Freshmen optimistic about future
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Sports
Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino knows what it's like to play as a true freshman.
Petrino, a four-year starter for at Carroll College from 1985-1988, started at quarterback his freshman year.
"I had a bunch of older guys at offensive line and running back," Petrino said. "I came in there and played, and it was a lot of fun. We won a lot of games. You get hit a lot harder. There is a definite change from high school to college."
And that change is something Petrino can relate with the 16 true freshmen who have played this year, which ranks third nationally in an informal poll behind Miami and Florida State.
While the team has not enjoyed much success as of late, the freshman class is heading in the right direction, Petrino said.
"I think [the freshmen] are improving," Petrino said. "But we have to take bigger steps because of who we are playing against. Not many people are playing this many true freshmen. They need to grow up fast and start to show bigger strides. If we can keep improving each week, we can get our self on a roll real quick and get a bunch of wins."
But the true freshmen have shown they can make an impact.
Joe Adams has emerged as the team's leading wide receiver with 13 catches, 157 yards and a touchdown. He also has two carries for 20 yards, although he is still transitioning to college life.
"You don't have your mom waking you up, telling you to do homework," Adams said. "But sometimes I like my mom waking me up telling me to go to school."
Adams said he is adjusting to seeing more man coverage and having to be more fundamentally sound as a wide receiver.
"You have to use your technique and your release," Adams said. "You have to catch the ball and quickly tuck it in, because if you don't you will get it taken away or it might be intercepted."
Adams said learning the complex playbook has been a little difficult, as there are more option routes than he ran in high school. But focusing on the field is a big part of transitioning his game to the college level, he said.
Petrino, a four-year starter for at Carroll College from 1985-1988, started at quarterback his freshman year.
"I had a bunch of older guys at offensive line and running back," Petrino said. "I came in there and played, and it was a lot of fun. We won a lot of games. You get hit a lot harder. There is a definite change from high school to college."
And that change is something Petrino can relate with the 16 true freshmen who have played this year, which ranks third nationally in an informal poll behind Miami and Florida State.
While the team has not enjoyed much success as of late, the freshman class is heading in the right direction, Petrino said.
"I think [the freshmen] are improving," Petrino said. "But we have to take bigger steps because of who we are playing against. Not many people are playing this many true freshmen. They need to grow up fast and start to show bigger strides. If we can keep improving each week, we can get our self on a roll real quick and get a bunch of wins."
But the true freshmen have shown they can make an impact.
Joe Adams has emerged as the team's leading wide receiver with 13 catches, 157 yards and a touchdown. He also has two carries for 20 yards, although he is still transitioning to college life.
"You don't have your mom waking you up, telling you to do homework," Adams said. "But sometimes I like my mom waking me up telling me to go to school."
Adams said he is adjusting to seeing more man coverage and having to be more fundamentally sound as a wide receiver.
"You have to use your technique and your release," Adams said. "You have to catch the ball and quickly tuck it in, because if you don't you will get it taken away or it might be intercepted."
Adams said learning the complex playbook has been a little difficult, as there are more option routes than he ran in high school. But focusing on the field is a big part of transitioning his game to the college level, he said.
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