ARKANSAS TECH'S CHRIS GUNTER EARNS TECH PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS FROM LITTLE ROCK TOUCHDOWN CLUB

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech senior receiver Chris Gunter has been selected by the Little Rock Touchdown Club as Tech’s Player of the Year on Sunday.

Gunter and 13 other players from Arkansas schools will be honored by the club at its fourth annual banquet on Thursday, Jan. 10, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in West Little Rock. Each award winner from the college and high school ranks will be honored with a video presentation, receive a large club plaque and be given the opportunity to speak. The banquet is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. and tickets are $30 each and the club also has tables and sponsorships available.

In addition to honoring the Players of the Year from the 11 Arkansas colleges and universities, the club will honor the Arkansas Democrat Gazette’s Arkansas High School Players and Coach of the Year in each classification, the SEC Players and Coach of the Year, along with handing out the second-annual Paul Eells Award and it will also honor University of Arkansas players that received either All-America honors or national awards.

Besides Gunter, others Player of the Year from Arkansas schools are Arkansas running back and two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden, Arkansas State safety Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff linebacker Tim Turner, Arkansas Baptist’s Larry Jenkins, Arkansas-Monticello quarterback Scott Buisson, Central Arkansas quarterback Nathan Brown, Harding quarterback and Harlon Hill finalist David Knighton, Henderson State offensive lineman Kurt Kutscher, Ouachita Baptist running back Willie Hopson and Southern Arkansas defensive back C.J. Ellis.

Gunter, a native of Beebe, Ark., was a four-year letterwinner for the Wonder Boys and finished this past season second on the team in pass receiving yards (497), pass receptions (47) and was fifth on the team in scoring with four touchdowns. He finished his four-year Tech career playing in 41 games and made six career starts. In his career, he caught 93 passes for 846 yards and averaged 9.1 yards per catch and scored six touchdowns. This past season, he had his best game of his career in his final game at Tech as he caught a career-best nine passes for 111 yards in the Wonder Boys season finale against Harding. The performance against Harding earned Gunter the team’s co-Offensive MVP honor. On the season, he had five games of catching at least five passes, including three games with six or more catches and had three catches on the season of over 20 yards, including a season-best 33-yard reception against Valdosta State. In Tech’s win over Ouachita Baptist this past season, Gunter caught five passes for 42 yards, including catching two touchdown passes. In addition to his pass catching skills, Gunter returned eight career punts for 66 yards and averaged 8.2 yards per return. Over his final two seasons at Tech, Gunter caught 76 passes for 641 yards (8.4 yards per catch) and had five touchdowns. Over his four years at Tech, Gunter helped the Wonder Boys amass a 29-13 record, including a 19-11 mark the past three seasons.  

“Chris is the ultimate team player and is the true definition of what a Wonder Boy football player is,” Tech Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Steve Mullins said. “He has a great work ethic, good leader and very deserving of this honor from the Little Rock Touchdown Club.”

Others expected to be honored are McFadden and LSU defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, who were named the SEC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year respectively, while Mississippi State’s Sylvester Croom was named the SEC Coach of the Year and McFadden was named the club’s National Player of the Year. In addition, Felix Jones and Jonathan Luigs will be honored for being All-America selections from the University of Arkansas.

-- Tech Athletics --