Bret Bielema

-Arkansas is treating today like a Sunday to compensate for the Thursday game. The team will travel with a larger travel roster than most trips away from Fayetteville.

-Bielema said Jared Cornelius and T.J. Hammonds "are both incorporated into the game plan" but a decision on their status for the game won't be decided until next Tuesday.

-Bielema says he is looking forward to watching Florida A&M's game against Texas Southern live tomorrow; will help the team in preparation watching a game in real time.

-Dwayne Eugene and Randy Ramsey are the team's two best outside linebackers, Bielema says. Eugene beat out Karl Roesler for the starting spot at the Hog linebacker.

Bret Bielema previews FAMU game week (By Blake Sutton)

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-Tight end Grayson Gunter will redshirt. Gunter underwent shoulder surgery in January and missed the spring. Bielema says it was a mutual decision.

-Bielema says Brandon Martin missed about a week and a half of practice, which kept him off the two-deep roster. Bielema thinks Martin will play this year.

-Bielema says there has been an emphasis on starting fast both halves; talks about how last year's blown leads affected preparation.

-Montaric Brown is practicing in full pads now, but likely won't play in the first game.

-Cole Kelley, who is listed as the backup punter, will "surprise some people" if he needs to kick, Bielema says. Connor Limpert, a left-hander, might be used in some strategic situations; can kick rugby style.

-Maleek Williams probably will not redshirt, although he is fourth at running back. That decision will be made next week. Williams' grandfather in Jamaica died recently, so he might miss some practice or game time to attend the funeral in the coming weeks.

-Jordan Jones, Brandon Martin, De'Vion Warren and Jarrod Barnes could factor into the kickoff return, although Deon Stewart and Jonathan Nance are listed as Nos. 1 and 2 right now. There are some three-return schemes.

-Jared Cornelius "feels the best he's ever felt" today in his back rehab.

-Freshmen De'Vion Warren and Koilan Jackson should see playing time at receiver.

-Bielema says the demeanor is better this year than in the past; "they're coachable and if I say something, it happens....It shows the maturity of this group."

-Alex Wood, the former Arkansas QBs coach, is head coach at Florida A&M. Bielema says he and Wood know each other because both played at Iowa.

-The offensive line has "made a nice stride" this preseason. Bielema is complimentary of Colton Jackson and Hjalte Froholdt, and backups like Ty Clary, Jalen Merrick and Paul Ramirez.

-Bielema says defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads "has a way of being loud verbally without yelling," and says the defenders react well to him.

-Tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. will be in the press box this year.

-Bielema says that Dre Greenlaw's absence during some of preseason helped De'Jon Harris become more vocal among the linebackers.

-Dwayne Eugene is no longer cross-training at one of the inside linebacker positions.

-Bielema says he hopes that the team has a chip on its shoulder. "No one liked to live through the end of last season...but if you own it you can learn from it."

-Brian Wallace wore a walkie-talkie in his helmet during practice, which allowed the coaches to give him some directions right up until the snap. Coaches hope that will help during the game when Wallace won't be able to wear the speaker in his helmet.

-Bielema, who is on the college football rules committee, says he thinks quarterbacks and linebackers will be able to wear speakers in their helmets during games.

-Chad Walker will be the defensive coach in the press box.

Coordinators

Dan Enos addresses the media ahead of Florida A&M (By Blake Sutton)

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Paul Rhoads on defensive game prep for FAMU (By Blake Sutton )

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-Dan Enos says he likes the look of the run game going into the opener, both from the line and the backs.

-Enos indicates that it would have been hard to manage six tight ends. Gunter was behind the others physically.

-The players like speakers in the helmet "to a certain extent," Enos says. He thinks it will cut down on teams stealing signals.

-Enos says the timing has been good between Austin Allen and some more inexperienced receivers; mentioned Pettway, Nance and Jones. "We're really excited about that group. When we can get Jared back that will be a huge bonus."

-Enos says Koilan Jackson and Jarrod Barnes have "wowed" coaches on some days, but have to be more consistent. Both are in the mix for playing time.

-Wallace wearing the headset helped with pre-snap alignments, Enos said. "I think it's helped; I think it's been good."

-Paul Rhoads says Dwayne Eugene was more natural as an outside linebacker than inside.

-Rhoads says the defense is truly two-deep at all positions; says it wasn't that way last season, at least in the secondary.

-The team will play more base coverage than last season, Rhoads says, but offensive personnel will dictate how much the Razorbacks play a nickel back. Arkansas will play more base coverage against one-back teams with one or more tight ends; thinks Randy Ramsey and Dwayne Eugene can handle one-on-one coverage.

-On coaching from the sideline instead of the press box, Rhoads says he thinks it is wrong to be in the box on Saturday when he is on the field every other day of the week. He says it is easier to make in-game adjustments from the field.

-The backup cornerbacks - Britto Tutt, Chevin Calloway and Kamren Curl - are comfortable playing both sides of the field, Rhoads says.

-Rhoads says last season was his first year in the booth since 1999, when he was an assistant coach at Iowa State. He called being in the booth "cagey."