Junior college QB walking on at Arkansas

Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College quarterback A.J. Derby has agreed to walk on at Arkansas and compete for the starting job in the spring.

— Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College quarterback A.J. Derby has agreed to walk on at Arkansas and compete for the starting job in the spring.

Derby, 6-5, 235 pounds, 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, was a highly recruited prospect coming out of Iowa City and signed with the Hawkeyes in 2010. He redshirted his freshman year before moving to linebacker in 2011.

He transferred to Coffeyville in January and completed 149 of 321 passes for 1,936 yards and 22 touchdowns and threw 14 interceptions this past season.

He said Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney recruited him in high school.

“I’ve had great conversations with them, and I have a great chance to compete for the starting spot,” said Derby, who plans to report to Arkansas on Jan. 10. “They’re both new to the staff, and it’s going to be a whole new system and everyone is going to be learning.

“I went and watched the spring game last year, and I feel like I can compete against the quarterbacks that are going to be there and I’m confident in myself and my abilities.”

Derby, who turned down a scholarship offer from Houston and others to play for the Hogs, played in the 2010 U.S. Army All American game in San Antonio after throwing for more than 1,800 yards and leading Iowa City to a state title as a senior.

Sports, Pages 31 on 12/30/2012