There’s a strange fault in Alex Collins’ game.

The dynamic Arkansas ballcarrier who’s gunning for his third consecutive 1,000-yard season isn’t the same running back when October rolls around. In fact, none of his seven 100-yard games have come past the end of September when teams begin to establish an identity leading to the meat of the schedule.

What’s been the issue?

It’s complicated, both off the field and on.

Bret Bielema made it abundantly clear this spring that senior Jonathan Williams is the team’s No. 1 back. Williams has been the more complete option in the backfield each of the past two seasons, bettering Collins in pass protection, short-yardage situations and as a receiving option.

Kody Walker’s emergence during spring practice — and on the post-spring depth chart as the co-No. 2 — gave us a clue the Razorbacks’ coaching staff is hoping to light a fire under Collins.

RELATED: Walker, Williams the ideal 1-2 punch at Arkansas

After leading all FBS freshmen in rushing attempts and yards during the 2013 campaign, Collins’ off-the-field problems began in February before the start of spring drills ahead of his sophomore season. Arkansas kicked him off the team for a week for an unspecified social media snafu and eight months later, the former five-star was held out of the first quarter during a pivotal matchup with Alabama after skipping a workout during the Razorbacks’ bye week.

On the field, only two of Collins’ 100-yard games have come against SEC competition, both vs. Texas A&M who had the league’s worst rush (and total) defense each of the past two seasons. Inspecting his late season numbers since arriving at Arkansas, Collins is averaging 4.4 yards per carry over the second half of the season compared to a sparkling 6.3 yards per carry average during the first six weeks.

Collins’ overall reps didn’t take a hit as a result, but his production did. The competition’s been noticeably tougher (mostly against SEC squads) late in the year, the lead contributor to his struggles. Collins became less of a factor in the screen game during the second half of last season as well.

Most preseason publications have Collins listed within the SEC’s five best running backs for 2015. Phil Steele picked Collins as a preseason All-SEC second-teamer, ahead of Williams, who was placed on the third-team. We’ve got the Florida native No. 8 overall coming out of spring, four spots behind his teammate.

A look inside the numbers reveals a disturbing trend the potential early NFL exit hopes to break this season in Fayetteville for a team poised to make a run at a Western Division championship.