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ROGERS -- While the outside world has been focused on Austin Allen and where he ranks in the SEC, Arkansas' coaching staff has been looking beyond him on the depth chart.

Head coach Bret Bielema acknowledged Monday that Allen has set himself apart from the pack as the Razorbacks' No. 1 quarterback, but that isn't the case for his backup.

Neither third-year sophomore Ty Storey nor redshirt freshman Cole Kelley separated himself during 15 spring practices, so they will continue fighting for the No. 2 job throughout the fall.

"Ty Storey is probably playing as good of football as I've seen him play," Bielema told the media at the annual NWA Razorback Club golf tournament. "Cole Kelley had a procedure done during the winter that really shot him up for a great spring and then in the summer he looks good. He looks lean. He looks really really good.

"I'm excited to see those two kinda battle it out for that No. 2 spot."

Storey, a former four-star recruit from Charleston (Ark.), was Allen's backup in 2016 and appeared in three games. He completed 1 of 4 passes for three yards, with his most significant playing time coming in Arkansas' blowout loss at Auburn.

Although he wasn't as highly rated coming out of Lafayette (La.) Teurlings Catholic, Kelley made a push for the backup job last season before ultimately redshirting as a true freshman. Standing at 6-foot-7, he has developed a reputation as a gunslinger and been nicknamed "The Franchise."

Bielema also mentioned that true freshman Daulton Hyatt and walk-ons Jack Lindsey and Carson Proctor were still competing for the fourth-string quarterback spot, which would get to travel with the team.

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