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 8âÂÂ5 with a mark of 4âÂÂ4 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, includeing 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.
- 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
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 41âÂÂ38 victory.
Kentucky
North Texas
Chattanooga
Auburn
Ole Miss
FIU
South Carolina
Tennessee
Mississippi State
LSU
MissouriâÂÂCotton 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, 38âÂÂ7, and their all-time record in the Cotton Bowl Classic fell to 3âÂÂ7âÂÂ1.
Personnel
Coaching staff
Roster
Awards and honors
National awards
All-SEC
First team
- Jonathan Luigs, center
- Robert Felton, offensive lineman
- Darren McFadden, running back
- Felix Jones, kick returner
Second Team
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