Arkansas Making Progress To Become a Contender

The University of Arkansas continues to make strides toward becoming a contender for the SEC West title for the 2009 campaign. Last week, the NCAA cleared Broderick Green for SEC play. Having spent two years on the west coast, in the USC system, this young man comes to the SEC ready for action.

According to the current depth chart, two small backs stand in his way, backs that have no real chance to hold him off when the summer camp begins. Dennis Johnson (5'7", 195) ran for 184 yds on 36 carries and Brandon Barnett (5'10", 206) carried the ball for only 61 yds on twelve carries.

Neither Johnson nor Barnett have meaningful game experience. De'Anthony Curtis and Michael Smith are contenders for playing time, particularly for the starting tailback position, but they have not been effective scoring touchdowns in the Petrino system.

Although Smith has shown flashes of brilliance, and gained over 1,000 yards during the 2008 season, he doesn't have the size to battle every week through a full season of SEC competition. He is a Percy Harvey "type" athlete that makes things happen in space. He will be useful to the offensive scheme but not as the starting tailback.

The two other obstacles stand in Green's way for significant playing time are incoming freshmen Knile Davis and Ronnie Wingo, tandem four star recruits in the 2009 class. Both will compete for the starting tailback position, Wingo likely has the inside track between these true freshmen.

Green is similar in build and running style to the freshman phenom, Trent Richardson, of Alabama, but with experience under his belt. His 2006 high school honors included Parade All-American, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, EA Sports All-American third team, Prep Star 100, Super Prep All-Southwest, Prep Star All-Southeast and Scout.com All-Southwest. As a tailback at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock (Ark.), he ran for 2,042 yards and scored 23 TDs.

Redshirted as a freshman for a nagging sprained foot, and last year having a primary role in mop up duty, Green rambled for 168 yards on 32 carries for the Trojans. After being left out of the Virginia game (one carry, zero yards) reports out of L.A. said that coach Pete Carroll gave Green the directive to "run big" if you want to play.

In the following practice, Rey Maualuga found himself flattened on his back giving traction to Green's cleats, turning from supine to prone, only for a view of Green's hindquarters moving down field for a substantial gain. Run big he did.

While time on the playing field remained limited during his stay with the Trojans in 2008, he has the ability to make a significant impact for the Razorbacks in 2009. My suspicion is that any of the backs listed above will "compete" for the starting position; the value Broderick Green brings to the field will be in the red zone.  

Baring injury, he won't be kept off of the field of play. The 6'2", 242-pounder will put the football over the the goal line when the Razorbacks are in the red zone. By the end of the 2009 season, Green should have more TDs on fewer carries than any of the tailbacks listed on the roster. With three years of eligibility, it will be interesting to see how much USC regrets losing this winner.