Draft-worthy Petrus is out of this world (with video)

Arkansas offensive guard Mitch Petrus (6-4, 307) opened eyes when he tied the NFL Combine record for the amount of repetitions in the bench press.

His 45 repetitions certainly was an achievement in its own right, even if the Razorback lost count while lifting the 225-pound weights last month. Maybe he did such a good job doing that, and tiring himself in the process, that it led to an unfortunate injury which slowed him in the 40-yard dash later that day, when it was reported he had pulled a hamstring.

It turns out Petrus just had a muscle spasm, but he felt he still had something to prove. So he returned to Fayetteville for the University of Arkansas’ Pro Day, where he ran a 5.2 in the 40-yard dash Tuesday at the Walker Pavilion.

NFL scouts watch and time former Razorback Mitch Petrus Tuesday during pro day inside the Walker Pavilion in Fayetteville. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER)

Petrus seems to be a certainty to be drafted. The Razorback is graded by the NFL as a potential draftee between the second and fourth rounds. But that doesn’t matter to him, as the vocal player told us today.

“Personally, I don’t care. When you’re getting paid this much money, I’ll go wherever,” he said after participating in four of the six drills at the UA. ‘It does not matter to me wherever I go. I’ll go to another planet and play if I’ve got to.”

Another planet, from an out-of-this-world quote machine like Petrus.

Petrus, of course, didn’t attempt to repeat his record-tying bench press Tuesday, and opted to sit out that session as he had already proven his strength at the Combine. He’s been training at the IMG Academy in Florida, and has been critiquing his own work, including the much-talked about bench press last month. In fact, Petrus thought the NFL record was 43 reps, and had he known he was at rep No. 45 before he stopped, he would have kept going, he said.

Forty-three, actually, was the bench press record for an offensive lineman at the NFL Combine, originally set by Scott Young of BYU in 2005.

“When I watched the video, it looked like I did it pretty easy,” Petrus said.

VIDEO: Petrus recalls record day

March 16, 2010 — Former Arkansas offensive guard Mitch Petrus gives some background about his record-tying performance at the NFL Scouting Combine and his future as a potential NFL player after running through drills at Arkansas Pro Day at the Walker Pavilion in Fayetteville.

Petrus has interviewed with several NFL teams, and feels everything has been going well leading up to draft day. He recalled a session with New York Jets offensive line coach Bill Callahan recently, when they were breaking down Xs and Os. Callahan kept questioning Petrus’ judgment during the session, but the offensive guard knew and felt like he was correct while Callahan turned a questionable eye.

“‘I’m just messing with ‘ya,’” Callahan said, Petrus recalled. “That’s really the only deal I got caught on and I was like, man, I should have known better.”

We always hear about how Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino’s system at the UA is much like one you would expect to experience in the NFL. That has helped Petrus, once a walk-on fullback at the UA, more than anything these last few weeks.

“Coach Petrino has helped me out so much. I didn’t realize it until it came to this time,” Petrus said. “He’s first class, all business and handles everything that way. That’s really how it is at the next level. It hasn’t been a shock or a big surprise. I knew what I was getting into, but my knowledge of the Xs and Os has really helped me out. … He does get players ready for the NFL.”

It probably also helps that Petrus has an outgoing personality, and is as truthful a player when it comes to giving a quote or providing criticism. The media loves to speak to him, and the only question that remains is if that translates as well with NFL general managers, scouts and coaches.

“It hasn’t hurt it or anything,” Petrus said, before clarifying himself in short, succinct and revealing sentences. “I hope I’m enjoyable to talk to. I know I like to talk. I was told that. I didn’t realize that and people say I talk a lot, and that’s what I am. There’s definitely no awkward silence. I think they enjoyed me.”

Petrus has certainly come a long way from when he was projected — at best — as a sixth-rounder after his junior season in 2007. In 2008, Petrus had to sit out the season due to academics and finally got his shot to prove himself further last season when the Hogs finished 8-5 with a win in the Liberty Bowl.

ARKANSAS PRO DAY
Mitch Petrus
40-yard dash: 5.2 seconds
Bench: 45 reps (Combine)
Shuttle run: 4.59
3-cone drill: 7.77
Vertical jump: 30 inches

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— Brandon Marcello