7 Best Arkansas Razorbacks Football Players of All Time, Ranked

The Arkansas Razorbacks were founded in 1894, and since then, they’ve won one national championship, 13 conference titles, and four division titles. 

Right now, betting on football games the Razorbacks play is possible at the BetMGM online sportsbook.

That said, if you’ve already been betting on their college football betting lines, it’s likely not gone your way, as they went 27-45 from 2018-2023. 

Below are the top seven Razorbacks of all time.

7 Best Arkansas Razorbacks Football Players, Ranked, Ranked

Arkansas Razorbacks All-Time Greatest Football Players

1. Darren McFadden

McFadden had an incredible college career with Arkansas, which led to his selection as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. 

While playing for the Razorbacks from 2005 to 2007, he won the Walter Camp Award, two Doak Walker Awards, two Jim Brown Trophys, was a unanimous All-American, a consensus All-American, a two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Year, a three-time first-team All-SEC, and was the SEC Freshman of the Year. 

Over his career there, he racked up 4,590 yards (first) and 41 rushing touchdowns (second). He also holds the top two single-season rushing records in Arkansas history, with 1,830 in 2007 and 1,647 in 2006. 

He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

2. Loyd Phillips

The Razorbacks have one national championship under their belt, and Phillips was a leading force on that squad to help make it happen.

Playing along the defensive line, Phillips won the national championship and the Outland Trophy, was a unanimous All-American and consensus All-American, and was a three-time first-team All-SWC. 

3. Steve Atwater

Before going on to have an NFL Hall of Fame career, Atwater played for Arkansas from 1985 to 1988 and left a mark on the program through his strong defensive play. 

He was a two-time first-team All-SWC and second-team All-SWC. To this day, he also leads the program in interceptions, with 14 in his career. He had four in his final three college seasons and a pick-six in 1987. 

4. Billy Ray Smith Jr.

A two-time unanimous All-American, Smith Jr. played linebacker for the Razorbacks from 1979 to 1982 and was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. 

In addition to his unanimous All-American nods, he was first-team All-SWC and won the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy. 

Enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, Smith Jr. was named MVP of the Hall of Fame Bowl against Tulane and held the program record of 63 tackles for a loss. 

5. Wayne Martin

A consensus All-American, first-team All-SWC, and the SWC Defensive Player of the Year, Martin holds school records in career sacks with 26 and has the single-game sack record with five in 1988 against Ole Miss. 

In 1988, the Razorbacks won the SWC Championship, going 10-2, with Martin anchoring their defence. 

6. Brandon Burlsworth

A guard for the Razorbacks, Burlsworth was first-team All-American, first-team All-SEC, and second-team All-SEC, and the Razorbacks retired his No. 77. 

Today, he’s also in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. 

A walk-on at Arkansas, Burlsworth weighed just 245 pounds when he came to campus and bulked up to 300 pounds to play the position. He earned a scholarship during his sophomore season. 

7. Lance Alworth

Playing for Arkansas from 1959 to 1961, Alworth had more than 1,900 yards (1,272 rushing; 645 receiving) and 10 touchdowns. 

He was a first-team All-American, third-team All-American, two-time first-team All-SWC, and second-team All-SWC. Alworth was also named MVP of the 1961 Cotton Bowl Classic, even though his Razorbacks lost the game. During that game, he returned a punt for a touchdown, which wouldn’t occur in that game again until 2012. 

Alworth is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.