Defensive back Quincey McAdoo blocks a punt in a game against Liberty University November 5.
by Oliver Grigg
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Linebacker Chris Paul Jr., defensive back Quincey McAdoo and long snapper Eli Stein have been named to the Freshman All-SEC Team.
Arkansas’ three all-freshman honorees are its most since 2020, when tight end Hudson Henry, offensive lineman Brady Latham and defensive back Jalen Catalon were recognized. The Razorbacks have placed multiple student-athletes on the Freshman All-SEC Team in all three of head coach Sam Pittman’s seasons at the helm.
Paul Jr., the program’s first freshman linebacker to earn All-SEC honors since De’Jon Harris in 2016, has racked up 50 total tackles, including 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 games this year. The Cordele, Ga., native, who made his first career start in the regular-season finale at Missouri (Nov. 25) and tallied a career-high nine stops, was also named a freshman All-American by both The Athletic and College Football News this week.
McAdoo, who began his freshman year at wide receiver, emerged as a game-changing playmaker on the defensive side of the ball as the season progressed. In only four games with three starts at cornerback, the Clarendon, Ark., native has totaled 21 stops with 1.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, five pass breakups and an interception. He broke up a pair of passes, recorded an interception and blocked a punt in his defensive debut against Liberty (Nov. 5) before earning his first start at cornerback a week later against No. 7 LSU (Nov. 12), and made six tackles while logging two more pass breakups.
Stein is the first long snapper in program history to earn all-freshman praise from the SEC. The Cambridge, Wisc., native has played in 11 games this year, missing only the regular-season finale at Missouri due to injury. With Stein’s help snapping the football, kicker Cam Little has connected on 10-of-13 field goals, including all eight of his attempts from inside 40 yards, and drilled all 41 of his point-after attempts this season.
The Hogs will conclude the 2022 campaign against Kansas in the Liberty Bowl at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, in Memphis, Tenn., on ESPN. For ticket information, call the Razorback Ticket Center at 479-575-5151 or click here.