Trio of Razorbacks Named 2006 Rivals.com Pre-Season All-Americans
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas senior Sam Olajubutu and sophomores Darren McFadden and Felix Jones earned national recognition on Thursday as the Razorbacks were named as 2006 Rivals.com Pre-Season All-Americans.
Olajubutu was named to the Rivals.com second-team All-America defense. McFadden was tabbed as the outlet’s second-team all-purpose back and Jones was honored as the second-team kickoff returner.
“With their efforts and accomplishments last season, Sam, Darren and Felix have made a name for themselves on the national scene,” Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said. “While they undoubtedly deserve their pre-season honors, they will need to continue to work hard to maintain their position among the nation’s best players. With focus and commitment and the help of their teammates, I am confident that they will be strong candidates for the post-season All-America teams as well.”
Even with the 2006 season opener more than nine weeks away, Olajubutu has been garnering plenty of national pre-season recognition. The LaGrange, Ga., native has been named to the watch lists of a number of national awards including the Bednarik Award (nation’s top defensive player), the Lombardi Award (nation’s top defensive lineman or linebacker), the Lott Trophy (nation’s top defensive player) and the Nagurski Trophy (nation’s top defensive player).
Olajubutu earned honorable mention All-America honors and first-team All-Southeastern Conference accolades last season after racking up a team-leading 118 tackles, including 14.5 tackles for loss (-40) and 4.5 sacks (-22). In 2005, he recorded 14 or more tackles four times and was in double-figures five times. Olajubutu enters his senior season with 257 career tackles and needing only 43 stops to become just the 14th Razorback to earn 300 tackles in his collegiate career.
McFadden has been turning heads on the national scene as well. Earlier this month, McFadden was named to a list of pre-season candidates for the 70th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year. The North Little Rock product was one of only 11 sophomores to be included on the Maxwell Award pre-season list. McFadden was an honorable mention All-America selection last season after rushing for 1,113 yards and 11 touchdowns. The consensus freshman All-American was also named as a first-team All-Southeastern Conference running back and the SEC Freshman of the Year.
Jones will be looking to follow-up a spectacular freshman campaign in which he finished second in the nation in kickoff returns and helped Arkansas lead the nation in that category. A College Football News.com first-team All-American, Jones averaged 31.9 yards per kickoff return in 2005 including a school-record 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Mississippi State. The Tulsa, Okla., product became the first true freshman in school history to garner first-team All-America honors. He also earned honorable mention freshman All-America honors as a tailback after rushing for 626 yards and three touchdowns on 99 attempts.
2006 Rivals.com Pre-Season All-America Teams
FIRST TEAM
QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
RB Marshawn Lynch, California
WR Dwayne Jarrett, Southern California
WR Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame
TE Zach Miller, Arizona State
OT Sam Baker, Southern California
OT Justin Blalock, Texas
OG Josh Beekman, Boston College
OG Ben Grubbs, Auburn
C Dan Mozes, West Virginia
DE Quentin Moses, Georgia
DE Gaines Adams, Clemson
DT Frank Okam, Texas
DT Jay Alford, Penn State
LB Paul Posluszny, Penn State
LB Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
LB Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
CB Leon Hall, Michigan
CB Daymeion Hughes, California
S LaRon Landry, Louisiana State
S Brandon Meriweather, Miami
All-Purpose: Ted Ginn, Ohio State
KR Steve Breaston, Michigan
PR Quinton Jones, Boise State
K Mason Crosby, Colorado
P Ken Debauche, Wisconsin
SECOND TEAM
QB Troy Smith, Ohio State
RB Kenny Irons, Auburn
RB Michael Bush, Louisville
WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
WR Sidney Rice, South Carolina
TE Greg Olsen, Miami
OT Levi Brown, Penn State
OT Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
OG Tim Duckworth, Auburn
OG Will Arnold, Louisiana State
C Ryan Kalil, Southern California
DE Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan
DE Adam Carriker, Nebraska
DT Brandon Mebane, California
DT Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
LB H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh
LB Sam Olajubutu, Arkansas
LB Vince Hall, Virginia Tech
CB Antoine Cason, Arizona
CB David Irons, Auburn
S Michael Griffin, Texas
S Eric Weddle, Utah
All-Purpose: Darren McFadden, Arkansas
KR Felix Jones, Arkansas
PR Rafael Little, Kentucky
K Brandon Coutu, UGA
P Kody Bliss, Auburn