RUSSELLVILLE — The third in a series previewing the Arkansas teams in the Great American Conference.
Arkansas Tech Coach Steve Mullins knew when his team exited spring practice it still had a ways to go before it was fully adjusted to the changes made by a new offensive coordinator.
But he didn’t know then that he’d have to make up the rest of that ground during fall practice while also breaking in a new quarterback.
Rico Keller started eight games as a redshirt freshman last year, while showing signs of inconsistency but also flashes of his athleticism as he led the Wonder Boys in passing and rushing.
But Mullins dismissed Keller from the team after spring practice was finished because the 15-year coach said “he made some mistakes in team conduct.”
Mullins said he believes Keller is still in Russellville and plans to re-enroll in January. If so, he’ll accept him back on the team.
But for now, Mullins will decide on who will start Saturday’s season opener at Arkansas-Monticello between three inexperienced candidates: Junior James Landry, sophomore Cody Jones or freshman Preston Conder.
How inexperienced? Landry threw eight passes, Jones one and Conder was still at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas.
“It’s always a concern,” Mullins said. “They all have their strengths, they all have their weaknesses.”
Conder took the majority of the snaps in an Aug. 23 scrimmage for the Wonder Boys, who finished 4-7 last year after they reached the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2009.
Mullins said that just because Conder played more than the other two doesn’t mean a whole lot in terms of who will start Saturday, but that he also holds no reservations about starting a quarterback who was in high school just a few months ago.
“Nope. None at all,” he said. “If he’s the guy, he’s the guy.”
Whoever ends up at quarterback will be operating an adjusted offense designed by new coordinator Dean Norsworthy, one that Mullins said is still considered a Spread but will rely more on the run and the use of a tight end.
That, Mullins said, will play to the Wonder Boys’ strengths, which is what they strayed from a year ago.
Nick Graziano passed for 4,313 yards and and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2009, but Mullins said he and his staff didn’t adjust for the changed personnel.
“With Graziano, we could have thrown the ball every down and we would have been OK,” Mullins said. “Great talent, great wide receivers, and we got away with it.”
But the belief they could do that with less talent led to the Wonder Boys’ ninthplace finish in the Gulf South Conference in total offense. It also led to a bundle of turnovers that killed what few drives they actually made.
The Wonder Boys committed 39 turnovers last year, tied for most in Division II. Twenty-five of those turnovers were the result of interceptions.
Senior Jake Denzer, who has played five positions during his career but will be at tight end this season, said a more balanced offense should limit such mistakes.
“We’re a threat at any point in time,” Denzer said. “Last year, people knew we were going to throw, at least we were going to try to throw. This year, we’re going to do everything, and teams need to be ready for that.”
Mullins said he hopes a more balanced offense could help carry a defense that returns two starters from a unit that allowed 86.4 rushing yards to lead the Gulf South last year, bridging a gap between a 9-3 finish in 2009 and last year’s disappointment.
“I think we’re a more physical team [offensively] than we were a year ago,” Mullins said. “Defensively, we may know what to do, but now are we going to be athletic enough to execute it?”
Up next: Ouachita Baptist
Wonder Boys glance
COACH Steve Mullins (89-61 in 15th season)
LAST YEAR 4-7, 2-6 Gulf South Conference
SURE THING Running back, defensive backs
UNSURE THING Quarterback, offensive line
OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH RB Trayshun King
DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH CB Joe Means
PATH TO TITLE The Wonder Boys certainly have the easiest schedule in the newly-formed Great American Conference among all Arkansas schools. Arkansas Tech, picked to finish in a tie for third in a preseason coaches poll, don’t play Henderson State, Harding or Ouachita Baptist, three teams that it lost to last year and the three teams picked to finish tied with or ahead of the Wonder Boys this year. Because of an exit-deal struck with the Gulf South Conference, each Arkansas school is playing three Gulf South schools this year, meaning the number of Great American Conference games fluctuate from school to school. Arkansas Tech, like Henderson State, play just five league games. Included in that are games against Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Arkansas, both of which Arkansas Tech beat last year, and home games against Southeastern Oklahoma State and East Central before its seasonfinale against Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford, Okla. If the Wonder Boys’ new offense manages to cut down on turnovers — they committed 39 last year to tie for the lead in NCAA Division II — the schedule sets up for a chance at a conference title.
Sports, Pages 13 on 08/29/2011