Arkansas
Arkansas State University honors Distinguished Service Award recipients
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Arkansas State University celebrated its annual Distinguished Service Awards ceremony Thursday evening, highlighting the remarkable achievements of its students.
Among the prestigious accolades presented was the R. E. Lee Wilson Award, a symbol of excellence and service.
The distinguished recipient of this year’s R. E. Lee Wilson Award is Natan Gomez, presented by Perry Wilson, the great-great-grandson of R. E. Lee Wilson.
Gomez’s exceptional academic record, marked by a cumulative grade point average of 4.0, stands as a testament to his dedication and scholarly prowess.
Throughout his tenure at A-State, Gomez consistently earned recognition, including placement on the Chancellor’s List for all four years.
Gomez will graduate from A-State in May with a degree in biotechnology from the Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics. He was selected from a group of six DSA winners honored at the ceremony.
Reflecting on the significance of the award, Natan Gomez remarked, “The biggest meaning is, my service, my awards, they had an impact on people. They changed people’s perspectives and people’s lives. At the end of the day, that was the most rewarding thing in college, was the friends that I made and the people that I impacted. So, that really is what the medal represents to me.”
Other DSA honorees included Bailey Blackmon of Perryville, Christopher L. Crutchfield of North Little Rock, Ann Long of Cape Girardeau, Mo., William “Garrett” Partain of Lepanto, and Khushi Singh of Bryant.
The R. E. Lee Wilson Award, presented annually, recognizes Arkansas State University’s most outstanding graduating senior. Recipients are chosen based on their exemplary character, unwavering determination, active involvement, and exceptional academic achievements.
The names of Wilson Award winners are permanently listed on a display outside Centennial Hall in the Carl R. Reng Student Union.
Previous Wilson Award recipients formed a Wilson Fellows Chapter of the A-State Alumni Association that has funded a scholarship program. Wilson Award winners receive a post-graduate scholarship from the chapter to be used for additional education after graduation from A-State.
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Arkansas
WATCH: Oklahoma HC Porter Moser, Players Central Arkansas Postgame
Carson Field has worked full-time in the sports media industry since 2020 in Colorado, Texas and Wyoming as well as nationally, and he has earned degrees from Arizona State University and Texas A&M University. When he isn’t covering the Sooners, he’s likely golfing, fishing or doing something else outdoors.
Twitter: https://x.com/carsondfield
Arkansas
Purdue football adds another linebacker from Arkansas
Purdue football coach Barry Odom makes first public appearance
Purdue football coach Barry Odom addresses questions from media in first public appearance in West Lafayette
WEST LAFAYETTE − Purdue football continues to stockpile Arkansas linebackers.
After snagging Razorback Alex Sanford out of the transfer portal, the Boilermakers picked up a commitment from Carson Dean.
Dean was a redshirt freshman for Arkansas this season and played in two games.
Dean, from Frisco, Texas, was a three star prospect by 247Sports out of Hebron High who had 17 offers, including Purdue.
In high school, Dean was an all-district outside linebacker after compiling 85 tackles, including 21 for loss as a senior in 2022.
At the time of his commitment, Barry Odom was Arkansas’ defensive coordinator and Mike Scherer, recently hired as Purdue’s defensive coordinator, was the Arkansas linebackers coach.
Scherer recruited Dean to Arkansas.
Odom’s staff, in need of linebackers after Kydran Jenkins graduated and Yanni Karlaftis transferred to Northwestern.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
Arkansas
Purdue lands pledge from Arkansas LB transfer Alex Sanford
Purdue is starting to pick up steam on the transfer portal market as former Arkansas linebacker Alex Sanford announced his commitment to the Boilermakers following an official visit to West Lafayette this weekend.
Sanford becomes Purdue’s second transfer portal pickup of the cycle and second from Arkansas, following quarterback Malachi Singleton, who announced his commitment to the Boilermakers earlier this week.
The redshirt freshman linebacker had committed to Arkansas to play for Barry Odom and Mike Scherer when the two were coaching in Fayetteville. Two years later he now follows the Boilermakers’ new head coach and defensive coordinator to West Lafayette at a position of need.
Purdue had a thin linebacker corps this season, which saw Kydran Jenkins and Yanni Karlaftis depart this off-season. Sanford now joins Hudson Miller, Winston Berglund and Owen Davis as players with experience at the linebacker position for the Boilermakers heading into 2025.
Sanford has had a minimal role on defense during his career, playing just nine snaps, but he has carved out a consistent role on special teams. Sanford had the third most special teams snaps of any Razorback in 2024, and 328 across his two seasons, serving on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return and punt coverage units, holding a 65.2 Pro Football Focus grade in that regard.
Sanford will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Boilermakers.
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