FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Razorbacks tight end Will Gragg announced this week he intends to transfer from the university for his two remaining years of football eligibility after graduating in May with a degree in sports management.
Gragg, of Dumas, redshirted as a Razorback freshman as a premier high school player recruited by former Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and his staff. Gragg lived in Pine Bluff and Warren before Dumas.
Gragg was on the scout team and did not letter in 2016, but did letter in the 2017 season. He played in 10 of the Razorbacks' 12 games and caught five passes for 61 yards.
This spring under new coach Cad Morris, it seemed Gragg was buried in the depth chart. The team's tight end unit includes incumbent starter Austin Cantrell, of Roland, Okla.; touted second-year junior college transfer Jeremy Patton; letterman Cheyenne O'Grady; and fellow letterman Grayson Gunter, who has been more prominent this spring after redshirting last season following surgery on his shoulder.
Ace Knight named to college
baseball award watch list
DURHAM, N.C. -- Arkansas junior right-hander Blaine Knight was among 40 players named this week by USA Baseball to the midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List for the second consecutive year.
The 41st Golden Spikes Award recognizes the top amateur baseball player in the country for the 2018 season. It will be presented on June 28 in Los Angeles.
Knight was named to the same midseason watch list at this point last year and finished the year as one of Arkansas' top arms, making 16 starts and compiling a 3.28 ERA, the second-lowest ERA among Arkansas starting pitchers. His eight wins in 2017 were the most by an Arkansas pitcher since Chris Oliver had eight in 2014.
Three years ago, former Razorback Andrew Benintendi won the 38th Golden Spikes Award, joining Philip Stidham as the second Razorback to ever be named a finalist for the prestigious award. Zach Jackson and Knight have made it four straight years a Razorback has been named to at least the midseason watch list.
Knight has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the Southeastern Conference as he's racked up a perfect 6-0 record with a team-leading 1.93 ERA, which is fourth-best in the league.
Ragnow, Allen highlight Razorback
selections to national honor society
IRVING, Texas -- Graduated offensive lineman Frank Ragnow and quarterback Austin Allen were among an all-time high 1,251 players announced this week by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame as members of the 2018 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 grade point average or better throughout their college careers.
University of Arkansas selections, in addition to Ragnow and Allen, were Robert Decker, Jack Kraus, Josh Liddell, Paul Ramirez, Jake Raulerson, Karl Roesler and Zach Rogers.
"We are pleased to see another record number of athletes honored by the Hampshire Honor Society this year," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell.
"Over the past decade, it has become a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives."
Also selected was Lake Hamilton alum Gavin De Los Santos, an offensive lineman at Harding University in Searcy.
Selected from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia were Andrew Black, Henry Davis, Adam Greenfield, John Laubacher, Cody Mikell and Cory Stitle.
Selections are nominated by their respective schools, must have completed their eligibility in 2017 and met all NCAA or NAIA mandated progress toward degree requirements.
Broyles tribute film wins award
FAYETTEVILLE -- "Frank Broyles, Arkansas Legend," a tribute film to the late University of Arkansas head football coach and men's director of athletics won a Broadcast Education Association Festival King Foundation Award on Monday.
The honor is the top award given during BEA's Festival of Media Arts, a competitive festival open to BEA faculty and student members.
The film was produced by Jim Borden and Larry Foley, professor and chair of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media. Foley also conducted research and wrote the film, which was narrated by former Razorback Scott Bull, who played under Broyles from 1972-75.
Foley collaborated with Borden, of Fayetteville, and Kevin Trainor, of the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, to produce the tribute.
Broyles died in August 2017. The short film will be posted on http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com in August to commemorate the one-year anniversary of his passing.
The 2018 Best of Festival winners were selected from a pool of over 1,540 entries, representing more than 175 colleges and universities in various competitions.
Sports on 04/15/2018