FAYETTEVILLE — Lifelong Arkansas Razorbacks fan Jonathan Luigs didn’t exactly want to play football at Vanderbilt.

But the Commodores had recruited him vigorously during the summer and fall of 2003, and Luigs was on the brink of committing to Vanderbilt late in his senior season at Pulaski Academy.

Then came the week of Pulaski Academy’s playoff game against Shiloh Christian that November.

The Luigs family was preparing for an in-home visit that Wednesday from Vanderbilt, and Jonathan was leaning toward pulling the trigger on committing to play on the Commodores’ offensive front. Gary Luigs, father of the All-Arkansas lineman, gave that honest assessment of the situation to then-Razorbacks assistant coach Danny Nutt on Tuesday that week.

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Danny Nutt and Arkansas offensive line coach Mike Markuson told the family they would be in Little Rock that weekend to watch the game.

“Danny hung up and called Coach [Houston ] Nutt and Coach Markuson,” said Yvonne Luigs, the player’s mother. “It was so amazing. The whole school knew they were there to watch Jonathan.”

Luigs obviously didn’t commit to Vanderbilt. He received an offer from Danny Nutt and Markuson that Friday night and pledged to the Razorbacks in the aftermath of the Bruins’ big victory.

Good move for the Hogs.

Luigs is now a third-year starter for Arkansas, as well as a preseason All-America choice by four publications, a 2006 Rimington Trophy finalist, and is on the watch lists for the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Award and the Rimington Trophy this season.

“When Mike Markuson went to see him with Danny we felt like, ‘We’ve just got to have this guy,’” Houston Nutt said.

Good move for the tightknit Luigs family, which wanted Jonathan playing closer to home in the cardinal and white of the Razorbacks.

“We got a couple of bottles of champagne and partied down that night,” Gary Luigs said.

“I knew this was where I wanted to be,” Jonathan Luigs said. “My friends were coming up here. It was close to home. My parents could get up here. I could still hunt and fish with my dad.”

Markuson said the Arkansas staff was lukewarm on Luigs because he had left their camps early on two occasions.

“There was a little question,” Markuson said. “How tough is this guy ?”

But as summer turned to fall, the reports kept coming in to the Razorbacks about Luigs ’ athleticism and, just as importantly, his character.

On the fateful Friday night, Markuson and Danny Nutt watched Luigs in warm-ups and were convinced they needed to offer a scholarship.

“It was a no-brainer,” Markuson said.

At halftime, the two assistant coaches informed Gary and Yvonne Luigs they would offer Jonathan after the game.

“It was kind of funny because the parents knew it before the kid,” Markuson said. “It’s one of those moments in recruiting, one of those special times when you see people and you can just tell how touched they were to get an offer from Arkansas.”

The decision has paid off nicely for all concerned parties.

“You knew he was going to be a great one once you met him and he got here,” Houston Nutt said. “Especially that first year, you knew he was going to be a fine, fine football player.”

Luigs said he was fortunate to fall under the tutelage of Markuson and veteran offensive lineman Kyle Roper after arriving on campus. An injury to lineman Zac Tubbs thrust Luigs into the starting lineup in the first game of his redshirt freshman season. He started 10 games that season, and his career took off.

“I don’t dwell on [individual successes ] too much,” Luigs said.

His parents do, though.

“He’s a hard worker, and he knows what his goals are,” Gary Luigs said. “He wants to play at that next level.

“ It’s flattering and humbling that he’s qualified for those types of awards. A lot of it has to do with those boys [Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden and speedster Felix Jones ] he’s blocking for. It’s a two-way street.”

Playing in the SEC also has helped shape Jonathan Luigs ’ career.

Luigs recalled a humbling moment from early in his college career that he considers his initiation into the world of big-time football.

“It was actually during twoa-days of my freshman year,” Luigs said. “We had bull in the ring, that [1-on-1 drill ] we do at the start of practice. Well, [defensive tackle ] Keith Jackson put me on my back, then he looked at me and said, ‘Welcome to the SEC.’”

Luigs has dealt out a fair share of his own welcome-tothe-SEC moments since then, as the center for an Arkansas offense that has led the conference in rushing in both of his seasons.

“Jonathan, all he ever did was work hard, didn’t say much, good grades and the credit’s on him,” Markuson said. “What you’re seeing is the product of what the kid wants to become. Great character, great person, great work ethic. Everything’s good about that kid.”

Luigs has seen the highs and lows of SEC football in his three-plus seasons at Arkansas. There were losing years in 2004 and 2005, then the big bounce back, which included a 10-game winning streak, last season.

The high point ?

“Probably when we beat Auburn at Auburn, ’’ Luigs said. “ We showed we could beat the No. 2 team in the country at their place. When you have your way [running the ball ], it’s a special feeling.”

The current climate on campus is one of unrest. While the Razorbacks’ running game is churning out 329. 7 rushing yards per game, easily on pace to set a school single-season record, the offense has struggled to move the ball late in its past two games, losses to Alabama and Kentucky.

“It seems like we’re putting up stats in the wrong column,” Luigs said. “We want the wins instead of the rushing yards. We just want to get out with the ‘W.’ Right now it just seems like we’re not capitalizing on the opportunities we’ve been given.”

Luigs has clearly seized the opportunity given to him at Arkansas, though.

“I don’t know if it’s really set in that I’m where I wanted to be as a little kid,” he said. “It’s always a kid’s dream to be up here, but once you’re here it’s just kind of like another part of your life.

“ I don’t think you really realize the opportunities and what’s going to come from playing ball up here. I think later on down the road, I’ll be able to look at the friendships we’ve made, what we’ve been through together.”