McFadden Piling Up Awards

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden is piling up awards as fast as he piled up yards this season. He most recently was named the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year by league coaches and a freshman All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com on Wednesday.

It was the third consecutive day McFadden received honors. The true freshman from Little Rock's Pulaski Oak Grove High was named a first-team All-SEC member by both the Associated Press and the coaches this week. He also was named the SEC freshman of the year by the AP on Monday. Last week, the 6-foot-2, 205 pounder was named to Rivals.com's freshman All-America team.

Averaging a whopping 6.3 yards per carry, McFadden racked up 101.2 yards per game to become the seventh SEC freshman to rush for more than 1,000 yards. He also set school records for rushing yards (1,113), 100-yard rushing games (5) and touchdowns by a freshman (11).

CollegeFootballNews.com named three other Razorbacks to its freshman All-America team. Linebacker Freddie Fairchild and kick returner Felix Jones were named first-teamers while center Jonathan Luigs received second-team honors.

Fairchild played in every game and started the final eight games. He recorded 59 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass deflection. Jones led the nation with 32.1 yards per kickoff return and became the seventh Razorback and first since 1994 to return a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in 44-10 win against Mississippi State. Luigs started the first eight games at right guard and the last three games at center. He recorded 52 knockdown blocks.

It's the first postseason awards for Luigs and Fairchild, although they'll get another chance when the coaches' SEC All-Freshman team will be announced today.