The stable of running backs coach Sam Pittman has at his disposal on the Arkansas football roster may just be the best and deepest in the country.
That isn’t just smoke blowing, either, from a publication that some readers may think of a pro-Razorbacks. Just look at the depth chart.
On Saturday, during Arkansas’ first scrimmage of fall camp, and a week or so into practices before the season kicks off in early September, the running backs were the ones who showed the most skill and consistency combined.
Returning starter Rocket Sanders was top 20 in the nation last year in yards rushing and No. 2 in the SEC in such. Fourth-stringer Dominique Johnson was the team’s starter two years ago and may have been last year had injury not kept him out for almost the entire first half of the year. His touchdown Saturday was arguably the biggest play of the day.
Throw in sophomore Rashod Dubinion, whose five touchdowns in 2022 suggested he may be Sanders’ heir apparent, and AJ Green, whose speed makes him the change-of-pace back teams crave, and finding a weakness in the backfield is practically impossible.
“Dom coming back,” Pittman said. “Dom had a nice, long run, maybe 50 yards or so. Him coming back was really nice to see.”
Johnson made it into just four games last year as he missed the first three recovering from the knee injury, then he hurt it again about halfway through the year and didn’t play in the team’s final six.
But with 575 yards and seven touchdowns two years ago and in his 250-pound frame, Johnson may just provide the bulldozer to the Rocket in 2023.
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