Even when the spotlight shines on Arkansas All-American Razorback running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the fall, don’t expect running back Michael Smith and versatile fullback / tight end / H-backs Peyton Hillis and Ben Cleveland to wilt like spent spring flowers.

As they have throughout the spring, the trio blossomed in Saturday night’s Red-White intrasquad scrimmage at Reynolds Razorback Stadium which concluded the Razorbacks’ spring drills.

With McFadden and Jones each just putting in a two-play, no-contact cameo so they can be 100 percent healthy for the summer, coach Houston Nutt turned the big plays over to Smith, Hillis and Cleveland.

They responded leading the Red to a 44-9 win over the White in a best against the rest situational scrimmage always pitting the first offense against the second defense or the first defense against the second offense.

ADVERTISEMENT

Third-year sophomore Smith netted 30 yards on four carries including a 23-yard touchdown for the Red during the 60-minute exercise weathered by 2, 000 in a 42-degree chill. He also caught two passes for 35 yards including a 20-yard TD from backup quarterback Nathan Emert taking a turn with the Red.

Junior two-year letterman Hillis caught four passes for 38 yards from starting quarterback Casey Dick, including three on a 50-yard scoring drive he capped with a 13-yard TD catch.

Sophomore letterman Cleveland of Springdale caught two for 52 yards, including a 32-yarder from Dick preceding Smith’s 23-yard TD run. Cleveland’s other catch was a 20-yard TD from Smith.

Nutt said Smith will have a role even with McFadden and Jones full tilt.

“ If you named a most valuable player on offense for the spring, ” Nutt said, “ it would be Michael. He’s in the shadow of two great running backs, but he’s had a tremendous spring. ”

As for Hillis and Cleveland, new offensive coordinator David Lee lights up about the prospects of their versatility complementing what McFadden and Jones do from the regular offensive package and the “ Wildcat” package that features McFadden taking a shotgun snap at quarterback while Jones starts full blast in motion.

“ Absolutely, ” Lee said of Hillis and Cleveland having big niches even when McFadden and Jones headline the show. “ There is some versatility with these offensive players that is really exciting. You’ve got a couple of these tight ends on the bench and then you jump in with [starting tight end Andrew ] Davie who can do some things and then Ben gives you another dimension at tight end and then all of a sudden Ben is in the slot where Peyton was, that’s a lot to get ready for defensively.

“ That’s what I want to create, mix an option with the Wildcat, make it a headache in itself where it’s not just power, iso and counter but that knuckleball with the Wildcat. ”

Cleveland said of lining up all over, “ It’s a little bit of everywhere with this offense. It’s going to be hard to read with what we are going to do. That’s what we like about it. It’s very versatile and uses our talents. ”

Junior two-year letterman starter Dick and senior walkon transfer Emert, redshirted last year after transferring from Missouri Southern, both fared well Saturday. Dick was 8 of 14 for 117 yards and two TDs, and Emert was 4 for 6 for 55 yards with two TDs.

Most importantly, Dick never turned it over, and Emert only once, an interception by starting cornerback Matteral Richardson.

“ We just need a bus driver, ” Lee said. “ We don’t need a guy to be Heisman Trophy at quarterback. We just need a guy to keep it in the street and not let us get off the road. Both guys should be ample. ”

Neither was beset with a defense as good as normal. Injuries had starting linebackers Weston Dacus and Freddie Fairchild, starting tackle Marcus Harrison, starting safety Michael Grant, starting end Antwain Robinson and reserve tackles Fred Bledsoe and Marcus Shavers on the bench.

“ As a scrimmage it was staged, ” Lee said, “ best against the rest. We used to call it ATO, All the Others, so it kind of came out the way it was supposed to. Nothing really to get excited. ”

Richardson’s pick and sacks by end Malcolm Sheppard, linebacker Chip Gregory and safety Matt Hewitt and a TD-preventing PBU by cornerback Jerrell Norton marked the defense’s biggest plays.

“ We’re wasting our time talking about today’s scrimmage, ” defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said. “ You need to focus on what’s ahead of us, and that’s a big summer for us lifting weights, training, getting ready. Come back in the fall all healthy and then we go to work. ”

Nutt said the defense had “ too many out ” to have a chance today, but overall, “ we had a good spring. We’ve got a chance if we can get our people back on the field. ”

Apparently, Nutt has learned, reserve tight end Mason Templeton was used either too late or too much during his freshman season to be deemed a fifth-year senior as they had anticipated.

An appeal to restore Templeton’s presently exhausted eligibility is under consideration, Nutt said.