The return of DJ? Hogs ground game could get even better against South Carolina

Arkansas’ dynamite running game from last season looked the part in 2022, already, too. It could improve even more.

Rocket Sanders, who ran for 578 yards last year as a freshman, is the third leading rusher in yards-per-game a week into the season. His back-up AJ Green had what coach Sam Pittman called the Green’s best-ever carry against Cincinnati.

Now, the man who started in the backfield for the Razorbacks during the second half of the season could be making his return.

Dominque Johnson missed the Bearcats game because he’s still nursing a knee injury suffered in last year’s Outback Bowl win. Pittman and the coaching staff had him prepping last week for possible participation this week against South Carolina. It’s too early to tell if it’ll happen, but it would be a boon.

“We’re going to put him out there this week and see what he can do,” Pittman said. “I felt like we were experimenting with him a little bit last week. We were trying to get him ready for a possibility to play against South Carolina.

Johnson finished fourth on the team yards rushing with 578, but it was less than 100 yards behind team leader KJ Jefferson. He’s different than Sanders and Green in that he’s more of a power back. That difference could make opponents change their game plan. And it could start against the Gamecocks.

“We’re going to amp up his responsibility and reps. If he feels good about it, he’ll play.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3h383th881vsf1 player_id=none image=https://razorbackswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]