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Arkansas Football: 5 bold predictions for 2017 season

By Connor Muldowney

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 22: Austin Allen #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs while looking to pass against the Auburn Tigers in the first quarter of the game at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 22: Austin Allen #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs while looking to pass against the Auburn Tigers in the first quarter of the game at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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FAYETTEVILLE, AR – OCTOBER15: Devwah Whaley #21 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs with the ball during a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Razorback Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – OCTOBER15: Devwah Whaley #21 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs with the ball during a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Razorback Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

3. Devwah Waley breaks the 1,500-yard mark

Losing Rawleigh Williams III in the offseason was rough for the Razorbacks. Bret Bielema was ready to rely on him as the workhorse back after giving him 245 carries as a sophomore. He finished the 2016 season with 1,360 yards and 12 touchdowns, completely breaking out for Arkansas, but injuries derailed his promising career.

Now that the Razorbacks have been forced to go through fall camp without Williams III, rising sophomore Devwah Waley is the go-to guy in the backfield. He had a strong freshman season as a former highly-touted back at the high school level.

Related Story: Arkansas Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

In fact, Waley finished his first season with the Razorbacks by accounting for 602 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 5.5 yards per carry. He added six receptions for 139 yards and proved to be a force out of the backfield. He isn’t a slight-of-frame back, either, following the footsteps of his retired predecessor.

With the bulk of the carries coming his way, Waley could be in for a huge season. If he keeps the same yards per carry pace and more than doubles his workload, he will put up over 1,500 yards and 10-plus touchdowns. That’s an extremely attainable goal for the talented back.

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