FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas returns three running backs from the 2025 team and added two more from the transfer portal plus a four-star from high school.
Arkansas' new running back coach David "YAC" Johnson seems to have a lot of talent at his disposal in the room he coaches. Braylen Russell, Cam Settles and Markeylin Batton return from last season. The Hogs added Sutton Smith and Jasper Parker from the transfer portal. They signed TJ Hodges from Bryant. Johnson came to Arkansas from Florida State.
"I feel it was a great opportunity," Johnson said. "I've been knowing Coach (Ryan) Silverfield for a while. We started out the first two years at Memphis. I learned a lot from him, even just being an o-line coach at that time. We lived near each other, we became good friends, and with this room, I think the guys are doing a really good job. There's a lot of versatile guys in that room, and that's what you want. You don't want just one person, but you have so many different guys. You start talking about a veteran coming back, which is Russell. He's looking good, looking strong, looking a lot faster. He's buying in, he's doing a good job of kind of being one of the leaders in that room. You get a guy like Sutton, a really explosive player, and he does all the right things. Extremely smart."
Russell was third on the Razorbacks in 2025 with 55 carries for 286 yards and five touchdowns. He caught four passes for 27 yards. Smith was at Memphis last season. He topped the Tigers in rushing with 102 carries for 669 yards and seven touchdowns. He scored the winning touchdown against Arkansas on an 84-yard run. Smith added 20 receptions for 109 yards.
Johnson also talked about the other four running backs competing for the job at this time.
"Then you also have Keylin (Markeylin Batton), who I think is a really good player," Johnson said. "He's really explosive, he can catch the ball out the backfield. He's learning, and I'm letting him know this is a process. A lot of guys when young guys come in, they don't understand that part of this being a process. Getting another guy out the portal, Jasper (Parker), who's a really strong back but is also young. So, you wanted guys you can kind of help build around and do different things like that, which I think is really good. The kids are doing everything we can ask them to do. They're coming with a great attitude.
"I think Cam, definitely is really surprising to me how explosive he is, how smart he is. He can do everything, from protection to understanding the pass game and different things like that. Then you have the young guy in there, TJ, and he's doing exactly what those older guys ask him to do. Practicing extremely hard, and those are the things I asked them to do. To make sure they can answer three questions: What to do, how to do it, and why you're doing it. Those kids are doing a good job with that, and that's all you can ask for. Coming with a great attitude, they're doing the little things. Those kids love football, extremely intelligent, and right now they're doing the things that we need them to do."
Parker rushed 25 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns at Michigan. Settles saw action with the Razorbacks later in season rushing six times for 16 yards. He also pulled in two passes for 16 more yards. With Tim Cramsey running the offense, Johnson expects the running backs to get the ball more in the passing game.
"I think the game is changing, even from this level, the NFL level, you want guys who can catch the ball out of the backfield," Johnson said. "You want to create matchups, and I think the guys in that room can definitely do that. You want to get those guys the ball out in space, whether it's the screen game, swing passes, different things like that. And the same thing with all our explosive players, try to get them the ball in space. Whatever we need to do to do those things, that's what we're going to work on."
Russell is listed at 6-foot-1, 235-pounds on the spring roster. Johnson feels the weight Russell lost will make him a better player.
"I think it benefits him by keeping him healthy and he’s able to move faster," Johnson said. "And it’s not just the weight. I think he’s changing his body. He made a conscious effort to do that. He’s been working extremely hard on that. There hasn’t been a problem since I’ve been here. It’s like these are the things he wanted help on and he’s doing a good job with it. The strength staff is doing a really good job with that. So I continue to encourage him and continue to push him and that’s what he’s looking for."
Johnson is very high on Smith. He praised the former Tiger.
"He’s a pro," Johnson said. "He’s a professional. He understands everything that’s going on. And he did a really good job with those guys in the room, being a new person. He pulls them along, not so much pushing them, and letting them know, ‘Hey, I’m coming to do this.’ No, it’s more we’re going to do it together. And I think that’s really big when you start talking about a running back room. Because we’re going to need a lot of guys.
"We’re in big-time football. This is the SEC. It’s not just going to be one person. We have to run tough when it’s tough to run. So we’re going to need a number of guys to do these things, the things that we want to do, and I think Sutton’s done a great job of being a quiet leader. He’s not a rah-rah guy, but he’s going to be everywhere on time, doing the things he’s supposed to do and how he’s supposed to do it."
Johnson also addressed an issue that has hurt Arkansas in recent seasons and possibly even cost them a win at Memphis last season and that's the fumbles by running backs and wide receivers.
"I think the biggest thing is that’s the No. 1 thing," Johnson said. "We own the ball. We talk about that over and over. We have a ball-security. You hear us out there, no matter who has the ball, if it’s tight ends or running backs or a receiver or quarterback, we’re stressing you have to own the ball. Because that’s the most important thing. The ball is the most important thing. You’re carrying everything in your hands at that time. It doesn’t matter until it matters and we all know that. We continue to stress those things and talk to those guys about it and it’s how we train. We train like that over and over by owning the ball."
Johnson talked more about Parker who has flown under the radar some since transferring in from Michigan where he played as a true freshman.
"Jasper’s from New Orleans. I’ve known him since the eighth grade," Johnson said. "One of the top players in playground on the West Bank in New Orleans. Really smart kid, tough kid, 4.0 student. So I’ve known him for a while. I offered him at the other place, but at the time I couldn’t take him. I already had two other guys.
"We needed a big back and immediately once he went in, it was a no-brainer for us. Obviously everybody was recruiting him, but we just wanted our opportunity to show him exactly where he fits with us. That’s the No. 1 thing I think right now, even with so many kids transferring, where do you fit and where does it feel like family?"
Johnson addressed why he felt Parker left Michigan.
"I think he had so much going on at the other school," Parker said. "Just wasn't sure at the time. Think that a few coaching changes and different things like that. So, I think it worked out for us. Really, really good, really good young man. I think he's going to be a really good player, and he's still young. It’s only second year of college."
Arkansas is on spring break this week. They will return to the practice field Tuesday, March 31. The spring game is set for Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m
