WholeHogSports
UA backs make 1st-round splash
Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/224021/
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas ran away with the first round of Saturday’s NFL Draft.
Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, who starred as running backs for Arkansas the past three seasons, each were firstround picks, with the Oakland Raiders taking McFadden No. 4 overall and the Dallas Cowboys taking Jones at No. 22.
McFadden, a Little Rock native and twotime runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting, became the Razorbacks’ highest pick in the NFL Draft since Dan Hampton was selected fourth by the Chicago Bears in 1979.
It’s the f ifth time two Razorbacks have been firstround picks, including 1967 (Loyd Phillips and Harry Jones ), 1983 (Billy Ray Smith Jr. and Gary Anderson ), 1989 (Wayne Martin and Steve Atwater ) and 2004 (Shawn Andrews and Ahmad Carroll ), but the first time two Arkansas running backs were first-rounders.
Arkansas was the lone school to have two running backs picked in this year’s first round, with Jones going as the third running back taken after McFadden and Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart, who went 13 th to the Carolina Panthers.
No other Razorbacks were drafted during Saturday’s first two rounds, but several could be picked today in the final five rounds, including defensive lineman Marcus Harrison, offensive lineman Robert Felton, fullback Peyton Hillis and wide receiver Marcus Monk.
Oakland already was wellstocked at running back with Justin Fargas, Dominic Rhodes, Michael Bush and LaMont Jordan, but Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin said McFadden was too good to pass up.
“I knew months ago that this was the guy that we had to have and we had to figure out a way to get him,” Kiffin said. “Hopefully, he was going to fall to us.... Fortunately, he was still available and in the end we got everybody on the same page. We’re all really excited.”
McFadden rushed for 4, 590 yards and 41 touchdowns in three seasons at Arkansas before declaring for the draft after his junior season. He has been compared by Kiffin to Reggie Bush, the former Southern California running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 2005, when Kiffin was the Trojans’ offensive coordinator.
“I like the way he uses his running backs,” McFadden said of Kiffin. “When he was at USC he moved his running backs around a lot. I just love the way he does that.
“ I feel it’s something I can bring to Oakland, being a versatile player, that I can move around and give them a different style.”
McFadden, 6-2, 215 pounds, was a more powerful runner in college than Bush — who has averaged 3. 7 yards in two seasons with the New Orleans Saints — and figures to be better able to handle the physical rigors of the NFL.
Kiffin said McFadden complements Fargas and Rhodes well and can be used in a two-back set, and play as a wide receiver or tailback.
McFadden played quarterback in the WildHog formation and also excelled catching the ball and returning kickoffs at Arkansas, but Kiffin said he has to be careful about using McFadden in too many different situations early in his NFL career.
“You get so excited about these guys and you start doing all these things with them and they don’t get really good at anything,” said Kiffin, who is going into his second season with the Raiders. “The last thing we want to do is do too much where he’s not becoming a great running back there at the tailback position.
“ We want to make sure we use him there first and we don’t put him in a situation where he’s not developing there.”
Oakland’s pick of McFadden drew high marks from ESPN’s draft analysts.
“The thing I really like is that against LSU the last two years and that vaunted, talent-laden defense, he rushed for 388 yards — a 7. 3-yard average — and five touchdowns,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said. “Talk about a kid who did it against the best in college football in the SEC, and he did it.
“ He’s a game-breaker and explosive. Now he’s part of a loaded running back position to help out JaMarcus Russell.”
Russell, a former LSU quarterback, was No. 1 overall pick by the Raiders in the last year’s draft.
“The happiest man in Oakland right now is JaMarcus Russell,” ESPN’s Ron Jaworski said. “With a quarterback in the embryonic development stage as is JaMarcus Russell, when he can reach a hand out and make that play-fake [to McFadden ], it makes the passing game that much better.”
McFadden, asked in an interview with ESPN what he wanted to prove as a rookie, said, “I want to prove the guys wrong that were talking about my skinny legs and how I fumble the ball. I want to show those guys these skinny legs can tote me through the NFL and that I’m not a fumbler.”
McFadden also said he will be a good teammate and have a positive influence in the locker room.
“I need to get adjusted to being a rookie,” he said. “It’s like you’re starting all over from the bottom of the totem pole and I’ve got to work my way back up.”
McFadden said he’s looking forward to playing in Oakland, even though it isn’t close to Little Rock.
“But I’ve been on the road a whole lot lately, so I’m used to it,” he said. “It’s not going to bother me at all.”
In an interview with the NFL Network’s Deion Sanders, McFadden thanked God and his family members for their support.
“It’s amazing,” McFadden said. “I can help out my family now and provide them with whatever they need.”
Felix Jones, meanwhile, is the first Arkansas player drafted by Dallas owner Jerry Jones, a former Razorback who bought the Cowboys in 1989.
Like McFadden, Felix Jones played three seasons at Arkansas and left after his junior year, rushing for 2, 956 yards and averaging 28. 2 yards on 38 kickoff returns. He averaged 7. 7 rushing yards for his career on 386 carries. He scored 27 touchdowns, including four on kickoffs.
In Dallas, Felix Jones again will be part of a running back tandem. The Cowboys expect him to complement the power running of starter Marion Barber.
“He flourishes in a two-back system,” Jerry Jones said of Felix Jones. “He really is comfortable there.”
Felix Jones, who is from Tulsa, said he is excited to be playing close to home.
“I grew up watching this team,” he said. “Now I’m going to have a chance to play with them and play with a star on my helmet.
“ I’m going to make the best of it.”
The Cowboys chose Felix Jones over Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall, who like Barber is more of a power runner compared to the shifty-running style of Jones.
“He gives us a dimension we haven’t had,” Dallas Coach Wade Phillips said of Jones. “We would have the same [style runner ] with both Mendenhall and Barber.
“ This way you’ve got a little more versatility in your offense.”
ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit referred to Jones as “a home run hitter” after he was drafted by the Cowboys.
“This guy took a back seat to Darren McFadden, but he’s electrifying in the backfield,” Herbstreit said. “He’s similar to Marion Barber in size and determination.
“ When he gets in the open field, not only does he make people miss, he runs right by them. And he’ll surprise you with his ability to run between the tackles.” Information gathered from The Associated Press, Oakland Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, ESPN and NFL Network.