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Arkansas Football Preseason Outlook: Linebacker

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Arkansas Football Preseason Outlook: Linebacker


FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ linebackers room lost an All-American in Drew Sanders and the program’s all-time tackles leader in Bumper Pool following the 2022 season.

But the Razorbacks should still enter preseason camp Friday confident in the second level of their defense.

Chris Paul, a redshirt sophomore, showed terrific instincts and glimpses of an All-SEC performer last fall. He finished with 62 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Paul started the team’s final two games after Pool was shut down due to injuries to his hips and back and recorded 21 tackles, including a career-best 12 against Kansas at the Liberty Bowl.

Paul posted the third-highest overall defense grade (76.2) among Arkansas’ returnees, according to Pro Football Focus. Defensive backs Dwight McGlothern and Hudson Clark came in at 77.2 and 77.0, respectively, in 2022.

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Jordan Crook, Mani Powell and Kaden Henley are returning players. Crook, a sophomore, played 122 defensive snaps, per PFF, and was stout in run defense with a grade of 90.6 in 40 snaps. He had 10 tackles in the final spring scrimmage.

Powell and Henley hope to push into the rotation this preseason.

The Razorbacks hit the NCAA transfer portal for two key pieces. Antonio Grier, entering his sixth college season, arrived at Arkansas from South Florida and made an impact in spring drills. He had 209 total tackles from 2019-21, including a career-best 92 stops and 9 tackles for loss in 2021.

Jaheim Thomas of Cincinnati was the final transfer addition, committing in early May. He did not go through spring practices with the Razorbacks, but he figures to factor in immediately. Thomas finished with seven tackles against Arkansas during the 2022 season opener in Fayetteville.

Thomas was third last season in tackles (70) on a Bearcats defense that finished 20th nationally in scoring defense (20.6 points allowed). He also posted a run defense grade of 80.6 over 238 such snaps, per PFF.

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Alex Sanford, Brad Spence and Carson Dean are the top freshmen at the position. Dean finished with eight tackles in the team’s final scrimmage of the spring. He was a 4-star prospect, according to Rivals, while Sanford and Spence were 3-star signees.

More preseason football position group outlooks

• Wide receiver and tight end

• Backfield

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Arkansas

VIDEO: Calipari, Aidoo postgame – Florida 71, Arkansas 63

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VIDEO: Calipari, Aidoo postgame – Florida 71, Arkansas 63


Watch the postgame press conference from Arkansas head coach John Calipari and center Jonas Aidoo after the 71-63 loss to Florida on Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

Visit our homepage for complete coverage of Arkansas basketball, including everything you need to know from the Hoop Hogs’ game.



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2025 Small Works on Paper tour opens Monday at UALR | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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2025 Small Works on Paper tour opens Monday at UALR | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


The Arkansas Arts Council’s 2025 Small Works on Paper touring exhibition debuts Monday and remains on display through Feb. 16 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Windgate Center of Art + Design, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock.

A reception, 5-7 p.m. Jan. 30, will feature presentations by the 35 Arkansas artists whose 40 pieces, no larger than 18-by-24 inches, are part of the exhibition. Refreshments will be served.

Admission to the reception and the gallery is free. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

The visual art exhibition is in its 38th year, spotlighting Arkansas artists who are members of the Arkansas Artist Registry, an online gallery maintained by the Arkansas Arts Council. Most works will be available for sale with all proceeds benefiting the artists. The exhibition will tour nine venues statewide.

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This year’s juror, New Jersey-based artist Mario A. Robinson, reviewed more than 200 entries and chose the work of three artists — Jennifer Barnett and Derek Slagle, both of Little Rock, and Richard Stephens of Hot Springs — for purchase awards that will become part of the Small Works on Paper permanent collection. The artists receive cash awards that are equivalent to the value of their artwork.

    “Weird Weather,” acrylic painting by Susan Chambers of Little Rock; “Good Days,” acrylic on newspaper by Alexia Lams of Pine Bluff; “Offerings,” watercolor and thread on paper by Rhaelene Lowther of Magnolia; “Hillside Hives,” pastel and graphite on brown paper by David Mudrinich of Russellville; and “The Old Neighborhood,” pastel by Dennis McCann of Maumelle, are part of the Arkansas Arts Council’s 2025 Small Works on Paper touring exhibition, debuting Monday and on display through Feb. 16 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Windgate Center of Art + Design. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette)
 
 

The exhibition will be on display:

◼️ March 3-26 at the River Valley Arts Center, 1001 E. St., Russellville (rivervalleyartscenter.org)

◼️ April 3-30 at the Walton Arts Center’s Community Creative Center, 505 W. Spring St., Fayetteville (communitycreativecenter.org)

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◼️ May 5-28 at the Ouachita Center, University of Arkansas Rich Mountain, 1100 College Drive, Mena (uarichmountain.edu/index.html)

◼️ June 6-28 at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., Pine Bluff (artx3.org/home)

◼️ July 11-Aug. 22 at the Delta Cultural Center, 141 Cherry St., Helena (arkansasheritage.com/delta-cultural-center)

◼️ Sept. 4-29 at Southern Arkansas University’s Brinson Art Gallery, 100 E. University St., Magnolia (saumag.edu)

◼️ Oct. 6-28 at the Glassblock Gallery, Taylor Library, University of Arkansas at Monticello, 346 University Ave., Monticello (uamont.edu)

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◼️ Nov. 4-22 at Harding University’s Stevens Art Center, 915 E. Market Ave., Searcy (harding.edu).

For more information, call (501) 324-9767, email at cheri.leffew@arkansas.gov or visit ArkansasArts.org.



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DoorDash activates severe weather protocol, suspending service in parts of Arkansas

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DoorDash activates severe weather protocol, suspending service in parts of Arkansas


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Due to the ongoing winter storm sweeping through the Natural State, DoorDash has activated its Severe Weather Protocol and temporarily suspended operations in Little Rock and various parts of the Natural State.

According to a release Friday night, the precautionary measure comes as the winter storms deliver hazardous conditions across the city, including heavy snowfall and strong winds.

Cities with suspended operations include Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Pine Bluff, Jacksonville, Cabot, Searcy, Malvern, Lonoke, Heber Springs, Star City, Clinton, Rison and Sheridan.

“With heavy snowfall and low visibility, the snowstorm is a serious threat to our community, and we’ve taken decisive action by activating our Severe Weather Protocol,” DoorDash spokesperson Julian Crowley said. “We deeply appreciate the patience and understanding of Dashers, merchants and consumers, and will resume operations as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

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Officials said they will continue to monitor conditions on the ground and will communicate additional changes to their operations as needed. 



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