FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas running back Kody Walker will be heavier than some of the Texas-El Paso defensive linemen he'll face in today's season opener.
UTEP's starting defensive ends Roy Robertson-Harris and Nick Usher are listed at 255 and 240 pounds. Walker is packing 260.
Arkansas running backs coach Jemal Singleton said he has no problem with Walker's weight. To the contrary, Singleton said he loves the idea of coaching a 260-pound back.
"I've wanted one for a long, long time, so this is kind of dream come true for me," Singleton said. "Kody's the ultimate big back. He has tailback feet with an offensive lineman's body almost. It's really impressive."
Walker was expected to play fullback primarily this season, but now he's also Arkansas' second-team tailback behind Alex Collins with the loss of Jonathan Williams to a foot injury.
"I never thought I'd be playing tailback at 260, but it feels good, so I'm going to stick with it," said Walker, who was listed at 247 pounds last season. "I've still got my speed and quickness.
"I like being big."
During Arkansas' Red-White game last spring when Collins and Williams were held out, Walker had 26 carries for 176 yards and 3 touchdowns. In the second scrimmage this fall after Williams was injured and with Collins being held out, he rushed 10 times for 72 yards.
"When you turn the tape on Kody looks explosive," Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. "You see a guy get the ball and accelerate and break tackles and fall forward.
"He's a really, really good football player, and I think he presents some different challenges for teams we're going to play."
Walker -- a fifth-year junior after receiving a medical hardship from the NCAA in July -- was listed by recruiting services among the top 50 running backs nationally when he signed with Arkansas after rushing for 2,558 yards and 32 touchdowns his junior and senior seasons at Jefferson City (Mo.) High School.
Then Walker was plagued by injuries after getting to Arkansas. As a true freshman in 2011, he played three games before being sidelined by shin fractures in both legs. In 2012, he played two games before suffering a broken leg covering a punt against Louisiana-Monroe.
The injuries, along with the presence of Williams and Collins, kept Walker from climbing higher on the depth chart. He combined to rush 36 times 181 yards the previous two seasons, but now he's needed to carry a heavier load.
"Kody's going to get opportunities with the ball in his hands," Singleton said. "Obviously Alex can't get every carry, so Kody's going to play a big role for us."
Walker said it's nice to again be counted on to get significant carries.
"I've worked hard to get back to this point, and here I am," he said. "So I'm definitely going to take advantage of it."
After Williams was injured, he said Walker will make sure there isn't not a letdown with the running backs.
"Kody has always impressed me with how hard he works," Williams said. "This is a good opportunity for him to be able to step up and showcase his abilities."
Arkansas safety Rohan Gaines said he expects Walker to have a big season after trying to tackle him in fall camp.
"I think Kody can be a 1,000-yard rusher," Gaines said. "I think he can be one of the prominent backs in the SEC along with Alex.
"Kody may be 260 pounds, but he can still run and make cuts. He can do whatever he needs to do."
Singleton said that since he came to Arkansas from Oklahoma State last spring, Walker has been his best surprise among the running backs.
"There was a lot of talk about the other backs that I had in the room, but there wasn't a whole lot of talk about Kody," Singleton said. "Then the more I got to know him and the more I got to see him play, I realized I have a pretty good hidden gem there."
Sports on 09/05/2015