FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema awarded four walk-ons full athletic scholarships on Sunday, according to multiple players on social media.
Linebackers Austin Jones and Price Holmes, fullback Patrick Arinze and tight end Alex Voelzke earned the scholarships. They join long snapper Alan D'Appollonio and tight end Mitchell Loewen as walk-ons to be added to the Razorbacks' 85-scholarship limit since the end of spring practice.
"Two years ago I was just (trying to) get people to look at my highlight tape and now I'm on scholarship in the SEC," Arinze said on Twitter.
Bielema, who walked on at Iowa before earning a scholarship as a player, said earlier this preseason he plans to build a walk-on program for the Razorbacks.
“I think just in the state of Arkansas there’s probably a lot of players that I think are three good things - they’re usually undersized, under-recruited and underdeveloped," Bielema said. "To me, that’s a great formula for our walk-ons.”
Jones has worked out as the Razorbacks first-team middle linebacker this preseason, while Arinze - the leading rusher in the Razorbacks' spring game - has split time with Kiero Small on the first-team offense. Voelzke, who caught a touchdown pass last season against Ole Miss, is one of several tight ends expected to play this season.