Arkansas, like South Carolina and Tennessee, finished last season strong at 7-6. The Razorbacks ripped off shutout victories over Mississippi and LSU, giving it two conference wins. Arkansas’ head coach Bret Bielema had this year’s team in conversations to be a dark horse candidate in the Southeastern Conference; however, medical issues have been costly.
It lost its top three wide receivers to foot injuries, and senior running back Jonathan Williams is out for the season with the same issue. Senior quarterback Brandon Allen is one of the more efficient signal callers in the nation, but against Alabama, Arkansas needs a veteran moment from junior tailback Alex Collins. He was half of the team’s 1,000-yard rushing duo from 2014.
Collins, 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
He’s totaled over 1,000 yards rushing and averaged 5.4 yards per carry in each of the last two seasons. Collins earned preseason All-SEC second team honors from coaches, college football writer Phil Steele, the media and Athlon Sports prior to the season.
He was also named to the Maxwell Award watch list. His yards per carry average has increase this season to 5.8, but there have been times that Collins has failed to display leadership traits.
Arkansas’ offensive line anchored by left tackle Dan Skipper and left guard Sebastian Tretola felt more confident blocking for Williams because he showed consistent leadership on and off the field. Collins, like Williams, is a downhill runner, but at times, he cherry picks in the hole.
Razorback fans are happy about what junior ball carrier Kody Walker bring to this group, but a broken hand will cause him to miss this week against Alabama. Rawleigh Williams III is growing as a freshman, nevertheless the job still falls on Collins to set a tone of physicality.
He’s recorded 656 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 113 carries through five games.
It took one big play from Georgia’s running back Nick Chubb to gain 100 yards rushing against Alabama, an 83-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The Crimson Tide has not allowed a 100-yard rusher aside from that. Opponents’ have rushed for three touchdowns on 2.7 yards per carry.
Alabama’s front seven has allowed 84 rushing yards per game. Arkansas’ defense must generate negative plays, and on offense, it comes down to balance.
Everything this week starts with Collins.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.
You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
