FAYETTEVILLE -- Linebacker Randy Ramsey could be the subject of the most uplifting success story Bret Bielema has seen during his coaching career.

Arkansas linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves on Randy Ramsey rejoining the team (By Matt Jones)

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Bielema, entering his 11th season as a head coach and his fourth at Arkansas, made that proclamation himself in the spring after Ramsey returned to campus, paying his own way back to school after sitting out the 2015 season for academic reasons.

"I don't know if I've ever in my coaching career had a guy leave the program for a semester and come back and do as well as he's done," Bielema said in April. "He's on task, on point.

"He's a very focused young man who I think has found a path that, if he stays on it, we could have ourselves a really good situation there."

Arkansas linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves said last week that Ramsey had a strong summer and remained on track to hit the practice field when camp opens Thursday and contribute as a sophomore.

"He's done a great job," Hargreaves said. "So hopefully he can continue that and we'll see where that takes us. He should be able to help us. He's done everything we've asked him to do to this point?"

Bielema has limitations on what he can say regarding a player's academic record, but it was clear that Ramsey, a product of Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had not produced in the classroom at Arkansas last year.

Ramsey has not done formal media interviews since his return, but speaking at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport before boarding a plane for his return to Northwest Arkansas, Ramsey said he was grateful to have a second chance at Arkansas and was planning to make the most of his opportunity.

Now it seems Ramsey, listed as a 6-4, 228-pound sophomore, has a chance to emerge as an X-factor for the Razorbacks defense.

Arkansas is badly in need of playmakers after slipping from 10th nationally in total defense in 2014 to 58th last season, allowing 68 more yards per game.

Defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. had seven sacks in the final four games to push his name onto preseason watch lists, but the Razorbacks were not a great pass-rush team overall. Arkansas ranked 102nd nationally, 12th in the SEC, with 1.54 sacks per game.

Enter Ramsey?

He flashed in his first summer training camp as a disrupter on the edge, and the Razorbacks seem willing to add duties to his strong-side linebacker designation.

"He's been on the strong side for the most part, and we're also talking about the possibility of maybe using him as a pass rusher just to kind of help us," said Hargreaves, who extolled Ramsey's dedication during his time away from campus.

"The reality of it is that when he came back, he was probably bigger, stronger, faster -- believe it or not," Hagreaves said. "Just being away and coming back, he had that purpose. I mean, he really did some good things. We're excited to see where it goes, and hopefully it goes in the right direction."

Considering the situation, anything the Razorbacks get from Ramsey would be considered gravy this season. But it looks like they're already stirring the ingredients to add him to the mix.

Sports on 08/02/2016