Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

8/20/2010 at 4:13pm

There’s more to tight end D.J. Williams than the ability to catch and block. Williams is also a musician, a skill he’s shown off to a handful of folks while killing time at SEC Media Days and a passion he talked about in interview with ArkansasSports360.com last year.

Williams put his musical skills on further display Friday at the Arkansas Razorback Football Kickoff Luncheon.

Our seats as presenting media sponsor put ArkansasSports360.com in perfect position to capture tight end D.J. Williams and linebacker Matt Marshall performing the Bill Withers classic “Lean on Me.” Williams, like other teams captains, was brought to the stage to answer a few questions. Emcee Jimmy Dykes then put Williams on the spot and him to play a keyboard for the crowd.

Williams obliged, but not before requesting Marshall join him. The video quality isn’t great, Marshall forgets a lyric or two, but the moment was highly entertaining.

Friday was one of those rare opportunities for folks to see players off the field and out of their helmets. Members of the team and coaching staff were seated throughout the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Springdale, which accommodated approximately 1,000 people for the event.

Defensive end Jake Bequette, wide receivers Cobi Hamilton and Jarius Wright and student assistant Quinton Caver were seated at the ArkansasSports360.com tables. Coach Bobby Petrino, his wife, Becky and Jeff Long and his wife, Fanny, were seated at the head table along with Dykes.

Among the other highlights:

ARM STRENGTH
Dykes asked Ryan Mallett how far he could throw a Hail Mary if it was needed to win the Southeastern Conference championship game in December. His response?

"If we needed 120, I could probably get it out there.”

DIGGING ON SWINE
What meal does offensive lineman DeMarcus Love enjoy more than any other?

“Bacon,” offensive tackle Love said, prompting a big smile from Petrino.

REALITY SHOW ROUND-UP
Ramon Broadway was asked which teammate would win “So You Think You Can Dance?” He selected Jatasun “Big Tex” Beachum, who showed surprising dance moves for being 6-1, 285 pounds.

Broadway picked Damario Ambrose as the teammate most likely to win “American Idol.” Ambrose, who earned the title as the team’s best singer at last year’s luncheon, sang for the crowd for a second year in a row.

Cornerback Rudell Crim was named as the Razorback most likely to win “Survivor”. Why?

“Because he owns a snake. Anybody that owns a snake can win ‘Survivor’,” Broadway said.

SURE YOU WANT TO DO THAT?
Defensive tackle Pat Jones drew the unenviable title of “Guy With The Best Bobby Petrino Impression.” Jones hestitated, but obliged, offering an awfully G-Rated version of Petrino:

“Are you kidding me? Can’t you just line up and run the play?”

Petrino, later in the program said, “Pat. I’m going to get after you Pat.”

Jones shouldn't just worry about Petrino. Last year’s Petrino impersonator was Isaac Madison, who tore his ACL in practice a day later.

FULL METAL FRIDAYS
What is the craziest thing the team does for strength and conditioning? Jake Bequette said — without hesitating — it was “Full Metal Fridays” in the offseason.

What happens at “Full Metal Fridays?”

“Pushing sleds through the sand. Flipping a trailer tire. Really, just anything that hurts.”

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This is the second year in a row that ArkansasSports360.com sponsored the event.

Tagged: Bobby Petrino, Arkansas Razorbacks, Jeff Long, D.J. Williams, Ryan Mallett, DeMarcus Love, Jake Bequette, Jarius Wright, ArkansasSports360.com, 2010 Arkansas Razorback Football Kickoff Luncheon, Ramon Broadway