By Nate Allen
Special to the News-Times
FAYETTEVILLE - Though the Arkansas Razorbacks fell, there's no disputing Noah's arc.
It's decidedly on the upswing.
In only the second game of his first collegiate season playing a position most don't play as a reserve until they are third-year sophomores, true freshman Noah Gatlin of Jonesboro started at left offensive tackle in last Saturday's 34-27 loss at Colorado State.
According to Arkansas coach Chad Morris, offensive coordinator Joe Craddock and senior three-year letterman center Hjalte Froholdt, the rookie wasn't astounded to play every offensive snap in the season's second game.
Under the circumstances, they said Gatlin played astoundingly well. Aggressive and totally unawed.
"I think he came out with his hair on fire," Froholdt said. "He was ready to go and performed through the whole game. I thought he played extremely well."
It was presumed that Gatlin, 6-7, 293, would start this season like most true freshman offensive linemen - apprenticing third team or below.
But incumbent fourth-year junior starting left tackle Colton Jackson underwent back surgery in July. Jackson hopes to make a limited off the bench debut in today’s game against North Texas at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Redshirt freshman Shane Clenin, the starting left tackle during Arkansas' 55-20 Sept 1 season-opening victory over Eastern Illinois, sprained an ankle.
Gatlin finished that game. He had to start the next one and play without relief.
"I think he did really well," Morris said. "We wish we didn’t have to play a true freshman, especially at that left tackle, but the moment was not too big for him. He made some mistakes, but that’s to be expected when you put a freshman out on the field."
What's unexpected, the Razorbacks, who couldn't run to the left side netting only 80 yards rushing in 37 carries against Eastern Illinois, ran well regardless wherever they ran against Colorado State. They netted 299 yards rushing, including a career-high 165 by junior running back Devwah Whaley.
To the left of center Froholdt, Gatlin and alternating left guards Austin Capps, a junior moved just during the August preseason from defensive tackle, and sophomore Ty Clary gave Arkansas the balance it didn't have when Eastern Illinois stacked the right side against Arkansas senior right guard Johnny Gibson and senior right tackle Brian Wallace.
"It's really, really exciting to see those young guys in there and playing at the level Noah did," Craddock said. "I was a little concerned with that being his first time to start a game at this level. He handled it extremely well."
Well, Gatlin aw-shucked, he didn't have much choice.
"I knew I had to play with Shane being hurt, and so I just took it like I was the starter that week and gave it all I had," Gatlin said. "I didn’t think I’d be a starter the second game, you know, but it’s just kind of the way things have gone. I know going down this road that I’d probably have to start eventually."
Gatlin said he leaned on his linemen elders, Jackson, Froholdt, Gibson and Wallace, for advice. And he made sure regardless how well he blocked for Whaley not to be an inadvertent impediment.
"He made my job pretty easy," Gatlin said. "He’s an outstanding running back."
And Gatlin, says Morris, will grow into an outstanding tackle.
"He's going to have a great future here, obviously," Morris said.
And while he's bound, like most offensive linemen, to be considerably better as a college weight room matured junior and senior than he is now, Gatlin said he's confident from last Saturday's start his confidence "is much higher than it was" if he must start against North Texas.
So is Morris' confidence in him.
"If he has to start this Saturday, he'll be better than he was last Saturday," Morris said.