Arkansas hold second scrimmage, one week to spring game

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas held an 88-play scrimmage on Saturday morning with the defense seemingly getting the best of the offense most of the time.

But the offense also had its moments. Sophomore running back Isaiah Augustave unofficially had eight carries for 72 yards and caught one pass for a 50-yard touchdown. One of his runs was a 52-yard touchdown. The touchdown catch was from Malachi Singleton, who was unofficially 6 of 14 passing for 109 yards, the touchdown and an interception.

Taylen Green unofficially was 6 of 15 passing for 45 yards with one touchdown, a nine-yard pass to Isaac TeSlaa, and an interception. Ja’Quinden Jackson unofficially had 12 carries for 72 yards including a nine-yard touchdown. Dominique Jackson unofficially had six carries for 40 yards including a 19-yard touchdown.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Carson Dean has been one of the younger players who has drawn praise from both Sam Pittman and Travis Williams.

“I’ve been happy with this spring overall.” Dean said. “I feel like I’ve grown a lot from last year up to now. Our coaches, since we have a younger room, they’re going and putting us in harder roles that we need to go and be in, which is good for us because it tests us and makes us have to grow up faster, and they just go in and trust us because we’re always in there every day. Learning the playbook. Doing as many things as we can do, so it just shows that they have trust in us and we’re pushing ourselves to be the best.”

Dean is just one of many young linebackers on the team after four at that position entered the transfer portal last year.

“Really, in the linebacker room, none of us really look at our age,” Dean said. “We all are young, really Sorey is our old guy in the room, but I think we see the opportunity that we have in front of us and we’re just trying to get better each and every day. Take as many good reps as we can in practice. Making every rep like a game rep. And then again like I was saying, just coming up here on our off days. Getting in the playbook. Watching extra film. Doing little things like that so we don’t look like young guys in the field, because we don’t feel like we’re young guys, and we’re going to be put in the roles on our team that our age doesn’t really matter.”

Wide receiver Isaiah Sategna is having a very good spring under Ronnie Fouch and Bobby Petrino.

“I’ve been not really trying to put on weight, but just getting stronger,” Sategna said. “I mean, I like the weight that I’m at right now, but just getting stronger while getting faster, also. I’m happy with what I’m doing so far, but still want to do better.”

Sategna has heard about what a Petrino offense is capable of doing and he’s enjoying it.

“You know, I feel like speed is a big thing in his offense, and that’s one of my strong suits,” Sategna said. “This is my fourth OC since I’ve been to Arkansas, so I’m really liking what Bobby has, and man, he’s living up to the hype.”

On defense, cornerback Jaylon Braxton had an interception and fumble recovery. Safety Miguel Mitchell had an interception as well. True freshman defensive back Ahkhari Johnson recovered two fumbles.

Arkansas will return to the practice fields on Tuesday. The spring game will be next Saturday at noon.