FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Razorbacks senior center Frank Ragnow, despite playing only seven of 12 games because of a season-ending ankle injury requiring surgery, and sophomore linebacker De'Jon "Scoota" Harris were named Monday to the Associated Press' All-SEC second team announced Monday in Atlanta.
All-SEC second-team last season, Ragnow, of Victoria, Minn., began this season as an All-American candidate and candidate for the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the nation's outstanding center until his season-ending injury. Ragnow had started 33 consecutive games and for two seasons was graded the top graded offensive lineman in the nation by Pro Football Focus.
Off the field Ragnow was named as Arkansas' representative to the All-SEC Community Service team.
Harris, of Harvey, La., becomes Arkansas' first All-SEC honored linebacker since current Washington Redskins linebacker Martrell Spaight was Arkansas honored All-SEC first team in 2014.
Harris not only led the Razorbacks in tackles but his 115 total stops ranked second in the SEC and included seven games, six against SEC foes, with 10 tackles or better.
Falk finally rewarded
At the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center Monday in Springdale, Washington State Cougars quarterback Luke Falk finally received the Burlsworth Trophy with Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield looking on instead of receiving the award himself.
Mayfield won the award in 2015 and 2016, named for the late Brandon Burlsworth of Harrison, the Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman who emerged from an overweight, redshirted walk-on in 1994, to scholarship All-American athletically and academically in 1998. Burlsworth was drafted in 1999 by the Indianapolis Colts just days before dying in an automobile accident.
The award, now in its seventh year, annually is voted by the Burlsworth Committee to the best player, originally a walk-on, also exhibiting Burlsworth's type of character on the field and off.
Falk, Mayfield, generally considered an overwhelming favorite to receive the Heisman Trophy Saturday in New York, University of Memphis receiver Anthony Miller and University of Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli were the four invited as the finalists Monday for the trophy presentation.
"I think Baker gave it to me," Falk said, joking. "He just said, 'Hey, let him win it this year.' We were joking up there that I'll take this home and he'll take the Heisman home. He just said, 'Hey, let him win it this year. He's down here for his third time.' ... But it's great. I'm so blessed to be here and be a part of this event and what it means with Brandon's legacy. It's definitely more than an awards ceremony. It's about Brandon's life and his legacy. It's just an honor to be a part of it."
Falk may not rival Mayfield for this year's Heisman but posts an impressive resume as the Pac-12's all-time leader in touchdown passes, 118.
This season for the 9-3 Cougars going into the Holiday Bowl against Michigan State, Falk has passed for a Pac-12 leading 3,224 yards and a Pac-12 leading 29 touchdowns vs. 10 interceptions.
Eric Mele, the Cougars special teams coach instrumental in convincing Falk to walk on, attended Monday's luncheon as Washington State's representative.
"Thanks for taking a chance on a kid from Logan, Utah," Falk said from the podium to Mele. "It's been fun to be able to do what we've done."
Sports on 12/05/2017