Bielema offers latest injury and personnel updates
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Arkansas coach Bret Bielema addressed the media prior to Wednesday’s Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Luncheon, and offered up several important personnel and injury updates.
Bielema named redshirt freshman Ty Storey as the team’s No. 2 quarterback during Sunday’s team meeting with true freshman Cole Kelley as their ‘developmental guy’ who may or may not play. Storey is the second quarterback behind Austin Allen with Kelley expected to continue to get reps with the second group.
Redshirt sophomore Rafe Peavey made his plans to transfer official Tuesday night and will be enrolling at SMU. With Peavey deciding whether or not to transfer, Bielema brought up the idea of sticking around another year to give it some thought and if he still wanted to leave he would be immediately eligible as a graduate transfer. But Peavey has decided to go.
“In this world, sometimes things don’t work out. But the good thing is Rafe found an option. He came in and talked to me Sunday after our team meeting on Sunday and expressed a desire to transfer," Bielema said.
According to Bielema, there is still paperwork going through on Arkansas’ end and the NCAA’s end but he feels they will get things in order by Friday with late JUCO signee Michael Taylor, a defensive end. Friday is the deadline.
Dominique Reed (high ankle sprain), Austin Cantrell (pulled groin), D.J. Dean (hamstring pull) and Jalen Merrick (concussion) all practiced the first half of practice then went to rehab. T.J. Hammonds (meniscal tear) also practiced. None of them had any regression today. They will ‘rep’ Hammonds more today with the second group to get him a good look since he has been out since just before the first scrimmage.
“We’ll progress them a little bit further [today]. Tomorrow is a pretty light day, just a walkthrough, and then Friday we’ll have a mock game and have both those guys in there.”
Receiver Keon Hatcher, tight end Anthony Antwine and running back Devwah Whaley had been in green no-contact jerseys since after the first scrimmage due to sore shoulders. They are now back in red and are live for contact. Kody Walker (aggravated scar tissue in foot) isn’t being pressed heavily since he has so much experience.
On kickoff return, they like having Reed back there and Bielema also expressed interest in seeing Deon Stewart and Jordan Jones. Drew Morgan is a ‘very real guy’ for kickoff return duties. He also mentioned Henre’ Toliver, Jared Cornelius, T.J. Hammonds and Devwah Whaley.
Cheyenne O’Grady also practiced after being banged up but was with the scout team along with Will Gragg. Those two redshirt freshmen, who have displayed a great deal of talent, appear to have been passed by true freshman Grayson Gunter. Bielema said Gunter is going to be their fifth tight end.
“It’s not ability-driven or anything like that, they’ve just got to get to know our offense a little bit better,” Bielema said. “They’re redshirt freshmen. I told the team yesterday, we divided into scout teams, it’s a starting point not an ending point…the guys that need mental and physical development, you need time. If we try to push it and put them in when they’re not ready that could regress them more than anything. We’ll play them when it’s their time.”
Regarding the offensive line, Bielema still thinks Jalen Merrick – when he gets fully healthy – could get in there at right tackle, as well as Brian Wallace. Bielema named Colton Jackson the starter there after Saturday’s scrimmage. He also mentioned Jake Hall as a player who is coming along well and is doing everything they have asked.
Odds and ends
-Matt Emrich had an incident over the summer where he nearly lost a finger.
-Cornelius Floyd has had discussions with Bielema about possibly transferring. He could also redshirt this year as he is currently with the third group. Ke’Tyrus Marks has transferred to Samford.
-The team will vote on captains today, and that should be announced on Thursday.
-With some openings due to scholarship players transferring, Bielema will give scholarships to some walk-on players. He wants to know exactly how many he will have, however, so he can do it all at once. He has already awarded Randy Ramsey a scholarship.