2008 Woodie Awards
New backs, new system, no problem?
Smith to carry load for Razorbacks
Matt Watson
Issue date: 8/21/08 Section: Sports
The 3,339 rushing yards compiled by Peyton Hillis, Felix Jones and Darren McFadden last year are now just numbers for the record books.
As are the combined 29 rushing touchdowns, the four passing touchdowns from the arm of McFadden and the pair of kickoffs returned by Jones to the opposite end zone a season ago.
Hillis, Jones and McFadden just happened to be the Razorbacks' top three receivers in 2007 too. But the members of the trio that felled so many records at the UA will wear different uniforms this fall, those of the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders, respectively.
The Razorback rushing corps this year will look much different, but with a new coach, new staff and even dazzling new uniforms, "different" seems to be the trend.
Gone are the days of the halfback draw on 3rd and long, the tailback lining up as the shotgun quarterback and the fullback leading the team in receiving yards.
While first-year head coach Bobby Petrino has promised a more balanced attack and is known for his spread offense, he has said he will run the ball when he has to.
Petrino won't have the luxury of two All-American backs to hand the ball to though, but that doesn't seem to be a problem to junior Michael Smith, who's on top of the depth chart going into the season.
"I can't do anything but just run," Smith said. "I can't go into every game thinking I've got to do what Darren and Felix did."
Although Smith was mistakenly identified as Felix Jones by television broadcasters and public address announcers a few times last season, No. 21 is not Felix Jones. He's not McFadden either, and for Smith, that doesn't seem to be a problem.
"I'm Michael. I can only do what Michael can do. I'm preparing myself for that to be good enough," Smith said.
Standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and listed at 173 pounds, Smith will line up in the backfield almost nine inches shorter and 130 pounds lighter than the smallest starting offensive lineman. Smith may not stiff-arm helmets off of Southeastern Conference defenders like his predecessors, but he shouldn't have any trouble slipping through holes in the defense.
As are the combined 29 rushing touchdowns, the four passing touchdowns from the arm of McFadden and the pair of kickoffs returned by Jones to the opposite end zone a season ago.
Hillis, Jones and McFadden just happened to be the Razorbacks' top three receivers in 2007 too. But the members of the trio that felled so many records at the UA will wear different uniforms this fall, those of the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders, respectively.
The Razorback rushing corps this year will look much different, but with a new coach, new staff and even dazzling new uniforms, "different" seems to be the trend.
Gone are the days of the halfback draw on 3rd and long, the tailback lining up as the shotgun quarterback and the fullback leading the team in receiving yards.
While first-year head coach Bobby Petrino has promised a more balanced attack and is known for his spread offense, he has said he will run the ball when he has to.
Petrino won't have the luxury of two All-American backs to hand the ball to though, but that doesn't seem to be a problem to junior Michael Smith, who's on top of the depth chart going into the season.
"I can't do anything but just run," Smith said. "I can't go into every game thinking I've got to do what Darren and Felix did."
Although Smith was mistakenly identified as Felix Jones by television broadcasters and public address announcers a few times last season, No. 21 is not Felix Jones. He's not McFadden either, and for Smith, that doesn't seem to be a problem.
"I'm Michael. I can only do what Michael can do. I'm preparing myself for that to be good enough," Smith said.
Standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and listed at 173 pounds, Smith will line up in the backfield almost nine inches shorter and 130 pounds lighter than the smallest starting offensive lineman. Smith may not stiff-arm helmets off of Southeastern Conference defenders like his predecessors, but he shouldn't have any trouble slipping through holes in the defense.
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