FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas will have three players -- tailback Jonathan Williams, defensive tackle Darius Philon and receiver Keon Hatcher -- submit paperwork to the NFL college advisory committee to have their draft status evaluated.
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said the paperwork for the players to fill out arrived at the Fred Smith Center this week. The deadline for underclassmen to apply for the NFL Draft is Jan. 15.
Williams, the SEC's fourth-leading rusher with 1,085 yards, and Hatcher are juniors. Philon, a sophomore, is draft eligible because he redshirted in 2012 and has been on campus for three years.
"Those guys in particular we'll send in pre-draft requests, which we do this week," Bielema said. "It sometimes takes three to four weeks for that to get turned around.
"When those results come back we'll sit down together with them and their family and kind of explain what it means and where they're at and what decisions they have moving forward. I really don't comment or say anything until I see the actual draft grades coming back."
Hatcher, 6-2, 210 pounds, has made big strides this season. The Owasso, Okla., native leads the Razorbacks with 39 catches for 517 yards and 5 touchdowns. He added to his resume with a 12-yard touchdown catch against Missouri on which he bulled through cornerback Kenya Dennis for the final couple of yards.
Philon, 6-3, 287, from Prichard, Ala., has 45 tackles, including 10 1/2 tackles for losses, and 3 1/2 sacks for 29 lost yards. Philon has three fumble recoveries, one for a touchdown against Northern Illinois and another he returned to the 1 against Ole Miss.
SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy called Philon one of the SEC's best interior defensive linemen earlier this season.
Bielema had said previously that Williams would fill out the paperwork.
"I've had a conversation with [Williams]," Bielema said. "We met with his family after a game this fall and told them what we're going to do. I'm going to visit with Keon and Darius."
Sports on 12/06/2014