El Dorado News-Times

Razorbacks selected in the NFL Draft.

- Nate Allen

FAYETTEVIL­LE - Running backs Jonathan Williams, Alex Collins, offensive guard Sebastian Tretola and quarterbac­k Brandon Allen on Saturday joined Friday tight end selection Hunter Henry as Arkansas Razorbacks drafted in the 3-day National Football League draft that concluded Saturday in Chicago.

Williams, (Buffalo Bills) and Collins (Seattle Seahawks) were picked in Saturday’s fifth-round. Offensive guard Sebastian Tretola (Tennessee Titans) and quarterbac­k Brandon Allen (Jacksonvil­le Jaguars were picked in Saturday’s sixth round.

Henry (San Diego Chargers) was drafted in Friday’s second round.

The 2015 Mackey Award winner, the award annually bestowed on the nation’s best collegiate tight end, was the first tight end drafted in the 2016 draft selected while the 35th pick overall in the draft by the San Diego Chargers.

Williams was the 156th player when drafted in Saturday’s fifth round by Buffalo and Collins was chosen 171st overall in Saturday’s fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks.

Tretola was picked 191st overall in Saturday’s sixth round. Allen was drafted in the sixth round (201st overall) by the Jacksonvil­le Jaguars. Williams, a 2015 senior missing the entire 2015 season with a broken foot, and juniors Henry and Collins, all depart Arkansas despite having a final 2016 Razorbacks season available.

Williams lettered from 2012-2014 rushing 900 yards as a sophomore in 2014 and a team-leading 1,190 yards in 2014.

Interviewe­d on the Buffalo Bills’ website Saturday, Williams was asked both about his healing foot and the frus-

tration of not playing the entire season after breaking his foot during an August preseason scrimmage.

“I have been rehabbing and doing a lot of work and it’s good,” Williams said. “I have been playing football since I was five years old so not having it in my life was definitely tough. I am definitely ready to play again. I wish I could be there to work out right now and start practicing. Football is a big part of my life.”

Collins, lettering 20132015, surpassed 1,000 yards rushing all three seasons with 3,703 career rushing yards. He split time with Williams in 2014 and 2014 and rushed a career high 1,577 in 2015 carrying the load while Williams missed the season with the broken foot.

Tretola, consensus firstteam All-SEC and second-team All-Amerca in 2015, started 24 consecutiv­e games transferri­ng to Arkansas out of junior college in 2014.

Allen set Razorbacks career records of 64 touchdown passes and most touchdown passes (six) in a game last season in the 53-52 victory over Ole Miss.

Immediatel­y following the draft, three Razorbacks agreed to free agency. Graduated 2015 senior defensive back Rohan Gaines was announced with the Los Angeles Rams and graduated senior defensive end/tight end Mitch Loewen was announced with the New Orleans Saints.

Denver Kirkland, turned pro after three starting in the offensive line, two years at guard and in 2015 at tackle, was announced as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders.

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