In-State O-Line studs coming up against stiff competition in fall camp

With the recent down tick in the Arkansas Razorback football program's ability to maximize keeping highly regarded in-state prospects in the fold, pressure grows on those that stay home to represent to the fullest. Arkansas' smaller population, investments in high school development and decline in regional media outlets relative to surrounding Southeastern Conference (SEC) rivals increases the challenges to follow the Lou Holtz formula of "putting a fence around Arkansas" with each passing season.

The home grown talents who choose to accept the invitation to join Razorback Nation always find no shortage of stiff competition to showcase themselves against on the national stage.  The SEC provides the grandest stage of them all, so the best Arkansas has to offer can find themselves in heated competition each spring, summer and fall. That competition comes not only from four and five stars from surrounding states, but also those overlooked and under recruited elsewhere. 

So for Arkansas' born and bred studs like Benton's Braylen Russell, Little Rock's Quincy Rhodes, E'Marion Harris and Charlie Collins, Pine Bluff's Courtney Crutchfield, Warren's Antonio Jordan, Fort Smith's Kobe Branham and Bentonville's C.J. Brown here's looking at you kids. Good fortune in the wars to come. 

Starting up front

Harris chose to follow in his father, Elliot’s, legacy and become a Razorback. He comes into his redshirt junior year with 13 starts as a sophomore on an offensive line that ranked 114th nationally  in sacks allowed (12th in the SEC) and 112th (13th in the SEC) in tackles for loss. 

Now going into his second season as a starter, Harris feels like the ups and downs of his early Razorback journey have prepared him to take the necessary next steps and build on their legacy. 

“It’s definitely been a crazy journey,” Harris said. “My pops always told me that just because he came here don’t mean that I have to come here because it’s my path in life. I chose to come here because it felt like home. Pittman just gave me everything I wanted so I came to the college. It’s been my journey and it’s just been amazing.”

When Razorback head coach Sam Pittman — known as an offensive line guru before taking his first head coaching job six years ago — went into the transfer portal during the offseason it was with the goal of shoring up his bread and butter. He grabbed 6-8, 350 plus Shaquille McRoy from Oregon with the specific intent to push Harris into living up to his potential. 

“When I had to lose weight, I felt like I lost it the wrong way,” said Harris, who added he was as high as 345 when he arrived on campus. "I didn’t do what I needed to do to lose the weight. But now that I’ve got my weight back, I feel a lot (more) confident. My confidence is better and I’m playing better.”

Harris maintains an edge so far in fall camp over the precocious redshirt freshman, but he knows he must learn from his past mistakes in order to hold down the starting right tackle spot.  

Pittman also brought in the portal’s top left tackle in Corey Robinson and top rated center Caden Kitler (Dave Remington Award Watchlist) to go with returning All-SEC left guard Fernando Carmona (Outland Trophy Watchlist). With the left and center positions seemingly secure, the right side competitions remain anything but settled. 

“This offseason I was just focused on getting my weight back and getting stronger,” said Harris who is now down to his fighting weight around 315. “Just learning the offense better. This is my second year in the offense and I’m just learning things that the linemen don’t normally learn in the offense.”

The Lake Show on The Hill

That is because the unheralded Branham is doing his best to make a strong push to unseat returning starter Keyshawn Blackstock at the right guard position. Like Harris, Blackstock took heavy criticism for the offensive line’s struggles last season, but with a veteran signal caller at center like Kitler, missed assignments on the right side this season will require a hard look in the mirror and less time on the field. 

The fresh faces of Branham, who missed much of spring practices due to a wrist injury after starting his only game in the Liberty Bowl, and McRoy are pushing the pile and stirring up call backs of young stars on the come up. 

“The Lake Show. We call it the lake show,” Branham said referring to the famous NBA duo with the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. “I think our chemistry is something we have built over the last couple of weeks, and I think over time it will be even better.”

From his vantage point on the left side of the line, Robinson sees big opportunities for both youngsters. 

“I’d say they are just both massive humans,” Robinson said. “On that side of the ball they are just very physical. When they come at you, you just know that they are there. Their presence is felt for sure.”

One Razorback

The competitive pressure is real but Harris says it is limited to on the field. 

“Even when I mess up, I know Kobe has got my back, so it’s been great,” Harris said. “I’ve also been working with Blackstock a lot and that’s been great. I just feel like working with different people throughout camp and the summer it’s been great because everybody gets to play with everybody.

“I feel like —for me being here last year and this year the offensive line room has definitely gotten a lot closer. It’s time when we are not doing nothing and we will hit each other up. Like, ‘Yo. Come to the crib.’ It’s way better.”

Carmona says the right side competition remains neck and neck from his perspective. 

“All of them, really good players. I mean, like you said, it’s a great competition going on on that side,” he said. “I really couldn’t tell you who’s going to have the edge right now because all of them can play that first Saturday. 

“I think we just have to wait and see, but really good competition. I think whoever’s out there come that first Saturday, we’re going to be just fine. Everybody’s ready, they know the playbook and they’re ready to go.”