Tag: Hogs in the NFL

Burks will be an ‘X-factor’ according to this CBS writer in 2023

Treylon Burks is poised to have a breakout year in his second season with the Titans. One CBS writer has him pegged for it.

With the Tennessee Titans signing DeAndre Hopkins to a deal on Sunday, former Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks is likely only going to benefit from that addition.

Jared Dubin of CBS Sports acknowledged that when he ranked ‘X-factors’ for all 32 NFL teams earlier this month.

Tennessee’s offense is based almost entirely around Derrick Henry. But the big man is 29 years old now, and turning 30 late in this season. He has 300-plus carries in three of the last four years, including 349 last year. After hitting 5.1 and 5.4 yards per carry in 2019 and 2020, respectively, he’s been at 4.3 and 4.4 per carry the past two years. The Titans need a quality passing-game option to emerge, and Burks is their best shot at that happening.

Burks is coming off a rookie season in which he caught 33 passes for 444 yards and a touchdown as the Titans had quarterback issues with an injury to Ryan Tannehill and could not settle on Malik Willis or Josh Dobbs as a backup option.

Will Levis is now in the quarterback room with Tannehill and Willis after being drafted in the second round in April.

Drew Sanders officially signs rookie contract with Denver Broncos

Former Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders has now officially signed his first NFL contract with the Denver Broncos.

Former Arkansas Razorback linebacker Drew Sanders officially inked his four-year rookie contract with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday night.

According to Mike Klis of KUSA-TV in Denver, the four-year deal is worth around $5.7 million with a $1.7 million signing bonus. He was the final Broncos rookie to sign a contract.

The Broncos selected Sanders in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft with the No. 67 overall pick after just one season with the Razorbacks. Sanders was able to make an immediate impact for the Razorbacks last season after transferring from Alabama.

Sanders finished the year with 103 total tackles (40 solo tackles), 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. His 9.5 sacks were second in the SEC behind former Crimson Tide teammate Will Anderson (10.0 sacks).

Following his selection at No. 67 overall, Sanders became the highest Arkansas linebacker drafted since Quinton Caver was selected in the second round (No. 55 overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001. He also became the first Arkansas linebacker selected since Dre Greenlaw was selected in the fifth round (No. 148 overall) by San Francisco in 2019.

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Treylon Burks inks rookie deal with Tennessee Titans

Burks, who is expected to make an immediate impact for the Tennessee Titans, has agreed to terms on his rookie contract.

A former Arkansas standout has officially come to terms with his first NFL contract.

On Tuesday, the Tennessee Titans and first-round selection Treylon Burks agreed to a four-year deal, with a fifth-year option according to Field Yates of ESPN.

According to Titans Wire, Burks is the 5th draft pick by the Titans to sign a rookie deal joining Hassan Haskins, Kyle Phillips, Theo Jackson, and Chance Campbell, who were all third day selections.

Picks who have yet to come to an agreement include Auburn’s Roger McCreary and Liberty’s Malik Willis.

Burks had a rocky start to his Titans career, as he reportedly left the first day of rookie mini camp early due to being winded.

“I know that they’re working and they think that they are trying to get in shape, but that’s just not the case,” said Titans head coach Mike Vrabel of Burks’ early exit. “That’s something that we have to focus on and try to make sure that we’re getting some work in with all of them. We’re trying to be as smart as we possibly can.”

However, his performance on day two was better as he practiced the entire time without issues.

Burks was the first Razorback taken in the first round since Frank Ragnow was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 20th overall pick in 2018. Burks is also the highest Razorback taken in the NFL Draft sice Darren McFadden was taken 4th overall by the Oakland Raiders in 2008.

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PHOTO GALLERY: A look at Arkansas draft picks with their new team

Treylon Burks, John Ridgeway, and Montaric Brown all have new homes. Here’s a peek at what they look like in their new uniforms.

Arkansas Football had three players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, which is the most since 2019, when three Razorbacks were also taken in the draft.

[autotag]Treylon Burks[/autotag] was taken 18th overall by the Tennessee Titans in this year’s draft, making him the first Razorback to be taken in the first round since 2018, when Frank Ragnow was selected 20th overall by the Detroit Lions. Burks was the highest draft pick from Arkansas since Darren McFadden went 4th overall to the Oakland Raiders in 2008.

The next selection from Arkansas was [autotag]John Ridgeway[/autotag], who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 178 overall selection. Ridgeway becomes the third Razorback to be taken by Dallas, which is surprising considering the proximity of Dallas to Fayetteville, and the fact that the Cowboys are owned by Arkansas alum, Jerry Jones. The last Razorback to be taken by Dallas before Ridgeway? Felix Jones in 2008.

The last selection from Arkansas in the 2022 draft was [autotag]Montaric Brown[/autotag] with the 222nd overall pick. Jacksonville has been a popular destination for former Razorbacks, as five former Hogs have been selected by Jacksonville since 2000, with the most recent being Brandon Allen in 2016.

Here is a look at what these former Razorbacks look like in their new uniforms.

Arkansas’ Trey Wade trades hardwood for gridiron

Former Razorback forward Trey Wade is going pro… in football?

Arkansas Football had three players to be drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, and three more were invited to camps as undrafted free agents.

On Monday, that number grew to seven players, but not in a way that you would think.

[autotag]Trey Wade[/autotag], who played his final eligible basketball season with Arkansas following a transfer from Wichita State, has been invited to attend rookie mini-camp with the Arizona Cardinals.

Razorback fans were shocked in mid-April, when head basketball coach [autotag]Eric Musselman[/autotag] announced on twitter that Wade was getting ready to turn pro, but in football instead of basketball.

In his lone season at Arkansas, Wade started in 24 games while appearing in 37. He averaged 3.6 points per game, and pulled down 96 rebounds. The Cardinals will work Wade at the tight end position, according to reports.

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Jacksonville Jaguars select Montaric Brown in seventh round

Montaric Brown is heading to Jacksonville! He’s the fifth Razorback in history to be selected by Jacksonville, and the first since 2016, when the Jags selected Brandon Allen in the sixth round of the 2016 draft.

[autotag]Montaric Brown[/autotag] has become the third Razorback taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, as has been selected in the seventh round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, as the 222nd overall pick.

Brown is the second pick from Arkansas to be selected on the final day of the draft, joining [autotag]John Ridgeway[/autotag], who was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 178th overall pick.

Brown becomes the fifth player from Arkansas to be drafted by Jaguars, and the first since Brandon Allen, who was selected 201st overall in the 2016 draft. If Brown signs with the Jags, he will become teammates with former Razorback Jeremiah Ledbetter, who plays defensive end for Jacksonville.

When it comes to drafting former Razorbacks, Jacksonville has usually gone the offensive route. Allen, as well as Matt Jones (2005), and Emanuel Smith (2000) were offensive players taken by the Jaguars. Brown is just the second defensive player from Arkansas to be drafted by Jacksonville, the first being Chris Smith, who was drafted with the 159th pick in the 2014 draft.

Brown had a breakout season for Arkansas in 2021. The Ashdown, Ark. native started in all 13 games, and recorded career-bests in total tackles (54), pass deflections (11), and interceptions (5).

Throughout his five-year career at Arkansas, Brown made 132 total tackles, forced two fumbles, and picked off seven passes.

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John Ridgeway selected in 5th round by Dallas Cowboys

Ridgeway becomes the first Razorback to be drafted by Dallas since Felix Jones was taken 22nd overall in 2008.

It appears that another Razorback is headed to Dallas.

The Dallas Cowboys have selected Arkansas defensive lineman [autotag]John Ridgeway[/autotag] with the 178th overall selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, making him the second product from Arkansas to be taken in this year’s draft, joining [autotag]Treylon Burks[/autotag], who was taken 18th overall by the Tennessee Titans. 

A transfer from Illinois State, Ridgeway played his final collegiate season at Arkansas, where he started in 11 of 12 games that he appeared in. In his lone year in Fayetteville, Ridgeway recorded 39 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.

During his four-year college career, Ridgeway started in 40 games, made 141 tackles with 12 of them being for loss.

Ridgeway becomes just the third Arkansas player to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, who are owned by Arkansas alum Jerry Jones, and the first since Felix Jones was taken 22nd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.

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A look at Arkansas’ First Round picks since 2004

Treylon Burks became the 8th first-round pick from Arkansas since 2004 on Thursday. Who are the other seven?

[autotag]Treylon Burks[/autotag] became the 24th first-round pick in Arkansas football history during the 2022 NFL Draft, when he was taken 18th overall by the Tennessee Titans, following a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles that involved wide receiver, AJ Brown.

Since the turn of the millennium, Arkansas has had eight players selected in the first round. Burks was the first Razorback taken in the first round since Frank Ragnow was selected 20th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2018. Ragnow was the only former Razorback to be taken in the first round during the 2010s.

Who are the eight Razorbacks taken in the first round since 2004? Let’s explore.