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 Calling all linemen Razorbacks enter spring in search of four starters up front
Posted: Thursday March 25, 1999 11:35 PM
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Much maligned during much of their time at the University of Arkansas, four senior offensive linemen will be missed when the Razorbacks begin spring practice Saturday. Guard Russ Brown started 47 games in a row, including the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1. That game was the 34th straight start for center Grant Garrett and guard Brandon Burlsworth and the 23rd in a row for tackle Chad Abernathy. The only returning starter in the offensive line is tackle Bobby Williams. Shannon Money, Gary Hobbs and Kenny Sandlin played some. But coach Houston Nutt said Thursday that Hobbs would withdraw from school, but return for the fall semester. Nutt said Hobbs would be redshirted next year. Jeremiah Washburn and Curtis Sanders played just enough to letter last year. "Our numbers are out of whack," Nutt said. "We signed eight scholarship offensive linemen and we'll probably try and sign eight more next year." John Geitner, a junior college signee who enrolled at semester, could play tackle or guard. Redshirt freshman Josh Melton might take over at center. If he does, Sandlin could be moved to guard. There's a possibility a defensive linemen could be moved to offense and some high school seniors could play immediately. "But the offensive line was a big question last year," Nutt said. "When I took the job, they told me it was the worst offensive line in the country and they turned out to be a major part of our success." Much will be expected because of Nutt's immediate success last year. Arkansas was 4-7 during each of the previous two years, but started 8-0 in Nutt's first year. The Razorbacks wound up 9-3, including a bowl loss to Michigan. Arkansas was fortunate last year that quarterback Clint Stoerner was healthy throughout the season because a backup quarterback never emerged. That is another priority in the spring, along with finding some defensive backs. Stoerner's backups last year included Jared McBride, Chadd Jones and Grant Sumner. Jones tried five passes in 1998, two more than McBride. Sumner made every trip, but never played. Freshmen Gary Brashears, straight out of high school, and Robby Hampton, a 23-year-old redshirt former baseball player, will get first crack at the No. 2 job. "We've been around the other three and they'll get fundamental work," Nutt said. "We want to come out of the spring with someone as the No. 2 quarterback. We don't want to shuffle them in the fall." Free safety Kenoy Kennedy and corners David Barrett and Harold Harris are the only scholarship players who return in the secondary. That means freshmen could help immediately. In the defensive line, Arkansas must replace Melvin Bradley, Ryan Hale, and C.J. McLain. But Randy Garner, Sacha Lancaster, D.J. Cooper and Carlos Hall played last year and Jermaine Brooks showed great potential before he was injured in the second game. Defensive end Raymond House is often the first name that comes up when the talk turns to the redshirt class. Almost all of the individuals who produced yardage during 1998 are back. Stoerner threw for 2,629 yards and 26 touchdowns during the regular season. Chrys Chukwuma ran for 870 yards and Cedric Cobbs, a highly touted freshman, will get the opportunity to replace Madre Hill, who ran for 669. The top six receivers are back, including Anthony Lucas, who caught 43 for a school record 1,004 yards. The final spring practice will be April 16.
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