Keyshawn Blackstock's move to DT screams of desperation on one side of the ball, but it shows depth on the offensive line.
Head coach Sam Pittman announced Wednesday on his first radio show of the season that offensive lineman Keyshawn Blackstock will make the move to the defensive line.
The move comes after serious depth problems on Arkansas’ defensive interior. David Oke will miss some time after a knee injury, and that leaves just three pieces with game experience from last season — Cam Ball, Danny Saili and Ian Geffrard.
On one hand, it shows depth problems on the defensive line, but Arkansas center Caden Kitler said it also shows depth as a positive for the offensive side of the ball.
“It’s huge, I know I said that I don’t think I’ve been on as close a team as I’m on right now, I don’t think I’ve been on one as deep as we are,” Kitler said. “We got two whole lines that can start in the SEC, that’s really unheard of.
“Dumervil stepped up at right guard and he’s been doing great, and we haven’t really skipped a beat, we’ve been doing what we were doing when we had Blackstock and I’m really excited that we have that much depth because if someone goes down, next guy’s up and we’re rolling.”
Arkansas defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr. said Blackstock has been getting up to speed with his new position and has been in and out of meeting rooms with the defensive line coaching staff.
“He’s been a great addition to the room,” Rhodes said. “I know he’s been in and out of the team meeting rooms with my coaches – Coach (Hopper), Coach Adams coach, and the other coaches. So, like I said, he’s just been trying to get used to the way the scheme and how things roll on the defensive side of the ball.”
The Razorbacks will hold a “mock game” on Friday, where they’ll go through essentially a dress rehearsal ahead of the season-opener next Saturday. Kitler said he wants the offensive line to play like a well-oiled machine.
“Just really just what we’ve been doing, I’d like to keep that consistent, the communication aspect,” Kitler said. “The physicality that we’ve been playing with, just playing as one unit and not as a bunch of individuals is huge. Just being consistent with that. We’re gonna be a good line if we can do that.”
Arkansas opens the season against Alabama A&M on August 30. The game will kick off at 3:15 p.m. CT and will air on the SEC Network.
More HawgBeat Arkansas Football Coverage
Category: General Sports
