FAYETTEVILLE — What many thought might be a two-man workhorse tailback tandem has turned into a three-man timeshare.
Sophomore Devwah Whaley, freshman Chase Hayden and fifth-year senior transfer David Williams have nearly identical numbers through four games this season. Whaley has 48 carries for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns; Hayden 41 carries for 246 yards and 4 touchdowns; and Williams 43 carries for 203 yards and 4 touchdowns.
All three tailbacks had touches within the first six plays of the Razorbacks' 42-24 win over New Mexico State last Saturday.
“The thing with (Arkansas coach Bret Bielema) is he talked to all three of them and said if a guy gets hot, he is going to go with them,” running backs coach Reggie Mitchell said. “Then if they get tired, just tap yourself out of the game and let another guy come in.
“What we really wanted to do was get them all at least two series in the first half, but we didn’t know how long we would have it or how long they would have it. We wanted to try and at least get them in the flow of the game.”
Whaley said it has been a nice blend of carries and rest.
“It’s beneficial and also it’s helping us in a way where we stay healthy, stay fresh, so when we go in we’re able to make big plays,” Whaley said.
Williams, who also has 76 yards receiving this season, is likely the most excited of the three this week as Arkansas (2-2, 0-1 SEC) travels to face South Carolina (3-2, 1-1). Williams, a Philadelphia native, played three years for the Gamecocks and rushed for 794 yards and 5 touchdowns, and added 264 receiving yards.
“He has friends on the team that he still communicates with because he was there with them for four years,” Mitchell said. “This is a big game for him and he wants to do well, as he does in all of them, but this one probably means a little bit more.”
Whaley said Williams – who is not available for interviews this week leading up to the game – has a pep in his step, but hasn’t been vocal about the game.
“David has just been quiet about it,” Whaley said. “He’s been working hard, practicing hard and he doesn’t want to be a distraction. Like I said, he’s going back to where he originally started, but he doesn’t want to be a distraction. He’s been working hard and he’s ready.”
Mitchell said Williams has been a major addition to the Arkansas offense this season.
“He is a guy that has been able to come in on third down and do a great job of pass protection and really he has been a guy that has been good on all three downs,” Mitchell said. “I have been very pleased with him. We were excited to get him here and have been very happy with his production.”
Mitchell said it was Williams' new teammates – quarterback Austin Allen, center Frank Ragnow and Whaley – that helped him get a jump on the offense before coaches could meet with him this summer.
“I tell you what, he is a great person number one,” Mitchell said. “You think about it and he didn’t get here until the second semester of summer school and by the time he got here we were on vacation.
“Between Austin, Frank and Devwah and those guys, that taught him the offense and he wanted to learn the offense. And then we came in and he has been a great guy in the room. You can tell he is a mature guy.”
Hayden has been another key addition, but his numbers have not been a surprise.
“Having recruited Chase, I had the opportunity to watch what he did in high school and I knew we had a good one coming,” Mitchell said. “You could also see it when he got here for camp.
“He was our leading rusher against the No. 1 defense (in the preseason) so that showed us something. We saw that in practice and it was good to see it translate to games.”
Whaley finished with 119 yards in the win over New Mexico State and had more than 50 yards on a drive that ran out the clock.
“From the moment he got to camp, he hurt his back and then his ankle so he had wasn’t really healthy until last week,” Mitchell said. “Last week we got to see the real Devwah. At the end of the game, he was able to close it out. He was also outstanding in practice today.”
Asked about a scuffle with teammate Brandon Martin two weeks ago, Whaley said he was past it.
“Things are going good,” Whaley said. “We’ll put that in the past, just move forward. Things like that happen, but all way can do is continue to move forward and just put it past us.”