Tyler Wilson, the reigning first-team All-SEC quarterback, attained powers and abilities nearly beyond those of mortal men this spring.
At least that’s the near-super description of Wilson from Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino.
In three spring scrimmages and the Red-White game, the senior completed 101 of 146 passes for 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns … with zero interceptions.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a quarterback out there who’s had a better spring ball than him,” Petrino said. “If he did, then he’s Superman.”
Even Superman couldn’t have outdone Wilson, who becomes Arkansas’ face of the franchise after Bobby Petrino was fired and replaced through the season by John L. Smith, who will serve as interim head coach.
Fourth-year junior running back Knile Davis, himself a prominent team leader, said Wilson immediately took the team in hand when athletic director Jeff Long informed the players that Petrino had been terminated.
“Tyler got up there and talked to the team and told us we’ve just got to stay together and keep on going,” Davis said. “Some guys thought the meeting was over and were ready to leave, but Tyler wanted to say a few extra words to keep the team together. It was cool.”
Down one Petrino, Wilson never missed a spring beat with Paul Petrino coaching and calling plays. Paul, Bobby’s brother, returned from Illinois as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in time last December to join the team’s preparation for the Cotton Bowl victory over Kansas State.
So, it was a smooth transition in the offseason for Wilson, who was 39 of 44 for 448 yards with three touchdowns in the first scrimmage minus Bobby Petrino. In the spring game, Wilson completed 31 of 41 passes for 467 yards and two touchdowns — and another sure touchdown was dropped.
Wilson, in his first season as a starter in 2011, had four games with at least 300 passing yards, including a monster game of 510 yards against what is now the new team in the SEC West — Texas A&M. He was 30 of 51 for three touchdowns vs. the Aggies.
Superman?
Arkansas will settle for him just to continue improving, and considering his spring as a team leader and spokesman, he’s well on his way.