Razorbacks Spring Evaluation Period

Matt Hinton of rivals.com recently wrote an article about Bobby Petrino and the University of Arkansas football program “cutting the fat” from their roster. He cites 7 players have been granted a release from their scholarship during the 2011 spring evaluation period with a “persona non grata” attitude from Petrino.

What Hinton is not telling his readers:

Seth Oxner, a soon to be 5^th year senior, has already graduated from the University of Arkansas. Oxner was the starting center for the Razorbacks in 2009 and lost his starting position to freshman Travis Swanson last season. So what is Petrino suppose to do? Keep the kid on the bench during his senior season or let him transfer somewhere else so he can finish up his college career and possible football career as a starter at another/smaller school? In my opinion he is doing Oxner a favor. Oxner will never get another chance to be college eligible again. On a competitive note, if he’s not good enough to beat a freshman out???

Lance Ray is a wide receiver buried on a depth chart that is easily the best unit in college football… with more incoming talent being added in August. If Ray is more interested in smoking marijuana than running routes, he needs to go. I think Petrino was nice enough to let a starting corner back walk off the team and join Oklahoma State after a similar situation last year.

Kicker Eddie Camara was a freshman last year just like 2010 starter Zach Hocker. Most kickers do not get hurt during their career, sans Martin Gramatica. IF Petrino let Camara know that he is going to have a tough time making the field as a place kicker or kick-off team specialist… again, what are Camara and Petrino to do? Allow the kid to go somewhere so he can play.

Sophomore linebacker Austin Moss and freshman guard Cam Feldt are losses the Razorback program would be reeling from for a couple of years under the old regime. Both players were highly recruited coming out of high school. I hate to see them leave but I have to think they are doing what is best for their college careers.

Tight End Ryan Calender is another player that I was looking forward to watching progress through his years at Arkansas. Starting TE, junior Chris Gragg is another Chris Carter in the making, because “all he does is catch touchdowns”. With his speed and catching ability, Gragg could follow in departed TE, DJ Williams’s footsteps as another Mackey Award winner. This could seem daunting for Calender.

Colby Berna is looking for a medical exception due to complications with his shoulder. If he is physically unable to perform, there’s not much Petrino can do about that.

Just to clarify, three of the parting players I wish we could keep but I trust Petrino and hope those players are doing what’s best for themselves and the team. Of the remaining players granted their release, one has graduated from Arkansas, another is physically unable to perform, a third has been busted with marijuana, and a kicker that is in the same class as the returning starter.

Petrino has made it clear to all incoming players to be ready to play and keep working hard or else. De’Anthony Curtis is a hold over from the Houston Nutt staff. Curtis has been moved around to running back, wide receiver, and corner back. If Petrino was “heartless” he would’ve given Curtis his walking papers a long time ago. Petrino does not owe Curtis anything as he did not recruit him. Because Petrino sees Curtis working hard and trying to improve everyday, he has tried to find a way to get Curtis on the field. If these other players were exhibiting the same effort, I’m sure they would still be apart of the Razorback program.

Parting thoughts: 

I seriously doubt that any of the “student athletes” released by Petrino will have a tough time finding a school that will extend them a scholarship so they can receive their degree and grow as a football player.

I always thought that if a college student receives a scholarship due to their ACT and SAT test scores and/or high school grades, if that student does not achieve a certain standard nor progress while attending said school, that student could lose their scholarship. Why couldn’t a student-athlete be under the same scrutiny?

You can read Hinton’s article at:  http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Oversigning-Arkansas-cuts-to-the-chase-on-cutti?urn=ncaaf-wp1658