FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas running back Trelon Smith has battled various injuries this fall, including a turf toe that sidelined him during the preseason.
But four weeks into his first season as the Razorbacks’ top tailback, it has been difficult to tell that is the case. Smith has showcased explosiveness similar to that of a season ago, when he led Arkansas in rushing yards and touchdowns.
“I don’t think he’s been healthy yet,” Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said ahead of Arkansas' matchup with Texas A&M. “He is an inspiring guy in that room and on our team. We need him to get healthy. We need him to be a strong leader on our football team.
“That’s what he’s doing, but he’s just been a little beat up this year. He’s played well, he’s just been a little beat up.”
Smith, a Houston native, is on track to have another productive year. He rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown in the team’s season-opening win over Rice and has gained 75-plus yards on the ground two other times – both against ranked teams.
Dating back to last season, Smith has found the end zone eight times in as many outings and run for an average of 85.6 yards in that stretch. And against the Aggies, he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in his Arkansas career.
“Just blessed. Truly blessed,” Smith said of the milestone. “I just plan on keep running, keep gaining more yards. This weekend (at No. 2 Georgia), that's my goal, just run hard and keep racking them up.
“My whole mindset is to just keep doing what I'm doing and execute on a high level each week.”
The quick, shifty back, too, has been able to get Arkansas’ running game and its offense off the ground early.
Smith has recorded at least one run of 11-plus yards in the first quarter of each game, including a pair of 20-plus yard pickups against Rice and Texas. Seven of his nine longest runs of the year have come in the opening quarter of games and assisted the Razorbacks on three scoring drives.
His 22-yard second-quarter carry against the Longhorns also set up a touchdown run by Dominique Johnson.
“The bottom line is Smitty is our fire plug,” Pittman said. “He’s our starter. That, and he may be our best back. He’s the guy in there, and we know that he’s going to run like heck when that game starts.”
Pittman has taken notice of those chunk plays from Smith, adding that they bring juice to the group and the team as a whole.
Smith’s 298 rushing yards place him seventh in a league littered with talented backs, and his three scores are good for fifth entering Saturday’s showdown with the No. 2 Bulldogs, who are allowing a measly 2.3 yards per carry.
“When I play ball, especially in the SEC, I think about getting vertical as fast as possible,” Smith said this week. “I want to get vertical as fast as possible, even on the outside zone play. Even though I'm running outside zone, once I see it, I hit it.
“That's my main focus.”