Position Preview: Running Backs, The most talented room in the SEC?

Sam Pittman has forged his team’s identity around toughness, a blue-collar mentality, and smash-mouth football. So, it’s no wonder why Arkansas rushing attack has been a top-10 in the nation for two years straight. With every back that recorded significant yards returning and increased depth for the room as a whole, Arkansas fans can expect similar results for the 2023 season.

THE BELL COW

Raheim “Rocket” Sanders is, without a doubt, RB1.

The Rockledge, Florida native was initially recruited to play slot receiver for the Hogs, but when Coach Sam Pittman saw a need at running back, Sanders moved positions.

The room operated more as a committee in 2021. Rocket played a supporting role for much of his freshman year. He rushed for more than 50 yards just a handful of times. However, his performance against Ole Miss was the best by any hog that year. Sanders Rushed for 139 yards in the 52-51 heartbreaker, averaging 8.8 yards a carry.

In Arkansas’s bowl game against Penn State, Rocket showed another glimpse of what fans would see the following year. He ran for 79 yards, averaging 6.1 yards a carry. Only this time he found his way into the end zone twice.

His nickname turned out to be indicative of his meteoric jump from year one to year two. Sanders rushed the lion’s share with 222 carries for 1,443 yards and 10 scores, averaging 6.5 yards a carry. Sanders, again, showed out against Ole Miss with 232 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns.

One stat that might indicate just how special of a back Sanders could be is how fast he reached 1,000 rushing yards. He hit the milestone in the 8^th game of the season against Auburn, making him the only running back to do it since Madre Hill in 1995. A feat that even Arkansas legend Darren McFadden never achieved.

Despite being a top-15 running back in the country, and despite being the second-leading rusher in the SEC, Sanders was snubbed by the Doak Walker Award’s selection committee, not even naming him to its semifinalist list.

Now, even with a new offensive coordinator, Sanders is poised for another huge year. Unfortunately, it might not be as dominating statistically as his sophomore season.

Arkansas only returns two starting offensive linemen for the 2023 season. In 2022, the group only had to replace left tackle, Myron Cunningham. Chemistry could be an issue early in the season. As a result, the entire rushing attack could feel the impact.

On the other hand, Pittman is known for always having a solid offensive line. The production drop-off might be minimal or not come to fruition at all.

BACKUPS

For the third year in a row, there will be no lack of talent in Arkansas’s backfield. Only James Jointer (transfer) from last year’s group is no longer with the team.

The sole newcomer is a true freshman and former 4-star Isaiah Augustave. The highly recruited back out of Naples High School (Fla.), rushed for 2,011 yards in his high school career and scored 27 touchdowns.

Augustave has great potential and is a serious talent, but he’ll most likely redshirt with all the talent in front of him. Instead, most of the support will come from junior AJ Green and Sophomore Rashod Dubinion.

As the fastest and shiftiest back in the room, Green will act as a change of pace to Sanders’ more physical, north-south style. And with the offense implementing two running back formations, watch for Green to have success in the passing/screen game.

Dubinion is a mesh of Sanders and Green. He isn’t afraid to lower his should and gain a few extra yards, but he can also cut on a dime. Pittman gave glowing reviews of his early production in last season’s mid-week press conference before the game against Alabama.

“I know we’ve talked about [the other backs] but that’s the one right there that I would like to see get more carries in a game,” Pittman said about Dubinion, “I’ve been extremely pleased with him…I think he’s going to be a really, really good running back for us.”

The biggest question with this group is Dominique Johnson. After fighting tooth and nail for game reps in 2021, Johnson had a solid season, recording nearly similar stats as Rocket. At the very least, he had a convincing argument for splitting reps in 2022.

Unfortunately, an ACL injury in the Outback Bowl set him back for the 2022 season. Dominique made a return against Texas A&M but reinjured his ACL a few weeks later in practice. His injury happened earlier in the 2022 season so he could be back in time for part of fall camp but, the nature of the injuries could set him back even further.

FORECASTED DEPTH CHART

1. Rocket Sanders
2. AJ Green
3. Rashod Dubinion
4. Dominique Johnson (Johnson could move higher depending on his injury’s progression)
5. Isaiah Augustave

With one of the most talented running back rooms in the SEC, if not the country, Arkansas also adds one of the best dual-threat QBs in the country, KJ Jefferson, to Arkansas’s rushing attack. Apart from some growing pains on the offensive line, expect the rushing attack to be just as potent in 2023.