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The first day of practice is always a treat. First order of business is to learn the numbers of any new players. As I scanned the roster, I stumbled when I got to the 18s. There are four on the Arkansas roster with that jersey number. It was a first for me. I can imagine situations with all four playing in a game, too. Jeremy Patton is the starting tight end; Blake Johnson is the returnee at punter; Jack Lindsey holds for kicks; and true freshman Myles Mason could make the travel squad as a special teams cover man and backup free safety. The confusion stopped when Patton trotted onto the field. He is the standout among the 18s. He may be the best-look- ing athlete on the field. At 6-4 and 253 pounds, the senior tight end is a superb specimen. He's athletic and equipped for his position with wonderful long arms that have that chiseled look of a weight lifter. Patton was the nation's top junior college tight end two years ago when assistant coach Barry Lunney Jr. found him at Arizona Western Junior College. The only problem for Patton was that he didn't arrive on campus until just before fall camp last year. He wasn't around for summer lifting and was be- hind in conditioning. He played catch-up all season, both in the playbook and in making his body look like an SEC player. Nine of his 11 catches last season came in the month of November. Now Patton is every bit what Lunney coveted in recruiting. His muscles ripple and are in all the right places. He's not a whole lot heavier, but it's definitely a different physique. He's probably one of the nation's best tight ends, just as ad- vertised when the Hogs got his signature from junior college. "I looked sloppy when I got here last year," Patton said. "All I was eating when I got here was fast food. Not anymore." Patton had to fall out of love with a certain fried chicken chain. He said strength and conditioning coach Tru- main Carroll got him right on his nu- trition. "I'd lifted before when I got here, but more in high school," he said. "I give a shout out to my high school strength coach, Adam Lane. He helped me. "But in junior college, we didn't have a weight room for football. There was a building that the entire campus — ev- ery student — could use. It was kind of like our HPER building here, but not as good. You could lift, but it might be crowded." Patton did get some playing time last year, mostly because the Hogs used a system with two tight ends. "I came here because they ran a pro system," Patton said. "And, they did use two a lot. "But what I've found out about the new offense this year, the tight end is one of the featured players. It's about getting matchups, and the tight end is sometimes the player getting set up with matchups." Patton was the first player into the interview room after practice in the first week of camp. He was in a first-team rotation with Austin Cantrell until he suffered an ankle bruise in week two. He should be available by the time the opener with Eastern Illinois arrives Sept. 1. He's going to be a major asset in the new Chad Morris offense. New-look Patton could have big impact for Hogs Exercise in the comfort of your own home. no excuses. Now off ering 0% fi nancing. * * With approved credit. See store for details. FAYETTEVILLE | 479.521.3481 ROGERS | 479.633.9837 LITTLE ROCK | 501.954.9837 www.ytfs.com tf LARGEST SUPPLIER OF FITNESS EQUIPMENT IN ARKANSAS. 4 Arkansas Football Sunday, August 26, 2018 See PATTON, Page 6 CLAY HENRY COMMENTARY NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo/BEN GOFF • @NWABENGOFF Jeremy Patton goes through a drill with Barry Lunney Jr., Arkansas tight ends coach, on March 1 during spring football practice at the Fred W. Smith Football Center in Fayetteville.