FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas linebacker Wendel Davis has noticed a change in teammate Jerico Nelson this week.
There has been a little more fi re in the sophomore’s belly. Nelson looks more focused in the film room. He’s acting much more serious on the fi eld.
There’s good reason, Davis said. The Razorbacks are playing at 17th-ranked LSU on Saturday night.
“This is a big-time rivalry for him,” Davis said. “He’s excited. So I predict he’ll have a good game.”
Nelson, a Louisiana native, is determined to make the most of his homecoming when Arkansas (7-4, 3-4 in Southeastern Conference) meets LSU (8-3, 4-3) in Tiger Stadium. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound linebacker returns to his home state as an integral part of Arkansas’ defense, ranking fourth in tackles (61) and sixth in tackles for losses (5 1 /2). And the former Destrehan High star would love nothing more than to make an impact against the Tigers in the regular season fi nale.
“They recruited me,” Nelson said of LSU. “But they thought I was an undersized defensive player.”
Nelson wound up at Arkansas as a late addition to coach Bobby Petrino’s first signing class. He had been committed to Purdue, but contacted the Razorbacks to see if there was any room for him on an SEC roster.
Petrino offered and said Arkansas wasn’t sure if he would play running back or safety for the Razorbacks.
“When he got here, his heart was set on playing defense,” Petrino said. “So we started him on defense first and it didn’t take him long to get the nod and get a lot of playing time.”
Nelson started seven games as a true freshman and collected 38 tackles and 3 1 /2 sacks. He missed the South Carolina and Mississippi State games with a knee injury, but was back on the fi eld in time for LSU.
Nelson was one of the defensive stars of the game, getting a seasonhigh six tackles and 1 1 /2 sacks.
“It was my best performance all last year,” he said.
Nelson has been even better as a sophomore.
“He’s a guy that you have to account for on offense,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said last month. “You have to know where he’s at because he’s the type of guy that can take some things over.”
Nelson turned in one of the season’s biggest hits when he flattened Auburn’s Mario Fannin on a screen pass.
The punishing blow will be remembered because both face masks became entangled, allowing Nelson to yank Fannin’s helmet off when he stood up to celebrate.
Petrino said it was another example of what type of impact Nelson has made — no matter his size.
“He’s a great leader for us,” Petrino said two weeks ago. “He does a nice job. When he’s playing physical, it excites everybody on the team.”
Nelson’s play hasn’t surprised the Hogs. Davis said Arkansas players were asked last spring to pick three players they believed would have a breakout year.
Nelson was one of Davis’ picks because of his toughness and propensity to make big plays.
“He’s living up to everything I thought and going beyond it,” Davis said. “He’s just been relentless out there and making plays all over the field. He’s meant a whole lot to the defense. He’s a smaller guy, but it doesn’t stop him from doing what he has to do.”
Nelson, who played two years in the same high school offense as LSU starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson, is looking forward to showing the Tigers on Saturday.
The linebacker said Arkansas-LSU week has generated plenty of buzz in his hometown the past couple of years. It’s not unusual for Nelson to be bombarded by phone calls and Facebook messages. Generally, it’s familiar faces just giving him a little grief.
But last year’s experience has taught Nelson one thing: It all disappears whenever Arkansas wins.
“A lot of people call and tell me we hope you lose, but we hope you play well,” Nelson said. “I look at it as the team. When we go down there, I’m with Arkansas. I’m not with Louisiana. I’m here to win and not lose.”
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