Hogs pick six captains; Wilson, Davis lead way

FAYETTEVILLE — Tyler Wilson and Knile Davis, two of Arkansas’ top offensive players, lead the list of six team captains for the Razorbacks in 2012.

Wilson and Davis will be joined on offense by junior center Travis Swanson, while the defensive captains, selected by a team vote after spring drills, will be senior linebackers Alonzo Highsmith and Tenarius Wright and senior defensive tackle Alfred Davis.

“Although their leadership styles differ, I believe they will provide examples to our program as to what the standard of commitment will be,” Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said in a statement.

Davis and Wilson were both team captains during Arkansas’ 11-2 season last year, and both considered declaring for the NFL Draft this year before returning to Arkansas.

Davis rushed for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns during a breakout sophomore year of 2010 and was a preseason All-SEC choice last year before breaking his left ankle and missing the season.

Wilson passed for 3,638 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first season as a starter and became the Razorbacks’ first All-SEC first-team choice. The native of Greenwood owns nine school records, including his 510-yard passing performance in a 42-38 victory over Texas A&M. He was a finalist for two quarterback awards, the Manning Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, last season.

Swanson, who will enter his third year as a starter, has started all 26 games of his career. Swanson, of Kingwood, Texas, has helped the Hogs to No. 9 and 29 rankings in total offense the past two seasons.

Highsmith earned the respect of his teammates after arriving from Phoenix College last season and racking up 80 tackles, third on the team, including 12 1/2 tackles for loss, and 4 1/2 sacks. Highsmith, of Missouri City, Texas, also had an interception against South Carolina and returned a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown at No. 1 LSU.

Wright amassed 25 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and 5 hurries last season despite missing five games with a broken arm. The fifth-year senior out of Memphis moved back to middle linebacker from defensive end on the second day of spring practice and is expected to remain there in the fall to help a position of need.

Davis, of College Park, Ga., registered 14 tackles last season on the Hogs’ deep defensive front.

“Alfred has done a great job with leading the front,” defensive coordinator Paul Haynes said this winter. “He’s really done a great job with leading the defense. Every time that I want to get them together, he’s the guy that’s on the phone, texting everybody to get them together.”