This article originally appeared in the September 18, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.
Located just north of Fayetteville, Springdale is a large city
by Arkansas standards. With a population around 71,000, it’s the fourth largest
city in the state, but not in the top 400 in the country.
However, it produced Arkansas’ two starting offensive guards in
2011.
Redshirt sophomore Mitch Smothers came to Arkansas from
Springdale High, while junior Brey Cook came from Springdale Har-Ber High.
Their hometown is not the only thing the teammates have in
common, either. Both of their high school coaches consider them overall good
people and pleasant to be around.
“He has great character and morals,” Smothers’ head coach at
Springdale, Shane Patrick, said. “He’s kind of a quiet guy until you get to
know him, but once you do, he’s a really funny guy.”
Cook’s head coach at Har-Ber, Chris Wood, paints a similar
picture.
“Brey is a good guy with a big heart,” Wood said. “He’s
down-to-earth and low key. People like hanging out with him.”
Having this type of personality has shaped the way both linemen
lead on the field. Wood admits that Cook was never “overly vocal,” but he led
in other ways.
“He was always here. It didn’t matter if he was sick or not,” Wood
said. “He set the tone in the weight room and helped set the standard of work
ethic.”
Smothers was also a “silent leader that led by example,” Patrick
said. “When he did speak, everybody seemed to listen.”
In high school, Smothers and Cook were highly touted offensive
tackles and received several offers. According to Scout.com, Cook was a
five-star recruit and the No. 6 offensive tackle in the country, while Smothers
was a four-star and No. 29.
Following their senior seasons, they received more national
recognition, as both were selected to the Under Armour All-America team and
Cook was also named to the U.S. Air Force All-America team.
Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Oklahoma State
offered them both scholarships and were among the 11 offers for Smothers and 15
for Cook. They had a decision to make.
“I knew that when I started getting those offers, I’d have to
keep an open mind,” Smothers said. “I tried to visit as many places as I could,
but in the end I realized that Arkansas was the best place for me.”
Traditional football powers Florida State, Miami (FL), Notre
Dame, Oklahoma and USC also offered Cook, but having the opportunity to play
with Smothers and Brandon Allen from Fayetteville High, another high school
rival, was too good to pass up.
“That was something that I put a lot of thought into,” Cook
said. “I knew Mitch and Brandon were coming up here, so I decided that it’d be
fun to play with them. I’m glad I came here.”
Once on campus, Smothers made an immediate impact, winning a starting
tackle position. When he started in the 2011 season opener against Missouri
State, he became the first true freshman in UA history to start a season opener
on the offensive line.
He was also one of only four true freshmen to start in the
season opener for a BCS team on the offensive line that season. Smothers went
on to start the first four games of the season and see action in seven games.
Last year, though, we was redshirted and worked with the scout
team. He came off of his redshirt year and regained a starting position after
spring practice.
During this time, Arkansas transitioned from Bobby Petrino to
John L. Smith before finally hiring Bret Bielema and Smothers was worked as a
tackle and center, before settling in at guard.
“You grow the most in adverse times, so going through all of
these coaching changes has really helped me grow off the field,” Smother said.
“(Moving positions) helps me learn faster and I learned a lot more technique.”
Cook’s rise to a starting offensive guard has been more conventional.
After seeing action in 11 games as a freshman, including working
on the field goal unit, Cook started half of Arkansas’ games last season and
played in all of them.
When Bielema arrived, he moved from tackle to guard and earned a
starting position after spring practice.
“It’s been a great experience and I wouldn’t trade it for
anything,” Cook said. “We’ve really learned a lot these last three years.
Everything is going good now and we’re excited to be where we’re at.”
Bielema’s arrival has not only shifted Smothers and Cook to
guard, but it has also completely changed the offensive philosophy. Under the
previous coaches, Arkansas was a pass-heavy offense, while Bielema’s offense is
more run-oriented.
In the first three games of the season, the Razorbacks are
averaging 294.3 rushing yards per game, nearly 2.5 times more than what they
averaged last season. This difference starts at the play calling, but it must
be executed up front.
“From an o-line perspective, it’s really a mentality (change),” Cook
said. “It’s going out there and saying you’re going to run the ball even though
everyone knows what’s about to happen and it happens anyway.”
Making the position and coaching changes easier for Smothers and
Cook is senior center Travis Swanson. Swanson was a second-team
All-Southeastern Conference selection last year and is a Rimington Trophy
candidate this year.
“Swanson is a really smart football player,” Smothers said. “It
helps me and Brey a lot because he gets the calls out for us and we just go out
there and play ball.”
Smothers, Cook, Swanson and the rest of the offensive line will
have their hands full Saturday, when the Razorbacks travel to Rutgers for their
fourth game of the season. The Scarlet Knights are allowing just 59.3 rushing
yards per game, which ranks fifth in the NCAA.
Kickoff
is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and the game will air live nationally on ESPN.
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