FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas has completed 12 of the 15 spring practices and Ron Roberts, the defensive coordinator, likes where his side of the ball is at.
Roberts feels the defense is at where he hoped and even ahead in certain aspects.
"I think we're pretty close," Roberts said. "Some aspects, I think maybe we're farther than I thought we'd get I thought. Schematically, we got a little farther along than I thought we're gonna get to I though a big thing coming into spring was, 'Hey, can we— when you want to get the scheme installed do they have an understanding of it? At what point do they have a hold on it?' But I think our guys did a really good job with that stuff. It's really that and then establishing the tempo, which I thought we got better at, especially the last six practices. I thought we got better every day at doing that."
Roberts coaches the linebackers as well on defense. Among his linebackers is former Harding Academy redshirt sophomore Wyatt Simmons, 6-1, 226. In 2025, Simmons had 17 tackles, including eight solo. Roberts likes Simmons and spoke about his strengths.
"Yeah, he’s a great kid," Roberts said. "Tremendous work ethic. Great guy. Great effort every day. 100 miles an hour. Wants to do everything he can to please you. Just you know, if anything he lacks right now is the experience of being there, being in the fire and done that. But he’s got a tremendous motor and the speed he plays the game at, I love it."
Roberts said Simmons and Bradley Shaw have played some linebacker together this spring.
"Wyatt plays some will," Roberts said. "We’ve moved him around and we expect those guys to be able to play both."
Two true freshmen who have caught Roberts' eye are Conway safety Tay Lockett, 6-0, 180. and Cross County defensive tackle Danny Beale III, 6-5, 348. Both were heavily recruited. Lockett was the first commitment in Arkansas' Class of 2025 while Beale committed following the hiring of Ryan Silverfield.
"Tay does have a high football IQ," Roberts said. "He’s intelligent. The toughest thing for a freshman coming in is — it’s two things: Adjusting to the speed of the game and then can they handle the workload? You know, because in high school a lot of times people are calling two defenses. There’s two defenses which is not going to happen in college football. You’d get your eyes shot out. So his ability to understand and take on the coaching part he’s done a really good job with that. I think it’s really allowed him to get in.
"Danny, again, has done a good job with it. He’s got a good work ethic. And obviously he’s a physical tool. The guy’s 300 and … I don’t know. I’d probably be light if I said he was 335. I’m sure I’m pretty light on that. But he’s a big physical kid that’s going to be a really good football player. So with him, we kind of threw him into the fire early. Just like, we’re going to baptism him, you know what I mean. Throw him in and let’s go. We’re going to live with it and teach him on the ropes."
Roberts admitted when he was at Florida the past two years he wasn't aware of Lockett or Beale. Roberts said though when he got to Arkansas it didn't take him long to know what he had in the pair.
"Well, first thing, before I met them, I saw the film," Roberts said. "And I called — I knew his high school coach in California, Tay’s, so I talked to him. I knew him pretty well because we had recruited kid out of there. Him and Khmori House are from the same high school in California before he moved to Conway. So I talked to him, what type of person he was, how intelligent he is, how does he absorb information, those type of things. I thought coming in, I was excited about him. I thought his ability, hey, as a freshman, this guy’s got a chance to help immediately. Can he adjust to the speed of the game? Can he adjust to all the other things — class, living on your own, and all that stuff — as a freshman?
"Then obviously Danny, he shows it. He’s a physical specimen. He’s a big, physical guy and they just don’t grow on trees like that."
While Roberts concentrates on defense, he did express praise for Benton junior running back Braylen Russell, 6-1, 235, on Monday. Last season, Russell rushed 55 times for 286 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 27 yards.
"I would not want to tackle him for four quarters," Roberts said. "He’s a big, physical kid when he’s running. He looks really good. I haven’t watched him like that, evaluate him a ton. I know he’s a high-effort kid, he’s shown he can pick up on everything. He just plays with a tremendous motor, selfless player. I know those things about him."
The spring game will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in Razorback Stadium. The Hogs will practice Tuesday and Thursday, both closed to the media, prior to Saturday's game.