Can the Razorbacks replace Johnathan Williams?
By Cory Thone
It was announced earlier this week that senior running back Johnathan Williams would have to undergo foot surgery and would miss the entirety of his final year as an Arkansas Razorback. Williams is a team leader, both on the field and in the locker room. The Allen, Texas native has been through and seen a lot of things as a Razorback, most notably being recruited by Bobby Petrino after an 11-2 season with a Cotton Bowl win and a final #5 ranking in the AP poll. He committed to the Hogs only to watch Petrino crash and burn. Williams stuck it out with Arkansas, through the smiles and losses of the John L. Smith era, and into the rebuilding years under Bret Bielema that saw Williams become a star. He’s part of a small group of Razorbacks that have had 3 head coaches and offensive coordinators during their college careers. To sum things up, Johnathan Williams went through hell and came out on the other side better, faster, stronger, and poised to take the SEC by storm in his final season.
Nov 22, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Jonathan Williams (32) runs off the field during a game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Ole Miss 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
Injuries suck. They especially suck for seniors. They suck even harder when they happen to a young man like Johnathan Williams. As it stands, Williams is the 10th leading rusher in school history. Another 1000 yard season would have placed him 3rd behind Darren McFadden and Ben Cowins. His performance and personality have made him not just one of my favorite Razorbacks on this team, but one of my favorite Razorbacks of all time. I wish him a speedy recovery, and have full confidence that he’ll find a home in the NFL one day.
So now where do the Razorbacks stand? Some people are freaking out, as they should be. You simply cannot replace a guy like Johnathan Williams. He is one of the best running backs in the history of a school that has churned out quality backs like a factory. Williams had 1,190 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Where are those yards and scores going to come from? Alex Collins is certainly a gifted running back but is he a 1500 yard rusher? Can we truly depend on Kody Walker or Rawleigh Williams III (no relation to Johnathan) to make up those yards and scores? Am I ever going to answer a question in this article?
There are basically two camps that have formed in the Razorback fan base about the loss of Johnathan Williams. Camp A says that Kody Walker, Rawleigh Williams, and Alex Collins are a fine stable of running backs that should keep the run game strong throughout the season. Camp B says that Johnathan Williams is irreplaceable in this system, and that Collins is the only proven SEC caliber running back on the roster.
I’m going to tell you why you should be freaking out…and also why you shouldn’t.
You should be freaking out because:
1) Johnathan Williams was a senior leader on the squad. Williams got hurt before the scrimmage last Saturday, and look and what happened. The offense struggled in all aspects of the game. QB Brandon Allen was off completely, mostly because the offensive line gave up 6 sacks. Williams and Collins provided a constant run threat that was going to open up the passing game for Allen, and now the Hogs don’t have that anymore. How much respect do Walker or RW3 deserve from defenses at this point? No one knows because…
Nov 23, 2013; Little Rock, AR, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Kendrick Market (26) tackles Arkansas Razorbacks running back Kody Walker (24) at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
2) The other running backs are unproven. Alex Collins is a great running back, sure. But can he handle a leading role on an SEC team? He’s always split carries with Williams, and the two have carved out a successful niche for themselves as a 1-2 punch. Can Collins handle 25 carries a game all season? We don’t know. Kody Walker is apparently in full beast mode according to Bret Bielema. Walker certainly looks the part, coming into the season at 6’2 256 pounds. During the spring game, Walker was the toast of Fayetteville. He bounced off defenders like he was in an A-Ha video all the way down the field for touchdowns. Can he do that in the SEC? He’s been injury prone in the past. Walker comes into this season as a 5th year Junior thanks to medical redshirts. And true freshman Rawleigh Williams III was a stud at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, where he finished with over 5,000 career rushing yards. But this is the SEC. How many freshman running backs can actually play the full SEC schedule? Not many. Can RW3? That remains to be seen. You know what else remains to be seen…
3) Can Brandon Allen and the receivers take some pressure off the running game? With Williams and Collins, the linebackers would have to stack the box to make sure the running game is handled, which would free up the passing game. While Brandon Allen was very accurate last year, his passing totals weren’t outstanding, and the receiving corp did little to help alleviate the focus put on Arkansas’ running attack. Without Williams, will Arkansas be able to draw the defense in, thereby freeing up the passing game for Allen & Co.?
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All those are good points. However, if I may continue arguing with myself like a crazy person…
You should NOT be freaking out because:
Nov 22, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Alex Collins (3) rushes against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Mississippi 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
1) Alex Collins is a proven beast. He was the first true freshman in SEC history to rush for 300 yards in his first 3 games. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. Last season, Collins rushed for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns, while splitting time with Williams. Imagine what he can do in a featured role! Collins has dropped weight since the spring, and according to the coaching staff looks better than ever. You know who else looks better than ever?
2) Kody Walker dominated the spring game and is ready to finally step into the spotlight as a featured runner. While Williams was definitely more of a power runner than Collins, the two shared similar running styles. Both want to quickly hit the outside and try to outrun you to the endzone. Walker is pretty much the exact opposite. He is looking to run you over and has proven to be very good at doing that in practice. Walker is mature, and while he may not have the in game experience, he’s been in the SEC for 4 years now. He has impressed to coaching staff and press with his ability to read the blocking, and is hungry for a chance to finally show what he can do. Add to that a young player like RW3 that can take 5-10 touches a game, and that’s a running back stable that has the potential to be just as effective as Williams/Collins. The good news is, they may not have to be, because…
3) Brandon Allen has got some actual weapons on the receiving corp now. Keon Hatcher is good, and everyone knows it, including the defenses last year. Hatcher was double teamed all season and was the only legitimate deep threat that Arkansas had. Add to that group now JoJo Robinson and Dominque Reed, along with the literal dozens of tight ends that Arkansas has, and we might see the passing game open up the running game for the first time under Bielema, instead of the other way around. If Allen & Co. are able to put up yards, it won’t matter who is splitting time with Collins, because the run game will be there.
So there you go. If you’re going to freak out, do it because of those three reasons up there. If you’re looking for a reason to calm down, just re-read those other 3 reasons. I know what you’re thinking. “Are you freaking out, Cory?” Of course I am. But writing this article actually helped me calm down. I have faith in the coaching staff to put together an offensive game plan, and while they are certainly saddened by the loss of Williams, they seem to be optimistic about the addition of Walker and RW3. So until I’m given a reason to not trust Coach Bielema, I’m going to calm down. I suggest you do the same thing.