Coach Bret Bielema’s first football camp at Arkansas on Saturday morning was a big hit, but it wasn’t because the Razorbacks’ coaching staff found the next Darren Mc-Fadden.
Bielema and his staff worked with about 190 children in first through fourth grades at the Hogs Youth camp.
Bielema, his staff and freshmen who reported to campus recently signed autographs and interacted with campers between breaks and at the end of the camp.
A pair of 8-year-old twins from Van Buren managed to get about 10 autographs each, including one from Bielema, who stayed after camp and signed shirts and footballs.
“He was the bestest coach ever,” one of the twins said. “He was nice.”
The other hopes his receiving skills caught Bielema’s eye.
“I hope one day he’ll recruit me as a Razorback,” he said. “I have to train for the spot as wide receiver.”
Bielema said the camp gave him and the coaches an opportunity to reflect on what they do.
“I think sometimes you lose perspective when dealing with an older crowd when you’re talking about fund-raising and boosters and all the different clubs,” Bielema said. “To see my coaches have their own sons in the camp was just a great moment of just being afan of young kids.”
Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge was entertained watching the graduate assistants try to communicate with the young campers.
“The funniest moment was actually trying to watch our young coaches think that ‘get in a line’ actually meant get in line for kids this age,” Partridge said. “They’re just looking at them and had no idea what the young coaches meant.”
Shiloh Christian Coach Josh Floyd’s 7-year-old son participated in the camp, and he said the highlight of the day was running out of the Broyles Complex through the Hog snout at the end of the camp. His favorite coach was graduate assistant Terrance Butler.
“He played with us at the beginning and then we played football,” the younger Floyd said.
Cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson said working with the young campers was quite different than coaching Razorback players.
“The biggest adjustment is making sure you have their attention for at least two seconds to explain the drill,” Johnson said with a big smile and a laugh. “Splitting them up in lines, every minute thing was pretty interesting.”
Johnson’s son Tyree participated in the camp.
“I hope he’s a skill guy,” Johnson said. “My wife ran track in college, so I’m praying he gets her speed. I wasn’t very fast at all. He enjoyed it. He did a good job.”
Tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. enjoyed seeing his son take part in the camp as well.
“My 5-year-old, Luke, it was his birthday today and it was his birthday present,” Lunney said. “Coach let him come out and run around with us a little bit today.”
It was a day where the children and their parents were able to get a taste of what it’s like to be a Razorback.
“For the most part it’s about the parent and the kid getting to be in the stadium and being around these coaches and being around these players and experience what it’s like to be a Razorback for a day,” Lunney said.
Bielema didn’t discount the idea that a future player or two might have been in the camp. He recalled his first youth camp nine years ago, and he said one of those participants signed with a Division I school in February.
Bielema also was delighted to hear a camper during the autograph session relay a request from his father to have a picture taken with the Arkansas coach.
“He goes, ‘My dad wants a picture,’ ” Bielema said. “It was awesome to hear some of those comments.”
Bielema and his staff will welcome more than 300 athletes to campus Monday for the start of Arkansas’ three day high school camp.
Numerous in-state and out of state prospects will be trying to earn a scholarship offer from the Hogs with their performance.
Some of the in-state athletes the Hogs will be eyeing over the three days are athlete Deandre Murray of Springdale, cornerback Kavin Alexander of North Little Rock, running back and defensive back Joshua Liddell of Dollarway, Lonoke receiver Blake Mack, tight end Aaron Hamaker of Little Rock Catholic, White Hall running back Irvin Tisdale, defensive lineman Jarvis Cooper of West Memphis, defensive lineman Jake Hall and offensive lineman Isaac Johnson of Springdale Har-Ber.
Despite already having an offer and being committed to the Hogs, defensive lineman Bijohn Jackson of El Dorado and running back Juan Day of North Little Rock will participate in Monday’s session.
Out-of-state prospects towatch for are junior quarterback Ross Trail of Olive Branch, Miss. Jackson, (Miss.) Callaway defensive lineman Breeland Speaks, who has offers from Ole Miss, Miss. St., South Carolina and Florida State. Receiver Dayall Harris also of Jackson, (Miss.) Callaway will attend. He’s an Ole Miss commitment that recently added an offer from the Hogs.
Carrollton, Texas, Hebron junior offensive lineman Zach Rogers , who has an Arkansas offer, will attend Monday’s session along with junior tight end Will Gragg of Pine Bluff and junior tight end and defensive end Jamario Bell of Junction City. Gragg has offers from Arkansas, Alabama and Ole Miss while Bell was offered by Arkansas this week.
PRUITT VISITS
Offensive lineman Jovan Pruitt, 6-6, 290 pounds, 5.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Dallas Bishop Dunne High School visited Arkansas on Saturday and will visit again today. He has more than 10 scholarship offers, including Alabama, Nebraska, Texas, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 28 on 06/09/2013