Berna persevered to justify UA offer

FAYETTEVILLE — Colby Berna had to wait another 20 minutes or so for his signing-day ceremony to start.

That's small change for Berna, a Fayetteville offensive lineman who orally committed to Arkansas in February 2008 to become the first declared member of the 2009 class. On Wednesday, the ceremony was delayed while everyone waited for Razorbacks Coach Bobby Petrino to arrive.

Petrino was to be on hand because his son Bobby signed with the Air Force Academy.

"I'm glad it's over," said Berna, 6-3, 290. "I'm glad to make it official. It's great to know I'm finally a Razorback for sure."

Berna was a two-time All-Arkansas selection even though he was plagued his senior year with a dislocated left shoulder.Berna led Fayettteville to the Class 7A state championship as a junior.

Petrino speaks about 2009 class

Watch Video

There might be another wait for Berna to get on the field as he will undergo shoulder surgery Feb. 17. The Razorbacks want Berna to have his shoulder surgically repaired soon so he can begin rehabilitation.

"It's really going to depend on my shoulder and how that holds up," Berna said. "Doing it now gives me a better chance to be ready in the fall. If guys who weigh 20-30 pounds less than me are making it come out, guys who weigh the same or are heavier than me are going to put a lot of pressure on it.

"They're looking out for me when they told me to have it. I just want to get it done and out of the way."

Continued from Page 1W

Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton said Berna showed his character and toughness by playing through his injury this past year. Patton said Berna should prove to be one of the Razorbacks' best recruits once his shoulder gets fixed.

"When he gets healthy 100 percent, I think Arkansas has the steal of the class," Patton said. "He's going to be a great lineman. You're not going to find anybody with better feet and hips than he has. A lot of kids would probably never have played, but he never came out.

"He was still one of the best offensive linemen around."

Berna said he felt some pressure after committing so early to the Razorbacks. He said he felt a responsibility to live up to the hype associated with his commitment and that was part of the reason he played despite his recurring shoulder problem.

"I felt I had to because I got a scholarship and I didn't want anybody to think I was wussing out," Berna said. "I wanted to play and show I do have the toughness to play in the SEC. That was part of the mental thing for me.

"It kept coming out but I never wanted to come out. I had to keep playing through it because I'm going to have to play through a lot of stuff. That's not the worst thing I'm going to have to play through."