During the 2006 football season, while the UA offense was being pushed around and its quarterback was being concussed, Eben Britton managed to have a campaign worthy of freshman All-America honors.
Some call Britton — a 6-foot-6-inch, 280-pound right tackle — Arizona's best offensive player. Others insist he is an NFL star in the making.
Britton's good friend and teammate Blake Kerley knows about more than just the freshman's blocking exploits.
"He's a different character, by far," said Kerley, a freshman center. "He'll probably get mad if I tell you this, but he carries a little writing journal in his pocket and writes in it all the time.
"I've stolen it from him a couple times and read it. It's pretty deep stuff, really good stuff."
It is a brief glimpse into Britton's world, one where even football takes an elaborate form.
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Asked his thoughts on the UA's new spread offense, Britton — a creative writing major — waxed poetic when a simple answer would have sufficed.
"Pass (protection) is an art. It's not just a physical movement. It's literally the art of pass protection," he said. "There is so much importance in the technique."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to a mother who graduated from Columbia and a father who works as a painter, Britton frequented art shows and museums as much as he did football games growing up. His history links him to a family full of artistic ability, something he has showcased on the field.
During Saturday's scrimmage at Arizona Stadium, Britton contained heralded defensive end Louis Holmes to the point that Holmes went largely unnoticed.
Coach Mike Stoops said the offensive line, spearheaded by Britton, "protected the quarterback better than we ever had."
Holmes' praise for Britton was even more to the point: "He's good, man."
Britton has trimmed 20 pounds since the start of the 2006 season, but his stature remains such that he is perhaps the most recognizable figure on the offense next to quarterback Willie Tuitama.
Tuitama was unable to stay on the field enough last year because of a lack of adequate protection. That is something Britton and his linemates know must change if the Cats — with their new pass-heavy offensive scheme — wish to see tangible success.
"We all have to hold our own in this scheme, but having somebody as dependable as Eben off the edge, that's huge," Kerley said. "It's a privilege to have him playing at tackle."
UA spring football practice, Day 8
• Notable: The most eventful part of Monday's practice involved those who did not participate. Defensive end Louis Holmes sat out with a strained groin. Coach Mike Stoops said Holmes will practice Wednesday.
• Injury report: Safety Dominic Patrick (sprained foot) is day-to-day. Defensive back Wilrey Fontenot (shoulder), offensive tackles Peter Graniello (shoulder) and Adam Grant (knee), and defensive tackle Lionel Dotson (shoulder) will be held out of contact drills with injuries.
• He said it: "We're gaining some depth on the O-line, which we haven't had. We're playing some freshmen who aren't ready to play but really competed well the other day."
— Stoops
