New Intel:Razorback football units trade blows leading into break
Arkansas quarterback Malachi Singleton (right) runs with the ball Thursday during the Razorbacks’ practice at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. Singleton threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to wideout Davion Dozier, whose back-handed, one-hand catch at the goal line was the best play of the first five practices of spring. More photos at nwaonline.com/315uaspring/. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Andy Shupe)
The Arkansas Razorbacks headed into their lengthy spring break with a bang on Thursday, putting on a feisty 72 plays of live tackling with lots of give and take from the offensive and defensive units and a wide variety of standout plays at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Wideout Davion Dozier made the best play of the first five practices of spring, stacking another strong day on top of a standout showing on Tuesday.
The 6-4 redshirt freshman jumped high to make a back-handed, one-hand stab of a catch at the goal-line for a 19-yard touchdown from Malachi Singleton. The highlight-reel catch came against blanket coverage from Dylan Hasz, but it wouldn’t have mattered who was in coverage on the unstoppable throw and catch.
That gold-star play had teammates buzzing on both sides of the ball for another couple of plays, though offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino was quickly back to business on the next snap.
“It was a fantastic catch today down in the red area,” said Coach Sam Pittman, who also provided perspective on how the club has looked through five practices.
“I like the progress we’ve made … from January to now,” he said. “I do like the progress. I like the team. You guys have been at practice. … You have to like the feel of the football team. We’re starting to find out who can play, what we can do offensively, what we can do defensively.
Almost as impressive as Dozier’s one-hand gem was a play that began with quarterback Taylen Green rolling left on the eighth and final play of the first set of snaps for the first offense. Green threw deep down the left sideline for Isaiah Sategna, who had corner Jaylon Braxton and nickel Lorando Johnson right with him. The former Fayetteville High star made the catch in traffic about 25 yards downfield, stayed in bounds and completed the 61-yard touchdown pass to fire up the sideline.
With a misting rain to open the proceedings, the Hogs had bad news out of the gate.
Tight end Luke Hasz had his left ankle stepped on by a running back during individual drills in a freak accident.
Hasz was examined by head athletic trainer Dave Polanski and was withheld from the rest of the workout, though he stayed on his feet and remained engaged.
“He’s fine but he has a low ankle sprain,” Pittman said.