FAYETTEVILLE -- Martrell Spaight thought he might jump into major college football at Arkansas last year and immediately start delivering hard hits for his home-state Hogs.
It didn't turn out that way. The junior college transfer started just two games and wound up with 22 tackles in a long learning season with the 3-9 Razorbacks.
Martrell Spaight glance
POSITION Weakside linebacker
HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-0, 232
CLASS Senior
HIGH SCHOOL North Little Rock
LAST STOP Coffeyville (Kan.) College
BIRTHDATE Aug. 5, 1993 (21)
FAMILY Parents Mark and Tela Spaight
NOTEWORTHY Arkansas’ tackles leader with 24. … Had a key interception and 30-yard return last week to set up Arkansas’ go-ahead touchdown late in the second quarter against Texas Tech. … Played in 9 games in 2013 with 2 starts and 22 tackles, including 1 for lost yardage. … Two-time junior college All-American at Coffeyville (Kan.) College. … Chose Arkansas over Kansas State.
It's been a different story this season for the North Little Rock native, who chose to attend an extra semester at Coffeyville (Kan.) College just to play for the Razorbacks.
Spaight is playing faster and more instinctively and is leading the Razorbacks with 24 tackles heading into today's nonconference game against Northern Illinois.
"He's stepped it up, big-time," defensive end Trey Flowers said.
"He's playing at a high level right now," linebackers coach Randy Shannon said.
Spaight said his biggest advancement as a senior has been in his mental approach. Last season, he was simply focused on trying to rough up ball carriers.
"I tried to bring a physical presence to the game, and I tried to be so physical that teams took advantage of me mentally," Spaight said. "I've really been challenging myself in the film room."
Spaight's film study and his ability to listen and apply what the coaches teach were instrumental in the 6-0, 232-pounder turning in what was probably the play of the game for Arkansas last week in the Razorbacks 49-28 victory over Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas.
Spaight dropped into intermediate coverage on the left side of Texas Tech's formation with the Red Raiders facing third and 10 late in the second quarter of a tie game. Spaight read quarterback Davis Webb's intentions, intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards to the Texas Tech 12 three plays after the Razorbacks had lost a fumble from the Red Raiders' 11.
Jonathan Williams ran for a touchdown on the next play to give Arkansas a 28-21 lead 90 seconds left before halftime.
"I remember in film, the coaches always told us to get depth when they were in a certain formation," Spaight said. "During the play, their words just came into my mind and I just dropped a little bit more. The quarterback threw the ball to me, so I just made a play on the ball."
Spaight's takeaway, his first career interception, swung momentum firmly to Arkansas, but his return -- which brought out good-natured ribbing from coaches and teammates -- could have gone all the way back had he not stepped out of bounds on the left sideline.
"He should have got in the end zone on that one, I think, but he was a little gassed," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said on game day.
Spaight grinned when asked how close the play was to a touchdown.
"I saw the offensive lineman come at me and I tried to dodge him," Spaight said. "Once I got in the end zone and the referee was blowing the whistle, I was like, 'Oh, no. No.' "
Linebackers coach Randy Shannon also agreed that Spaight should have scored on the play.
"You've got to tightrope that line, and he's not a running back or a receiver so he doesn't have the feet for it," Shannon said.
Fellow linebacker Brooks Ellis called the momentum swing -- which was compounded by a lengthy Arkansas touchdown drive to open the third quarter, created by Spaight's interception -- a huge turning point.
"He's unbelievable," Ellis said. "He's been making plays all over the place. In fall camp, you could see it coming. He's just so energetic in practice ... and it shows up on game day."
Spaight said today's game against Northern Illinois offers a big challenge.
"It's going to be a physical game," he said. "They like to pride themselves on the run, so this week we've really been busying ourselves with the run game and making sure we go out there mentally and physically tough."
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said Spaight has put it all together.
"I think Coach Shannon is really doing a nice job with him," he said. "He's understanding what to look at, what this means, this equals that. He's really taken another step forward in his game."
The development of Spaight and Ellis has helped shore up what was a problem area for Arkansas last season.
"I think great linebackers erase the mistakes of others, and that's what you saw on Saturday," Bielema said. "Of his tackles, 80 to 85 percent of them were the routine plays we expect him to make, then he has the ability to make other people's mistakes correct.
"He is the epitome of everything I ask for as a coach on what Arkansas should represent."
Sports on 09/20/2014