Year three of Gwaine Mathews’ rebuilding project at the University of Arkansas at Monticello began Wednesday with the start of spring football practice.

   The Boll Weevils will spend two days in shorts and helmets; add shoulder pads Friday, then go to full pads Saturday, which will include a scrimmage at 3 p.m. A second scrimmage is scheduled for April 14, also at 3:00. Spring practice will conclude April 21 with the annual Green-White Game at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium at 7 p.m.

   UAM’s head football coach is an optimist by nature, but even Mathews’ “glass is half full” enthusiasm has been tempered by back-to-back 1-10 seasons.

Courtesy of Media Services

Spring Practice - Gwaine Mathews leads the Weevils into spring practice. This is Mathews' third year with the football team.

    “I really believe we’re in a position to be competitive in the conference,” Mathews said. “This team is very, very strong physically. We had a good off-season in the weight room, and we had some guys really excel.”

   Andrew Martin, a sophomore fullback from Pensacola, Fla., was the star of off-season workouts. Martin won the “Top Weevil” award by bench-pressing 225 pounds 36 times. “Those are NFL numbers,” Mathews said. Martin also had a 350-pound power clean and a 350-pound incline press.

   But Mathews knows it will take more than weight room theatrics to pull the Weevils out of the Gulf-South Conference cellar. It will take an offense that can score points and keep the defense off the field.

   New offensive coordinator Will Hall, who won the Harlon Hill Trophy at North Alabama as the best player in NCAA Division II, has brought a new offensive philosophy to the Weevils. Gone are the no-huddle look and power running game, replaced by a shotgun offense that incorporates the mid-line option with misdirection and high percentage passing.

   The key is finding a quarterback, and the competition is wide open. Last year’s starter Elijah McDonald, will split practice time with JUCO transfer Mike Dunn in the spring. Both will be pressed in the fall by three talented freshmen – Southeast Arkansas Player of the Year Joseph Lockwood of Stuttgart, the Louisiana Coahces Association's Class 5A Most Valuable Player Scott Buisson of Metairie, La., and the MVP of District 2-5A Blake Barousse of Lafeyette, La.

   “Our quarterback has got to be able to throw first and foremost,” Hall said. “A lot of what we do will depend on who wins the job. We’ll conform what we do to what we have, not the other way around.”

   The Weevils have proven players at running back, tight end and wide receiver. Mathews and Hall are expecting big things from senior tailback John L. Williams, who suffered through an injury-plagued 2006. Williams posted the team’s fastest time in the 40-yard dash in off-season workouts with a 4.45.

   “I still think John L. is the best back in the league,” Mathews said. “If he’s healthy for 11 games, he can have an outstanding season.”

   Hall hopes to spread opposing defenses with his one-back offense and create running lanes for Williams. “We’ll get him the ball a lot of different ways,” Hall said. “We may split him out and throw it to him. We’ve got to find ways to get him the ball in open space.”

   Mathews and Hall are also high on red-shirt freshman running back Johnny Polite of McGehee. Polite is a 5-5, 185-pound fireplug who Hall envisions as filling a role similar to Arkansas back Felix Jones or Florida’s Percy Harvin.

   “We’ll split him out, bring him in motion, use him on misdirection plays,” Hall said.

   Josh Green is the entrenched starter at tight end, and Mathews is pleased with a receiving corps that includes Jamie Dunn, Jaleel Harris and Tim Harris. Both Jaleel and Tim Harris suffered season-ending injuries in the 2006 season opener at Southern Arkansas. Jaleel Harris is cleared to practice, and Tim Harris will receive clearance in May.

   Mathews’ biggest concerns are developing depth along the offensive line and in the defensive secondary. “I like our front line people there, but we’re real short on experience behind our starters,” he said. “We’ve got to find some depth in those areas.”

   The defense should be improved from last year, Mathews said. “We’ll be better and can get better, but a lot depends on our offense. When you lead the league in number of punts, you’re putting way too much pressure on your defense.”