FAYETTEVILLE -- Seems somebody always particularly prospers from regime change.
For whatever reason, a player buried deep down the depth chart and overseen by the head coach that recruited him becomes an answer for the complete stranger who arrived as the new head coach.
In Arkansas' 23-0 homecoming victory over Tulsa on Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Coach Chad Morris saw his answer honored.
New Coach Morris perhaps was unaware of the media-voted Crip Hall Award for the outstanding Razorbacks senior in Arkansas' homecoming game.
Since 1950 the homecoming award the UA honors C.G. "Crip" Hall, Arkansas' Secretary of State from 1937-1961, champion of the 1-cent cigarette tax helping to build War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
No doubt Morris would have approved media naming any of his three senior captains. Left guard Hjalte Froholdt, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Santos Ramirez all performed deservingly.
But Morris' face lit up when apprised that defensive tackle Armon Watts was the Crip Hall winner. The wattage among Watts' four tackles produced the jarring sack of TU quarterback Seth Boomer, dislodging the ball for senior defensive end Randy Ramsey to recover at the Tulsa 27. Watts' hit set up Connor Limpert's 35-yard field goal advancing Arkansas 13-0 with 9:07 left in the third quarter.
Watts isn't a captain, but under Morris and new defensive coordinator John Chavis, call him sergeant promoted from private.
After redshirting in 2014 upon signing out of St. Louis by the Bret Bielema regime, Watts played just five games as a reserve in 2017 and only one in 2016. He had played 11 in 2015, though mostly just on goal-line plays for his 6-5, 298 bulk.
Under Morris, Watts has played all eight games and started seven, the only starts in his Arkansas career. So far he's made 27 tackles, including five sacks, broken up two passes, three times hurried quarterbacks throwing incomplete and forced three fumbles.
"This is a young man that is just now seeing a lot of success," Morris said. "He could have quit. He could have transferred. He could have moved on. But, nope, he loves the Razorbacks and he's going to stick it out. A young man like that, you want the best for him."
Especially considering his example as a winner on a 2-6 team going into next this week's SEC game vs. Vanderbilt.
"Armon is such an inspiration to young players," Morris said. "He's shared his story, that young players stick with it. I'm proud of him and proud of where he is."
Deservedly, so is Watts.
"In my opinion you've got to believe in yourself before anybody believes in you," Watts said. "I had to keep my head down and work and it's paying off. It's like a dream every day that I wake up."
A dream he never takes for granted.
"You've got to keep learning and you've got to keep getting better," Watts said Saturday. "We're gonna enjoy this tonight then go ahead and move forward to Vanderbilt."
Sports on 10/22/2018