Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Talented Little Puts In The Work To Get Better
09/02/2003 | 12:00:00 | Football
Sept. 2, 2003
By Seth Whitehead
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE - There's no doubt that Southern Illinois University sophomore Brent Little is a very talented guy.
You don't earn all-state honors in three different sports during your high school career without having a little natural ability.
You don't usually wind up starting three games as a true freshman for your college football team without having some serious skills.
And you don't ordinarily go straight from a grueling Division I-AA football season to a Division I track season -- and wind up winning a conference long jump title -- without being unusually gifted.
"He is a heck of an athlete,'' said SIU head coach Jerry Kill during fall camp.
The fact is, Little could probably get by on talent alone. But he's smart enough to know that relying on sheer ability won't lead to improvement at the NCAA level.
So instead of figuring he was destined for an effortless climb to greatness after his first season at SIU, the wide receiver took some sound advice.
Seeing his vast potential, SIU wide receivers coach Brian Anderson spent a lot of time with Little after the 2002 season emphasizing the work he'd have to put in to maximize that potential.
Anderson's message to Little: He'd have to practice running routes. He'd have to study film. And he'd have to hit the weights -- even when he didn't feel like it.
Fortunately -- and fittingly -- the SIU wideout was receptive to Anderson's words of wisdom.
Little dedicated his summer to making sure that freshman flashes of brilliance became sophomore common occurrences. He set out to make sure his work ethic and mental approach were equal to his ability.
"He did those things,'' Anderson said. "He did a lot of things on his own this summer, just getting his mind conditioned.''
"I stayed here this summer and put a lot of work in,'' Little said. "I got bigger, faster, stronger and matured. I learned to be patient. Now I've got my mind set on what I need to accomplish."
"Brent worked his butt off,'' Anderson added. "He's made himself into a better football player, more than anything, by getting in the weight room and studying video.''
Little put on about 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason. But his physical gains were secondary, according to Anderson.
"More than anything he's done, it's been the mental part of things,'' said Anderson. "He's got a lot of ability, but you have to play with your brain, too. He's come a long way (in that area) in a short time.''
"That's the concept,'' Little said, "to try and keep my mental focus to go with my athletic ability.''
The result of all that summer work was a player that SIU head coach Jerry Kill described as 'night and day' from the freshman that suited up in the maroon and white for the first time a year ago.
A strong fall camp got Little a starting nod in last Thursday's season-opener against Quincy. Little had just one reception in that game, but it was one that displayed exactly what may be to come, as Little went 35 yards before being brought down. If he can get two or three similar receptions a game this year, the Saluki offense could be even more potent than expected.
"The passing game is going to be there,'' Little said. "I think we are going to surprise a lot of people and let them know that we have just as good a wideouts as we do tailbacks.
And confidence, along with ability, is not going to be a problem with Little.
"He's got a world of talent,'' Anderson said. "And he's got a lot of confidence. A receiver needs that. When a guy has a lot of ability and gains a lot of confidence the world is the limit for a kid like that.
" And that's what we need on our football team. We haven't had that since we've (the current coaching staff) been here.''
