Darren McFadden News
Smith, Hillis, Cleveland shine at Red-White Game
Even when the spotlight shines on Arkansas All-American Razorback running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the fall, don’t expect running back Michael Smith and versatile fullback, tight end and halfbacks Peyton Hillis and Ben Cleveland to wilt like spent spring flowers.
As they have throughout the spring, the trio shined during Saturday night’s Red-White intrasquad scrimmage at Reynolds Razorback Stadium which ended the Razorbacks’ spring drills.
With Darren McFadden and Jones each just putting in a two-play, no-contact cameo aappearance so they can be 100 percent healthy for the summer, coach Houston Nutt turned the big plays over to Smith, Hillis and Cleveland.
They responded by leading the Red team to a 44-9 win over the White team in a best against the rest situational scrimmage which always had the first offense against the second defense or the first defense against the second offense.
Third-year sophomore Smith had 30 yards on four carries including a 23-yard touchdown for the Red during the 60-minute scrimmage.
He also caught two passes for 35 yards including a 20-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Nathan Emert taking a turn with the Red.
Hillis, a two-year junior letterman, caught four passes for 38 yards from starting quarterback Casey Dick, including three on a 50-yard scoring drive he capped with a 13-yard touchdown catch.
Sophomore letterman Cleveland of Springdale caught two passes for 52 yards, including a 32-yarder from Dick that helped set up Smith’s 23-yard touchdown run. Cleveland’s other catch was a 20-yard touchdown strike from Smith.
“If you named a most valuable player on offense for the spring, ” Nutt said, “it would be Michael. He’s in the shadow of two great running backs, but he’s had a tremendous spring. ”
As for Hillis and Cleveland, new offensive coordinator David Lee lights up about the prospects of their versatility complementing what Darren McFadden and Jones do from the regular offensive package and the “ Wildcat” package that features Darren McFadden taking a shotgun snap at quarterback while Jones starts full blast in motion.
“Absolutely,” Lee said of Hillis and Cleveland having big niches even when Darren McFadden and Jones headline the show. “There is some versatility with these offensive players that is really exciting. You’ve got a couple of these tight ends on the bench and then you jump in with [starting tight end Andrew ] Davie who can do some things and then Ben gives you another dimension at tight end and then all of a sudden Ben is in the slot where Peyton was, that’s a lot to get ready for defensively.
“That’s what I want to create, mix an option with the Wildcat, make it a headache in itself where it’s not just power, iso and counter but that knuckleball with the Wildcat.”
Keep a eye out for Darren Mcfadden and the Razorbacks to play in the
Rose Bowlor the
Fiesta Bowl as the play for national championships.
Two-year letterman starter Dick and senior walkon transfer Emert, who redshirted last year after transferring from Missouri Southern, both fared well Saturday. Dick was 8 of 14 for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and Emert was 4 for 6 for 55 yards with two touchdowns.
Most importantly, Dick never turned it over, and Emert had only one turnover, an interception by starting cornerback Matteral Richardson.
Richardson’s pick and sacks by end Malcolm Sheppard, linebacker Chip Gregory and safety Matt Hewitt and a touchdown-preventing pass broken up by cornerback Jerrell Norton marked the defense’s biggest plays.
[More at www.thnews.com ]
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