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FAYETTEVILLE — With Rakeem Boyd’s decision to opt out of the rest of the season, Trelon Smith is officially Arkansas’ No. 1 running back.
Although the transfer from Arizona State has started a couple of games in Boyd’s absence this year, Saturday’s 11 a.m. CT game at Missouri will be the first time he is the undisputed starter in the Razorbacks’ backfield.
“I felt he made the best decision for himself, but me personally when I heard (the news), it was simple - I just told myself, ‘It’s time to step up to the plate,’” Smith said. “I’ve been preparing for this moment for the longest and I’ll be ready most definitely.”
It is a move a section of the fanbase has called for in recent weeks, as Smith has been the more effective of the two running backs. He’s rushed for a team-high 469 yards on 89 carries and has two touchdowns, including one on an 83-yard run at Florida.
While he struggled against LSU in the last game, Smith previously had quite a bit of success filling in for Boyd. He had 70 all-purpose yards in the win over Mississippi State, in which Boyd suffered an early injury, and then had a team-high 159 all-purpose yards in the controversial loss to Auburn, which he started.
“He's shown he can come in and step up and do what he has to do and not complain,” quarterback Feleipe Franks said. “His production backs that up. He's a good player. I'm excited always just to watch him go out there and compete.”
Depth was a concern in the games Boyd missed this year, but T.J. Hammonds emerged as a viable option in the LSU game. Despite playing just three offensive snaps, he hauled in a 51-yard reception and had a 29-yard carry on two of those plays.
Listed as a wide receiver on the roster, the fifth-year senior - who has shown flashes throughout his career - has moved to running back full time and is considered the Razorbacks’ backup behind Smith.
“I believe he’s earned the right to touch the ball more,” head coach Sam Pittman said. “He did a nice job against LSU. He made a couple of big plays for us. He’s had a really good week and it’s been a physical week here.”
The only other available scholarship running back on the team is true freshman Dominique Johnson.
However, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Texas native has played only one offensive snap this year and has yet to touch the ball. He wasn’t even able to play special teams the last two games, as he was out because of COVID-19 protocols.
The time off could have been detrimental to the progress of a young player like him, but Pittman said he was pleased with how Johnson handled the situation. He enters the Missouri game as Arkansas’ third-string running back.
“He did a nice job when he was in quarantine,” Pittman said. “He did a nice job of staying in shape and he’s looked good this week. … (He) has had a good week and he’s in shape, so we won’t have any problem giving him the football.”
Being without a veteran running back like Boyd, who ended his career as Arkansas’ 14th all-time leading rusher, at this point of the season certainly isn’t ideal, but the team is still confident they can get production in the ground game.
“Those guys have been really good throughout all fall camp, all since then and all throughout the season,” Franks said. “Those guys have been good when somebody goes down. They step up, and it's been like that dealing with injuries. That room is confident.”
Saturday’s game at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo., will be televised on the SEC Network.
