Three observations as Arkansas football returns to practice after spring break

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football returned to the practice fields Tuesday afternoon for the first time since spring break gave the team a one-week rest.

The Razorbacks will host seven more practices before the annual Red-White Game on April 19. Arkansas is preparing for its sixth season under head coach Sam Pittman, coming off a 7-6 campaign in 2024 that ended with a victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl.

Here are three observations from Tuesday's practice:

Why Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman is confident in his offense despite lost production

Five takeaways from Arkansas football's first spring practice

The Charlotte transfer was a favorite target of both Taylen Green and Madden Iamaleava, asserting himself as a worthy go-to receiver.

Blake worked with the first-team offense during team drills and made a handful of receptions both running across the middle and breaking toward the outside. The Hogs are still looking for a boundary receiver to assert himself — with Kam Shanks and Raylen Sharpe looking strong in the slot — and Blake's performance is something on which to build.

Blake was especially impressive when working with Iamaleava. They connected on a go route midway through practice that might have been the best throw-and-catch of the entire spring. Later, the duo produced another explosive play on a deep corner route.

Blake was the offensive star of the day, but Iamaleava wasn't far behind. The true freshman was the best quarterback on the field Tuesday, unafraid of taking deep shots and fitting strong passes into tight windows through the middle of the field. Iamaleava might just compete for the backup quarterback job this fall if his spring practices carry over.

Arkansas football wide receiver O'Mega Blake (9) and defensive back Jaheim Singletary (15) go head-to-head during spring practice.

Spring break can give coaches a chance to reset their pecking orders after transfers and freshmen have had some time to acclimate, but the Hogs didn't make many adjustments to their starters and backups in the first football action of April.

Returnees Selman Bridges and Jaheim Singletary started at cornerback, while Keyshawn Blackstock and E'Marion Harris stayed with the first-team offensive line. That meant some notable transfers like cornerback Keshawn Davila and right tackle Shaq McRoy stayed with the second-string units.

Rodney Hill did run with the first-team offense instead of Braylen Russell, but there was healthy rotation throughout the two-hours practice.

The defensive tackle transfer from Abilene Christian missed the first two weeks with a hamstring injury, but he was out there Tuesday working in individual drills and doing some light rotation in team work.

Pittman made his way over to watch the defensive line for a brief period and complimented Oke on back-to-back reps. The Nigerian's athleticism was evident, even in minimal work, and Arkansas needs him to be an impact player this fall alongside Cam Ball and Ian Geffrard.

Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Three observations from Arkansas football's seventh spring practice