School hasn’t started yet, but Arkansas freshman D. J. Williams is already doing a lot of cramming. Each day, he goes to the Broyles Complex an hour before practice to meet assistant coach James Shibest and watch film together. No one else is in the room but them.

“ I’m so far behind everyone else, ” Williams said Thursday. “ So I just go in early and go over all the plays. ”

Williams, who is currently working as the second-string tight end, is the first to admit he’s got a lot to learn. But the fact he is a newcomer isn’t the only reason why he’s doing a lot of extra studying. Williams is expected to play several different roles in a wide array of packages this season. He could even line up at H-back.

With sophomore tight end Ben Cleveland missing practice because of a neck injury and senior fullback Peyton Hillis on the sidelines after hurting his hamstring, Williams has been given an opportunity to show his versatility.

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And so far he has taken full advantage of it, despite missing some time while recovering from a concussion he suffered last week in a scrimmage.

“ D. J. is a mature guy that is really going to help our football team this year, ” Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt said. “ I’m proud of what he’s done so far. I think he’s a key ingredient who can pick up the slack in the passing game and in the run game. ”

As of right now, it’s Williams’ hands that have caught the attention of the coaches. On Thursday, Williams made some nifty catches. He snagged a pass, streaking down the middle of the field as linebacker Ryan Powers and strong safety Matt Hewitt converged on him. Later on, he made another catch in the flats and eluded a defender before sprinting ahead for a few more yards.

“ It’s amazing how smart he is and how he can pick up things, ” Shibest said. “ We’re very pleased. He’s shown a lot of great things. ” In high school, Williams played in an offense that featured a prolific passing game. Two years ago, as a junior at Central Arkansas Christian in Little Rock, he caught 51 passes for 668

yards and eight

touchdowns while starting at tight end.

As he is expected to do at Arkansas, Williams wore several different hats with the Mustangs. He also hauled in passes while moonlighting as a fullback and H-back.

“ I like it all, ” Williams said.

So far his experience as a go-to receiver has served him well in preseason camp with the Razorbacks. He has shown an ability to run clean routes, shake off defenders and find open spaces. His 6-2, 240-pound frame has also provided a big target for the guys throwing the ball to him.

“ We’re asking him to do a bunch of different things right now, ” Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick said. “ He’s coming off the line, going on the line. He’s running a bunch of different routes. And he’s been able to separate. When you’re able to separate, [as a quarterback ] you’re able to get guys the ball. He’s been able to catch the ball and make plays for us. ”

But there is room for improvement with Williams, Shibest asserted.

“ He’s not completely polished on fundamentals, ” said Shibest, who supervises the tight ends. “ The blocking stuff, the run part of it, is what is going to be tough for him. But he’s athletic. So he’s able to get away with more. ”

Still, Williams said he has noticed that high school and college are not one and the same.

“ It’s a way different level, ” he said. “ It’s a lot more faster, a lot more physical. ”

Shibest and Nutt, however, will be the first ones to point out that Williams has acquitted himself well so far. More catches like the ones he had Thursday should leave Williams in good standing by the season opener against Troy on Sept. 1.