07-26-2002, 01:48 PM
Liking UA in big way
BY RICKY HARVEY -ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
FAYETTEVILLE -- It took only one visit to Fayetteville for Zac Tubbs to know where he wanted to play college football.
One look around the Arkansas campus and Tubbs was sold.
"The facilities are just great," Tubbs said. "I noticed them from the start."
From recently renovated Reynolds Razorback Stadium to the Walker Pavilion indoor workout facility to the academic center, newly furbished facilities are one of the main factors that helped Tubbs pick Arkansas over schools such as Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Alabama and Notre Dame.
Tubbs, a 6-7, 330-pound offensive lineman from Cullman, Ala., said Arkansas was one of many Division I programs that contacted him after a breakthrough high school sophomore season.
He liked his contacts with Arkansas offensive line coach Mike Markuson and kept up with the Razorbacks as much as he could. But it wasn't until a visit to the Houston Nutt Football Camp before his senior season that Tubbs realized Arkansas was the place for him.
"It just seemed liked a great place, and [Markuson] was a real nice coach," Tubbs said. "We talked about football and academics when I visited. He said I had good feet, real good pass-blocking techniques and run-block technique."
Tubbs, whose grandfather played football at Texas A&M under legendary Coach Bear Bryant and uncle played under Bryant at Alabama, was the biggest camper in that session.
"When he came to our senior camp, we saw his size and what he was able to do," Markuson said. "He's a big kid, but a very athletic kid. From his hips down, he's very athletic with nice ankles and legs."
Tubbs said Nutt and Markuson called shortly after the camp and a scholarship offer was extended. A few days later, Tubbs called and accepted.
"I just wanted to go to the best place that would be the best for me," Tubbs said. "I think I found that. I really liked the coaching staff, the surroundings, just everything about it. I just felt really comfortable."
And in return, Arkansas may have found a top-notch lineman.
Tubbs was a three-year starter in high school, including starting at offensive guard as a sophomore. He graded out at 92 percent at tackle in a primarily pass-oriented offense as a junior and graded out at 93 percent for a mainly run-oriented offense as a senior.
"With the running offense there's more moving your feet and a little different technique," Tubbs said. "But the Arkansas coaches said they really liked my pass-blocking. They didn't see much of my run-blocking until my senior year, but said they liked that, too."
Tubbs' high school highlights didn't end with his senior year. He had a standout performance June 15 playing for the Alabama high school all-stars in a game against the Mississippi all-stars in Mobile, Ala.
"I really had a good game and didn't make any mistakes," Tubbs said. "I don't know if any of the Arkansas coaches were there, but I hope they were."
Tubbs, who benches 405 pounds and has academically qualified with a 3.68 grade-point average and a 21 on the ACT, is expected to play tackle at Arkansas, Markuson said.
"It'll probably be tackle, but we'll just have to see how it goes," Markuson said. "We're not expecting him to play right away, but in his mind he probably wants to, which is good. We're just looking forward to him coming in and us seeing what he can do."
A redshirt season wouldn't bother Tubbs.
"If that's in their plans to redshirt me, then I wouldn't mind," Tubbs said. "But if they want me to come in and play right away, I'll be ready.
"This is a program really on the way up and is a place where I think I can contribute."
TUBBS AT A GLANCE
SCHOOL Cullman (Ala.) High School
HEIGHT 6-7
WEIGHT 330
PROSPECTS Tubbs made an early oral commitment to the Razorbacks after attending the Houston Nutt Football Camp in June 2001. He will likely play offensive tackle.
NOTEWORTHY Tubbs graded out at 92 percent at tackle in a primarily pass-oriented offense as a junior and graded out at 93 percent for a mainly run-oriented offense as a senior. ... Had a standout performance for the Alabama all-stars in a game against the Mississippi all-stars in June. ... His grandfather played for Bear Bryant at Texas A&M and his uncle played for Bryant at Alabama.
BY RICKY HARVEY -ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
FAYETTEVILLE -- It took only one visit to Fayetteville for Zac Tubbs to know where he wanted to play college football.
One look around the Arkansas campus and Tubbs was sold.
"The facilities are just great," Tubbs said. "I noticed them from the start."
From recently renovated Reynolds Razorback Stadium to the Walker Pavilion indoor workout facility to the academic center, newly furbished facilities are one of the main factors that helped Tubbs pick Arkansas over schools such as Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Alabama and Notre Dame.
Tubbs, a 6-7, 330-pound offensive lineman from Cullman, Ala., said Arkansas was one of many Division I programs that contacted him after a breakthrough high school sophomore season.
He liked his contacts with Arkansas offensive line coach Mike Markuson and kept up with the Razorbacks as much as he could. But it wasn't until a visit to the Houston Nutt Football Camp before his senior season that Tubbs realized Arkansas was the place for him.
"It just seemed liked a great place, and [Markuson] was a real nice coach," Tubbs said. "We talked about football and academics when I visited. He said I had good feet, real good pass-blocking techniques and run-block technique."
Tubbs, whose grandfather played football at Texas A&M under legendary Coach Bear Bryant and uncle played under Bryant at Alabama, was the biggest camper in that session.
"When he came to our senior camp, we saw his size and what he was able to do," Markuson said. "He's a big kid, but a very athletic kid. From his hips down, he's very athletic with nice ankles and legs."
Tubbs said Nutt and Markuson called shortly after the camp and a scholarship offer was extended. A few days later, Tubbs called and accepted.
"I just wanted to go to the best place that would be the best for me," Tubbs said. "I think I found that. I really liked the coaching staff, the surroundings, just everything about it. I just felt really comfortable."
And in return, Arkansas may have found a top-notch lineman.
Tubbs was a three-year starter in high school, including starting at offensive guard as a sophomore. He graded out at 92 percent at tackle in a primarily pass-oriented offense as a junior and graded out at 93 percent for a mainly run-oriented offense as a senior.
"With the running offense there's more moving your feet and a little different technique," Tubbs said. "But the Arkansas coaches said they really liked my pass-blocking. They didn't see much of my run-blocking until my senior year, but said they liked that, too."
Tubbs' high school highlights didn't end with his senior year. He had a standout performance June 15 playing for the Alabama high school all-stars in a game against the Mississippi all-stars in Mobile, Ala.
"I really had a good game and didn't make any mistakes," Tubbs said. "I don't know if any of the Arkansas coaches were there, but I hope they were."
Tubbs, who benches 405 pounds and has academically qualified with a 3.68 grade-point average and a 21 on the ACT, is expected to play tackle at Arkansas, Markuson said.
"It'll probably be tackle, but we'll just have to see how it goes," Markuson said. "We're not expecting him to play right away, but in his mind he probably wants to, which is good. We're just looking forward to him coming in and us seeing what he can do."
A redshirt season wouldn't bother Tubbs.
"If that's in their plans to redshirt me, then I wouldn't mind," Tubbs said. "But if they want me to come in and play right away, I'll be ready.
"This is a program really on the way up and is a place where I think I can contribute."
TUBBS AT A GLANCE
SCHOOL Cullman (Ala.) High School
HEIGHT 6-7
WEIGHT 330
PROSPECTS Tubbs made an early oral commitment to the Razorbacks after attending the Houston Nutt Football Camp in June 2001. He will likely play offensive tackle.
NOTEWORTHY Tubbs graded out at 92 percent at tackle in a primarily pass-oriented offense as a junior and graded out at 93 percent for a mainly run-oriented offense as a senior. ... Had a standout performance for the Alabama all-stars in a game against the Mississippi all-stars in June. ... His grandfather played for Bear Bryant at Texas A&M and his uncle played for Bryant at Alabama.