McFadden selected as SEC Legend
FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas Razorback running back Darren McFadden has been named as Arkansas’ member of the AT&T Southeastern Conference Legends class.
One of the most decorated players in Arkansas history and a two-time runner up for the Heisman Trophy, McFadden was selected as the 2007 Player of the Year by the Walter Camp Foundation and The Sporting News. A two-time first-team All-American, he twice won the Doak Walker Award and was twice named SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
McFadden ranks second on the SEC career rushing list with 4,590 yards and averaged 120.8 yards per game during his three-year career, third best in league history. He rushed for 100 yards or more 22 times and is one of only three players in SEC history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. His 321 yards vs. South Carolina in 2007 remains tied for the SEC record for rushing yards in a game.
Arkansas built its team around running backs McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis from 2005-07. The Razorbacks built momentum off of a 4-7 season in 2005 to finish 10-4 in 2006 with 10 straight wins, an SEC West title and an appearance in the SEC Championship game. Their only losses were to teams that finished the season ranked in the top six in the nation. The Hogs went 8-5 in 2007 with an appearance in the Cotton Bowl.
McFadden was taken fourth in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played 10 years in the NFL for the Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys.
Often hampered by injuries, McFadden ran for more than 4,200 yards and 25 touchdowns in seven seasons in Oakland. He played all 16 regular season games only twice in his career, in 2014 in his final year with the Raiders and in 2015 in his first year with the Cowboys. He ran for 1,089 yards in 2015, which was his final full NFL season.
The SEC Legends class will be honored at the 2018 SEC Football “Weekend of Champions” Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in Atlanta, Ga, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Dinner presented by AT&T on Nov. 30 in Atlanta. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game.