HawgBeat’s top-20 countdown series previews 20 players who are expected to have the biggest impact for Arkansas football in 2023. The series will provide details on each player’s measurables, their 2022 season, an outlook for 2023 and HawgBeat’s take.
Checking in at No. 17 are running backs Rashod Dubinion and AJ Green.
Position: Running back
Year: Sophomore
Height, Weight: 5-foot-10, 213-pounds
PFF Grade in 2022: 72.2
Snaps played in 2022: 236
Rated as a four-star running back prospect out of Cedar Grove High School, Dubinon flashed his potential during his freshman season with the Razorbacks. Despite Raheim “Rocket” Sanders being the primary workhorse in the backfield, Dubion still made his impact felt in the 201 offensive snaps he was given. His other 35 snaps came on special teams coverage.
During the regular season, Dubinion ran for 181 yards and three touchdowns in 51 attempts. He also caught 12 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, showcasing his ability as an all-purpose back. Dubinion was relied upon to mix things up when Rocket Sanders and AJ Green needed rest, and he thrived in his role.
His most productive game came in the Liberty Bowl against Kansas. After Rocket Sanders suffered an injury early in the game, it was Dubinion’s time to shine. In 20 attempts, the Ellenwood, Georgia, native ran for a career-high 112 yards with two touchdowns in an electric 55-53 Arkansas victory.
Position: Running back
Year: Junior
Height, Weight: 5-foot-11, 205-pounds
PFF Grade in 2022: 70.9
Snaps played in 2022: 356
As a sophomore for the Razorbacks, Green continued his upward trajectory after a solid freshman campaign. He recorded 414 rushing yards and three touchdowns off of 87 attempts.
Green earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 70.9, good for third amongst the Arkansas backfield and seventh on the offensive side of the ball. He earned a 72.0 run grade and a 78.3 pass block grade.
Against BYU, Green played 25 offensive snaps, running for 51 yards and catching two passes for 45 yards. In the week nine game versus Liberty, Green averaged 9.3 yards per attempt — a season-high — off of six carries.
Much like Dubinion, Green’s best performance came against Kansas in the Liberty Bowl. In 17 snaps, Green ran for 101 yards, had 30 receiving yards and scored a rushing touchdown.
Even though the Razorbacks already have a clear-cut No. 1 starter at the running back position in Sanders, Dubinion and Green provide a great amount of depth that rivals all of college football.
Under Dan Enos from 2015-2017, the Arkansas offense sported one of the best rushing attacks in the country, and there’s no reason that can’t continue under Enos in 2023.
With a Sam Pittman and Cody Kennedy coached offensive line leading the way, Green and Dubinion will have plenty of opportunity to attack defenses and use their unique skillsets to shore up a running back room that could be Arkansas’ best since Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis were in Fayetteville.
Dubinion and Green were both given the same ranking in the top 20 countdown because of their shared importance in the backfield. The combination of the two provides a versatility of talent that will confuse opposing defenses and take the Arkansas offense to the next level.
With an offensive line that returns two of the SEC’s best in Beaux Limmer and Brady Latham — and with KJ Jefferson using his dual-threat ability to distract defenses — the battle-tested dynamic duo of Dubinion and Green should be expected to continue performing at a high-level next season.
**JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH ARKANSAS FANS ON THE TROUGH, HAWGBEAT’S PREMIUM MESSAGE BOARD**
On a bitter afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri, the No. 19 Arkansas Razorbacks (5-2) were defeated by the Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1), 90-77, inside the T-Mobile Center.
Right out of the gates, Arkansas’ lack of physicality and focus was noticable. Not only did that result in 11 total turnovers throughout the contest, but the Razorbacks couldn’t stop the Illini from finishing white-hot from distance (15-of-31 from three), either.
Leading the Hogs was forward Adou Thiero, who racked up 26 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal. 12 of his points came from the charity stripe, where he shot 21 attempts in total.
Below are social media reactions from fans and media throughout the Hoop Hogs’ non-conference loss:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -— If Taylen Green and Luke Hasz needed more motivation going into his first Battle Line Rivalry game this Saturday, then being ticked off at Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz for blatantly butchering their names should do it.
“Talon Green” pic.twitter.com/iIO8EhjG4i
— Tyler Cass (@TVTylerCass) November 26, 2024
Green’s name isn’t hard to pronounce given it sounds just like it looks Tay-Len, not Tal-On as Drinkwitz said. It’s obvious that Missouri’s coach knows exactly what he’s doing given his antics over the previous four seasons that get under other SEC fanbase’s and coaches skin.
The Boise State transfer has shown himself to be a playmaker when he can take care of the ball. Green has recorded 3,052 yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns this season and could make a statement with a clean performance and victory at Missouri.
Not seen in the short clip is a few seconds later Drinkwitz saying Luke Hasz’ name as “Halls” which is totally off and a pronunciation most haven’t heard. It’s the small things like this which Missouri’s coach is allowed to get away with by most conference members.
Nearly 20 years ago, former LSU coach Les Miles had an infamous press conference as he was being courted by Michigan to be its next coach in 2007. The Tigers were No. 1 in the nation with a 10-1 record overall going up against 7-4 Arkansas.
As he was being asked about the Michigan noise, Miles assured media and fans that he was focused as LSU’s head coach and playing its rival “Ar-Kansas” that Black Friday.
Lol remember how Les Miles pronounced Arkansas? pic.twitter.com/GstRPjMSpP
— KB (@KBKnowzBest) November 24, 2019
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt used the soundbite above as motivation for his team that day as the Razorbacks pulled out a memorable 50-48 triple overtime victory which was thought to end LSU’s title hopes. Two-time Heisman runner up Darren McFadden had one of his finest performances in one of the Hogs’ greatest wins in program history with 206 yards rushing and four total touchdowns.
Immediately after the game, Nutt and McFadden met with CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson to celebrate their monumental upset. The Razorbacks’ coach embraced his star running back and proclaimed him as the best player in the country. The proud Little Rock native responded with a correction of Miles stating “It ain’t Ar-Kansas, it’s Arkansas, baby!”
“I GOT THAT WOOD!”
In 2007, Darren McFadden ran for 206 yards and 4 total TD in @RazorbackFB‘s 3OT upset of No. 1 LSU in Death Valley 💪 pic.twitter.com/tbDakDRWft
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 23, 2020
For the sake of talking about one of the most memorable Arkansas games of all-time, it would be shameful to not at least include highlights of McFadden’s epic performance. That game ended an era as Nutt resigned and moved onto Ole Miss where he spent his next four seasons before becoming an analyst for CBS Sports.
Darren McFadden’s Heisman like performance vs #1 LSU in Death Valley 🐐 (2007) pic.twitter.com/ON2IP0ech5
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) December 27, 2023
The Tigers ended up winning the SEC Championship with several other teams ranked ahead losing to regain a spot in the national title game, ultimately winning it. On that fateful day, it was all about the Razorbacks who brought the wood and beat LSU without doubt similar to what Green could do in response to Drinkwitz.
“That’s how you pronounce it. It ain’t Ta-Lon or Halls, it’s Taylen and Hasz, baby.”
Associated Press
Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1)
Kansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 4 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Fighting Illini -2.5; over/under is 154
BOTTOM LINE: Illinois plays No. 19 Arkansas in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Fighting Illini are 5-1 in non-conference play. Illinois leads the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 46.3 boards. Tomislav Ivisic leads the Fighting Illini with 8.7 rebounds.
The Razorbacks are 5-1 in non-conference play. Arkansas averages 12.5 turnovers per game and is 4-0 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
Illinois scores 89.0 points, 29.8 more per game than the 59.2 Arkansas allows. Arkansas averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 5.5 per game Illinois gives up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Will Riley is scoring 17.2 points per game and averaging 5.3 rebounds for the Fighting Illini.
Boogie Fland is shooting 48.1% from beyond the arc with 2.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Razorbacks, while averaging 17.2 points, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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