Seven Hogs earn preseason honors from Athlon

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With football season just over three months away, preseason honors are already starting to roll in for the Arkansas Razorbacks with seven Hogs picking up recognition from Athlon in the publication’s college football season preview.

Raheim Sanders and Beaux Limmer lead the way, both earning preseason All-America status. Sanders was tabbed second team and Limmer third team. Sanders is coming off one of the greatest seasons by an Arkansas running back in recent memory, rushing for 10 touchdowns and 1,443 yards – fourth-most in a single season in school history. Sanders becomes just the second Razorback to ever run for 1,400+ yards and return to school the following year, joining Arkansas legend Darren McFadden, who ran for a then school record 1,647 yards in 2006 before breaking his own record in 2007 with 1,830 yards. Sanders finished second in the SEC in rushing yards en route to being named First-Team All-SEC by the Associated Press and USA Today.

Limmer produced another stellar season as the Hogs’ right guard through the first 12 games of the season before starting at center in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl victory over Kansas. The Tyler, Texas native earned Third-Team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus and was named Second-Team All-SEC by PFF and the AP.

Sanders and Limmer were joined by QB KJ Jefferson, DB Dwight McGlothern, OL Brady Latham, LB Chris Paul Jr. and kicker Cam Little on Athlon’s preseason All-SEC team.

Jefferson, along with Sanders and Limmer, was named preseason First-Team All-SEC. Jefferson is poised to rewrite a large portion of the Arkansas record book this fall heading into his third season as the full-time starter. Jefferson already sits inside the all-time Top 10 in school history in completions (436 – 7th), yards (5816 – 7th), touchdown passes (48 – 6th), 300-yard passing games (5 – 3rd), total plays (1028 – 6th), total yards (7245 – 5th) and touchdown responsibility (67 – 4th). Jefferson’s name is already dotted throughout the record book for numerous single-season records, including twice for completion percentage in 2021 (.673 – 3rd) and 2022 (.680 – 2nd).

McGlothern had an impressive debut season for the Hogs last season after transferring from LSU. He led the Razorbacks and ranked second in the SEC with four interceptions. The cornerback picked off passes in each of his first two games with the Hogs against Cincinnati and South Carolina before adding interceptions vs. Alabama and Kansas. He matched his career-high with 52 tackles while starting all 13 games.

Latham has been a staple on the Arkansas offensive line over the last three seasons, having started a team-best 36 consecutive games dating back to 2020. Last season, he matched Limmer for the most offensive snaps played on the team with 983 according to PFF while allowing only two sacks.

Paul Jr. emerged during his redshirt freshman campaign making 62 tackles while playing in all 13 games and starting the final two. He made 21 tackles in his two starts, including a career-best 12 in the victory over Kansas in the Liberty Bowl. He also proved to be a strong pass rusher, recording four sacks as part of his eight tackles for loss.

Little followed up a Freshman All-America season with a strong sophomore season. He made 13-of-16 field goals on his way to scoring 89 points with the help of a perfect 50-for-50 on extra points. In just two seasons, Little has begun his ascension up Arkansas’ all-time kick scoring list and will enter his junior season with 195 points, good for 10th all time.