State sports briefs

FOOTBALL

Hogs’ Hocker to play in East-West game

Arkansas kicker Zach Hocker has accepted an invitation to play in the 89th East-West Shrine game next month in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Hocker finished his Arkansas career as the Razorbacks’ all time leading scorer with 354 points. He kicked a career-best 54-yard field goal in the Hogs’ 24-17 overtime loss to Mississippi State.

The East-West Shrine game will kick off at 3 p.m. Jan. 18 from Tropicana Field.

Hocker is the third Razorbacks senior to earn a postseason all-star game invitation. Center Travis Swanson and defensive end Chris Smith will compete in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 25 in Mobile, Ala.

Magazine honors 2 ASU players

Arkansas State junior Qushaun Lee and sophomore J.D. McKissic have been named to Sports Illustrated’s All-America team.

Lee and McKissic were honorable mention selections, with Lee earning recognition at linebacker and McKissic as a return specialist.

Lee ranks second in the Sun Belt Conference and 18th in the nation in tackles with an average of 9.9 per game. His 119 total stops are the most by an ASU player since Les Echols had 123 in 2003 and rank 16th all-time at the school for a single season. He also has recorded 6 tackles for loss, 3 pass break-ups and 2 forced fumbles this season.

McKissic had a Sun Belt Conference-leading 72 catches this season and 590 receiving yards. He ranks third in kickoff returns (30.0 ypr), 35th in receptions (6.1 rpg), 36th in punt returns (8.4 ypr) and 42nd in all-purpose yards (122.7 ypg).

McKissic is the only player in the Sun Belt Conference with at least one rushing, receiving, passing and kickoff return for a touchdown.

Sports, Pages 23 on 12/18/2013

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