Hogs Head to Little Rock to Tackle Mississippi State

Game 11

Arkansas vs.

Mississippi State

Saturday, Nov. 17, Little Rock, Ark.

1 p.m. CT

War Memorial Stadium (53,727)

Rankings: Mississippi State (6-4, 3-3 SEC) – RV

Arkansas (6-4, 2-4 SEC) – RV

The Coaches:

Arkansas: Houston Nutt (Oklahoma State, 1981)

Career Record: 109-69/.609 (15 years)

Arkansas Record: 73-48/.603 (10 years)

vs. Mississippi State: 8-1

Mississippi State: Sylvester Croom (Alabama, 1975)

Career Record: 15-29/.341 (4 years)

School Record: Same

vs. Arkansas: 0-3

TV: None

Radio: ARSN

Play-by-Play: Chuck Barrett

Analyst: Keith Jackson

Sidelines: Quinn Grovey

XM Channel: 201 (Arkansas)

Internet: Live audio and stats at www.hogwired.com

HOGS HEAD TO LITTLE ROCK TO TACKLE MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Hogs will host Mississippi State in their final game in Arkansas for the 2007 season. The two teams will kickoff at War Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

NOTING THE RAZORBACKS:

Arkansas and Mississippi State will meet on the gridiron for the 18th time in history when the two teams meet this weekend in Little Rock. UA owns a 11-5-1 advantage in the series including eight-consecutive victories and 12 wins in the last 13 games. The Hogs head coach Houston Nutt is 8-1 against State in his tenure at UA.

Arkansas is 21-2 in games played in Little Rock since 1998.

Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden is Arkansas’ career rushing leader with 4,191 yards entering Saturday’s game. He passed Ben Cowins (3,570 yards) against Auburn and enters the Mississippi State game needing 113 yards to pass Auburn’s Bo Jackson (1982-85) for third place on the SEC career rushing list and 367 yards to eclipse LSU’s Kevin Faulk (1995-98) for second place.

McFadden ranks fourth nationally in rushing with 143.1 yards per game. That mark also leads the conference. He is averaging 175.5 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks 13th nationally and tops in the SEC.

One of the favorite sayings around the Arkansas football program comes from legendary football coach and athletic director Frank Broyles who says, ‘They Remember in November,’ and that is just what McFadden has proven in his career. The junior has 1,418 yards on 226 in nine November games with 10 touchdowns. That averages out to 157.56 yards per game and 6.27 yards per carry.

McFadden has also been at his best against the best during his Razorback career, averaging 126.0 yards per game over 16 games against ranked opponents. He has racked up 2,016 yards against ranked opponents with 14 touchdowns and a 5.86 yards per carry average on 344 totes. (see game-by-game chart vs. ranked opponents on page 8).

McFadden is just the second player (Georgia’s Herschel Walker) in the SEC to rush for 1,000 yards as a freshman, sophomore and junior. McFadden is the second UA player to rush for 1,000 yards three times, joining Ben Cowins (1976-78), but the first to do it in his first three years.

McFadden set a new school record for both rushing and all-purpose yards vs. South Carolina with 321 yards rushing and 355 (321 rushing, 30 on two kickoff returns, four on one reception) all-purpose. The 321 yards on the ground tied the SEC single-game rushing record. He broke his own school record of 315 set vs. South Carolina last season. The 355 all-purpose yards is also the fourth-best mark in SEC history.

Jones and McFadden are the first teammates in Southeastern Conference history to both rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. They are the third pair of teammate to both rush for 1,000 yards in a season in conference history. The other SEC rushing duos to both go for 1,000 yards in a season are Auburn’s James Brooks and Joe Cribbs (1979), and Tennessee’s Gerald Riggs Jr. and Cedric Houston (2004).

McFadden and Jones are just the second pair of teammates in NCAA history to have back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. (Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney – Minnesota).

McFadden’s school-rushing record of 4,191 yards also ranks fourth in career rushing among active Bowl Subdivision players. He also leads all active Bowl Subdivision players in all-purpose yards per game (152.2), while ranking third in rushing yards per game (119.7) and ninth in rushing touchdowns (37).

Fellow junior Felix Jones ranks 30th nationally and third in the SEC in rushing with 103.20 yards per contest. He has 1,032 yards rushing on the season with 10 touchdowns while accounting for 162.40all-purpose yards per game (1,624) to rank 19th nationally. Jones carried the ball just three time and returned one kickoff after being injured at UT.

Jones’ 9.05 yards per carry average leads the country. He is averaging 1.96 yards per rush more than the second-best mark nationally, OSU’s Kendall Hunter (7.09). Jones also leads the country in career yards per carry among active players with 7.70 per tote.

Jones has been lethal on his first carry of game this season with 157 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns and five first downs. He opened the Troy game with a 40-yard tote, went 35 yards for a touchdown on his first carry vs. North Texas and then scampered 38 yards for a TD at Ole Miss. Jones picked up a first down on an 18-yard carry vs. FIU and then got another first down on a 15-yard run vs. South Carolina. He is averaging 15.7 yards per rush on his first carry of the game this season.

Arkansas’ rushing attack ranks second nationally at 297.00 yards per game. That mark also leads the SEC by 76.8 yards over second-place LSU. UA has led the SEC in rushing four of the last five years. UA has rushed for at least 300 yards in five-of-10 games this season and has rushed for at least 200 yards in 13 of their last 17 games, including eight times this year.

Arkansas ran for 542 yards vs. South Carolina, which is the second-best total in school history (594 vs. Pittsburg [Kan.] State in 1936). That total is the sixth-best in SEC history and the most for an SEC team against another SEC member.

Marcus Monk made his third-straight start of the season vs. Tennessee and two touchdown in those three start. He has 26career TD grabs, which moves him into a tie for eighth on the career SEC receiving touchdown chart. Monk has now caught at least on pass in 39-of-40 career games after breaking that streak vs. Auburn when he played one snap. He has caught a pass in all 39 of his starts.

The Arkansas defense boasts the No. 2 ranked pass efficiency defense (93.10) in the nation. That ranking comes after allowing just 156.9 yards per game passing over the last seven weeks. Additionally, Reggie Herring’s defense has allowed just seven passing touchdowns and a 42.4 completion percentage.

The Arkansas offense is on a record-breaking pace through the first nine games of the 2007 season. The Hogs are averaging 38.3 points per game, which ranks third in the SEC and ranks 13th nationally. UA is on pace to break the school record of 36.5 points per game set during the 1970 season. The 383 points that the Razorbacks have scored already ranks seventh in school history.

McFadden and Jones have combined to rush for 100 yards apiece in six of the Hogs’ 10 games this season and 10 times in their careers. McFadden has cracked the 100-yard barrier in a school-record eight games, while Jones has eclipsed 100 yards in six games and just missed a seventh with 96 yards at Alabama.

McFadden and Jones also rank 13th and 19th respectively, in the NCAA Bowl Subdivision in all-purpose yards. McFadden is averaging 175.5 all-purpose yards per game, while Jones is totaling 162.4 per contest.

McFadden also broke Arkansas’ career all-purpose yardage record vs. Auburn, passing Gary Anderson (4,535). McFadden now has 5,326 career all-purpose yards, which ranks fifth among active Bowl Subdivision players. Jones is second in career all-purpose yards at Arkansas with 4,733, which ranks ninth among active players.

Jones has two kickoff returns for touchdowns this season on 90-yard and 82-yard bursts. He ranks sixth nationally in kickoff return average at 32.73 ypr. He currently leads the SEC in career kickoff return average at 28.87 yards per on 55 career returns.

True freshman PK Alex Tejada is making a big impact early in his Razorback career. Tejada is 16 for 20 on field goal attempts and 45 of 47 on PATs. Tejada is tied for 22nd nationally in field goal made (1.60) and also tied for 22nd in scoring 9.30 points per game.

Michael Grant is having an outstanding senior season at cornerback for the Razorbacks. He is tied for fifth in the NCAA with 1.50 passes defended per game. The mark also leads the SEC outright. UA coaches’ film has Grant credited with 15 this season, which is the second-most in school history.

Fellow cornerback Jerell Norton is making a name for himself as well. He has five interceptions and 10 pass breakups this season and he isn’t even listed as a starter. The sophomore ranks tied for 11th nationally in interceptions and is tied for 13th in passes defended (1.40). The five interceptions is the most by a Razorback in a single season since Zac Painter had five in 1998.

The Razorbacks are bowl eligible for the eighth time in 10 years under Houston Nutt after a 48-36 win over No. 23 South Carolina.

Arkansas’ hogs up front on the offensive line have not only done a fantastic job opening holes in the running game, but they have been one of the best teams in the country at protecting the quarterback. The Hogs’ offensive line has allowed just 20 sacks in their last 24 games for an amazing average of just 0.833 per game. UA ranks fifth nationally in sacks allowed this season (1.00).

Arkansas ranks No. 1 in rushing offense in the SEC during Houston Nutt’s tenure (1998-2007). The Hogs have averaged 198.55 yards per game in Nutt’s 10-year tenure (24,024 yards in 121 games).

Arkansas has now scored in 145 consecutive games, a school record for scoring in the most consecutive games in team history. Arkansas has not been shut out since a 28-0 loss to LSU in Baton Rouge, La., on Nov. 18, 1995.

THE McFADDEN REPORT:

Darren McFadden extended his Arkansas’ career rushing record with a school-record 321 yards vs. South Carolina that included a career-high-tying 80-yard touchdown run. He then ripped off 117 at Tennessee. He now has 4,191 yards rushing during his 35-game Razorback career and 37 rushing TDs.

McFadden has run for 1,431 yards on 24 carries and tallied 12 rushing touchdowns this season. He equaled the school record with five-consecutive 100-yard rushing games (Jerry Eckwood, 1975) and has set the school record with eight on the season. The 1,431 yards rushing is second in school history to his 1,647 yards last season and ranks 14th in SEC history.

McFadden threw his second touchdown pass of the season and the fifth of his career with a 23-yard strike to Robert Johnson in the third quarter vs. South Carolina. He has completed 2-of-4 passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns this season and is 10-of-15 for his career. McFadden boasts a career passing efficiency rating of 245.7 and a 351.5 this season.

McFadden has caught a career-high 17 passes this season for 114 yards. His three grabs vs. Alabama, FIU and Tennessee tied his career high for receptions in a game. He has 42 catches for 315 yards and a touchdown during his UA career.

He has accounted for 1,496 yards of total offense and racked up 1,755 all-purpose yards through 10 games this season.

McFadden’s performance vs. South Carolina garnered him the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Bowl Subdivision Player of the Week. McFadden was also named the AT&T All-America Player of the Week award following his efforts vs. South Carolina. McFadden it is the second time in his career he has been honored by AT&T.

For all of your D-MAC related questions visit his official web site at 5DarrenMcFadden.com.

SERIES HISTORY: Arkansas and Mississippi State will meet on the gridiron for the 18th time in history when the two teams meet this weekend in Little Rock. Arkansas owns a 11-5-1 advantage in the series including eight-consecutive victories and 12 wins in the last 13 meetings. Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt is 8-1 against Mississippi State in his tenure with the Hogs.

The two teams met only twice before Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992. Mississippi State won matchups in 1916 and 1939 in games played in Memphis, Tenn. Since joining the SEC, Arkansas has won nine out of 13 meetings with another ending in a tie.

MISSISSIPPI SWEEP: Arkansas will be looking to complete its seventh sweep of both the Ole Miss Rebels and the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the same season when the Hogs take the field this weekend. The Razorbacks recorded a 44-8 win over the Rebels in October.

Six times, the Razorbacks have recorded wins over the two Mississippi schools since Arkansas entered the SEC in 1992. The Hogs have claimed wins over both schools in 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006.

CROOM AND CAMPBELL: Arkansas secondary coach Louis Campbell and MSU head coach Sylvester Croom are more than just passing acquaintances. The two have spent more than eight years together during their respective college coaching careers.

The duo first met when Croom was a standout at the University of Alabama from 1972-74. Campbell was a graduate assistant under Paul "Bear" Bryant in 1973-74. Campbell was promoted to the full-time coaching staff as defensive backs coach in 1975 and was still in Tuscaloosa when Croom returned as a graduate assistant in 1976.

In 1977, Campbell left Alabama for SMU but returned to Alabama in time for the 1980 season. Croom (inside and outside linebackers) and Campbell (secondary) worked for Bryant on the same staff until the legendary coach retired in 1983. Both men stayed on to work for Bryant’s successor Ray Perkins. Campbell spent one season with Perkins before leaving for Oklahoma State in 1985.

The duo met up again with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1989. Croom was the running backs coach while Campbell was a defensive assistant.

DEFINING MOMENT: Campbell and Croom have shared a lot of the same experiences, but the two were together for one of the most defining days in college football history. The two Alabama assistant coaches remained on the Crimson Tide staff under Ray Perkins following Bear Bryant’s retirement.

On Jan. 26, 1983, Campbell and Croom were traveling in a car on a recruiting trip in Atlanta, Ga., when they received a call that their mentor, Paul "Bear" Bryant had passed away. Bryant died just 27 days after his final game as head coach. Campbell and Croom immediately returned to Tuscaloosa on a day that neither man will forget anytime soon.

GRIMES TIME: Mississippi State offensive line coach J.B. Grimes in no stranger to the Natural State. Grimes attended high school in Clarendon and earned his undergraduate degree from Henderson State in Arkadelphia.

He began his coaching career at Nashville (Ark.) High School before working at Des Arc (Ark.) High School. After a year at NE Louisiana, he worked as a graduate assistant for Lou Holtz at Arkansas in 1981. He stayed on as an offensive line assistant in 1982.

ROCKEY ROAD: Mississippi State running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Rockey Felker also has a history with the Razorbacks. Felker worked for four seasons under Danny Ford at Arkansas from 1993-96. Felker worked with running backs in 1993 before working with quarterbacks from 1994-96.

Felker worked on the same staff as Louis Campbell (1993-96). It was the second time the two had worked together after sharing a coaching tenure at Alabama (1983-84).

A former head coach at Mississippi State (1986-90), Felker has served in his current position since 2002.

LEADING THE PACK: When it comes to rushing the ball, no team in the Southeastern Conference has done it more effectively in recent years than the Arkansas Razorbacks.

The Hogs have led the SEC in rushing yardage in four of the last five seasons, including 2005 and 2006, and they are on their way once again in 2007 after racking up 2,970 yards (297.0 ypg). UA became the first team to pace the SEC in rushing four times in five seasons since Alabama led the league in four-consecutive seasons from 1971-74.

In 2007, the Hogs lead the country in yards per carry as a team with 6.23 yards per tote and are second in rushing yards per game (397.00). UA has tallied 200 or more rushing yards in 24 of its last 39 games dating back to the eighth game of the 2004 season. In addition, the Hogs earned 190 or more yards in two other games. That also includes nine games of 300 yards or more, three 400-yard-plus games and two 500-plus-yard games.

Arkansas is attempting to become the first team to pace the SEC in rushing five times in six seasons since Ole Miss led the league in six-consecutive seasons from 1957-62.

2007 Rushing Leaders

Team Gms Att Net Avg. TDs Yds/pg

1. Navy 10 625 3572 5.72 42 357.20

2. Arkansas 10 477 2970 6.23 26 297.00

3. West Virginia 9 435 2599 5.97 33 288.78

4. Air Force 11 596 3013 5.06 25 279.91

5. Oregon 9 433 2443 5.64 28 271.44

McFADDEN & JONES FORM DYNAMIC DUO: The Arkansas tailback duo of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones are the most-productive rushing teammates in the country (among the NCAA top 100) in 2007, averaging 246.30 yards per game. McFadden ranks fourth nationally at 143.1 ypg while Jones is 30th accounting for 103.2 ypg. The ??? combo of Eugene Jarvis and Julian Edelman are second at 195.74 yards per game.

Rushers (Individual Avg.)

Team Combined YPG

1. Darren McFadden (143.1) / Felix Jones (103.2) Arkansas 246.30

2. Eugene Jarvis (142.9) / Julian Edelman (56.88) Kent State 199.78

3. Michael Desormeaux (110.50) / Tyrell Fenroy (83.67) Louisiana-Lafayette 194.17

4. Ray Rice (150.0) / Jabu Lovelace (39.63) Rutgers 189.63

5. Jalen Parmele (130.60) / DaJuane Collins (58.40) Toledo 189.00

SEC ELITE: Darren McFadden is quickly etching his name in the SEC record books among some of the best running backs the conference has ever produced. His 1,647 yards last season rushing ranks as the fifth-best total in a single season in the history of the SEC, while his 1,431 yards this season currently ranks 14th. Herschel Walker’s (Georgia) 1,891 yards in 1981 leads the way. McFadden’s total was the most in the SEC since Bo Jackson (Auburn) rushed for 1,786 yards in 1985.

In 2005, McFadden became just the seventh freshman in league history to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark in his first season. He joined Walker, Emmitt Smith (Florida), Reggie Cobb (Tenn.), Chuck Webb (Tenn.), Jamal Lewis (Tennessee) and Justin Vincent (LSU). His 1,113 yards was the sixth-best freshman rushing total in SEC history.

McFadden also ranks fourth in career rushing in the Southeastern Conference with 4,191 yards on the ground in just 35 games. He needs 113 yards to pass Auburn’s Bo Jackson (1982-85) for third place on the SEC career rushing list. McFadden is just the second running back in SEC history (Herschel Walker) to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons.

SEC’s Top 15 Career Rushing Totals

Yards Player, School (games) Years

1. 5,259 Herschel Walker, Georgia (33 games) 1980-82

2. 4,557 Kevin Faulk, LSU (41 games) 1995-98

3. 4,303 Bo Jackson, Auburn (38 games) 1982-85

4. 4,191 Darren McFadden (35 games) 2005-present

5. 4,163 Errict Rhett, Florida (48 games) 1990-93

6. 4,050 Dalton Hilliard, LSU (44 games) 1982-85

7. 4,035 Charles Alexander, LSU (44 games) 1975-78

8. 3,928 Emmitt Smith, Florida (31 games) 1987-89

9. 3,835 Sonny Collins, Kentucky (41 games) 1972-75

10. 3,831 Carnell Williams, Auburn (42 games) 2001-04

11. 3,565 Shaun Alexander, Alabama (42 games) 1996-99

12. 3,523 James Brooks, Auburn (38 games) 1977-80

13. 3,420 Bobby Humphrey, Alabama (35 games) 1985-88

14. 3,368 Joe Cribbs, Auburn (38 games) 1976-79

15. 3,333 Moe Williams, Kentucky (33 games) 1993-95

SEC’s Top 10 Single-Season Rushing Totals

Player, School (# rushes) Year Yards

1. Herschel Walker, Georgia (385 rushes) 1981 1,891

2. Bo Jackson, Auburn (278 rushes) 1985 1,786

3. Herschel Walker, Georgia (335 rushes) 1982 1,752

4. Charles Alexander, LSU (311 rushes) 1977 1,686

5. Darren McFadden, Arkansas (265 rushes) 2006 1,647

6. Herschel Walker, Georgia (274 rushes) 1980 1,616

7. Moe Williams, Kentucky (294 rushes) 1995 1,600

8. Emmitt Smith, Florida (284 rushes) 1989 1,599

9. Rudi Johnson, Auburn (324 rushes) 2000 1,567

10. Garrison Hearst, Georgia (228 rushes) 1992 1,547

14. Darren McFadden, Arkansas (244 rushes) 2007 1,431

FELIX THE CAT: Felix Jones had five 100-yard rushing games last season and has six 100-yard games this season with 129 vs. Troy, 133 vs. Kentucky, 132 vs. North Texas, 141 vs. Chattanooga, 101 at Ole Miss and a career-best 166 vs. South Carolina. Jones is currently 30th nationally and third in the SEC in rushing at 103.2 yards per game while leading the country in yards per carry at 9.05. His 13 100-yard career rushing games are third in school history. Jones’ 2,826 yards rushing is sixth in school history, while his 4,733 all-purpose yards is second.

Jones has also returned his third and fourth kickoff returns for touchdowns of his career with a 90-yard dash vs. Troy and an 82-yarder against Kentucky. He is sixth nationally in kickoff returns with a 32.73 ypr average and 19th in all-purpose yards with a 162.4 average.

Last season he rushed for 106 yards vs. Southeast Missouri State, 104 yards at then-No. 2 Auburn, a then-career-high 141 yards vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 137 yards vs. LSU and a career-high 150 yards vs. Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl. Jones finished second in the SEC and 34th nationally in rushing with 83.43 yards per game. He had a career-best 1,168 yards rushing that ranks seventh in school history on just 150 carries. Jones’ 7.58 yards per carry average led the SEC and ranked second in the country.

DYNAMIC DUO SETS NCAA RECORD: Darren McFadden and Felix Jones’ 487-combined yards against South Carolina set the NCAA record for most yards gained by two players on the same team. McFadden ripped off 321 yards, setting the UA record and tying the SEC mark. Jones set career highs of is own with 166 yards (13 carries) and three touchdowns. The previous mark was 476 held by Kansas’ Tony Sands (396) and Chip Hilleary (80) vs. Missouri, Nov. 23, 1991.

PROTECTING THE QB: The Arkansas offensive line has not only produced some of the best rushing numbers in college football over the past two seasons, but has also been outstanding at protecting the quarterback. The Hogs’ front line has allowed just 18 sacks over the last 23 games, dating back to the start of the 2006 season for an average of 0.783 per game. Rutgers is the only team to better that number with just 14 sacks in the last 23 games for a 0.607 per game average. Arkansas is currently tied for third nationally in sacks allowed with .89 per game.

TRIPLE-DIGIT RUSHERS: The Razorbacks’ rushing success has resulted in a school-record 15 100-yard rushing efforts in 10 games this season.

Junior Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden has rushed for at least 100 yards in a school-record eight games with 151 vs. Troy, 195 at Alabama, 173 against Kentucky, 138 in the first half vs. North Texas, 122 vs. Chattanooga, 110 at Ole Miss, 321 vs. South Carolina and 117 at Tennessee.

Felix Jones has six 100-yard rushing efforts with 129 yards against Troy, 133 yards vs. Kentucky, 132 vs. North Texas, a season-high 141 vs. Chattanooga, 101 at Ole Miss and a career-high 166 vs. South Carolina. He came up just four yards shy of 100 at Alabama. Junior-college transfer Brandon Barnett registered his first career 100-yard rushing game vs. North Texas with 105 yards on 16 carries.

The Razorbacks combined for 13 100-yard rushing games last season as McFadden produced seven, Jones five and Michael Smith one.

Most Combined 100-Yard Rushing Games in a Season

15 – 2007

13 – 2006

13 – 1975

11 – 2003

9 – 2005

9 – 1977

RUSHING TO SUCCESS: Arkansas success rushing the football against South Carolina on Nov. 3 is almost unparalleled in the history of the Southeastern Conference. The Razorbacks reeled off 542 rushing yards on 58 attempts (9.34 ypc), which is the second-highest total in school history (594 vs. Pittsburg [Kan.] State, 1936) and the sixth highest-mark in SEC history. But it was the most rushing yards in a game by an SEC institution against another SEC member school. The previous mark was Alabama’s 531 yards vs. Ole Miss in 1971.

TRIO OF 100-YARD RUSHERS: A trio of Razorbacks found plenty of running room in Arkansas’ win over North Texas. The Hogs’ tailback tandem of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were joined by junior-college transfer Brandon Barnett for a trio of 100-yard rushing efforts.

McFadden reeled off his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season and the 16th of his career. The junior from Little Rock rolled up 138 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

Jones notched his third 100-yard game of the season with 132 yards on seven-impressive carries. His efforts were highlighted by a sideline-stepping 71-yard-touchdown run. Barnett received his first rushing attempts in a Razorback uniform and ripped off 105 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. Peyton Hillis wasn’t far of the 100-yard mark with 66 yards on 11 carries.

The last time Arkansas boasted three 100-yard rushers was in the 2005 season opener when Jones (137), Hillis (135) and De’Arrius Howard (120) accomplished the feat. UA also did it in 2001’s seven-overtime win at Ole Miss when Matt Jones (110), Cedric Cobbs (100) and Fed Talley (113) did it. The only other time the Hogs have had three 100-yard rushers was in Arkansas’ 1993 win over LSU in Baton Rouge. In the victory, Oscar Malone (143), Carlton Calvin (123) and Marius Johnson (106) turned the trick.

FANTASTIC FRESHMAN: PK Alex Tejada made quite an impression during his first nine games in cardinal and white. The Springdale, Ark., native is 16 for 20 on field goals attempts and is 45 of 47 on extra point attempts to account for 93 points. He currently ranks tied for 22nd in the country in field goals per game (1.60) and also ranks tied for 22nd nationally in scoring (9.30). In the Troy game, he became the first Razorback since Chris Balseiro to make four field goals in a game (vs. Missouri, 2003 Independence Bowl, Dec. 31, 2003). Tejada is 5 for 5 from 20-29 yards, 7 for 7 from 30-39 yards, 4 for 7 from 40-49 yards and 0 for 1 from 50 and beyond.

Tejada’s 47-yard field goal vs. Chattanooga was a career long and the longest for any Hog since David Carlton hit from 47 against Tennessee on Oct. 5, 2002. The last field goal longer than Tejada’s 47-yarder was Matt Swartz’s 49-yarder against Southwest Missouri State on Sept. 2, 2000.

MARVELOUS MONK: At 6-6, Marcus Monk has stood out since the day he stepped foot on campus. He led all Southeastern Conference freshmen in receiving in 2004 and set a school record for freshman receiving along the way. Monk broke Richard Smith’s UA record (33) for receptions by a freshman when he hauled in 37 balls for 569 yards and six touchdowns. He tied for the team lead in catches and garnered freshman All-SEC honors for his efforts. As a sophomore in 2005, Monk caught 35 passes for a team-high 476 yards and seven touchdowns.

In 2006, Monk produced the best numbers of his career with 50 catches for a career-high 962 yards. He caught a school record 11 touchdown passes and averaged 19.2 yards per catch, which was the second-best in the SEC. He was ninth in the league in yards per game (68.71). Monk’s 962 yards is the third-most in a single season in school history.

Monk had caught at least one pass in each of his 36 career games before playing just one snap vs. Auburn in early October. He started his first game of the 2007 season vs. FIU and caught two passes for 19 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown grab. He then followed that with two more catches and at TD vs. South Carolina and three grabs for 26 yards at Tennessee. Monk has caught at least one pass in 39 of his 40 career games at UA and has caught a pass in each of his 39 career starts.

MONK ATOP CAREER TD CHART: Marcus Monk’s touchdown catch against South Carolina was the 26th of his career. That moved him three ahead of Anthony Lucas on the all-time school chart. Monk’s 26th career TD grab also moved him into a tie with Florida’ Reidel Anthony and LSU’s Dwayne Bowe eighth all time in the SEC.

SEC Career Touchdown Receptions List

1. Chris Doering, Florida (40 games) 31

2. Terrence Edwards, Georgia (45 games) 30

3. Ike Hilliard, Florida (32 games) 29

Terry Beasley, Auburn (30 games) 29

Jack Jackson, Florida (38 games) 29

6. Craig Yeast, Kentucky (43 games) 28

7. Jabar Gaffney, Florida (23 games) 27

8. Marcus Monk, Arkansas (39 games) 26

Reidel Anthony, Florida (33 games) 26

Dwayne Bowe, LSU (42 games) 26

100-YARD RETURN: Jerell Norton’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against North Texas is a UA school record, surpassing Orlando Watters 99-yard return vs. LSU in 1993. It is just the 11th 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in SEC history and just the second since 1968. Prior to Norton’s return, LSU’s Greg Jackson had the last 100-yard interception return in the SEC in 1988. It is the fourth 100-yard interception return in the bowl subdivision this season and just the 79th in NCAA history.

Norton ranks tied for seventh nationally with .55 interceptions per game (five total) and tied for 10th in passes defended with 1.44 per game.

RASH OF INTERCEPTIONS: The Hogs’ defensive effort has been boosted by a massive influx of interceptions. After picking off just six passes in the first six games, UA intercepted nine passes against Ole Miss and FIU. That includes two each by Matterral Richardson, Jerell Norton and Rashaad Johnson along with picks by Michael Grant, Kevin Woods and Adrian Davis.

MID-SEASON ALL-AMERICANS: Arkansas tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones and center Jonathan Luigs have been named to both the SI.com and Phil Steele’s College Football Midseason All-America teams. McFadden and Jones also earned accolades from Rivals.com. Luigs was also named a midseason All-American by CBSsports.com.

The Razorback trio (McFadden, Jones and Luigs) was also honored by Phil Steele’s College Football as first-team midseason All-SEC selections. Senior offensive guard Robert Felton and senior cornerback Michael Grant earned second-team All-SEC accolades. Senior strong safety Matt Hewitt, senior offensive tackle Nate Garner and freshman kicker Alex Tejada were named to the third-team midseason all-conference listing.

TD GRABBING TIGHT END: Andrew Davie became the first Razorback tight end to catch two touchdowns in a game since Jared Hicks caught two vs. Ole Miss on Nov. 13, 2004. Davie snagged two touchdown grabs last week at Ole Miss for his second and third TD catches of the season. He has nine catches for 83 yards this season.

BIG NUMBERS AGAINST THE MEAN GREEN: The 66 points scored against North Texas was the sixth-highest figure in school history and the most in a non-overtime game since 1928 (73-0 win over Texas Southwestern). The 45-first-half points were the most for a Arkansas team in the Houston Nutt era (1998-present). UA also generated 713 yards of total offense against UNT, which is the second-highest figure in school history. The record is 859 yards against Pittsburg (Kan.) State in 1936.

PROTECT THIS HOUSE: Home field advantage has been good to the Razorbacks, especially during the Houston Nutt Era. Arkansas has the second-most SEC home wins since 1998 with 52. The Hogs are 52-17 (.754) in games played at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Arkansas is 21-2 in Little Rock and 31-15 in Fayetteville in that 10-year span under Coach Nutt. (See chart at bottom right of page 4).

STILL ATOP THE BOWL LIST: Arkansas is atop the bowl appearance list for SEC Western Division teams since 1998. The Razorbacks have once again qualified for a bowl game at the end of the season. UA has made seven bowl appearances since Houston Nutt took over the reins in Fayetteville, including the 2007 Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Arkansas has made two appearances in the Cotton Bowl (2000 and 2002) and the Citrus/Capital One Bowl (1999 and 2007) and one in the Las Vegas Bowl (2000), the Music City Bowl (2002) and the Independence Bowl (2003).

Although Arkansas has a rich bowl tradition, in the eight seasons prior to Nutt’s arrival the Razorbacks had earned only two bowl berths.

DENTING THE SCOREBOARD: Arkansas has now scored in 145 consecutive games, a school record for scoring in the most consecutive games in team history. Arkansas has not been shut out since a 28-0 loss to LSU in Baton Rouge, La., on Nov. 18, 1995.

UA ranks fourth among league schools in the longest active scoring streak. Florida ranks first in the SEC earning points in 237 consecutive contests.

RACKING UP 20: The Razorbacks have made a routine of racking up 20 points since Houston Nutt arrived in Fayetteville. Arkansas has scored 20 points or more in 90 of Nutt’s 121 games (.744) as head coach. Arkansas is 42-13 mark (.764) in game where they score 20 points or more over the last seven seasons.

HEISMAN No. 2: Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden was the first Heisman Memorial Trophy finalist in school history. The then sophomore finished second to Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, becoming only the fifth underclassman to ever finish in the top two. McFadden earned 45 first-place votes and 878 total points, edging out Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn (13 first-place votes, 782 total). McFadden captured 298 second-place votes with Quinn garnering 276. Below is a breakdown of the voting.

Heisman Trophy Voting

Player, School 1st 2nd 3rd Total

Troy Smith, Ohio State 801 62 13 2,540

Darren McFadden, Arkansas 45 298 147 878

Brady Quinn, Notre Dame 13 276 191 782

Steve Slaton, West Virginia 6 51 94 214

Michael Hart, Michigan 5 58 79 210

ALL-AMERICANS ALL AROUND: Arkansas had four players earn All-America honors following the 2006 season, including Darren McFadden who was a unanimous selection. Joining McFadden was offensive lineman Jonathan Luigs, who was also a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the top center in the nation. Tony Ugoh was a second-team selection at left tackle and Stephen Parker garnered second-team honors at left guard. In 2005, Felix Jones became the first UA freshman to earn first-team All-America honors when he was selected as a kickoff-return specialist.

HOG WILD IN OVERTIME: Arkansas is 6-1 in overtime games dating back to the 1996, which was the first season overtime was used to break ties at the end of regulation. The six wins is tied for the third most overtime wins in NCAA history (Missouri is 8-3). The .857 winning percentage, among teams with at least five overtime games, ranks third to Nebraska, South Florida and Michigan’s 5-0 records.

DARREN McFADDEN VS. RANKED OPPONENTS: McFadden has also been at his best against the best during his Razorback career, averaging 126.6 yards per game over 15 games against ranked opponents. He has racked up 1,899 yards against ranked opponents with 14 touchdowns and a 5.90 yards per carry average on 322 totes. Below is a game-by-game chart of McFadden’s performances against ranked competition during his Razorback career.

2005 Season (5 games)

Team No. Yds TD LG YPC

#1 at Southern California 13 88 0 14 6.77

#20 at Alabama 8 95 1 70 11.88

#21 Auburn 13 108 2 35 8.31

#4 at Georgia 31 190 2 70 6.13

#3 at LSU 24 57 1 13 2.38

2005 Total (107.6 ypg) 89 538 6 70 6.04

2006 Season (7 games)

Team No. Yds TD LG YPC

#6 at Southern California 9 42 0 17 4.67

#24 Alabama 25 112 1 29 4.48

#2 at Auburn 28 145 1 63 5.18

#13 Tennessee 30 181 2 37 6.03

#9 LSU 21 182 2 80 8.67

#4 Florida 21 73 0 15 3.48

#6 Wisconsin 19 89 0 45 4.68

2006 Total (117.7 ypg) 153 824 6 80 5.39

2007 Season (4 games)

Team No. Yds TD LG YPC

#21 Kentucky 29 173 1 56 5.97

#22 Auburn 17 43 0 13 2.53

#23 South Carolina 34 321 1 80 9.44

#22 Tennessee 22 117 0 20 5.32

2007 Total (163.5 ypg) 102 654 2 80 6.41

Career Total (126.0 ypg) 344 2,016 14 80 5.86

Download: 2007 Arkansas Game Notes – Mississippi State.pdf