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Watts’ big season capped with sixth-round selection by Vikings

Arkansas defensive lineman Armon Watts became the third Razorback selected in the 2019 NFL Draft after being taken by Minnesota in the sixth round with the 190th overall pick.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas defensive lineman Armon Watts became the third Razorback selected in the 2019 NFL Draft after being taken by Minnesota in the sixth round with the 190th overall pick on Saturday.

Watts joins Hjalte Froholdt (New England, 4th round) and Dre Greenlaw (San Francisco, 5th round) as Razorbacks picked in this year’s NFL Draft, making it the eighth time in nine years Arkansas has had three or more players drafted.

The trio continues Arkansas’ streak of 24 years with at least one Razorback picked in the NFL Draft, which ranks fourth in the SEC.

From St. Louis, Missouri, Watts put together a strong senior campaign after recording just seven tackles over his previous three years wearing an Arkansas uniform.

In his final year, Watts played in all 12 games, starting each of the last 11 to total 621 snaps played, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), entering the season with just 114 snaps combined from 2015-17.

He was recognized three times by PFF, making the National Team of the Week after the second game of the year, while also bringing home Midseason All-SEC Team honors and SEC Team of the Week accolades for his play in week nine.

He ranked fifth on the team in total tackles, first among defensive lineman, with 49, which included 25 solo stops, 8.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 7.0 sacks.

Watts forced a team-best three fumbles, doing so in each of the first two games of the year against Eastern Illinois and Colorado State, both resulting in turnovers.

He put together two separate streaks of three-straight games with at least one sack and wrapped the year with a season-high seven tackles, six solo, on the road at Missouri.

Watts finished the year with the team’s highest overall defensive grade from PFF at 85.6, posting eight games with marks over 70.0.

He racked up a season-best 92.3 at Colorado State, with a 90.4 pressure grade and an 84.0 mark in run defense to land on the National Team of the Week.

Watts earned the Crip Hall Homecoming Performance by a Senior Award from the media after Arkansas’ win over Tulsa on Oct. 20.

After the season, he was honored with the Dan Hampton Award (defensive lineman of the year) and the Paul Eells Award (perseverance through adversity) by the Little Rock Touchdown Club at the group’s end of year awards banquet.

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2024 Razorbacks Football

Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-31
Sat, Nov 16vs TexasL, 20-10
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana Tech3:00 PM
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Sat, Nov 30@ Missouri2:30 PM
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2024 High School Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (25)10-02681
2.Greenwood (2)10-02343
30Conway9-12022
4.Little Rock Parkview9-11714
5.Bentonville7-31625
6.Benton9-11486
7.Fayetteville8-21117
8.Pulaski Academy8-2898
9.Rogers7-3439
10.Joe T. Robinson9-122
Others receiving votes: Valley View 8, Mountain Home 7, Cabot 6, Little Rock Catholic 6, Shiloh Christian 6, Elkins 1, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (27)10-01351
2.Conway9-11022
3.Bentonville7-3813
4.Fayetteville8-2454
5.Pulaski Academy8-2395
Others receiving votes: Rogers 3.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (27)10-01351
2.Benton9-11082
3.Mountain Home8-2623
4.Shiloh Christian7-3494
5.Little Rock Catholic9-1345
Others receiving votes: Marion 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (27)9-11351
2.Joe T. Robinson9-11062
3.Valley View10-0793
4.Farmington9-1484
5.Hot Springs Lakeside8-2205
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 7, Harding Academy 7, Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (20)10-01261
3.Arkadelphia (5)8-2913
2.Little Rock Mills (1)10-0682
4.Warren8-2554
5.Dardanell (1)9-123
Southside Batesville10-023
Others receiving votes: Malvern 12, Gravette 5, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (12)10-01051t
2.Fordyce (10)10-0961t
3.Prescott (1)9-1704
4.Osceola (2)8-1543
5.Booneville (1)9-1395
Others receiving votes: Mansfield (1) 23, Rivercrest 10, Rison 4, Salem 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (20)10-01271
2.Conway Christian (7)10-01152
3.Des Arc8-2595
4.East Poinsett Co.7-352
5.Bigelow6-4183
Murfreesboro7-3184
Others receiving votes: Mount Ida 6, Junction City 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (27)5-0811
2.Midland9-0532
3.Cedar Ridge8-1253
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

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ESPN ARKANSAS 99.5 IN FAYETTEVILLE, 95.3 IN THE RIVER VALLEY, 96.3 IN HOT SPRINGS, 104.3 IN HARRISON-MOUNTAIN HOME.