Three Hog football players make coaches’ All-SEC team
The kudos continue to come in for a few Razorback football players. Three Razorbacks were recognized on the All-SEC team voted by the conference’s coaches and released Tuesday (Dec. 10).
Center Travis Swanson and defensive ends Chris Smith and Trey Flowers all earned second-team accolades from the coaches.
Swanson also was named a first-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and a finalist for the Rimington Trophy earlier this week. The Kingwood, Texas, native led an offensive line that blocked as Alex Collins became the 10th true freshman in SEC history to rush for 1,000 yards and as Collins and Jonathan Williams became the second Razorback duo to each reach at least 900 rushing yards in one season. The offensive line, which featured two true freshmen starting the final eight games, also broke the single-season school record by only allowing 8 sacks.
Swanson has accepted an invitation to the 2014 Senior Bowl and will participate in the nation’s top showcase of senior talent for NFL evaluators with a week of practices leading up to the Jan. 25 game in Mobile, Ala.
Smith earned All-SEC honors for the second straight season after being named honorable mention All-SEC in 2012. A native of Mount Ulla, N.C., Smith is tied for third in the SEC and for 26th nationally with 8.5 sacks and is 16th in the country with 71 sack yards. His sack total is tied for the eighth-most in a single season in school history. Smith also ranks seventh in the conference with 11.5 tackles for loss.
He finished his Arkansas career with 21.5 sacks, which ranks as the fourth-highest total in school history. Smith finished the season with 36 total tackles, six quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery. Smith has also accepted an invitation to the 2014 Senior Bowl and will join Swanson at the nation’s top showcase of senior talent for NFL evaluators.
Flowers received All-SEC accolades for the second time in his career after being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2011. The Huntsville, Ala., native finished the 2013 season with 13.5 tackles for loss, which is tied for second in the SEC and for 46th nationally. He recorded 9.5 tackles for loss in conference play, which ranked fourth in the SEC. Flowers also ranked fourth in the conference and tied for 20th in the country with three forced fumbles.
Through his first three seasons as a Razorback, Flowers has 32 tackles for loss, which is tied for 11th on the school’s career list. Along with his 13.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles, Flowers also added 5 sacks, 44 total tackles, one interception, two pass breakups and five quarterback hurries in 2013.