Thompson Could Be 'Other' Wide Receiver Hogs Need

It's not exactly a big secret Arkansas is going to need a wide receiver to keep defenses from ganging up on Treylon Burks.

Right now, Burks, who is projected to be a first-round NFL pick next April, is the only one of a group that has promise, but plenty of questions.

Nobody has more questions around him than Florida State transfer Warren Thompson, who has also been fighting injuries in camp.

Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles was asked about him after Friday's practice and how he "kinda knew him" before getting him with the Seminoles.

"Ain't no kinda about it," Briles said smiling. "I spent an entire year with him. I know Warren Thompson well, and there’s a reason why he’s here. Warren is an incredible athlete."

Originally, a four-star recruit from Seffner, Florida, Armwood, he was supposed to be a star. With the coaching chaos with the Seminoles, that never really materialized.

Thompson decided to leave after three seasons and Briles wanted him, but Sam Pittman wasn't that sure. He just relied on his coordinator.

"I didn’t know a whole lot about him," Pittman said earlier in fall camp. "To take kids off a high school tape out of the portal, when they’ve been in college for a year or two, it’s hard. It’s hard for me. I want to take a kid that I’ve seen do something in a college game.

"At that point we tried to get him to come walk on, and if he earned a scholarship, we certainly have one available."

A nagging little injury hasn't helped.

"He’s now really starting to get healthy and you see it," Briles said Friday. "He’s very hard to cover. He’s got great quickness. He’s a big body guy with great range. He’s got to get a little better blocking on the perimeter and knowing exactly what to do."

The guy pulling the trigger to get him the ball has seen something he thinks could be big.

"He’s actually got the skillset to be in this offense and be explosive," quarterback KJ Jefferson said this week. "He’s made some great catches down the field. AComing in and out of breaks, he’s natural and fluid, so you don’t have to try to over-coach him technique-wise."

The wide receivers room is crowded and there hasn't been much for the public to see during fall camp.

With Trey Knox, John David White, De'Vion Warren, Tyson Morris fighting off a whole host of newcomers, the Hogs' offense may look like a hockey line change at time.

At least until they get things sorted out.

And Thompson figures to be in that mix.