Sutton Smith still sits at the top of Arkansas’ running back depth chart, but four games into the season, that label has not translated into the kind of production the Razorbacks need.
Smith, the transfer from Memphis, has carried 28 times for 66 yards and a touchdown. He is averaging 2.4 yards per attempt and has yet to break off a run longer than 12 yards. For a player listed first at the position, that start has been hard to miss.
Arkansas heads into Saturday’s road game at Texas A&M needing much more from its ground game, and Smith is part of that conversation whether he likes it or not. He has not fallen out of the rotation, but he has also not separated himself from the pack. The Razorbacks continue to list him ahead of Braylen Russell and Cam Settles, though the actual workload has been shared in a way that suggests no one has claimed the backfield outright.
That split has taken several forms. Settles started against Tulsa.
Russell has handled much of the physical work in short-yardage situations. KJ Jackson also became a bigger piece of the rushing attack against Tulsa and scored two rushing touchdowns.
Arkansas is spreading the ball around because the position group has not produced a clear answer.
The numbers from the Tulsa game show the problem plainly. Arkansas ran for 132 yards, but it took 43 carries to get there, a 3.1-yard average. That was better than some earlier outings, but not by much in terms of efficiency.
Smith is not carrying the blame alone. Arkansas’ offensive line has not consistently opened space, and the whole backfield has struggled to turn modest lanes into meaningful gains. Even so, the starter has to deliver starter-level output sooner or later.
"So, you need guys who can be physical and I continue to challenge [Sutton Smith] about being a physical runner," Silverfield said. "We know
show elusive he is. We know how great of an athlete he is, but put the shoulder pads down."
That message matters because Arkansas needs more than highlight runs. It needs the kind of early-down production that keeps the offense on track. A 4-yard carry can do more for the Razorbacks than a flashy 15-yard burst if it leaves them ahead of schedule.
Second-and-six opens things up. It keeps play-action in play, gives Jackson more room to operate without urgency and stops Texas A&M from treating every snap like a passing down. If Arkansas cannot establish any threat on the ground, the Aggies can zero in on Chris Marshall.
Smith still has traits that fit what Arkansas wants. He knows the offense, can help in the passing game and can punish a defense if it gets too aggressive elsewhere. But those traits only matter if the runs themselves start producing.
Silverfield said Arkansas has to stay flexible with how it uses the backs, especially with the way the season has unfolded.
"We just felt like [Cam Settles] gave us sthe best opportunity in the current game plan to have success," Silverfield said on Monday. "Now, that doesn't mean that there's certain things that we may go in this game plan versus Texas&M and that, 'Hey, Sutton, you know, these six plays in a row to start the game are the best situation to put us in, right?'
"'Braylen Russell, hey, maybe it's the these five plays what this looks like. Because what you don't want to do is sit there and then all of a sudden tell like, hey, this guy's in the game.
These are the three plays they run. This guy's in the game.
So, we've got to be smart with that. I think that's part of as the season goes on, not just a self scout, but like, okay, you have a better understanding.
What can you do? Let's go play ball."
Texas A&M will pressure Arkansas from the start and make the Razorbacks prove they can run with toughness. That puts Smith back in the spotlight. A productive opening stretch from him could change the feel of the game.
Arkansas does not necessarily need one back to take over. It needs the group to function as a real committee.
Smith brings versatility and familiarity. Russell brings power and size.
Settles adds fresh legs and a different style. Jackson gives the offense another dimension when it needs one.
Right now, though, the collection has not become a strength. Arkansas is averaging 89.5 rushing yards per game, and that is not enough to create the balance the Razorbacks need against SEC competition. The run game has to do more to help protect Jackson and keep opponents from locking onto Marshall.
Saturday gives Smith a chance to answer the criticism. He does not have to dominate the game, but he does need to help Arkansas stay on schedule.
He is still first on the depth chart for a reason. Now the Razorbacks need him to show it.
In Other News...
Arkansas May Have Found A Defensive Answer At The Perfect Time
Ben Bogle stepped into a larger role at just the right moment for Arkansas, and he made the most of it in the 34-6 win over Tulsa. Filling in for injured Bradley Shaw, the linebacker showed up all over the field with four tackles, a sack, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery, giving the Razorbacks a jolt on a day when the defense set the tone early.
Ryan Silverfield has already taken notice of how Bogles presence has grown as the season has moved along, especially in terms of energy, leadership and communication. Arkansas has been steadily giving him more responsibility, and after a performance like this, the bigger question is how quickly that expanded role becomes a permanent part of the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Has A Real Chance To Flip The Southwest Classic Script
Mike Elkos history against Arkansas has already given Texas A&M plenty of confidence in the Southwest Classic, and it has also helped shape the matchup the Razorbacks are trying to turn around. Elko has faced Arkansas six times as a coach, with Texas A&M winning five of those meetings, and he is 2-0 against the Hogs since taking over in College Station. For Arkansas, that track record is part of the backdrop again as the rivalry comes around with a familiar edge.
The setting is a little different this time because Texas A&M is under pressure to steady itself after a 2-2 start and an 0-2 mark in SEC play. Recent losses have turned up the heat on the Aggies, which gives Arkansas a chance to change the feel of this series and make it less about past success for A&M and more about what happens next. For a Razorbacks team looking for a meaningful early-season swing, this is the kind of game that can alter the conversation quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Heads Into Texas A&M With One Huge Receiver Question
Chris Marshall has quickly become central to Arkansas passing game, giving KJ Jackson a reliable option and placing himself atop the SEC in both receptions and receiving yards through four games. As the Razorbacks turn their attention to Texas A&M, Barry Lunney Jr. is already weighing how the Aggies defense might try to deal with a receiver who has made himself impossible to ignore.
That matchup adds another layer to a game that already carries plenty of attention, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2 and the Razorback Sports Network. If Arkansas wants to keep its offense moving, how Texas A&M handles Marshall may end up shaping much of the night, even before the broader story of the game is decided. [Read more 🡒]