Quentavius Scandrett hoping to make impact in secondary

FAYETTEVILLE — Quentavius Scandrett came to Arkansas from Eastern Michigan and is hoping to make an impact in Arkansas’ secondary.

Scandrett has completed nine spring practices with the Hogs. He talked about the difference in where he came and the SEC.

“I don’t feel like it’s really a change,” Scandrett said. “It’s just guys are bigger and faster. Me, I just know how to adjust to different situations. Lining up against guys… I played guys that are the best of the best, so I understand being in the SEC, I’m going to play the best of the best and I just come out every day and be ready.”

Scandrett talked about what it’s like to enter a defensive back room where he hasn’t played previously.

“Well, just having Larry (Worth III) and Miguel (Mitchell) being guys that played here before and understood the system, it allowed us to have an easy transition,” Scandrett said. “They were able to help guys understand different schemes and terminologies in the room, and just understand what Coach T-Will (Travis Williams) and Coach (Marcus) Woodson expect every day.”

Williams made a strong impression on Scandrett during the recruiting process.

“I loved everything about Coach T-Will,” Scandrett said. “Like, his energy, it was unmatched. I understand, he’s a guy that wants you to compete each and every day, no matter what. Effort. Effort, he preached that every day. Effort. Effort. Just run to the ball. And what made me come here, of course, I knew a guy like Cam Ball. We grew up together. Played Little League football. So he helped that adjustment as well. For me, I just wanted to show that I could play at the highest level of college football, which is the SEC. I knew coming from the Group of 5, a lot of people don’t look at guys like that like they can play at the highest level, but me just being me, I knew I was the type of guy that could be here and help this team win.”

Scandrett and Ball played youth football together. Turns out Ball wasn’t the only former youth teammate he would be with at Arkansas.

“Yeah, we played on the same team in youth league,” Scandrett said. “I already knew he was here. And plus, Kani (Walker) had committed as well. Which, he was on our little league team as well.”

The safeties are moving around at the two safeties and Hog position. Scandrett reflected back on what that has been like so far.

“First, what I bring to the room is physicality and just knowledge of the game,” Scandrett said. “This is my fifth year of college football, so I’ve seen a lot of different schemes. A lot of different techniques and stuff like that, so I feel like I can translate that to this highest level and also teach a lot of guys some of the things I know. 

“And just seeing those guys play different positions, it shows how versatile the secondary is. Each and every guy can play every position, and honestly, I can play every position as well, I just haven’t done it yet.”

One obvious change from Eastern Michigan to Arkansas has been the terminology.

“On the field as a DB, of course, you’ve got to understand different terms, and at different places you know different terminologies for different formations, so you have to adjust to that,” Scandrett said. “And also just making sure you get help with the guys. The guys around you, that’s how you get the biggest impact on learning different things. So I feel like just getting together with them, talking about different things and helping them understand different schemes while they help you understand different schemes and getting there with your position coach, they help you. That’s the biggest thing.”

Scandrett and the Hogs will hold the spring game on Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m.