2017 Razorback running back depth chart as of 6/13/17.

[rzrbkman]

There is only one RB on the roster with any game time carries? Who are the two backs that will get the most carries? Who will get the carries if one of the top 2 backs goes down? Arkansas has a 35 point lead in the 4th quarter against Florida A and M. Who is going to carry the ball at that point and save the starter(s) for later?

[VirginiaHog]

70% Devwah Whaley
20% Maleek Williams
10% TJ Hammonds/ Chase Hayden

[wikipedia brown]

Devwah will, of course, be our number one back. Maleek seems to have the upper hand currently for backup due to being in the program through the spring. If hayden can block well; i could see him overtaking the backup spot. He was the higher rated recruit and has great film.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

70% Devwah Whaley
20% Maleek Williams
10% TJ Hammonds/ Chase Hayden

We had better hope that it isn't necessary to give Whaley 70% of the rushing carries each game because normally we are around about 40 carries each game and that would mean, absent of any pass plays they might be involved in, it would work out this way, Whaley-28 carries, Maleek Williams-8, Hammonds/Hayden-4 carries.

I would hope that it could work out more like this...Whaley-20, Maleek Williams-12 and Hammonds-8. I also hope that Hayden will be able to R/S.

[factchecker]

Going into last season our returning production was the following:

Kody Walker (coming off of multiple injuries/surgery): 394 yards rushing
RWIII (coming off of neck injury/surgery): 254 yard rushing

We lost our leading rusher (Alex Collins - 1577 yards rushing) to the NFL draft.

This season our returning rushers are:

Whaley: 602 yards rushing
Hammonds: 88 yards rushing

We lose our leading rusher (RWIII - 1360 yards rushing) due to career ending injuries.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Makes me wonder if they discuss shifting Maleek Barkley from WR to RB for some reps this summer and in camp to help with depth in case the worst occurs. He doesn't look all that fast, but he does seem to find his way to yardage and the EZ. Of course that was against HS talent.

http://search.aol.com/aol/video?q=maleek+barkley+highlights&s_it=video-ans&sfVid=true&videoId=8BE541F0F5DFDCFC5B3B8BE541F0F5DFDCFC5B3B&v_t=keyword_rollover

http://247sports.com/Player/Maleek-Barkley-86379

[factchecker]

Makes me wonder if they discuss shifting Maleek Barkley from WR to RB for some reps this summer and in camp to help with depth in case the worst occurs. He doesn't look all that fast, but he does seem to find his way to yardage and the EZ. Of course that was against HS talent.

http://search.aol.com/aol/video?q=maleek+barkley+highlights&s_it=video-ans&sfVid=true&videoId=8BE541F0F5DFDCFC5B3B8BE541F0F5DFDCFC5B3B&v_t=keyword_rollover

http://247sports.com/Player/Maleek-Barkley-86379

I've had the same thought:

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Of course there is also this guy...Jordan Curtis, 5-11, 180, Jenks HS, Jenks, OK 63 rushes for 784 yards, 12.4 yds p/rush, 9 TD's. And, he "looks" faster than Barkley, whether he actually is or not.

http://247sports.com/Player/Jordon-Curtis-89514/

[rzrbkman]

Just looking at the names listed indicates the Hogs are one injury away from having either an even more inexperienced backfield and/or having little to no real depth at all. Maybe CBB can still find a graduate transfer to help out for one year.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Just looking at the names listed indicates the Hogs are one injury away from having either an even more inexperienced backfield and/or having little to no real depth at all. Maybe CBB can still find a graduate transfer to help out for one year.

One time when we ran into this problem of depth we converted a Safety to RB and he actually showed a lot of promise, especially in the return game. The only thing that kept him from being a huge success at RB at Arkansas were the decisions that he made off the field.

Korliss Marshall

http://stats.ncaa.org/player/index?game_sport_year_ctl_id=11520&stats_player_seq=1483959

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11922358/bret-bielema-says-korliss-marshall-career-arkansas-razorbacks-likely-over

Could have been great had he kept his head screwed on right.

Who knows, we might find another potential "gem" lurking on the other side of the ball and only because we need depth.

[factchecker]

Of course there is also this guy...Jordan Curtis, 5-11, 180, Jenks HS, Jenks, OK 63 rushes for 784 yards, 12.4 yds p/rush, 9 TD's. And, he "looks" faster than Barkley, whether he actually is or not.

http://247sports.com/Player/Jordon-Curtis-89514/

[factchecker]

One time when we ran into this problem of depth we converted a Safety to RB and he actually showed a lot of promise, especially in the return game. The only thing that kept him from being a huge success at RB at Arkansas were the decisions that he made off the field.

Korliss Marshall

I don't think Korliss did much at Eastern Illinois. I hope he got his degree.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

I don't think Korliss did much at Eastern Illinois. I hope he got his degree.

He didn't achieve much, which was my point. He had a chance for greatness at Arkansas. It is a sad but familiar story that occurs all too often across all of college football. Wasted potential.

But back the point of the thread, we may find an unexpected and unanticipated talent at RB from our Defensive Secondary. Of course, that would be great!

[factchecker]

Someone else to consider is Devion Warren from Ouachita Parish (Monroe, LA).

He is a little light at 176 lbs but is a superb athlete:

http://www.hudl.com/video/5841b5b902b1c80ee42b7115

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Someone else to consider is Devion Warren from Ouachita Parish (Monroe, LA).

He is a little light at 176 lbs but is a superb athlete:

http://www.hudl.com/video/5841b5b902b1c80ee42b7115

Maybe our backfield emulates "Moneyball" this season? We need more yards, we need more points, don't worry about being flashy just play within yourselves and achieve the goal playing together as a unit.

[wikipedia brown]

I really think it will get figured out... rbs have always been a strongpoint in our program.

[jgphillips3]

In 2015, AC got 271 touches.  That averaged out to about 21 a game over 13 games.  Based on that year when AC was in the same position as Devwah is now (going from #2 to only RB), 20-23 touches per game is about the most we could possibly give Devwah without getting him injured over the course of the year.  Other RB's will likely share another 17-20 touches with TJ probably getting about 4 carries per game and 5 or 6 passes per game.  The freshmen will get the other touches.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

We had better hope that it isn't necessary to give Whaley 70% of the rushing carries each game because normally we are around about 40 carries each game and that would mean, absent of any pass plays they might be involved in, it would work out this way, Whaley-28 carries, Maleek Williams-8, Hammonds/Hayden-4 carries.

I would hope that it could work out more like this...Whaley-20, Maleek Williams-12 and Hammonds-8. I also hope that Hayden will be able to R/S.

In 2015, AC got 271 touches.  That averaged out to about 21 a game over 13 games.  Based on that year when AC was in the same position as Devwah is now (going from #2 to only RB), 20-23 touches per game is about the most we could possibly give Devwah without getting him injured over the course of the year.  Other RB's will likely share another 17-20 touches with TJ probably getting about 4 carries per game and 5 or 6 passes per game.  The freshmen will get the other touches.

I agree. It is going to get split out and Whaley doesn't need to be saddled with 70% of the carries. That is a sure way to get the kid hurt and put him and us in an even worse situation.

[hawgmasta]

It's gonna be tight, let's hope for zero injuries.

[tophawg19]

looks like a good option to me

[King Kong]

Anything else on David Williams after his visit?

[Al Boarland]

We may have to be a little more pass heavy anyway this season, but let's hope RB's don't get too banged up.

[redleg]

Devwah Whaley will be the starter, and should get around 18-20 carries per game. Maleek Williams will get 10-12 carries per game, and Chase Hayden around 5-6. But look for Hayden to also get sweep carries and screen passes, plus I can easily see him being one of the kickoff returners.

It's too bad Korliss Marshall couldn't stay out of trouble. He probably would have been the starter last year as a senior, and it may have benefited Rawleigh Williams physically and kept him from being injured. Who knows for certain.
Marshall transferred to Eastern Illinois, and was suppose to be a redshirt senior for them in 2017, but he isn't on their roster. I wonder what happened.