By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
This is the third in a nine part, position-by-position series previewing the 2010 Razorbacks. Up next: Offensive line.
FAYETTEVILLE — Alfred Davis’ transformation from little-used nose guard in 2009 to key cog in Arkansas’ first-team defensive plans is really quite simple: He couldn’t run last year.
The sophomore admitted last week he could only give Arkansas’ coaching staff two plays at a time as a redshirt freshman. Adrenaline would help him get through the first play. Will would drag him through the second. Then, Davis only would have enough energy left to jog over to the sideline.
So it’s no surprise to see Davis is smiling now.
“I can run,” Davis said. “I can keep up with the pace of the game. I can play more than first and second down.”
The College Park, Ga., native is not the only one excited about the new development.
Arkansas believes it may have found an anchor for the middle of its defense in the improved, 6-foot-1, 326-pound Davis. After an offseason of work on conditioning and lateral quickness, Davis is leading a trio of nose guards that includes veteran Zach Stadther and sophomore Lavunce Askew.
It’s easy to see Davis has made the biggest impression in camp. And the biggest reason has been his ability to stay on the field longer.
“That’s a big, wide load down there,” Arkansas linebacker Freddy Burton said. “You can definitely tell when he’s in there. You get to run around pretty clean. … I go back and watch film and he caught my eye the first two or three practices just running to the ball.
“I just went to him and told him to keep doing what he was doing.”
After two long seasons, Davis was dedicated to improving his stamina in the offseason.
He worked diligently with Jason Veltkamp and the rest of Arkansas’ strength and conditioning staff in the winter. He made strides in time for spring practice. Davis improved even more this summer, saying he made each one of his sprint test goals.
Davis said the weight loss hasn’t been drastic, but body fat has turned into muscle. He felt the difference during Arkansas’ first scrimmage and proclaimed he can go six plays at a time now.
“We got stuck in some drives, had to go the distance and I had to stay in,” Davis said. “If we’d have done that last year I’d have been on the field either bent over or tapping my helmet.”
It’s clear Arkansas wants to keep him on the field, too, believing his impact will be vital in a conference dominated by interior linemen.
“That’s really important,” Robinson said of Davis’ newfound stamina and improved skills. “Not just for Alfred, but for us. The more we can keep him on the field, the stouter we will be inside.”
The Razorbacks are replacing Malcolm Sheppard, who took on double teams throughout 2009. They think Davis can be the type of player to demand double teams as well, which would free up others.
“There was times last year if you watched the Georgia game, the Florida game, some of the teams that we knew were really going to have some direct runs and come at us, we put him in there,” defensive tackles coach Bobby Allen said. “Now to have that type of body, to be able to hold and a gap, and hold a double team and yet get off and make a play down the line of scrimmage is huge.”
Davis wants to do everything possible to help the defense this season, but isn’t just concerned about winning a starting job. The goal is making sure he will help the Razorbacks after struggling to compile two tackles in 11 games last year.
The good news: Davis believes he can run now.
Now Arkansas will find out how much he will help.
“It gives us more depth,” Davis said. “My conditioning doesn’t leave Zach Stadther and Askew out dry to hang, just rotating those two. As far as the defense goes, some people say we can’t stop the run. Me having the extra wind, with two more sets of legs, I mean, I don’t know. We’ll see.”
A Closer Look At … DEFENSIVE LINE
Best of the Bunch: Jake Bequette — The junior has been labeled by Arkansas’ coaches as a future NFL player. After a solid sophomore season, which included 9 tackles for losses and 5 1/2 sacks, it’s time for Bequette to make a big impact.
Watch Out For: Byran Jones, Chris Smith — The freshmen will be counted on to help immediately and are talented enough to make a splash. Smith’s speed and tenacity off the edge has been obvious in camp. Jones could be a force in the middle.
Biggest Strength: Depth. Arkansas can finally go five deep at defensive end and six deep in the interior. Building size, speed and strength up front has been a goal in Bobby Petrino’s tenure and this group should be the Razorbacks’ best.
Biggest Question: Will they produce? Arkansas is counting on its line for plenty, needing stout performances against the run and pressure to affect passing attacks. There were flashes last season, but the line must do more in 2010.
Projected Starter: DE Jake Bequette, Jr., Team-high 5 1/2 sacks in 2009; DT D.D. Jones, So., 24 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks as true freshman; DT Alfred Jones, So., 2 career tackles; DE Damario Ambrose, Sr., 13 tackles in 2009
Other Contributors: DE — Tenarius Wright, So.; Chris Smith, Fr.; Colton Miles-Nash, So.; Ryan Calendar, Fr.; DT — Zach Stadther, Jr.; Lavunce Askew, Jr.; Patrick Jones, Sr.; Byran Jones, Fr.
That Figures: 6 1/2 — Career sacks by Bequette, which leads all current Arkansas players. The junior would need seven sacks in 2010 to move into the top 10 in career sacks in school history.
Quotable: “When he does put it together, and he has done that a few times, he’s a man. He really is. He’s the kind of guy we’ve been asking to get and we finally got one.” — Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson on freshman DT Byran Jones.
