FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas running backs coach Jimmy Smith is a nominee for the 2022 Broyles Award, it was announced Tuesday.
Smith, who is in his third season with the Razorbacks, is one of 51 nominees for the award, which recognizes college football’s top assistant coach.
A native of Darlington, S.C., Smith oversees a running backs group that has accounted for 1,599 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, and helps make up one of the nation’s top rushing attacks. Arkansas enters this weekend’s home game against No. 14 Ole Miss with the 12th-most rushing yards (2,233) in the country.
Star sophomore Raheim “Rocket” Sanders is No. 2 in the SEC and tied for No. 12 nationally with 1,147 yards and 7 touchdowns.
In addition to his work with the Razorbacks’ running backs, Smith has been a key recruiter for the program. According to 247 Sports, he served as the primary recruiter for Arkansas tailbacks AJ Green, Rashod Dubinion and James Jointer, and assisted in the recruitment of Dominique Johnson.
He is also listed as the primary recruiter for 2023 running back commit Isaiah Augustave of Naples, Fla. Augustave is a 4-star recruit, according to ESPN.
Smith’s relationship with Oklahoma transfer receiver Jadon Haselwood helped Arkansas sign him out of the NCAA transfer portal last offseason. He was Haselwood’s football coach at Cedar Grove High School in Georgia.
"It was a very fast process," Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said Nov. 2 about recruiting Haselwood to Arkansas. "We needed wideouts. We had Jimmy Smith, and everybody else didn't."
Smith is one of seven nominees from an SEC program. The others are Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding; Florida offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Rob Sale; Georgia offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Todd Monken; LSU defensive coordinator Matt House; Ole Miss running backs coach Marquel Blackwell; and Tennessee offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Alex Golesh.
The Broyles Award is named for long-time Arkansas football coach and athletics director Frank Broyles and has been awarded each year since 1996.