FAYETTEVILLE — Anthony Leon was supposed to be an instant success at safety for Arkansas. The junior college transfer definitely looked the part.
At 6-foot-4, 227 pounds, Leon was an intimidating figure and someone who would surely help the Razorbacks improve. But after recording only 20 tackles and one tackle for loss in a reserve role, Leon didn’t need anyone to tell him his first year was a big disappointment.
“I wanted to come in and make an impact immediately and just help the team as much as I could,” Leon said last week. “But being out of shape and really not knowing the system too good, I didn’t get to play to my full potential.”
The good news for Leon: He has one more chance.
With Matt Harris’ departure, the senior is working with Arkansas’ first-team defense this spring and will get an opportunity to lock down a starting job at free safety. The Miami native says he’s much more prepared for the role, too, after surviving a season in which he realizes he wasn’t prepared for, physically or mentally.
Much of it had to do with the fact Leon was a late arrival from the College of the Sequoias in California. While most of Arkansas’ incoming class was on campus during the summer for conditioning drills, Leon was still fi nishing up his junior college coursework.
“It’s no different than when you sign a high school kid or a JC kid: if they don’t show up during that summer session, the thing is, what they think might be in shape by working out with their friends or coaches and stuff , they don’t really know what conditioning is until they get here,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. “So his body wore down. When his body wore down, he got mentally weak.”
Leon spent portions of Arkansas’ preseason camp off the practice field because of minor injuries, which didn’t help him catch up. When he did play last season, he was prone to mistakes and got an earful from the coaches several times.
Leon said he heard plenty from his family, too, which was used to seeing him succeed on the field. The former Florida State signee was supposed to excel for the Razorbacks in 2009.
“I’ve got a big family and they keep it real with me,” Leon said. “They’re used to me making a lot of plays and getting more playing time.
“Last year it didn’t happen. But I’ve got another year and a big opportunity and I’m just going to take advantage of it this year.”
Leon’s transformation started with a productive winter in the weight room. Arkansas coach B obby Petrino credited Leon for making important strides in his workouts and strength gains.
“Usually you see a junior college player his second year make huge strides,” Petrino said. “I think we’ll see that form Anthony Leon. His confidence level is at an all-time high because of what he’s done in the weight room. He’s never pushed weight around like he’s doing now.”