Arkansas' Luigs returns as nation's top center

By JEREMY PEPPAS
For The Associated Press

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- For Jonathan Luigs, blocking at Arkansas has always been pretty easy. In former coach Houston Nutt's run-based scheme, the assignment was, "knock down the person in front of me," Luigs said with a laugh.

It worked.

Luigs, a senior from Little Rock, was named the country's top center last season when he was awarded the Rimington Trophy. He finished last season with 55 knockdown blocks and was named to eight All-American teams as Arkansas racked up 5,850 yards of total offense.

That was last season. Things have changed.

This year, Luigs has a new offensive scheme, a new head coach in Bobby Petrino and a new position coach in Mike Summers.

"It was kind of tough at first," Luigs said. "Getting used to the new terminology, getting used to coach Summers. Making that transition, it has been rough."

But Luigs' presence has been a steady one for the coaches.

"I would much rather come into a new situation where we have experience on the offensive front," Petrino said. "They (the offensive line) give the quarterback an opportunity to have some time and space to throw the ball."

Summers, who spent last season coaching the offensive line for the Atlanta Falcons, agreed. "He has really been a blessing to me," Summers said of Luigs. "He has studied and learned the offense really well. Because of that, he can communicate that to the rest of the players."

That communication is key in Arkansas' new passing attack.

"The center sets the protection and basically controls the direction that the protection goes to," Summers said. "We have 18 different protections and the reason that we do is that we don't allow the defense to take us out of our passing game."

While Luigs, guard Mitch Petrus, and tackle Jose Valdez are all returning starters, Summers has still spent his time in Fayetteville teaching.

"There has been quite a bit of learning," Summers said of his new players. "Not only from a scheme standpoint, but a technical standpoint. Each of our protections require different techniques."

Luigs, one of two players on the cover of this year's Arkansas media guide, and quarterback Casey Dick were the two offensive players named to be captains this season.

Both Petrino and Summers praised Luigs' leadership.

"I think throughout the summer (Luigs) did a nice job," Petrino said, while Summers added, "He's a guy who we are very happy to have."

That hasn't always been the case.

Luigs came to Arkansas as a lightly regarded prospect who had split his time between tackle and center at Pulaski Academy.

Oddly enough, Luigs played in high school against LSU center Brett Helms, who went to Stuttgart in the Arkansas Delta.

It was Helms that Arkansas coveted, not Luigs, who wasn't even considered the best player on his high school team. Instead that was linebacker Matt Stoltz, who signed with LSU, and then later transferred to Arkansas.

"It was kind of strange," Luigs said. "To have both me and Brett, from Arkansas, and at the same time. I mean we played against each other. I guess that really says something about the work ethic we both have. To be where we are now."

Besides, Luigs wasn't even being considered as a center by Arkansas coaches when he first arrived in Fayetteville. Instead, the player now considered college football's best at that position was recruited as a guard. During his redshirt season, Luigs was the scout team center and started at guard as a freshman.

It wasn't until his sophomore season that Luigs made the permanent move to center. Luigs briefly considered declaring for the NFL draft last season, but decided to return to Fayetteville. He has now started every game of his college career at Arkansas and is attempting to become the first to repeat as a Rimington Trophy winner.

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