Hogs have big opportunity on ground at Auburn

Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) hands the ball off to running back Raheim Sanders (5), Saturday, October 15, 2022 during the second quarter of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas enters every Saturday with a plan to impose its will up front and establish its running game.

The Razorbacks have been successful doing both of those things in a number of games this fall. The first part of the equation is a prime reason why they rank ninth nationally with 240 rushing yards per game.

Running backs Raheim Sanders, AJ Green and others, as well as quarterback KJ Jefferson, take it from there.

Arkansas’ offense understands well the golden opportunity that lies ahead of it this weekend at Auburn. The Razorbacks have not beaten the Tigers since 2015, but an effective ground game looks to be among the top keys in ending that streak.

“It’s been a pretty big emphasis,” Arkansas right tackle Dalton Wagner said Tuesday. “But, again, I feel like we’re still keeping a good balance on what we’re doing. But obviously you can see the numbers don’t lie in what they’re doing.

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“When you can run the football and you can control the ground game, it opens up those edges, it opens up the pass, it opens up a lot of different things that forces the defense into an awkward situation.”

The Tigers, by a sizable margin, hold the SEC’s worst rushing defense through Week 8.

Auburn has allowed 204.4 yards per game on the ground. Florida is No. 13 in the league at 185 rushing yards allowed per game.

“It’s been a big emphasis to make sure that we’re on the same page...to make sure we can control their front seven,” Wagner said. “I think that this week is a great opportunity for us that we need to go take advantage of.”

In SEC games, the Razorbacks’ rushing attack has averaged 241.7 yards, and 237.7 in non-conference matchups. Sanders has paced Arkansas all season and leads the league in rushing at 870 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Tigers, according to CFBStats.com, rank 100th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 40 rushes of 10-plus yards allowed. They are also ranked last in the SEC and 119th nationally in 20-plus yard rushes against (15).

In the SEC, Vanderbilt is next to last in that category with 12.

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Six players this season have rushed for 100-plus yards against Auburn, including three during its 48-34 loss at Ole Miss on Oct. 15. Conversely, Arkansas has had at least one player surpass 100 yards rushing in each game this season.

Razorbacks defensive lineman Isaiah Nichols explained Tuesday what makes Arkansas' offensive line effective in the run game. Entering the weekend, the Razorbacks are No. 2 in the FBS in run-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

“I just think those boys up front, they’re dogs,” he said. “They’re physical, they love contact and they go out there and they make their minds up about what they want to do and they’re going to do it. It’s a battle when you go against them, because they’re going to give everything they got.

“I think it’s more of a mentality thing than a scheme thing. You can have all the plays you want to run, but if the guys up front don’t have the mindset to go run the ball, then it’s not going to happen.

“I commend them on how hard they work every day.”