Bobby Petrino likes WRs Hogs have available in his return

FAYETTEVILLE — Bobby Petrino has returned to Arkansas to serve as offensive coordinator.

When Petrino was the head coach for four years at Arkansas he had some very good wide receiver groups. He recently reflected on what made those receivers so good and if he feels he has good talent in this group.

“I feel like we do,” Petrino said. “I feel like we definitely have guys that will have the opportunity to play at the next level. They have to show it, though, and they have to prove it. I think that’s what, when you look back and think about those guys you just mentioned, they went through some tough times and they got hit in the nose a few times and got knocked down and knocked out. Then they just decided — the way Joe (Adams) tells is to me, they just decided they were going to go out and dominate every game, like they felt everyone went after them when they were all true freshmen.

“So I feel like our attitude’s right with our receivers now and our toughness is getting better and growing. But it’s a game where you have to be mentally tough and you drop a ball, you forget about it and move on. It’s really what happens the next play, whether you make a big play and don’t over-celebrate it or you make a bad play and don’t put your head down. You just have to play one play at a time and I feel like we’re learning that.”

The top eight players who caught passes all return. Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong returns after leading team with 56 receptions for 764 yards and five touchdowns. Isaac TeSlaa was next with 34 for 351 and two touchdowns. Tight end Luke Hasz had 16 catches for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Rashod Dubinion led the Arkansas running backs with 14 grabs for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Other returnees among the top eight are wide receiver Jaedon Wilson (15-199-2), tight end tight end Ty Washington (11-170-2), wide receiver Isaiah Sategna (15-129-2) and wide receiver Tyrone Broden (15-109-3). Petrino was asked how many wide receivers he wants to have available each game?

“I think you need to have at least six guys, sometimes five, to really rotate and keep guys fresh and use different personnel groupings,” Petrino said. “It’d be nice if you can get up there to seven and then an eighth guy that you felt good about in case something happened. But we’re still working on that, too, exactly seeing who’s in the right spots and who’s back and how we’re going to rotate them when we get to live action.”

Arkansas has add former professional baseball player Monte Harrison to the group of receivers.

“Yeah, he fits in really well,” Petrino said. “I mean, he’s big, physical, strong guy. Keeps getting better and better every day. His routes are getting more and more disciplined. He catches the ball and guys bounce off him. He’s got a chance to really help us a lot.”

Harrison is one of the oldest freshmen in college football. Much though has been made about his personality and how well he fits in with the other players.

“I think he’s been very humble and been good for everyone else to be around, because you look at a guy that’s been to the major leagues, been out there in the show, and now he’s in here grinding with us,” Petrino said. “You know, getting sore and understanding what it’s like, just like everybody else. He’s been very, very humble, and works extremely hard. He does his leadership with players on his own, kind of one-on-one. Very quiet in practice, but goes extremely hard. Everybody respects the way he works.”

Arkansas had two major preseason scrimmages. In the second one the Hogs suffered eight interceptions. Petrino was asked what happened there?

“We’re working on it,” Petrino said. “I mean, you know, we’re still learning and developing and finding out what we can do at each quarterback. We do know that tipped balls get intercepted and we got to do a better job with that. But, yeah, Taylen (Green) had two interceptions. One was a tipped ball. Could’ve been caught, nice play by the defensive back that broke the play up, and then another guy made the catch. And then Malachi (Singleton) got a couple of picks against the one defense, which was unfortunate for him. He usually takes care of the ball pretty well.”

At tight end, Petrino is pleased to see Hasz back. It was against Petrino and the Aggies that he was hurt last season.

“I mean first of all, he’s got good hand-eye coordination,” Petrino said. “His ability to adjust his body and make the catch, he’s very good on his route running and he’s tough. He’s a tough young man. He doesn’t shy away from anything.”

Var’keyes Gumms is another tight end who could have a good year in Petrino’s offense.

“He’s been up and down a little bit throughout the camp,” Petrino said. “Some of it is being tough enough in every play, to concentrate and focus. But, he can sure make a lot of plays for us. He can run and catch and do that. I’ve been real impressed with Washington. I didn’t get to know him at all in the spring, he was hurt the entire time. He’s really a young man that’s into it, he wants to be good. Wants to learn the game and know everything about it and he’s got some size and strength to him that he’ll definitely help us also.”

Petrino and the Hogs will open the season on Thursday night against UAPB in Little Rock at 6:30 p.m. and televised on ESPNU.