FAYETTEVILLE — When the first mock scenarios for the 2017 NFL Draft started coming out last spring, Arkansas senior defensive end Deatrich Wise was slotted as high as No. 16 in the first round and a top or second-rounder in most all of the projections.
But an injury in the first game kept him from having a senior season like he wanted and now that he feels fully healthy he hopes to be that player for the Razorbacks (7-5) in the Belk Bowl match-up against Virginia Tech (9-4) that he had planned to be all season.
“I broke my hand and separated my AC joint in my shoulder,” Wise said. “The hand happened first game of the season (a win over Louisiana Tech) after that big sack. I broke the hand bone. And then the shoulder happened during the Auburn game sometime during the third quarter.”
Wise, who has been selected to play in the NFL Network-televised East-West Shrine game on Jan. 21 in St. Petersburg, Fla., was noticeably slowed by the injuries after a junior season in which his eight sacks led the SEC in conference games.
Still Wise had 45 tackles this season - third-best on the team behind Brooks Ellis and Josh Liddell - with 4 sacks and 7 quarterback hurries.
“Yeah, it was really tough physically and at times mentally, going out there and trying to do some of the moves through the pain and bones moving,” Wise said. “…Every time I shot my hand to try to get off blocks, I couldn't do it. It was weak. It affected me getting off blocks and a lot of aspects of how I play defense.”
Because of his physical limitations due to the injuries, Wise felt down mentally as well.
“It was tough not playing well some games, because there was a lot going into the season,” Wise said. “A lot of expectations and I felt like, at times, I wasn't meeting them.
“But I knew that I was injured and I knew that if I just keep on pressing, keep on working, that everything would start falling into place. I know I guess I didn't meet everybody's expectations, but I feel like this was a good season for me to do different things.”
That included getting to play both defensive tackle and defensive end.
“It kind of opened up some versatility for me,” Wise said.
When Arkansas decided to make Wise a third-down pass-rushing specialist, it seemed to help his production.
“Yeah a little because when we were doing that, I also wasn't practicing as much so I had time to actually heal,” Wise said. “Only being on third down I think let me rest and then go out there and use some moves that don't affect the hand and shoulder as much.”
He took advantage of the off-time before bowl workouts started.
“My body's feeling much better,” Wise said. “ I've had time to rest, had time to heal properly. Now everything's feeling better."
Asked about the decision of a couple of elite college players deciding to not play in their team’s bowl game, Wise said it never entered his mind.
“Nah, I just wanted to play,” Wise said. "I didn't want to be the type of person who would sit out, you know? 'Oh, he's just sitting out, being soft,' you know, so I always just was going to keep fighting through it, keep fighting through it.
“I spent most of my days rehabbing every day instead of going to practice. I tried to fight through it. A lot of people were telling me to sit out but I just ignored them and just kept trying to fight through it.
“I never thought about sitting out. I'm not thinking about sitting out now. What they did, that was their decision. That was a business decision but for me, I wanted to keep playing.”
Wise is looking forward to spending Christmas with his teammates.
“Yeah, it's gonna be real special,” Wise said. “Spending these last moments, these last days, with the team, it's gonna be filled with much laughter, much enjoyment.”
Virginia Tech’s offense presents a big challenge for Arkansas per Wise.
“Offensively, they're pretty good,” Wise said. “High tempo. They have a real good quarterback. He's agile. He can run and he can pass. We've gotta make sure we stop him from running downhill.
“He kinda reminds me of ... I don't know if I should say this ... but like a little Dak (Prescott) in a sense. He's like a big statue, hard to take down. We've gotta make sure we affect him most of the game.”
Wise didn’t want to or couldn’t talk about Arkansas’ switch to the 3-4 defense although he acknowledged it was being used in practice.
“It's been going well,” Wise said. “I think we'll do good.”
Wise was happy to hear of junior center Frank Ragnow’s decision to return for his senior season instead of head to the NFL.
“It was great,” Wise said. “Big decision. I know he had a lot on his plate, whether he wanted to leave or come back and now that he's back, I know the fans will support him.”