FAYETTEVILLE — Tyler Wilson’s failure trying to be Ryan Mallett in the spring of 2010 could serve him well as he tries to replace Mallett in 2011.
The Arkansas Razorbacks’ record-setting quarterback in 2009 and 2010, Mallett is an NFL quarterback now with the New England Patriots.
So for Wilson, Arkansas’ fourth year junior backup in waiting, it’s time to run the show.
It’s a show Wilson ran as the understudy when it didn’t count in the spring of 2010 as Mallett mended a broken foot. He also ran it when it did count, relieving a twice injured Mallett in successive SEC weeks against Auburn and Ole Miss.
Wilson ran the show significantly better in his 2010 relief stint against Auburn and Ole Miss and as the No. 1 quarterback last spring than he did during the 2010 spring rehearsals when he knew the spotlight would move to Mallett in the fall.
At SEC media days in Hoover, Ala., Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino was asked to recall Wilson’s 2010 spring impact on 2011.
Present third-year sophomore quarterback Brandon Mitchell also saw time at quarterback while Mallett watched the 2010 spring drills.
Petrino recalled “hating” watching Mallett just watching during spring drills in 2010, but he likes it now since Wilson and Mitchell quarterbacked more and watched less.
“It certainly helped our spring football this year because that’s what they did the previous year,” Petrino said. “I really believe that those reps, they really tried to take advantage of them.”
Petrino said Wilson learned that he tried too hard to take advantage of that 2010 spring.
“I think Tyler also understood that, ‘I just needed to settle down, relax, play the game the way I know how to play the game, not try to be Ryan Mallett,’ ” Petrino said. “In that previous spring, he at times tried to do things that were out of his element.
“I thought this [2011] spring that he really understood, ‘Hey, this is what I do well, this is what I have to work on, and I’m going to continue to do what I know how to do to move the ball.’ ”
It helped that Wilson moved it spectacularly, throwing for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions in the 65-43 loss against national champion Auburn.
That performance in Auburn, Ala., thrust Wilson onto the 2011 Maxwell Award watch list even though he never has started a game.
Wilson’s big numbers came at Auburn, but Petrino cites him finishing the lightning-delayed 38-24 victory over Ole Miss.
“We all saw what he did in the Auburn game last year, but also the next week, when we had that marathon game with Ole Miss with the two lightning delays, Tyler came in and finished the game and converted some tough third downs and helped us win the ballgame,” Petrino said. “I’ve been very impressed with the way he’s prepared in the off-season, the leadership role that he’s working to take over.”
STEVE VESTAL CONDOLENCES
Condolences to the family of Steve Vestal, who lettered as a Razorbacks linebacker in 1970.
A starter in the 1970 season opener against Stanford, Vestal passed away recently, according to Harold Horton, the Razorback Foundation president and a Razorbacks defensive coach from 1968-1980.
Sports, Pages 22 on 07/23/2011