Fernando Carmona proving his versatility this spring

FAYETTEVILLE — Fernando Carmona has spent his entire career playing left tackle, but it appears that could change with the 2025 season.

Arkansas signed Corey Robinson II from Georgia Tech in December and it appears that he is manning the left tackle spot now. Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman talked about what makes Carmona a good candidate to play guard or tackle even beyond Arkansas when he gets to the NFL.

“He received it great, because I think that’s what they’re going to do with him at the next level,” Pittman said. “I approached him about playing center, because I think he would be outstanding. If it’s the best thing for him and for the team, that’s what we’ll do. I have liked (Caden) Kitler, I have liked him a lot. 

“If Robinson was your left tackle, Carmona was your left guard, and Kitler and whoever, Kobe (Branham), (Keyshawn) Blackstock, whoever at right, and then you got to find, whether it’s (Shaq) McRoy, whether it’s (Marcus) Dumervil, whether it’s E. Harris, and I don’t mean in that order, then you got to find that. But, I think Carmona’s was honestly, we got Corey Robinson. Then we go, ‘Well, that can allow us to help Junior a little bit more with his future and help the team.’ So, he took it great and we didn’t really say we’re going to move you, we went in there and talked about, what do you think? He said, ‘Well, I think they’re going to move me inside in the league, coach.’ I said, ‘Well, you’re going to want to try it now, you want to try a little center, you want to try guard.’ So, that’s how that went.”

On Tuesday, Carmona talked about possibly moving inside.

“Oh yeah,” Carmona said. “Most definitely. It was something that we talked about after the season, and it was something that I always kind of wanted for myself, too. I’ve always knew that at the next level, it’s probably going to be inside, or even possibly right tackle, and I just felt right now was the perfect time with all the guys we brought in. It just felt like everything was right, and it was the perfect storm brewing.”

Carmona was asked if he has ever snapped the football in a game?

“No, I have not,” Carmona said. “So you know, it’s a lot of learning but this is what spring is for. To learn, get better, get those mistakes out and then when the lights are the brightest, I’ll be good.”

“I’ve only played left tackle. I started playing offensive line once I got to college and I was thrown to left tackle and that’s what I was told I was going to be. Moving inside is something new, but I love to learn and this is just a great opportunity for me to better my game.”

In Monday’s first practice Camona said he didn’t play any center. Expect to do so on Tuesday?

“Uh, not sure yet,” Carmona said. “We’ll see when we get out there.”

What is the biggest learning curve going from left tackle to guard or center?

“Some of the things I need to work on right now are my eyes,” Carmona said. “But the thing I love move about playing inside is being able to hit. Everything happens a lot faster and I think that’s where I thrive best, is that physicality, coming off the ball, running off the ball. At guard, it allows you to do that. At tackle, you have to be a little bit more strategical in how you go about it. Guard has really let me be free and just go out there and hit and have fun.”

Other than the position changes, Carmona was asked what is different this season?

“It’s being comfortable,” Carmona said. “I can go to practice now and be a little bit more free, be a little bit more vocal as a leader because I know the play book through and through. It’s just kind of going out there and having fun now. The fundamentals and learning and all that new stuff happened last year, now it’s time for me to go out there and perform and have fun.”

Robinson has impressed everyone including Carmona.

“Man, he is a special talent,” Carmona said. “He’s helped me a lot during these winter workouts. We’ve been coming in every Saturday together and he’s just been helping me a crap ton on my pass pro. Like, he’s really just diligent in the way he thinks and he operates, so he’s brought this veteran presence and it’s been great for the room.”

Robinson’s arrival led Carmona to talk to Pittman and Eric Mateos, the offensive line coach, about the move inside.

“Yeah, it was kind of mutual,” Carmona said. “I kinda already had it in my mind going into the meeting, and they kind of brought it up. They’re seeing ‘this,’, and they heard ‘this’ from the scouts. And so, it was kind of mutual from both sides, you know. It was like, ‘let’s do it. And we found a great tackle in Corey. And yeah, I’m excited to ride.”

Arkansas will hold its spring game on Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m.