BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Five Razorbacks were named to the 2014 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Teams, the conference announced today. Senior defensive end Trey Flowers headlined the group, earning Preseason All-SEC first team recognition.
Sophomore running back Alex Collins and senior kicker/punter Sam Irwin-Hill were each named Preseason All-SEC second team. Junior running back Jonathan Williams and sophomore tight end Hunter Henry were named Preseason All-SEC third team.
Flowers continues to collect preseason honors. The Huntsville, Alabama. native has been named to the watch lists for the Nagurski, Bednarik, Hendricks and Lombardi Awards. Flowers also earned Preseason All-American fourth team honors from Phil Steele and Preseason All-SEC second team recognition from the media. The senior captain leads all active SEC players with 32 career tackles for loss and was a second team All-SEC performer in 2013, collecting 44 tackles, including 13.5 for loss with 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception, two pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.
Collins enters the 2014 season as the reigning Associated Press SEC Freshman of the Year after rushing for 1,026 yards on 190 carries (5.4 avg.) last season. His rushing total was the most by an Arkansas freshman since Darren McFadden rushed for 1,113 yards in 2005. Collins has been named to the Doak Walker and Maxwell Award watch lists.
Irwin-Hill had the longest punt in the SEC last season with a 79 yard bomb against South Carolina. The Bendingo, Australia native averaged 44.3 yards per punt in 2013 and successfully completed two trick plays. At Rutgers, he completed a 24-yard pass for a first down and against No. 1 Alabama he rushed for 12 yards to convert a fake punt into a first down. The senior was a candidate for the Ray Guy Award last season and was recently named to the 2014 watch list.
Williams joined Collins on both the Doak Walker and Maxwell Award watch lists entering the 2014 season. The junior rushed for 900 yards and four touchdowns in 2013, including 151 rushing yards in the season-opener vs. Louisiana. Williams also earned Preseason All-SEC second team honors from Phil Steele this offseason.
Henry was a Freshman All-American and earned All-SEC second team honors last season after catching 28 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie campaign. The sophomore showcased his great size and athleticism by hauling in two touchdowns in a near upset at No. 15 LSU. He has been named to the John Mackey Award watch list and earned Phil Steele Preseason All-SEC second team acclaim.
The Razorbacks will open the 2014-15 season on the road at Auburn on August 30 at 3 p.m., and will be broadcasted on the SEC Network.
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