Arkansas junior linebacker Drew Sanders advised ESPN on Tuesday that he’ll be coming into the NFL draft.
Sanders initiatives as one of many draft’s prime linebacker prospects, as he is No. 17 total on Mel Kiper’s Massive Board and ranks as Kiper’s top-ranked inside linebacker prospect.
Sanders advised ESPN that he is not going to participate in Liberty Bowl in opposition to Kansas on Dec. 28 and can head to California this week to start coaching for the NFL mix.
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“Soccer is not a lifetime sport; it is a once-in-a-lifetime sport,” Sanders mentioned in a telephone interview with ESPN. “I’ve loved enjoying in school. It is all the time been a dream for me to play within the NFL, ever since I can keep in mind. There’s a chance for me to take, and I wish to take it.”
Sanders’ determination caps a precipitous ascent to the higher areas of the NFL draft, as he transferred to Arkansas from Alabama this 12 months and surged into the highlight.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder began three video games over two seasons for the Crimson Tide and instantly flashed star potential upon arriving at Arkansas, as his 9.5 sacks have been second within the SEC to solely Alabama’s Will Anderson. Sanders additionally completed fourth within the SEC in tackles (103) and racked up 13.5 tackles for loss.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller initiatives the versatile Sanders as a prime 30 draft prospect, with Kiper rating him forward of Iowa’s Jack Campbell, Oregon’s Noah Sewell and Clemson’s Trenton Simpson.
Sanders arrived in Fayetteville in January and instantly impressed the Arkansas teaching employees. He earned a beginning function and instantly carried out, accumulating 5 sacks and 27 tackles within the first three video games of 2022.
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He credited Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, defensive coordinator Barry Odom and linebacker coach Michael Scherer for the chance and positioning him to showcase his ability set.
“To me, the one method to get higher at soccer is enjoying soccer,” Sanders mentioned. “I’ve by no means doubted my abilities. Arkansas has given me a chance for me to point out my abilities and get higher by enjoying and offering the chance to be versatile.”
Sanders is the son of Mitch Sanders, a highschool coach for 25 years in each Oregon and Texas. He mentioned his son had been speaking about enjoying three years of faculty soccer and going to the NFL draft since he was a sophomore in highschool.
That seemed unlikely when he suffered a damaged hand halfway by his sophomore 12 months at Alabama after enjoying important snaps the primary 5 video games. Upon returning to the lineup, a scheme change restricted Sanders’ snaps, which led to his switch.
“We’re Arkansas followers by and thru, however we nonetheless love Alabama,” Mitch Sanders mentioned. “We’ve zero onerous emotions. It was a terrific expertise.”
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He mentioned his son’s draft declaration was “bittersweet” as a result of he and his spouse, Shelly, know that Drew loved Fayetteville a lot. However Mitch Sanders mentioned enjoying professional soccer is the end result of a dream for his son that started with him attending coaches conferences for his father’s groups all the way in which again to kindergarten.
“it’s totally surreal, and also you’re simply joyful for him as a result of it has been his dream without end,” Mitch Sanders mentioned. “To see him have the chance to stay out his childhood dream is fairly superior as dad and mom.”
Former Arkansas offensive tackle Ty’Kieast Crawford has changed his mind on his destination for this fall and is transferring to West Virginia, his agents told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg on Monday.
The 6-foot-5, 324-pounder had originally committed to play for UCLA in 2025, but now the mammoth tackle has pivoted and has decided to play for Rich Rodriguez in Morgantown this fall. Crawford started 9 games along the Razorbacks’ offensive line.
West Virginia has added former Arkansas offensive tackle Ty’Kieast Crawford, his agents tell ESPN. He entered the portal and originally committed to UCLA but instead will play for Rich Rodriguez in Morgantown. Crawford started nine games for Arkansas.
Crawford’s collegiate journey has already taken him to multiple schools. He began his career at Charlotte, choosing to play there over the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Houston, Indiana, Oklahoma State, Purdue, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, USC and, ironically, West Virginia. So Crawford will now have played for 2 of the schools he originally spurned, in Arkansas and West Virginia.
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But Crawford didn’t last long at Charlotte, playing just 1 season for the 49ers. He entered the transfer portal and ended up at Arkansas after spurning the Razorbacks in his original recruiting process. Crawford appeared in 33 games for the Razorbacks over the course of 4 seasons, making 9 starts.
He will have 1 more year of eligibility left when he arrives in Morgantown to play for Rodriguez this fall.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
After last week’s winter storm, several Arkansas school districts have announced that they will remain closed or will open late on Monday because of icy road conditions in neighborhoods and secondary streets:
* Benton School District: Closed.
* Booneville School District: Closed.
* Bryant School District: Closed.
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* Cabot School District: Schools will have a 2-hour delayed start.
* Conway School District: School will start at 10 a.m. after a 2-hour delay. Snow bus routes will be in effect.
* Greenbrier School District: Closed.
* Hot Springs School District: Closed.
* Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District: Closed. District offices and departments will open.
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* Little Rock School District: Closed. However, all 12-month employees, school administration and custodians should report to work at regularly scheduled times.
* North Little Rock School District: Closed. District Central Office sites will open at 10 a.m. Monday.
* Pulaski County Special School District: Closed. District offices will be open for those who can safely report to work, including auxiliary offices. School staff who are 244-day employees will be expected to report to work as well.
* Sheridan School District: Closed.
This list is based on school district news releases and social media posts, and it is not comprehensive. For information on other Arkansas school districts, patrons are asked to consult their school’s website or district app.
While the Arkansas Razorbacks have been hitting the transfer portal hard, it is partially as a result of having more than 20 scholarship players decide to enter the portal after a 6-6 regular season that was capped off with a Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech on Dec. 27.
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The transfer portal officially opened Dec. 9 and it was open for a 30 day window through Dec. 28. There is also an additional five-day window for players to enter once their season is over, plus there will be an additional 10-day portal window from April 16-25.
ALSO READ: Arkansas Football 2025 Roster Tracker
HawgBeat provides a look at where former Razorbacks have transferred so far…
Note: “GP” denotes games played. Even if a player appears on special teams, that counts as a game played.
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OL Patrick Kutas – Ole Miss
From: Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, TN)
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