FAYETTEVILLE -- Between the guard starting the game and the guard who will be honored at halftime, today's game against Nicholls State at Reynolds Razorback Stadium will feature Arkansas' two biggest and two of the best offensive guards to ever play for the Hogs.
Freddie Childress, the 6-4, 345-pound All-American from West Helena who starred for Ken Hatfield's teams from 1985-88 and was a six-time Canadian Football League All-Star, was among the nine players who were inducted Friday night into the UA Sports Hall of Honor and will be recognized during today's game.
Sophomore Denver Kirkland, 6-5, 330, of Miami already appears bound for the Hall of Honor one game into his season season with the Razorbacks.
Despite playing for a 3-9 team that went 0-8 in the SEC last season, Kirkland was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and to several freshman All-American teams.
He increased his 2014 stock by opening the season last Saturday afternoon against the defending SEC champion Auburn Tigers, who are ranked No. 5 nationally this week.
Arkansas lost 45-21, but Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and offensive line coach Sam Pittman all graded Kirkland as a winner individually. Kirkland played all 60 offensive snaps through the stifling heat and humidity.
"That kid has really elevated his game from a year ago," Bielema said. "We kind of challenged him, and he rose above the challenge."
Chaney also marveled.
"I thought Denver Kirkland played a really fine game against some of the better defensive tackles that you'll see in college football," Chaney said.
Pittman offered the highest praise of all.
"That is the best we have had one particular guy play in a single game since I have been here," Pittman said, "and we were playing as a good a defensive line as there is in college football."
Kirkland gave Auburn's defense credit for living up to its billing, but he admitted the more pregame credit the Tigers received the more he vowed to discredit them.
"Our coaches kept bragging about them a lot and praising them, and I just got tired of it," Kirkland said. "So I stepped my game up a little bit. I had an average game against Auburn last year. I didn't play to my potential. I did it this year."
He did it weighing 330 pounds while weathering a sauna without relief.
"He's a gamer," Pittman said. "That's what he does."
Hatfield, who is retired and lives in Northwest Arkansas, was asked to compare the All-American he coached on 10-2, 9-3, 9-4 and 10-2 teams to the budding All-American candidate he's watching now.
"They are asking them to do two different things," Hatfield said.
Childress battered pancakes run-blocking full bore in Hatfield's Wishbone. Kirkland also is a physical run-blocker, but it's as a pass protector that he is ideal using his long arms, Hatfield said.
"Both work hard and take a lot of pride in what they are doing," Hatfield said. "We never would have made a yard without great offensive linemen, and that's what he [Bielema] is trying to build here."
Sports on 09/06/2014