NWADG College Football

2017

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Burton Pools & Spas YOUR SOURCE FOR BACKYARD FUN M-F 8 AM – 6 PM | Sat 9 AM – 5 PM | Sun Closed 725 South 48th St | Springdale, AR | 479.756.5511 6121 South Zero | Fort Smith, AR | 479.648.3483 Swimming Pools Commercial Remodel Hot Tubs | Grills Service | Retail CELEBRATING 39 YEARS! Come celebrate our Backyard Vacation Event and get up to $2,500 off select fi berglass pool packages! Winner of 13 APSP International Design Awards burtonpools.com Sunday, August 27, 2017 21 NWA Democrat-Gazette College Football Preview Secondary Arkansas' solid play at cornerback went largely unno- ticed last season because of run-stopping issues. Ryan Pulley, Henre' Toliver and Kevin Richardson are all back at the relatively deep corner spot, and they'll be bolstered by Britto Tutt, freshmen Kamren Curl, Chevin Calloway and Korey Hernandez. The Hogs are still thin at safety. Santos Ramirez has emerged as a starter and defensive captain, along with Richardson, while Josh Liddell and De'Andre Coley jockeyed back and forth at the other spot. Reid Miller has stayed in the two deep, ahead of redshirts Micahh Smith and Deon Edwards. An item to watch: if blue-chip signee Montaric "Bust- er" Brown clears eligibility and makes it to campus as expected, can he break into the rotation? Special teams Cole Hedlund has been the on-again, off-again top kick- er the last couple of years, and the same scenario could play out in 2017 as the junior parries with walk-on fresh- man Blake Mazza. As Hedlund rested a groin muscle the first scrimmage, Mazza impressed, but Hedlund came back in scrimmage No. 2 and went 4 for 4 on field goals, including a 48-yarder. Redshirt sophomore Blake Johnson punted very well in the spring and in camp, but then hit a few duds in the scrimmage open to fans on Aug. 12. He's still the favorite to win the job. Lead punt returner Jared Cornelius' back woes might end his run as a return man, opening the door for Henre' Toliver and Deon Stewart on punts. Stewart and freshmen like Chevin Calloway and Jarrod Barnes have worked as kickoff return men. T.J. Hammonds is an ideal type of kickoff returner, but his knee surgery, expected to keep him out until right before the opener, might change those plans. Arkansas has not been dynamic on returns since the tenures of Joe Adams and Dennis Johnson ended in 2012. Time will tell if a playmaker emerges in that department this fall. v Continued from previous page Hedlund NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Arkansas defensive back Josh Liddell makes a catch Aug. 5 prior to the start of a scrim- mage at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

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