Jake Bequette

Classroom

Bequette earned his bachelor’s degree in finance in three years and was accepted into law school, but deferred enrollment and is now pursuing a master’s degree. He was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and the Athletic Director’s List in the fall of 2009 and the fall of 2010. Previously he was named to the SEC’s Freshman Academic Honor Roll and Arkansas’ Lon Farrell Academic Honor Roll for the 2007-08 academic year, and to the Razorback Honor Roll for the 2008-09 year.

Character

Bequette is an unquestioned leader of the Arkansas football team. He was selected as a team captain in 2010 and again in 2011. He has helped set an example for the younger players on and off the field and is constantly mentioned by the incoming Razorbacks as a positive influence in their transition to the team and campus. He also is extremely willing to sign autographs for children after practice or a game.

Community

Bequette is one of the most active Razorbacks in the communities of Fayetteville and Little Rock. He was one of the first student-athletes to sign up for the Book Hogs Read to Win program, which is one of Arkansas’ primary service initiatives, in which student-athletes partner with local elementary schools to encourage literacy among the youth in the Fayetteville community. He has made several visits to Boys & Girls Clubs and also participated in the Sweat Hawgs program to not only play with the kids, but to share the importance of exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep and listening to parents and teachers. Another program where he donates his time is with the annual Lift Up America service project, where volunteers assist in passing out more than 30,000 pounds of food to the local food banks. Bequette also volunteered in the Razorback Relief: Operation Haiti initiative to pack food to be sent to the victims in that country. He also frequently visits the children’s hospital in his hometown of Little Rock.

Competition

Bequette enters the 2011 season tied for 10th on Arkansas’ all-time career sacks list with 13.5, while his 32 career starts lead all Razorback defensive linemen and are tied for second among the 2011 team. He was named to the preseason All-SEC first team and to watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award. Last season, he started all 13 games and was a second-team All-SEC selection by the AP and coaches. He finished the season with 32 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and a career-high seven sacks. His team-leading sack total tied for fifth in the SEC and is tied for the eighth-highest single-season total in Arkansas history.