Razorback Report: Tevin Mitchel Evaluates His Game; Saturday Scrimmage Open

 

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas football team continued spring practice on Thursday afternoon, holding practice No. 8 outside on a 70-degree day.

After the practice senior cornerback Tevin Mitchel said the team was taking a step forward and in evaluating himself he said “I need to improve on everything.”

“This is my last spring,” he said. “I’m looking to get better at every technique… I’m doing my best to become the best player.”

He said his outlook going into the 2014 season is “totally different” than it has been in previous season.

“This is my last one,” he said. “It finally hit me, this is my last go-round, so I’m trying to make the best of it and play to the best of my abilities.

Defensive coordinator and secondary coach Robb Smith was available to the media after practice and spoke about his impressions from last week’s first scrimmage.

“It told me that we’re still a work in progress,” Smith said. “Right now we need to spend time cleaning up some things that we have already installed. I think we have a good baseline in and now as things move forward we have to get better playing situational football. We’ve got seven more opportunities and the spring game so we have to keep pushing forward and get where we need to be by fall camp.”

Smith also spoke about what the Razorbacks focused on in Thursday’s practice.

“I think (head coach) Bret (Bielema) is doing a great job of teaching football IQ to our players,” Smith said. “The way you do that is you handle things in critical areas like third down and redzone situations. We had a lot of emphasis on that today and Tuesday, and that will really help us in the scrimmage on Saturday.”

Another note of interest: It appears Austin Allen, the redshirt freshman quarterback and brother of current starting QB, Brandon Allen, has secured his spot as the backup in the position, at least for the moment. Previous No. 2 QB AJ Derby practiced Thursday at tight end. With 6-5 height and more than 240 pounds, Derby has the build for the spot.

Arkansas is holding its second open scrimmage Saturday. The scrimmage begins inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium at approximately 11:45 a.m. Gate 1 will open for fans at 11 a.m.

Parking is available in Lots 72 and 73 across Razorback Road from Gate 1 and in Lot 44 north of the stadium. Fans will enter through Gate 1 on the southwest corner of the stadium beginning at 11 a.m. Once inside, seating for fans will be available on the west side of the stadium.

Saturday’s practice will be the Razorbacks’ ninth of 15 allotted practices in the spring. Practices wrap up with the annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 26 at 1 p.m. Admission is free to the game, which will also be broadcast live on CST.

Tevin Mitchel Evaluates His Game

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