Wallace, Watts to play in East-West Shrine game

FAYETTEVILLE – Although the 2-10 Arkansas Razorbacks obviously won’t be in any bowl games, Arkansas senior defensive tackle Armon Watts and senior right offensive tackle Brian Wallace will participate in postseason play.

The two graduating fifth-year seniors with NFL aspirations will get the chance to be evaluated by NFL scouts while playing in the East-West Shrine game Jan. 19 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Watts provided one of the few bright stories in Arkansas’ grim season. Playing little for former coach Bret Bielema in three seasons after Bielema redshirted him as a 2014 freshman, Watts blossomed this season under first-year coach Chad Morris, first-year

defensive coordinator John Chavis and second-year defensive line coach John Scott.

Watts led the Razorbacks with seven quarterback sacks among his 49 tackles and forced three fumbles. He was honored as Arkansas’ Crip Hall Award winner as the outstanding senior in the homecoming game, a 23-0 victory over Tulsa.

Both Morris and Chavis assert that Watts has pro potential.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,” Morris replied to a question about Watts playing football beyond college.

“I think he’s earned that attention he’s got the body that they’re looking for, and certainly we’re pleased with what he’s done for us here. I think there will be more football ahead for him, no question.”

Chavis said Watts bought into the new regime from Day One.

“He's all in and he has worked his rear end off to get to where he is,” Chavis said. “And all the credit goes to he and John Scott. Coach Scott has done a good job coaching him, but he has been all in and all ears, and he's applying it in the game. He's a smart young man and he understands football. He could go teach everything he's doing right now. He's knows it that well, and I think that's a big part of it.”

After redshirting as a 2014 freshman, Wallace has started 33 of the 35 games he’s played lettering from 2015 through 2018 and drew high praise from Morris, Chavis and Scott for his conditioining work during the summer, reporting leaner but yet with more muscle mass.

In 2016, Wallace started every game for an offense that featured SEC leading regular season rusher Rawleigh Williams (1326 yards) and quarterback Austin Allen (3.430 yards) leading the SEC in passing.

With their season completed, Morris and most of his assistants have hit the recruiting trail.