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Arkansas isn't immediately thought of as one of the more storied states among college institutions, but there are a few underrated all-timers on the USA TODAY Sports list of the 10 best college athletes from the Natural State.
Nine of the 10 who played in the state are from the University of Arkansas, the largest school in the state. The only other non-Razorback on this list hailed from Central Arkansas, with no players representation from Arkansas State, Arkansas-Little Rock or Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the state's only other schools with Division I programs.
Here's a look at our list of the best college athletes that played in Arkansas, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States:
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Darren McFadden, Arkansas
Darren McFadden is the best offensive player in Arkansas football history, winning the Doak Walker award in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007. The star running back is one of the best players to never win a Heisman Trophy, finishing runner-up to Troy Smith in 2006 and to Tim Tebow in 2007.
The College Football Hall of Famer was a two-time unanimous All-American, and rushed for 4,590 career yards with 41 rushing touchdowns, along with 46 receptions for 365 yards with two more scores in his career. He led NCAA with 1,830 rushing yards as a senior.
Dan Hampton, Arkansas
Defensive tackle Dan Hampton finished his senior season under coach Lou Holtz with a whopping 98 total tackles, 18 of which for loss. The eventual No. 4 overall pick and Chicago Bears all-time great was a first-team All-American in 1978 and was named the Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Hampton is in both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. He won Super Bowl 20 with the Bears and was a five-time All-Pro selection, despite undergoing 11 knee surgeries in his career.
USA 250 LISTS: Alaska | Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia
Steve Atwater, Arkansas
Another Pro Football Hall of Famer from Arkansas, safety Steve Atwater was menacing for both the Razorbacks and Denver Broncos. He finished his college career with 11 interceptions and was named a first-team All-SWC selection in both 1986 and 1988 before he was drafted No. 20 overall in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft. Atwater went on to win two Super Bowls with the Broncos, being named to four All-Pro teams and eight Pro Bowls.
Sidney Moncrief, Arkansas
Former Arkansas guard Sidney Moncrief led the Razorbacks to the Final Four in 1979, the year he was named a first-team All-American after averaging 22 points per game. He led the program to consecutive SWC regular-season titles from 1977-79, and SWC tournament championships in 1977 and 1979. Moncrief, whom Jerry West famously wanted the Los Angeles Lakers to draft over Magic Johnson, went on to be one of the best perimeter defenders in NBA history, being named to four All-Defensive First Teams while winning two Defensive Player of the Year awards. The Milwaukee Bucks star is in both the Basketball Hall of Fame and Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, and his number is both retired by Arkansas and the Bucks.
Corliss Williamson, Arkansas
Former Arkansas forward is one of the most-accomplished players in program history, leading the Razorbacks to the 1994 NCAA Tournament championship while winning Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. The two-time consensus All-American led Arkansas to consecutive Final Fours under coach Nolan Richardson, winning the title as a junior before falling to UCLA in 1995. Williamson is one of two players to have their jersey retired at Arkansas, along with Moncrief. He later went on to win a Sixth Man of the Year award in the NBA, along with an NBA Finals victory.
PROGRAM RANKINGS: Top 25 | Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12
Scottie Pippen, Central Arkansas
Scottie Pippen was a relative unknown as a high school recruit, but was discovered by then-NAIA Central Arkansas and offered a walk-on spot. He then grew from 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-8, and the rest was history. He averaged 23.6 points with 10 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game as a senior, and earned All-American status in both 1986 and 1987. Despite playing at the NAIA level, his talent was obvious: He was selected No. 5 overall of the 1987 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. Pippen, of course, is one of the greatest wing men in NBA history, winning six NBA Finals alongside Michael Jordan. The seven-time All-NBA selection is a basketball legend.
Tyson Gay, Arkansas
Tyson Gay is the fastest American ever, setting the 100-meter track and field record in 2009. The Arkansas sprinter started his college career at Barton Community College in Kansas before transferring to Arkansas, where he won the program's first 100-meter national championship in 2004, helping lead the school to a national title before setting off on his professional career. A four-time Olympian, Gay never medaled at the event but owns three gold medals at the World Championships, taking the 100 meter, 200 meter and 4x100 meter relay in 2007. He last appeared in the 2016 Olympics.
Todd Day, Arkansas
Arkansas' all-time scoring leader, Todd Day lettered four years under Nolan Richardson from 1989-92 before he was selected No. 8 overall in the 1993 NBA Draft. The two-time All-American led Arkansas to a Final Four in 1990 and an Elite Eight in 1991. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 22.7 points with 3.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game as a senior in 1991-92.
Veronica Campbell-Brown, Arkansas
Veronica Campbell-Brown is one of the most-accomplished Olympic athletes of all time, winning eight medals in her career. But first, she was a four-time All-American sprinter at Arkansas. She only spent one season with Arkansas in 2004 after transferring from Barton Community College, but won the indoor 200 meter national championship that season, along with three SEC titles and six school records, at the time. After her college career, she won three gold medals, three silvers and two bronzes while representing Jamaica. She's only the second of three women to win consecutive 200 meter sprints at the Olympics.
Jeff King, Arkansas
Jeff King was elected into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024 after his standout career from 1984-86 at Arkansas. The three-time All-American was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1986 MLB Draft after leading the Razorbacks to the College World Series. King batted .372 for his career and swatted 17 home runs with a school-record 82 RBIs during Arkansas' run to the CWS. He played 11 MLB seasons, recording 1,072 career hits with 154 home runs. He was the first Razorback ever selected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA250: 10 greatest college athletes from Arkansas
