Hog Calls

UA walk-ons more than just another body

Arkansas' Alan D'Appollonio is tackled after he caught a pass for a first down on a fake punt during a game against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 at High Points Solutions Stadium in Pisctaway, N.J.
Arkansas' Alan D'Appollonio is tackled after he caught a pass for a first down on a fake punt during a game against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 at High Points Solutions Stadium in Pisctaway, N.J.

FAYETTEVILLE -- As a walk-on who became a four-year starting nose guard and a team captain on football scholarship at the University of Iowa, Bret Bielema appreciates walk-ons wherever he coaches.

Certainly the Arkansas Razorbacks coach appreciated them during his successful 2006-2012 run as the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers.

"I remember my first Big Ten championship at Wisconsin, of our 22 starters, seven of them were former walk-ons and they were in their fifth year," Bielema said. "We had so many kids that were in that role, so when I first got here I made an effort to increase the walk-on experience."

Arkansas has a tradition of first-class walk-ons, most notably the late Brandon Burlsworth of Harrison. Burlsworth more waddled on than walked on as an overweight freshman in 1994 but concluded as a 1998 All-American offensive guard and four-year letterman.

Walk-ons deserve first-class treatment, Bielema said.

"When I first got here the walk-ons were in a different locker room than the other players," Bielema said. "The other players got four tickets for home games and the walk-ons got two. They were treated like a second-class citizen and that made no sense to me. So we changed that policy right away and we really emphasized the recruitment of walk-ons."

Bielema believes one of his walk-ons, senior AJ Derby, a former quarterback at Iowa who moved last spring from quarterback to tight end, will be one of the best story lines this season.

"My hope is to make him one of the best story lines in the SEC, because he is a phenomenal player right now at tight end and nobody knows it, which is great," Bielema said.

Bielema said his best Razorbacks walk-on for 2013, who was awarded a scholarship before last season's first game, is one few know: senior three-year snapper Alan D'Appollonio.

"He snapped every snap last year," Bielema said. "The reason you don't know his name is he doesn't screw up."

Actually, D'Appollonio enjoyed a bit of fame on one play last year and not for screwing up. He caught a 24-yard pass off a fake punt against Rutgers.

Redshirt freshman walk-on defensive lineman Karl Roesler of Louisville, Ky., also stood out to Bielema during spring drills.

"He could play a role for us," Bielema said.

MOVING ON

Arkansas sophomore-to-be Bobby Portis learned from his summer experience at the LeBron James Skills Academy that he could learn basketball directly from today's greatest NBA player but couldn't learn anything when it came to where James would play next.

While Portis attended the academy, the nation awaited free-agent James' word whether he would remain with the Miami Heat or move elsewhere, which James ultimately did when he returned to his original NBA team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I asked him a couple of times where he was going and he didn't say anything to me," Portis recalled, smiling. "He was like, 'Keep it moving, young fella. Keep it moving, young fella.' "

Sports on 07/30/2014

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