The Arkansas Razorbacks need a hero to right the ship on Saturday, and Devwah Whaley might be the the captain who leads the Hogs out of treacherous waters after a ugly start to the 2017 season.

Whaley’s role changed dramatically in the offseason, when Arkansas starting running back Rawleigh Williams III chose to retire from football after suffering another neck injury during the Razorbacks spring game. Suddenly, Whaley transitioned from a role player to “the guy.”

In 15 career games, Whaley has yet to carry the ball 20 times in a game.

He was named to the Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch Lists before the season. Last year, he was a flash in the pan, rushing for over 600 yards and three touchdowns. Many expected him to take the next step and become one of the SEC’s elite running backs.

So far, the sophomore from Beaumont Central High School has not lived up to the hype. He has put up pedestrian numbers the first two games. If he continues on track at this rushing pace, the talented sophomore will finish the 2017 season vastly underachieving.

Being tutored by coach Bret Bielema has helped many college running backs. He has coached a stable of solid running backs including P.J. Hill, James White, John Clay, Montee Ball, Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. Those players flourished under his tutelage and now Whaley has that luxury of being in the same position.

Chase Hayden might be the most talented running back on the roster, but Whaley is the Arkansas bell-cow. To begin the season, he has been outplayed by Hayden and senior David Williams. Saturday, Whaley needs to reemerge as the the dynamic playmaker Bielema knows he is capable of being.

After two games, Williams is averaging a yard more per carry more than Whaley and has two rushing touchdowns compared to Whaley’s one. Hayden is the only member of the Razorbacks backfield that has broken 100 yards in a game in 2017.

Breaking out won’t be easy in Week 4. Whaley has a challenge against the Aggies defense. Texas A&M has only allowed 77 rushing yards per game through three weeks, the sixth-best total in the country.

While that number seems ominous in Arkansas fans’ minds, it might be a little deceiving. UCLA was down early in Week 1 against the Aggies, so the Bruins had to pass extensively behind the arm of Josh Rosen. Under coach Jim Mora in 2017, UCLA has only averaged 122 yards on the ground. So, it’s not their bread and butter regardless.

Texas A&M is sixth in the FBS in rushing defense but 75th (400.3 ypg) in total defense.

Then A&M gave up 74 rushing yards to Nicholls State, a FCS opponent, and held Louisiana-Lafayette to 94. These lesser opponents have helped make the Aggies look like a mighty rushing defense but, though Arkansas has not looked great on the ground yet, Texas A&M faces their first real test against the Razorbacks on Saturday.

Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis has gotten the better of Arkansas of late. Chavis was  with Tennessee and LSU before taking the job at Texas A&M. Since arriving in College Station, Arkansas has been pitted versus Chavis twice, in 2015 and 2016. Both times his team left as the victor.

Now, Whaley has a chance to be the first starting running back at Arkansas to beat Chavis during the assistant’s Texas A&M tenure.

In Whaley’s only appearance against Chavis, he rushed nine times for 29 yards, only 3.2 yards per carry, in 2016. If he posts similar numbers Saturday, Arkansas has no shot. But those were stats as a backup.

Rawleigh Williams fared a little better in 2016 against the Aggies, with 79 yards and one touchdown. That was the lone rushing touchdown the Razorbacks scored that day. Bielema’s team only managed 120 rushing yards, averaging exactly 3 yards per attempt.

Not great, but one caveat is that the Razorbacks were down the majority of the second half and had to abandon the ground game. This led to the Aggies defense wrecking havoc on quarterback Austin Allen, knowing it could use a full-fledged pass rush. Texas A&M won’t be able to do that if Whaley dominates the game on the ground.

In 2015, the Razorbacks rushing attack was superb against the Aggies with an astounding 232 yards. Bielema would love for Whaley to establish himself Saturday like Collins did in 2015 with over 150 yards.

Yes, the defense needs to show up, Austin Allen needs to play better, and the offensive line has to block, but Whaley needs to explode on Saturday for Arkansas to have a chance to win. He will have to channel whatever led to his breakout game against Mississippi State in 2016.

That was one of only two career games in which Whaley has eclipsed 100 yards. Of his 19 carries, seven resulted in first downs. Bielema would love to feed him more on Saturday.

If Whaley is productive, that would allow Allen to be elusive on play-action plays, which opens up the Arkansas offense. Keeping the speedy Aggies defenders away from the senior quarterback is another bonus.

Whaley’s production is also essential for the other running backs’ confidence. If Williams and Hayden see a spark from Whaley, it will only give them more assurance that they can succeed running. If one can complement Whaley, the addition would be enormous for the Razorbacks offense.

Whaley should rewatch some of his better highlights. It will get the juices flowing.