FAYETTEVILLE — Fullback Keiro Small made an instant impact last season, settling into Arkansas’ starting lineup as a powerful lead blocker for running backs Dennis Johnson, Ronnie Wingo and Broderick Green.
But Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said after Friday’s night’s scrimmage Small is ready to get his hands on the ball more in 2012.
“He’s thinner. He’s faster,” Petrino said. “He’s been able to be more of our offense than just a lead blocker. Whether it’s catching the ball out of the backfield or running with it. So I think that’ll be something that’ll be a real positive for us, as far as our run game and play action goes.”
Small rushed carried the ball twice for 17 yards and caught two passes for 17 more during Arkansas’ 145-play scrimmage. His biggest highlight came on a run play up in the middle, when Small dragged defenders for a 14-yard gain late in the scrimmage.
Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson said it was impressive to see the 5-foot-10, 255-pound Small with the ball in his hands.
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“There were a couple of those balls I threw to him in the flat and he turned down the sideline and made progress,” Wilson said. “A couple of those belly handoffs up the middle he took for 15, 20 yards, which is good.”
Small became a fan favorite last season because of his powerful lead blocks. He had one carry for one yard and a touchdown. He also caught one pass for seven yards.
But with Arkansas’ inexperience at receiver, Wilson said the offense could call for more plays that put the ball in Small’s hands.
He added that’s it’s “fun to watch,” too.
“I think we’ll be in different personnel groups because we’ve lost some receivers,” Wilson said. “We’ll be in some two tight-end sets where Keiro will be in the game and give us an opportunity to use him more and be productive with him in the ballgame.”
Tank Makes Impression
Senior Tenarius Wright was tough on himself after the scrimmage, saying he hoped his performance wasn’t as bad as he felt Friday.
Teammates didn’t agree. Several on both sides of the ball was impressed with the way Wright has picked up the position this month.
“I like Tank at linebacker,” Dennis Johnson said. “He’s a pretty good linebacker. He came in as a linebacker. I don’t know why they moved him, that was a coaches’ decision. But they moved him back and I like him there.”
Said safety Eric Bennett: “Tenarius, with the run, it is going to get shut down.”
Dual Roles
Petrino said three linemen — Mitch Smothers, Tyler Deacon and Luke Charpentier — are working at both guard and center this spring.
Smothers, who worked at guard during Arkansas’ previous open workouts this spring, lined up as the second-team center Friday.
Petrino said the goal is to make sure the Razorbacks are prepared in case something happens to starter Travis Swanson.
“We always worried about who that backup center was going to be, so you always try to develop depth,” Petrino said. “Something we’ve always done and Mitch does a nice job with it. He snaps the ball well most of the time. He’s quick. He hesitates a little bit because he’s unsure. But I think those two positions are his best positions.”
Scrimmage Promotion
Redshirt freshman cornerback Davyon “Sleepy” McKinney worked with the second-team defense during the first four practices. But he earned a promotion to the first-team defense when Tevin Mitchel suffered a hamstring injury during Arkansas’ practice work.
It wasn’t an easy day for McKinney, who was beaten twice by senior receiver Cobi Hamilton for touchdowns. But Hamilton said he was impressed by McKinney’s competitiveness.
“The best thing you can say is he’s only going to get better going against the older receivers we’ve got,” Hamilton said. “I’m proud of the way a young guy went out there with the ones and competed. It’s all about competing. That’s what spring is about.”
Practice Schedule
Arkansas will practice three more times this week. The Tuesday and Wednesday practices will be closed to the public. The Razorbacks will then hold their second scrimmage, which is open to the public, on Friday night.