FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas sophomore Ricky Stromberg, whose weight ranged into the high 260s as a starter at right guard last season, has put on significant weight as he battles Ty Clary for the starting center job.
“In the summer, I put on about 40 pounds,” Stromberg said after Tuesday’s first day in full pads. “Honestly, I thought I was going to get kind of out of shape. Mostly, it was good weight, but when you gain that much, you’re going to be a little tired.
“But it went good today. Really the whole offensive line, we all strained today, we all busted our butts.”
Stromberg said he increased his weight to 300 pounds while in school through February, then he went home to Tulsa at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Honestly, all I did was work out,” he said. “We had some Zoom meetings, so I didn’t have much to do in quarantine. So, I got bored and I ate.”
Stromberg said he’s having to get used to the uptempo offense.
“I’m getting better at it,” he said. “We’re starting to bring that on more since we’ve got full pads now, so really starting to emphasize it.”