Linebackers loving Arkansas' new 3-4 alignment

Receivers bounce back on Tuesday

HD VIDEO: Players on Tuesday | 4.4.17

Tuesday Practice Notebook | 4.4.17

Due to several new faces and change of the overall structure from a 4-3 to a 3-4, the linebacker corps is one of the more intriguing areas of the Razorbacks in the 2017 spring.

To better understand how things work at linebacker, it is best to first take a look at how the depth shook out during Saturday's open practice (below), and then see what several linebackers had to say following Tuesday's closed practice.

With junior two-year starter Dre Greenlaw out the entire spring with a foot injury he suffered the Belk Bowl, it isn't a big surprise to see senior Dwayne Eugene in the starting spot in his place. Eugene can help at several linebacker positions.

"I get my boot off actually today, and then probably as far as running I'll probably have to take it another couple of weeks with just no pressure," Greenlaw said following Tuesday's practice. "I'll start putting a little balance work and footwork in the next couple of weeks."

After contributing as a true freshman last season as the backup to Brooks Ellis at MIKE, it was no surprise to see De'Jon Harris as the starter at MIKE. Harris checked in at 255 pounds last season and now has his weight at 238 (as of Monday). Eugene has his weight just under 240 at 239 pounds. Other linebackers have looked to trim up but continue to add muscle, as well.

"I've lost a lot of weight. I feel a lot better," Harris said. "I was trying to get more lean. Coach [Vernon] Hargreaves told me in the offseason to go in and pick out a linebacker in this conference. Like Reuben Foster (at Alabama), we have a lot of film, and I was just watching him. I was like, 'if I want to be better, I have to start with my weight,' and I just leaned up in the offseason and I feel way better."

It also wasn't a big surprise to see junior walk-on Josh Harris as the backup at MIKE. Harris is an undersized linebacker with great instincts who has contributed a great deal on special teams the past two seasons.

But the other backup inside guy was a bit of a surprise as Grant Morgan has assumed the No. 2 WILL spot. Morgan is a redshirt freshman walk-on and is the younger brother of departing senior Drew Morgan. Grant showed some nice reaction in team work at times on Saturday.

"One thing he does well is just he knows how to find the ball, and that's really what coach emphasizes - doing your job and also going and finding the ball," Greenlaw said about Grant. "He does a really good job of just having his eyes open, and whenever he's coming around the corner just being able to find the ball."

Redshirt freshman Giovanni LaFrance, who has dropped 15 pounds down to 240, is an intriguing player because he injured his hand prior to the start of camp as a true freshman, so he did not join the team until the start of classes. Of course at that time, there isn't an opportunity to team a new player the defense so he went straight to the scout team. LaFrance is currently running with the third bunch.

True freshman Kyrei Fisher is still learning the ropes, and he is splitting time on the third team with walk-on Damani Carter, who moved to defense after playing fullback the past two seasons.

The outside 'backers are probably the most interesting group because their roles are so new. The HOG is supposed to be more of a defensive end/linebacker hybrid and the RAZOR is more of a safety/linebacker hybrid. Both linebackers were in 2-point stances just off the line-of-scrimmage on Saturday during the observable portion of practice.

Michael Taylor II is running with the first team at HOG, and as far as he knows right now he will be in a 2-point stance. Taylor goes about 255-to-260 pounds and also is looking to trim up but maintain 260 pounds. He is definitely more in that defensive end mold.

"I would like to be at 260, but maybe a more defined 260. I'm trying to lose some fat right now," Taylor said.

He was a late signee when Arkansas coaches realized he was really close to qualifying out of junior college a year early. However, he came up just shy and had to sit out last season and lost a year of eligibility. He worked with the scout team at defensive end but also played outside linebacker when they prepared for 3-4 defenses. They want to try to get that year back, but it is a long process.

"Every day was a game for me because I wan't able to play on game days," Taylor said. "It wasn't easy, but I was blessed to get the opportunity to come play football at the University of Arkansas on scholarship.

"We're still in the process," he said. "I pray that I can hopefully get my year back. But now I'm a junior, so I've got two more years. Until we hear back from the NCAA I won't know if I'll be a sophomore a gain. There is still a chance."

He does not regret his decision to join Arkansas early because he got to work against the first team offense every day and acclimate to playing in the SEC.

Junior Randy Ramsey, a.k.a. "Rambo" is the starter at RAZOR, which has more coverage responsibilities. Ramsey played everywhere from cornerback to defensive end in high school, so this position almost seems tailor made for him.

"He drops back more," Taylor said of the RAZOR. "He can run and cover better. Rambo's the Razor right now. He's a very athletic player. If you look at Rambo he's a freak, so he can really get out there and do a lot of other things faster than me. The Hog position is more of a rusher, a bigger guy that can set the edge and make chaos sometimes."

Behind Ramsey is a similar player in redshirt freshman Alexy Jean-Baptiste, who played safety in high school, so RAZOR also seems like an ideal fit for him. Redshirt freshman Dee Walker is behind Taylor at HOG and is only about 220 pounds, so he seems light for that position. Taylor played with his hand in the grass a lot in high school and is a natural pass-rusher.

Arkansas players haven't worked on the nickel package in the meeting rooms this spring, but the coaches surprised them with it in practice. When the nickel entered the practice field, the RAZOR OLB exited.

"They kind of threw the nickel in by surprise. We haven't really talked about it but we took it on," Harris said.

Up next, the Hogs will practice on Thursday at approximately 4 p.m. As of now, that practice is listed as closed to the media. There is no word yet on the media availability for Saturday's scrimmage.