Tretola’s UA rise undenied
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas lineman Sebastian Tretola wasn’t thinking about earning second-team All-America honors as he entered his final season in the SEC.
“Obviously I’m shooting for first team, but at the same time that’s a major accomplishment,” Tretola said. “I worked my tail off. Day in and day out, I worked to be the best football player I could be. Just receiving that accolade is huge.”
Tretola not only earned second-team All-America status from The Associated Press, but the 6-4, 325-pound left guard also shared the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best offensive lineman in the SEC with Alabama center Ryan Kelly.
Tretola’s swan song at Arkansas is the Jan. 2 Liberty Bowl against Kansas State. The game will cap a two-year career with the Razorbacks that would have seemed improbable after his first FBS stop at Nevada.
Tretola said he was a “knucklehead” while with the Wolf Pack, grayshirting for his first semester because he didn’t have the grades.
“It’s crazy,” Tretola said. “I tell everybody this, ‘If you saw this person four years ago, it’s a completely different guy. I’ve matured. I’ve grown in every aspect of my life.’ ”
He later flunked out from Nevada and had to attend Iowa Western Community College to regain his major college eligibility.
“I mean he flunked out, because of lack of effort and probably a lot of other things we don’t want to talk about,” Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said.
“On and off the field, one of the most dramatic changes in the history of my coaching career. From what he was the first time I saw him at Iowa Western, to
now being a potential firstday, second-day draft guy.”
Tretola credits his mother, Mary, with helping steer him back on the right path. Bielema and then-offensive line coach Sam Pittman were relentless in their pursuit of the young man who would wind up allowing one sack in his Arkansas career.
The Razorbacks won a battle with Oklahoma, TCU, Texas Tech and South Florida to sign Tretola prior to the 2014 season, but the San Bernardino, Calif., native had another big hurdle to overcome.
While spending time at home in the summer of 2014, Tretola couldn’t control his appetite for Mary’s beef enchiladas. He reported to Arkansas at about 377 pounds, lacking the flexibility and stamina he’d need to compete in the SEC.
Tretola lost 50 pounds in relatively short order, crediting the start of fall camp for the initial surge of weight loss, and the staff of strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert for pushing him toward the rest.
Tretola won a starting job and became a standout on Arkansas’ well-publicized front.
The 6-4, 325-pounder earned about as much national acclaim as can be expected for a guard during his first season. He lined up at quarterback on a fake field goal against Alabama-Birmingham and threw a touchdown pass to snapper Alan D’Appollonio before breaking into a “Heisman” pose.
The University of Arkansas athletic department produced a tongue-in-cheek “Tretola for Heisman” video later in the 2014 season, featuring Tretola, Pittman, tight end Hunter Henry, D’Appollonio and kicker Adam McFain, who was another receiving option on the play.
Tretola didn’t get to throw a pass this season, and a reporter asked him last week whether one more touchdown could have lifted him to being named a first-team All-American.
“Possibly,” Tretola said, laughing. “I think another touchdown probably would have helped the resume out a little bit.”
Tretola has started all 23 games of his college career. This year he graded at 84 percent, the highest score of any Arkansas lineman. Tretola also led the team with 68 knockdown blocks and committed just one penalty.
Bielema feels strongly about Tretola’s chances of becoming an NFL regular.
“He’s a competitor,” Bielema said. “I think that’s why the NFL now knows if they get hold of that kid, they’ve got money in the future. Because he is such a complete football player. It’s incredible.
“He’s the poster child for what we believe in now and truly will get rewarded for it in the future.”
Tretola, who has already accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl next month, said he’s energized for Arkansas’ bowl appearance and what lies beyond.
“I’m juiced for the bowl,” he said. “What’s coming after that, with the Senior Bowl, hopefully the [scouting] combine and all those things, the draft and all, I’m ready to go. Life’s here. Let’s get it started.”
“I think that’s why the NFL now knows if they get hold of that kid, they’ve got money in the future.” — Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema on Sebastian Tretola