Thursday Practice Sluggish for Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas football team spent a little extra time running sprints and doing up-downs at the end of Thursday night’s 90-minute workout on the grass practice fields south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The less than spectacular practice featured several botched exchanges between the running backs and quarterbacks on the offensive side of the football, while the defense allowed several long touchdown passes.

“We were a little bit slugging today, and didn’t play as fast as we would like,” Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said following Thursday’s workout. “We are going to turn this thing around real quick and get back out here tomorrow morning about 10 a.m. Not much good to report today because I know we are better.

“I know it’s hot. I know you are tired, and you are towards the end (of pre-season camp), and you are looking forward. But this game is every day – every single day. It takes a real man to play this game and you have to buckle up both chin straps.”

Defensive end Chris Wade returned to practice on Thursday after a concussion had sidelined him most of the week. Trainers held the senior out of live work, but he did get a lot of reps and fundamental time.

Coach Nutt did praise the progress of h-back/tight end D.J. Williams. The freshman from Little Rock’s Central Arkansas Christian has picked up the slack with Peyton Hillis and Ben Cleveland out with injuries.

“D.J. is a mature guy that is going to help our football team this year, you can book that,” Nutt said. “I am proud of what he has done so far. I think he is a key ingredient that can pick up the slack in both the passing game and the run game.” Fullback Peyton Hillis was held out of practice again on Thursday with a tweaked hamstring. The senior is close to returning and anxious to get on the practice field. But the coaching staff wants to play it safe to make sure Hillis is around for the opener against Troy on Sept. 1.