MONTICELLO, Ark. – Five former student-athletes have been chosen for induction into the UAM Sports Hall of Fame, Director of Athletics Hud Jackson announced on Thursday.
The new inductees will be honored in the 2026 UAM Hall of Fame Ceremony on Thursday, October 8th. The inductees will also be recognized at Willis 'Convoy' Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium on October 10th during halftime of the Homecoming game, when Arkansas-Monticello hosts Oklahoma Baptist. Both events will be live-streamed on the official UAM Sports YouTube Page.
The 2026 induction class was chosen by a selection committee and includes former Baseball All-American outfielder Monte Erwin; Danielle Rollins, a Second-Team All-American and GSC Defensive Player of the Year; Jake Nowlen, a two-time MLB draft pick and All-GSC pitcher; Katherine Taju, a First-Team All-Region selection, GSC West Player of the Year, and UAM Volleyball's first Hall of Fame inductee; and De'Andre Washington, a three-time All-American tight end for the Weevil Football program.
"We are really excited about the inductees into this year's Athletic Hall of Fame," said UAM Athletic Director Hud Jackson. "A great representation of some special athletes who have played for our great university. We appreciate our Hall of Fame committee for their work that they put into this process."
The Hall of Fame selection committee evaluates the careers of each athlete nominated to determine their selection into the Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 8th, in the Green Room of the UAM University Center.
The first of the inductees is Monte Erwin, who played centerfield for the baseball team at UAM in the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Over his two-year career at UAM, he received national and conference recognitions. Erwin graduated in 1995, yet his name continues to rank at the top of the Weevil records for both individual season and career records. He helped the 1993 Boll Weevils win the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference Championship and the NAIA District 17 Title.
National, Regional, and Conference Recognitions:
- 1993 NAIA All-American Honorable mention
- 1993 All-AIC First Team
Record Book Stats:
- 1st in Career Batting Average (.410)
- 4th in Individual Season Batting Average (.446 - 1993)
Danielle Rollins was an absolute monster as a linebacker for the Boll Weevil defense throughout the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Over two years on the UAM football team, Rollins saw dual Second-Team All-American nods, a GSC Defensive Player of the Year selection, and was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Award. In addition, Rollins was the leading tackler for the Boll Weevils in both of his two years with the program, leading the NCAA DII in total tackles in 1999 with 125 and in tackles per game in 2000 with 13.7.
National, Regional, and Conference Recognitions:
- 2000-2009 GDC All-Decade Team Honorable
Mention
- 2000 Daktronics Second Team All-American
- 2000 D2Football Second Team All-American
- 2000 Daktronics First Team All-Region
- 2000 GSC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2000 All-GSC First Team
- 2000 2x GSC Defensive Player of the Week
- 9/30 at West Georgia
- 10/28 at Southern Arkansas
- 1999 Daktronics Second Team All-Region
Record Book Stats:
- Led NCAA DII in total tackles in 1999 (125)
- Led NCAA DII in tackles per game in 2000 (13.7)
- 1999 (125) & 2000 (123) Tackles leader for UAM
Jake Nowlen was a right-handed pitcher at UAM from 1999 to 2002 and was a 4-year letterman. During his career with UAM, Nowlen received a Gulf South Conference Second Team nod in 2001. While records have since been broken, at the conclusion of his career, Nowlen ranked among the top pitchers in UAM history, including second in career pitching appearances (56), tied for second in career victories (20), second in career innings pitched (271.1), third in career strikeouts (190), and tied third in single-season victories (7).
Nowlen was drafted not once, but twice while attending UAM. In the 2001 MLB draft, Nowlen was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 33rd round. Following the 2002 season, Nowlen was once again drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 30th round.
National, Regional, and Conference Recognitions:
Katherine Taju played Volleyball for the Blossoms in 2006, during the program's sophomore season. Coming in as a senior, Taju played a single season with the team, and yet, is still one of the program's most decorated athletes. During the 2006 season, Taju was selected to both the AVCA and D2CCA First Team All-Central Region Teams, was the GSC West Conference Player of the Year, and, of course, was All-GSC West First Team.
Her single-season impact has not only made an impact at the conference level, seeing a Gulf South All-Decade Team Honorable Mention pick, but has also held her name among the top of multiple UAM records. She would go on to represent her home country of Panama in multiple events.
National, Regional, and Conference Recognitions:
- 2006 Gulf South West Conference Player of the Year
- 2006 First Team Gulf South West
- 2006 AVCA First Team All-Region
- 2006 Daktronics/D2CCA First Team All-Region
- 2000-09 Gulf South All-Decade Team Honorable Mention (Did not meet the criteria of two years played)
Record Book Stats:
- 1st in Individual Season Kills (553)
- 1st in Individual Season Kills Per Set (4.73)
- 1st in Individual Season Attack Attempts (1,407)
- 1st in Individual Season Points (639.5)
- 3rd in Individual Season Service Aces (46)
- T-5th in Individual Season Service Aces Per Set (0.39)
- 3rd in Individual Season Service Attempts (481)
Professional Career
- Played with Panama in the 2010 Central American Cup (2nd Place)
- Played with Panama in the 2011 NORCECA Volleyball Championship (9th Place)
- Played with Panama in the 2014 NORCECA World Championship Qualifiers (10th Place)
- Played with Panama in the 2021 Central American Cup (5th Place)
De'Andre Washington played for the Boll Weevil football team from 2017 to 2021, becoming the only three-time All-American in program history. Over his career, Washington saw All-American, All-Region, and All-GAC nods. Upon graduation, the tight end was invited to the Miami Dolphins Mini Camp.
National, Regional, and Conference Recognitions:
- 2018 Don Hansen's Football Gazette First Team All-American
- 2019 Don Hansen's Football Gazette Second Team All-American
- 2021 Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-American Honorable Mention
- 2018 Don Hansen's Football Gazette First Team All-Region
- 2018 D2CCA Second team All-Region
- 2019 D2CCA Second Team All-Region
- 2019 Don Hansen's Football Gazette Second team All-Region
- 2021 D2CCA Second Team All-Region
- 2018 First Team All-GAC
- 2019 Second Team All-GAC
- 2021 First Team All-GAC
Record Book Stats:
- Saw a 197-yard receiving game against East Central on October 5, 2018
- Making 4 receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns
- Leading receiver in 2018, collecting 615 yards as a tight end on 36 receptions
UAM Spirit Award
Introduced in 2006, the UAM Spirit Award is given to individuals who show exceptional support and dedication to the University of Arkansas at Monticello's athletic programs. This award is given to someone who goes above and beyond for our student-athletes and sports programs. The recipient of this award embodies the heart and soul of the team. They are not only there for the wins, but for the losses, rain delays, and the nail-biting moments. They truly bleed green and white. The 2026 honoree will be announced at a later date.
2026 UAM Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Class
• Monte Erwin, Baseball
• Danielle Rollins, Football
• Jake Nowlen, Baseball
• Katherine Taju, Volleyball
• De'Andre Washington, Football
• Spirit Award Honoree
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