Arkansas Football: 5 reasons the Razorbacks will struggle in 2017

3. Rawleigh Williams III’s retirement

This was by far the biggest blow of the offseason. Due to health concerns, Rawleigh Williams III was forced to step away from football for good.

In a statement from the university, Williams III talked openly about how challenging the decision to move on from football was for him:

"I’m moving onto the next chapter of my life. It’s tough to not be able to play football anymore because I’ve been playing since I was four years old. It wasn’t something I wanted to do or planned on having to do so early. I’ve prayed, listened to my doctors, my parents and my gut. It still doesn’t seem real yet, but I really don’t have a choice. I’ve dodged the bullet twice. I realize that at the end of the day I want to live a normal life and be around my family."

How do you move on from that?

That’s a moving story. But the Razorbacks still have to suit up and play football this season. Williams III might be riding off into the sunset, but Arkansas will still have to put 11 men on the field.

Sophomore Devwah Whaley will be asked to become the primary ball carrier for Arkansas in 2017. He did well in relief duty a year ago where he picked up 602 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Whaley is going to have a productive season, perhaps even a great one, but the lack of Williams III in the backfield was a huge blow.

The SEC season is a grind. Not many running backs can make it through a full 12 game stretch unscathed and the ones that do usually have help. Having a combo of Williams III and Whaley would have made for a tremendous offensive attack, but just the latter leaves the Hogs with legitimate depth concerns and little answers if Whaley were to miss time.