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Harris, Agim, Whaley will be Razorbacks going to SEC Media Days

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Three Arkansas seniors will represent the Razorbacks next week when the Hogs take their turn at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. on Wednesday.

McTelvin “Sosa” Agim, De’Jon “Scoota” Harris and Devwah Whaley have been selected to participate in the annual media event, which returns to Hoover after being held in Atlanta for the first time last year.

PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM

Agim returns for his senior season after posting his best year as a Razorback last fall.

He started all 12 games and posted career-bests with 45 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. His team-best 10.0 TFLs were the most by an Arkansas defender since Deatrich Wise recorded 10.5 in 2015.

A former five-star recruit out of Hope, Agim has played in 37 games in his first three years on The Hill, starting 28. Phil Steele recently tabbed him as a preseason second-team All-SEC member along with Athlon Sports.

PHOTO BY TED McCLENNING | HITTHATLINE.COM

Harris also returns for his senior year after a big junior campaign.

Harris led the Southeastern Conference with 118 total tackles to become the first Razorback since Martrell Spaight in 2014 to pace the nation’s premiere conference in stops.

The 118 tackles put him over 100 tackles for the second straight year to make him the first Hog since Jerry Franklin in 2010-11 to eclipse the century mark in consecutive years.

The Associated Press has tabbed him a second-team All-SEC member each of the last two seasons. Phil Steele and Athlon Sports have him on their preseason All-SEC second teams as well.

PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM

Whaley enters his final year at Arkansas off an injury-plagued 2018 season.

He earned the starting nod in each of the Razorbacks’ first four games before being slowed by injuries and appearing in three of the team’s final eight games.

Despite the injuries, Whaley rushed for 383 yards on 82 carries with two scores while also catching eight passes for 87 yards out of the backfield.

His biggest game of the year, and his Arkansas career, came at Colorado State in Week 2 when he ran for a career-best 165 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.

The Razorbacks will be a part of the morning session on Wednesday alongside Alabama.

???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — w/ Bobby Swofford

Tye Richardson
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???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — w/ Bobby Swofford

Phil & Tye discuss the Arkansas players heading to SEC Media Days, interview Bobby Swofford, and more!

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

Tommy & John discuss the new uniforms, best fictional coaches in movies, interview Hutch and more!

???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — w/ Nikki Chavanelle

Tye Richardson
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???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — w/ Nikki Chavanelle

Phil & Tye hit on the new uniforms, interview Nikki Chavanelle, and more!

Razorbacks’ new uniforms go back to classic look … which is awesome

Andy Hodges
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Razorbacks’ new uniforms go back to classic look … which is awesome

When you’re coming off a bad season, Arkansas’ highly-awaited announcement of a new look in uniforms is, well, simply awesome.

If that makes me old, so be it.

The UA made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday just after noon as fans were itching from the tease made on that platform Monday.

It is the look with a No. 5, which just happens to coincide with Darren McFadden, who is on the short list for the best player in program history.

The Razorbacks had this uniform combination in 2006-07 when D-Mac ran to a second-place finish in the Heisman Trophy race (and should have won it at least once).

Now if they just burned all that gray stuff …

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday

John & Tommy discuss John’s dream on the beach, best BBQ style, Yurachek on changes, and Crosby Tuck!

Most improved group? Guess here it will be Hogs’ receivers

Andy Hodges
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We’ll never get a direct answer from any of the coaches for a few years, but it became pretty clear before the end of September last season the receivers were a problem for Arkansas.

It became clear when one transferred before the end of September, the most experienced one had a grand total of eight catches all year, the best tight end missed two games for reasons other than injury and the leading receiver transferred out at the end.

You wonder how much of the offense’s passing woes came from the receivers not being on the same page as the quarterbacks … for whatever reason.

Just because a pass sails into what resembles a vacant lot doesn’t mean it’s on the guy who threw it.

Everybody has to be reading the same thing in coverages or it looks like a train wreck.

Which pretty much sums up last season.

Now there are changes at the receiver position following a recruiting binge that landed what could be the best group of incoming freshmen in program history at catching the ball,

Potentially it could be as good — or even better — than the 2008 group of Jarius Wright, Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Chris Gragg. This group is rated higher coming out of high school.

Trey Knox, Treylon Burks, Hudson Henry, Shamar Nash and T.Q. Jackson are all big, fast and have basically been playing in a similar offense since they were in junior high. Granted, that’s not the SEC, but they already have the basics.

During the summer they have been getting a crash course on what’s expected on and off the field.

The returning receivers I’ve come across during the summer have all noted the complete change in attitude and accountability. It’s been a complete change.

More importantly, there seems to be more pride. The body language is even different in the receivers coming back. They’ve had the talent, but now appear to to have the attitude in place.

Honestly, the returning receivers know they better get their act together or they will be standing on the sidelines when Saturdays roll around this fall.

In fact, it won’t be surprising to see passing early, then running the ball. If you can consistently hit a pass on first down for 4 yards, second down gets a lot more interesting.

A big part of Chad Morris’ offense is, quite simply, staying ahead of the chains. That means eliminating second-and-long and third-and-long.

There will be a lot of reading on first downs this year, which simply means nobody’s going to know the ball is going (or should be going) until after it’s snapped.

For all that to happen with any consistency, the receiver position had to improve.

The odds are good that it has.

Bucknam announces signing 23 athletes to Razorbacks men’s track team

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bucknam announces signing 23 athletes to Razorbacks men’s track team

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam has announced the signing of 23 future Razorbacks who will join the program ahead of the 2020 season.

“We are very excited to welcome this group to our program,” said Bucknam. “This is one of the most exciting and extensive recruiting classes we have had in my 10 years at Arkansas. It’s a large group that covers every event group in our sport.

“We are especially excited about being able to keep the best in-state athletes at home while also recruiting top talent from around the world.”

Arkansas’ 2019 signing class spans four states (Arkansas, California, Missouri, Texas), five countries (England, Germany, Israel, Jamaica, South Africa) and includes three transfers (Cal, UALR, UTPB). The class includes six athletes from the state of Arkansas.

The class is headlined by two NCAA All-Americans, Keshawn Andrews, and Tyler Brendel, who earned second team All-America honors at UA-Little Rock and Cal-Berkley.

Jeremy Farr, Jamaica’s top junior 400-meter runner this season, and Max Kluth, Germany’s top junior decathlete, will bring international experience to the Razorbacks in 2020.

North Little Rock High School’s Kennedy Lightner, one of the top high school sprinters in the United States during the 2019 season will remain in Arkansas for his college career.

The Razorback’s full signing class is listed below:

Keshawn Andrews (University of Arkansas – Little Rock / Jonesboro High School | Jonesboro)

At Little Rock: Second-Team All-American as a member of UALR’s 4×100-meter relay in 2018. 2019 Sun Belt Conference Champion in the 60 meters, tying a lifetime best 6.76.

Placed third in the 100-meters at the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Championships, running a lifetime best 10.32.

Fourth in UALR program record list in the 100-meters, third in program history in the 60-meters and a member of the school record 4×100-meter relay from 2018.

Jonesboro High School: Three-time Arkansas 6A State Championship 100-meter finalist. A 2017 Arkansas 6A State Champion in the 100-meters running a wind-aided 10.67. Runner-up in both the 100-meters and 200-meters along with a third-place finish in the long jump at the 6A East Conference Meet helping Jonesboro to the 2017 East Conference team title. State runner-up in the 100-meters in 2016 and a state championship qualifier in the 200-meters. Placed sixth in 100-meters at the 2015 State Championships.

Personal Bests: 60m – 6.76; 100m – 10.32; 200m – 21.59

Jadon Bartholomew (Har-Ber High School | Springdale)

2019 Arkansas 6A State Champion in the 400-meters; a member of Har-Ber’s State Championship 4×800-meter relay and bronze medalist 4×400-meter relay team. Also won 6A West Conference Championships in the 400-meters in 2019. Also ran on Har-Ber’s state championship bronze medal cross country team, placing top-30 at the state cross country championship. In 2018, won state titles in both the 4×400-meter and 4×800-meter relays outdoors as well as the 4×800-meter relay indoors.

Personal Bests: 400m – 49.31; 800m – 1:58.35

Etamar Bhastekar (Texas-El Paso | Mizpe Ramon, Israel)

At UTEP: Placed fourth in the pole vault at 2018 Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Prior to UTEP: 2016 Israeli National Champion in the Pole Vault.

Personal Bests: Pole Vault – 5.31m (17-5); High Jump – 2.00m (6-6.75); Long Jump – 7.25m (23-9.50)

Shaka Bogan (Marion High School | Marion)

2019 Arkansas 5A State Champion in the 110-meter hurdles; also scored in the 300-meter hurdles. Won the Arkansas 5A Indoor State Championship in the 60-meter hurdles. Undefeated in the 110-meter hurdles during his senior season. Ranked as the fastest high school 110-meter hurdler in Arkansas in 2019 and among the Top-25 in the United States. Arkansas state indoor record holder in the 60-meter hurdles. Four-time 5A East Conference Champion.

High School Personal Bests: 60m Hurdles – 8.02; 110m Hurdles – 13.84

Tyler Brendel (University of California – Berkeley / Granite Bay High School | Granite Bay, California)

At California: An NCAA Heptathlon Qualifier and Second-Team All-American Indoors in 2019 after placing 14th at the NCAA Indoor Championships. 2019 MPSF Heptathlon Champion to help California to a third-place finish at their indoor conference championships. All Pac-12 Honoree after placing third at the 2017 Pac-12 Championships in the decathlon.

Granite Bay High School: California Division Champion in the 300-meter hurdles as a senior in 2015. CIF State Championship 300-meter hurdles qualifier.

Personal Bests: Decathlon – 7,413 pts.; Heptathlon – 5,674 pts.

Ethan Carney (Har-Ber High School | Springdale)

2019 Arkansas 6A State Champion in the 4×800-meter relay, State Runner-up in the 800-meters and Bronze Medalist in the 4×400-meter relay. Set a personal best 1:56.00 to place second overall at the Arkansas Meet of Champions. 2019 Arkansas Indoor State Champion in the 800-meters. As junior in 2018, scored in both the 400-meters and 800-meters at the State Championships to help Har-Ber High School to a state runner-up finish. Helped Har-Ber win a state title indoors and outdoors in 2017, finishing as the state runner-up in the 800-meters during the indoor season. Three-time USATF Junior Olympic National Champion (2017: 400m/800m; 2019: 800m).

Personal Bests: 800m – 1:56.00; 400m – 48.99

Devin Dougherty (Bentonville High School | Bentonville)

2017 Arkansas 7A State Champion in the 400-meters and as a member of Bentonville’s 4×400m relay. Also won state titles in 2018 in the 200-meters and 400-meters at the Arkansas State Indoor Championships. A member of five state championship teams for Bentonville High School (2016 indoors, 2017 outdoors, 2018 indoors, 2018 outdoors and 2019 indoors). Scorer in the 200-meters and 400-meters as well as a the 4×400-meter relay at the 2019 Arkansas 6A State Championships to help Bentonville to a state runner-up team finish.

Personal Bests: 400m – 48.35; 200m – 22.18

Jeremy Farr (Wolmer’s High School | Kingston, Jamaica)

Ranked No. 3 in the world in the U20 400-meters in 2019. Jamaica’s Boys and Girls Champs 400-meter champion also placed third in the 400-meter hurdles. Also, a member of Wolmer’s Boys and Girls Champs winning 4×100-meter relay team in 2019.

Personal Bests: 400m – 45.65; 400mH – 51.41

Andrew Gilreath (Lawrence E. Elkins High School | Sugar Land, Texas)

AAU Junior Olympic Long Jump Championship. Also an AAU Junior Olympic finalist in the 100-meters. Semifinalist in the 60-meters at the 2018 New Balance Indoor National Championships.

Personal Bests: 100m – 10.50; Long Jump – 6.76m (22-2.25)

Ryan Gordon (Lucas Lovejoy High School | Lucas, Texas)

Texas 5A State Runner-up in the 200-meters; also scored on Lucas Lovejoy’s 4×200-meter relay team. Texas Relays finalist in the 100-meters.

Personal Bests: 100m – 10.56; 200m – 21.14

Tylin Jackson (Lancaster High School | Lancaster, Texas)

Texas 5A Bronze Medalist in the 200-meters; also scored on Lancaster’s 4×100-meter bronze medalist and 4×200-meter state runner-up relay teams. Helped Lancaster to a 5A State Runner-up finish in 2019. Placed fourth in the 200-meters at the UIL State Championships as a junior. Ranked Top-25 in the United States in the 200-meters outdoors in 2019. Ran 20.75 as a high school junior in 2018.

Personal Bests: 100m – 10.50; 200m – 20.75; 60m – 6.99

Maximilian Kluth (St. Ursula Gymnasium High School | Duesseldorf, Germany)

2019 German U20 Heptathlon Champion, 2018 German U20 Decathlon Champion, 2017 IAAF World Youth Championships Decathlon Qualifier. 2019 European U20 Championships Qualifier.

Personal Bests: U20 Decathlon – 7,555 pts.

Rory Leonard (Fall 2020) (King Edward VII School | Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom)

Placed 37th at the 2019 IAAF World U20 Cross Country Championships. Placed ninth in the 3000m at the 2018 European U18 Championships.

Personal Bests: 1500m – 3:48.93; 3000m – 8:18.80; 5000m – 14:16.35

Kennedy Lightner (North Little Rock High School | Little Rock)

Ranked No. 1 in the state of Arkansas in the 100-meters, 200-meters and 400-meters for the 2019 season. Ranked No. 2 nationally in the 200-meters. Won the Great Southwest Classic 200-meters in a personal best 20.48, also placed second in the 100-meters. Won both the 100-meters and 200-meters at the Arkansas Meet of Champions. Arkansas 6A State Champion in the 100-meters and 200-meters in 2019. As a junior in 2018, placed second in the 400-meters at the State Championships. 2017 AAU and USATF Junior Olympic National Champion in the 100-meters and 200-meters.

Personal Bests: 100m – 10.31; 200m – 20.48; 400m – 47.29

Lesley Mahlakoane (Cloud County CC / Zitikeni Secondary School |Tembisa, South Africa)

Placed fourth at the 2019 Junior College National Championships in the 400-meters to help Cloud County win the team National Championships. During the indoor season, placed third at the Junior College National Championships 400-meters and also ran on his team’s 4×400 meter and Distance Medley Relay teams. Won a national title as a member of Cloud Country’s Distance Medley Relay team during the 2018 indoor season.

Personal Bests: 400m – 46.41; 200m – 21.56, Long Jump – 7.08m (23-2.75)

Nick Prentiss (Keller High School | Keller, Texas)

Placed fifth in the high jump at the Texas 6A State Championships in 2019. Runner-up in the high jump at the Texas Relays. Ranked among the top-25 high jumpers in the United States during the 2019 season. Placed seventh at the New Balance Indoor National Championships in 2019, jumping the No. 1 mark in Texas.

Personal Best: High Jump – 2.08m (6-10)

James Rainey (Lucas Lovejoy High School | Lucas, Texas)

Placed eighth in the shot put at the Texas 5A State Championships. Set a lifetime best of 56-8 in the shot put to win his Region Championship. Placed third in region in the discus throw. 2018 USATF Junior Olympic All-American.

Personal Bests: Shot Put – 17.27m (56-8); Discus Throw –52.40m (171-11)

Myles Richter (Lewisville Hebron High School | Lewisville, Texas)

Placed fifth at the Texas 6A State Championship in the 3,200-meters as a senior. Also placed fifth at the State Cross Country Championships in 2018. 2018 Region I Cross Country Champion. In the post-season, placed eighth at the Nike Cross Country South Regionals and top-20 at the Foot Locker South Regional.

Personal Bests: 1600m – 4:19.89; 3200m – 9:12.23; 5000m – 14:45.69

Rasheed Ricketts (Cardinal Ritter High School | St. Louis, Missouri)

Missouri Class 3 State Champion in the triple jump in 2018 and 2019. Also placed fifth in the long jump and was a member of the 4×200-meter relay team to help Cardinal Ritter finish as the state runner-up in 2019. Undefeated as a senior in the triple jump during the outdoor season. Placed eighth at the 2019 New Balance Indoor National Championships in the triple jump.

Personal Bests: Long Jump – 7.01m (23-0); Triple Jump – 15.03m (49-4)

Josh Shearer (The Woodlands Christian School | The Woodlands, Texas)

Three-time TAPPS 4A State Champion. 2019 State Champion in the 1,600-meters also placed third in the 3,200-meters and fourth in the 800-meters to help his team to a runner-up finish at the 2019 State Championships. Also finished third at the 2018 Cross Country State Championships to help Woodlands Christian to a State Championship. As a junior in 2018, finished as the state champion in the 3,200-meters and state runner-up in the 1,600-meters. State cross country runner-up at the 2017 state cross country championships. State champion in the 3,200-meters as a sophomore in 2017.

Personal Bests: 1600m – 4:19.32; 3200m – 9:12.62

Kyle Smith (Hoover High School | Hoover, Alabama)

2017 Alabama 7A Indoor State Champion in the Triple Jump. Hoover High School won six-consecutive indoor/outdoor state titles during his sophomore through senior seasons. As a senior, placed fourth at the Alabama 7A State Championships in the triple jump and also scored in the high jump to help Hoover High School win their third straight outdoor State Championship. During the indoor season, placed as the state runner-up in the triple jump and high jump while also scoring in the long jump, scoring 19 points to help Hoover win their third consecutive state indoor title. As a junior in 2018, finished as the state runner-up in both the long jump and triple jump outdoors. Won a state title indoors as a junior in the triple jump and also placed second in the high jump. Scored at the state championships as a sophomore both indoors and outdoors.

Personal Bests: Long Jump – 6.81m (22-4.25); Triple Jump – 14.85m (48-9); High Jump – 1.98m (6-6)

Jayce Turner (Lewisville Hebron High School | Lewisville, Texas)

As a senior in 2019, ranked in the top-15 in Texas in the 3,200-meters, running a personal best 9:11.64 at the Jesuit Relays. Placed third at his district in both the 1,600-meters and 3,200-meters in 2019 and placed third in his region in the 3,200-meters. As a junior, he was district runner-up in the 3,200-meters and placed third in the 1,600-meters. Four-time varsity letter winner in track and field and three-time letter winner in cross country.

Personal Bests: 1600m – 4:20.25; 3200m – 9:11.64

Roman Turner (Texas Southern University / Wichita Falls Hirschi | Wichita Fall, Texas)

At Texas Southern: 2019 Southwest Athletic Conference Indoor 60-meter champion. 2019 SWAC finalist in the 100-meters, also scored as a member of Texas Southern’s 4×100-meter relay squad. As a freshman in 2018, SWAC finalist in both the 100-meters outdoors and 60-meters indoors.

At Wichita Falls HS: As a senior in 2017, won Great Southwest Classic 100-meter title. Finished as the state runner-up at the Texas 4A State Championship in the 100-meters as both a senior and junior.

Personal Bests: 100m – 10.35; 200m – 22.01; 60m – 6.69

???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — featuring Sam Smith & Connor O’Gara

Tye Richardson
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0
???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — featuring Sam Smith & Connor O’Gara

Phil & Tye discuss Daniel Gafford’s play with Sam Smith and upcoming SEC football story lines with Connor O’Gara!

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Monday

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Monday

Tommy, Tye and Brett Goode discuss depressing Arkansas football stats since 2012, interview Tom Murphy, and more!

Reports have Gafford signing rookie deal with Bulls

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Daniel Gafford had a good summer league debut Friday night and, according to reports, it has paid off with a $6.1 million, deal that has a couple of years guaranteed.

League sources have told Shams Charania of The Athletic about the deal.

Of the total deal just over $2.4 million is guaranteed. Reports say the Bulls will use cap room to make it a four-year deal, with yearly salaries likely to be set at $898,310, $1,517,981, $1,782,621 and $1,930,681.

Gafford scored 21 points, had 10 rebounds and four blocks in Chicago’s 96-76 win over the Lakes in the summer league opener Friday night that didn’t include a lot of big-name established players.

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