Visit our homepage for more preseason camp coverage and the best deal on the market! All new members get 75% off your first year. That means for just $30 ($2.49/month) you get a complete year’s access to the top Razorback coverage including transfer portal intel, scoops from The Trough premium message board, plus all of the latest from On3’s top national analysts. Don’t miss out, sign up today! First-year Arkansas running backs coach David Johnson, widely known as ‘YAC’, knew when he arrived in Fayetteville that he would have a quality one-two backfield punch in bruiser Braylen Russell and speedy multi-purpose Memphis transfer Sutton Smith. While each have had their struggles with injuries, Smith has thrived in a Tim Cramsey led offense and Russell has averaged 5.2 yards per carry over the past two seasons. “I think they are different backs,” Johnson said. “Sutton’s a guy who could probably take it 60-70 yards, but Braylen’s the back who is going to push the pile, get first downs, move the chains for you, and you need that. “You need somebody to understand that ‘hey, we can’t block everybody.’ You are going to have to run over somebody, and this is a tough league. But Sutton is electric. Obviously, when he gets in space, different things like that. And surprisingly really good in protection. He knows exactly what is going on. He is not scared to stick his face in there.” ALSO READ: YAC Johnson didn’t care about others’ opinions of Braylen Russell Smith was held out of Sunday’s scrimmage and has been limited in spring drills for precautionary reasons “dealing with some soreness” from a lower leg injury, but is expected to be full-go when Arkansas opens up against North Alabama on Sept. 5. According to Johnson, the rest of the room has stepped up when called upon. Michigan transfer Jasper Parker and Parkview alumnus Cam Settles are also battling for carries. “Jasper is doing really good,” Johnson said. “He is another big back, running downhill, catching the ball and really smart. Understands protection. He has played some football at different places, so I am really proud to see what he is going to do. And sometimes I forget how young he is. This is his second year in college, so I have to be patient. I understand it is a process for him, but he is a tough player. “Cam does not seem like it, but he can make people miss in the open field. He catches the ball well. He can run routes. I am really proud about how smart Cam is, how he approached the game, and he is kind of a low burn guy. He is not a rah-rah guy, anything like that. But he is a football player.” Johnson has coached on teams that have utilized five running backs in a game – even in a single series – but it is likely the Hogs will stay with two to three. Johnson is confident in his group if the situation arises where they have go further into the depth chart. Markeylin Batton busted off a 32-yard touchdown in the scrimmage and showed out in other areas. “I think he has been doing a really good job accepting his role, taking advantage of every opportunity he gets,” Johnson said of Batton. “He is really explosive, really explosive with the ball in his hand, and he has been showing a lot of toughness. Even the pass protection. That was one of the things I probably was worried about a little early on. But he is doing a good job with that. But Markeylin, he is really explosive with the ball in his hand.” Bryant grad TJ Hodges, a four-star prospect in the 2026 class, has had his learning curves, but everything is beginning to come together for him and he has added around 15 pounds since arriving on campus in January. “He is doing a good job understanding exactly where he fits, and the game is slowing down for him,” Johnson said. “And I am telling him right now, you are fresh. Understand the process, understand exactly where you fit. Don’t get frustrated. Don’t get caught up into everything else. My job is to help him get prepared.” Talk about this with other die-hard Arkansas football fans on The Trough, HawgBeat’s premium message board. More HawgBeat Fall Camp Coverage • Arkansas signs All-Ivy League defensive back • Arkansas Fall Practice Day 12: Takeaways, notes and more • Sutton Smith named to Doak Walker Award Watch List • ‘Versatile’ Terence Roberson earning his way up Arkansas depth chart • Arkansas offensive lineman Malachi Breland ‘more than ready’ for SEC grind
David ‘YAC’ Johnson pleased with depth at running back
Full Article
Original Source
Read the full article at On3 →KhanList aggregates and links to publicly available news content. We do not host full articles from third-party sources. Always verify important information with original sources.