Arkansas Razorbacks: Five reasons why Hogs can win the SEC

Oct 25, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Alex Collins (3) rushes during the first quarter against the UAB Blazers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

5. The Best One-Two Running Back Combo in the SEC

One of the most impressive things about the Arkansas Razorbacks entering the 2015 season is the depth the Hogs have in the backfield. In fact, Arkansas has the best one-two punch in the Southeastern Conference – perhaps the nation.

Sure, Georgia has Nick Chubb and whoever plays quarterback at LSU can hand off to Leonard Fournette. Alabama running back Derrick Henry is a beast, and whomever Auburn installs as its top ball carrier is almost assured to run for 1,500 yards. However, no one in the SEC boasts a pair of running backs as good as Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins.

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Williams and Collins ran for 1,190 and 1,100 yards last season, respectively, and each scored 12 touchdowns on the ground. With Williams averaging 91.5 yards per game and Collins racking up 84.6 yards on average, the pair ranked fourth and fifth in the SEC in rushing last season.

Think about that: Arkansas’ second leading rusher had more yards than the top ground gainer for 11 other teams in the conference.

Williams, a 6-foot, 224-pound senior, and Collins, a 5-foot-11, 224-pound junior, are durable running backs each capable of carrying the football 20 to 30 times a game – and with the smashmouth tendencies of head coach Bret Bielema, there will be a heavy workload for each. Fortunately for Arkansas, because Williams and Collins are able to share carries evenly with one another the duo will likely be better rested than any other two-back combination in the league.

Looking ahead to 2015, Williams and Collins are both capable of putting up more yards and scoring more touchdowns than they did last season. And should something happen to one of them, the other will be ready to shoulder a bigger burden without a drop off – something they are better equipped to do than anyone else in the league.

Next: A Top-10 Defense