Green on go after full spring and preseason

Arkansas running back AJ Green carries the ball Tuesday, March 29, 2022, during practice in Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — Those who closely follow Arkansas football saw running back AJ Green flash game-breaking potential a couple of times as a freshman.

In the Razorbacks’ victory over Texas last September, he punctuated the night with a 30-yard touchdown run. Two weeks later, against Texas A&M, he caught a pass out of the backfield, broke a tackle and scored from 48 yards out.

Beyond a 31-yard kickoff return against Auburn, those were his top moments of the season.

With a full spring and fall camp now under his belt, Arkansas is hopeful it will receive more splash plays from Green in 2022.

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“He's been fine. He's done a good job. He's better, I think,” Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said Wednesday of Green’s preseason. “(Freshman tailback Rashod) Dubinion is pressing him, to be honest with you there.

“At the same time, he's better than what he was a year ago.”

Last August, Green was attempting to overcome a concussion and unable to participate in live portions of Arkansas' practices and scrimmages. It was a significant setback for the second-highest rated prospect in the program's 2021 class.

He did not play in the season opener against Rice, but made his debut in the win over the Longhorns. Green totaled 67 yards and 1 score on 7 carries.

“He had a head injury, concussion, so we could never get him going,” Razorbacks running backs coach Jimmy Smith said Aug. 6. “In fact, his first contact was against Texas. That was his first game really getting hit, because in the summer time he didn't scrimmage one time.

“Now he's had a chance to really hone in on what he needs to work on. I think he'll be a lot better."

Green finished with 227 rushing yards last fall and caught 7 passes for 84 yards. He enters this weekend’s season opener against Cincinnati as Arkansas’ No. 2 tailback behind Raheim Sanders.

Along with Dubinion, a talented newcomer from Ellenwood, Ga., Green is also listed as one of Arkansas’ kickoff return men. He averaged 16.3 yards on nine returns in 2021.

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Pittman believes everyone will see a better, more electric version of Green on special teams this season. The Razorbacks are searching for their first kickoff return for a score since De’Vion Warren in October 2017, and Green has the ability to change that.

“He's had a good camp with it, catching the ball well,” Pittman said. “You have to do it a little bit to gain true confidence in yourself. You know, there's some guys that are just natural and they go out there and they're not worried about anything. It’s just, 'I'm going to catch it.' He's not one of those guys.

“I think we had to build confidence in him as he was building our confidence, as well. He's done a really good job. Will we see 10.3 speed this year? It’s what we're looking for. That's what he is.

“I feel like we'll get much closer to that 10.3 than what he was a year ago.”