Razorback Football Notes: Trey Flowers Gets SEC, National Honors

 

Trey Flowers against ULL

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas junior defensive end Trey Flowers was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in Saturday’s season-opening 34-14 win vs. Louisiana, it was announced Monday.

Trey Flowers recorded five tackles, including 3.0 for loss with 2.0 sacks, two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble against the Ragin’ Cajuns. He leads the SEC and is tied for eighth in the NCAA in tackles for loss and also is tied for the SEC lead and for second in the country in sacks and forced fumbles. The junior from Huntsville, Ala., accounted for a loss of 20 yards on his three tackles for loss, and his forced fumble was recovered by the Razorbacks at midfield and converted into a touchdown in the third quarter.

The honor is the second weekly recognition for Flowers, who also was named National Defensive Lineman of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards on Monday.

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Assistant coaches of the University of Arkansas football team met with the media on Sunday after the Razorbacks won their season opener against Louisiana 34-14 on Saturday inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Running backs coach Joel Thomas addressed the overall success of his running backs squad.

“I thought when their number was called, they rose to the occasion,” Thomas said. “Going back in my mind there weren’t a lot of misreads. The front did a great job too, don’t make any mistakes about that. The guys set the game plan, they believed in the game plan, and they were able to get out there and run hard.”

Thomas also spoke to having two student-athletes, Jonathan Williams (151 yards) andAlex Collins (131 yards), run for more than 100 yards each.

“I don’t think Alex Collins knows any different for going for 100 (yards) and obviously Jonathan (Williams) when he was a starter back in high school, he was pretty prolific himself, too,” Thomas said. “I don’t think it’s uncommon ground for them to have the success they had.”

Assistant head coach and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge noted the successful stops that his defensive line produced against Louisiana.

“I’m happy with their production, certainly in the second half,” Coach Partridge said. “I think once they got a feel for what Lafayette’s game plan of attack was and once they made a couple of adjustments, they did a good job of getting to be more aggressive. We saw the production increase in the second half because of that.”

Coach Patridge also addressed the play of junior defensive end Trey Flowers, who ended the game with 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

“I’m proud of his game and really saw a lot of things that we were seeing in practice carry over onto the game field,” Coach Partridge said. “He’s a relentless student of the game, works hard on his fundamentals every single day and his faith in the process carried over into a good football game.”

Defensive coordinator Chris Ash expressed that the team is now fully focused on preparations for its game against Samford.

“It’s the reason we practice on Sundays like we have,” Ash said. “We’ve put that previous game to bed already. The Lafayette game is behind us. Our focus is now on Samford. I have a 24-hour rule for the guys on defense. No matter if you win or lose the game on Saturday, you come back on Sunday. You’ve got 24 hours to sulk about it or celebrate the victory, and it’s time to move on.”

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University of Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema met with the media on Monday to recap the team’s 34-14 win over Louisiana on Saturday and to look forward to next Saturday’s game against Samford at 6 p.m. in Little Rock.

Bielema shared his excitement with how the Razorbacks showed up last Saturday and played in their season opener.

“As coaches, it was really nice to watch the game unfold,” Coach Bielema said. “Then to watch on Sunday and see all the things we had worked on, both in the x’s and o’s and the training of Ben Herbert. Some of the things that we preach about as a program showed up.”

Bielema also looked ahead to this week’s matchup against Samford.

“Samford obviously won their opener and they did a very good job against Georgia State,” Bielema said. “Also, we’ll go to Little Rock, a longstanding tradtion. To be a part of that and for a head coach to go in there and know all the other coaches that have gone before you, as players as well, to go over there to that side of the state I know our guys are excited.”

In his first season as head coach, the trip to Little Rock will be a new experience to Bielema and his team.

“Our kids, from everything they’ve told me, they love being a part of it,” Bielema said. “I’m a big believer in I’m not going to really make a judgment until I live it. I love to embrace things that I’ve never done before. I’m excited to see the experience and the atmosphere.”

The Razorbacks travel to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock next Saturday to face Samford. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be available on a pay-per-view basis. For more information on the pay-per-view broadcast, click here.

Courtesy University of Arkansas Department of Athletics

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