The 13th in a series profiling new additions to the Arkansas football team.
FAYETTEVILLE — When Denton Simek changed his mind, Arkansas was waiting.
Simek, an offensive tackle from Prague, Okla., signed with Arkansas in February after originally committing to Texas Tech and Coach Mike Leach. When the Red Raiders fired Leach, Simek reopened his recruiting.
The Razorbacks hadn’t recruited Simek heavily after his oral commitment, but Simek said they didn’t waste any time jumping back in when news of his decommitment spread.
“Arkansas supported me 110 percent,” said Simek, 6-6, 285 pounds. “They didn’t blink an eye.”
Simek was a top Oklahoma prospect his senior year, but he had reason for trepidation when he announced he was backing out of his commitment. Simek had blown out the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the season’s third game and underwent reconstructive surgery.
“I was scared at first, especially after I dropped Texas Tech,” Simek said.
Tommy Tuberville visited Simek after he was hired to replace Leach, but Simek decided to go with Arkansas.
“Coach Tuberville was a great guy, but he wasn’t Mike Leach,” Simek said. “He wasn’t the guy I signed up to play for. Coach [Bobby] Petrino is a great guy, a winner. He turned that program around, and I want to be a part of something special.”
Simek has recovered from the injury and is going through workouts at Arkansas, where he enrolled this summer. Simek said since he is a freshman and less thanone year removed from a major knee injury, he expects to redshirt this year.
“I’m just getting back,” Simek said. “I’m just taking it in stride and doing what I can. There’s always a chance I’ll play.”
Simek said regardless of whether he is on the two-deep chart or redshirted, he plans on giving Arkansas its money’s worth for his scholarship.
“For the most part, as an offensive lineman, you need a year to learn the system, learn how you call plays and audibles,” Simek said. “They signed me up to play football. I’m going to make sure I hold up my end of the bargain.”
Prague Coach Chuck Atchison said he wouldn’t expect anything less from Simek. Atchison learned thatSimek has a way of exceeding expectations.
When Simek reported to Prague as a freshman, all Atchison saw was a tall, slightly uncoordinated, bigfooted kid. Atchison didn’t believe in playing freshmen in varsity games, but Simek put in the work and, by the sixth game, Atchison realized the tall kid was his best option at right tackle.
Until his injury, Simek started every game at Prague after that.
“He was just tall and gangly and would trip over his own feet,” Atchison said. “He worked his way in there. I made him earn it. From then on, it was his.”
Atchison said Simek was successful as a freshman because he had great height and long arms that, with his improved footwork, allowed him to maneuver around and in front of opponents.
It was after his freshman year that Simek made the improvements in the weight room that would make him a major college prospect.
“You’re not going to outwork the kid,” Atchison said. “He made such a jump between his freshman and sophomore year. I knew he had a chance to do something pretty good pretty soon.”
Sports, Pages 19 on 07/31/2010