Noland going exclusively with baseball
Hogs quarterback giving up football to focus on diamond efforts
www.arkansasrazorbacks.com
Connor Noland has announced his plans to leave Arkansas’ football program and spend the rest of his college career focusing on baseball. He made the announcement around noon on Thursday.
Noland played in four games at quarterback for the Razorbacks last season and completed 21 of his 42 attempts for 250 yards and one touchdown. On the diamond, Noland finished the season with a 4.02 ERA and a record of 3-5. The righty also struck out 55 batters and walked just 14.
“I love playing both sports, but will now be devoting my full attention and efforts into becoming the best baseball player I can possibly be,” Noland stated via Twitter. “I remain 100 percent supportive of Coach Morris, Coach Craddock, and the entire football staff, as well as my football brothers, as they continue building the Razorback football program into a national powerhouse.”
The day ended up being an eventful one for University of Arkansas athletic programs, with a variety of news items coming out on the day including two spots opening up on the basketball roster and a former Razorback being taken in the NBA Draft for the first time in four years.
• Justice Hill enters Transfer Portal Razorback freshman guard Justice Hill entered his name into the transfer portal Thursday and announced that he would be leaving Arkansas basketball. However, he is still exploring the possibility of playing football for the Razorbacks.
“Today, June 20, 2019, I entered my name in the transfer portal to assess other basketball opportunities that may be available to me. However, I hope to visit with the Razorback football staff here in the near future to evaluate potential football opportunities with my Hog family. I’m grateful for Coach Anderson and the staff for giving me the opportunity to be a Razorbacks, and I’ve enjoyed learning from Coach Musselman and the basketball staff here at Arkansas. I’m trusting in God, leaning not on my own understanding, knowing my path will be directed,” Hill stated on Twitter.
Hill was rated a 3-star prospect from the Class of 2019, according to the industry- generated 247Sports Composite Ranking. He was the No. 5 player from the state of Arkansas in his class and the No. 52 overall point guard in the country.
• Khalil Garland moves into a new role Guard Khalil Garland is no longer on the Arkansas roster as of Thursday afternoon.
Garland, 6-5, 198, will move into a new role with the team as a student manager. He was a 3-star prospect coming out of Little Rock Parkview from the Class of 2017. When he arrived on campus two years ago, he was told that he couldn’t play due to an undisclosed issue.
Last month, Arkansas was over the limit of 13 scholarship players with 15.
Now, they are at 12 scholarships for next season with the news of Garland’s move to an off-court role and Hill’s decision to transfer. Additionally, Isaiah Moss de-committed from the Hogs and transferred to Kansas earlier this month.
• Daniel Gafford drafted by the Chicago Bulls Former Razorback star forward Daniel Gafford was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the No. 38 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.
Gafford, 6-11, 233, led the SEC in field goal percentage (.660) and finished second in rebounding with 8.7 boards per game during his 2018-19 campaign. He also finished the season third in blocked shots (2.00) and fourth in scoring with 16.9 points per contest.
He became the first former Razorback to be selected in the NBA Draft since Bobby Portis was taken with the 22nd pick by the Bulls in 2015.
