There are few teams in the FBS as committed to running the ball as the Arkansas Razorbacks, who won seven games last season thanks to a great defense and a pair of tailbacks who each rushed for more than 1,000 yards on the year.

Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema has taken that approach his entire career, leading Wisconsin to three straight Big Ten titles from 2010-12 while ranking in the top 15 in the nation in rushing offense all three years.

He’s taken the same approach in reviving the Arkansas program in the wake of the failed John L. Smith experiment, but what many haven’t noticed is that the Hogs’ passing offense is quietly trending up in the SEC.

Much of the Razorbacks’ improvement in the passing game has mirrored the development of quarterback Brandon Allen, who is preparing for his third and final year as the team’s starter this fall.

But the emergence of Arkansas’ aerial attack has also been due in large part to young, dynamic talents like rising sophomore wideout Jared Cornelius, who broke out to the tune of 18 catches for 212 yards and a pair of scores as a rookie last season.

Those numbers are far from what many would consider dominant, but for a freshman playing in offense that rarely throws the ball more than it has to, those numbers indicate a player who’s already able to be productive at the SEC level.

And as he gains experience and expands his role in the Arkansas offense, his numbers will only improve throughout his college career.

The Hogs have bid farewell to two of the four players with more yards than Cornelius last season, and it now appears the former three-star wideout will be able to compete with rising juniors Cody Hollister and Drew Morgan for a starting job opposite rising senior and top wideout Keon Hatcher this fall.

With a senior and three-year starter at quarterback and a pair of 1,000-yard rushers keeping opposing defenses occupied, there should be plenty of opportunities for Cornelius to make plays against single coverage. Factor in Hatcher’s presence as the team’s No. 1 receiving option (his team-high 558 yards and six touchdowns justify that designation), and it will only create more opportunities for Cornelius in the Hogs’ offense.

At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, he’s not the biggest or strongest receiver in the SEC. He’s not the fastest either. But while he lacks explosive abilities as a wideout, he’s a complete player who can impact games in a number of ways.

He’s a consistent route runner, and when facing single coverage should have no trouble freeing himself from more athletic cornerbacks as a result. He’s sturdy and not easily bullied by opposing defenders aiming to knock down a pass or make a tackle, and he can play on the outside and across the middle.

Cornelius is shiftier than many realize, and he averaged 10 yards per return when given the punt return duties midseason.

Arkansas is still going to be a run-dependent team this fall, but look for Cornelius to be the biggest breakout star on a veteran offense as the Hogs aim to climb out of the SEC West cellar.