FOOTBALL
Hogs RBs, ASU QB make Maxwell list
Arkansas tailbacks Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins, the only 1,000-yard rushing duo in major college football last season, have been named to the watch list for the 79th Maxwell Award along with Arkansas State quarterback Fredi Knighten.
The Maxwell Award is given given annually to the best player in the nation.
Williams rushed for 12 touchdowns and 1,190 yards, the eighth-best mark in school history, last season. The senior from Allen, Texas, ranks 10th at Arkansas with 2,321 career rushing yards and sixth with 5.72 yards per carry entering his final season.
Collins, who rushed for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, joined Darren McFadden as the only Arkansas tailbacks with 1,000 rushing yards in their first two seasons. The junior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., ranks 14th at Arkansas with 2,126 career rushing yards.
Knighten passed for 3,277 yards and 24 touchdowns last season for the Red Wolves. The Little Rock native and former Pulaski Academy standout was a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection last season.
Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon of Strong also was named to the watch list. Dixon rushed for 1,299 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2014. He is the school leader in total touchdowns (61), rushing touchdowns (53), rushing yards (3,410) and points scored (366).
The Maxwell Football Club will name its semifinalists Nov. 2 and announce its finalists Nov. 23. The award will be presented Dec. 10 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
-Tom Murphy
BASKETBALL
Mississippi State transfer picks UALR
Oliver Black, a 6-9 forward who played 31 games for Mississippi State last season, has enrolled at UALR, according to Trojans Coach Chris Beard.
Black, from Jackson, Miss., started 4 games for the Bulldogs last season and averaged 1.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game. Black will have to sit out this season because of NCAA transfer rules and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Black is the seventh player the Trojans have added since Beard’s hiring.
-Troy Schulte
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Lovell, Alvarez selected for All-Star Game
Arkansas State’s Daltan Lovell has been selected to play third base for the South All-Stars in the MINK Collegiate Summer Baseball League All-Star Game, which will be played Thursday in St. Joseph, Mo.
Lovell, a Harrison native who spent last season as the Red Wolves’ backup to catcher Stuart Levy, is batting a team-high .312 for the Joplin (Mo.) Outlaws with 9 RBI and 13 runs scored.
ASU signee Francisco Alvarez has been selected to play for the North All-Star team. Alvarez, a catcher, is batting .210 with 8 RBI and 2 stolen bases for the host St. Joseph (Mo.) Mustangs.
HSU’s Hooten wins regional honor
Henderson State Coach Cody Hooten was named Tuesday as the ABCA/Diamond Central Region Coach of the Year.
Hooten led the Reddies (33-21) to 14 victories last season over nationally-ranked opponents, including two victories over top-ranked St. Cloud State and five victories over teams ranked in the top 10. The Reddies advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship in Cary, N.C., where they finished as national semifinalists.
Hooten is eligible for the ABCA/Diamond National Coach of the Year honor, which will be announced Thursday.