FAYETTEVILLE - On a Twitter post prefaced by “Thank You to the State of Arkansas,” third-year sophomore quarterback Rafe Peavey (#2 in photo) of Bolivar, Mo., announced Tuesday night that he is transferring from the University of Arkansas to SMU.

Speculation that Peavey might transfer mushroomed after Arkansas coach Bret Bielema did not use him during Saturday’s scrimmage, explaining he had seen Peavey for three springs and three preseasons and he wanted a closer look at redshirt freshman Ty Storey and true freshman Cole Kelley as potential backups to junior starter Austin Allen.

Peavey was a mid-semester graduate at Bolivar High and has been enrolled at the UA since December 2014.

Peavey, whose father, Jack, was an Arkansas graduate assistant under former Coach Jack Crowe in 1991, posted it was hard to leave the school he had committed to as a high school sophomore and that he “cherishes” his teammates, but “I look forward to what God has in store for me in this new chapter of my life.”

Peavey ended spring drills as the backup QB. He was set back this summer by a weight room injury requiring minor back surgery but had participated in all practices and was dressed in full gear when withheld from Saturday’s scrimmage.

Allen, Storey, Kelley and redshirt freshman Ricky Town are Arkansas’ remaining scholarship quarterbacks.

BEANUM BACK FULL PADS
His mandatory two no-pads and two only shoulder pads completed upon being excused to report late, junior defensive end Tevin Beanum practiced in full gear Tuesday.

The two-year letterman from Forrest City who played every game last season and started eight, fit right into Tuesday’s practice.

“It was great to have him back,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith said Tuesday evening.  “We certainly have high hopes for him, and I know he has high expectations for himself. It was a good first day in pads and I think he is excited and chomping at the bit.”

Which end did Beanum play?

“He primarily is at the rush end, but he is another guy who has done both while he has been here,” Smith said. “As he gets back in the groove of things, he is another guy who gives us flexibility. We are going to find a way when the game is on the line to have our best four pass-rushers out there.”

Did he work with the second unit?

“He kind of rotated around with a little bit of both groups in our twp-deep,” Smith said. “He is a guy who we plan to get valuable reps with him. He’s fresh. He’s flying around and he has got a great attitude. There was not a lot of new things for him so he kind of picked up where he left off. I think our guys were excited to see him back. It gave our group a little extra energy.”

SMITH LIKES D-LINE DEPTH
The Razorbacks display plenty of defensive end depth with senior All-America candidate Deatrich Wise, senior JaMichael Winston (scrimmaging well last Saturday), junior Karl Roesler, freshman flash McTelvin “Sosa” Agim and senior Brandon Lewis, overcoming lingering knee problems.

At the defensive tackles Smith and line coach Rory Segrest have been pleased with senior Taiwan Johnson, junior Bijhon Jackson of El Dorado, freshman flash Austin Capps of Star City at noseguard and senior second-year junior college transfer Jeremiah Ledbetter and redshirt freshman backup T.J. Smith.

“Just really pleased overall with our defensive line, the depth we're developing there,” Smith said. “It's gonna take a lot of guys, especially when we get into SEC play and have to rotate guys through and play the physical brand we want to play in this conference.”

Seizing the first-team strongside linebacker job two scrimmages ago, junior Khalia Hackett is figuring as a backup behind starting inside linebackers Brooks Ellis and Dre Greenlaw.

The strongside linebacker often isn’t used against Spread teams like Louisiana Tech, which plays Sept. 3 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Robb Smith said Hackett has “flashed” potential previously, but this preseason is playing his “most consistent” football.

D.J DEAN ON THE MEND
While not practicing yet, injured junior two-year starting cornerback D.J. Dean (pulled hamstring) is healing “ahead of schedule,” defensive backfield coach Paul Rhoads said Tuesday night.

Junior college transfer defensive end Michael Taylor has not yet met NCAA Clearinghouse clearance to add to the roster that expanded with Monday’s start of fall semester classes.