Arkansas' Huckeba named finalist for Bowden Award

Friday, December 17th 2004, 12:31 pm

By: News On 6

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) _ Arkansas defensive end Jeb Huckeba was named a finalist Friday for the fledgeling Bobby Bowden Award presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The award, in its second year, is intended to recognize an NCAA Division IA football player who best exemplifies a faith-based life in the community, in the classroom and on the field. Nominees must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and the backing of their athletic director and head football coach.

``We have put a lot of trust in Jeb and he has never let us down,'' Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said in a news release. ``We have never been concerned that he would do anything that would embarrass the department or the University of Arkansas as an athlete or in his private life.''

The other finalists, chosen from 27 nominations, were Oklahoma State tight end Billy Bajema and Georgia quarterback David Greene.

Huckeba has been listed on the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Rolls. This year, he was a first team All-SEC selection as chosen by the league's coaches. He had 56 tackles, including 13 for a loss of 51 yards.

An SEC Good Works Team member, Huckeba is president of the Student Advisory committee and a member of the Arkansas Athletes Outreach program who has spent part of the past two summers in Honduras helping construct homes and conduct sports camps.

Finalists for the Bowden Award will attend the Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast at the Bowl Championship Series National Championship site in Miami on Dec. 31.