FAYETTEVILLE — If Tim Horton hadn’t coached the backfield of Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis and Michael Smith just five years ago, there’s no telling how high he would rate his current group of Razorbacks runners.
But just like that star-studded crew before them, the Razorbacks’ current crop of running backs, led by veterans Knile Davis, Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo Jr., have been devoted to leading those behind them as much as racking up statistics.
“The thing that’s been able to happen at Arkansas since I’ve been here is the old running backs have always been great mentors to the young running backs,” Horton said. “Darren McFadden was a great mentor for Michael Smith, and Michael Smith was really good for Knile Davis, and Knile Davis is going to be good for Jonathan Williams, and Jonathan Williams hopefully will be a good mentor to the next one.”
Arkansas appears set for a productive season from its ground game and the versatile athletes in its backfield.
“I think the running game is in good hands,” Davis said. “I think we’re going to be straight. We’re all veterans. We know what we’re doing. I think the running game will be there.”
Davis is back and appears in top form one year removed from a fractured left ankle after topping SEC backs with 1,322 rushing yards in 2010.
Davis has not been tackled to the ground in camp as the Arkansas coaches want to open the season with the junior in prime health.
“He’s still getting banged, they’re just not taking him to the ground,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “He just has to get his reads and get his footwork down and hit the hole full speed. He’s done a good job of that.”
Davis, a preseason All-SEC pick, had six 100-yard rushing performances in the final seven games of 2010, and averaged 6.6 yards per carry as a sophomore. Davis’ 2010 rushing total ranks as fourth-best by an Arkansas back, behind two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up McFadden (1,830 and 1,647) in 2006-2007 and Madre Hill (1,387) in 1995.
“If he’s not at the top, he’s real near the top,” Horton said of Davis’ place among Arkansas running backs of the past.
Johnson, the Hogs’ leading rusher with 670 yards and a 6.3-yard average per carry last season, should provide double duty as a low-to-the ground tackle-breaker behind Davis and the team’s top man on kickoff returns.
Wingo also projects as a versatile option in the run and pass game. Not only did he rush for 458 yards last season, but he has been a pass-catching threat since his arrival, with 52 catches for 560 yards and 7 touchdowns in three seasons. And now, Wingo has joined Johnson as the deep man on the kickoff return team and has taken snaps as a split receiver in camp.
“It feels natural,” Wingo said. “Catching the ball comes natural. I did it in high school and did it a little bit here too. But they actually throw me the ball now instead of just running decoy routes, so it feels kind of good.”
Davis, a fourth-year junior, is expected to depart after this season, along within seniors Wingo and Johnson, leaving future backfield duties to redshirt freshman Kody Walker and three true freshmen - Williams, Nate Holmes and Donovan Roberts.
Walker scored five touchdowns in three games before suffering a hairline fracture in his leg, but received a medical redshirt and has four seasons of eligibility remaining.
Williams and Holmes combined for 79 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s scrimmage. Their running style and production look promising, but if 2012 plays out like the Razorbacks hope, they’ll redshirt and be ready to contribute next fall.
“We’ve never really had that luxury and hopefully we do this year,” Horton said. “We thought we would a year ago, and the year before that, but we had some injuries. ... We’re going to prepare them and get them ready, but at the same time, you’d really like to redshirt them just so they can learn the system and get bigger, stronger and faster.”
Running backs at a glance
RETURNING STARTERS TB Dennis Johnson and FB Kiero Small (2011), TB Knile Davis (2010) KEY LOSSES Broderick Green
PROJECTED STARTERS Davis and Small IN THE MIX Johnson, TB Ronnie Wingo, TB Jonathan Williams, TB Kody Walker, TB Nate Holmes, TB Donovan Roberts; FB Morgan Linton
SUDDEN IMPACT Holmes and Williams showed speed, power and explosiveness in Saturday’s scrimmage
PLUSES Depth, experience, pass-catching skills at tailback; Small is a quality lead blocker with good hands
MINUSES Tough to get young backs significant reps in 2012
SUMMARY The much-needed balance for Arkansas’ offense hangs on production at running back. Davis has looked strong in no-contact and thud drills, and coaches say they believe he’ll pick up where he left off in late 2010 when the season starts. Johnson excels at breaking tackles as well as catching the ball out of the backfield, a trait all of the top backs possess.
Sports, Pages 13 on 08/13/2012