FAYETTEVILLE -- If Bret Bielema had the controversy at the Razorbacks' 21 other positions that he does at running back, Arkansas would be picked to win the Southeastern Conference West Division instead of finish last.
Off a 3-9 season that closed with nine consecutive losses including 0-8 in the SEC, second-year coach Bielema's Razorbacks were picked last in the seven-team SEC West by voting media earlier this month at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala.
For running backs, though, Bielema, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and running-backs coach Joel Thomas can pick between a 1,000-yard rusher, sophomore Alex Collins, last year's SEC Freshman of the Year, netting 1,026 yards on 190 carries; junior Jonathan Williams, whom Bielema admits he underutilized down the November stretch with 40 less carries than Collins, despite a higher average per carry (6.0) for his 900 yards, and sophomore Korliss Marshall, a kick returner/defensive back not utilized at running back until late season but with the most speed attested by his 17 carries for 147 and dazzling runs during the spring Red-White game after moving from the secondary to full-time running back.
"We have a running-back controversy," Bielema said. We have three good ones: 1A, 1B and 1C."
The preseason practices that begin Monday in part will determine identities of A, B and C but all three are good enough for their pecking order to change for any given circumstances or off momentum from any given play.
"We are going to ride the hot hand and see who is playing the best ball," Thomas said. "That's the great thing about having three legit guys as we enter camp. The competition is going to separate them. I am excited to see what this animal we can develop into as the season goes along."
For the first time, the NCAA allowed coaches limited access to their players over the summer. So Thomas could make some observations that he couldn't make this time last year heading into preseason drills.
"I think they did very well this summer from the times I saw them. They looked very good," Thomas said. "Coach Herb (strength coach Ben Herbert) did an outstanding job with them. It's cool to see you go from Year One to now and you see the progression. Alex has been on our campus for one full year and you see his progression and Jonathan obviously two full years. You can see the maturity."
Marshall, an all-state running back from Osceola originally recruited as a safety, obviously profits from completely moving to running back rather than practicing some on both sides of the ball as he did last year. Marshall actually made his first major impact as a kickoff returner and will continue headlining in that role while running the A,B,C rotation with Collins and Williams.
"You saw the implications of that in the springtime," Thomas said. "He started getting comfortable and confident in his game playing running back and then he had this opportunity again in the summer to be with the full group."
While reveling in three tailbacks that could dot any I or fit any T, 'bone or 1-back set, the Hogs lament that 2013 senior Kiero Small no longer runs interference for them as the squatty body, low-center of gravity powerfully blocking fullback.
Thomas starts August drills with a fullback shuffle that includes a big scholarship tailback, fourth-year junior Kody Walker, 6-2, 246; two walk-ons. Patrick Arinze, placed on scholarship to begin the 2013 season, and Chris Jones. Arinze and Jones' practices last fall drew some raves but not so much in the spring.
Tyler Colquitt, a redshirt freshman walk-on, drew abreast of them with his practices last spring and has been placed on scholarship.
"We have got Kody, who will still be there situationally, and Tyler Colquitt and find out what he can do," Thomas said. "Obviously there is Pat Arinze and Chris Jones. We have got a group of guys and somebody has got to arise out of that unit. We also can get a tight end in there if need be. So it's going to be a question mark as we go through camp and hopefully by this end of it we will have an answer."
Sports on 07/31/2014