2008 OUTLOOK: If there's a mystery team in the SEC, this is it. New coach Bobby Petrino wants to throw the ball and the Razorbacks looked good doing it in the spring, but can they do it in the fall? The defense must replace six starters and has real issues at linebacker. Playing Texas, Alabama, Florida and Auburn over a five-week period from Sept. 13 to Oct. 11 won't make the transition any easier.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
If spring was any indication, the Razorbacks might actually be able to run a balanced offense with multiple receivers. QB Casey Dick looked more capable than ever before, TE D.J. Williams emerged as Arkansas' best receiver and WRs London Crawford and Carlton Salters showed promise. Still, the only proven certainties are C Jonathan Luigs and LG Mitch Petrus.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
The ends were a huge question mark entering the spring but Antwain Robinson, Jake Bequette, Damario Ambrose and Adrian Davis all came through with big springs. The Razorbacks are dangerously thin at linebacker and must replace the entire starting secondary.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS
K Alex Tejada turned out to be the answer as a freshman while P Jeremy Davis is at least solid. The Razorbacks lost two first-round draft picks (Darren McFadden and Felix Jones) who also proved to be dangerous kick returners, but CB Jerrell Norton and WR Reggie Fish have both done some positive things on punt returns.

ROSTER REPORT

--LB Freddie Fairchild would be Arkansas' leading returning tackler but he's no certainty to return after being suspended for the spring following an off-field incident. Between MLB Wendel Davis' offseason knee surgery, Fairchild's absence and the decision to move sophomore Chip Gregory to tailback leaves the Razorbacks with real concerns at linebacker.

Fans were eager for a possible glimpse at the future from Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett, but he didn't last long in the spring before suffering an injury to the thumb on his throwing hand. Even though Arkansas has put in a request on Mallett's behalf asking the NCAA for immediate eligibility this fall, the coaching staff is not counting on Mallett at this point.

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