O’Brien watch list, an award that goes to the top quarterback in college.

Wilson, an all-SEC first team pick on the coaches’ preseason team, is also up for the Maxwell and Manning awards. He’s considered among a group of preseason Heisman Trophy hopefuls as well.

III. Dropping Weight
Tenarius Wright is learning to drop back in pass coverage. He’s improving his lateral quickness.

Both are skills essential to him playing linebacker, but there’s another critical area coaches have had him focus on this summer.

Wright has dropped nearly 10 pounds to make the transition from the defensive line to linebacker. Wright ended the spring at 250 and at his last weigh-in he was 242.

“They don’t want me to go above 245 so I figured I’d stay low,” Wright said. “The way I lift and the way I eat, hopefully the conditions stay hot so I can keep my weight down and stay strong.”

Speaking Out
“Well certainly. Do I look stupid? Don’t answer that question.”
—Arkansas Coach John L. Smith when asked if he wanted to remain with the Razorbacks beyond his 10-month contract.