Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

News and notes from Tuesday’s Arkansas football media availability …

I. Go Play
Coaches are no longer harping on linebacker Jarrett Lake making a certain weight. They’re much more interested in him making plays.

Lake, who has gained “15 or 20 pounds” since arriving on campus in 2010, is still small for the linebacker position at 6 foot 3 and approximately 220 pounds. But Lake is athletic, has good speed for the position and his skills seem to be a good fit at the “star,” a hybrid outside linebacker/safety position.

“These past couple years I’ve struggled gaining weight, so once they said they’d put me on the edge to just sit out there and make plays, I was like, ‘let’s go,’ ” Lake said. “I’m glad to just be able to get out there and play.“

Lake, who appeared in 11 games last season, primarily on special teams, has been getting first-team reps. He’s also practiced with the first team at middle linebacker as the team works to develop depth. A better grasp of the defense has also helped Lake see the field, he said.

Coaches have been pleased with his camp so far.

“Jared is extremely athletic,” linebackers coach Taver Johnson said. “We want to find a place where he didn’t have to worry about trying to keep weight on and things like that. Just let him be natural. That seems like a pretty natural position for him.”

II. Paying Consequences
Johnson isn’t one to hide his emotions. He is vocal and animated in practices and doesn’t think twice about doling out punishment to his players for what he sees as poor effort.

Johnson didn’t like the way the team finished practice Monday and had the linebackers doing extra conditioning work. He reminded them throughout Tuesday’s workout to stay sharp.

“Coach Johnson is on us about finishing and being mentally tough,” Lake said. “I guess he felt like yesterday we [weren't] doing that. We have to suck it up and pay our consequences. Today we came out with a lot of energy.”

III. Proceed With Caution
Starting linebackers Tank Wright and Alonzo Highsmith and safety Eric Bennett are beginning to see work in portions of practice. Only portions, though.

Coaches are being cautious with the three injured playmakers in order to have them completely healed for the season, defensive coordinator Paul Haynes said. Highsmith has been out resting a hamstring injury for most of fall camp. Wright has missed practices after colliding with running back Knile Davis.  Bennett has also had a leg issue.

“We’re just making sure we’re safe with them and cautions with them,” Haynes said. “They’re getting into meetings. They’re out there getting mental reps when we go through our walkthroughs and all that. We’re just kind of being safe with them to make sure we get them 100 percent and not something that’s not going to be nagging all year.”

Speaking Out
“We’re starting to get the attitude we need, but nowhere near. This is the SEC West. We’ve got to make sure we keep going [up] and not level off. I think the last couple days we’ve challenged these guys to make sure we go up and we’ve got to continue to go up.”
—Paul Haynes on defensive improvement he’s seen in practices