FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema will be joined by three seniors -- linebacker Brooks Ellis, tight end Jeremy Sprinkle and defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. -- at SEC media days next week in Hoover, Ala., the conference office announced Wednesday.
The Razorbacks will visit the media contingent -- expected to exceed 1,200 -- Wednesday, along with Alabama, Kentucky and Missouri. SEC media days will open Monday with an address by second-year commissioner Greg Sankey and appearances by Auburn, Florida and Vanderbilt. Georgia, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Texas A&M will be there Tuesday, and the proceedings will end on Thursday with appearances by LSU, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
Watch lists
State players who are on the various college football awards watch lists:
BEDNARIK AWARD
Awarded to the best defensive player in the country
NAME POS. SCHOOL
Deatrich Wise DE Arkansas
Ja’Von Rolland-Jones DE Ark. State
RIMINGTON TROPHY
Awarded to the best center in the country
NAME POS SCHOOL
Frank Ragnow C Arkansas
Devin Mondie C Ark. State
Bielema, the fourth-year head coach, and the Razorbacks are coming off an 8-5 season that was capped by a 45-23 victory overs Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl. Arkansas has increased its victory total each season under Bielema and has won bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the first time.
Ellis, from Fayetteville, led the Razorbacks with 102 tackles last season, switching from weakside to middle linebacker after two games. Ellis has started 18 consecutive games. He was one of two SEC players with 15-plus tackles in two games last season.
Wise, of Carrollton, Texas, led the SEC with eight sacks in conference games, including seven in the last four games. Wise, named to the Bednarik Award watch list this week, has 11 of 13 career sacks against SEC opponents. He had 31 tackles last season, 10.5 for lost yardage.
Sprinkle, from White Hall, led SEC tight ends with six touchdown catches, all in the final seven games and is one of 45 players named on the watch list for the Mackey Award, giving to the nation's top tight end. Sprinkle caught 27 passes for 389 yards last season while sharing time with All-American Hunter Henry.
SEC odds
Bovada Las Vegas has given Arkansas 20-to-1 odds to win the SEC championship, making Arkansas the ninth title favorite behind defending NCAA and SEC champion Alabama (7-4), LSU (7-2) and Tennessee (7-2).
Alabama is a 4-5 favorite to claim the SEC West, while Tennessee has the same odds to win the SEC East.
Bovada puts Arkansas as the fifth favorite to win the West behind the Crimson Tide, LSU (9-4), Auburn (7-1), Ole Miss (12-1). Arkansas is tied with Texas A&M at 14-1. Mississippi State is seventh at 20-1.
Sports on 07/07/2016