The University of Memphis closes its 15-session spring practice with Saturday’s Blue Gray Scrimmage. (And, yes, it’s a scrimmage, not a game).

Tiger coach Tommy West said after Friday’s workout at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium that a rash of injuries might limit the length of the scrimmage.

Receiver Duke Calhoun (knee), running back T.J. Pitts (ankle) and linebacker Tommy Phelps (chest) were among the higher-profile players who didn’t participate in spring practice because of injuries. Linebacker Josh Weaver (shoulder) and offensive lineman Dominik Riley (knee) were injured during the spring. None of the five will play in the scrimmage.

“We’re still banged up a little bit,” West said. “If it gets too bad, we just won’t be here very long.”

As for those who will play and what to watch for:

***The Quarterbacks: Arkelon Hall, the junior college transfer, and Matt Malouf, the sophomore-to-be, have been competing from the start the competition will resume in August. Hall owns a quick release and throws from various arm angles, mostly sidearm. Malouf is emerging as an accurate thrower and, as most know from watching him a year ago, is an adept runner.

***The Running Backs: Pick up a roster sheet that U of M sports information staff will provide. There’s no Joe Doss (he completed his eligibility) and there’s no T.J. Pitts (see injury list above). That leaves junior college transfer Curtis Steele, who sat out last season as a redshirt; Jeremy Longstreet, a converted linebacker; and Mike Davis, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn. Steele is the speediest of the trio, Longstreet has made strides since making the switch last month and Davis has the potential to be a powerful back.

***The Defense: Even with Weaver and Phelps out, this unit has been the story of the spring behind first-year coordinator Tim Walton. It’s been an aggressive, attacking unit not afraid to play press-man coverage.

As you may have read in today’s paper, We’re looking for lots of fishing photos that we can show off on The Memphis Edge.

Starting with the photo of Zack Ranson and Will Jerry in today’s paper, we’ll be running one photo with the Friday fishing reports each week. Then we’ll be running dozens more here on the Edge.
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The calendar says turkey hunting season should be open all over Arkansas.

But Mother Nature - and officials from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission - say no.

Heavy flooding and limited access have forced the AGFC to close spring turkey season within certain boundaries of the state.

Most of the trouble is in Turkey Zone 17 - the very area many of our Mid-South hunters often choose to hunt.

The AGFC issued a release Thursday, saying all turkey hunting must cease on private and public lands “lying within Turkey Zone 17.” The closure will remain in place until further notice.

“We waited as long as possible to close these areas,” said Ricky Chastain, AGFC assistant chief of wildlife management, in a statement to Mid-South news media Thursday night. “The last thing we want to do is take away opportunity for the hunters. But the conditions in the closed areas are too dangerous to hunt and we don’t want to place additional stress on wildlife in the flooded areas.”

The cancellations will include:

All permit hunts on Rex Hancock Black Swamp Wildlife Management

All hunting on the:

North and South Units of White River NWR

Cache River National Wildlife Refuge

Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Permit holders of cancelled hunts will have their money refunded and have their preferred hunts made available when conditions allow.

The AGFC is urging turkey hunters to use extreme caution when accessing a flooded area by boat. Strong currents and large chunks of floating debris can cause accidents. Those accessing their hunting areas by boat are urged to wear their personal flotation devices while on the water.

The AGFC also reminds hunters that it is illegal to hunt turkeys from a boat or other floating object. It is unlawful (and pretty lousy, if you ask me) to kill animals, including turkeys, that are fleeing from a flood.

Just wait til the floods recede.

It’s not worth breaking the law or getting yourself killed to bag an Arkansas longbeard.