ANTHONY REYES Northwest Arkansas Times Arkansas sophomore Sam linebacker Freddy Burton (46 ) pursues Alabama freshman wide receiver Marquis Maze (4 ) in the second half Saturday Sept. 20 in Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

In just two games, Freddy Burton has logged more tackles (21 ) than all but three who have played all games for 2-2 Arkansas.

That says something special about the Razorbacks' sophomore linebacker and most special special-teamer from Morrilton.

Those Arkansas special teams coverages muddled from mediocre to embarrassing while Burton sat out a 2-game suspension. The Hogs barely escaped nonconference underdogs Western Illinois and ULM (Louisiana at Monroe ).

However, special teams became the one aspect head coach Bobby Petrino consistently praised after lopsided losses to nationally No. 2 ranked SEC foe Alabama and No. 5 Texas of the Big 12. The special teams' special resurgence coinciding with Burton's return was no coincidence, Petrino said. " It helped a lot, " Petrino said following Burton's special teams play against Alabama. The performance earned him an outside linebacker start against Texas and again starts him at Sam'backer Saturday against Florida.

" He really played well on special teams, " Petrino said post Alabama.

" He played the way you're supposed to play: Very fast, physical, flew around. He made a couple of diving tackles and really helped us in our cover team, particularly on punt. And he's a great example to other players, when you watch video as a group to point out how you need to play, how fast you need to play and how reckless you need to play on special teams. I'm certain that'll carry over and help the other guys too. "

Apparently it did because special teams was the one collective bright spot Petrino pointed to after last week's 52-10 loss to Texas going into Saturday's 11: 30 a.m. SEC game with nationally 12 thranked Florida at Frank Broyles Field at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Burton even has wielded a name-changing influence on the Razorback defense. The position he starts went from Jack to Sam.

At 6-2, 221, Burton starts as a more conventionally sized outside'backer than freshman Jerico Nelson. Nelson, 5-9, 195, started when the position was called Jack and described as an outside linebacker / safety hybird. Nelson starts at strong safety now.

" It's really not much difference between the two, " Burton said of Sam and Jack. " I guess it's just a linebacker and a safety, but we really have the same responsibility. It's just a name. " The name of the position isn't nearly so important to Burton as the defense making a name for itself following 49-14 and 52-10 defeats. " You look at it, and we know as a defense we are better than that, " Burton sad. " I guess you could say we are in a slump right now. We will pull through and get it together. Hopefully the sooner the better. Just as a defense we have to come at it with more passion and play harder. " This is a defense that lost a lot its entire starting secondary, two starting linebackers and two of its starting linemen from last year.

" We did lose a lot, " and have quite a few freshmen playing but that's still no excuse, " Burton said. " You still have got to come out and play hard. "

Excuses don't wash with the hard-playing sophomore, including his own mistake prompting the 2-game suspension. Burton pleaded guilty to a DWI charge earlier in the summer. He took responsibility but without the qualifying " but " that so many add while professing to take responsibility. " I did what I did and suffered the consequences, " Burton said. " You move on and learn your lesson and hopefully you do right from here on out. You make mistakes, learn from them and you move on. That's where I am right now, moving on. " And moving up the tackle chart.