Running backs eager to carry a bigger load

FAYETTEVILLE - Tailback is on its way to becoming the glamour position at Arkansas.

The Razorbacks, who lost three veteran backs after the 2012 season, welcomed back promising sophomore Jonathan Williams and added five-star recruit Alex Collins to the backfield in the transition to a new coaching staff that embraces the role of the running game in a balanced attack.

After five seasons in which quarterbacks and receivers held the marquee roles at Arkansas, the spotlight is expected to shine brighter on the runners under Coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney.

Arkansas’ transformation from predominant passing team to power running team might not occur overnight, but the Hogs, who added weight and strength across the board under conditioning coach Ben Herbert in the off season, say it can happen.

“Yeah, definitely,” Williams said. “We have tough guys on the team already. Our linemen are already tough. The way Coach Herbert came in here in the weight room over the summer and the spring time, he changed people’s bodies.

“I feel like we have the tools to be a physical running team.”

Collins, the top-rated recruit in Arkansas’ 2013 signing class, debuted with an 11-yard run in Saturday’s scrimmage, drawing a big reaction from the 5,000 or so fans. His last carry went for 13 yards.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been in pads,” Collins said. “So it felt good just to get running, you know what I’m saying, just get behind those big offensive linemen.”

Collins had two of the team’s six explosive runs in the scrimmage, running backs coach Joel Thomas said.

“He’s about on par right now,” Thomas said. “Anticipated some nice explosive runs, which he had. … It shows in the open field, it shows his ability to make people miss.”

Questions about Collins’ opportunity to quickly become a star in the SEC have run rampant in camp, and there seems a concerted effort to keep expectations in check.

In discussing how Williams was limited Saturday to give Collins and combination back Kody Walker some looks, Bielema touched on that.

“We knew what Jon had done during the spring and were very happy,” Bielema said. “It’s going to be fun to see Jonathan take that role and run with it. … I know a lot of people are going to want to talk about Alex. He showed some good things [in the scrimmage], but Jonathan is going to be our go to guy.”

Senior fullback Kiero Small said Collins has hit the ground running.

“He’s a good running back,” Small said. “You know, as a freshman, it’s not easy coming in here and learning all this. Now that we’re into it, I don’t think they’ve done anything like this in their lives. He puts his head down and he just works.”

Williams seemed understanding of the hype surrounding Collins.

“Younger guys are going to have to step up this year in order for us to be as good as we want,” he said. “He did some good things out there. We’ll be able to take that and hopefully be able to have a good running game this year.”

Another key to the hoped for power running game Bielema has in mind is the performance of the fullbacks. Small has a reputation as a hard-nosed, face mask-breaking lead blocker. Behind him, Patrick Arinze has the frame of a 5-10, 238-pound battering ram, with junior Morgan Linton and versatile Kody Walker also in the mix.

Small sat out Saturday’s scrimmage while giving his sore right foot a rest. Arinze and Walker both had 18-yard carries in the workout.

“I like the fact that once Kiero comes back and Patrick is going, I’ve got two guys who really know our system, along with Morgan as well,” Thomas said.

Bielema suggested that in the fourth quarter a back like Walker could come in and hammer on tired defenses or take the ball in the red zone or short yardage to pound for first downs.

“Anything you can do to help the team win,” Walker said. “Wherever they feel that I help fit this team, that’s what I’m going to do.”

If Bielema can establish the kind of running game he envisions, there should be plenty of carries to spread around.

In Bielema’s seven seasons as head coach at Wisconsin, the Badgers produced a 1,000-yard rusher every year and a 1,500-yard rusher four times. The top rusher in those years averaged 1,466 yards per year, and the second-leading rusher averaged 678 yards.

In 2010, Wisconsin almost pulled off the feat of producing three 1,000-yard rushers, which had been accomplished for the first time in NCAA history the previous season by Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick, Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott. James White ran for 1,052 yards, John Clay had 1,012 and Montee Ball - who would later put up seasons of 1,923 and 1,830 rushing yards and win the Doak Walker Award in 2012 - finished with 996 yards for the 2010 Badgers.

POSITION GLANCE: RUNNING BACKS

RETURNING STARTER FB Kiero Small*

KEY LOSSES TB Knile Davis, TB Dennis Johnson, TB Ronnie Wingo

WHO’S BACK TB Nate Holmes, TB Jonathan Williams, FB Morgan Linton, RB Kody Walker WHO’S NEW FB Patrick Arinze, TB Alex Collins, TB Denzel Evans

WALK-ONS Arinze, Linton, FB Devin Ryan, TB Jojo Wynn

ANALYSIS The offense will put the fullback to good use and operate at its best when multiple tailbacks get plenty of touches. The health of Small, a dominating lead blocker who had right foot surgery last year, is critical for the power plays Arkansas wants to run. Ideally, Williams and Collins, who project as the team’s best open-field weapons, would split the bulk of the carries, with Holmes, Walker, a combination back, and the others grabbing a few each game. Williams already has established credentials as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

*Starter in 2011