FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas lost three running backs off last season's team to the NFL, and now Bobby Petrino is trying to restock that position.
Arkansas added some quality running backs in February, including Camden Fairview's De'Anthony Curtis, 5-10, 209, 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and Texarkana's Dennis Johnson, 5-8, 190, 4.35. The Razorbacks have added three talented walk-on running backs as well.
Broken Bow (Okla.) High School's Mitchell Bailey, 6-1, 217, 4.5, and Nashville's DeShawn Scoggins, 5-10, 193, 4.4, have decided to join Farmington's Jairemy Smith, 5-10, 185, 4.48, as Arkansas walk-ons.
Bailey chose Arkansas over Oklahoma on Thursday. Hespent most of his time at linebacker as a senior, but rushed for 1,036 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 128 carries.
Bailey said the decision to attend Arkansas wasn't a hard one.
"I picked Arkansas because I will fit better in their program," he said. "From what they have told me, I feel I have a better opportunity to get a scholarship at Arkansas."
Bailey attended Arkansas'Red-White game April 29 and came away impressed with the facilities and coaches.
"The weight room is the best I have ever seen," Bailey said. "The coaches are all really nice."
Bailey also had another reason for choosing Arkansas. Bailey's dream is to play running back in college, and he felt Oklahoma might have been pursuing him more as a linebacker.
"Arkansas does offer me the better chance to play running back," Bailey said. "I will just have to go up there and work. Hopefully, I can show them I can do it."
Petrino prefers bigger running backs and is especially fond of playing a bigger tailback in the fourth quarter while protecting the lead.
"I like to run north andsouth," Bailey said. "I'm a powerful runner. I feel I can help move the chains."
Bailey admitted it was impressive seeing former Razorback running backs Darren Mc-Fadden and Felix Jones taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.
"That's pretty sweet," Bailey said. "They're both good backs. They did some outstanding stuff. I feel I run a little more like Darren in that he would run over you instead of running around you. I do that, too."
Scoggins signed with Air Force but failed to meet its academic standards, though his grades are good and well above NCAA standards.
"This is the chance of a lifetime," Scoggins said of attending Arkansas. "I have been wanting to go to Arkansas since I was alittle boy. The next step for me in my life is to go play football for the Razorbacks."
Scoggins said he rushed for approximately 1,850 yards and scored 45 touchdowns last season. Despite his love for the Razorbacks, this past season was the first time Scoggins actually attended a game in Fayetteville.
"I went to the Auburn and Kentucky games," Scoggins said. "I heard the crowd cheering loud and it was like I was back home in Nashville. I knew that was the place I needed to be."
Scoggins said he recently notified Arkansas assistant Tim Horton, who coaches running backs, that he intends to play for the Razorbacks.
"He was excited when I told him I was coming to Arkansas," Scoggins said. "He said he wasready to see what is going to happen when I get there."
Arkansas brought in Scoggins for an official visit and probably gave at least some thought to offering a scholarship. When the offer didn't come, Scoggins didn't completely give up the hope of joining the Razorbacks. He said he feels he has the talent to eventually help Arkansas.
"I'm not the fastest running back in the world, but I have good vision," he said.
Like Bailey, Scoggins couldn't help but get excited when Mc-Fadden and Jones were taken in the draft.
"That speaks a lot about Arkansas," Scoggins said. "Arkansas had Felix and D-Mac, and now everybody wants the twoback [rotation]. The fact those two went in the first round was a credit to Arkansas."
Sports, Pages 48 on 05/18/2008