Arkansas football has finally hit game week, and it sounds like the Razorbacks will take the field at War Memorial Stadium with several position battles still ongoing.
“I’m really excited about that,” head coach Sam Pittman said to media on Monday. “To see game-ready competition. We talk to them about scrimmages, and games are the same way. You don’t stay the same. You just don’t. You go to practice, then you go out to a game, and you get a different person. You do.
“I’m really excited to see how each one of these guys that are in a battle, and those that are not for that matter, to see how they play.
“It’s very, very difficult to really, really, really know what you have until you line up there on a Saturday night. You think you know, but it will be a lot of fun to find out what we truly have.”
Not every ‘OR’ is created equal on the weekly depth chart, but several spots on the two-deep remain very much up for grabs.
Here’s the latest from Pittman on some of the most notable position battles for the Hogs:
Cornerback: Marquise Robinson/Jaheim Singletary/Kee’yon Stewart
Jaylon Braxton has one corner spot locked up, but the other has been very much for grabs dating back to spring practices.
Monday’s depth chart revealed a triple ‘OR’ between returners Jaheim Singletary and Kee’yon Stewart, who combined for six starts last season, and South Alabama transfer Marquise “Cuddie” Robinson, who has come on strong during fall camp.
From the sounds of it, Robinson has the edge heading into Thursday’s opener.
“I think they’re all really good players,” Pittman said. “We’re beat up a little bit, so I’m going ‘when are they coming back?’ Singletary has had a little hamstring that set him back a little bit. Stew has been beat up just a little bit as well.
“I think all three of those guys are healthy. I really like what Cuddie’s done. We’ll see. If we get through healthy the next two days, I’d expect Cuddie to be the guy there.”
DE: Nico Davillier/Anton Juncaj & S: Hudson Clark/TJ Metcalf
While the battle at corner feels a bit worrisome, Pittman spoke on some healthy competition elsewhere on the defense.
Nico Davillier fits the definition of rising sophomore in every sense of the phrase and has pushed former FCS sacks leader Anton Juncaj from start to finish. It’s worth noting Juncaj missed significant time in camp with a concussion.
At safety, Hudson Clark is one of the most experienced pieces on the defense and is a returning starter, but youngster TJ Metcalf has a high ceiling and appears to be coming into his own.
“Well, we haven’t really talked to the kids about if there’s an ‘OR’ on there who’s going to be it,” Pittman said.
“I can be honest with you and tell you both Hud and TJ have played really well. So has Nico and Anton, which is a good thing. A lot of times you have battles, and you’re trying to find one that’s good. Both those battles are between two really good players.
“They both will play. All four. I think we still have another physical practice today, and we’ll find out what we’re going to do at that point. Who runs out first is probably more important to the kid, and maybe the media, than it is to us because they’re going to certainly play their reps.”
Kicker: Matthew Shipley/Kyle Ramsey
Nobody is replacing Cam Little, but somebody has to try. Hawaii transfer Matthew Shipley was brought in to be the guy, but had notable struggles in the spring. So much so Arkansas went into the portal and brought in Kyle Ramsey out of Abilene Christian.
Shipley has been much better in fall camp, and Ramsey has been limited with a groin injury. It feels like this is Shipley’s job to lose, but Pittman wasn’t ready to call it on Monday.
“We haven’t spoke with the kickers yet about who’s won that job,” Pittman said. “Once we’ve done that, I guess you’ll find out Thursday. I hate it, but at this time we haven’t talked to the kickers about who has won that battle.
“I can say they both have kicked well. Ramsey was hurt for a week. We shut him down for five days. He was back yesterday and did a really good job on his field goals.”
Running Back No. 2: Rodney Hill/Rashod Dubinion/Braylen Russell
Seeing an ‘OR’ between Ja’Quinden Jackson and Rashod Dubinion for the starting running back job on the depth chart Monday was enough to raise both eyebrows.
Pittman quickly declared Jackson the starter, as expected, in his Monday presser, but there are still questions about who gets the carries behind him.
Dubinion has been dealing with an injury. Florida State transfer Rodney Hill has impressed. Freshman Braylen Russell is coming. And nobody is talking about juco transfer Tyrell Reed.
As far as Thursday is concerned, Jackson and Hill are probably first up. Beyond that is anyone’s guess at the moment.
“At running back, I look for Ja’Quinden to be our starter there,” Pittman said. “Then we’ll go after that probably Rodney Hill would be the second guy in the game.
“R-Dub has been beat up a little bit, so he hasn’t practiced at full speed consistently over the last 10 days. Rodney has done a really good job.
“We feel like we have five backs who can really play, but probably going in order in the game, that would be 1 and 2. Then we will see how Rashod is at practice and whether it would be him or Braylen going in there.
Other positions to watch:
- Backup Tight End – Var’keyes Gumms/Tyrus Washington
- Backup DT: Danny Saili/Ian Geffrard