FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith said there’s no way he could’ve predicted the 2011 season.
He had high expectations, of course. The junior college transfer wanted to contribute to a defense that returned plenty of veterans when he arrived on campus. But when Highsmith was told he was lining up with the first-team defense for his first practice, he was floored.
“That was a surprise to me,” Highsmith admitted. “A big surprise. But once I got there, my goal was to stay there.”
Highsmith accomplished it in starting every game for BCS No. 6 Arkansas (10-2), which returned to practice Tuesday in preparation to play No. 8 Kansas State (10-2) in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 6. The junior enters the bowl game ranked first on the team in tackles for losses (10.5), second in sacks (3.5) and third in tackles (73). He also has one of Arkansas’ two defensive touchdowns, scooping up a fumble and rumbling 47 yards for a score at LSU.
Highsmith grew comfortable in his starting role, providing Arkansas with some much-needed consistency alongside veteran linebacker Jerry Franklin. His performance left Arkansas’ coach Bobby Petrino impressed with how well he adapted to Southeastern Conference football.
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“He came in and picked up the system so fast, was very, very productive so fast,” Petrino said of Highsmith, who was one of five JUCO transfer to join the team in 2011. “He had very few mistakes, and if he did have mistakes he had the speed and the ability to make up for them. … I’m not sure you could ask anything more from a junior college player that was not in spring ball, came in the summer and started every game for us. He’s done a great job.”
Highsmith admits it has been a whirlwind season, beginning with that first practice.
He came to Arkansas early last summer after spending two seasons at Phoenix (Ariz.) College. It took a little while to get his bearings, but Highsmith began to feel like he belonged with the starting unit when the Razorbacks were wrapping up preseason camp.
“We’re up there in the (rankings),” Highsmith said of the Razorbacks’ national standing. “If I could play with us, I’m pretty sure I could play with anybody else. So toward the end of camp I started feeling like I belonged.”
He recorded two tackles for losses in his first game against Missouri State. Highsmith later logged a career-high 12 tackles in the Auburn win. And he scored the touchdown against LSU, admitting afterward he thought it was too good to be true after reaching the endzone.
It wasn’t a perfect season. Linebackers coach Reggie Johnson said Highsmith has plenty of room for improvement with his fundamentals and techniques. But he said Highsmith, whose father (Alonzo Highsmith) was a star running back with the Miami Hurricanes, is driven to excel.
“He’s hungry,” Johnson said. “His dad was a great player and I think he has a great example to follow. He wants to be that guy. He wants to be the guy that leads the team in tackles.”
Highsmith is too far behind Franklin (93 tackles) and safety Tramain Thomas (87) to accomplish it this season. But he’ll have an opportunity next fall, when veterans like Franklin, Thomas and Jerico Nelson are gone.
The Razorbacks will be counting on Highsmith to serve as a cornerstone for the defense under coordinator Paul Haynes. The new coach has gotten a good look at Highsmith during bowl practices and, while he must improve, Haynes sees someone who “can make plays for us.”
“I hope so,” Petrino added earlier this month. “We’re going to need him to be that guy.”
Highsmith didn’t want to look too far ahead, though, saying his first goal is ending 2011 with a strong effort in the Cotton Bowl.
But Highsmith did offer a quick assessment of the season, saying he was proud of his accomplishments in his first year with Arkansas. And he’s expecting even more in 2012.
“Next season is awhile away, but I’m looking forward to it,” Highsmith said. I’ll be more experienced. I’ll be ready. I think I could maybe reach my full potential in the spring and then come into the season full speed.”