Skipper named to watch list

Skipper named to watch list

UA Media Relations DALLAS – Arkansas senior offensive lineman Dan Skipper was named to the preseason watch list for the 2016 Outland Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced Friday.

This is the second straight year Arkansas has had at least one player on the preseason Outland Trophy watch list. Sebastian Tretola and Denver Kirkland each made the list last year.

The Outland Trophy is given annually to the most outstanding interior lineman in college football.

Arkansas has had two Outland Trophy winners in its history.

All-American Bud Brooks was the first Hog to claim the award in 1954, helping the team win the Southwestern Conference championship and earn a trip in the 1955 Cotton Bowl. Loyd Phillips won the award in 1966 after recording 97 tackles on defense. He, like Brooks, was a consensus first-team All-American during his award-winning season.

One of just two returning lineman in the conference to earn All-SEC honors from the league head coaches and the Associated Press in 2015, Skipper started all 13 games at right tackle and finished second on the team with an 83 percent offensive grade. Participating in more than 900 snaps, Skipper earned an 80 percent grade or better in a team-best 12 games, including the final seven, and graded the highest on the offensive line four times.

The Arvada, Colorado, native totaled 53 knockdowns and didn’t commit a penalty over the final nine games of the season. He helped the Arkansas offensive line lead the SEC in fewest sacks allowed for the third straight year and paved the way for running back Alex Collins to run for more than 1,500 yards and become just the third player in SEC history with three straight 1,000-yard campaigns to begin his career.

At 6-foot-10, 326-pounds, Skipper enters his senior campaign as the most experienced member of the Razorback offensive line with 34 consecutive career starts.

Skipper was named a preseason third team All- American and a first team All-SEC player by Athlon Sports earlier this summer. For more information on Razorback Football, follow @RazorbackFB on Twitter. DALLAS – Arkansas senior offensive lineman Dan Skipper was named to the preseason watch list for the 2016 Outland Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced Friday.

This is the second straight year Arkansas has had at least one player on the preseason Outland Trophy watch list. Sebastian Tretola and Denver Kirkland each made the list last year.

The Outland Trophy is given annually to the most outstanding interior lineman in college football.

Arkansas has had two Outland Trophy winners in its history.

All-American Bud Brooks was the first Hog to claim the award in 1954, helping the team win the Southwestern Conference championship and earn a trip in the 1955 Cotton Bowl. Loyd Phillips won the award in 1966 after recording 97 tackles on defense. He, like Brooks, was a consensus first-team All-American during his award-winning season.

One of just two returning lineman in the conference to earn All-SEC honors from the league head coaches and the Associated Press in 2015, Skipper started all 13 games at right tackle and finished second on the team with an 83 percent offensive grade. Participating in more than 900 snaps, Skipper earned an 80 percent grade or better in a team-best 12 games, including the final seven, and graded the highest on the offensive line four times.

The Arvada, Colorado, native totaled 53 knockdowns and didn’t commit a penalty over the final nine games of the season. He helped the Arkansas offensive line lead the SEC in fewest sacks allowed for the third straight year and paved the way for running back Alex Collins to run for more than 1,500 yards and become just the third player in SEC history with three straight 1,000-yard campaigns to begin his career.

At 6-foot-10, 326-pounds, Skipper enters his senior campaign as the most experienced member of the Razorback offensive line with 34 consecutive career starts.

Skipper was named a preseason third team All-American and a first team All-SEC player by Athlon Sports earlier this summer. For more information on Razorback Football, follow @RazorbackFB on Twitter.

By John Thomas