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The 2007 season was supposed to be the year Marcus Monk etched a permanent mark in the Arkansas record books.
After three stellar seasons, the split end looked sensational throughout spring practices and was primed for a banner senior season. But Monk suffered a right knee injury during an August scrimmage and never really got back on track.
The injury required two surgeries to repair, limiting him to just seven games, but everyone saw in those contests that he was not ready to play football, especially after he suffered a bruised calf upon his return to the playing field. He ranks third in school history with 138 receptions and 2,151 yards receiving, as his 27 touchdown grabs set the UA all-time record.
An intelligent athlete, Monk garnered athletic and academic honors during his days at East Poinsett County High School. An All-State selection in both football and basketball, he was the valedictorian of his class and was considered by some publications as the top basketball prospect in the state. He was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Athlete of the Year for his senior season on the gridiron and The Morning News ranked him as the fifth-best football prospect in Arkansas.
Monk was rated as the 68th-best wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com and also ranked as the state's No. 7 prospect by that scouting service. He had 72 receptions for 1,074 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior and hauled in 52 catches for 1,104 yards and 19 scores as a junior. He also rushed for 110 yards on 10 carries and earned 400 yards on 15 kickoff returns.
In his senior season for the basketball team, Monk averaged 20.8 points, 16.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.8 blocks and 2.5 steals. He was named the Arkansas Democrat Gazette's Mr. Basketball, as he led his team to the Class AAA state championships, earning Most Valuable Player of the tournament. As a junior, he averaged 25.8 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. He averaged a double-double per game in his sophomore season and was part of a state basketball championship as a freshman and a senior. A member of the National Honor Society, the Math and Science clubs, and the student council, he graduated first in his class.
Monk enrolled at Arkansas in 2004, starting six of 11 games at split end. He set the school freshman record with 37 receptions for 569 yards (15.4-yard average) and six touchdowns. Only South Carolina's Troy Williamson had more scoring catches (seven) among Southeastern Conference receivers that season. After the football season, he suited up with Arkansas' basketball team for 10 games, averaging 1.8 rebounds and one point per game.
In 2005, Monk started all 11 games at split end. He finished second on the squad with 35 catches for 476 yards (13.6-yard average) and seven touchdowns, scoring 42 points. He also had a solo tackle. He lined up at split end for all 14 contests in 2006, leading the team with 50 receptions, as his 962 yards (19.2 avg) ranked third on the school list and his 11 touchdown grabs set a new Razorback record.
After his junior campaign, Monk gave serious consideration to leaving school early to enter the 2007 NFL Draft. He decided to remain with the Razorbacks for his senior season, telling The Morning News newspaper in northwest Arkansas that it was a difficult decision to forego the draft, particularly because he was projected as going as high as the second round. "It's tough. You want to provide, especially in my situation. I want to provide for my family," Monk said. "Sometimes, it's better to be patient."
Monk was limited by knee and calf injuries in practices all year and seriously considered a medical hardship. He finished with just 144 yards on 16 catches (9.0-yard average) and saw his string of consecutive games with at least one catch come to an end when he stepped on the field for one play vs. Auburn (ending his string at 36 games). Three of his 16 catches were touchdowns.
In 43 games at Arkansas, Monk started 36 contests. He ranks third in school history with 138 receptions for 2,151 yards (15.6-yard average) and set the school record with 27 touchdown grabs, tied for seventh on the Southeastern Conference's all-time list. He also registered six tackles and had at least one reception in 42 of the 43 games he played.
After three stellar seasons, the split end looked sensational throughout spring practices and was primed for a banner senior season. But Monk suffered a right knee injury during an August scrimmage and never really got back on track.
The injury required two surgeries to repair, limiting him to just seven games, but everyone saw in those contests that he was not ready to play football, especially after he suffered a bruised calf upon his return to the playing field. He ranks third in school history with 138 receptions and 2,151 yards receiving, as his 27 touchdown grabs set the UA all-time record.
An intelligent athlete, Monk garnered athletic and academic honors during his days at East Poinsett County High School. An All-State selection in both football and basketball, he was the valedictorian of his class and was considered by some publications as the top basketball prospect in the state. He was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Athlete of the Year for his senior season on the gridiron and The Morning News ranked him as the fifth-best football prospect in Arkansas.
Monk was rated as the 68th-best wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com and also ranked as the state's No. 7 prospect by that scouting service. He had 72 receptions for 1,074 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior and hauled in 52 catches for 1,104 yards and 19 scores as a junior. He also rushed for 110 yards on 10 carries and earned 400 yards on 15 kickoff returns.
In his senior season for the basketball team, Monk averaged 20.8 points, 16.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.8 blocks and 2.5 steals. He was named the Arkansas Democrat Gazette's Mr. Basketball, as he led his team to the Class AAA state championships, earning Most Valuable Player of the tournament. As a junior, he averaged 25.8 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. He averaged a double-double per game in his sophomore season and was part of a state basketball championship as a freshman and a senior. A member of the National Honor Society, the Math and Science clubs, and the student council, he graduated first in his class.
Monk enrolled at Arkansas in 2004, starting six of 11 games at split end. He set the school freshman record with 37 receptions for 569 yards (15.4-yard average) and six touchdowns. Only South Carolina's Troy Williamson had more scoring catches (seven) among Southeastern Conference receivers that season. After the football season, he suited up with Arkansas' basketball team for 10 games, averaging 1.8 rebounds and one point per game.
In 2005, Monk started all 11 games at split end. He finished second on the squad with 35 catches for 476 yards (13.6-yard average) and seven touchdowns, scoring 42 points. He also had a solo tackle. He lined up at split end for all 14 contests in 2006, leading the team with 50 receptions, as his 962 yards (19.2 avg) ranked third on the school list and his 11 touchdown grabs set a new Razorback record.
After his junior campaign, Monk gave serious consideration to leaving school early to enter the 2007 NFL Draft. He decided to remain with the Razorbacks for his senior season, telling The Morning News newspaper in northwest Arkansas that it was a difficult decision to forego the draft, particularly because he was projected as going as high as the second round. "It's tough. You want to provide, especially in my situation. I want to provide for my family," Monk said. "Sometimes, it's better to be patient."
Monk was limited by knee and calf injuries in practices all year and seriously considered a medical hardship. He finished with just 144 yards on 16 catches (9.0-yard average) and saw his string of consecutive games with at least one catch come to an end when he stepped on the field for one play vs. Auburn (ending his string at 36 games). Three of his 16 catches were touchdowns.
In 43 games at Arkansas, Monk started 36 contests. He ranks third in school history with 138 receptions for 2,151 yards (15.6-yard average) and set the school record with 27 touchdown grabs, tied for seventh on the Southeastern Conference's all-time list. He also registered six tackles and had at least one reception in 42 of the 43 games he played.
