FAYETTEVILLE -- Next to Brandon Allen, Alex Collins leads the Razorbacks in no good deeds going unpunished.
Allen, Arkansas' fifth-year senior quarterback, is posting a career year completing 62 of 92 passes for 916 yards and 6 touchdowns with 2 interceptions.
But with the Razorbacks 1-2 before their first SEC game Saturday night at AT&T Stadium against Texas A&M, many Arkansas fans focus more on the key passes Allen didn't complete than ones has.
Other than two-time Doak Walker Award winner/two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden, no Razorback began his Arkansas career by exceeding 1,000 yards rushing as a freshman and a sophomore until Alex Collins.
The junior running back rushed 1,026 yards on 190 carries for the 3-9 Razorbacks of 2013 and 1,110 yards on 204 carries for last year's 7-6 Hogs.
Collins accomplished that while alternating with Jonathan Williams, who netted 900 yards on 150 carries in 2013 and 1,190 yards on 211 carries last season.
Now Collins goes it alone as Coach Bret Bielema's experienced running back.
Williams will miss his senior season after breaking his left foot during an Aug. 15 preseason scrimmage.
Junior tailback-fullback Kody Walker hasn't played since breaking his hand two games ago during the 16-12 loss to Toledo in Little Rock.
Collins has shouldered the brunt of a running game that wasn't running close to all cylinders until Bielema re-emphasized it last week. Arkansas outrushed Texas Tech 228-171 on Saturday but lost 35-24 in Fayetteville.
Bielema mostly relied on Allen's passing (308 and 412 yards, respectively) as Arkansas beat Texas-El Paso 48-13 before losing 16-12 to Toledo.
Collins' 70-yard run netted the bulk of his 127 yards on 12 carries against UTEP. Against Toledo, Collins netted 54 yards and 1 touchdown on 20 carries but gained respect in the eyes of Bielema.
Allen attempted 53 passes against Toledo and never was sacked. In fact, he hasn't been sacked all three games.
Collins plays a pivotal role in pass protection.
"He protected our quarterback as well as any running back I have ever seen that wasn't getting the ball," Bielema said of Collins's performance against Toledo. "It really opened my eyes to his toughness. I think it made a statement to his teammates as well. And this week to see him run the way he did ..."
Nobody can deny Collins' effort, even though he was punished for it when he fumbled while fighting for yardage at the end of a 12-yard run on Arkansas' last play against Tech. He constantly moved the pile while netting 170 yards on 28 carries.
They were tougher yards for Collins than when he romped for 212 on Texas Tech in Arkansas' 49-28 victory last year in Lubbock.
"I thought he was explosive and broke tackles," Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. "He ran very determined."
Determined start to finish, his quarterback said.
"He ran hard all day," Allen said. "We probably wouldn't have even been in the game if it wasn't for him."
Sports on 09/23/2015