FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas linebacker Martrell Spaight's big senior year just got a little better with an invitation Thursday to play in the Senior Bowl.
Coach Bret Bielema tweeted the news Thursday morning, then said later on his radio show, On the Air with Bret Bielema, that tight end AJ Derby received an invitation to the East-West Shrine game.
Spaight ranks third in the SEC with 97 tackles and is coming off a 10-tackle game in the Razorbacks' 17-0 shutout of LSU.
Spaight's invitation to the Senior Bowl means he will get nearly a week of exposure with scouts from all the NFL teams watching his every move.
Spaight also received an invitation to the Shrine game.
"I'm fortunate and thankful for the opportunity," said Spaight, a second-year Razorbacks player from North Little Rock and Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. "Everything just seems unreal to me right now, just being in the position I'm in today."
Derby, in his first year as a tight end, is third on the team with 21 catches for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Bielema hinted on Wednesday that Spaight might be on the brink of an invitation from Phil Savage, executive director of the Senior Bowl and a former Cleveland Browns general manager.
Braylon's day
Senior Braylon Mitchell capitalized on his best playing time of the season by making nine tackles in Arkansas' 17-0 victory over run-heavy LSU last week.
Mitchell's playing time as the strong-side linebacker had been limited this year because the Razorbacks bring in an extra defensive back against the many Spread teams with extra receivers they've played.
Mitchell and fellow linebackers Martrell Spaight and Brooks Ellis helped limited LSU to 36 rushing yards.
"That's one thing we talked about as a coaching staff, that he probably played his best game since I've been here at Arkansas," linebackers coach Randy Shannon said.
Uekman included
Arkansas' tribute to 20 seniors before Saturday's game will include recognition of Garrett Uekman, the tight end from Little Rock who died Nov. 20, 2011, the day the Razorbacks rose to No. 3 in the national rankings. Uekman would have been a fifth-year senior this season.
Uekman's family, including parents Danny and Michelle Uekman, will be introduced as part of pre-game Senior Day festivities.
Series notes
Arkansas' records indicate the Razorbacks lead the series 32-27-1, while Ole Miss lists a 31-28-1 edge for the Hogs. The discrepancy is the 1914 game won 13-7 by the Rebels that Arkansas claims as a forfeit victory.
The Razorbacks own a 12-10 advantage since they joined the SEC in 1992, and Ole Miss has won the last two.
Hogs and the West
Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze gave a succinct summary about life in the SEC West before facing Arkansas this week.
"I've said all year long that I felt like all seven teams in the SEC West were quality top-25 teams," Freeze said. "Because of the schedule we play that won't be reflected in all of the polls, but I assure you this team is one of the better teams in the country.
"They don't give up many points. People don't rush the football on them. They shorten the game with their physical run game and their play passes off of it are extremely difficult to defend."
Speaking well
Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney credited Ole Miss' ability to make calls and checks at the line of scrimmage as one of the reasons the Rebels rank No. 10 nationally in total defense, allowing 309.8 yards per game.
"They're great communicators," Chaney said. "It's very difficult to utilize a lot of shifts and motions and get them out of position. They have good communication skills in their back half and their front. They tie it together good. They're very well coached. They've played a lot of ball together."
Bye week reverse
Arkansas' 17-0 victory over LSU ended the Hogs' four-game losing streak in games after bye weeks. The Razorbacks had also been 2-8 in games after byes dating to a 41-38 loss at Alabama in 2007 to Coach Nick Saban's first Crimson Tide team in Houston Nutt's final season as Arkansas coach.
Freeze try
Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze was one of at least 22 candidates for the head coaching job at Rogers High School during the search in December 2000 that led to Ronnie Peacock's hiring.
Freeze, whose application came in under Danny Hugh Freeze Jr., was then the head football and girls basketball coach at Briarcrest Christian School in Collierville, Tenn. His 6-year football record was 54-14 at the time.
Bielema warns
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said he has seen no concern that the Razorbacks can't refocus and play well against Ole Miss after ending their 17-game SEC losing streak with a 17-0 victory over No. 17 LSU.
"I think there was a lot of emotion and our players were happy and ecstatic, but it was a pretty much work in progress on Sunday," Bielema said Monday. "I told them, 'Be your own critical self this week. Your Mom, Dad, all your friends, your girlfriend, whatever, is going to think you're better than you are this week."
Sports on 11/21/2014