By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas guard Alvin Bailey had an entire year to prepare for his college football debut, so he can only imagine what tackle Mitch Smothers must be feeling right now.
Smothers, a 2010 Springdale High graduate, isn’t just going to play in his first Arkansas game against Missouri State on Saturday. The 6-foot-4, 296-pound lineman could be starting, teaming with Bailey, Travis Swanson, Grant Freeman and Grant Cook on Arkansas’ offensive front.
“It would have been difficult,” said Bailey, who started as a redshirt freshman. “And it’s going to be difficult for him. But we are going to put him on our wings and we are going to get the job done.”
Smothers is part of a small group of freshmen expected to earn immediate playing time beginning Saturday night. Smothers, receiver Marquel Wade, guard Brey Cook, cornerback Tevin Mitchel, running backs Kody Walker and Kelvin Fisher Jr., and defensive end Trey Flowers were all listed on the team’s depth chart for the first game Monday.
It’s not near the number as 2008, when the Razorbacks relied on 16 true freshman like receivers Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright, safeties Tramain Thomas and Elton Ford, linebacker Jerico Nelson and running back Dennis Johnson. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino believes is freshmen are very talented, but Arkansas doesn’t need that much help this time with enough veteran talent and depth on both sides of the ball.
“I would imagine we’ll see five or six freshmen play,” Petrino said in an interview about his signing class on Arkansas’ website. “Obviously the junior college guys will contribute this year. But I’m excited about the group. When you line up and watch them work together, this could be one of our best recruiting classes.”
But Smothers appears to be the only true freshman with a chance to start. He and junior college transfer Jason Peacock were listed on top of the depth chart at the position Monday. That would’ve been a surprising statement last spring after Cook arrived on campus early, worked with the first-team at tackle and appeared to be a shoe-in.
Arkansas moved Cook to guard, thought, while sliding Smothers from guard to tackle. He quickly moved up to the first-team offense and held his ground before practices were closed to the public.
“I have been going against guys like Jake Bequette and Tenarius Wright every day and it’s making me better,” Smothers said last week. “Going up against SEC speed every day is helping me a lot.”
Smothers is the first to admit he has plenty to learn. But Petrino called Smothers a “great technician” earlier in camp, adding later he has become one of Arkansas’ best pass protectors.
“He kick-slides well,” he said. “He’s patient. He shoots his hands. He’s strong and very quick. I’ve liked everything I’ve seen from Mitch.”
Teammates have seen the potential as well, even though he’s lacking experience.
Swanson, who started as a redshirt freshman last season, said Smothers will be in store for some up-and-down moments this season. All freshmen and first-year players go through rough times. But he also said the tackle is getting help from others.
“He has come a long ways since the beginning of camp,” Swanson said. “You can tell when he’s wide-eyed sometimes. But we just tell him, ‘Hey, calm down. This is what you need to do.’”
If Smothers runs out on the field with the first-team offense Saturday he will become the first offensive or defensive true freshman to start an opener since 2008. Five started for Petrino that season.
He also would become the first true freshman offensive lineman to start an opener for Petrino, stepping in to play immediately at a challenging position.
It’s a tall task, but Smothers believes he is up for the challenge. Even if, Smothers admitted, he wasn’t counting on a starting job this fall.
“You have to come in with that mentality, but I really wasn’t expecting to play,” Smothers said. “I just came in and worked and let it work out.”
Ready To Contribute
Tackle Mitch Smothers may start as a true freshman against Missouri State. If so, Smothers would be the eighth true freshman to start a season opener for Arkansas under coach Bobby Petrino. Below is a year-by-year look at other true freshman starters:
2008:
RB De’Anthony Curtis (six carries, 36 yards)
WR Jarius Wright (zero receptions)
LB Jerico Nelson (two tackles, sack)
LB Jelani Smith (three tackles, forced fumble)
S Elton Ford (four tackles)
2009
P Dylan Breeding (one punt, 36 yards)
2010
PK Zach Hocker (6-for-6 on extra points)
Saturday’s Ticket
Missouri State (0-0) at No. 15 Arkansas (0-0)
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Razorback Stadium
TV: Pay-per-view
Radio: Razorback Sports Network
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 219), XM (Ch. 199)
Series Record: Arkansas leads 6-0
Last Meeting: Arkansas 48, Missouri State 10 in 2009
Coaches: Arkansas — Bobby Petrino (23-15 entering fourth season); Missouri State — Terry Allen (23-32 entering sixth season)
