Petrus’ Career Nears End

FORMER WALK-ON BECOMES HOGS MOST IMPORTANT LINEMAN

By Robbie Neiswanger

Posted: January 2, 2010 at 2:37 a.m.

Marc Henning
Arkansas offensive guard Mitch Petrus blocks Alabama defensive tackle Milton Talbert on Sept. 26 in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

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MEMPHIS — Mitch Petrus didn’t really know if he would last when he stepped on Arkansas’ campus in 2004.

The Carlisle native was just a walk-on trying to make it in the Southeastern Conference. He said he weighed 275 pounds. So going toe-to-toe with bigger, stronger and even more athletic linemen proved to be a daunting task.

“Sometimes I just didn’t know,” Petrus said earlier this month. “Coming in and getting bullied around, pushed around, couldn’t hold my own. Sometimes it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But I stuck it out.”

Petrus will wrap up an impressive career when the Razorbacks play East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl this afternoon. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound senior has gone from an undersized walk-on to, arguably, the team’s most important lineman in an offense that turned in a record-setting season in 2009.

It’s a far cry from what Petrus expected when he turned down scholarship offers from Division II schools to try to make Arkansas’ roster after high school. But the results have been great for the guard, who has become an all-conference performer for the Razorbacks.

“I’ve had a great experience here,” Petrus said. “I don’t have anything I’m hanging my head over. I have no regrets about being here. Everything has worked out for the best.”

Of course, Petrus is quick to say it hasn’t been easy.

He bounced from tight end, to guard, to fullback, then back to guard throughout the early part of his career. Petrus finally became a regular on the offensive line in 2007 and was set to form a solid one-two senior punch on the interior alongside center Jonathan Luigs in 2008.

But Petrus was forced to sit out the season after switching majors and falling a few credits short of NCAA academic eligibility guidelines. Petrus blamed the mistake on himself, but added that it was difficult to watch as the Razorbacks struggled to their 5-7 season in 2008.

It didn’t take long for Petrus to realize the academic mistake also proved to be a blessing in disguise.

He spent the year digesting Arkansas’ complex offense, learning the ins and outs of Petrino’s system. He credited former Arkansas quarterback Alex Mortensen for helping him along, giving him one-on-one lessons.

“He would come in and meet with me over at my house two and three times a week and go over things,” Petrus said. “He would grab a dry erase board and we would watch film of the other team we’re about to play. We’d break it down and know the tendencies. I really realize then how much you know pre-snap can really be beneficial to you as a player.”

Petrus has used that knowledge to his benefit since stepping back on the playing field.

This season, Arkansas offensive line coach Mike Summers said the linemen has shown plenty of growth.

“He’s really made as big a transformation as anybody on our team from when I first got here just in his dedication to his craft of being an offensive linemen,” Summers said. “He has become really technically sound. I think he understands football and understands our scheme really well and I think that was a struggle when we first got here.”

Summers said it has helped Petrus’ confidence grow. And Arkansas’ confidence in Petrus has improved, too.

The Razorbacks have counted on Petrus and tackle DeMarcus Love on the strong side of their line.

The guard helped the offense lead the league in scoring. Tackle Ray Dominguez said Petrus was a critical part of the offense’s growth both on and off the field.

“Words can’t describe Mitch Petrus,” Dominguez said. “Great leader. Great work ethic. We’re going to miss him.”

Petrus, who has completed a degree in agricultural business, said he’s hoping his football career isn’t over after the Liberty Bowl, though. He has received invitations to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, Fla., and is looking forward to the next challenge: Making it to the NFL.

Not bad for someone who walked on at Arkansas and wasn’t sure if he was ever going to make it. But in the end, Petrus said it was well worth the challenges.

“It’s definitely not easy,” Petrino said. “Just because I did it doesn’t mean anybody else can do it. But it does mean that it can be done through a lot of hard work.”

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