Hogs Name Three to All-SEC Freshmen Team
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Southeastern Conference coaches selected three Arkansas players to the SEC Coaches’ All-Freshmen Team the conference office announced on Thursday.
Arkansas placed two players on the offensive team and had one defensive-team selection. UA’s three overall selections were tied for the second-most with Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU and Tennessee to Kentucky’s four. Arkansas, Florida, LSU and Mississippi State were the only schools to have two offensive selections.
Tight end Ben Cleveland and wide receiver Damian Williams represented the Hogs on the offensive team while Wendel Davis is the lone Hog named to the defensive team.
Cleveland has five catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns on the season. His two touchdowns, coming by way of passes from former Springdale high school teammate and UA quarterback Mitch Mustain, both were the extra pushes the Razorbacks needed to defeat Vanderbilt and Alabama. His touchdown during the Vanderbilt game came in the third quarter to provide the winning margin.
He made two catches for 18 yards and a touchdown in the Hogs’ win over No. 22 Alabama. His 11-yard touchdown grab came in double overtime when he snagged a Mustain pass away from two defenders to tie the game. The extra point gave Arkansas the win.
Williams has a catch in nine of his 13 career games as a Razorback. He ranks second on the squad and first among freshmen with 19 catches for 235 yards. Williams earned his first career touchdown from former high school teammate Mustain against Southeast Missouri State. He made four catches for 61 yards against USC becoming the first Razorback freshman to lead the team in receptions in his first career game since Richard Smith in 2000.
Davis backs Sam Olajubutu at will linebacker. He has seen action in all 13 games for Arkansas and has recorded 20 tackles on the year (10 solo). He has seven special teams tackles on the season, which ranks third on the team. He leads all true freshmen in tackles with 20 on the year.
Davis
played just six snaps at Auburn, but recorded an assisted TFL, made a solo stop and two assisted tackles on special teams for a career-high four tackles. He made three total tackles, including one on special teams vs. Southeast Missouri State. He also recorded his second TFL of the season for five yards while breaking up a pass and recording a quarterback hurry. Davis recorded the most-extensive playing time of his young career vs. Ole Miss when Olajubutu was injured. He saw action on 40 plays, making a solo tackle and registering a quarterback hurry.
