Top Arkansas RB commitments in Rivals.com era
Mark Pszonak contribute to this report.
With the recent commitment of Chase Hayden to the Arkansas Razorbacks, he immediately becomes one of the highest-ranked prospects at his position to head to Fayetteville. Here’s a look back at the top-ranked players at the position to choose Arkansas in Rivals.com history.
IMPORTANT NOTE: So where the heck are Darren McFadden and Felix Jones? McFadden was ranked as the No. 23 player nationally in 2005 as an athlete because he could have been an All-American safety and Jones was four-star athlete in the same class. But both, in hindsight, should have been ranked as running backs. Peyton Hillis was ranked as a four-star fullback in 2004.
The skinny: Curtis committed to the Razorbacks during the summer leading up to his senior season, but also took official visits to both Ole Miss and Oklahoma State. The visit to Oxford caused some tension as it came the week after his official visit to Fayetteville in January, but in the end he stuck with his word and signed with the Razorbacks. Curtis’ career with the Razorbacks never blossomed, as he finished with only 44 carries for 198 yards and one touchdown while also seeing time wide receiver and defensive back. Going undrafted in 2012, Curtis signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay, but was never able to make his mark with the Buccaneers.
Farrell’s take: Curtis is the only bust on this list and he’s a puzzling one because as a 210-pound back, he had light feet, could catch the ball well and was a running and receiving threat in high school. He also returned punts and kickoffs. He was also a standout defensive back, so the assumption was that he would find a home someplace on the roster and excel because of his versatility. It never happened.
The skinny: Collins’ recruiting process was an interesting one that went past National Signing Day. He originally committed to Miami, before re-opening his process and taking official visits to the ‘Canes, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State and Wisconsin. He committed to the Razorbacks, but his mother refused to sign his National Letter of Intent. After a couple of days of back-and-forth, Collins’ mother finally signed the LOI and he became a Razorback. Collins had three highly productive seasons in Arkansas, totaling 3,703 yards and 36 touchdowns, before he decided to forego his senior season. Collins was drafted in the fifth round by Seattle in April and will be given the opportunity to backup Thomas Rawls during his rookie season this fall.
Farrell’s take: Collins ranking was hotly debated as I believe others in the industry had him as high as a five-star and the big question was –- who was better, Collins, Greg Bryant, Derrick Henry or Kelvin Taylor? Not a bad group, huh? Our big question about Collins was his top end speed, which kept him back from five-star and even Rivals100 status and his 4.59 40 at the NFL Combine ended up dropping him into round five, so our ranking looks solid so far. However, make no mistake, this was a massive commitment for the Hawgs and he had a stellar career.
The skinny: Davis took his first and only official visit to Arkansas in September and committed to the Razorbacks at its conclusion. While Arkansas won the recruiting battle, Missouri and Nebraska were both serious contenders. Davis had a big sophomore season with the Razorbacks, but an ankle injury caused him to miss the 2011 season and slowed him down in 2012. He was selected in the third round of the 2013 draft by Kansas City, where he has served as a backup during his three seasons. He has established himself as a reliable and effective kick returner. Davis will be looking for more carries this fall, as there have also been rumors swirling of a possible trade.
Farrell’s take: Davis was a big and physical runner out of high school who was built like a tank and loved to deliver punishment. His big season in 2010 was what we expected, but after his injury, he wasn’t the same guy. However, he has carved out a nice niche in the NFL and has shown full recovery and the sneaky speed we saw for a huge back.
The skinny: Whaley had a somewhat hectic recruiting process as he originally committed to Georgia during his senior season after his official visit to Arkansas. A couple of weeks later, he re-opened his process after Mark Richt left Athens, which ultimately led to a recruiting battle between Arkansas and Texas. Eventually, Whaley committed to the Razorbacks during the Under-Armour All-America Game and stayed firm with his word through National Signing Day. With the departures of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams to the NFL, plus Rawleigh Williams and Kody Walker returning from injuries, there is a definite opportunity for Whaley to earn playing time as a true freshman this fall.
Farrell’s take: Whaley is just embarking on his career at Arkansas, so time will tell whether he was under-ranked or over-valued. He had a bit of an odd running style in high school, very high and with a backwards lean, so with some added leverage and some coaching, he could take his game even further. He’s a very productive back who isn’t afraid of contact, which fits in well with what Arkansas likes in the backfield.
The skinny: Williams originally committed to Missouri, but then re-opened his process after taking an official visit to Arkansas during his senior season. Approximately a month later, he ended any speculation when he committed to the Razorbacks. Williams had productive sophomore and junior seasons, but then saw his Arkansas career come to an abrupt end after a foot injury suffered during a scrimmage required surgery and caused him to miss the season. Williams, who was arrested for DWI earlier this month in Arkansas, was selected in the fifth round of the 2016 Draft by Buffalo and will be battling Karlos Williams for playing time behind LeSean McCoy. With Karlos Williams’ four-game suspension, Williams should have a chance to impress early.
Farrell’s take: Williams was an early impact guy at a massive school in Texas and showed leadership skills and the ability to overpower older players at a young age. He was a smooth runner with deceptive speed, but his power, especially in his legs, was his calling card. Had it not been for the foot injury, he could have pushed towards the second round in the draft. His career with Collins, at least for 2013 and 2014, was an impressive one as they made a great 1-2 punch.
The skinny: Hayden gradually picked up offers over the last year and eventually trimmed his list down to Arkansas, Oklahoma State and Missouri. Citing the relationships he has with the Arkansas coaching staff, he committed to the Razorbacks on July 24.
Farrell’s take: Hayden is a bit different than the other backs listed here as he’s not as big, physically imposing or powerful, but he’s a slasher with great hands and can be used in many different ways. Think Felix Jones without the elite track speed but more of a polished runner. It will be fun to see how they utilize his skills.