FAYETTEVILLE — Fifth in a series previewing Arkansas’ football team by positions.
It took 20 years for Arkansas to have an All-SEC first-team quarterback in Tyler Wilson, who has returned as a fifth-year senior.
“Tyler Wilson’s the best in the country,” sophomore offensive tackle Brey Cook said. “He’s the gold. We’ve got to take care of him, and we will.”
Wilson said he has a lot of confidence in the line.
“There are a lot of guys with experience, more than at this point last year, which is a big positive,” Wilson said. “We’ve got a lot of competition in spots, and I think that’s helped us.
“Guys know that this is a special team, and they want to be a part of it and want to start. ... I’m expecting great things from them.”
The line is filled with experienced players compared to last season, when five on the two-deep had never played in a game for the Razorbacks.
“I think we’re going to be a lot better than last year, when we had a lot of new guys in the program,” said junior center Travis Swanson, a two-year starter. “Now we’re a year better, a year stronger, a year smarter, a year older.
“I know early last year we had a lot of chemistry breakdowns along the line in the beginning of the season.
...“We’ve fixed those problems.”
Offensive line coach Chris Klenakis said his players made good use of the summer as far as conditioning is concerned.
“I got my guys back stronger, more flexible and with great endurance, especially the flexibility standpoint,” Klenakis said. “I don’t want to mention kids’ names, but there were a few kids on specific flexibility programs to help them improve, and they’re improved.”
Swanson, junior guard Alvin Bailey and senior tackle Jason Peacock are returning starters, but Bailey and Peacock have spent much of the time since last spring working on the second-team line.
Coach John L. Smith said Bailey had to be more demanding of himself academically as well as a player, while Peacock dealt with a spring arrest that resulted in him pleading guilty to misdemeanor theft.
Bailey seems to be regaining his starting job after working with the first team in Saturday’s scrimmage. He split first-team reps with sophomore Luke Charpentier last week.
“I’m motivated to be a good teammate, get everybody better,” Charpentier said when asked about competing with Bailey. “Whatever happens, happens.
“Me and Alvin sit right next to each other in the meetings. We’re always telling each other what we’re doing wrong and what we can do better.
...Whether it’s me starting or Alvin starting, we’re both going to be good players and help the team.”
Cook has been getting the first-team snaps at strong side tackle alongside Bailey and Charpentier.
Senior guard Tyler Deacon and junior tackle David Hurd have been working with the first-team quick-side spots since last spring. Both are former walk-ons who have been put on scholarship.
“Those are two guys that define the words ‘work ethic,’ ” Swanson said. “They never gave up, even though they were walk-ons - three years for David, four years for Tyler. Some guys just would have said, ‘Screw this, I don’t want to do it anymore,’ but they stuck with it and they’re prime examples of what hard work can get you.”
Peacock worked hard to be reinstated to the team, doing what the coaches demanded in undisclosed punishment, though he may face extra discipline when the season starts considering he didn’t get much work in Saturday’s scrimmage.
Swanson said it’s good to have Peacock, who started the final nine games last season, back on the team.
“People are going to mess up, we’re human,” Swanson said. “Being able to give someone a second chance and have them work their way back onto the team, I love that John L. does that. I’m proud of Jason for working his way back on here.”
Klenakis said Swanson and Bailey need to be leaders on the line considering each has started every game the past two seasons, helping the Razorbacks earn bids to the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl.
“They’re 21-5 as starters,” Klenakis said. “They’ve been to a BCS bowl, they’ve won a Cotton Bowl together. I know that’s past history, but that’s good experience.”
Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said before camp started that while there would be plenty of competition for jobs on the line, Swanson “without question” was the starting center.
“For him to say that puts a smile on my face, but I don’t want people to think that’s gone to my head,” Swanson said. “I come to work every single day, because I want to get better and make everyone around me better.”
At a glance
RETURNING STARTERS C Travis Swanson, G Alvin Bailey, T Jason Peacock KEY LOSSES G Grant Cook, T Grant Freeman PROJECTED STARTERS Swanson, Bailey, T David Hurd, T Brey Cook, G Tyler Deacon
IN THE MIX Peacock, G Luke Charpentier, C Mitch Smothers, T Chris Stringer, G Marcus Danenhauer, T Grady Ollison
PLUSES Swanson and Bailey have each started 26 consecutive games. Peacock started the final nine games last season and was reinstated to the team after a spring arrest and guilty plea to misdemeanor theft. Smothers got starting experience at tackle last season and also can play guard in addition to center. Cook looks ready to start after arriving on campus in January 2011 as an early high school graduate.
MINUSES Peacock hasn’t been working on the first-team line in fall camp, which raises the question of whether he may face a game suspension as additional punishment. Hurd has been getting first-team work in camp ahead of Peacock.
SUMMARY The line will get its first major test in the SEC opener against defending national champion Alabama on Sept. 15. If the line can keep the Crimson Tide from pounding quarterback Tyler Wilson, it will show the group has come a long way since last season.
Sports, Pages 15 on 08/14/2012