Henry and Hamilton End NFL Regular Season On High Notes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It’s been quite the year for tight end Hunter Henry. The former Mackey Award winning Razorback, who helped lead Arkansas to a 2016 Liberty Bowl win, and was, then, drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round in last year’s NFL Draft, came into his own in his first full pro season.

Henry and the Chargers won’t be in the playoffs this year, but the level of play Henry showed in his rookie year should have Chargers’ fans hopeful for years to come. In his regular season finale against Kansas City, Henry caught four passes on five targets for 43 yards. He added his eighth touchdown of the year late in the game on a 12-yard pass from quarterback Philip Rivers, but it was too little too late as Kansas City won its 12^th game of the year, 37-27.

It’s Henry’s fifth touchdown in his last seven games and keeps his season total in the top 10 among all pass catchers in the league. His eight scoring grabs is tied for ninth in the NFL overall and first among all tight ends.

Henry’s 36 catches for 478 yards finished just behind his teammate and future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, but his touchdowns led all Chargers in 2016.

The Little Rock, Arkansas native’s ability to get a first down with nearly every catch was on display all season. Henry had 30 of his 36 catches go for a first down, which was good for an 83.3 percent clip, the highest percentage among all tight ends with 25 catches or more.

Eighth Touchdown Grab For Henry
Henry catches 12-yard TD pass

#ProHogs Tweet of the Week

Get up young fella! 🏈👀 #ProHogs https://t.co/GCHcO1sdnT

— Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) January 1, 2017

Other #ProHogs Stars of the Week

Cobi Hamilton – WR Pittsburgh Steelers
Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton was another former Hog that used 2016 as a launch pad to his pro career. Hamilton finished off his 11th appearance of the year Sunday with the start against Cleveland. Hamilton caught three of four targets for 54 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 26-yard grab in overtime. Even though he was drafted in 2013 by Cincinnati, Hamilton was never given active duty until this year with the Steelers. After being called up from the practice squad before Week 6, Hamilton thrived throughout the remainder of the season, totaling 17 catches for 234 yards and two scores. Pittsburgh won the AFC North with an 11-5 record and will host the Miami Dolphins next week during wild card weekend.

Hamilton Hauls In Game-Winner
HIGHLIGHT: Hamilton with a 26-yard game winning TD

Playoff Bound
With 17 weeks worth of games in the books, 12 teams are left standing and will face off in this year’s playoffs. Of those 12 teams, nine former Razorbacks will be continuing their seasons with their respective teams, including five players who will be experiencing the playoffs for the first time.

Denver Kirkland (Oakland), Alex Collins (Seattle), Cobi Hamilton (Pittsburgh), Robert Thomas (NY Giants), and Darren McFadden (Dallas), will each be playing in their first NFL playoffs of their careers this year. For McFadden, the running back is in the midst of his ninth NFL season, but was unable to reach the playoffs with Oakland between 2008 and 2014. Now with his resurgence in 2015 and return from an off-season elbow injury this year, McFadden has worked his way back to the active roster for the top-seeded Cowboys, but will go into the playoffs as the second string running back behind the NFL’s top rusher, Ezekiel Elliott.

Below is a full list of former Hogs that fans will be able to see in this year’s playoffs:

Denver Kirkland (Oakland) – Will play at Houston in Wild Card Round (Sat. Jan. 7)
Travis Swanson (Detroit) – 2nd playoff appearance; Will play at Seattle in Wild Card Round (Sat. Jan. 7)
Alex Collins (Seattle) – Will host Detroit in Wild Card Round (Sat. Jan. 7)
Cobi Hamilton (Pittsburgh) – Will host Miami in Wild Card Round (Sun. Jan. 8)
Robert Thomas (NY Giants) – Will play at Green Bay in Wild Card Round (Sun. Jan. 8)
Brett Goode (Green Bay) – Will host NY Giants in Wild Card Round (Sun. Jan. 8)
Trey Flowers (New England) – Will play in Divisional Round (Sat. Jan. 14)
Knile Davis (Kansas City) – Will play in Divisional Round (Sun. Jan. 15)
Darren McFadden (Dallas) – Will play in Divisional Round (Sun. Jan. 15)

#ProHogs Week 17 Roundup