FAYETTEVILLE -- Junior running back Braylen Russell is having a very good spring with Arkansas.

As a sophomore in 2025, Russell was third on the team in rushing with 55 carries for 286 yards and five touchdowns. He also grabbed four passes for 27 yards. Russell, who played at Benton High School, was listed at 238 pounds on the roster this year, but has slimmed down tremendously.

"I'm a good 227 (pounds)," Russell said. "Preparation of waking up every day and keeping the same routine. Really just I had to look at myself, and where I wanted to be a year from now, I wanted to say that I'm a better person. I look better, feel better, so I feel like I can say that now."

Russell isn't the only Razorback who has slimmed down and picked up his production this spring. So has redshirt sophomore Courtney Crutchfield from Pine Bluff. They have worked together.

"Yes sir," Russell said. "Just being in each other's ears. I mean, not letting each other fall, that's the main thing that we do as offense."

Russell was asked if 227 is his goal for weight at this time and going into the season?

"I just want to be where I’m comfortable," Russell said. "Wherever we’re practicing and I’m fluctuating weights, just whatever weight I feel like will fit me best for the season."

In the open portion of Saturday's practice, Russell scored a touchdown. That came after the defense dominated the offense on Thursday in the Red Zone.

"Today is just, you're only as good as your next," Russell said. "Coach preaches that you're only as good as your next, so going out there thinking about what happened last practice isn't good because you're only as good as your next play. So, I just take it play-by-play."

Russell talked about the mindset for Arkansas' offense on Saturday.

"Our mindset was dominate," Russell said. "I mean, we felt like we got dominated the day before. So we can't go out two times in a row. So we feel like we got to come with our best foot forward, and, you know, come with our best foot forward, and they come with their best foot forward. Let's practice. Let's make each other better as a whole."

One of the running backs getting extensive action this spring at running back in addition to Russell is Memphis transfer Sutton Smith. Russell has been impressed with him.

"He’s added a variety of things," Russell said. "He’s added speed.  He’s very, very, very fast. Physical. He’s very physical for his size. You wouldn’t even be able to tell. He’s going to come hit you, if you like it or not. Very, very encouraging. He encourages everybody in the room. So you know you’ve got a leader in that aspect too, because he’s older. You know you can go to him for questions. You don’t have to sit back and just think about it yourself. You’ve got to accept what this is and he’s going to tell you. He’s a leader at that too."

One thing that both Russell and Smith as well as the other running backs will need to be successful is a good offensive line. Russell feels the Hogs are certainly working to have that.

"It's nice to see it come together," Russell said. "I can tell you that. I really can't give you more than that. It's nice to see it just come together. We're still working, still trying to become better as a unit, still watching film together as a unit. So I just, I do, I love the way it's coming together. I mean, we are brotherhood. I mean, we all coming. We coming to have fun, coming to play football. You know, it's fun. So it's just from that unit, from everybody, quarterbacks, running backs, O-line, receivers, everybody just, we're clicking, and I'm loving it."

The spring game will be Saturday at 2 p.m. inside Razorback Stadium.