CENTREVILLE &045; Will Arnold is accustom to using his legs as a energy source.

The two oak trunks that helped Arnold pancake defenders as an offensive lineman for Centreville Academy the past four years are also used during the track and field season.

The same ebullient force Arnold generates coming off a snap in football is created when the 6-foot-5, 310-pounds LSU signee throws the shot.

&uot;I clear my mind, but at the same time I try to think about what exactly I need to do,&uot; said Arnold, the three-time defending state champ in the shotput. &uot;I try to explode when I come out of that stance and not watch the ball when I throw.&uot;

A year after Arnold enrolled at Centreville in the sixth grade, head football coach Bill Hurst licked his chops and persuaded Arnold to test his metal at throwing more than just football players around.

Since his freshman year, when he set the Mississippi Private School Association AAA record with a heave of 46 feet, 10 inches, Arnold has never lost when the time was most urgent.

Early on in high school Arnold had stiff challenges from then-Silliman stud Andrew Wicker, now a 6-5, 275-pound freshman defensive lineman at Ole Miss, knocked Arnold from his perch at South State.

But the manchild bounced back both times at the overall state meet, eclipsing his own record each time with slings of 49 and 57 feet in his sophomore and junior years, respectively.

&uot;(Wicker) and I were the biggest ones out there for sure,&uot; Arnold said. &uot;When Andrew was here there was some good competition between he and I. Now everybody knows I’m going to win, unless I break a leg or something.&uot;

Last weekend Arnold rediscovered his place at the top of South State in Gallman with a chunk of 54 feet, 8 inches.

Now the youthful Arnold, who has to have his size-17 shoe specially ordered (&uot;Stores never have my size.&uot;), is eyeing the MPSA record of 58 feet, 5 inches, which was set by a Brandon Academy student-athlete in 1982.

&uot;I’ve been gunning for it this year,&uot; said Arnold, who has thrown 60 feet in practice. &uot;I thought I’d get 60 feet by now, but I don’t know what the deal is.&uot;

Arnold uses a claw grip on the shot where his three middle fingers brace the back and pinky and thumb stable the sides.

As the shot sits sandwiched between his paw and chin, Arnold taps his left foot back, gently raises it in the air to gather his balance and with a swooping turn to his right, the sphere is airborne &045; a projectile fired from a human cannon.

&uot;The one thing that is holding me back is my technique,&uot; he said. &uot;I’ve just learn to throw by watching people. My technique is decent, but now it’s just a matter of me hitting the right spot.&uot;

Everywhere Arnold goes right now, jaws drop at his size and friendliness &045; think Shrek, but better looking &045; because he’s a phenom.

Soon, though, &045; weeks, in fact &045; his frame will not be so unique and his demeanor a little more grizzled.

Arnold is a kid on Christmas Day when asked what his estimated time of arrival is on the ground in Death Valley on LSU’s campus, his choice for college for as long as he can remember.

&uot;I’m ready to go. I leave around the end of May or the first of June and I can’t wait to go,&uot; he said dazzling one of those million-dollar grins. &uot;There was never a question for me. Their program, with their facilities, is unbelievable. Plus I love coach (Nick Saban).&uot;

The 18-year-old lug has a lot of love for the important people in his life despite watching his parents Jack and Marsha go through a divorce at the tender age of seven and watching his father pass away this year from natural causes.

A year after the divorce Marsha remarried and Will has lived with his mother and stepfather Robert Taylor ever since.

Arnold credits Hurst with taking him under his wing and looking out for him since his first days at Centreville.

&uot;I like to compete against myself because I don’t like losing in anything I do,&uot; Arnold said as he tossed the shot to the earth as if he were throwing an apple core in the trash. &uot;When this time of year comes around, I really try hard to do good.&uot;