Sprinkle accepts invitation to play in Senior Bowl in January

MOBILE, Ala. — Arkansas tight end Jeremy Sprinkle has accepted an invitation to play in the 68th annual Reese’s Senior Bowl game on Jan. 28, 2017 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, the bowl announced Monday.

Sprinkle becomes the second Arkansas player this year to accept an invitation to the Senior Bowl, joining punter Toby Baker who was among the first dozen players from around the nation to accept on Nov. 14.

Arkansas has had at least one player participate in the Senior Bowl each of the last 10 seasons, and 20 Razorbacks have played in the game during that span.

Sprinkle has caught 33 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns this season. He ranks fourth in both receptions and receiving yards and is tied for second in touchdown catches among SEC tight ends.

For his career, Sprinkle has made 71 receptions for 921 yards and is Arkansas’ all-time leader in touchdown receptions by a tight end with 11. Of his 71 career catches, 47 have resulted in either a first down or touchdown for a conversion rate of 66.2 percent.

Baker, a Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist, has punted 50 times for 2,228 yards, ranking fourth in the SEC and 14th nationally with a 44.56 average.

He’s boomed 19 punts 50 yards or longer, including a career-best 60-yarder last Friday at Missouri that was downed at the 1-yard line. In addition, he’s showcased his accuracy, placing 19 punts inside the 20-yard line with only three touchbacks. Of his 50 punts, 17 have been returned, while 20 have been fair caught.

His 19 punts of 50-plus yards are 13 more than his career total entering the season. The Memphis, Tennessee, native has pinned at least one punt inside the 20 in 12 straight games he’s punted in dating back to last season.

Senior Bowl practices will begin on Jan. 23. The game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. CT on Jan. 28. ESPN2 and NFL Network will broadcast live from the practices and NFL Network will carry the game.