FAYETTEVILLE -- The lone first-team All-America for Arkansas is UAB transfer punt returner and wide receiver Kam Shanks.
In 2024 at UAB, Shanks returned 16 punts averaging 27.4 yards per return and a pair of touchdowns. He also caught 62 passes for 656 yards and six touchdowns. In a 37-27 loss to Arkansas last fall he caught a 15-yard touchdown pass.
On Thursday night Shanks was one of the players made available to the media. When asked how much the hamstring injury that kept him out of some practices set him back Shanks had a quick reply.
"It didn’t set me back, I just missed a little bit of practice, a little bit of fall camp but I’m back rolling," Shanks said. "I play slot and start on punt returns and stuff like that."
As far as the loss to Arkansas last season Shanks talked about his memories of that.
"Actually, I scored my first receiving touchdown here," Shanks said. "I didn’t really know that Coach (Scott) Fountain really liked me, that he was scared of me being a punt returner and didn’t want to kick to me. So it was actually a fun game to be a part of for my SEC game."
While some players like to watch and study film of greats at their position, don't count Shanks in that group.
"I really don’t be watching film," Shanks said. "I kind of go out there and do my own thing. I’m not trying to be like anybody else, I’m trying to be my own person. So I'm doing what I’ve got to do myself."
Shanks talked about how the other wide receivers and himself have rallied around CJ Brown, who lost his father Carson recently.
"Since CJ lost his father, you wouldn’t be able to tell that he lost his father," Shanks said.
"CJ, he’s still acting the same, laughing and stuff. I think us being around him is kind of bringing the joy out of him. Kind of takes his mind off it, doing practice and stuff."
While the football field hasn't provided many challenges for Shanks, something off the field has.
"Class, the one thing I don't like about class is walking to it, there be some cra"zy hills and stairs you gotta walk up," Shanks said. "But other than that, I enjoy class."
Arkansas will open the season on Saturday, Aug. 30, against Alabama A&M at 3:15 p.m. on the SEC Network in Razorback Stadium.
