Williams Harrison and Skinner Named Hogwired.com Players of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas wide receiver Damian Williams, defensive tackle Marcus Harrison and punter Jacob Skinner earned recognition as the inaugural 2006 Hogwired.com Player of the Week honorees for their efforts in last weekend’s USC game.

Williams garnered offensive player of the week honors while Harrison and Skinner earned defensive and special teams recognition.

Williams led the Razorbacks with four catches for 61 yards in his first collegiate game. The freshman from Springdale became the first Razorback rookie to lead the team in catches in his debut since Richard Smith made five catches against Southwest Missouri State in 2000. Williams had catches of nine, four and six yards before hauling in a 42-yard pass from fellow freshman and former high school teammate Mitch Mustain in the fourth quarter. The long play set up an Arkansas touchdown.

Harrison turned in the best game of his Razorback career on the Hogs’ defensive front racking up a career-high 12 tackles. It was the first double-digit tackle performance of his career and marked the first time a UA defensive lineman had earned 10 or more stops since Keith Jackson netted 10 against Ole Miss last season. Ten of Harrison’s 12 tackles were solo tackles.

Skinner picked up where he left off last season booming five punts for 210 yards and a 42.0 yard average. He earned a game-high 47-yard punt, forced one fair catch and landed one of his kicks inside the Trojans’ 20-yard line. Arkansas averaged 38.0 yards net punting against USC and ranks 32nd nationally in that category this week. Skinner helped the Razorbacks rank seventh nationally in 2005 with a 38.8 yard net punting average.

Following each game this season, Hogwired.com will recognize an offensive, defensive and special teams player of the week. Recipients are chosen by the UA football coaching staff.