Felix Jones Named Inaugural SEC Freshman of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas tailback Felix Jones is the inaugural winner of the Southeastern Conferences Freshman Player of the Week award, it was announced by the league office on Tuesday. Jones rushed for a game-high 137 yards and one touchdown on eight carries in Arkansas 49-17 win over Missouri State. He boasted a 17.1 yards per carry average against the Bears and became only the eighth freshman in UA history to rush for 100 yards in a game. His total is the second-best in school history for a freshman and his 80-yard touchdown run is the longest run by a freshman. Brandon Holmes set the freshman standard with 143 yards on 42 carries against LSU in 2000. Four of Jones runs were for 10 or more yards, including gains of 80, 12, 24 and 10. "Its a nice honor for Felix to be recognized as the first SEC freshman of the week," UA head coach Houston Nutt says. "Felix and our other backs made some nice runs and after the game he was among the first to mention the outstanding blocking by our offensive line. Any time you have a big rushing day like we had, it takes a lot of people working together." Jones was one of three Hogs to top the 100-yard mark. Senior DeArrius Howard had 120 yards on 12 carries and sophomore Peyton Hillis had 135 and three touchdowns on 14 carries. Another freshman, Darren McFadden, made a run at the century mark, finishing with 70 yards on nine rushes. Arkansas gained 483 yards on the ground, the seventh-best total in school history and the most since UA ran for 502 yards against New Mexico in 1987. The Razorbacks, who lead the nation in rushing, averaged 9.5 yards on 51 carries, the third-best single-game average in school history.