How will Petrino distribute carries in Arkansas backfield?

With a deep stable of running backs at his disposal, how will Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino distribute carries in the backfield?

The results were a mixed bag during Petrino’s tenure as head coach for the Razorbacks from 2008-2011.

Michael Smith had 207 carries in 2008. The next highest total was 36. In 2009, Broderick Green led the way with 104, but four other running backs totaled at least 33 carries.

The 2010 campaign saw Knile Davis (204) and Green (104) emerge as the 1-2 punch with 2011 almost an exact split between Dennis Johnson (106) and Ronnie Wingo Jr. (102).

It is a reasonable assumption that Utah transfer Ja’Quinden Jackson is the odds on favorite to be the bell cow in 2024. Jackson rushed for 797 yards and four touchdowns for the Utes last season.

Rashod Dubinion is the returning leading rusher on the team. He had 82 carries for 260 yards to go along with 14 receptions for 85 yards a season ago.

Add in powerful 6-1, 253-pound freshman Braylen Russell — who has earned rave reviews since the spring — and Arkansas looks to be all set with a three-headed monster in the backfield.

“I like it,” Petrino said of his depth at running back. “When you look at the overall crew, you’ve got two big, physical guys in JJ and Braylen that can bang and go.

“R-Dub with the experience and the understanding of offense and protections. I think he’s shown he can certainly make plays for us.”

However, the deeper Arkansas gets into the camp the more buzz there has been for a pair of late additions in former Florida State running back Rodney Hill and junior college transfer Tyrell Reed Jr.

Hill earned 50 carries and rushed for 190 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt freshman last season on a Florida State team that went undefeated and earned a berth to the Orange Bowl.

Petrino likes the change of pace Hill brings to the room, and he may be able to carve out a niche role as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield.

“Rodney kind of gives us a different flavor,” Petrino said. “He’s got great burst. A great receiver out of the backfield. Really great hands. You can not only throw it to him short and make runs with it, but he can run it down the field and track the ball.

“He easily tracks the ball and adjusts to the ball. That’s one of the hardest things for running backs to do, but he makes it look like a receiver doing it.”

Reed ran for 833 yards and 13 touchdowns at Hutchinson Community College last season and has a 5-10, 211-pound frame that will jog memories of Dennis Johnson for Razorback fans.

The adjustment from juco to the SEC has taken time, but Reed’s talent has started to shine as he settles into his new surroundings.

“Tyrell Reed reminds me a little bit of (Dennis Johnson),” Petrino said. “He’s got those size legs, that height and speed. His speed is starting to show up a lot more.

“It just took him a while to understand he has to work this hard in practice. Sometimes you go to junior college practices and wonder how they fit in and how are they going to do this. He’s made a great transition from Week 1 to Week 2 in knowing how to work hard, play hard and finish the play.”

Arkansas also has a running threat at quarterback in Taylen Green who will factor into the carries, as well.

Will there be enough touches to go around? An example of how it could work — if Petrino feels the urge to really spread the wealth — would be the 2021 Razorbacks.

KJ Jefferson led that team with 146 carries — sacks included — from the quarterback position, and it feels fair to anticipate Green, whose career-high in rushing attempts is 81, will tote the rock fewer times than that.

There was a clear trio at the top of the pecking order in Trelon Smith (119 carries/598 yards), Rocket Sanders (114 carries/578 yards) and Dominique Johnson (97 carries/575 yards).

Jackson will likely have more separation from Dubinion and Russell than Smith did Sanders and Johnson, but it illustrates how a heavy workload of carries can go to three running backs with a running quarterback in the fold.

AJ Green also logged 47 carries that season as the de facto fourth running back. In this hypothetical, those totes could go to Hill or Reed.

The 2021 Razorbacks had a better than 60/40 run-to-pass ratio under Kendal Briles, which would also have to be factored into the potential comparisons.

But, in theory, Arkansas could get all five running backs involved if Petrino felt it put the Razorbacks in the best position to win. ‘Feed the studs,’ right?