The 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas as a member of the Western Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Houston Nutt in his tenth and final year as head coach during the regular season and Reggie Herring as interim head coach for the team's bowl game, the Razorbacks compiled an overall record of 8–5 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the SEC's Western Division. Arkansas was invited to the Cotton Bowl Classic, where the Razorbacks lost to Missouri. The team played four home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and two home games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Running back Darren McFadden left Arkansas after the season holding most of the program's rushing records, including rushing yards in a single game (321), a season (1,830), and a career (4,590). The single game total is also an SEC record. McFadden became only the second player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, along with Ben Cowins, who played for Arkansas when the Razorbacks were members of the Southwest Conference (SWC). McFadden also became the second player in SEC history with three straight 1,000 yard seasons, after Herschel Walker of Georgia.
Schedule
Rankings
Preseason Coaching changes before the season Due to plans for David Lee to be hired as its co-offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn departed to the University of Tulsa. Malzahn's departure led to Lee being named the sole offensive coordinator.Report: Malzahn Leaving Arkansas For Tulsa | RazorBloggers NetworkThe Morning News: News : Lee Hired As Offensive Coordinator At Arkansas Louis Campbell was previously the secondary coach, but was moved off the field after being named assistant athletic director for administrative services. Alex Wood was previously the quarterbacks coach but was moved to wide receivers coach. Chris Vaughn was named the safeties coach and will continue his role as the director of on-campus recruiting. Due to Danny Nutt's resignation as the running backs coach because of a recurrence of bleeding from his brain stem, the University of Arkansas has hired Tim Horton as its running backs coach.
Preseason award watchlists Jonathan Luigs, center Rotary Lombardi Award Outland Trophy Darren McFadden, running back Heisman Trophy Maxwell Award Doak Walker Award Walter Camp Award Felix Jones, running back Maxwell Award Doak Walker Award Marcus Monk, wide receiver Maxwell Award Jeremy Davis, punter Ray Guy Award
Preseason All-SEC First Team Jonathan Luigs, center Darren McFadden, running back Felix Jones, running back and return specialist Marcus Monk, wide receiver
Game summaries Troy
Alabama
Alabama built an early 21-point lead but had to mount a come-from-behind drive in the final two minutes of the game in order to capture a 41–38 victory.
Kentucky
North Texas
Chattanooga
Auburn
Ole Miss
FIU
South Carolina
Tennessee
Mississippi State
LSU
Missouri—Cotton Bowl Classic
On December 2, Arkansas accepted an invitation to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic against the Missouri Tigers. The Razorbacks lost to Missouri, 38–7, and their all-time record in the Cotton Bowl Classic fell to 3–7–1.
Personnel
Coaching staff 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks coaching staffHead coaches Head coach – Houston Nutt § Interim head coach – Reggie Herring †
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – David Lee Quarterbacks – David Lee Running backs – Tim Horton Wide receivers – Alex Wood Tight ends – James Shibest Offensive line/running game coordinator – Mike Markuson Passing game coordinator – Alex Wood
Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Reggie Herring Defensive coordinator – Louis Campbell † Linebackers – Reggie Herring Linebackers – Pierre Brown † Safeties – Chris Vaughn § Safeties – Louis Campbell † Cornerbacks – Bobby Allen Defensive line – Tracy Rocker Special teams coaches Special teams specialist – James Shibest
Administrative staff Athletic director (AD) – Frank Broyles Assistant ad for internal operations – Louis Campbell Strength & conditioning – Don Decker Graduate assistant – Jeff Norrid Graduate assistant – Courtney Sanders Recruiting coordinator – Chris Vaughn § Director of high school relations – Clifton Ealy Director of athletic training – Dean Weber Equipment manager – Tim Cheney
§ Resigned before AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic † Promoted for AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic
Roster 2007 Final Roster from ArkansasRazorbacksWide receivers -- Nigel Chandler – Freshman 1 Reggie Fish – Junior 2 London Crawford – Sophomore 4 Mike Rhim – Senior 14 Joe Chaisson – Freshman 15 Andrew Norman – Freshman 18 Robert Johnson – Senior 19 Carlton Salters – Freshman 28 Chris Baker – Senior 81 Marques Wade – Freshman 84 Crosby Tuck – Freshman 85 Marcus Monk – Senior 87 John Aaron Rees – Junior 88 Lucas Miller – Sophomore 89 Brian Langford – Freshman
Tight ends -- Blane Gibson – Sophomore 45 D.J. Williams – Freshman 80 Grant Freeman – Freshman 80 Joseph Henry – Sophomore 82 Andrew Davie – Sophomore 83 Lance Thompson – Junior 86 Ben Cleveland – Sophomore 89 Jake Bequette – Freshman
Offensive line -- Clay Bemberg – Freshman -- Morris Carter – Freshman -- Joel Scott – Freshman 56 Colin Tucker – Sophomore 58 Joey Crossland – Sophomore 60 Seth Oxner – Freshman 61 Robert Felton – Senior 62 Michael Aguirre – Sophomore 63 Jonathan Luigs – Junior 64 Mike Moffitt – Senior 64 Grant Cook – Freshman 65 DeMarcus Love – Freshman 66 Mitch Petrus – Junior 70 Cody Standridge – Freshman 71 Wade Grayson – Freshman 72 Cody Green – Junior 73 Ray Dominguez – Freshman 74 Kareem Crowell – Freshman 75 Nate Garner – Senior 76 Jim Hart – Freshman 78 Jose Valdez – Junior Quarterbacks -- Alex Mortensen – Junior 4 Brian Reader – Freshman 10 Nathan Dick – Freshman 11 Casey Dick – Junior 15 Clark Irwin- Sophomore 16 Nathan Emert – Junior 17 Austin Tucker – Freshman
Tailbacks -- Juwan Franklin – Freshman -- Michael Harris – Freshman -- Cliff Moore – Freshman 5 Darren McFadden – Junior 6 Brandon Barnett – Sophomore 20 Torian Wilkins – Freshman 21 Michael Smith – Sophomore 25 Felix Jones – Junior
Fullbacks 9 Scott Bo – Freshman 22 Peyton Hillis – Senior 33 Farod Jackson – Senior 38 Darcel Johnson – Freshman 43 Robert Salinas – Sophomore 43 Hezekiah Smith – Sophomore
Defensive backs -- Seth Armbrust – Sophomore -- Evan Bettis – Freshman -- Darrell Glasper – Freshman -- Ryan Jones – Freshman -- Sean Penix – Junior -- Orion Runyan – Freshman 2 Kenny Stockalper – Freshman 3 Kevin Woods – Senior 8 Michael Grant – Senior 9 Matterral Richardson – Senior 17 Shedrick Johnson – Junior 20 Dallas Washington – Junior 23 Greg Gatson – Freshman 24 Isaac Madison – Freshman 26 Ramon Broadway – Freshman 27 Jerell Norton – Sophomore 29 Jamar Love – Junior 31 Matt Hewitt – Senior 32 Bret Harris – Freshman 35 Rashaad Johnson – Sophomore 36 Walner Leandre – Junior 39 Matt Harris – Sophomore Linebackers -- John Durmon – Sophomore -- Daniel Meador – Freshman -- Josh Minde – Freshman 30 Weston Dacus – Senior 34 Jerry Franklin – Freshman 37 Jermaine Love – Freshman 38 Elston Forte – Junior 40 Tim Dial – Freshman 41 Ryan Powers – Freshman 42 Chip Gregory – Freshman 44 Freddie Fairchild – Sophomore 45 Aaron Fenton – Freshman 46 Freddy Burton – Freshman 47 Wendel Davis – Sophomore 48 Desmond Williams – Junior 49 Mark Bonner – Junior
Defensive line -- Chris Berezansky – Sophomore 53 Adrian Davis – Sophomore 54 Adrian Campbell – Freshman 55 Marcus Harrison – Senior 57 Donnell Sanders – Freshman 59 Van Stumon – Freshman 89 Charles Alexander – Junior 90 Ernest Mitchell – Junior 91 Fred Bledsoe – Senior 92 Brandon Lampkin – Freshman 93 Marcus Shavers – Junior 94 Chris Wade – Senior 95 Patrick Jones – Freshman 96 Malcolm Sheppard – Sophomore 97 Antwain Robinson – Junior 98 Cord Gray – Junior 99 Damario Ambrose – Freshman
Punters -- Cody Williams – Freshman 4 Mitchell Smith – Sophomore 50 Jeremy Davis – Junior
Kickers -- Joel Hall – Sophomore -- Tyler Steelman – Sophomore 7 Alex Tejada – Freshman 52 Brian Vavra – Junior
Long snappers 51 Rhett Richardson – Freshman 53 Derrell Hartwick – Freshman 56 Barrett Reynolds – Freshman
Awards and honors National awards Jonathan Luigs, center Rimington Trophy Darren McFadden, running back Doak Walker Award Walter Camp Award Heisman Trophy runner-up Maxwell Award dinalist Felix Jones Doak Walker Award semifinalist Farod Jackson, fullback Draddy Trophy semifinalist
All-SEC First team Jonathan Luigs, center Robert Felton, offensive lineman Darren McFadden, running back Felix Jones, kick returner
Second Team Nate Garner, offensive lineman Mitch Petrus, offensive lineman Marcus Harrison, defensive tackle Matt Hewitt, safety Michael Grant, defensive back RB Felix Jones
Freshman Team D. J. Williams, tight end Damario Ambrose, defensive lineman Freddy Burton, linebacker Alex Tejada, placekicker
After the season Coaching changes after the season Head coach Houston Nutt resigned from his position on November 26. With Nutt's resignation, the Razorbacks' defensive coordinator Reggie Herring was named the interim head coach for the Razorbacks' bowl game. Due to Herring becoming the interim head coach, Louis Campbell coordinated the defense and Pierre Brown coached the linebackers in the Razorbacks' bowl game. On December 11, former Louisville Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons coach Bobby Petrino was introduced as the new coach. However, Petrino handled recruiting for the Razorbacks for the 2008 season and did not coach the bowl game. Chris Vaughn resigned from his position to head to Ole Miss. Because of this, Louis Campbell also coached the safeties in their bowl game
References