Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

8/30/2011 at 11:30am

Image by Mark Wagner

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson has demonstrated leadership in the offseason and fall camp. Now he'll be asked to show it on the field.

Tyler Wilson went to work on securing the starting quarterback’s job almost as soon as the team returned home from the Sugar Bowl in January. He continued to push himself through the spring and summer as coaches spoke publicly of an “open competition” for the position.

Months of buildup finally came to an end with a little more than a week remaining until the season opener. Wilson got the news last week — get this — not from Coach Bobby Petrino or offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, but from a media relations staff member, who was walking Wilson into a post-practice interview.

No meeting with the coach. No announcement from Petrino in front of the team.

It seems awfully anticlimactic. After all the scrutiny and the conversation, Wilson being named as starter just, well, it just sort of happened.

Wilson took starter’s reps in practice. Fellow Razorbacks voted him a team captain and then three weeks later Petrino announced Wilson was the guy.

As I wrote Aug. 5 after the junior from Greenwood was announced as one of six captains: “Wilson has [teammates’] respect. He doesn’t have the starter’s tag, but that seems like a formality at this point.”

So it’s fitting that there was little pomp and circumstance surrounding the decision. Wilson, who completed 34 of 51 passes for 453 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions last season, wasn't just handed the job after Ryan Mallett because coaches wanted to see him work for it.

Wilson assured them he was working hard by the way he approached the summer. Then, after a shaky start in the opening week of fall camp, Wilson began completing passes at a high percentage in scrimmages, 7-on-7 work and team drills.

Media asked weekly if a decision had been reached, even though it was obvious what that decision was going to be. And if the media had figured out it, you know players had.

Now comes the real work for Wilson. His quest to establish himself isn’t over with the naming of the starter. In fact, the biggest challenges of the job are just beginning.

Sure, Wilson has been a leader in the film room. He’s guided the team and set the tone on the practice field and in the weight room.

All of it is just a precursor to the big reveal on Saturday against Missouri State as he makes his first start at Arkansas. Then Wilson will be examined further at Alabama on Sept. 24 in what should be a Top 10 matchup.  In fact, he’ll be examined weekly on how he commands the team.

“Leadership is demonstrated, not announced,” Petrino is fond of saying.

How will Wilson demonstrate command of the team when there's a lower-level opponent to put away in a game that should be easy? Will pressure get to Wilson when there’s a lead to protect in the second half against a Top 10 team? How does Wilson react — and how do teammates react to him — when there’s a deficit to overcome in the fourth quarter of a BCS bowl game?

It remains to be seen if Wilson’s even-keel demeanor will carry over into games. Wilson will be well-served not to get too high with success and too low on perceived failures.

We think we got a glimpse of Wilson’s on-field demeanor at Auburn last year. Wilson was brilliant at times in the game, throwing for 332 yards and four touchdowns (with two interceptions) on the road against the eventual national champions in what seemed to be a turning point in the quarterbacks’ relationship with teammates.

He must continue to carry his leadership onto the field when it counts. Those crucial moments on field will be the real signal that Wilson is prepared to be the starter.

And like last week, if Wilson is up to the job, he won’t need any sort of big announcement or meeting with the coach to make it official. It will just sort of happen.

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Email Chris Bahn: cbahn@abpg.com, or visit with me on Twitter @cbahn and @arksports360.

Tagged: Ryan Mallett, Brandon Mitchell, Bobby Petrino, Arkansas Razorbacks, Tyler Wilson