Hog Calls

QBs stick with Hogs, even if they're not in pocket

Arkansas quarterbacks Rafe Peavey (2), Austin Allen (8), Jack Lindsey (14), Cole Kelley (15) and Ty Storey (5) go through drills in practice Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, in Fayetteville.
Arkansas quarterbacks Rafe Peavey (2), Austin Allen (8), Jack Lindsey (14), Cole Kelley (15) and Ty Storey (5) go through drills in practice Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Sometimes it seems quarterbacks change colleges faster than Lady Gaga changes costumes.

For the nonstarter, quarterback often doesn't bode for a long run at the same school.

Most quarterbacks grew up stars. Sometimes their parents fancy them not only as stars, but THE star upon which the universe revolves.

It is hard for some quarterbacks and their parents to accept when the star has been outshone. "We are leaving" tends to be the response.

Of course there are myriad valid reasons for a quarterback to transfer, from coaches leaving or a change in offensive philosophy to reasons unrelated to football.

So it's somewhat remarkable Coach Bret Bielema begins his fourth Arkansas season without a quarterback ever seeking asylum.

In 2013, Bielema inherited sophomore Brandon Allen, signed freshmen Austin Allen -- Brandon's brother and fellow Fayetteville High alum -- and Damon "Duwop" Mitchell of Egg Harbor, N.J. He also welcomed University of Iowa junior transfer AJ Derby as a walk-on.

In 2014, he signed Rafe Peavey of Bolivar, Mo., and accepted walk-on Troy Allison of McGregor, Texas.

In 2015, he signed freshmen Ty Storey of Charleston and transfer Ricky Town from the University of Southern California, and in 2016 signed freshman Cole Kelley of Lafayette, La., and accepted freshman walk-on Connor Proctor of Vero Beach, Fla.

All of them aren't quarterbacks anymore, but they all are either active Razorbacks or exhausted their eligibility. Brandon Allen was Arkansas' starting quarterback from 2013-2015, and Derby -- the 2013 backup -- became a 2014 senior standout at tight end.

The rest? Austin Allen is the current No. 1 and Peavey is No. 2. Storey, Town, Kelley and Proctor practice behind them.

Mitchell thrust himself into the running back picture while Allison perseveres as a third-year receiver.

Why are all these guys still Razorbacks while quarterbacks bolt from other places?

"I think it goes to the type of kid you recruit," Bielema said. "I think the kids that come here want to be here. We don't make any false promises. I learned this all the way back in my career. I think about when I had Russell [Wilson] coming in."

Wilson, a Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl champion quarterback, transferred from North Carolina State to Bielema's Wisconsin Badgers as a one-year eligible graduate student transfer for the 2011 season.

"I was 99 percent sure he was going to be my starter, even before we saw him practice," Bielema said. "But I never, ever guaranteed it to him or said anything along those lines. What we do is just tell them to show up, do the work they're supposed to do and good things will happen."

Bielema said the quarterbacks' respect for Brandon Allen then and Austin Allen now helps immensely.

"I think without a doubt right now, Austin is our best quarterback," Bielema said. "You know who knows it? All those other quarterbacks. Because they watch the same thing I watch every day, and they know that he's performing the best at that position. That's why he's one."

Sports on 08/06/2016

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