Petrino’s style lands Epperson

BY RICHARD DAVENPORT

Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/213974/

Tight end Elijah Epperson of Humboldt, Tenn., became the Arkansas’ second oral commitment of the week following an in-home visit Tuesday with Razorbacks Coach Bobby Petrino.

“I committed last night,” Epperson said Wednesday. “Coach Bobby Petrino was in my living room. I committed in front of him on the spot. He came to my basketball game and sat with my family.”

Epperson’s commitment comes on the heels of a commitment from Texarkana running back Dennis Johnson, who committed Monday to Arkansas.

Epperson, 6-4, 240 pounds, 4. 53 seconds in the 40-yard dash, played tailback, wide receiver and tight end on offense. He rushed 18 times for 130 yards and 1 touchdown, and caught 17 passes for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also split time between defensive end and linebacker on defense, recording 55 tackles and returning 2 interceptions for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Epperson said he was impressed with Petrino’s no-nonsense approach.

“He’s coming to win,” Epperson said. “I can tell by just talking to him. You never know what a person is like until you talk to them. He means business. That’s the kind of coach I like.

“ He said, ‘E. J., I’m going to throw the ball to you. I’m going to use the best of your ability to get you to the NFL or academics or whatever you want to do.’ He said, ‘I’m behind you. I’m going to be more of a father to you than a coach. Sometimes I’m going to kick you in the rear end, and sometimes I’m going to hug you.’”

Epperson said Petrino planned to use him at tight end but didn’t rule out using him at linebacker, defensive end or wide receiver because of his versatility.

Epperson said he did have one request for his official visit Jan. 25. He wants to meet Darren McFadden. Epperson said he has a poster of McFadden in his room.

“I told Coach Petrino, ‘I just want five minutes with him,’” said Epperson, who has been offered scholarships by Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Memphis, Tennessee State and Tennessee-Martin. “He’s on my wall beside my trophies.”

Epperson said he also liked hearing that Petrino plans to move study hall from the early part of the day to the afternoon so the team can eat breakfast together every morning.

“He said the whole team has to eat breakfast together. That way they know you’re going to class,” Epperson said. “It’s called breakfast table. He said as you walk in, he’s going to check you off the list. That lets them know you’re going to class.

“ He said, ‘Who wants to study when you first get up ?’ I was like, ‘Man, I like this cat right here.’”

National signing day is Feb. 6.