Ragnow, Harris land on All-SEC second team

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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ATLANTA — Arkansas senior offensive lineman Frank Ragnow and sophomore linebacker De’Jon Harris were named to The Associated Press All-SEC second team released Monday.

It’s the second straight year Ragnow has earned second-team distinction from the AP, while Harris’ honor comes one season after landing on the 2016 SEC Coaches’ All-Freshman Team.

A finalist for the Senior CLASS Award and semifinalist for both the Wuerffel Trophy and Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award, Ragnow started 33 consecutive games and didn’t allow a sack over 2,603 career snaps at center and right guard before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury during the Auburn game on Oct. 21.

The top graded offensive lineman in the nation by Pro Football focus over the last two seasons, Ragnow had only missed 43 offensive snaps since becoming a permanent starter as a sophomore in 2015.

Behind seven games with double-digit tackles, Harris racked up 115 total stops this season, good for second most in the SEC.

He was also third in the conference with 66 solo tackles. Of his seven 10-plus tackle performances, six came against SEC opponents, which is tied for the league lead.

A product of Harvey, Louisiana, Harris is the first Razorback linebacker to earn All-SEC status since Martrell Spaight earned AP and Coaches first-team honors following the 2014 season.

Could Morris be next choice in search for coach?

Andy Hodges
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After Gus Malzahn said no, many have been assuming the next option for Arkansas in the search for a football coach was Memphis’ Mike Norvell.

That might not have been exactly right.

After the Tigers were named Sunday to play in the Liberty Bowl, Norvell wasn’t on the teleconference they have for the game.

Razorback fans started reading into that. But, as we found out later, he was on a recruiting trip and the logistics simply didn’t work. He was tweeting like a coach who planned to be coaching in that game earlier today.

Starting late Sunday night and increasing Monday morning, I’ve been hearing SMU coach Chad Morris’ name getting more and more attention.

In the matter of full disclosure, I thought several months ago he would be the best choice of all, including Malzahn, but that’s just my opinion.

His Twitter account the last few days pretty much reflect what I’ve been told about him all along and what has me the most interested:

He is a recruiter. Even his house in the Highland Park area of Dallas is decorated with recruits in mind. How he got that fly with his wife is evidence of sales ability.

Morris is a heckuva coach, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. He got a four-star quarterback at SMU and has rebuilt the program from the ashes that were as bad as it gets after June Jones basically let the program slide into the ditch.

Even former Razorback Clint Stoerner has been pointing out Morris’ positives on Twitter:

While I don’t always agree with Clint on everything, we are on the same page on this one.

Could Morris be the focus of the coach search now?

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Monday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Monday

Morning Rush Hour 3

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 2

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 2

Tom Murphy Interview

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 1

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Late rally by Hogs falls short on road at Kansas

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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LAWRENCE, Kan. — Arkansas had three players in double figures and a fourth player with double-digit rebounds, but couldn’t overcome scoring droughts in a 71-60 loss at Kansas as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

Junior Malica Monk finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes of play. Graduate student Devin Cosper added 17 points and the Razorback guards have scored in double-figures for the eighth consecutive game.

It was the fifth game in which Monk has scored 20+ points this year.Arkansas falls to 5-3 on the year while Kansas moves to 7-0. The loss drops the Razorbacks to 2-2 in the conference challenge series.

Sophomore Jailyn Mason finished with 10 points, her third double-figure game of the year and her second consecutive game with 10 or more points. Sophomore Kiara Williams added a career-best 16 rebounds for the Razorbacks.

Early foul trouble for Monk and Mason forced Arkansas to shuffle the lineup in the opening minutes of the first quarter.

The teams played even until Kansas put together a 9-0 run after the media timeout allowing the Jayhawks to double-up the score.

A couple of free throws and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Keiryn Swenson made it a four-point KU lead at the quarter break.

Arkansas closed the gap to five points, trailing 46-41, late in the third quarter after a good offensive start to the half. KU outscored Arkansas 4-2 in the final 1:45 to take an eight-point lead into the final frame.

Cosper and Monk both reached double figures in the third quarter and Williams had a game-high 11 rebounds after the first 30 minutes of play.

Mason drained a 3-pointer with just over six minutes to play in the game, pulling Arkansas within four points, 55-51. Kansas answered with back-to-back put backs and led by six points, 59-53, at the media timeout.

Arkansas battled to single digits twice in the final minutes of the game but the Jayhawks controlled the paint for much of the contest including 10 points from close range in the fourth quarter. Arkansas had a distinct size disadvantage and Kansas finished the game with 42 points in the paint and 11 second-chance points.

Notes
• Arkansas is 2-2 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
• Arkansas moves to 4-4 all-time against Kansas and Mike Neighbors is 0-1 against the Jayhawks.
• Arkansas has had the same starters in every game this year: Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Devin Cosper and Bailey Zimmerman.
• Devin Cosper and Malica Monk both reached double figures in the third quarter. It is their eighth consecutive game in double-figure scoring.
• Kiara Williams grabbed her 10th rebound of the game in the third quarter. It is her third career game with double-digit boards and she finished with a career-best 16 boards in the game.
• Jailyn Mason scored in double figures for the third time this season and for the second consecutive game.
• Arkansas forced double figure turnovers for the eighth time this season.

Up Next
The Razorbacks return home hosting Charlotte on Thursday, Dec. 7.

It is the first of three consecutive home contests for the Razorbacks as they host Tulsa on Dec. 10, and UT-Arlington on Dec. 17.

Arkansas travels to Arizona State on Dec. 21, in the final game before the holidays.

Malzahn turns down Hogs’ offer; Norvell next?

Andy Hodges
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Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has agreed to a deal to remain the coach of the Tigers.

He reportedly was offered in excess of $7 million a year by Arkansas, but got a new deal from the Tigers and will stay on The Plains.

Malzahn was asked about his job security on the Peach Bowl conference call.

“I’m planning on being at Auburn,” Malzahn said. “I said that’s last night that’s where I want to be. Nothing’s changed.”

Malzahn was out recruiting for Auburn on Sunday, a day after his team lost to Georgia in the SEC title game. The Tigers beat both Alabama and Georgia this year.

Auburn will play Central Florida in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1. Malzahn went 10-3 this year, with losses coming against Clemson, LSU and Georgia.

Arkansas will likely turn to Mike Norvell of Memphis with its opening. Norvell led Memphis to an 10-2 record this year, with both losses coming against unbeaten Central Florida.

He has spent two years at Memphis after taking over for Justin Fuente.

Arkansas and Tennessee are the only two SEC vacancies. Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Florida and Ole Miss have all named new head coaches.

Reports have Hogs’ offer in Jimbo-A&M range

Andy Hodges
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By all accounts, Arkansas is serious about getting Gus Malzahn to come home from Auburn.

Very serious. Deadly serious.

Dennis Dodd at CBSSports.com said today things are starting to get interesting.

“Arkansas is dead serious,” said a different source close to the situation. “They want him in the worst way.”

One figure tossed around, according to the source, $50 million for seven years. (For context, Jimbo Fisher just received $75 million over 10 from Texas A&M.)

Just to save you the time and trouble, that’s an average of $7,142,857.14 a year. Before deductions just to be clear.

Breathe.

We think that number is somewhere in the ballpark. Wally Hall of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sent out his last tweet Saturday night that makes you think that number may be about right.

Just a day after Auburn played for the SEC Championship on Saturday against Georgia, Dodd pointed out why Malzahn seriously might be looking to leave the dysfunctional goings-on that is Auburn.

After a second Iron Bowl win last week, the Tigers played for the SEC title for the second time in five years. A three-touchdown loss to Georgia won’t help change the direction of those fickle winds at Auburn.

We heard a lot of high-and-mighty lectures last week that Auburn is a better job than Arkansas, which is true if you’re looking at it in a traditional sense.

There is very little about Gus that is traditional. He’s always marched to the beat of his own drum, according to people who have known him practically his entire life.

He’s made decisions before that went against the normal way of thinking for college football coaches. He’s taken pay cuts to go to a situation where there was less drama before.

This one may not involve a pay cut if the reports are accurate. Hardly. Whether Auburn will try and match that offer is not known at this time.

All of which is why Auburn may, indeed, be the better job.

But is it the best job for Gus?

We may know at any time.

Hogs blasted by Houston in first true road game

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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HOUSTON, Texas — Arkansas fell to 5-2 on Saturday, as the Razorbacks struggled from the field in a 91-65 loss against Houston.

Things did not go well early for the Razorbacks.

Despite missing its first nine shots, along with four turnovers, Arkansas only found itself down nine with 11:48 in the first half.

Houston would build that lead to eventually 18, after scoring eight straight late in the half, but that was before senior guard Anton Beard drained a 3 as time expired in the half to cut into the Cougars’ lead.

Houston would take a 44-29 advantage into the locker room. Beard would lead Arkansas at the break with eight points.

Arkansas struggled from the field in the opening frame, making just eight first-half baskets, while turning the ball over 10 times. Houston was in foul trouble early, being charged for 14 fouls, helping Arkansas get the line 12 times, going 9-of-12.

The troubles continued in the second half. Halfway through the period, Houston was outscoring Arkansas 28-16, as Arkansas found itself down 72-45.

At one point, Houston made eight of nine shots, including five straight. Houston’s lead grew to as many as 29. Arkansas would cut it to 22, but that was it for the Hogs.

Senior guard Jaylen Barford and Beard led the way for Arkansas with 13 points each, while sophomore guard C.J. Jones posted 11 of his own and senior guard Daryl Macon scored 10.

The Razorbacks return home next week, as Arkansas hosts Colorado State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and No. 12 Minnesota comes to Bud Walton Arena on Saturday at 5:45 p.m.

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