Barnett returns to field FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas tailback Brandon Barnett joined his teammates on the field Tuesday for the first time this fall.

The junior from Texarkana missed the first eight days of team periods while he continued to rehabilitate a left knee on which he underwent arthroscopic surgery after spring drills.

“It’s been since the spring that I took a snap, so I had to get back into the groove of things,” Barnett said. “There wasn’t too much rust because I’ve been working every day trying to get back.” Barnett, who last season rushed 24 times for 136 yards, ended spring practice as the No. 2 tailback behind Michael Smith. He’s now playing catchup behind Smith, freshmen De’Anthony Curtis and Dennis Johnson and junior Chip Gregory, a converted linebacker.

“There will be a lot of catch-up for him,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “He’s got to prove he can take reps away and prove he can understand what he’s doing in the passing game and in protection.” Petrino said it was good to have Barnett back on the field and praised him for his rehab work and getting into shape for practice. “You just have to come out there with the mindset to work,” Barnett said. “That’s what I did, and I tried to block everything else out and just get the job done.” Barnett said his left knee “feels great” and that he’s looking forward to being part of what’s become a crowded mix at tailback. “I’m a team person,” he said. “In this league, you’re going to need everybody that you can get to get the job done.” Tip drill Casey Dick’s throw for De’Anthony Curtis looked unsalvageable, beyond the reach of the running back, as it spiraled through its arc down the right sideline during a team period.

At least, that was Curtis’ first reaction.

“I was thinking, whoo, he kind of put some air under that,” Curtis said.

But the freshman out of Camden Fairview accelerated into high gear, extended an arm, tipped it with his right hand, then made the catch in full stride for a highlight reel play.

The Razorbacks plan to put their backs into routes with great frequency this season.

“Our running backs can catch the ball,” Coach Bobby Petrino said. “All of them, and they adjust well to the ball.” Personnel report The Monday shoulder injury suffered by tight end Andrew Davie was serious enough to sideline him again Tuesday, but it wasn’t bad enough to prevent him from pretty strenuous rehab.

Davie did any array of training, including pulling a blocking sled backward, during practice time. Also doing the backward-sled training were tight end Lance Thompson (groin ) and defensive tackle Brandon Lampkin, who is apparently progressing well following his trip to the hospital Friday night after a hit to the spine caused shooting pain in his neck.

The group of players with physical ailments also included Jake Bequette, Kareem Crowell (shoulder ), Wendel Davis (knee ), Patrick Jones (ankle ), Ryan Powers, Zach Stadther and Tenarius Wright (ankle ).

Tackling 101 One-on-one tackling drills that match running backs against linebackers and safeties are typically a big highlight of practices as it pushes the concepts of toughness and winning individual battles. The offensive players held the upper hand in general Tuesday, with backs like De’Anthony Curtis, Brandon Barnett and Michael Smith winning a high percentage of their matchups. “You can’t get enough tackling,” Coach Bobby Petrino said. “That drill we do with linebackers and running backs, it’s certainly an advantage to the running back. The tighter space you make it, the easier it is for the linebacker.” Barnett’s competition, which included a couple of moves that led to whiffs by defenders, was particularly impressive as it was his first day running full speed and full contact.

The drill’s best battle featured a nice clash between Smith and freshman safety Elton Ford, who held his ground. Freshman linebacker Jelani Smith provided the highest-impact shot when he collided with the eager-forcontact Dennis Johnson.

Middle linebacker Jerry Franklin won a high percentage of his matchups, though Curtis used a nice juke to get by him once. Senior Elston Forte did not have a strong performance at linebacker, as he had a handful of misses. A side note: Freshman quarterback Jim Youngblood, whose running is considered an asset, participated with the running backs in the drill.

Worth noting Isaac Madison registered a gift interception in team drills when Casey Dick’s pass for receiver Joe Adams sailed way high and into Madison’s waiting arms. Linebacker Freddy Burton scored perhaps the best tackle of the day when he stonewalled De’Anthony Curtis in his tracks on a goal-line carry. Linebacker Jerry Franklin notched an interception against freshman quarterback Jim Youngblood during a team period near the goal line. The Razorbacks will practice twice today, at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.