Ad Disclosure
A majority of Arkansas’ starters return from a 2015 team that rallied to post an 8-5 record. But the team’s best offensive player is not one of them.
Junior RB Alex Collins decided to forego his senior season and declared for the NFL Draft about two weeks ago.
Collins had a spectacular 2015. He rushed for 1,000 yards for a third straight season, joining only Darren McFadden in accomplishing that feat at Arkansas. Collins’ 20 rushing TDs set a school record, and his 1,577 rushing yards is third in Arkansas history behind McFadden’s two runner-up Heisman Trophy seasons. He also tied McFadden’s school record of 10 100-yard games in one year.
Though it’s no surprise Collins has decided to enter the draft, that doesn’t make it any easier to replace him. The Razorbacks have different possibilities at running back, but no proven performers.
Let’s take a look at Arkansas’ options at running back.
The Razorbacks received good news last year when the NCAA and SEC granted Kody Walker a sixth year of eligibility because of two season-ending injuries. He rushed for 394 yards and six TDs on 90 carries last season, making him the Razorbacks’ second-leading rusher.
But the 90 attempts he had last year was by far his career high. He may not be capable of handling the bulk of the carries — Collins had 271 attempts in 2015.
Four-star commit Devwah Whaley might be the answer. The third-ranked running back in the 2016 recruiting class, he chose Arkansas over Texas and Georgia. Both are still trying to change Whaley’s mind. Any switch would be a huge blow for the Razorbacks.
But Whaley can play as a freshman at Arkansas. That may not be the case in Texas or Georgia.
Other running backs on the Razorbacks roster are Rawleigh Williams III, Denzell Evans and Juan Day.
Williams is the best of the three. As a freshman, he rushed for 254 yards in 2015 before suffering a neck injury in October. Williams had successful surgery, but neck injuries are tricky. There is always a chance he never plays again. That’s why it is so important that Arkansas keeps Whaley.
Evans and Day are inexperienced, combining for 10 carries in 2015. Day has undergone surgery on both ACL ligaments in the last three years.
That pretty much leaves the Arkansas backfield up to the incoming freshman, Whaley and Walker. Anything the Razorbacks get out of Williams should be considered a bonus.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
