Football honored by Birmingham News

University of Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett and tight end D.J. Williams were among those honored in the 64th Annual Birmingham News SEC Football Preview. Both Razorbacks were first-team All-SEC preseason selections. The team finished in a tie for second in the SEC Western Divisionwith LSU in the poll which is conducted each year by the league’s sports information directors.Mallett, who was also selected behind Alabama’s Mark Ingram as one of the top Heisman Trophy candidates in the league, set or tied 16 different school records in 2009 during his first year as a starter for the Razorbacks. In his first season in the SEC, he led the league in touchdown passes (30), passing yards per game (278.8) and total offense per game (276.5). He was the only player in the SEC to throw five-or-more touchdown passes in three different games. He also led the league in 400-yard passing performances with two and 300-yard passing performances with five. He led the nation in pass efficiency in home games (191.87) and was tops in the country in completions of 25-or-more yards with 44. In addition, he led the SEC in passes of 50-or-more yards (10) and passes of 15-or-more yards (89).Williams was a second-team All-SEC selection in 2009 by the league coaches. He finished the year with 32 catches for 411 yards and three touchdowns. He tied for 24th in the SEC in receptions per game (2.46) and was 23rd in receiving yards per game (31.62). Against South Carolina, he pulled down a season-best nine catches for a career-high 137 yards.