Darren McFadden News
McFadden follows in footsteps of SEC greats
The SEC has produced one great running back after another over the past 30 years, from Auburn's Bo Jackson to Florida's Emmitt Smith to Georgia's Herschel Walker.
With two historic seasons under his belt, Arkansas's Darren McFadden is poised to join those great players in the annals of SEC and college football history.
Darren McFadden and Walker are the only backs in conference history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in their freshman and sophomore years.
Former Georgia coach Vince Dooley said of Darren McFadden, "He's giving people fits and he's going to give them more fits. I definitely think he's the most exciting back since Herschel and Bo (Jackson)."
After winning the Doak Walker award and finishing second in Heisman voting last season, all eyes are on the Little Rock, Ark. native.
"It's something that motivates me," Darren McFadden said. "I know that I will have to come with my A-game when I'm out there and not slack around. I must come out for every game."
In a recent poll by SI.com, a starter from every Division 1-A team was asked who he thought would win this year's Heisman.
Darren McFadden garnered 58 percent of the vote with Southern California's John David Booty finishing second with only 10.1 percent.
"He gets us in a lot of trouble with our defensive coordinator," Razorback linebacker Weston Dacus said. "It is just something special to play with him. We feel like we can go against anything practicing with a guy of his caliber."
The trouble of stopping Darren McFadden isn't just about stopping the run. The guy can pass, too.
Playing out of a formation Arkansas calls its "Wildcat" package, Darren McFadden lines up in the shotgun at the quarterback position and either runs the ball, hands off to teammate Felix Jones streaking across the formation or throws the football. Darren McFadden threw for three touchdowns last season.
"He has ball skills. He can throw it. He can run it. He can hand it off. He can fake it. [The Wildcat formation] worked beautifully. We'll continue to use that," Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said.
The Razorbacks will need more of the same from Darren McFadden if they are to return to the top of the SEC West and if Darren McFadden wants to win the Heisman.
"You know he'll be at the top to start out. But as you and I both know, it's about winning, his teammates," Nutt said.
"I think he'll be the first to tell you, I need my teammates. I need everybody on our team: coaches, players, to be at their best, and winning solves all."
[More at media.www.redandblack.com ]
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