We’re gonna try something new here on the blog throughout spring practice.

Since the workouts are open to the media and public, we’ll be there throughout and want to give you as much of a peek at what the Razorbacks are doing as possible. So in addition to stories and notes that will be filed daily, come back here for some post practice superlatives of sorts.

What am I talking about? Well, here’s a wrap-up of the first of 15 practices.

Play of the Day: Arkansas receiver Joe Adams earns the title after going up high for an acrobatic catch during 11-on-11 drills. It wasn’t a big gain, but Adams showed off his vertical leap by springing to catch a ball thrown high by Jim Youngblood. The catch drew several oohs and ahhs from the crowd. It was a pretty impressive play on an otherwise shaky day for Adams, who did drop a handful of balls.

Offensive Player of the Day: Got to give this to quarterback Ryan Mallett. No, he wasn’t on target the entire time. But he did show off his cannon (and touch) a handful of times throughout the practice. Here’s an example: On his first snap during passing drills, Mallett rifled a short completion to receiver Reggie Fish. One play later, he lofted a beautiful looking touch pass downfield to London Crawford.

Defensive Player of the Day: You probably didn’t notice, but safety Elton Ford was wearing his helmet and jersey and going through a good deal of non-contact work Tuesday. What’s the big deal? Well, it was the first time Ford had done so since cracking three vertebrae in his neck last October. The fact Ford is back on the field is a good story. One we’re hoping to dive into a little later this spring. But he gets credit for his work to get back on the field in his non-contact capacity for the first day of spring drills.

Quote of the Day: How’s this from tight end Chris Gragg when asked what it’s like catching Mallett’s passes — “You have to concentrate. He throws a nice ball and it’s pretty hard. I’m telling you, it’s pretty hard.”

Random Thought of the Day: It’s going to be pretty interesting talking to John L. Smith on a regular basis. You should’ve seen him Tuesday. On the field, you could describe him as fiery, loud and energetic. Off of it, he was all smiles after his first practice and saying things like “excited” and “adrenaline” and “pumped up.” He has a reputation for being an intriguing character. Day One didn’t disappoint.