Hog Calls

Bielema: 1,000-yard void at RB will be filled

Arkansas freshman Rawleigh Williams fights through a Toledo tackle attemp on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Arkansas freshman Rawleigh Williams fights through a Toledo tackle attemp on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

FAYETTEVILLE -- As they departed the Liberty Bowl in Memphis on Jan. 2 after defeating Kansas State, Razorbacks running backs Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams and running backs coach Jemal Singleton could have returned to Arkansas for the 2016 season.

None did.

Collins and Williams each opted for the NFL draft. Both went in the fifth round -- Collins to Seattle and Williams to Buffalo.

Meanwhile after serving as the 2015 replacement for 2013-2014 running backs coach Joel Thomas, gone to the NFL to coach the New Orleans Saints running backs, Singleton also opted for the NFL. He coaches the Indianapolis Colts running backs.

"I love the NFL but not only did they take my two running backs, they took my coach," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala.

The Razorbacks lost a talented, young up-and-comer in Singleton. They replaced him with Reggie Mitchell, an older, more experienced running backs coach. Mitchell recruited notable become NFL players to not-so-notable football schools Kansas, Minnesota and Illinois.

So it's the running backs, not their coach, looming most difficult to replace.

Williams provided 900 and 1,190 yards rushing his 2013 and 2014 seasons for Bielema. Williams missed last season after breaking his foot during an August scrimmage.

Collins amazed three times as a 1,000-plus rusher. He netted 1,026 and 1,100 splitting time with Williams in 2013 and 2014 and last season logged 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Bielema always had a 1,000-yard rusher in his seven years coaching Wisconsin plus three Arkansas seasons. That won't cease, Bielema insists.

Running backs Kody Walker (broken foot last spring) and Rawleigh Williams (broken neck last October) are returning from injuries but they have flashed ability.

The broken foot is the latest of Walker's injuries, and the NCAA granted him a rare sixth season of eligibility. Walker, 90 carries for 394 yards and 6 touchdowns, was Arkansas' second-leading rusher last year.

Walker, a fullback/tailback most of his career at Arkansas, is slimmer now.

"We call him Grandpa Walker," Bielema said. "He has come down from 265 to 240. He looks great."

Rawleigh Williams rushed 56 times for 254 yards as a true freshman in 2015, but his season ended during Arkansas's victory over Auburn last Oct. 24 when he was injured on the field and taken from Frank Broyles Field to surgery.

"Rawleigh Williams broke his neck a year ago," Bielema said. "I know that's scary to say, but he is completely healthy. He has been healed up since the spring. I think he should be a thousand-yard rusher. Both those guys together should be thousand-yarders."

That's much to ask coming off a broken foot and broken neck, but Bielema asserts they aren't alone.

Incoming freshman running backs Devwah Whaley of Beaumont, Texas and Little Rock's T.J. Hammonds of Pulaski Robinson are being touted by Bielema.

"Devwah Whaley and T.J. Hammonds I think are going to have a huge impact," Bielema said.

Bielema also lauded what he saw last spring from junior Damon "Duwop" Mitchell, the ex-quarterback/ex-receiver moved to running back.

Sports on 07/25/2016

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