The Arkansas Razorback football program has produced a constellation of stars who have each rocked the gridiron for well over 1,000 yards in a season.
Only a small percentage of them burst onto the scene in a major way as first-year players. Those who did (e.g. Darren McFadden, Alex Collins) tended to break major program records later in their career.
But most of these great Razorback running backs had more modest Year 1’s before ramping up their production by a factor of two or three in Year 2. Who had the most dramatic ramp ups between what was usually a freshman season and sophomore season?
Below is a list of the best Razorback running backs in terms of yards in a single season:
Looking at these record breakers, plus Felix Jones, I list below who had the most dramatic Season 1-to-Season 2 increases:
9. Alex Collins (2013-2015)
Increase: 7%
First season with Razorbacks (2013)
Rushing Yards: 1026
Yards Per Carry: 5.4
Rushing TDs: 4
Second season with Razorbacks (2014)
Rushing Yards: 1100
Yards Per Carry: 5.4
Rushing TDs: 12
8. Dickey Morton (1971-1973)
Increase: 43%
First season with Razorbacks (1971) *as sophomore
Rushing Yards: 831
Yards Per Carry: 6.5
Rushing TDs: 5
Second season with Razorbacks (1972)
Rushing Yards: 1188
Yards Per Carry: 4.9
Rushing TDs: 6
7. Darren McFadden (2005-2007)
Increase: 48%
First season with Razorbacks (2005)
Rushing Yards: 1113
Yards Per Carry: 6.3
Rushing TDs: 11
Second season with Razorbacks (2006)
Rushing Yards: 1647
Yards Per Carry: 5.8
Rushing TDs: 14
6. Felix Jones (2005-2007)
Increase: 87%
First season with Razorbacks (2005)
Rushing Yards: 626
Yards Per Carry: 6.3
Rushing TDs: 3
Second season with Razorbacks (2006)
Rushing Yards: 1168
Yards Per Carry: 7.6
Rushing TDs: 6
5. Jonathan Williams (2012-2015)
Increase: 290%
First season with Razorbacks (2012):
Rushing Yards: 231
Yards Per Carry: 5.1
Rushing TDs: 0
Second season with Razorbacks (2013):
Rushing Yards: 900
Yards Per Carry: 6.0
Rushing TDs: 4
4. Madre Hill (1994-1998)
Increase: 295%
First season with Razorbacks (1994)
Rushing Yards: 351
Yards Per Carry: 4.7
Rushing TDs: 3
Second season with Razorbacks (1995)
Rushing Yards: 1387
Yards Per Carry: 4.5
Rushing TDs: 15
3. Raleigh Williams III (third, naturally)
Increase: 435%
First season with Razorbacks (2015)
Rushing Yards: 254
Yards Per Carry: 4.5
Rushing TDs: 1
Second season with Razorbacks (2016)
Rushing Yards: 1360
Yards Per Carry: 5.6
Rushing TDs: 12
2. Ben Cowins (1975-1978)
Increase: 453%
First season with Razorbacks (1975):
Rushing Yards: 210
Yards Per Carry: 4.8
Rushing TDs: 3
Second season with Razorbacks (1976):
Rushing Yards: 1162
Yards Per Carry: 6.3
Rushing TDs: 7
- Knile Davis (2009-2012)
Increase 711%
First season with Razorbacks (2009)
Rushing Yards: 163
Yards Per Carry: 4.9
Rushing TDs: 4
Second season with Razorbacks (2010)
Rushing Yards: 1322
Yards Per Carry: 6.5
Rushing TDs: 13
***
Rakeem Boyd (2018 – ????)
Increase: ???
First season with Razorbacks
Rushing Yards: 734
Yards Per Carry: 6
Rushing TDs: 2
Second season with Razorbacks:
Rushing Yards:
Yards Per Carry:
Rushing TDs:
*Cedric Cobbs burst out on the scene as a freshman in 1999 with 668 yards and a 5.8 yards per carry rushing average. He was on track for a great sophomore season but injuries derailed him that season and the following few years.
Eventually, he came back strong with a 1320-yard senior year in 2003.
