WholeHogSports
Former HS teammates climb Hogs’ depth chart
Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2008
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/68403/
Tyler Wilson’s role on a football team four years ago was much different from what he’s facing now as a quarterback in college.
Wilson was running up and down the sidelines in Greenwood in 2004, tossing balls to seniors on the Bulldogs’ stout roster. A ball boy, the future Razorbacks quarterback caught the eye of a few departing seniors on the team.
Lucas Miller, a longtime acquaintance through a friend, recalls people in the town of 7, 112 saying, “ This kid is probably going to be a stud. ” Miller caught a few passes from the then-ball boy at Greenwood during warm-ups on the sidelines. And after Miller’s graduation and subsequent arrival to Fayetteville, Wilson took Greenwood to three straight state championships while throwing for more than 8, 000 yards and completing 62 percent of his passes — one of the best career performances by a quarterback in state history.
Today, Miller and Wilson are hooking up on the practice field in full-contact scrimmages at the University of Arkansas.
“ Coming up here, he’s been a mentor to me, ” Wilson said. “ He’s taught me the ropes. I appreciate that. ”
The two have also rocketed up the Razorbacks’ depth chart in the first two weeks of practices. Miller, a junior, started seeing time on the first team at wide receiver two weeks ago, while Wilson began sharing second-team snaps with Nathan Dick under center. Their rise to more opportunities have coincided as practices heated up during two-a-days, and players began to succumb to injuries at receiver.
The two have done nothing but work since May, Wilson said.
“ I try to keep a positive attitude, ” Wilson said. “ I think that there are a lot of great guys up here. I think there are six of us in the quarterback room and I knew the reps were probably going to be a little bit limited. I just tried to make the most of my opportunity and I think that’s come and, with a great attitude, it’s going to be the opportunity to take more snaps. ”
Last week, Miller and Wilson saw some time together on the second-team offense in an intrasquad scrimmage. Miller’s highlights came on 30- and 53-yard catches from starter Casey Dick and thirdteamer Alex Mortensen.
And Wilson found Miller twice in the scrimmage for nice receptions, Miller said. Is Wilson trying to find a favorite receiver ?
“ I hope so, ” Miller chortled. “ I like it when quarterbacks show a little favoritism. He’s definitely getting in there and learning the offense and proving himself worthy. ”
Wilson remained stalwart with his reasoning for finding his former Greenwood teammate in the scrimmage.
“ I try to go through my reads and progressions, ” Wilson explained. “ There’s four or five receivers on the field at all times. There are plenty of guys that can make plays, so I get it to the guy that’s open. ”
Wilson still has plenty to work on in the preseason and beyond, he admitted. For instance, coaches have noticed he’s a bit uncomfortable under center. That’s because Wilson almost always lined up in the shotgun in high school. The offensive staff worked the 6-foot-2 passer in the shotgun for the majority of the early part of preseason practices to get him acclimated with the offense.
Wilson, head coach Bobby Petrino explained, was at an “ all-time anxiety high” on the first day of practice.
Now he’s working more on his drop, technique and exchange with the center.
“ In the early spring I got the playbook and thumbing through it, ” Wilson said. “ You really don’t start understanding the offense until you get up here and start being a part of things. I think it’s finally starting to click a little bit and I still have a lot to learn. ”
Veteran teammates have also noticed a change in Wilson as he ascended the depth chart in the preseason.
“ He seems more comfortable in the pocket, ” sophomore tight end D. J. Williams said. “ He has good instincts. He may not go to the one receiver for that played called, but if you notice, his instincts are really good for a young quarterback. I think he’s going to be great leader on down the road. ”
To get there, confidence will be needed, Wilson said. Arkansas players were asked to fill out goal sheets prior to practices this preseason and Wilson’s top goal was to maintain a good attitude, he said.
“ You become a little more excited when you see things pan out, ” Wilson explained. “ You feel like you’ve achieved something. ”
Familiarity may help. Miller said the Razorbacks ’ Power Spread offense is similar to the duo’s previous set up in Greenwood. Well, at least with the receivers lining up four and five wide. Other than that, there’s not much else in common.
“ We didn’t run the ball a whole lot [in high school ], but when we did we did a lot of screens and draws, ” Miller said. “ It’s a lot similar to this offense but obviously it’s a lot more complex now. ”
Wilson agreed.
“ There’s a lot of volume in the offense, ” Wilson said. “ There are a lot of plays you have to learn but once you start to understand it, it’s a language and things speak for themselves. I think there is going to be a lot of throwing the ball around mixed up with the running game. There are checks for pretty much everything we do and I think that’s what’s going to make us successful. ”
Until then, Miller and Wilson will try to get better on the field, and maybe hang out a bit more outside the all-day preseason schedule of meetings, practices and team meals until 10 p. m.
“ I actually made a comment to him that we should hang out when all of this is over, ” Wilson said. “ And he goes, ‘ We’re going to be hanging out for the next three weeks. ’
“ We’ve been together through this whole camp and I think that’s what the camp is about — building bonds and relationships with your brothers. I think that’s what makes you successful in the long run, too. ”