University of Arkansas senior defensive end Caleb Evan’s 2010 season
has ended before it began.
Evans won’t play in 2010 because of a recurring back injury, coach Bobby Petrino
announced in a press release distributed while the Razorbacks freshmen and redshirt
freshmen and a few older reserves had their first 2010 practice Thursday afternoon.
The varsity waged its first practice Thursday night.
Evans, a Custer, Montana native and junior transfer last year from Palomar Junior
College, lettered in 2009 as a reserve in three games with two tackles, including a
sack and a forcing a fumble against Eastern Michigan.
He logged some early spring practice time at first-team defensive end. He was
surpassed on the depth chart before spring drills closed but was still considered
among the Razorbacks’ better pass-rushers.
“It is unfortunate,” Petrino said in the release, “since Caleb showed a lot of
progress this past spring. He was making strides and looked to be a factor on our
defensive line, however the health of our student-athletes have always been a top
priority.”
The new freshmen had a blessed first day for weather, still hot in the low 90s but
feeling cooler with some cloud cover and a breeze compared to the earlier week
inferno.
Other than fullback Jatashun Beachum, a listed 6-1, 270 fullback but appearing much
bigger like he was when the Hogs signed him out of A. Marco Smith High School, the
new freshmen appear relatively svelte for their size.
Redshirt freshman defensive back Jerry Mitchell of Mandeville, La., recruited as a
safety and still at safety last spring, has been moved to cornerback.
Though Thursday’s practice was without pads, true freshmen defensive tackle Byran
Jones of Junction City and defensive end Chris Smith of Mount Ulla, N.C. caught the
eye of some veteran former Razorbacks watching the workout.
Jones and Smith are tabbed as among the rookies the Razorbacks expect to play right
away.
Of the true freshmen punters, Russellville’s Zach Hocker appeared a little nervous,
bobbling his first snap, and was outperformed by walkon Weston Cox, a Jonesboro
native and son of Steve Cox, the former Razorback All-American and longtime NFL
kicker.
Nonetheless, Hocker has outstanding credentials as an All-State punter including a
62-yard punt.
Both should contest with sophomore incumbent Dylan Breeding for the punting job.
Both also could compete with senior place-kicker Alex Tejada to kick off.
True freshman Eric Bennett, a cornerback out of Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High
School, and Marquel Wade, a receiver from Jacksonville, Fla. returned punts in the
freshman practice.
