FAYETTEVILLE -- It seemed on last year's message boards and sports talk radio that some Arkansas Razorbacks fans wouldn't give you 10 cents for AJ Derby.
Now, who knows? Some day some NFL team may pay Derby millions.
For the second consecutive week, Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema is lauding last year's often criticized junior backup quarterback who has become a surprise standout at tight end.
Derby stiff-arming and sprinting away from Alabama defensive backs for a 54-yard touchdown catch two weeks ago in Fayetteville and his incredible one-handed snag of a 14-yard pass from Brandon Allen last Saturday against Georgia didn't pass unnoticed.
"He probably made himself a nice little coin package on that play right there," Bielema said after the Alabama game.
Then Derby surprised Georgia with his single-handed catch, leading Bielema to note that every NFL scout who had come in has asked about Derby even though he has played tight end in only seven games.
Bielema has shown confidence in Derby, 6-5, 255 pounds, ever since he moved him from quarterback to tight end during spring drills last season.
"He will be one of the best story lines for Arkansas football this year," Bielema said last July. "He is a phenomenal player right now at tight end and nobody knows it, which is great."
That may have even included Derby, who still gives aw shucks replies to questions regarding his NFL aspirations.
"I haven't really thought about that," Derby said last week. "Let's wait until the season is over to figure all that out."
Everyone knew Arkansas already had an excellent tight end in sophomore Hunter Henry, who earned second-team All-SEC honors as a true freshman last year. Now they have two either providing a break for the other or working in tandem.
Henry and Derby worked over the middle of the Bulldogs' defense Saturday during Arkansas' comeback from an early 38-6 deficit in its 45-32 loss to Georgia. Henry caught 5 passes for 92 yards and 1 touchdown and Derby had 3 receptions for 45 yards.
For the season, Derby has 15 catches for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns while Henry has caught 16 passes for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Bielema even gave Derby a backhanded compliment while talking about his blocking after the Alabama game, which made Derby smile.
"He kind of had been a quarterback playing tight end up until that point, no offense to quarterbacks," Bielema said. "But he kind of got a little down and dirty Saturday. He really amped up his intensity level."
Naturally Bielema's comment was relayed to Derby.
"I don't know if I agree with that," Derby said, laughing. "But that's all right if he said that."
They go way back. Derby's dad and Bielema are friends from their University of Iowa days. As a head coach at Wisconsin, Bielema recruited Derby out of Iowa City before Derby's path snaked from the University of Iowa to Coffeyville Junior College before intersecting with Bielema at Arkansas.
"My corn-fed guy," Bielema said. "I'm glad he didn't take my offer to come to Wisconsin because I wouldn't have him now."
And Arkansas would be the lesser for it.
Sports on 10/22/2014