Arkansas Football Countdown: 79 Days

The year 1979 was a great year to be a Razorback fan. The football team led by legendary coach Lou Holtz had a 10-2 record with a trip to the Sugar Bowl. The Quarterback on that year's team was Kevin Scanlon. Future NFL running back Gary Anderson was also on the team (I played high school football with his son, no big deal).

It would be very impressive if this year's football team could go 10-2 with a trip to the Sugar Bowl (Editor's note: HAHAHAHAHA). This most likely will not happen; but one thing is for certain, Ben Benton will be sporting the #79 jersey for the Hogs.

Benton, from Memphis, Tenn spent the 2012 season redshirting. He helped the defense out by working on the scout team.

Benton walked on at Arkansas even though he received a scholarship offer from Memphis. At 6-5 290, Benton has the size to compete with anyone. Hopefully Coach Bielema can mold Benton into stud offensive linemen. Bielema has had many linemen drafted throughout his years as a head coach. Maybe after a few years under tutelage from Bielema and offensive line coach Sam Pittman, you will hear Benton's name called out on draft day. He wouldn't be the first walk-on offensive linemen for the Hogs to make that jump.

Another reason to love the number 79 is that Alien and Rocky II came out that year. Classic movies.

Pictured is former Razorback lineman Grant Freeman from Paris, Arkansas. Freeman was a Razorback from 2007-2011, working his way from a player who wasn't heavily recruited into a starter in the SEC.