ESPN College Football

Schedule: Arkansas opens spring practice on Wednesday at 4:50 p.m. ET. Six of the Hogs’ 15 practices will be open this spring. Those dates are Wednesday and Thursday of this week, March 30, April 6, April 13 and the Red-White spring game on April 21, which will kick off at 3 p.m. ET.

What’s new: Paul Haynes takes over as the Hogs’ defensive coordinator after coming over from Ohio State, where he was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach last season. He’d worked with the Buckeyes’ defensive backs from 2005-10. Haynes was hired in time to coach in the AT&T Cotton Bowl last season with the Hogs. He replaced Willy Robinson, who was fired. Paul Petrino returns to Arkansas as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after spending the past two seasons at Illinois. He replaces Garrick McGee, who left to take the head-coaching job at UAB. Other first-year assistants include linebackers coach Taver Johnson and defensive tackles coach Kevin Peoples. Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell will add special teams to his duties after John L. Smith left to take the Weber State head-coaching job. Bobby Allen, who coached the Hogs' defensive tackles last season, will work with the secondary this season.

On the mend: Star running back Knile Davis has been cleared to practice after missing all of last season with a fractured ankle, but the Hogs have yet to decide if he will receive any live contact this spring.

On the move: Sophomore Brey Cook is moving back to offensive tackle after spending most of last season at guard. Sophomore Mitch Smothers is listed at guard this spring. Smothers started the first four games last season at offensive tackle. He became the first true freshman in Arkansas school history to start the season opener on the offensive line.

Key battle: The Hogs know what they have in senior receiver Cobi Hamilton, but they’re going to need other playmakers to emerge in the passing game with Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs all departing. Senior tight end Chris Gragg is sure to be one of Tyler Wilson’s favorite targets, but this spring is big for juniors Julian Horton and Javontee Herndon to establish themselves as consistent threats in the Hogs’ passing game. The same goes for sophomores Marquel Wade and Keante Minor, and 6-foot-4, 200-pound redshirt freshman Quinta Funderburk gets a chance to make his move.

New faces: Freshman tight end Demetrius Dean, who initially signed in 2011 with Arkansas, is on campus and will go through spring practice. Junior college defensive end Austin Flynn is another newcomer to watch. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Flynn played the past two seasons at Los Angeles Harbor Community College and has been clocked at 4.55 in the 40-yard dash. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has referred to Flynn as a “clone” of Jake Bequette. Flynn is expected to compete with junior Chris Smith for one of the starting end positions.

Breaking out: The Hogs will no doubt be looking for linebackers this spring, but they welcome back one of the more underrated players in the league. Alonzo Highsmith returns to his starting linebacker spot after coming over from junior college last season and leading Arkansas' defenders with 12.5 tackles for loss. He was a very good player for the Hogs a year ago. Don’t be surprised if he develops into an All-SEC player his second time through the league. Highsmith will also need to be a leader. There’s not a lot of experience returning at linebacker. And staying on defense, sophomore cornerback Tevin Mitchel also has that look of a budding All-SEC player. He started in seven games last season as a true freshman and was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman Team.

Don’t forget about: It’s always a good sign when you’re strong up the middle on both lines of scrimmage, and the Hogs have talent, experience and depth on the interior in both their offensive and defensive lines. On offense, junior center Travis Swanson and junior guard Alvin Bailey return as one of the best center-guard tandems in the league. Then on defense, the Hogs have five tackles returning who’ve seen extensive playing time. Juniors Byran Jones and Robert Thomas are listed as the starters going into the spring, but seniors D.D. Jones, Alfred Davis and Lavunce Askew have all played a ton of snaps. Askew, who played some as a true freshman, redshirted last season.

All eyes on: How healthy does Knile Davis look? By all accounts, he’s ready to go and in great shape. Petrino said that Davis recently ran a personal-best 4.33 in the 40-yard dash. Davis was practicing some toward the end of last season, so getting back onto the practice field won’t be entirely new to him. The reality is that the Hogs will be guarded (and should be) with any live contact Davis receives. He doesn’t have anything to prove this spring. Arkansas returns a deep backfield stable with seniors Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo Jr. listed behind Davis on the depth chart. Redshirt freshman Kody Walker is also back. He scored five touchdowns before a stress fracture in his shin forced him to have season-ending surgery.

Arkansas, which opens spring practice later Wednesday afternoon, has released its spring depth chart.

Of note, sophomore Brey Cook is listed as one of the starting offensive tackles. The other starting spot up for grabs on the offensive line is at guard, where Grant Cook has departed. Fifth-year senior Tyler Deacon is listed as the starter with sophomore Mitch Smothers listed as the backup.

Cook and Smothers both played as true freshmen last season and were both ESPNU 150 recruits. Cook spent time at both tackle and guard and then contracted mononucleosis at the end of the season. Smothers started some at tackle.

The three starting receivers on the spring depth chart are senior Cobi Hamilton and juniors Javontee Herndon and Julian Horton.

Knile Davis is listed No. 1 at running back. He'll practice this spring, but it's questionable whether he'll get any live contact.

Chris Low looks at Arkansas’ X factor, offensive lineman Brey Cook.

Today's coaching spotlight shifts to Arkansas.

Coach: Chris Klenakis

Position: Offensive line

Experience: He's in his second season on Arkansas' staff. Klenakis was the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for six seasons at Nevada prior to replacing Mike Summers at Arkansas in January 2010. Klenakis has 20 years of Division I experience. He served two different stints at Nevada and was also the Wolf Pack's offensive coordinator from 1997-99. From there, he went on to head up the offenses at Southern Miss and Central Missouri. During his two stints at Nevada, Klenakis became the first offensive coordinator in NCAA FBS history to have a team lead the nation in rushing offense (2009) and passing offense (1997).

Of note: Klenakis is regarded as the creator of the "Pistol" offense. ... Klenakis and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino were teammates in the early 1980s at Carroll College in Helena, Mont. ... Fifteen offensive linemen coached by Klenakis have gone on to the NFL, including tackle DeMarcus Love, who was taken in the sixth round of this past April's NFL draft. ... Klenakis' name was mentioned last January in connection with the Texas offensive line job, which was eventually filled by former Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels.

His challenge: Petrino was determined to put some more pop in the running game, and Klenakis' arrival last season helped the Hogs do just that. Knile Davis led all SEC running backs with 1,322 rushing yards, and Arkansas was much more effective running the football. Klenakis will have another key challenge in 2011, and that's shoring up the two tackle positions. Gone are Ray Dominguez and Love, who combined for 70 starts the past three seasons. True freshman Brey Cook enrolled early and was impressive this spring. He's already one of the strongest players on the team, but it's never easy to get a true freshman ready to line up against some of the marquee pass-rushers an offensive tackle has to face on a weekly basis in this league. Yet, that will be Job No. 1 for Klenakis in the fall. In fact, Klenakis won't have much experience, period, to work with at tackle. Sophomore Anthony Oden received most of the first-team work at the other tackle spot in the spring opposite Cook. Junior college newcomer Jason Peacock and fifth-year senior Grant Freeman are also possibilities. Freeman had a pair of starts during the 2009 season. Oden also started a game in 2009 as a true freshman, but missed most of last season with mononucleosis and had to redshirt. There aren't any question marks in the middle of the Hogs' offensive line, not with sophomore center Travis Swanson and sophomore guard Alvin Bailey returning. But especially with a new quarterback taking over this season, how quickly those two new tackles develop will go a long way toward determining whether or not Arkansas will be a serious player in the Western Division race.

The big uglies up front on the offensive side are our focus today. There are some quality veterans out there, but teams all across the league are looking to replace some quality linemen in the trenches.

Here's how we see the league stacking up:

1. Alabama: Four of Alabama’s five linemen from a year ago return, making this one of the team’s strongest units. The returners have combined for more than 70 starts at Alabama. Barrett Jones is the star of the show. The junior has been the Tide’s starting right guard each of the past two seasons, but took reps at left tackle and could be asked to move. William Vlachos is back at center and could be the best at his position in the league. Fellow starters D.J. Fluker and Chance Warmack are back and took reps at left tackle this spring.

2. Ole Miss: The Rebels’ offense isn’t getting much respect this offseason, but its offensive line returns All-SEC candidates in tackles Bradley Sowell and Bobby Massie. Seven of Ole Miss’ linemen started two or more games each on the offensive line in 2010. Last season, the Rebels were first in the league in sacks allowed, giving up just 14. Alex Washington should stay at left guard after starting eight games there and A.J. Hawkins will likely get the nod at center after playing eight games there as well. Arkansas transfer Matt Hall will compete for time at center.

3. LSU: Joseph Barksdale might be gone, but the Tigers have a very talented group of linemen returning. Tackle Alex Hurst seems primed to be a star in the league and senior Josh Dworaczky is arguably the Tigers’ top lineman with 25 career starts. Patrick Lonergan is solid at center, while T-Bob Hebert is valuable at both center and guard. Sophomore Chris Faulk has the tough assignment of replacing Barksdale, but made quite the impression on his coaches this spring.

4. Kentucky: The Wildcats return four starters on their line. Right guard Larry Warford headlines the group after gaining second-team All-SEC honors a year ago. Kentucky also returns two-year starter Stuart Hines at left guard and Matt Smith at center, who was solid in his first year there. Left tackle Chandler Burden missed spring practice, but is expected back by fall practice. Finding a suitable right tackle is the next step for Kentucky.

5. Tennessee: This group could be one of the most impressive units for the Volunteers this season. It’s deeper and more experienced in Derek Dooley’s second year and he was very pleased with its performance this spring. Junior Dallas Thomas is solid at left tackle, and sophomore Ja’Wuan James really came on strong in his first year and is one of the top linemen in the SEC. James Stone also returns at center. The surprise of the group was true freshman Marcus Jackson, who held down the left guard spot for most of the spring.

6. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs must replace All-American left tackle Derek Sherrod, but most of the line is somewhat on point. Center Quentin Saulsberry will anchor the line and is versatile enough to play just about every position on the line. Left guard Gabe Jackson and right tackle Addison Lawrence return and the Bulldogs will have junior Tobias Smith lining up at right guard. Blaine Clausell and James Carmon, who moved from defensive tackle, will compete at left tackle.

7. Georgia: This was supposed to be one of the strongest offensive line units in the league, but the Bulldogs lost tackle Trinton Sturdivant to a season-ending knee injury this spring and fellow tackle A.J. Harmon transferred. Georgia’s most-reliable options are Cordy Glenn, who moved from guard to left tackle and Ben Jones at center. Kenarious Gates is at left guard, but he’s athletic enough to play tackle if needed. Former defensive lineman Justin Anderson will start off at right tackle. Right guard is the next area of business and the depth all around is a problem.

8. South Carolina: The Gamecocks have questions here, but there is talent across the line. Rokevious Watkins is one of the most talented guards in the league and he’ll be assisted by returning starter at center T.J. Johnson. Senior Kyle Nunn has made strides at left tackle and redshirt freshman A.J. Cann took over duties at left guard this spring. Still, the younger linemen will be counted on to contribute this fall.

9. Arkansas: The Razorbacks must replace three starters on the offensive line. Center Travis Swanson and left guard Alvin Bailey are the only returning starters. Just a sophomore, Bailey impressed his coaches last season and will be one of the top linemen in the league this fall. After that, the Hogs will have to turn to youth for help. True freshman Brey Cook could be thrust into the starting role at right tackle, while sophomore Anthony Oden could get the job at left tackle.

10. Florida: Florida’s offensive line struggled throughout the 2010 season -- and that was with a senior-laden group. This fall, the Gators will start over with a ton of inexperience. Right guard Jon Halapio and right tackle Xavier Nixon are the only returning starters. Halapio struggled at times last season and Nixon battled injuries. Florida’s line spent most of the spring in the infirmary, so little is known about the overall talent. Freshman Chaz Green left spring as the starter at left tackle, Jonotthan Harrison will battle former Notre Dame lineman Dan Wenger at center. He transferred in after spring, but has health concerns.

11. Auburn: The Tigers will go from having one of the top offensive line groups in the country to having a major work in progress in 2011. Senior Brandon Mosley is the lone returning starter, and while he was solid on Auburn’s line last season, he came from junior college as a defensive end/tight end. The good news is that tackle A.J. Greene should be fine this fall after sustaining a season-ending leg injury last year. The rest of Auburn’s linemen are very young and inexperienced. Don’t expect many redshirts from this group.

12. Vanderbilt: The Commodores might return all five starters, but this unit had trouble keeping things together last year. The offense needs this group to improve mightily. Wesley Johnson is Vanderbilt’s best option, despite only being a sophomore at left tackle. There will be size on the right side, with 300-plus pounders Kyle Fischer and Ryan Seymour over there. Simply put, this unit has the experience, but it requires a lot of improvement.

2010 overall record: 10-3

2010 conference record: 6-2

Returning starters

Offense: 6, defense: 7, kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

RB Knile Davis, WR Greg Childs, WR Joe Adams, WR Jarius Wright, OG Alvin Bailey, DE Jake Bequette, LB Jerry Franklin, LB/S Jerico Nelson, S Tramain Thomas

Key losses

QB Ryan Mallett, TE D.J. Williams, OT DeMarcus Love, LB Anthony Leon, S Rudell Crim

2010 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Knile Davis* (1,322 yards)

Passing: Ryan Mallett (3,869 yards)

Receiving: Joe Adams* (813 yards)

Tackles: Jerry Franklin* (100)

Sacks: Jake Bequette* (7)

Interceptions: Tramain Thomas* (4)

Spring answers

1. Depth in the defensive line. Even with starting tackles DeQuinta Jones and Byran Jones both out this spring with injuries, the Hogs unveiled the kind of depth and athleticism in their defensive line they haven’t had under Bobby Petrino. They have size, numbers and experience up front, and with the addition of junior college tackle Robert Thomas, should rank up there among the top defensive lines in the league.

2. Wright is right on time. The Hogs are bursting at the seams with great receivers, but Wright demonstrated this spring that he’s poised to have a memorable senior season. He’s the fastest player on the team after turning in a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash back in March and then went out and made one big play after another once spring practice began. With Greg Childs, Joe Adams and Cobi Hamilton also returning, the Hogs will have as many big-play receivers as any team in the country in 2011.

3. Playing for a title. A year ago, the Hogs talked openly about contending for an SEC championship, and while they fell short of that goal, they did play in their first-ever BCS bowl game. Entering the fourth season under Petrino, they’re even more adamant about bringing home some SEC hardware in 2011. The leadership is there. So is the talent and experience. And having at least been on the periphery of the Western Division race last season, they know now precisely what it takes to get there.

Fall questions

1. Can the Hogs get the running game cranked back up? Knile Davis was one of the surprises of the league last season and led all SEC running backs with 1,322 rushing yards. He was the missing piece in Arkansas’ already explosive offense. But exiting this spring, Petrino came away disappointed with the way the Hogs ran the ball and said the running game wasn’t nearly consistent enough. Davis will have help. Dennis Johnson returns after missing all of last season with an injury, and so does Ronnie Wingo, Jr. The Hogs lost their big power back, Broderick Green, who tore his ACL this spring and will miss the season.

2. Is Wilson the man at quarterback? All signs point to Tyler Wilson being the heir apparent to Ryan Mallett at quarterback, but Petrino said coming out of the spring that he wasn’t ready to name a starter and wants to take a longer look at sophomore Brandon Mitchell once preseason practice begins. Mitchell gives the Hogs more of a runner back there when the play breaks down, although Wilson can also make plays on the move.

3. Who’s going to emerge at offensive tackle? Nothing was settled this spring at either of the starting offensive tackle positions. The Hogs will miss DeMarcus Love and Ray Dominguez, a pair of departing seniors who helped clear the way for Mallett to throw for more than 3,000 yards each of the past two seasons. True freshman Brey Cook, an early enrollee, and sophomore Anthony Oden will have their work cut out in the fall and still have to hold off senior Grant Freeman and junior college newcomer Jason Peacock.

For the second straight year, hope springs eternal in the Arkansas camp, but there’s also reason for concern.

Biggest reason for hope: A defense with all the right pieces

To win championships in this league, you have to play championship-caliber defense. Everybody knows the Hogs have the firepower on offense to score points in bunches. Now, they have that same kind of firepower on defense to create turnovers, come up with key stops and keep teams out of the end zone. The defensive front should be one of the deepest in the league, and the addition of junior college tackle Robert Thomas (6-3, 325 pounds) this spring only added to the Hogs’ athleticism and size. Senior linebackers Jerry Franklin and Jerico Nelson are back after finishing No. 1 and No. 2 on the team in tackles last season, while senior Tramain Thomas returns as one of the best all-around safeties in the league. It’s easily the most speed the Hogs have had on defense since Bobby Petrino has been in Fayetteville, and it’s also an experienced defense. Arkansas was able to lean on its defense in spots a year ago. This coming season, it may be that the Hogs set the tone defensively in just about every game.

Biggest reason for concern: Youth in the offensive line

The Hogs were a veteran offensive line last season, particularly at tackle, and that was a big reason for their offensive success. It will flip the other way in 2011 when Arkansas is expected to field one of the youngest offensive lines in the league. True freshman Brey Cook worked much of the spring as one of the starting tackles after enrolling early. He’s mature beyond his years and already one of the strongest players on the team, but it’s always a thrill a minute in this league when a true freshman is starting at offensive tackle. Sophomore Anthony Oden could be the starter at the other tackle spot after redshirting last season. Oden was suspended for the opener and was then forced to withdraw from school in the fall because of complications from mononucleosis. The Hogs will be equally young inside, although talented. Sophomore center Travis Swanson and sophomore guard Alvin Bailey both started as freshmen last season.

Today, we look at some of the SEC West early enrollees who decided to skip their senior proms to compete in spring practice:

Alabama

Dee Hart, RB -- Hart was one of the top prospects from the state of Florida and one of the most exciting running backs to watch in high school a year ago. He made an instant impact once he arrived on campus. Hart might not be the biggest player, but he's a tough runner. Hart can be a speedy, shifty runner, but could also be a tough, in-between-the-tackles runner. In two scrimmages, Hart had 66 yards on 24 carries, but finished Alabama's spring game with just 10 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Trey DePriest, LB -- DePriest really seemed to impress his coaches this spring. Alabama's linebackers really turned the corner this spring and DePriest was a part of that. He struggled at times, but that's to be expected from someone who just graduated from high school. But DePriest earned fall playing time this spring and had five tackles in the spring game.

Arkansas

Brey Cook, OL -- The Razorbacks are breaking in a pair of offensive tackles and Cook is one of them. He's a pretty athletic tackle, but he's young, so it will take him some time to get adjusted. Getting on campus early has helped him tremendously. It also helped that he arrived as one of the more mature early enrollees. He started at tackle for the Red team in Arkansas' spring game.

Marquel Wade, WR -- Wade was supposed to enroll last fall, but ended up attending Milford (N.J.) Academy after going through August workouts. Before he left, players were raving about his athleticism. He put that all on display this spring. And while the Razorbacks have a ton of returning talent at receiver, it wouldn't be a surprise at all if he got time in Arkansas' offense this fall. He caught four passes for 48 yards in the spring game.

Auburn

Jonathan Rose, CB -- Rose was a top cornerback and receiver prospect from the state of Alabama last fall, and with the departures in Auburn’s secondary, Rose came in this spring with a chance to break the Tigers' lineup. He shined at times this spring. Rose not only garnered respect from his teammates with his play, but he became more vocal on the field as spring went on. He had two tackles in Auburn's spring game.

Reese Dismukes, C -- Dismukes entered spring vying for a shot at the starting spot at center and exits spring with a chance to nab that spot come fall. He split time on the first team with walk-on Blake Burgess this spring. Dismukes arrived with the ideal frame to compete in the SEC, now he just needs to get the physical and mental side down. He split reps with Burgess during the spring game.

LSU

Anthony Johnson, DT -- When you look at Johnson, it's hard to believe he's a true freshman. And with the way he played this spring, it was hard for his coaches and teammates to believe that as well. The coaches were really impressed with how dominant Johnson was at times during practice. He already has an SEC-ready body and will definitely see the field this fall. He had two tackles, including a sack in LSU's spring game.

Kenny Hilliard, RB -- He came into spring behind a few bodies at running back, but showed some flashes during practice. When he was on, the coaches liked what they saw. However, Hilliard missed LSU's spring game. He has a chance to get some action, but is still seems to be in the back of LSU's stable of running backs.

Mississippi State

Dak Prescott, QB -- Prescott won't be the starter for the Bulldogs this fall, but he had a productive spring. He got more comfortable with the offense and showed flashes of having the talent to really being dangerous in this offense during practices. The dual-threat quarterback was 2-of-4 passing for 21 yards in the Bulldogs' spring game.

John Harris, DE -- The Bulldogs are still looking for someone to replace defensive end Pernell McPhee at defensive end. Harris hopes to be that guy down the line, but he's still got a ways to go. Getting on campus early was a great benefit for him, but he still has a lot to learn before he'll make a big impact for the Bulldogs.

Ole Miss

Ole Miss had no freshmen early enrollees this spring.

Spring game: 4 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN and ESPN3.com

Questions answered: Even before spring practice began, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino felt like this would be his best defense since arriving in Fayetteville in 2008. And while the true test will come next fall, neither Petrino nor defensive coordinator Willy Robinson saw anything this spring that would make them think otherwise. The Hogs have depth and size up front. They’ve greatly improved their speed and have more experience than they've ever had across the board on defense. This is also a team with strong leadership. Senior defensive end Jake Bequette, senior safety/linebacker Jerico Nelson, senior safety Tramain Thomas and senior receiver Jarius Wright were already key guys who’d taken on leadership roles, but others such as junior running back Knile Davis stepped up and answered that call this spring.

Questions unanswered: The Hogs will be breaking in a pair of new offensive tackles in the fall. True freshman Brey Cook is one of those, and while he’s light years ahead of where most guys who just turned 18 would be, there’s still the unknown of going to battle in this league with a first-year player at tackle. Petrino is also looking for junior quarterback Tyler Wilson to give everybody in the huddle “more of a calming effect” with his consistency. Wilson had a solid spring, although he’s still trying to shake loose from sophomore Brandon Mitchell and nail down the starting job. On defense, Robinson said the Hogs came up short at cornerback in the depth department and will need some young guys to come in and help next season.

Spring stars: Coaches and players alike were raving about the athleticism of 325-pound junior college newcomer Robert Thomas, who showed off what he could do at defensive tackle with projected starters Byran Jones and DeQuinta Jones sitting out the spring while recovering from injuries. The Hogs are already deep and talented at receiver, but might have found another playmaker in sophomore Julian Horton. And speaking of talented receivers, senior Joe Adams just gets a little more dynamic every time he steps onto the field. He caught 12 passes in last Saturday’s scrimmage, including touchdown passes of 59 and 35 yards.

Of note: Senior Bret Harris has been one of the surprises of the spring. He’s worked the last two weeks as the Hogs’ starting weak side linebacker, although junior Terrell Williams is also pushing for that spot. … Petrino said the job John L. Smith has done with with Arkansas’ special teams has been “awesome," in particular the way Smith has handled the Hogs’ place kicker (Zach Hocker) and punter (Dylan Breeding). … True freshman receiver Quinta Funderburk returned to the team this week after missing six practices for undisclosed reasons. Funderburk’s high school coach had told a newspaper that Funderburk was quitting football. … Strength and conditioning coach Jason Veltkamp said this is the most team speed the Hogs have had under Petrino “by far.” ... Arkansas returns players that scored 48 of the team's 58 offensive touchdowns last season.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A few notes, thoughts and observations after chatting with Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, a few of his coaches and some of the Hogs' players:

• Junior running back Knile Davis is up to 228 pounds after playing around 218 last season. Davis told me he recently maxed out at 415 pounds on the bench-press and ran a 4.29 in the 40-yard dash. The big thing for Davis is that he’s finally healthy, the first spring he can say that. He broke his collarbone in last year’s spring game and broke his ankle two springs ago. “I think what Knile really needs to understand is that the harder and more physical he runs and the faster he plays, that’s how you stay healthy,” Petrino said. “That’s what he did when Dennis (Johnson) got hurt last year. He just said, ‘I’m going to make sure the coaches know that I’m going to be the guy by finishing every run in practice and being more focused.’ It jumped out. We’re watching video of practice, and there’s not one coach in the room who doesn’t say, ‘That’s a little different No. 7 right there now.’ ”
[+] Enlarge
Matthew Emmons/US PRESSWIREJake Bequette finished with 7.5 sacks for Arkansas last season.
• When you start listing the top returning defensive ends in the SEC next season, don’t forget about Arkansas senior Jake Bequette, who had 7.5 sacks last season. Arkansas defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell said there’s no ceiling for Bequette, and Caldwell knows a star defensive end when he sees one. At Tennessee, Caldwell coached the likes of Shaun Ellis, Leonard Little, Parys Haralson, Will Overstreet and Robert Ayers, all of whom played or are still playing in the NFL. “Jake has as much talent as anyone I’ve ever coached. We just have to get it all put together,” Caldwell said.
• Speaking of the defensive line, the Hogs’ top two tackles are out this spring with injuries -- Byran Jones and DeQuinta Jones. That's meant a lot of quality reps for junior college newcomer Robert Thomas. “Man is he active and probably as good an athlete as we’ve had inside with the combination of size and power,” Petrino said. The other thing about Thomas is that he’s just a sophomore. He redshirted one year at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
• A guy who’s really exploded in the Hogs’ strength and conditioning program is sophomore defensive end Chris Smith, who’s bulked up to 250 pounds and recently ran just a shade under 4.5 in the 40. Smith’s another guy the Hogs hope to turn loose rushing the passer next season.
• You don’t see very many 17-year-old true freshman offensive tackles who look like Brey Cook, the Hogs’ top recruit in this class who enrolled early and is going through spring practice. The 6-7, 317-pound Cook is working with the first team in DeMarcus Love’s old quick tackle spot. Cook had his struggles last Saturday in the scrimmage going against junior defensive end Tenarius Wright, but Cook sure looks like one of those guys you can build around in the offensive line. Petrino says he’s not sure he’s ever played a true freshman offensive tackle. “That makes you nervous, but he’s a special young man,” Petrino said. “Sometimes when you’re out there at practice, you forget he’s 17 years old and should still be in high school. But I’ll tell you what: He’s very talented. He’s very strong. You very seldom get a young man who has that type of strength. He was very well-coached in high school and cares a lot, so competitive and a perfectionist. He’s in here studying, trying to get better, taking his lumps against those experienced defensive ends, but keeps coming back and keeps competing and is going to be real special before it’s over with.”
• The Hogs have built enough depth that they’re not going to be counting on nearly as many first-year players coming in and playing right away next season. “The nice thing is that they’re really going to have to be good to come in and compete because we do have so much depth coming back,” Petrino said. That said, he thinks at least one of the defensive ends will have a chance to come in and play. Lonnie Gosha of Lake Butler, Fla., was one of the Hogs’ most prized signees. Petrino said junior college linebacker Alonzo Highsmith, Jr., has the kind of speed Arkansas is looking for at that position and is a strong candidate to play early. Highsmith is the son of former NFL running back Alonzo Highsmith, Sr., who played collegiately at Miami. Also, Petrino said it would be nice if one of the freshman cornerbacks (Tevin Mitchell and Kelvin Fisher, Jr.) could come in and be a part of the secondary rotation next season.
• I asked Petrino if he's ever been around a more talented collection of pass-catchers than his top four of Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Cobi Hamilton. He smiled and said he's been around some good ones, mentioning the group with the Jacksonville Jaguars when Petrino was there as an assistant that included Jimmy Smith. He also mentioned his Louisville receiving corps, but I think it says something that he brings up an NFL receiving corps when offering up comparisons. Replacing tight end D.J. Williams won't be easy, but junior Chris Gragg has made his share of plays down the field and over the middle this spring. The bottom line is that it's difficult to imagine a deeper, more talented receiving corps in all of college football than what Arkansas will put on the field this fall.

Scouring the SEC for what's making headlines:

• Auburn should worry if the former players' charges on HBO are true, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News.
• Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley has been named to a task force to determine whether the Fiesta Bowl will remain a part of the BCS system.
• Florida redshirt freshman running back Mack Brown is out for three months after breaking his fibula, leaving the Gators even thinner at running back.
• South Carolina starting point guard Bruce Ellington says he missed football too much to stay away.
• LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is used to operating under the radar.
• Vanderbilt receivers Chris Boyd, Jordan Matthews and Jonathan Krause hope a new coach and new offense mean more opportunities.
• Arkansas freshman Brey Cook is learning on the job as one of the Hogs' first-team offensive tackles.
• Michael Williams is looking to distinguish himself as Alabama's next tight end.
• His knee on the mend, Tennessee linebacker Greg King is ready to go for it in 2011.

Schedule: The Hogs opened practice on Tuesday afternoon. All practices held outdoors are open to the public. The spring game will be played on April 16 with a 3 p.m. ET kickoff and will be televised nationally by ESPN.

What’s new: The Hogs were able to keep their coaching staff intact. They added graduate assistant Brandon Sharp to work with the defense.

On the mend: Senior receiver Greg Childs (knee), junior defensive tackle D.D. Jones (ankle) and sophomore defensive tackle Byran Jones (shoulder) are all recovering from surgeries and will be limited this spring. None of the three will go through contact.

On the move: Sophomore Eric Bennett is moving from cornerback to safety, while senior De’Anthony Curtis will shift from receiver to cornerback. Also, sophomore Ryan Calendar is moving from defensive end to tight end, and redshirt freshman Jatashun Beachum is moving from fullback to defensive tackle.

Key battle: Even though senior Isaac Madison and junior Darius Winston ended last season as the Hogs’ two starting cornerbacks, they will battle it out this spring for the field cornerback position. Sophomore Jerry Mitchell will open the spring as the starter at the boundary cornerback position.

New faces: True freshman Brey Cook and junior college signee Jason Peacock are two of the leading candidates to step in for DeMarcus Love at left offensive tackle. Freshman receiver Marquel Wade is back after spending last fall at Milford Academy. Wade actually went through a week of practice at Arkansas last season before being pulled off the field. Wade will also factor into the Hogs’ return game. Junior college signee Robert Thomas is listed No. 2 at one defensive tackle, while freshman receiver Quinta Funderburk and freshman linebacker Tyler Gilbert enrolled early and will go through spring practice.

Breaking out: Junior quarterback Tyler Wilson showed what he could do last season on the road against Auburn after filling in for the injured Ryan Mallett. Until the two late interceptions, he was brilliant. Now it’s time for Wilson to take this offense by the reins for an entire season. With all the returning playmakers surrounding him, Wilson has a chance to be one of the top breakout players in the league.

Don’t forget about: Quietly, senior linebacker Jerry Franklin had an All-SEC season a year ago, spearheading a defense that went from 89^th nationally in total defense to 36^th nationally. Franklin has led the Hogs in tackles each of the last three seasons. He had 100 a year ago.

All eyes on: Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said solidifying the offensive line will be the Hogs’ most important task this spring. They plan to move some guys around, find out who can play where and come up with their best combination. Both tackle jobs are open, and there’s a chance that four of the five starters could end up being freshmen or sophomores.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has released the Hogs' pre-spring depth chart. They open spring drills on Tuesday.

Among the things that jumped out were sophomore Eric Bennett moving from cornerback to safety and being listed with the first team. The Hogs are looking for a replacement for the departed Rudell Crim at safety.

"We felt like (Bennett's) strongest point a year ago was his ability to tackle and how physical he played and how well he tackled," Petrino said. "We lost Rudell (Crim), so you look at kind of replacing a talented cover guy with a guy who can tackle well. I think that’ll be a great position for him. De’Anthony (Curtis), we’ve been trying to find a way to get him on the field more. He did a nice job for us last year in special teams. He really made a lot of plays. We worked him at corner during bowl preparation the last two years. Now we’re going to put him over there and give him an opportunity to play and get on the field.”

True freshman Brey Cook is bracketed with junior college signee Jason Peacock as co-starters at one offensive tackle spot. Senior Grant Freeman and sophomore Anthony Oden are the co-starters at the other tackle position.

Senior Isaac Madison and junior Darius Winston are listed as the co-starters at field cornerback. Both have started in games and played extensively. At the boundary cornerback position, sophomore Jerry Mitchell is listed No. 1.

"What we wanted to do on a field corner ... Isaac Madison and Darius Winston need to compete," Petrino said. "We need to find out who the best guy is. That’s the toughest position to play. During the last part of the season, Darius went over and played into the boundary side. We could easily do that right now, but we want them to compete. We need to learn about who the best cover guy is. Who our shutdown corner is and then adjust from there. Jerry really did a nice job in bowl preparation and had a great winter as far as in the weight room and showing lots of improvement. I think it’ll be a great place for him to start out at.”

Defensive tackles Byran Jones (ankle) and D.D. Jones (shoulder) and receiver Greg Childs (knee) will all miss the spring while recovering from injuries. Petrino said running back Dennis Johnson is full-go.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino told a booster club group on Tuesday night that he really liked the amount of speed the Hogs would be able to put on the field next season.

You think?

The Hogs just recently completed testing sessions leading up to the start of spring practice next Tuesday, and according to results provided by Arkansas officials, 10 different players ran a 4.4 or faster in the 40-yard dash.

Receiver Jarius Wright and running back Ronnie Wingo Jr. tied for the fastest time, each with a 4.27.

Running back Knile Davis was close behind with a 4.29 and also did 415 pounds on the bench press.

Also, Petrino said running back Dennis Johnson was back to 100 percent entering the spring. Johnson missed most of last season after undergoing surgery to repair an internal injury to his bowels. Johnson ran a 4.43 in the 40.

Offensive lineman Blake Gunderson had the highest bench press with a lift of 470 pounds. True freshman Brey Cook benched 380 pounds. He's already enrolled in school and will go through spring practice. Petrino thinks Cook has a chance to win one of the starting offensive tackle jobs.

Here's a look at some of the Hogs' testing numbers:

40-Yard Dash

1. Jarius Wright 4.27

1. Ronnie Wingo Jr. 4.27

3. Knile Davis 4.29

4. Joe Adams 4.30

5. Darius Winston 4.32

6. De’Anthony Curtis 4.36

6. Isaac Madison 4.36

8. Javontee Herndon 4.37

8. Maudrecus Humphrey 4.37

10. Greg Gatson 4.40

Other Notable Performances:

Dennis Johnson 4.43

Chris Smith 4.49

Jake Bequette 4.56

Bench Press

1. Blake Gunderson 470

2. Alvin Bailey 455

2. Alfred Davis 455

4. Lavunce Askew 415

4. Knile Davis 415

6. Byran Jones 410

7. Jake Bequette 405

7. Jared Green 405

7. Grant Cook 405

7. Jeremiah Jackson 405

Making our way around the SEC:

• Auburn spent approximately $170,000 in legal fees on the Cam Newton case, reports Jon Solomon of The Birmingham News.
• Charles Goldberg of The Birmingham News evaluates Auburn's 2011 recruiting class.
• Izzy Gould of The Birmingham News evaluates Alabama's 2011 recruiting class.
• Tennessee reserve quarterback Nash Nance has surgery on his left foot.
• Will Friend starts his job as Georgia's new offensive line coach.
• Georgia's Washaun Ealey, suspended from team activities, says he's looking at his options.
• The SEC is reviewing how much Mississippi State owes in cowbell fines.
• Kentucky president Lee Todd and athletic director Mitch Barnhart will discuss the status of Barnhart's contract.
• Offensive tackle Brey Cook, one of Arkansas' top signees for the 2011 class, has a starting mentality.