Hogs guard Moses Moody said Tuesday the honors he received this week are the result of following a process that produces the compliments.
Dungee gets honored as top player in SEC after Hogs down Baylor
Redshirt senior guard Chelsea Dungee earned SEC Player of the Week honors, the conference office announced Tuesday.
The award is the first weekly recognition for Dungee by the SEC, and she becomes the first Hog to win player of the week honors since Kelsey Brooks was recognized back in December of 2015.
Dungee guided Arkansas to the biggest win in the Mike Neighbors era on Sunday night, as the Hogs toppled No. 4 Baylor, the defending national champions, 83-78.
For perspective, it was Arkansas’ first top-five win in 17 years, and the first win for the Hogs over a defending national champion in 24 years.
The Sapulpa, Oklahoma, native was the tip of the spear against Baylor, as she scored 22 points on six of 13 shooting.
Where Dungee was most effective, though, was getting to the line – she made 10 of her 12 free throws on Sunday night, which matched a season high in free throws made and set a new season high in free throws attempted.
Dungee has been the best player in the country at drawing fouls and converting at the charity stripe, as she has more free throws made (45) and free throws attempted (59) than any player in the NCAA.
Her seven fouls drawn in the Baylor game also helped get the Lady Bears into foul trouble, a huge reason Arkansas was able to take down the champs.
Dungee was also solid against Louisiana Monroe earlier in the week, scoring 15 points on 50 percent shooting against the Warhawks in Arkansas’ first 100+ point performance of the season.
She also grabbed two rebounds and nabbed a steal in that game.
When all was said and done, Dungee averaged 18.5 points per game on the week, shooting 47.8 percent from the field while making 13 of her 18 free throws attempted.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Neighbors wraps up Baylor win, previews games with SMU, UCA
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors said team is going to take different travel approach to SMU, previews week’s upcoming games.
Hogs’ Odom nominated for award named for legendary head coach
Defensive coordinator Barry Odom has been nominated for the Broyles Award, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach, the organization announced Monday.
The award was created in 1996 and named after former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles, recognizing his legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career.
Arkansas relied on Odom’s defense to record three SEC wins, its most conference victories since 2016.
Through the first eight league games, the Razorbacks improved in almost every defensive category over the previous year, allowing 9.0 points, 43.9 total yards and 70.6 rushing yards per game fewer than 2019.
Behind the first-year coordinator, the Razorbacks’ defense intercepted 13 passes, more than doubling the team’s output of the 2018 (5) and 2019 (6) seasons.
Odom also improved Arkansas’ red zone defense by 12-percent and third down conversion defense by 10-percent from last season.
Odom, who directly works with the safeties, has mentored redshirt freshman Jalen Catalon into one of the nation’s most dangerous defensive backs.
The safety leads all FBS freshmen with 89 total tackles and 48 solo tackles and is only player in the country this season to have 85+ tackles and at least three interceptions. Catalon was named one of 12 finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award earlier this week, which honors the nation’s best defensive back.
The Razorbacks four SEC Defensive Player of the Week awards this year are the most in a single-season in school history. Catalon, S Joe Foucha and LBs Bumper Pool and Grant Morgan have each won the award this season.
The 56 nominees in this year’s class were selected from approximately 1,270 assistant coaches representing 127 FBS programs across the country.
The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee and current college head coaches.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Morgan nominee for Burlsworth Trophy for original walk-on players
Grant Morgan has been announced as a Burlsworth Trophy nominee, which is awarded to the most outstanding player who began their career as a walk-on, the organization announced Monday.
The award is named after former Arkansas walk-on and All-American OL Brandon Burlsworth.
Morgan, a redshirt senior, leads the nation with 111 total tackles and averages 12.3 tackles per game, the most in the SEC and most among FBS players who have played eight or more games.
A native of Greenwood, Morgan has also added five passes broken up, two quarterback hurries, one interception return for a touchdown, 2.0 sacks and a team-leading 7.5 tackles for loss to his season stat line.
Last week the Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s best linebacker, named Morgan a semifinalist.
He has recorded 15 or more tackles in four games, the most in a single-season at Arkansas since Ken Hamlin in 2002 and the most by an SEC player since Missouri’s Kentrell Brothers in 2015
The former walk-on became the first Razorback since Tony Bua in 2003 to record consecutive 15+ tackle games with his second 19-tackle performance of the year against LSU.
His first 19-tackle game came in the 33-21 win over Ole Miss while adding 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, two passes broken up and an interception return for a touchdown, becoming the second FBS player since 2000 to total at least 15 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss and an interception return for a touchdown.
For his performance, he was named SEC co-Defensive Player of the Week, Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week, Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week and Athlon Sports Defensive Player of the Week.
Both of Morgan’s 19-tackle performances are tied for the second-most in a single-game by an FBS player this season. LSU’s Kevin Minter (2012) was the last SEC player to have two 19-tackle performances in the same year.
Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with an FBS football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department.
The Burlsworth Trophy will host an awards ceremony virtually on January 4, 2021 to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2020 winner.
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Pool named semifinalist for ‘Lott’ for what he’s done on and off field
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Bumper Pool has been named a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Pacific Club Impact Foundation has announced.
The trophy is presented to a defensive player who has outstanding personal character while also excelling on the field. IMPACT is an acronym for: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Pool, a junior linebacker, ranks second in the SEC and 13th nationally, averaging 11.0 tackles per game.
For the season, he’s totaled 88 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, five passes broken up and a quarterback hurry. Pool made 20 tackles at Mississippi State, setting the FBS’ single-game high this season, while tying the program record for 10th most tackles in a game.
He became one of just nine SEC players to reach the single-game 20 tackle mark in the last 10 years and the first Hog since Jerry Franklin (2010 vs. Mississippi State).
Pool, from Lucas, Texas, also chipped in two pass breakups to become the only Razorback to record 20 tackles and two passes broken up in the same game.
For his performance, Pool was named co-SEC Defensive Player of the Week alongside teammate Joe Foucha. He made 14 tackles in back-to-back games against No. 8 Texas A&M and Tennessee, adding 4.5 tackles for loss in that span.
The junior has also done well in the classroom, being named to the Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2018 and 2019.
Named after College and Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, the organization has raised more than $1.6 million for scholarships and other youth-related charities throughout the country, is the only major college football award where the character of the nominee is considered.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Hogs find game to replace Tulsa postponement … and at home
Arkansas will host the Southern University Jaguars on Wednesday to fill in for the game lost when Tulsa cancelled a regularly-scheduled game.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena.
It was also announced that the Razorbacks’ home men’s basketball game on Saturday with Central Arkansas will now start at 7 p.m.
The UCA start time was moved due to Arkansas football hosting top-ranked Alabama on Saturday at 11:00 am on ESPN.
The Hogs were originally scheduled to play at Tulsa on Tuesday but the Golden Hurricane was forced to postpone the contest due to covid-19 protocols.
Southern was scheduled to play at top-ranked Gonzaga on Thursday prior to Gonzaga pausing all team activities due to covid-19 protocols.
Arkansas and Southern have met on two previous occasions with the Razorbacks winning both meetings.
The Hogs defeated the Jaguars 76-75 in Pine Bluff on Nov. 29, 1985, and 86-68 in Bud Walton Arena to open the 2015-16 season.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Catalon named one of 12 finalists for Thorpe Award for top defensive back
OKLAHOMA CITY — Arkansas redshirt freshman defensive back Jalen Catalon has been named one of 12 finalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award for the nation’s best defensive back, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday.
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One of the nation’s best DBs, @jcatalon27 is a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist ?
?: https://t.co/rNYeseOJUU pic.twitter.com/EIWWPcQDEw
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) December 7, 2020
Catalon leads all FBS freshmen with 89 total tackles and 48 solo tackles while adding 2.0 tackles for loss, four passes broken up, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and three interceptions.He is the only player in the country to have 85 or more tackles and three interceptions this season and become the first Razorback to pick off a pass in back-to-back games since at least 1997.
His three total interceptions are tied for second-most in the SEC. Catalon returned his first career interception 35 yards for a touchdown in Arkansas’ 33-21 win over Ole Miss.
Catalon is the first SEC freshman since 2007 SEC Freshman of the Year and all-American Eric Berry to record at least 86 tackles and three interceptions in a season.
He averages 9.9 tackles per game, the conference’s fifth-best mark, and the second-most solo tackles per game in the league (5.3).
Against LSU, the Mansfield, Texas product registered his fifth 10+ tackle game of the year, making a career-high 16 stops with 1.5 tackles for loss.
The redshirt freshman garnered SEC Defensive Player of the Week and Thorpe Award Player of the Week honors against Tennessee, making 12 tackles with an interception and forced fumble in Arkansas’ 24-13 win.
He is also on the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American Watch List.
Thorpe Award Semifinalists
Bubba Bolden, Miami (Fla.)
Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
Kaiir Elam, Florida
Richie Grant, UCF
Allie Green IV, Tulsa
Shemar Jean-Charles, Appalachian State
Brandon Joseph, Northwestern
Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Tykee Smith, West Virginia
Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
Shaun Wade, Ohio State
James Wiggins, Cincinnati
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
