HOG CALLS

Williams having to get more physical

Jonathan Williams (32), an Allen, Texas native, was one of Arkansas' most heralded recruits in the 2012 class.
Jonathan Williams (32), an Allen, Texas native, was one of Arkansas' most heralded recruits in the 2012 class.

FAYETTEVILLE - Jonathan Williams supplied an incorrect 2012 answer to a 2013 question that he said he would have answered correctly in 2011.

Jim Chaney, the new Razorbacks offensive coordinator under new Coach Bret Bielema, posed the question during spring ball to the sophomore running back.

“When I asked Jonathan, ‘Give me one word that describes you,’ he said, “Elusive,” Chaney said. “I said, ‘Here’s the one word I want you to describe yourself: ‘Physical!’”

“Elusive” described what last year’s Razorbacks asked of the then true freshman. Williams was often used on third and medium as the receiver out of the backfield or running a surprise draw during his 45 rushes for 231 yards while catching 8 passes for 208 yards with touchdowns of 77 and 74 yards.

But with 2012 tailbacks Knile Davis turned pro and Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo departed, Bielema and Chaney, while still appreciating Williams’ elusiveness, foremost crave the 6-foot, 220-pounder running physically tough down after down. That’s a must for Bielema’s offense intending to pound more and pass less than the Bobby Petrino offenses of 2008-2011 and the Paul Petrino coordinated offense in 2012.

Williams said “physical” most applied to him at his high school in Allen, Texas. He rushed 3,500 yards in three years, the bulk of it during his final two seasons.

“I carried it 25 to 30 times a game,” Williams said. “That’s the kind of back I was in high school. So I feel like I am capable of doing that. I feel that is the type of running back I really am. I feel like I have a lot of diversity to my game. Last year you were able to see that they were able to use me as kind of a receiver out of the backfield and now I am going to be more of a power back. When you think of Coach Bielema you think of power football and running the ball and I am excited to be the running back.”

Certainly that punishing power back is what Chaney, running backs coach Joel Thomas and strength coach Ben Herbert are building Williams to be.

“I want him to continue to develop his identity as a tailback of being a physical, downhill kid,” Chaney said. “Jonathan’s a very strong kid and a very physical football player.”

And getting stronger and more physical to be more durable.

“I definitely feel like I am prepared for that,” Williams said. “Working in the weight room with Coach Herb, he definitely has got us prepared for that kind of stuff.”

While tabbing him to be their meat and potatoes back, Williams knows that the Bielema staff still wants him garnishing his game with some of those elusive receptions from 2012.

“Definitely,” Williams said. “The running backs have to be a part of every phase of the game running, blocking and receiving. I feel to be the starting running back you have to do all three.”

Sports, Pages 16 on 04/29/2013

Upcoming Events