Football practices at Razorback Stadium

FAYETTEVILLE – The Razorback football team was on the field of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for the first time since their upset win over then #19 Tulsa on Wednesday evening as they continued to focus on the fundamentals in their bye-week practice session.

The schedule was similar to Tuesday’s session but involved the entire team as the Razorback coaches looked at the techniques and vision of their players. The coaches have also been able to focus a lot of attention on the first-year players and have seen good things from some of the Razorbacks who have yet to step on the field.

“Jelani Smith, Khiry Battle is a tough kid, Greg Gatson,” were some of the players who impressed Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson. “In the defensive front Alfred Davis. We have some young kids who we don’t know if they are quite where they need to be position wise. Matt Marshall is kind of an example of that. Mike could be a linebacker for us but he is working at safety. We have some young kids that we haven’t played this year that we feel good about.”

While getting back to the basics, the Razorbacks have also begun to install the game plan for their next opponent, Mississippi State, watching film and scouting their opponents.

“We’ve had a lot of film break down on them,” Robinson said. “They are a good football team and run the ball awfully well. They have a flying quarterback who is kind of an escape artist. They have three good running backs that run and catch the ball awfully well and their offensive line is seasoned.”

The Razorbacks need to be committed if they hope to get a win on the road in Starkville next weekend. Arkansas has taken to its new system well since Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino took over, but still has a little way to go to fully immerse itself in the new coaching staff’s ways.

“We’re not quite there yet,” Robinson said. “I think that about 80% of the guys have really bought into it, they really have, primarily our younger kids. It is a tough transition for our seniors that have been in a system all this time and all of a sudden they are facing this. We have a few of those kids who are buying into it because those are the leaders that have worked their way through the ranks. We aren’t quite where we need to be.”

The Razorbacks return to the practice field on Thursday before getting a weekend off for the first time since early September. For more information regarding Razorback football or University of Arkansas athletics please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.