Having two rushers capable of 1,000 yards has to this point been a luxury for Arkansas, but for the time being, having only one will be a necessity. Razorbacks senior Jonathan Williams, who ran for 1,190 yards on 211 carries last season to lead the team, will miss an extended period of time while recovering from foot surgery, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said in a release Sunday.
Williams injured his left foot in a scrimmage Saturday, leaving Razorbacks junior Alex Collins as the team's only proven rusher. Collins ran for 1,100 yards last year.
"I have no doubt that Jonathan will come back stronger than ever. Anyone that knows Jonathan Williams knows this is just another opportunity for him to prove the man of character and substance he really is," Bielema said. "It's an unfortunate injury to a great young man, but we are in the process of gathering as much information as possible. There are short and long term impacts of how he proceeds and we want to make sure he does what's best for him and his family, and his career beyond Arkansas."
That would be a reference to Williams' pending NFL career, which could have already been underway had Williams elected to enter the 2015 NFL Draft as an underclassman. He opted instead to return to Arkansas for his final year of college eligibility after consulting with his family.
NFL Media draft analyst Chad Reuter regards Williams as a potential top-80 pick in the 2016 draft. A healthy return to the Razorbacks before the end of the season would go a long way toward sustaining his draft status, but for now, Collins will have to handle the team's prolific rushing demands.
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