Arkansas interim coach Barry Lunney, Jr., talked to the media before practice Wednesday and greeted former players, including former coach Ken Hatfield in addition to updates before LSU game.
Davis, Blankenship, Willekes top three finalists for Burlsworth Trophy
FAYETTEVILLE — The three finalists for the 10th annual Burlsworth Trophy have been selected.
The finalists are California safety and return specialist Ashtyn Davis,Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship and Michigan State defensive end Kenny Willekes.
A record 83 universities from across the nation nominated a player for the 2019 award. Last week the list was narrowed to 10 semi-finalists.
The Burlsworth Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player in America who began his career as a walk on. Burlsworth’s life is also the subject of a major motion picture, “GREATER”, which was released nationally in 2016.
The finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced December 9, at 12:45 p.m. at a luncheon in Springdale hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club.
Finalists
• Ashtyn Davis, California, safety-return specialist, senior: Davis has recorded 47 tackles this season with 27 solo stops.
He has also forced two fumbles, intercepted a pass and returned 12 kicks for 149 yards. Davis, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, is a four-time All-American in the 60 meter hurdles indoors and the 110 meter hurdles outdoors.
He was a second-team midseason All-American selection by Athlon Sports and The Athletic and Davis is on the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the nation’s most versatile player.
Davis walked on the Cal track team and after several unsuccessful attempts to contact the football staff, joined the team in the spring of 2016. He was named first-team All-Pac 12 by the Associated Press, Athlon Sports and Pro Football Focus in 2018, recording 56 tackles and an interception with an 89-yard kick return.
Davis was recognized as Cal’s top special team’s player in 2016 and 2017.
• Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia, kicker, senior: Blankenship ranks No. 14 nationally and second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 92 points and has hit 100 percent of his extra-point kicks this year for the fourth-ranked Bulldogs (9-1).
He has made 19 of 23 field goals attempts this season with a long of 50 yards. Blankenship, who started his career as a preferred walk-on, is the NCAA active career leader in field goals with 72.
Blankenship, 6-foot-1 and 193 pounds, has hit six field goals of at least 50 yards in his career and as a sophomore in 2017.
That season Blankenship secured a scholarship spot on the team and hit field goals of at least 50 yards in the Rose Bowl and National Championship Game.
Blankenship holds the record for longest field goal in Rose Bowl history at 55 yards. He is a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s top placekicker.
• Kenny Willekes, Michigan State, defensive end, senior: Willekes, a preseason All-America selection and last year’s Big 10 Defensive Lineman of the Year, has 59 tackles this season with 24 solo tackles, including 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Willekes was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Big Ten and the Walter Camp Football Foundation after recording seven tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against Tulsa earlier this season.
Willekes, named a Burlsworth semifinalist in 2018, did not receive scholarship offers from any Division I schools. He was invited to walk-on at Michigan State, where he redshirted as a true freshman in 2015.
Willekes was named a mid-season All-American by Rivals.com in 2019. Willekes, 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, suffered a broken fibula in a bowl game to end last season and rehabbed in the offseason. He is the active career leader in tackles for loss per game (1.22).
Past Burlsworth Trophy winners include:
• 2018- Hunter Renfrow, Receiver- Clemson
• 2017- Luke Falk, Quarterback- Washington State
• 2016- Baker Mayfield, Quarterback- Oklahoma
• 2015- Baker Mayfield, Quarterback- Oklahoma
• 2014- Justin Hardy, Receiver- East Carolina
• 2013- Jared Abbrederis, Receiver- Wisconsin
• 2012- Matt McGloin, Quarterback- Penn State
• 2011- Austin Davis, Quarterback- Southern Mississippi
• 2010- Sean Bedford, Center- Georgia Tech
The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon walked on to the Razorback team in 1994, worked his way to being a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998.
Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft, but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later.
The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.
For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit burlsworthtrophy.com.
Joe’s hot streak paces Hogs to 82-51 win, fourth straight to open season
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas was 0-of-13 from 3-point range in the first half, but sophomore Isaiah Joe sank six triples in the second half as part of a 33-point effort in an 82-51 victory over Texas Southern Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena in game two of the Collegiate Hoops Roadshow 0 Razorback Regional.
Joe’s 33 points were one shy of a career high and the Fort Smith native pumped in 29 second-half points He added five steals, one shy of his career high.
Also leading the Hogs was graduate senior Jimmy Whitt, Jr., who posted his sixth career double-double by scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Adrio Bailey finished with five blocked shots and Reggie Chaney, who saw his first action of the season, tied his career high with four steals.
Texas Southern, with 24 first-half points and 51 total points, was the first team in four tries to score over 20 points in the first half and score 50 points in a game on the Razorbacks.
However, Arkansas held the Tigers to 34.5 percent shooting from the field and 18.2 percent from 3-point range (2-of-11).
No team has made more than two 3-pointers in a game versus Arkansas and opponents are a combined 8-of-69 (11.6 percent). Arkansas’ defense also forced 24 turnovers and blocked 13 shots.
Arkansas returns to action Friday (Nov. 22) versus South Dakota. Tipoff at Bud Walton Arena is set for 8 pm.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 37-Texas Southern 24
• Whitt scored the first points of the game, but Arkansas trailed for just the second time this year, 3-2. The Razorbacks answered with a 9-0 run and an overall run of 13-2 to lead 15-5.
• Arkansas surrendered 20 points in the first half for the first time this season. However, the 37 points by Arkansas are the second-most by the Razorbacks this season, trailing the 39 Arkansas scored in the first half versus Rice.
• Whitt was 5-of-6 from the field and led Arkansas with 11 first-half points.
• The Razorbacks led by 13 despite going 0-of-14 from 3-point range in the first half.
• Arkansas’ defense came away with seven blocked shots in the first half, including four by Adrio Bailey. The Razorbacks also forced 12 first-half turnovers thanks to three first-half steals by Reggie Chaney.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas outscored the Tigers 45-27 in the second half
• Isaiah Joe opened the second half with a 3-point basket, extending the Razorbacks’ streak to 1,015 games with a triple – the fourth-best streak in the NCAA.
• Arkansas opened the second half on a 17-4 run, thanks to three 3’s by Joe, to take a 26-point lead (54-28 at the 14:41 mark).
• Arkansas led by at least 20 the rest of the second half.
• Joe finished with 29 second-half points, making 8-of-13 from the field — 6-of-9 from 3-point range — and making 7-of-9 at the free throw line. Four of his game-high five steals came in the second half.
• Arkansas only had four second-half turnovers (10 for the game) and, after allowing nine offensive rebounds in the first half, only allowed three in the second.
Game notes
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jimmy Whitt (G) – Isaiah Joe (G) – Desi Sills (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Adrio Bailey (F) for the fourth consecutive game.
• Arkansas won the tip for the third time in four games.
• Jimmy Whitt Jr., scored the first points of the game, a fastbreak layup at 18:31. Arkansas has scored first in all four games this season.
• Texas Southern took a brief 3-2 lead in the first half. The Tigers led for 18 seconds before Whitt started a 9-0 run and the Razorbacks never looked back.
• Arkansas has only trailed twice this season for a total of 63 seconds (Arkansas trailed Rice early for 45 seconds in the season opener.
• Arkansas is 7-0 all-time versus Texas Southern.
• Arkansas is 4-0 to start the season for the first time since 2017-18.
• Eric Musselman is 4-0 in his first year as Arkansas head coach. The last first-year Razorback head coach to start 4-0 was Nolan Richardson, who began 5-0 in 1985-86.
• Just four games into his sophomore season, Isaiah Joe only needs to make 24 more 3-pointers to enter the school’s all-time top 10.
Musselman glad Hogs held Tigers under 55 on his birthday Tuesday night
Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman said his wife told him not to allow Texas Southern to score more than 55 and his team responded with an 82-51 win Tuesday night.
Whitt, Chaney on another strong defensive effort in Hogs’ win
Arkansas players Jimmy Whitt, Jr. (17 points, 10 rebounds), and Reggie Chaney back from suspension talked after the 82-51 win over Texas Southern about the defensive focus.
Razorback coaches excited after signing 4-star pont guard Davonte Davis
It’s not secret that social media has amped up since Eric Musselman was named the head basketball coach at Arkansas.
Since his days at Nevada, Musselman and his staff have made twitter a priority relative to recruiting. With so many kids on the “twitter machine,” being vocal on the website is a good way to reach a number of different talented recruits. Reenacting old NBA scenes with prospects has also taken the Razorbacks’ visibility to a whole new level.
On Tuesday, Davonte Davis signed his letter of intent to play with the Razorbacks. Davis is a ESPN Top 100 talent out of Jacksonville. The 6-4 point guard originally committed to Oklahoma State, but was swayed by the Arkansas staff to go a different direction.
Once signed, the Razorback coaching staff could finally express their happiness:
Let’s go Devo!!! #IBelieveIn3 @MrDevoBuckets pic.twitter.com/qLl3R4dn8B
— Eric Musselman (@EricPMusselman) November 19, 2019
Let’s Gooooooooo!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/U7a5iN4lol
— Chris Crutchfield (@CoachCrutchUA) November 19, 2019
Let’s Go Devo!!!! #IBelieveIn3 pic.twitter.com/9DfrmzqnfP
— Corey Williams (@CoachWilliams12) November 19, 2019
#IBelieveIn3 @RazorbackMBB
Yessir! So happy and proud to have you as a Hog Devo! @MrDevoBuckets pic.twitter.com/D0PuoVtoy4— Clay Moser (@cmoser1162) November 19, 2019
#ibelievein3 #LetsGo @MrDevoBuckets pic.twitter.com/UsN9RLvmJS
— Dave Richardson (@DRich111) November 19, 2019
Let’s go Devo!!! #IBelieveIn3 @MrDevoBuckets pic.twitter.com/AURyWJteDH
— Anthony Ruta (@AnthonyRuta) November 19, 2019
Let’s go Devo!! @MrDevoBuckets #ibelievein3 pic.twitter.com/XoX6kUrpll
— William Hays Myers (@haysmyersbball) November 19, 2019
#IBelieveIn3 | @MrDevoBuckets pic.twitter.com/kbWvu76rw3
— Earl Boykins (@boykinsacademy) November 19, 2019
Was trying to take a nice pre-game sauna when I heard @MrDevoBuckets has officially signed as a Razorback! Let’s go Devo! #IBelieveIn3 pic.twitter.com/8dcdujABGX
— Michael Musselman (@michaelmuss_13) November 19, 2019
Let’s go Devo pic.twitter.com/FMeT8IRtXS
— MONealHOGHoops (@HogNeal) November 19, 2019
Lets goooo @MrDevoBuckets!!!!! #IBelieveIn3 pic.twitter.com/L5e4BTtGy6
— Pat Ackerman (@patack32) November 19, 2019
Let’s Go Devo!!! #IbelieveIn3 @MrDevoBuckets pic.twitter.com/WSopQJovw7
— Riley Hall (@riley_hall5) November 19, 2019
To see the FULL release on Davis, CLICK HERE
???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — Arkansas football is not a Top 7 SEC job
Phil & Tye on the Arkansas FB/BKB/BSB jobs compared, Lunney on game prep, plus Blake Lovell!
Razorbacks’ Daniels named top freshman for week in SEC
FAYETTEVILLE — Freshman guard Makayla Daniels has been named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.
The recognition is the first SEC honor for Daniels, who becomes Arkansas’ first SEC Freshman of the Week since Jailyn Mason won the weekly award back in 2017 (January 19).
Daniels was simply sensational this past week for the Razorbacks, averaging 20 points, three assists and two rebounds over the team’s two games against Oral Roberts and Stony Brook. The Frederick, Md., product played lights out against Oral Roberts, dropping 27 points on an ultra-efficient eight of 11 from the field, while also making six of her seven three-point attempts.
Daniels’ 27 points were the most by an Arkansas freshman since Jessica Jackson dropped 31 on Ole Miss back in 2014 (1/19/14).
Those 27 points are also the most scored by a Hog this season, and are the most points scored by a Razorback since Chelsea Dungee had 37 points against Houston in the first round of the WNIT last season.
Daniels has become a key part of the nation’s seventh-ranked offense despite being a freshman, averaging the third most points on the squad (15.5), while also leading the Razorbacks in assists (3.3). She also leads the team in steals (1.8).
