Hogs Highlight LRTDC Awards Banquet
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas football program was well represented Thursday night at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Awards Banquet at Embassy Suites.
Among the honorees were:
• Kevin Richardson II – Paul Eells Award
• Frank Ragnow – Willie Roaf Award
• Santos Ramirez – Arkansas MVP
• Billy Ferrell – Dan Hampton Award
• Connor Noland – 6A High School Player of the Year
Richardson is the 12th recipient of the Paul Eells Award, an honor given in memory of the former Voice of the Razorbacks who passed away in a car accident prior to the 2006 football season. One of the Little Rock Touchdown Club’s highest honors, the Paul Eells Award is presented annually to the Razorback player who has exhibited perseverance, determination, courage and resolve in the face of difficult circumstances while also continuing to uphold the highest of standards as a player, teammate and student. After sustaining a season-ending injury in the 2016 season opener, Richardson returned in 2017 and tied for the team lead and ninth in the SEC in interceptions (3) to go along with 50 tackles. A defensive team captain, Richardson’s three pickoffs were the most by a Razorback in a single season since 2013. One of Richardson’s most memorable plays of the year occurred at Ole Miss on Oct. 28, when he scooped a fumble and returned it 22 yards for a score with 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter of the Razorbacks’ 38-37 win.
Ragnow received the Willie Roaf Award as the top collegiate offensive lineman in Arkansas. The award is presented to the top Arkansas collegiate offensive lineman. A selection panel of statewide media along with Roaf select three finalists and the winner for both college and high school awards. In 2017, Ragnow earned multiple All-America honors and led all Football Bowl Subdivision offensive linemen with a 93.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade. He paced all centers with a 92.4 grade in the run game to go with an 88.3 mark in pass protection in seven games played. He allowed only one pressure on his 255 pass blocking snaps. Ragnow started 33 consecutive games and didn’t allow a sack over 2,603 career snaps at center and right guard before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury during the Auburn game on Oct. 21. He had only missed 43 offensive snaps since becoming a permanent starter as a sophomore in 2015.
Ramirez, also a defensive team captain, earned the honor of Arkansas MVP. He was one of only three players in the FBS in 2017 to record at least 60 tackles, an interception, eight pass breakups and three fumbles forced. Known for his heavy hitting and ball-hawking efforts, Ramirez racked up eight or more tackles four times this past season, including a career-high 10 stops and a game-changing forced fumble at Ole Miss.
Ferrell earned the Dan Hampton Award for the best defensive high school lineman in Arkansas. The No. 7 player in the state by multiple recruiting outlets, Ferrell displayed his athleticism as a senior at Fordyce with 63 tackles, including 8.0 for loss, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on defense to go along with 12 kick returns for 419 yards.
A top 300 player in the class by ESPN and a consensus top three player in Arkansas, Noland was named the 6A High School Player of the Year. He threw for 61 touchdowns and 5,768 yards in his career at Greenwood. In his senior season, he completed 151 of 229 passes for 2,095 yards and 18 touchdowns and led the Bulldogs to a 13-0 record and state title.
NFL Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen served as the event’s guest speaker.
All-Time Razorback Award Winners:
PAUL EELLS AWARD
2017 Kevin Richardson II, DB
2016 Rawleigh Williams III, RB
2015 Brandon Allen, QB
2014 Martrell Spaight, LB
2013 Kiero Small, RB
2012 Dennis Johnson, RB
2011 Garrett Uekman, TE
2010 DJ Williams, TE
2009 Joe Adams, WR
2008 Casey Dick, QB
2007 Peyton Hillis, RB
2006 Robert Johnson, Arkansas, WR/QB
RAZORBACK TEAM MVP
2017 Santos Ramirez, DB
2016 Austin Allen, QB
2015 Alex Collins, RB
2014 Jonathan Williams, RB
2013 Trey Flowers, DL
2012 Tyler Wilson, QB
2011 Jarius Wright, WR
2010 Ryan Mallet, QB
2009 Ryan Mallet, QB
2008 DJ Williams, TE
2007 Darren McFadden, RB
2006 Darren McFadden, RB
2005 Darren McFadden, RB
2004 Matt Jones, QB
DAN HAMPTON AWARD – College
2014 Trey Flowers
2013 Trey Flowers
DAN HAMPTON AWARD – High School
2017 Billy Ferrell – Fordyce
2015 McTelvin Agim – Hope
2014 Daytreon Dean – Fort Smith Northside
2013 Bijhon Jackson – Eldorado
WILLIE ROAF AWARD – College
2017 Frank Ragnow
2016 Dan Skipper
2015 Sebastian Tretola
2013 Travis Swanson
HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(7A)
2012 Austin Allen, Fayetteville, QB
2011 Brooks Ellis, Fayetteville, LB
2010 Brandon Allen, Fayetteville, QB
2009 Zach Hocker, Russellville, PK/P
(6A)
2017 Connor Noland, QB
2012 Drew Morgan, Greenwood, WR
2007 Dennis Johnson, Texarkana, RB
2006 Dennis Johnson, Texarkana, RB
(5A)
2011 Drew Morgan, Greenwood, WR
2005 Mitch Mustain, Springdale, QB Tie
(4A)
2013 Joshua Liddell, Pine Bluff, DB
2007 Joe Adams, Central Arkansas Christian, WR
2004 Darren McFadden, Oak Grove, RB-S
(3A)
2014 Ty Storey, Charleston, QB
2013 Ty Storey, Charleston, QB
