Walk-on Linebacker Turning Heads

[Mike Irwin]

Khalia Hackett, Josh Williams and Brooks Ellis have been playing musical chairs in the Razorbacks linebacker corp this spring. Heading into Saturday's Red-White spring game Ellis is working at Will linebacker, Williams at Sam linebacker while Hackett is quarterbacking the defense from the Mike position. Defensive coordinator Robb Smith says this fall each can be moved around among the three positions based on the personnel grouping of the Hogs' opponents.

Arkansas football fans following spring ball are familiar with all three players but there's a new name in the mix at Mike linebacker. Working behind Hackett is walk-on redshirt freshman Josh Harris who has been turning heads with his mean streak as a tackler and his ability to stay with tight ends and receivers in pass coverage. The latter is no small feat for the 5-10 inch Harris who finds himself having to cover the likes of 6-5 Hunter Henry and 6-6 Jeremy Sprinkle. Harris said successful pass coverage has a lot to do with making proper reads.
-----------------------
To read more and to view the video version of this story click on the link below:
http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltextsports/d/story/walkon-linebacker-turning-heads/18198/US4PS3b3nU-9PdBsIerl4w

[nwahogfan1]

Khalia Hackett, Josh Williams and Brooks Ellis have been playing musical chairs in the Razorbacks linebacker corp this spring. Heading into Saturday's Red-White spring game Ellis is working at Will linebacker, Williams at Sam linebacker while Hackett is quarterbacking the defense from the Mike position. Defensive coordinator Robb Smith says this fall each can be moved around among the three positions based on the personnel grouping of the Hogs' opponents.

Arkansas football fans following spring ball are familiar with all three players but there's a new name in the mix at Mike linebacker. Working behind Hackett is walk-on redshirt freshman Josh Harris who has been turning heads with his mean streak as a tackler and his ability to stay with tight ends and receivers in pass coverage. The latter is no small feat for the 5-10 inch Harris who finds himself having to cover the likes of 6-5 Hunter Henry and 6-6 Jeremy Sprinkle. Harris said successful pass coverage has a lot to do with making proper reads.
-----------------------
To read more and to view the video version of this story click on the link below:
http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltextsports/d/story/walkon-linebacker-turning-heads/18198/US4PS3b3nU-9PdBsIerl4w

We all love to hear those success stories about walkon's that love the game but are not the typical size coaches want to sign right a way so they get them to walk on but through hard work and great attitude succeed and earn a spot on the 1st team and a scholarship.

[kp72204]

I think the walk-on program is gonna pretty special going forward. Already pulling(at the very least) possible future starters that can really contribute, not just because there's an open slot.

[Jamie Jones]

Sam Mills, Dat Nguyen, London Fletcher, and Zach Thomas, just to name a few, were all too small to play. JS!

[Wildhog]

It's really huge to keep finding these walk-ons that can be contributors.  Very excited about Harris.

[DeltaBoy]

Good to hear we got some depth at LB and that the Walk on is doing so good.

[presidenthog]

Sam Mills, Dat Nguyen, London Fletcher, and Zach Thomas, just to name a few, were all too small to play. JS!

I'm pretty sure olajabutu was also 5'10 considered to short, but loved the game and had great instincts very similar to this young man.

[flippinhogmana]

I'm pretty sure olajabutu was also 5'10 considered to short, but loved the game and had great instincts very similar to this young man.

I think 5-10 is being generous, he was probably closer to 5-9 if I remember correctly.  He other that the pros, was who came to my mind.

[Hawgzinbowlz]

Glad to hear Ellis, Williams and Hackett can interchange positions. In the event of an injury this would help keep the quality of the 2nd level consistent.
Josh Harris is a good CBB story...and it helps with depth.

" WOO PIG "

[pfrg999]

I think 5-10 is being generous, he was probably closer to 5-9 if I remember correctly.  He other that the pros, was who came to my mind.

Sir, I beg to differ, Measured on the field in Cleats and a wearing his Helmet he was at least 5'10 or maybe 5'11 JK/ I was beside him one time and he was not really any taller than me,  I crest at the amazing height of almost 5'9

[Jamie Jones]

I'm pretty sure olajabutu was also 5'10 considered to short, but loved the game and had great instincts very similar to this young man.

I thought of him, but couldn't remember how to spell his name. And I wasn't about to get hammered by the grammar police on here.

[Theolesnort]

Actually Butu couldn't quite stretch to make 5 ft 8 in but they listed him at that heigth.

[justmaybe]

The longer this thread gets the shorter Butu gets.........

[presidenthog]

The longer this thread gets the shorter Butu gets.........

Really I think he was more like 5'7 now that I think about it. I said 5'10 cause I thought that was what he was listed as and we all know that you can lose about 3 inches sometimes come draft day.

[JIHawg]

Really I think he was more like 5'7 now that I think about it. I said 5'10 cause I thought that was what he was listed as and we all know that you can lose about 3 inches sometimes come draft day.

I understand he carried the dwarfism gene.

[chitwnhog]

http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Sam&l=Olajubutu&i=7749

[TeedupHigh]

Really I think he was more like 5'7 now that I think about it. I said 5'10 cause I thought that was what he was listed as and we all know that you can lose about 3 inches sometimes come draft day.

\
loose three inch?!?!?!  That would make some of us aunts instead of uncles!

[GuvHog]

Glad to hear Ellis, Williams and Hackett can interchange positions. In the event of an injury this would help keep the quality of the 2nd level consistent.
Josh Harris is a good CBB story...and it helps with depth.

" WOO PIG "

Josh was the leader on Watson Chapel's defense and he's definitely a stud so to me, it's not a surprise that he's doing really well. His dad (Jackie Harris) was a great player himself (Dallas Cowboys).

[TheAlphaHog]

Can you say Jericho Nelson and Sam Olajabutu (too lazy to check spelling today)......
They were short, always around the ball and packed a big punch.
Woo Pig

[snf6278]

Wasn't Bua around 5'10"?

[Justagp]

I understand he carried the dwarfism gene.

That so made me laugh 

[alohawg]

The longer this thread gets the shorter Butu gets.........

That justmaybe true.

[hawgXi]

if I'm reading things right, it looks like "harris" was the leading tackler in saturday's RW game.

playing on the white team he recorded 7 unassisted plus 7 assisted for 14 total tackles.

so that would be defending against the 1's.

it will be hard to keep this type effort off the field.

[Vantage 8 dude]

Khalia Hackett, Josh Williams and Brooks Ellis have been playing musical chairs in the Razorbacks linebacker corp this spring. Heading into Saturday's Red-White spring game Ellis is working at Will linebacker, Williams at Sam linebacker while Hackett is quarterbacking the defense from the Mike position. Defensive coordinator Robb Smith says this fall each can be moved around among the three positions based on the personnel grouping of the Hogs' opponents.

Arkansas football fans following spring ball are familiar with all three players but there's a new name in the mix at Mike linebacker. Working behind Hackett is walk-on redshirt freshman Josh Harris who has been turning heads with his mean streak as a tackler and his ability to stay with tight ends and receivers in pass coverage. The latter is no small feat for the 5-10 inch Harris who finds himself having to cover the likes of 6-5 Hunter Henry and 6-6 Jeremy Sprinkle. Harris said successful pass coverage has a lot to do with making proper reads.
-----------------------
To read more and to view the video version of this story click on the link below:
http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltextsports/d/story/walkon-linebacker-turning-heads/18198/US4PS3b3nU-9PdBsIerl4w

Yep, I see where Harris has something like 14 tackles split evenly between solo and assists in yesterday's Red/White game. While it may have only been a scrimmage, it WAS against the starters and certainly not a bad day at all! The kid seems to be all over the place. Assuming he can stay healthy this coming season there are some starting LBs who'd better be giving it their all 'cause this kid is seriously begging to start!

[Pig in the Pokey]

We all love to hear those success stories about walkon's that love the game but are not the typical size coaches want to sign right a way so they get them to walk on but through hard work and great attitude succeed and earn a spot on the 1st team and a scholarship.

hell yeah. At Arkansas we need a few lucky breaks. Froholdt's buddy could be another. Sometimes college All-Americans aren't NFL guys strictly because they ae too short. I see kids all the time make up for 2 inches or 20 lbs with MAD HEART.

[SooiecidetillNuttgone]

I understand he carried the dwarfism gene.

By the end of this thread, he'll have shrunk 10-12 inches!

[rzrbackramsfan]

Is Reid miller the friend of froholdts from img that walked on? #22.  He was playing with the twos and had a really nice tackle on Henry.  He got burned a few times but looked pretty good for a walk on.

[ki285]

I also thought Reid Miller looked pretty good for a walk on who should still be in high school right now. He's not afraid to mix it up. Also seems like a good kid. He stopped and talked to my two sons who are 2&7 years old.

[Vantage 8 dude]

Is Reid miller the friend of froholdts from img that walked on? #22.  He was playing with the twos and had a really nice tackle on Henry.  He got burned a few times but looked pretty good for a walk on.

He is indeed. It will be interesting to see how Reid progresses and improves over the next couple of years. Seems to me there's definitely some potential there. While he did get burned on a couple of passes, I noticed he seemed to be giving it great effort. I think a year or two under the staff's tutoring might do wonders for the young man.

[Hog Fan from Camden]

I liked what I saw from both Harris and Miller.

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

I thought of him, but couldn't remember how to spell his name. And I wasn't about to get hammered by the grammar police on here.

The Grammar Police have already smelled your fear AND DONE THEIR WORST...

[rzrbaxfan]

Josh Harris is the son of former NFL tight end Jackie Harris and is from Pine Bluff.  He played high school ball at Watson Chapel.  This kid as a lot of drive to play big time football.  Don't let his size fool you.  He's a hitter!

[NLRHog92]

Can't wait to see him sneakily get down the field on special teams and then BAM clean somebody's clock! LOVE this walk-on program that is not only paying dividends by helping out the starters against great scout team players, but also getting some guys that are developing and proving their worth to be eventual contributors on the field. It's also great to get homegrown Hogs that have the passion they do for the state and to play for this team, which in turn keeps relations up as well. Harris in 2014, Miller early enrollee 2015, along with Phillips and Keaton in this last class, and then hopefully Grant Morgan for 2016. Those are some high quality back 7 walk-ons! Keep it going CBB :razorback:

[KlubhouseKonnected]

I had some classes with Sammy O. He was not 5-10.

[razorbackfan4life]

It's funny.  I just watched the spring game and noticed him A LOT.  He was making plays. 

[thirrdegreetusker]

Legend has it that, when Wayne (Thumper) Harris was already a super-stud at Arkansas, one assistant coach, as a joke, slipped some of Wayne's old high school film in the projector. Asked other coaches to come in and tell what they think of this kid they were looking at. All came in, looked a the film, and said "Too small."

When NFL-HOFer Nick Buonoconti was a senior at Notre Dame, he found out that his own coaches would not recommend him to the NFL guys. He said to one, "But coach, I would run through a wall for you!!!" His coach replied "Yeah, but problem is, you'd leave a real small hole".