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HawgBeat – Former Razorbacks sign free agent deals with NFL teams

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HawgBeat  –  Former Razorbacks sign free agent deals with NFL teams


The 2024 NFL Draft finished its seven-round process on Saturday, and it was a relatively uneventful three days for Arkansas fans as only two former Hogs were drafted.

Kicker Cam Little and center Beaux Limmer were both taken in the sixth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams, respectively.

In the hours after the draft concluded, however, Razorbacks who did not hear their name called were still given a chance to make an NFL roster by signing undrafted free agent contracts with teams.

Offensive guard Brady Latham, linebacker Antonio Grier Jr., defensive end John Morgan III and cornerback Dwight McGlothern were all given UDFA contract opportunities by NFL squads.

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Safety Alfahiym Walcott, who spent one season with the Razorbacks after transferring in from Baylor, was invited to the Buffalo Bills’ training camp.

Here’s a breakdown of every former Arkansas player that was given a chance after the conclusion of the NFL Draft:

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OL Brady Latham — New York Jets

After spending five seasons with the Razorbacks, Brady Latham is moving on to the NFL after signing an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Jets.

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If he makes the roster, he’ll have the opportunity to block for one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers, who is coming off an achilles injury that ended his first season in New York less than a minute before it started.

A 46-game starter for the Razorbacks, Latham finished the 2023-24 season ranked as the No. 194 guard in the country according to Pro Football Focus. He posted an overall offensive grade of 64.7 in 754 total snaps.

LB Antonio Grier Jr. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A redshirt senior who transferred in from South Florida ahead of the 2023 season, Antonio Grier Jr. is heading back to the Sunshine State after signing a UDFA with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Grier only had one season of eligibility remaining when he transferred to Arkansas, and he started three of the 11 games he played in at the linebacker position.

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He finished the 2023 season with 36 total tackles, one pass deflection and one interception that he returned for a touchdown — which came in a Week 2 win over Kent State.

Grier ranked No. 562 among linebackers in the country according to PFF. He posted an overall defensive grade of 60.2, which included an 89.9 pass rush grade.

DE John Morgan III — New England Patriots

John Morgan III is heading fairly close to home after signing an UDFA contract with the New England Patriots.

A native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Morgan will head to Foxborough, Massachusetts, which is an almost seven-hour drive or a 90-minute flight from his hometown.

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Morgan was a Signing Day surprise ahead of the 2023 season, as he transferred to Arkansas from Pittsburgh after head coach Sam Pittman, defensive coordinator Travis Williams and defensive line coach Deke Adams made an in-person visit to recruit him in Maryland.

He told HawgBeat on Early Signing Day in 2022 that the coaching staff’s dedication during the recruiting process is what swayed him — a sixth-year COVID senior — to come to Fayetteville.

“When a head football coach of an SEC school comes and visits you in your home and your state, it means a lot,” Morgan said on Dec. 21, 2022. “It means he thinks highly of you and he definitely showed that he wanted me to come be a Razorback.”

Morgan played in 11 games last season and he racked up 15 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.

PFF ranked Morgan as the No. 420 edge defender in the country in 2023 with an overall grade of 67.7 in 243 total snaps.

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CB Dwight McGlothern — Minnesota Vikings

Perhaps the most shocking Razorback to go undrafted was Dwight McGlothern. The SEC’s highest-graded cornerback according to PFF (91.3) did not hear his name called, but did sign a contract with the Minnesota Vikings.

McGlothern transferred to Arkansas from LSU ahead of the 2022 season. In his four years at the collegiate level, McGlothern amassed 113 total tackles, six tackles for loss, eight interceptions, 31 pass deflections and four forced fumbles.

In addition to being the highest-graded cornerback in the SEC, McGlothern was the second-rated cornerback in the FBS last season behind Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell — who was drafted 22nd overall to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Following the 2023 season, McGlothern was invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He finished with a 5.97 overall prospect grade and he ran a 4.47 40-yard dash. His vertical jump was 32 inches and he had a nine-foot, seven-inch broad jump.

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S Alfahiym Walcott — Buffalo Bills

After spending just one season in Fayetteville, Alfahiym Walcott received an invite to the Buffalo Bills training camp.

Walcott has had quite the journey, as he started off in the junior college ranks at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, before heading to Baylor and then Arkansas for his final season.

A native of Wilmington, North Carolina, Walcott finished his career with 171 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, 18 pass deflections, seven interceptions and two touchdowns in 45 total games played across four seasons.

Walcott ranked No. 109 among safeties according to PFF with a total defensive grade of 77.9 in 468 total snaps last season.

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Arkansas

Brian Evans’ path to Arkansas House speakership took turns through business, Cabot School Board | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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Brian Evans’ path to Arkansas House speakership took turns through business, Cabot School Board | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


December 28, 2024 at 8:46 p.m.

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Neal Earley



State Rep. Brian Evans, R-Cabot, the incoming speaker of Arkansas’ House of Representatives, answers a question during an interview at his L&L Freight Services office in Cabot on Dec. 2, 2024. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staci Vandagriff)

CABOT — Arkansas’ next speaker of the house, Brian Evans, had planned to study law, a path that he hoped would lead one day to a career in politics.

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But instead, at the age of 23, Evans found himself at a truck stop in West Memphis, second-guessing a life choice he had made. With his bags packed, Evans said he had hesitated about taking the job at an Orlando, Fla.-based logistics company.

Sitting in his office in Cabot, Evans, 56, said he can vividly recall the moment. The sun was rising and he had a choice: Turn left and continue on to Florida, or turn right and head back home to the family farm in McCrory to “figure out what I was going to do in life.”

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Arkansas State Police release details in crash that killed one Greenwood student and injured another | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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Arkansas State Police release details in crash that killed one Greenwood student and injured another | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


HUNTINGTON — Details of the crash that left a Greenwood High School student dead have been released by the Arkansas State Police.

Chloe Walters, 19, of Huntington was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu northbound on U.S. 71 in Huntington around 3:10 p.m. Thursday when the crash occurred, according to a fatal crash report from the State Police. The Malibu lost control and traveled into the southbound lane and was struck by a southbound 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Daran Stovall, 58, of El Paso, the report states.

A female minor passenger in Walters’ vehicle died, according to the report.

A social media post from the Greenwood School District states Walters’ sister, Cadence Walters, was killed in the crash.

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Chloe Walters and Stovall were both injured in the crash and taken to Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, according to the State Police.

The trooper investigating the crash reported the weather was rainy and the road wet at the time of the accident.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Cadence and the ongoing medical situation with Chloe. Both students are active and well loved throughout the school community,” the School District’s post states. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Walters family during this incredibly difficult time. As a school community, we stand together to support them in every way possible.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the Walters family where those wishing to help may make donations. By Saturday afternoon, the page had raised $12,242 of a $20,000 goal with 198 donations received.

Greenwood High School counselors are available for students, staff and community members who need support, the district’s post states.

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Anyone needing assistance may email info@greenwoodk12.com or reach out to a school counselor, teacher or administrator through the School Status app, the post states.



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Green's MVP performance propels Arkansas to Liberty Bowl win

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Green's MVP performance propels Arkansas to Liberty Bowl win


Arkansas (7-6, 3-5 SEC) won its final game of the 2024 season with a 39-26 victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl on Saturday behind a strong performance by quarterback Taylen Green.

The redshirt junior, who just wrapped up his first season with the Razorbacks, finished the game with 422 yards of total offense — 341 through the air and 81 on the ground. He ended the game tied with running back Rodney Hill as the Hogs’ leading rusher in the game and Green was named Liberty Bowl MVP for his efforts.

“I think it was a fast start,” Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said after the game. “(The defense) made a fourth down stop and then really the offense took over. Taylen took over. We have Taylen Green, a lot of teams don’t and it gives us opportunity to win.”

The Razorbacks started the game firing on all cylinders and scored on each of their first three possessions. Green was a key cog in that machine, as he scored the first touchdown of the game on a 12-yard rush. He followed that drive up by showcasing his arm with passes of 17 yards and 56 yards to wide receiver Issac TeSlaa, which set up a touchdown run by running back Braylen Russell on the goal line.

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Touchdown No. 3 of the first quarter came on a slant route to redshirt freshman receiver Dazmin James, who caught Green’s pass and took it 94 yards to the end zone — the longest pass play in Arkansas program history.

Texas Tech didn’t go down without a fight, though. The Red Raiders cut the lead to 24-19 by halftime, and Arkansas needed another spark. Cue Green again, who found running back Tyrell Reed Jr. alone and unguarded for a 43-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter.

“(Reed), he’s always ready,” Green said after the game. “He’s always in the back learning whether it’s from (Ja’Quinden Jackson) or from (Rashod Dubinion). From (Rodney Hill). He’s always taking things in, asking questions. When he had his opportunity to shine, he made the most of it.”

A native of Lewisville, Texas, Green only had one blemish on his stat line, as he was sacked in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter, but Pittman said afterward that a blocking miscue in the backfield led to the miscue.

Green’s 341 passing yards broke the previous Arkansas record in a bowl game, which was set by Bill Montgomery, who threw for 338 against Ole Miss in the 1970 Sugar Bowl.

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The former Boise State transfer also became the first Arkansas passer to eclipse 300 yards in a bowl game since Brandon Allen threw for 315 yards in the 2016 Liberty Bowl against Kansas State.

“I’m gonna take (the MVP trophy) to my parents’ crib,” Green said. “Shout out to my mom, shout out to my dad, shout out to my sisters, and we gonna celebrate.”

Arkansas football’s 2024 season has now come to a close. Up next, the Razorbacks will look to close out transfer portal season strong. Be sure to follow along at The Trough premium message board for updates on the offseason recruiting action.



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