Two Arkansas Razorbacks Selected as 2015 Associated Press Football All-Americans
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Associated Press released their 2015 college football first-, second-, and third-team selections on Sunday putting an ending punctuation of some of the best performances of the season. Several teams like Alabama and Baylor, with three first-team nods each, cleaned up but the Arkansas Razorbacks had a good showing as well. When the teams were released the Hogs had one first-team selection, tight end Hunter Henry, and one second-team honoree, offensive guard Sebastian Tretola.
On Wednesday, Tretola was a co-Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner given to the top offensive lineman in the SEC splitting the honors with Alabama center Ryan Kelly. On Sunday, Tretola was in a league all his own being named second-team All-American by the AP. Tretola started in all 12 games for the Hogs in 2015 grading out 80 percent or better in 10 of the contests. His lone blemish was allowing a half sack in 834 downs played. Amazingly, Tretola was only flagged once during the season and had a team-high 68 pancake blocks.
Henry was a season savior for the Hogs in more ways than one but helped pace the Arkansas passing game with 46 receptions covering 647 yards with three touchdowns while being a key contributor in Arkansas’ running attack. Henry was a key target for senior quarterback Brandon Allen especially on third down passing situations with 32 of Henry’s 46 receptions coming on the critical down.
The nation got a chance to see Henry’s importance to the Razorbacks when on a critical fourth down play against Ole Miss he fortuitously lateraled the ball back to running back Alex Collins after a 10 yard reception when Arkansas needed 25. Collins picked up the pigskin running 30 yards for the needed first down. Arkansas would go on to win 53-52 in an overtime thriller.
The honors for Henry have started stockpiling as well earning the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end, and being named a first-team Walter Camp All-American earlier this week.
Arkansas (7-5, 5-3) will have one last chance to showcase the team’s talented roster in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2 against Kansas State.
First Team Offense
QB Deshaun Watson, sophomore – Clemson
RB Derrick Henry, junior – Alabama
RB Leonard Fournette, sophomore – LSU
OT Taylor Decker, senior – Ohio State
OT Spencer Drango, senior – Baylor
OG Joshua Garnett, senior – Stanford
OG Landon Turner, senior – North Carolina
OC Jack Allen, senior – Michigan State
WR Corey Coleman, junior – Baylor
WR Josh Doctson, senior – TCU
TE Hunter Henry, junior – Arkansas
AP Chrstian McCaffrey, sophomore – Stanford
K Ka’imi Fairbairn, senior – UCLA
First Team Defense
DE Shaq Lawson, junior – Clemson
DE Carl Bassib, senior – Penn State
DT A’Shawn Robinson, junior – Alabama
DT Andrew Billings, junior – Baylor
LB Reggie Ragland, senior – Alabama
LB Tyler Matakevich, senior – Temple
LB Jaylon Smith, junior – Notre Dame
SS Jeremy Cash, senior – Duke
SS Vonn Bell, junior – Ohio State
P Tom Hackett, senior – Utah
Second Team Offense
QB Baker Mayfield, junior – Oklahoma
RB Dalvin Cook, sophomore – Florida State
RB Ezekiel Elliot, junior – Ohio State
OT Jack Conklin, junior – Michigan State
OT Ronnie Stanley, senior – Notre Dame
OG Sebastian Tretola, senior – Arkansas
OG Pat Elflein, junior – Ohio State
OC Ryan Kelly, senior – Alabama
WR Will Fuller, junior – Notre Dame
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, sophomore – USC
TE Jake Butt, junior – Michigan
AP Morgan Burns, senior – Kansas State
K Jake Elliot, junior – Memphis
Second Team Defense
DE Joey Bosa, junior – Ohio State
DE DeForest Buckner, senior – Oregon
DT Robert Nkemdiche, junior – Ole Miss
DT Sheldon Day, senior – Notre Dame
LB Joe Schobert, senior – Wisconsin
LB Kentrell Brothers, senior – Missouri
Eric Striker, senior – Oklahoma
CB Jourdan Lewis, junior – Michigan
CB Jalen Ramsey, junior – Florida State
SS Trae Elston, senior – Ole Miss
SS Jayron Kearse, junior – Clemson
P Drew Kaser, senior – Texas A&M
Third Team Offense
QB Keenan Reynolds, senior – Navy
RB Royce Freeman, sophomore – Oregon
RB Larry Rose III, sophomore – New Mexico State
OT Jason Spriggs, senior – Indiana
OT Vadal Alexander, senior – LSU
OG Dan Feeney, junior – Indiana
OG Joey Thuney, senior – North Carolina State
OC Austin Blythe, senior – Iowa
WR Laquon Treadwell, junior – Ole Miss
WR Roger Lewis, sophomore – Bowling Green
TE Austin Hooper, junior – Stanford
AP Jakeen Grant, senior – Texas Tech
K Adam Schneider, sophomore – Oregon
Second Team Defense
DE Shilique Calhoun, senior – Michigan State
DE Myles Garrett, sophomore – Texas A&M
DT Jonathan Bullard, senior – Florida
DT Kenny Clark, junior – UCLA
LB Su’a Cravens, junior – USC
LB Blake Martinez, senior – Stanford
LB Anthony Walker, sophomore – Northwestern
CB Mackensie Alexander, sophomore – Clemson
CB Shawun Lurry, sophomore – Northern Illinois
SS Eddie Jackson, junior – Alabama
SS Darian Thompson, senior – Boise State
P Hayden Hunt, junior – Colorado State
Photo credit: ArkansasRazorbacks.com; No. 84 Hunter Henry scores a touchdown against Auburn.