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.
? ????? ???????????? ?
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.
Pittman has no answers on injuries, knows difficulty in slowing Alabama
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman couldn’t give any updates on players injured last week plus knows how good the Crimson Tide are this year.
Moody named top freshman after big games in wins over UTA, Lipscomb
Moses Moody was named the SEC men’s basketball Freshman of the Week after a pair of big games for Arkansas last week, the league announced Monday.
Moody averaged 21 points, 8.5 rebounds and two assists in wins over UT Arlington and Lipscomb. He made 70 percent of his shots from the field (14-of-20) — including 4-of-6 from 3-point range — while going 10-of-13 at the free throw line.
The Little Rock native had game highs with 24 points and nine rebounds versus UTA to become the first Razorback freshman since Bobby Portis in 2014 to have at least 24 and nine in a game.
He followed that with an 18-point, eight-rebound performance versus Lipscomb. Moody made 7-of-his-8 shots, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, while adding three assists in just 24 minutes played.
Moody is the only Razorback to score in double figures in all four games this season.
He ranks 16th in the NCAA (2nd in the SEC) in free throws made (25), fourth in the SEC in free throw percentage (.862) and seventh in the SEC in scoring (17.5 ppg).
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Missouri got ball last in Razorbacks’ shootout loss last week, says Murphy
Democrat-Gazette writer Tom Murphy talked on The Morning Rush about the shootout Saturday and the Tigers simply got the ball the last time.
Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast – Defense a no-show in Columbia on Saturday
Tye & Tommy on the loss to Mizzou, Razorback hoops, Tom Murphy, plus the taco eating contest recap!
Neighbors said day ‘had special feel to it’ before Hogs get milestone victory
Razorbacks coach Mike Neighbors said it was a different, special feel all day before the 83-78 win over fourth-ranked, defending champions.
Ramirez on hard work, preparation, paying off in win over Baylor
Arkansas’ Amber Ramirez talked after the 83-78 win over No. 4 Baylor about coaches’ preparation key to getting “huge win” for program.
SEC sets kickoff for Saturday’s season-ending Alabama game, television network
Despite what a lot of folks thought in the summer, Arkansas is within a week of actually managing to complete a 10-game football season.
The SEC made the announcement Sunday it’s game on Saturday, which will bring the regular season to an end.
With the entire bowl season completely turned upside down this year, the Razorbacks will likely land a bowl spot somewhere even with just three wins. Anybody can go to a bowl and the SEC teams will likely all get a chance to turn one down.
The Hogs and Alabama will kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday at Razorback Stadium and the game will be televised on ESPN.
You can also listen to the game online HERE and on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
The game was originally scheduled for Dec. 5, but moved back a week so the Crimson Tide could meet LSU, then come to Fayetteville before facing Florida in the SEC Championship game Dec. 19.
Covid issues forces Tulsa to postpone Tuesday’s game with Hogs
Eric Musselman’s schedule has cleared up this week with Tulsa’s announcement Sunday they’ve had a positive covid test and quarantining of players the issue.
Does anyone have any extra @WestrockCoffee they could bring to @AnthonyRuta? He’s got a long day ahead and will need the caffeine boost. 15 friends and I have Bud Walton Arena reserved Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday and would love something to do! @AnthonyRuta on the ⏰
— Eric Musselman (@EricPMusselman) December 6, 2020
Tulsa was scheduled to host the Razorbacks on Tuesday, Dec. 8.
No make-up date has been set.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Fantasy Football Sunday — w/ Joe Bartel of Rotowire
Tye & Evan talk with Joe Bartel of Rotowire about moves before Fantasy Playoffs, Taysom Hill and more!
