The Key to Arkansas Becoming Real SEC Contenders in 2015

Arkansas closed strong during the final month of the season, shutting out LSU and Ole Miss in Fayetteville to earn second-year head coach Bret Bielema his first two conference wins and give the program confidence for the first time since Bobby Petrino roamed the sidelines in 2011.

That confidence is back, and from an offensive standpoint, it shouldn't go away now that one of its biggest pieces is coming back in running back Jonathan Williams.

The 6'0", 223-pound native of Allen, Texas announced on Wednesday that he will return to the program for his senior season after exploring a decision to jump early to the NFL.

"I am very excited to return to Arkansas for my senior season and help bring the Razorback football program back to where it belongs," Williams said in a release emailed by Arkansas. "Coach [Bret] Bielema and [running backs] coach [Joel] Thomas have been very supportive of me and my family throughout this process."

His return is huge for Arkansas' hopes of not only getting the program back to respectability, but into contention in the SEC West.

Sharing the workload with fellow running back Alex Collins, all Williams did was finish the season as one of five 1,000-yard rushers in the SEC, gaining 1,085 yards and 11 touchdowns and leading the Hogs in rushing. He's a true all-purpose back that has the size to be dangerous between the tackles and speed to be a threat in space.

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

His return signals something very important for the Arkansas offense—continuity.

Williams and Collins will return behind an offensive line that was bigger than any college or NFL offensive line in 2014 and which loses only senior right tackle Brey Cook. Quarterback Brandon Allen showed tremendous progress this year, tossing 18 touchdowns and only five picks. He will return for his senior season with leading receiver Keon Hatcher and tight end Hunter Henry.

Assuming there are no speed bumps like unexpected roster attrition or injuries before the season, the Hogs offense should be able to hit the ground running—literally—when they host UTEP in the season opener in 2015.

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Couple that with continuity in the passing game, and the offense should be scary.

The real question is on defense, where the team will look for replacements for star defensive end Trey Flowers and linebacker Martrell Spaight.

With that being said, defensive coordinator Robb Smith showed in his first season that he can get the job done in the SEC. He will also have defensive tackle Darius Philon returning and talented youngsters like Bijhon Jackson stepping into bigger roles.

That's a small hole to hop for a program that, since 2011, is used to clearing holes the size of the Grand Canyon after Petrino's unceremonious exit in April 2012. 

Arkansas will be a dark-horse pick to make some noise in the West in 2015, and Williams' return only solidifies that position in the division's pecking order. That's a stark change from where the program was a year ago, when contending for the West seemed more like something out of the fiction section at the library.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.