Arkansas Plays with a Heavy Heart Today After Loss of Garrett Uekman

Today, the 10-1 (6-1 SEC) No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks will take on the 11-0 (7-0 SEC) No. 1 LSU Tigers in a game that will determine at least a piece of the national championship picture. Although this game has such lofty expectations on the field, something much larger than football will be at the forefront of the Razorbacks minds.

This past Sunday, a son, teammate and a friend passed away in his dorm room after a previously undiagnosed condition known as cardiomyopathy took his young life (via the Washington Post).

Garrett Uekman was 19.

Uekman was a redshirt freshman tight end for the Razorbacks majoring in applied exercise science.

Uekman was a highly regarded recruit from Catholic High School in Little Rock, Arkansas when he chose to sign with instate favorite, the Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas has a pass-friendly system that relies on the receivers to make plays, as well as tight ends to fill in blocking gaps in the run game. They need to be athletic enough to catch passes and make plays in space.

Uekman had a bright future with the Razorbacks. His teammates will be on the field for the first time this season without him. This game is worth much more than a national title to the Razorbacks and the Razorback family.

Coach Bobby Petrino had this to say about the loss of Uekman (via USA Today):

"

"Garrett Uekman was a special member of our family, and we are all saddened by his passing, His loss is a terrible shock, and it makes you realize how precious life is. Garrett was a great teammate and loved being a Razorback. My sympathies are with his entire family during this incredibly trying time, and I share in their grief. Our team will honor and show our respect to Garrett."

"

Fellow teammate Kniles Davis also tweeted his feelings for his teammate and friend by saying:

"

“Garrett Uekman rest in peace my brother Watch over us as we continue to chase the dream u started with us. I love u and will forever miss u.”

"

Nothing is more tragic than the loss of a young man with so much life to live and what was setting up to be a wonderful career with the Razorbacks. The Razorbacks will look to honor their teammate with their play today, using the passing of a friend as motivation to win this game in his memory.

The Arkansas team will take the field looking to keep themselves in the national title picture and win one of the biggest games of Coach Bobby Petrino’s career at Arkansas.

This game was going to be played with passion and intensity. Now, with so much more to play for, the Razorbacks may be in line for a major victory.

No matter the outcome today, Uekman will forever be remembered as a true Razorback and will be in the hearts and minds of his teammates forever.