McFadden Olajubutu and Hillis Gain Hogwired.com Player of the Week Honors

November 7, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman tailback Darren McFadden, junior linebacker Sam Olajubutu and sophomore punt returner/fullback Peyton Hillis were named the Hogwired.com Players of the Week after their terrific individual efforts in Arkansas’ Southeastern Conference game against No. 20 Auburn.

McFadden picked up offensive accolades for the fourth-straight week after he rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries against Auburn. The North Little Rock, Ark., native boasted an 8.3 yards per carry average against the Tigers. It was the second consecutive 100-yard rushing effort after earning a career high 135 yards and two touchdowns last weekend against Louisiana-Monroe.

McFadden is only the third UA freshman (Matt Jones, Felix Jones) to record a pair of 100-yard rushing games in his true freshman season. He leads the team in rushing with 492 yards and six touchdowns on 55 carries. His 82.0 yards per game on the ground ranks sixth in the SEC and 45th in the nation. He also made three receptions and returned a kickoff 20 yards, while earning 129 yards in all-purpose yardage.

Olajubutu, UA’s defensive player of the week, racked up a career high 18 tackles including 12 solo stops. He earned two tackles for loss (-10) including one sack (-9). The LaGrange, Ga., native also tallied a quarterback hurry and a pass deflection. His sack helped stop the Tigers in the red zone and force a field goal.

Olajubutu leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with 11.3 tackles per game according to press box totals. That same average ranks him T-15th in the nation and he ranks tied for 5th in the nation in solo tackles per game (7.17 pg.).

Even though Hillis started the game at fullback, his biggest impact was felt at the punt returner position, allowing him to garner the special teams player of the week honor. In the second quarter of Saturday’s game Hillis recorded a 27-yard punt return. It was the Conway native’s longest of the season and the longest of any Razorback in 2005.