Arkansas Razorbacks’ Cam Kozeal Earns SEC Player of the Week
Arkansas infielder Cam Kozeal has been named the SEC Player of the Week following a jaw-dropping performance in Week 8 that propelled the Razorbacks to a resounding sweep over Missouri. Kozeal dominated at the plate, leading the SEC in nearly every key offensive category for the week, including hits (9), doubles (3), RBI (13), total bases (18), on-base percentage (.706), and slugging percentage (1.385).
Powering a Razorback Offensive Explosion
The Razorbacks made history at Baum-Walker Stadium, scoring a program-record 51 runs in an SEC series, defeating Missouri by a combined score of 51-9 across three games. Kozeal was at the heart of the offensive onslaught, driving in 13 runs — more than Missouri’s entire team managed over the weekend. He recorded multiple hits and multiple RBI in all three games, including a career-high-tying four hits in the series opener and a career-best six RBI in game two.
Kozeal’s consistency and power helped Arkansas secure its 12th consecutive SEC weekend series win at home. His hot streak, which began during the series against his former team, Vanderbilt, on March 28, has turned him into one of the hottest hitters in the nation.
Season Stats Put Kozeal Among SEC Elite
Kozeal’s season numbers speak for themselves. He’s hitting a team-leading .417 with seven home runs and 37 RBI through 28 games. His dominance is even more pronounced in SEC play, where he leads the team in batting average (.532), on-base percentage (.582), slugging percentage (.957), home runs (5), and RBI (26) over just 12 conference games. His .417 season average and .532 mark in SEC play are both second-best in the league.
In his last seven games, Kozeal has exploded for 14 hits, 21 RBI, and five home runs, solidifying his reputation as one of the toughest outs in the SEC.
Confidence, Coaching, and Correct Pronunciation
Kozeal credits a recent mechanical adjustment with his breakthrough. “There’s something I’ve kind of figured out over the past couple of weeks just with my swing,” Kozeal said. “Staying tall in my stance and letting the barrel get through the zone easier. It’s not an accident.”
Even Razorback head coach Dave Van Horn admitted he had to learn to pronounce Kozeal’s name correctly. “I told him, ‘When you start hitting, I’ll call you Co-zhul.’ I’ve been calling him Co-zhul the last few weeks.”
Kozeal becomes the third Razorback to earn SEC weekly honors this season, joining infielder Wehiwa Aloy and pitcher Zach Root, but with the way he’s swinging the bat, he may not be done collecting awards.
