Never fear. The Wildcat remains here.

That was the message both Darren McFadden and David Lee sent to Razorbacks fans early in the year when they feared the Wildcat formation had left the University of Arkansas along with former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.

“I don’t think there are any worries in that department, ” McFadden said last January. “As successful as we were with that offense last year, we will see the Wildcat again.

“It brought out the best in both me and Felix [Jones, McFadden’s fellow junior running back ]. It’s a great change of pace that keeps the other defense on their toes. ”

Prior to springing the Wildcat formation on Ole Miss in the Hogs’ seventh game of the season last fall, McFadden had already run up big numbers, but by taking direct snaps from center like a Single-Wing quarterback from the days of yore, McFadden’s name recognition grew exponentially around the nation.

ADVERTISEMENT

By the time fans cleared Reynolds Razorback Stadium following the Hogs’ 31-14 blistering of Tennessee in front of an ESPN 2 audience, McFadden had gone from being the most dangerous man in the Southeastern Conference to being a Heisman Trophy candidate. Defenses had a hard enough time getting a hold on McFadden before he had the run, pitch or hand-off option at QB.

While he did most of his damage as a runner in the Wildcat, McFadden made his passes count, completing 7 of 9 throws for three touchdowns and an interception.

“McFadden is a great runner, but it’s his versatility as a runner, a return man and as a change-ofpace quarterback that put him on the Heisman charts, ” ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said last fall.

McFadden made the trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony and was the surprise runner-up to Ohio State QB Troy Smith, finishing ahead of Notre Dame golden boy Brady Quinn. He also became the first sophomore ever to win the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back.

In the spring, Lee, who returned to Arkansas as offensive coordinator following a four-year stint on the Dallas Cowboys ’ offensive staff, liked what he saw of the Wildcat so much on film that he added an additional aspect to it late in the spring.

“ We’ve added the radar option to the package that we used with Matt Jones, ” Lee said in the spring. “ Having the option to hand off to Peyton Hillis, keep the ball himself or pitch or pass to Felix Jones makes him even more dangerous. It’s one more thing the defense will have to account for. ”

McFadden enjoyed his trip to New York last winter and would like to book another flight there this December.

“ I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about [the Heisman Trophy ], ” McFadden said in May. “ I’m asked about it too much not to think about it. But, I try to keep it in the back of my mind and concentrate on the things I can do to help my teammates. ”

McFadden astutely pointed out that the last several Heisman Trophy winners have been on outstanding teams.

“ An award like the Heisman has everything to do with your team and your teammates, ” he said. “ We have to win as a team first and then the rewards come with the winning. Football is the ultimate team sport. What we accomplished on offense last year was because of everybody working together. We’re a band of brothers. We know if we just win, all that other stuff will happen, just like last year. ”

Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said McFadden’s team-first attitude is what puts him in a position to be a Heisman candidate.

“ What makes it easy to get behind Darren is his appreciation of his teammates and his work habits, ” Nutt said. “ There is no jealousy toward him because he doesn’t take a day off or a play off. He’s working as hard as anyone else.

“ That makes a difference because everyone knows how talented he is, but he’s working as hard as everyone else. It just makes everyone want to do their job the best that they can. ”

Junior All-American center Jonathan Luigs agreed with Nutt. He and his fellow offensive linemates stay on their toes because McFadden, and for that matter Jones, have the potential to score on any touch.

“ Darren and Felix, they are guys that you never know when they are going to break a long one, ” Luigs said. “ They can score at any time. They really make us look good up front. We don’t want to let them down. The worst thing is to watch tape and see that if you’d have just gotten a little better block, they would have gone all the way. ”

McFadden is chasing a bit of Arkansas history as well. After rushing for a school-record 1, 647 yards last fall, the North Little Rock native needs just 811 yards this season to break Arkansas’ all-time rushing record of 3, 570 yards.

Ben Cowins, who played as a freshman for Frank Broyles in 1976 and two seasons for Lou Holtz 1977 and ’ 78, has held the record for 29 years.

If McFadden does top the 1, 000-yard mark this season, he will join Cowins, who will be inducted into the Razorbacks Hall of Honor in September, as the only Hogs to rush for 1, 000 yards three seasons.

However, McFadden’s main goal for the season is the same as every other Razorback: Returning to the SEC Championship Game but coming home a winner.

The Hogs won the West last season with a 7-1 SEC mark, the school’s best SEC record, but fell 38-28 to eventual national champion Florida in the tile game.

“ Our goal is to win the SEC Championship, ” McFadden said. “ We got so close last year and didn’t quite get the job done.

“ We lost some very good players from last year, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines, but we think we have the guys here to step up and do the job. We have faith in our teammates. Like I said, we’re a band of brothers and we’re on a mission to win the SEC. ”