Editor's Note: This is the seventh in a series of stories previewing the Arkansas Razorbacks football team, position by position. The Arkansas Razorbacks have led the Southeastern Conference in rushing six out of the last seven seasons, but in doing so the Hogs also became one of the league's most one-dimensional offenses.

First-year Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino is determined to change the latter without throwing out the former.

Petrino isn't just a proponent of offensive balance, he was a producer of it during his four seasons as Louisville's head football coach. His goal with the Razorbacks is to make the squad just as balanced and effective as his teams were with the Cardinals.

The Razorbacks may very well throw the ball more this season than they have in a decade, but Petrino is also committed to the running game.

" Our goal is to run the football when we need to and run the ball when we want to, " Petrino has stated many times since taking over the Arkansas' head coaching job last Dec. 11.

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While there is no doubt the Hogs will miss the skills of first-round NFL draft choices Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, Michael Smith (5-7-178 ) is ready for his turn at carrying the load.

Smith has been productive despite limited playing time, rushing for 550 yards and six touchdowns on 81 carries for a 6. 8 yards-per-carry average in his two years.

In the spring, Smith showed what he could do when given the chance.

If tight end D. J. Williams had the best spring among the Hogs, the junior from Tallahasse, Fla., wasn't far behind. Smith came to Arkansas with the same recruiting class that brought McFadden and Jones and no doubt he has toiled in their shadows until now.

" It's my opportunity to show what I can do, " Smith said. " We have a great offensive line, we are going to be more balanced offensively and I'm going to run with everything I've got. "

In the spring, he ran for 157 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown, on 13 carries in the Red-White Spring Game. He also had three receptions for 63 yards.

He missed the first scrimmage of the spring, but had a team-high 133 yards on 19 rushes in the second. He had touchdown runs of four and 17 yards. Smith also caught three passes for 17 yards. His totals were 270 yards and three TDs on 32 carries (8. 4 ) and six receptions for 77 yards (12. 8 ).

Smith not only has a great deal of talent packed in his small frame but also a lot of heart and desire. Smith gutted out all but one practice of the spring despite playing with a sports hernia that was repaired shortly after the close of spring drills and a painful hip pointer. " Nothing is keeping me off the field, " Smith said.

" Michael Smith, " Petrino said, " has been very impressive to me with his quickness and his speed. He's a player. " Texarkana junior Brandon Barnett (5-10, 206 ) had a spotty spring. He ran the ball well, but was plagued by fumbles. He did improve his pass blocking, which is a necessity in Petrino's offense. In the Red-White Spring Game, Barnett ran for 89 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries. In the first major scrimmage of the spring, he ran for 71 yards and three scores on 23 rushes. He had 45 yards and another touchdown on 10 carries in the second scrimmage.

His totals for the three major dates were 50 carries for 205 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 87 yards during the spring with a 26-yard touchdown in the April 19 scrimmage.

Barnett played in eight games as a sophomore and rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries (5. 7 ).

Injuries kept the experiment of moving Allen, Texas sophomore linebacker Chip Gregory (6-3, 218 ) from getting off the ground. Petrino likes a power back to pound away at the defense, particularly in the fourth quarter.

Gregor y will be given another chance to fill that role in preseason drills. Petrino also said he would not be shy about counting on newcomers if they are ready to do the job.

" We definitely are going to need, " Petrino said, " some freshman running backs who can come in and play. "

Texarkana freshman Dennis Johnson (5-8, 192 ) and Camden freshman De'Anthony Curtis (5-10, 211 ) will get long looks in August.

Both had outstanding prep careers with Johnson rushing for 4, 700 yards and 56 touchdowns in his career and Curtis producing 2, 503 yards - 1, 237 yards rushing and 18 TDs and 707 yards receiving and 4 TDs - during his senior season.