Keeping Stepp as Hogs’ wide receivers coach continues strong relationship
Multiple media outlets have been reporting late Thursday that wide receivers coach Justin Stepp will remain in that capacity under new coach Sam Pittman and that is a big-time positive move.
Stepp joins new offensive line coach Brad Davis are the only two assistants officially on the new staff, but defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell and safeties coach Ron Cooper have been on recruiting visits this week.
With the news coming on the same day Treylon Burks was named to the freshman All-SEC team, it will be welcomed with the Warren native, who has a strong relationship with Stepp.
That is apparently the case with a strong group of freshmen receivers, including the ones Stepp recruited, including Trey Knox, T.Q. Jackson and Shamar Nash.
And he apparently can coach pretty well, too. Burks and Knox have received post-season honors, something not a lot of other positions sawafter the Hogs completed their second straight 2-10 season.
Curl giving up final year with Razorbacks to enter NFL Draft in April
Arkansas safety Kamren Curl won’t be back for his final year of eligibilty, announcing he’s going to put his name in for the NFL Draft in April.
Thank you #RazorbackNation???? pic.twitter.com/VMZi18AQrf
— Kam Curl (@KCurl_2) December 12, 2019
Curl had 76 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. He returned a fumble 69 yards for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Razorbacks’ loss to Ole Miss in September.
He also had two sacks and an interception during the season-opening win against Portland State. He also had an interception in Arkansas’ loss to San Jose State.
Musselman on too many days between games after loss to Western Kentucky
Razorbacks coach Eric Mussleman talked after practice Thursday about not liking the number of days between the loss to the Hilltoppers and Saturday’s game with Tulsa.
Whitt on Saturday’s matchup with Tulsa, knowing some of players from AAU
Arkansas Jimmy Whitt, Jr., talked with the media after Thursday’s practice about Saturday’s game with Tulsa and how he is familiar with them from playing at SMU and AAU with some players.
???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — Jeff Dantzler on what Pittman brings
Phil & Tye on Pittman storming the recruiting trail, Kiffin on Ole Miss, plus Jeff Dantzler of UGA radio!
Burks named as wide receiver on 2019 All-SEC team for third honor
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ Treylon Burks has been named to the 2019 Freshman All-SEC Team at wide receiver, two days after getting recognized as a second team All-SEC honoree as a return specialist.
It is the third postseason honor for Burks, as he also garnered All-Freshman accolades from Pro Football Focus on Dec. 6.
He is the fourth Razorback to land on the conference freshman squad since 2016, sharing the field in 2019 with former honorees in McTelvin Agim (2016), De’Jon Harris (2016) and De’Vion Warren (2017).
Burks, from Warren, was an immediate impact player on offense for the Razorbacks in his first year on campus.
He led Arkansas in receiving yards with 475 on 29 receptions for a team-best 16.4 yards per catch. He also paced all SEC freshmen during the regular season in yards per game (43.2) and receptions per game (2.6).
Burks’ 475 receiving yards made him one of five true freshman Razorbacks to eclipse 400+ receiving yards in a season, joining the likes of Anthony Lucas (869), Marcus Monk (569), Bobbie Williams (431) and Hunter Henry (409).
He also saw action on both kickoff and punt returns this season, totaling 22 between the two. He returned 10 kickoffs for 226 yards, averaging 22.6 per play, while returning 12 punts for 130 yards for a clip of 10.8 per return.
He ranked sixth in the conference this season in kickoff return yards per game at 20.5 and eighth in punt return yards per game at 11.8.
His top return game came against Mississippi State on Nov. 2, totaling 134 kick return yards, which were the most by a Razorback since 2017.
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2019 postseason honors
Treylon Burks – Pro Football Focus All-Freshman Team (Honorable Mention)
Treylon Burks – Coaches All-SEC Return Specialist (Second Team)
Treylon Burks – Coaches All-SEC Freshman Team
De’Jon Harris – Associated Press All-SEC (Second Team)
Trey Knox – Pro Football Focus All-Freshman Team (Honorable Mention)
Ricky Stromberg – Pro Football Focus All-Freshman Team (Third Team)
Hogs run away from Tulsa for 91-41 win behind Tolefree, Barnum
FAYETTEVILLE — No. 21 Arkansas won convincingly on Wednesday night, running away from Tulsa, 91-41, at Bud Walton Arena.
The Hogs’ 50 point win was its largest since the Hogs beat Houston Baptist by 61 in Bud Walton Arena back in 2016 (101-40).
The Hogs have now won four straight and remain undefeated at home this season.
Senior guard Alexis Tolefree picked up right where she left off after the Kansas State game, going for 20 points tonight against Tulsa. It was her second straight 20-point performance, and the fifth such performance of her career.
She was lethal from beyond the arc, collecting 18 of those points on a career-high six three-pointers. Redshirt freshman forward Erynn Barnum also turned in a great performance, recording the first double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) of her career.
Turning point
This one was put away quickly by the Hogs, who outscored Tulsa 14-2 in the first period. Tulsa only made one of its 15 field goal attempts in the first quarter, and Arkansas outrebounded the Golden Hurricane 17-10 in the opening frame.
It was the fifth time this season the Hogs held an opponent to single digit scoring in a quarter.
The Hogs would open the game on a 20-2 run, scoring the first six points of the second quarter. By halftime, the Hogs would lead by 41-16 behind a very balanced attack.
All eight players that touched the floor in the opening half scored at least two points.
Hog highlights
• Tolefree has simply been unstoppable in the second halves of her last three games, averaging a staggering 16 points in second halves over that span.
• Barnum’s double-double was the first of her career, and the first double-double by someone other than Taylah Thomas this season.
• Redshirt junior guard A’Tyanna Gaulden played her best game of the season, going for a season-high 14 points while once again leading the squad in assists (4).
• All 11 players that suited up for the Hogs tonight scored at least four points and played at least six minutes for the first time this season.
Next time out
The Razorbacks will finish up their three-game homestand on Sunday, when the Hogs host Northwestern State at Bud Walton Arena.
That game is set to tip-off at 2 p.m., and will be streamable on SECN+.
Neighbors recapping Hogs’ 91-41 win over Tulsa on Wednesday night
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors on the team “coaching itself” after blowing out the Golden Hurricane at Bud Walton Arena to improve record to 9-1 on season.
Gaulden, Tolefree after Razorbacks’ blow out Tulsa on Wednesday night
Arkansas players A’Tyanna Gaulden (14 points, 4 assists) and Alexis Tolefree (20 points, 6-of-10 on 3-pointers) after a 50-point win over the Golden Hurricane.
