Three weeks ago, Rakeem Boyd was considered the third-string running back for Arkansas but in Devwah Whaley's absence he's emerged with the best game of his career against the no. 1 team in the nation, Alabama.
The Razorbacks got behind 21-0 in the first quarter but stuck to the game plan, using the tight ends heavily in the receiving game, and feeding Boyd until he broke his first explosive play at the end of the first quarter for 21 yards.
Arkansas covered the spread, losing 65-31, with Boyd getting the most touches on the team. He had seven carries in the first half for 53 yards then continued to get chunks of yards with eight more carries and 53 more yards in the second half.
"This is three weeks in a row that this young man continues to get better," Chad Morris said post-game. "He's getting himself into playing shape, we're starting to see that. He does a really good job in pass protection."
He was also utilized in the passing game and had five catches for 24 yards. Arkansas's running backs accounted for 232 yards of the team's 405 yard total. That total is well above the Tide's average yards allowed per game, which was 317 heading into the game in Fayetteville Saturday afternoon.
"I think the offense is coming together," Boyd said. "Every week we come to work and we just have to execute and keep getting better."
Alabama isn't known for letting opponents run the ball and Boyd was the first Razorback to rack up more than 100 yards on the Crimson Tide since Darren McFadden did it with 195 yards in 2007.
The Crimson Tide was only allowing 126 rushing yards per game so the Hogs' 182 yards were very impressive. The Hogs' used just three running backs, Boyd, Chase Hayden (four touches) and Maleek Williams (one rush) with Whaley sidelined with a concussion and T.J. Hammond still eligible for a redshirt.
Wearing no. 5 and emulating McFadden, Boyd said a pre-game talk with the Razorback legend got him especially fired up for the game. Now, with three solid games in a row, and a team leading 294 yards on the season, Boyd might just move up to that no. 1 spot on the depth chart.
The Razorbacks face Ole Miss in Little Rock next Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The Rebels are allowing 208 rushing yards per game.
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