Top Ten Greatest Arkansas Razorback Players

Athlon ranks Arkansas' Top 10 players since 1967.

Burlsworth is one of only two players to ever have their number (No. 77) retired (Clyde Scott is the other) at Arkansas. The All-American guard is one of the most inspiring stories in Razorback football history. Orginally a walk-on, Burlsworth earned his scholarship with work ethic and a hard-nosed attitude. He played sparingly on the SEC West Championship team of 1995 before getting the starting nod in spring of 1996. He never gave it back, starting 34 straight games. He not only led the way for one of the school's most potent offenses but also in the classroom. In December of 1998, he became the first Hog to ever complete his Master's Degree prior to playing his final football game. Eleven days after being drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Colts, Burlsworth was killed in a car accident. The Bradon Burlsworth Foundation was quickly established in honor of his work ethic and Christian values. It is easy to see why the two-time All-SEC lineman was such a fan favorite.

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Bumpas was the leader of the Southwest Conference's top defense in 1970, earning conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. He posted 53 tackles that year en route to a sterling 9-2 record. Bumpas was named a consensus All-American and was inducted into the Arkansas Hall of Fame in 2006.

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Hamlin started his Arkansas career quickly, becoming the first freshman in school history to lead the team in tackles with 104. He was only the second defensive back in Razorback history to lead the team in tackles. He earned freshman All-America honors that fall. He went on to top 100 tackles in all three of his seasons - the first suck player to top the century tackle mark three seperate times. He was a semifinalist for the Thorpe and Nagurski Trophies. His 381 career total tackles were a school record (broken the next season by Tony Bua). His 159 stops in 2002 were second only in school history to Wayne Harris' 174 in 1960. Hamlin was drafted with the 42nd overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Seahawks.

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It is tough to truly place where Jones is located in the grand scheme of Razorbacks football becuase he shared carries in the same backfield as two-time Doak Walker winner Darren McFadden and current Madden coverboy Peyton Hillis. Yet, Jones left an indelible mark of his own. As a sophomore, Jones rushed for 1,168 yards and six scores on only 154  carries (7.6 ypc). He was an All-America kick returner during his time in Fayetteville as well. Along with McFadden, it was the first time that Arkansas had two player top the 1,000-yard mark in the same season. Jones came back as a junior to the tune of 1,160 yards and 11 more touchdowns on only 134 carries (9.1 ypc). He led the SEC in kickoffs with 18 returns for 564 yards and two TDs. The explosive playmaker finished his career with 2,954 rushing yards, 383 receiving yards, 1,744 return yards and 27 total touchdowns (good for seventh all-time in TDs). He ranks second all-time in Arkansas history for all-purpose yards with 5,099. Jones was selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Cowboys.

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Smith was a two-time consensus All-American who wreaked havoc in opposing backfields. He captained the 9-2-1 1982 team that beat Florida in the Bluebonnet Bowl. His finished his career with 299 total tackles and his 63 tackles for a loss (for 343 lost yards) are a school record by a wide margin (46, Henry Ford). Smith was inducted into the NCAA Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

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Luigs led the way for what was arguably the best offense in school history. The two-time All-American claimed the Rimington Trophy in 2007 as the nation's best center and the Jacobs Trophy as the SEC's top lineman. The 286.5 rushing yards per game, 450.0 yards per game and 37.3 points per game each set school records. In 2008, Luigs ended his Hogs' career with a string of 49 straight starts and was, for the third time in a row, a Rimgington Finalist. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Bengals.

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Atwater signed with the Razorbacks as a quarterback before being moved perfmanently to safety. He was named to three All-SWC teams and an All-American twice. Atwater is the school's all-time leader in interceptions with 14. He was selected in with the 20th overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft by Denver. Known for his punishing hits and knock-out blows in both college and the NFL, Atwater went on to win two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos.

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Dubbed the "Danimal," Hampton was an All-American for the Razorbacks - playing in the enemy backfield for much of his career. His 32 tackles for a loss were good for third all-time in school history at the time. Hampton logged 98 tackles as a senior en route to earning Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year award. The four-year letterman finished with 237 career total tackles and six career fumble recoveries. He was the fourth overall pick of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Hampton helped anchor the "Monsters of the Midway" Super Bowl championship defense in Chi-town in 1985.

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After quickly earning a starting spot as a freshman, Andrews improved each season before becoming a consensus All-American in 2003. Andrews was also recognized as Lombardi and Outland Trophy finalists that season as well as winning his second Jacobs Trophy - given to the SEC's top lineman (2002, 2003). He was given the Parker Award in 2003 as the nation's best offensive lineman. In his 35 career games, Andrews allowed only two sacks. The three-time Pro Bowler left school early and was drafted with the 16th overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Eagles.

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McFadden is very simply the most decorated player in school history and he holds virtually all school rushing records. His 4,590 career rushing yards are tops in Arkansas history and finished second in SEC history to Herschel Walker's 5,259 yards. His 325 carries in 2007 were a school mark as are his 785 career carries. He a school and SEC record with 321 yards rushing against South Carolina in 2007. He owns the top two rushing totals in school history (1,830 and 1,647). His 41 rushing TDs are second best in Hog history. His 22 100-yard efforts are a school record as well. His 5,881 all-purpose yards are a school record. Along with Texas' Ricky Williams, McFadden is only the second player in NCAA history to claim two Doak Walker Awards (2006, 2007) and the explosive back finished second in the Heisman voting two years in a row. The two-time consensus All-American would have shattered SEC rushing records had he returned for his final season, but instead McFadden was drafted by the Raiders with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

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