Razorbacks Football

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas senior Brandon Mitchell said he had no interest in playing anything but quarterback after returning to the position this spring.

Now he’s leaving the Razorbacks in search of another opportunity to be a starter.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas junior Barrett Astin has held a variety of duties during his collegiate pitching career.

The Forrest City native worked as the Razorbacks’ closer, recording the program’s second-highest single-season save total in 2012 (11). He has been the first pitcher called out of the bullpen, helping the Hogs in long relief. Astin has even been a spot starter with six in his 59 appearances heading into the 2013 season.

FAYETTEVILLE – The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network, which will launch in August 2014, it was announced today by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and ESPN President John Skipper. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the University of Arkansas and the entire Southeastern Conference,” Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said. “The network will provide unprecedented exposure for our program and our University while providing more opportunities for passionate Razorback fans all over the country to watch our student-athletes compete. By partnering with ESPN, the SEC has ensured the nation’s most competitive athletic conference will be able to effectively engage our fans for many years to come."

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas outfielder Tyler Spoon can’t really explain it.

The Razorbacks love Baum Stadium. They enjoy playing in front of their home crowd, too. But there’s just something about playing on the road that has brought out the best in Arkansas during Southeastern Conference play.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn wanted plenty of pitchers on the mound during his team’s final nonconference game of the regular season.

He got his wish Tuesday night.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas pitcher Randall Fant didn’t get to throw in the weekend series against Georgia because bad weather cancelled the finale.

The left-hander will get that start tonight, though.

FAYETTEVILLE – The fifth-ranked Arkansas women’s golf team was selected to the NCAA East Regional on Monday.

This year’s selection is the 12th NCAA Regional appearance for the Razorback women’s golf team and the 11th consecutive selection.

FAYETTEVILLE — Knile Davis had given up for the night.

After watching the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys make their final selections in the third round, the former Arkansas running back figured he was waiting until Saturday to be selected in the 2013 NFL Draft. Then his phone rang.

GREENWOOD — Somebody in Greenwood has a cell phone photo of

FAYETTEVILLE — The final day of the 2013 NFL Draft was stressful for Chris Gragg.

The former Arkansas tight end watched as several players at his position were pulled off the board throughout the day. His Arkansas teammate, quarterback Tyler Wilson, was taken in the fourth round by Oakland. Cincinnati selected wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, another one of Gragg’s teammates, two rounds later.

FAYETTEVILLE — Running back Knile Davis’ final season at Arkansas didn’t go as planned after returning from the ankle injury that sidelined him throughout 2011.

It didn’t deter Davis from entering the 2013 NFL Draft with one season of eligibility remaining. And it finally paid off late Friday night.

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas offense didn’t turn in the type of high-powered season it expected in 2012, struggling to keep up the prolific pace of the groups that came before them under former coach Bobby Petrino.

It won’t have any trouble producing draft picks the next two days, though.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas second baseman Jordan Farris didn’t have lofty expectations for his freshman season with the Razorbacks.

He wanted to help Arkansas win, of course, and was eager to do whatever was asked. But the California native said in no way did he expect to be a regular.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson has had a rough year.

He watched four of his quarterback peers selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft after announcing his plans to return to the Razorbacks. His head coach — who helped convince him to come back for his senior season — had been fired two weeks earlier after a scandalous motorcycle ride. A few months later, his team limped to a 4-8 record, Wilson missed time with a concussion, and his less-than-stellar performance left him labeled as a “forgotten man” in this NFL Draft class.

FT. SMITH — Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema isn’t going to stop being himself.

That was good news for the crowd gathered at the Fort Smith Razorback Club’s annual Chism Reed Award banquet on Tuesday. Bielema delivered a keynote address at the Fort Smith Convention Center that had equal parts of football insight, a rallying cry for the fans and a stand-up comedy routine.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Bret Bielema unveiled his post-spring depth chart two days after the Red-White Game in Razorback Stadium.

His first-team quarterback heading into the summer was no surprise.

PINE BLUFF — Bret Bielema showed off his professional auctioneer skills during Monday’s Pine Bluff Razorback Club dinner, trying to sell a frame of Tyler Wilson and Cobi Hamilton.

He also did a little stand-up comedy, joking that a blonde lady could sell the frame faster than the man showing it off.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn has been selected as manager of the 2014 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.

USA Baseball announced Van Horn’s appointment on Monday morning. It won’t be Van Horn’s first time with the national team. He also was an assistant coach in 2011.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.– Junior Sebastian Cappelen of the No. 14 Arkansas men’s golf team took the 2013 Southeastern Conference individual title with a final round of four-under par, 66, leading the Razorbacks to a sixth-place finish in the team standings at Seaside Golf Course on St. Simons Island, Ga., on Sunday afternoon.

Cappelen’s victory is just the second by a Razorback in 22 SEC Championship tournaments and the first since Bud Still won the individual title in 1995. On a day when winds were blowing 20-30 miles per hour, Cappelen hit every green, 16 of 18 fairways, and was one of just two players to shoot under par. His final round of 66 matches Arkansas third lowest in school history at an SEC Championship and his 54-hole total of 202 was four strokes better than any other Razorback in 21 previous events.