Four UA seniors go in draft
FAYETTEVILLE — Wide receivers Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs on Saturday joined Jake Bequette as Arkansas Razorbacks picked in the NFL draft.
Defensive end Bequette was selected in Friday night’s third round by the New England Patriots.
Receiver/ All- American punt returner Adams was picked in the fourth round by the Carolina Panthers, and Wright and Childs continue as teammates after being taken in Saturday’s fourth round by the Minnesota Vikings.
Adams caught 54 passes for 552 yards and three touchdowns last season and excelled as a punt returner tallying four touchdowns among his 19 returns including a human highlight film 69- yard TD return against Tennessee.
John L. Smith, hired last week as Arkansas’ head coach but the special- teams coach when Adams starred the last three of his four- year lettering seasons, said Saturday: “I am extremely proud of Joe Adams. He is a thrilling player to watch and he provided Arkansas fans with many moments of excitement during his career. Joe has an incredible amount of athletic ability and the tools to be successful in the NFL. He and I had a great relationship and I enjoyed the opportunity I had to be his coach and a mentor.
“Joe was a member of a special senior class that laid the foundation for the future of this program. I wish all of the departing players the very best in their lives and thank them for all they gave to the Razorbacks.”
Wright, also a four- year letterman and all- SEC, was the Razorbacks’ 2011 receiving leader with 56 catches for 1,117 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“I am proud of Jarius Wright for realizing one of his dreams by being drafted today,” Arkansas receivers coach Kris Cinkovich said Saturday. “Jarius was an exceptional leader for our team and set an example of how to come to work every day. His production on the field was a direct result of all the hard work he put in over his four years at Arkansas, and I couldn’t be happier for him. He enjoyed a great senior season that showed his talent to the entire country. With his skills, abilities and work ethic, I am confident he can be successful at the next level.”
Coming off an injury terminating his 2010 season when he was leading the Razorbacks with 46 catches for 659 yards and
six touchdowns in eight games, Childs played last season not fully recovered and still managed 21 catches for 240 yards. He started resembling his old self in Arkansas’ January Cotton Bowl victory over Kansas State and at Arkansas’ Pro Day before the NFL scouts.
“I am extremely happy for Greg Childs,” Cinkovich said Saturday. “He fought through a sometimes frustrating senior season while recovering from an injury, but he was determined to help his team during his last year. He has shown throughout the pre- draft process, beginning with the Cotton Bowl, that he is as dangerous on the field as he was before the injury. Greg is a player with tremendous ability that can be a factor in all aspects of the passing game, and the Vikings made a wise pick selecting him.”
Though injuries cost Be- quette three games in Arkansas’ 11- 2 season, he led the Razorbacks in quarterback sacks with 10 among his 28 tackles and was credited with five quarterback hurries and forcing five fumbles.
“I am so proud of Jake Bequette,” Arkansas defensiveends coach Steve Caldwell said Friday night. “Jake was a tremendous leader during his time here at Arkansas. He was a two- time team captain and was one of the players that laid the foundation and set the expectations for future Razorbacks.
“Jake has a motor that doesn’t quit and was one of the best in the nation at being a disruptive force on the defensive side of the ball. He is a complete person that brings a good work ethic, on- field production and intelligence to the NFL, and I know he can be a factor at the next level.”