Razorbacks ready to see different opponent

By Nate Allen

Special to News-Times

FAYETTEVILLE - For this week the Arkansas Razorbacks might secretly wish to be their first game opponent.

Because that opponent, the lower division Florida A&M Rattlers of the MEAC opening Arkansas’ season on Aug. 31 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, kicks off their season Saturday against Texas Southern in Tallahassee, Fla. Meanwhile the Razorbacks endure another week without a game upon preseason practicing since July 27.

“It’s been a real, long grind,” Arkansas junior outside linebacker Randy Ramsey said after Tuesday’s closed practice. “We’re ready for that first game. I kind of wish the game was this Thursday to be honest with you.”

Senior cornerback/punt returner Henre Toliver concurred.

“We're ready to play a different team,” Toliver said Tuesday. “We're tired of going against Arkansas. We've got a little scout work today, so we're seeing some Florida A&M stuff. So it feels good to go against a different look.”

Whatever envy the Hogs have of the Rattlers playing Saturday will vanish knowing that budget conscious Florida A&M will bus its Rattlers from Tallahassee to Little Rock.

“I seen that on Twitter,” Toliver said. “That's crazy. That's a long bus ride. Good luck to them.”

Though nothing like busing from Tallahassee to Little Rock, the Razorbacks will ride the bus Wednesday in their only home game away from home as their home games otherwise are on campus at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

As a native of Marrero, La., Toliver doesn’t have the coming home to Little Rock attachment that Razorbacks hailing from Central Arkansas do, though he did praise the fans at War Memorial.

“The fans are always good there but I'm glad that we're going there first to get it over with,” Toliver said. “There's nothing like playing in this (Reynolds Razorback) stadium. The fans here are just crazy. I like this stadium a lot. But the fans are crazy there, (War Memorial) too. They don't really get to watch us a lot, so it'll be good.”

Toliver has more tasks awaiting in Little Rock than any Razorbacks game he’s played anywhere. For with senior wide receiver/punt returner Jared Cornelius (ailing back) still not practicing Monday and Tuesday though restored the roster that expanded from the preseason 105 maximum with Monday’s start of UA fall semester classes, Toliver likely will return punts against FAMU.

Toliver has been running No. 1 as punt returner in practice though he officially hasn’t returned a punt since his Archbishop Rummel High School days in Louisiana.

“All four years in my high school career I've been back there since my freshman year catching punts,” Toliver said. “I guess it's just my time now to do it in games now.”

How did he react when Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema tried him at punt returner and put him at the top and what does he bring to the punt return table?

“I was excited,” Toliver said. “I want to do what I can. I think I can be elusive. I can catch the ball mainly and get to the wall.”

Freshman blueshirt (a walk-on given cause to believe he eventually will be placed on scholarship) Hayden Henry of Little Rock returns home, debuting at second-team Razor outside linebacker behind Ramsey to War Memorial where the Pulaski Academy teams Henry played for won three consecutive state championships.

“It is going to be awesome,” Henry said. “War Memorial is a great atmosphere and it is going to be great to open up the season down there. There will be a lot of fans and it will be a great Thursday night.”

Henry has a great family history with the Razorbacks. His father, Mark, lettered in the offensive line for former coaches Ken Hatfield (1987-89) and Jack Crowe (1990) and his brother Hunter, about to start his second NFL season, lettered from 2013-2015 at Arkansas and finished an All-American winning the 2015 Mackey Award as the nation’s best collegiate tight end.

Randy Ramsey said Hayden Henry’s all in the family football knowledge manifested immediately.

“Yeah it’s in his blood,” Ramsey said. “That guy is a talent and we’ve seen it from the first day of fall camp. He’s an intelligent guy. He’s smarter than most freshmen.”

Fourth-year junior defensive end Armon Watts, the backup to sophomore starter McTelvin “Sosa” Agim, gets a healthy start to this season he didn’t have last year.

“I had a hyperactive thyroid and was on and off a bunch of medication,” Watts said. “So it was hard for me to have a steady heart rate. I’ve been on treatment for that and now I have it (a steady heart rate) on a steady basis. I’m still on medication and I feel pretty good.”

So after playing just one game last because of his condition this season must seem like an opportunity a long time coming.

“Definitely,” Watts said. “Now I’m injury free and ready to show people.”

MONTARIC BROWN PRACTICING

His academic eligibility now certified, incoming freshman safety Montaric Brown of Ashdown began UA fall semester classes Monday joins the Razorbacks for this final week of preseason practice and throughout the season.

Having missed all the summer workouts and preseason practices, Brown conceivably could redshirt and save his freshman playing eligibility for 2018.

CONDOLENCES TO OWENS FAMILY

Condolences to the family of Kerry Owens, a Razorbacks linebacker lettering as a linebacker from 1985-88 for former Coach Ken Hatfield.

Owens has died at 51. Hatfield and former defensive coordinator Fred Goldsmith recruited Owens, rover Odis Loyd and linebacker Reggie Hall as an unheralded trio out of Stuttgart.

All three vastly exceeded recruiting services expectations and all lettered from 1985-88 and became starters together.

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