Football season is here.
Arkansas was back on the field Friday for its first football practice of the 2023 season. Things were about the same as they were in the spring, but some minor changes could make a world of difference when the season begins.
A handful of Razorbacks players who spent last year or the spring injured are healthy. None of them are expected to be starters, exactly, but their availability helps depth, especially as about half of them could see time on the second team.
Defensive end Landon Jackson, a transfer from LSU, looked recovered from an ACL injury and was the second-unit end. Jaqualyn Crawford broke his leg in the spring, but was going full speed Friday. And Dorian Gerald, back for a seventh season of college football, was looking to make his way up the depth chart after the NCAA granted him another year.
Position battles in the secondary will highlight camp. Arkansas brought in starters from LSU and Georgia in Dwight McGlothern and Latavious Brini in the offeseason, but both were on the second unit Friday. LaDarrius Bishop, who started at one of the cornerback spots last year, was also on the second unit.
Arkansas opens its season September 3 at home against Cincinnati.