FAYETTEVILLE -- Jared Cornelius was a freshman wide receiver at Shreveport Evangel Christian Academy when Jermauria Rasco was a senior defensive end.
"Me and Rasco are really close," Cornelius said. "With him being three years ahead of me in school, he's kind of like my big brother.
"It's going to be fun strapping it up against him."
The former high school teammates will be on opposite sides tonight when Cornelius' Arkansas Razorbacks play Rasco's LSU Tigers.
While Rasco is in his second season as a starting defensive end, Cornelius has become a contributor for Arkansas as a slot receiver and punt returner as a true freshman.
"I think Jared's like all freshmen," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said. "He's done some good things, and he has some things he needs to improve upon. But overall, without a doubt, he's been a tremendous asset to our program.
"The great news is he's just beginning to scratch the surface of how good he can be."
Cornelius has 12 catches for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns and 5 carries for 23 yards. He took over as Arkansas' punt returner at Mississippi State and had 2 returns for 11 yards along with 2 fair catches.
"Jared catches the ball exceptionally well and he runs really good routes," Razorbacks receivers coach Michael Smith said. "The thing that he's done over the last couple of weeks is really start to understand the nuances of playing in the slot.
"Once he gets that mastered, I think he'll be what everybody expects him to be as a receiver."
Cornelius graduated early from Evangel Christian so he could enroll at Arkansas in January and go through off-season conditioning workouts and spring practice.
"It was so quick just jumping right in, 5 a.m workouts, 8 a.m. classes and doing stuff all day," Cornelius said. "It took awhile to get used to, but I'm used to it now."
Cornelius said it's hard to describe how far he's progressed since January.
"I wouldn't even recognize myself back then compared to the player I am now," he said. "Coach Smith and the rest of the offensive coaches have been doing such a great job of preparing me for SEC football."
Cornelius, who returned punts in high school, said he was nervous before his first return at Mississippi State.
"I think the hardest part is catching the ball, because it's hanging up and you're looking up and looking down, looking up and looking down," he said. "You've just got to settle your nerves."
Arkansas junior tailback Jonathan Williams said he's been impressed by Cornelius' progress this season.
"He's a fast learner," Williams said. "Sometimes I even forget that he's a freshman, not only just because of how he came in early, but just how mature he is and how good of a football player he is."
Bielema said the coaches may have put too much pressure on Cornelius early in the season, but Cornelius isn't complaining. He's glad to be playing as a true freshman.
"I feel like I'm ready," he said. "I love the pressure. It helps keep me going."
Sports on 11/15/2014