Arkansas

How absurd Arkansas backfield put Kane Wommack on path to Alabama defensive coordinator

Published

2 years ago

August 29, 2024

How absurd Arkansas backfield put Kane Wommack on path to Alabama defensive coordinator

Almost two decades ago, running back Darren McFadden walked into the Arkansas locker room wearing a clown costume.

That’s how Kane Wommack remembers one Halloween in Fayetteville, back when the future Alabama football defensive coordinator was a member of the Razorbacks football team. And the costume selection for McFadden couldn’t have been more fitting.

“He was like the class clown,” Wommack told AL.com. “He was always cutting it up. He was always making fun of somebody. He was always telling a joke.”

But McFadden was anything but a joke himself. The two-time Doak Walker award winner, two-time SEC offensive player of the year and unanimous All-American dominated for the Razorbacks en route to becoming a first-round NFL Draft pick in 2008.

“I thought what was always so impressive about him: He could go from the class clown to the standard of work,” Wommack said.

The wild part: McFadden made up only one part of an absurd Arkansas backfield.

It included McFadden, Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis, all future NFL running backs, and … Wommack, a backup fullback not near the top of the depth chart. There were others in the backfield as well.

“By sophomore year, it was very evident we could be one of the best backfields of all time,” Wommack said.

He quickly corrected himself.

“… They could be one of the best backfields of all time.”

So no, Wommack wasn’t exactly a staple in the rotation of what became one of the best SEC backfields of all time. But he was in the room. He was around.

Why does that matter for Alabama football, two decades later? Because the two years Wommack spent at Arkansas from 2005-06 provided some of his first lessons in great offense that later informed his defensive coaching; This season, he brings that to Tuscaloosa as the new guy running the defense.

“My offensive experiences as a player and a coach absolutely shaped who I am as a defensive coordinator,” Wommack said.

3/4/24 MFB MFB spring practice day 1
Kane Wommack
Photo by Kent GidleyCrimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

The juice guy

Wommack didn’t need to be reminded of his stats. Before a certain reporter sitting in his office at the Mal M. Moore Athletics Facility on Monday could find them on a page of notes, Wommack jumped in.

“Two carries for six yards,” Wommack said.

Then he chuckled. Wommack might not have a plethora of stats, but he’s got plenty of memories.

“I was a tough ass,” he said. “I played hard. I did everything coaches asked me to do. I was on every special teams. As a younger player, I was the scout team juice guy.”

At first, Wommack ran scout team offense for the Razorbacks. He excelled there, so Arkansas coach Houston Nutt moved him to scout team defense. He wanted Wommack to challenge the offense, and Wommack could still work with the offense primarily as a backup fullback. But he was running scout team linebacker.

“We would go attack the offense,” Wommack said. “We’d bring energy every day. I was going to make all the checks and communications because I knew what defense we were going to be facing that week.”

Wommack might have been an offensive player in title, but he was already showing signs of defensive aptitude.

The Arkansas masterclass in offense

Wommack offered a scouting report of his former Arkansas teammates.

McFadden was the life of the party. Jones was a little bit quieter. Hillis went about his business but would cut up with teammates as well. All different, but they had one big similarity.

“All three of those guys, when it became about the work, they set the standard of what it was supposed to look like,” Wommack said.

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden runs for a touchdown during an SEC game against LSU on Nov. 23, 2007, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.AP Photo/Alex Brandon

They worked. And worked well. In 2006, McFadden rushed for 1647 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jones ran for 1168 yards and six touchdowns. Hillis added another score in his role as a fullback.

They led the way as Arkansas went 10-4 and won the SEC West.

Consider them Wommack’s teachers in the ways of elite offense. The top takeaway Wommack had: If defenses don’t stop the run, they’re in trouble.

“If you let people bleed you down the field, you’re going to have a really hard day and you’re going to open things in the passing game,” Wommack said. “Play actions come alive. The trick plays and all that kind of stuff. Screens. So on and so forth. So for us, to make sure you’re rooted and grounded in defending the run I think is critical to being a successful defensive coordinator.”

Wommack witnessed plenty of creativity, too. Specifically, the Wildcat formation. The Arkansas coaches wanted to figure out how to best use McFadden, Jones and Hillis at the same time, so Wommack recalled the wildcat offense making the most sense to them. It proved dangerous; McFadden even threw from it. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 205 yards and seven touchdowns over his three seasons with the Razorbacks.

“For me, getting to see that and getting to see the hard work of some younger players that I got to come up with, and then the success on the field all the way to an SEC championship game was really rewarding,” Wommack said. “It kind of set the tone of how important playmakers are.”

Continuing education

The next couple chapters on offense in Wommack’s football textbook came courtesy of other places. After two seasons with the Razorbacks, Wommack transferred to Southern Miss. Once his playing career was done, he worked as a Southern Miss graduate assistant on the offensive line. His next job, Wommack became quarterbacks coach at UT-Martin.

Wommack learned plenty more over that time. A few examples:

-How the offensive line protects

-How the offensive line identifies things in the run game

-How a quarterback goes through progressions in the passing game

That time helped him later shape defenses in terms of disguise and anticipating route concepts.

“It has paid huge dividends in my career,” Wommack said.

Wommack took what he learned about offense and soon transformed into a defensive coach. After a few more graduate assistant stints, he got his first defensive coordinator job with Eastern Illinois in 2014. From there, he spent time at South Alabama and Indiana as defensive coordinator. Before Wommack arrived at Indiana, the defense ranked No. 81 nationally. His first season in 2019, it jumped to No. 45. By 2020, it reached No. 20 in the country. After a stint as South Alabama’s head coach the past three seasons, Wommack is now back in the defensive coordinator chair, working for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama.

Sure, Wommack coaching defense might have been viewed as the likely result considering he grew up the son of a longtime defensive coordinator. But for Wommack, at the root of it all is a start in offense. Specifically, as part of one of the best SEC backfields ever.

“Seeing that probably helped me from a football foundation standpoint,” Wommack said. “Schematically and just philosophically what you’re trying to get accomplished.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

Source link

Arkansas

Drug Take Back Day returns to Arkansas this month; promotes safe drug disposal

Published

19 minutes ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Drug Take Back Day returns to Arkansas this month; promotes safe drug disposal

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Arkansas law enforcement agencies are hosting their 16th-annual Drug Take Back Day this month.

The event is designed so that Arkansans can safely and anonymously dispose of any expired, unused or unwanted medications. Officials say they want to prevent opioid misuse, reduce accidental poisonings, protect waterways from contamination and keep communities safe.

Its set to take place on Saturday, April 25.

“Arkansas Drug Take Back Day continues to bring communities together in the fight against substance misuse, and we’re proud to play such a vital part in it,” said Kirk Lane, director of the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP). “We invite Arkansans to take a few minutes to clean out their medicine cabinets, drop off unneeded prescriptions and protect their families and neighbors.”

Arkansans destroyed 26,500 pounds of medication during the fall 2025 Drug Take Back Day. Since 2010, over 342 tons have been destroyed.

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

There are more than 300 drop boxes that Arkansans can use year-round. You can find your nearest drop box by CLICKING HERE.

Source link

Arkansas

Way-Too-Early Top 25: Ranking College Basketball’s Best for 2026-27

Published

12 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Way-Too-Early Top 25: Ranking College Basketball’s Best for 2026-27

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With the transfer portal reshaping rosters overnight and elite freshmen arriving every summer, projecting the next college basketball season has become an exercise in controlled chaos.

Still, a handful of programs have positioned themselves early as national title contenders through roster continuity, program consistency and coaching stability.

Arkansas will once again be in the mix, but its true preseason forecast will come once the portal is mostly wrapped up. Coach John Calipari knows what type of player he needs to add for his team to advance past the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and probably won’t sleep a whole lot until he signs at least one major contributor in the paint.

No. 1 seed Michigan had a stellar run in its second season under coach Dusty May, who competes for a national championship against No. 2 seed UConn Monday night. He goes up against two-time championship coach Dan Hurley, who is looking to join elite company by winning his third trophy with the Huskies.

Which teams are best equipped already for next season? Here’s an early look at who can make a run in 2026-27.

1. Michigan

UConn Huskies forward Jaylin Stewart (3) possesses the ball against Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) in the first half during the national championship of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Wolverines absolutely make sense regardless of if they win a national title Monday night. May added a commitment from 5-star guard Brandon McCoy Saturday who projects to be a lead guard at the next level.

Key big man Yaxel Lendeborg will be a huge loss after being a critical piece to Michigan’s championship game run. Power forward Morez Johnson should return after averaging over 13 points and seven rebounds per game.

Another likely returnee is Trey McKenney, who played well as a freshman averaging 11 points and 44% shooting in the month of March.

1B. UConn

UConn Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) reacts after a made three point basket against the Michigan Wolverines during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Whether Hurley’s bid for a third title falls short, his brilliant coaching in the NCAA Tournament is worth keeping the Huskies near the top of all college basketball rankings.

Veterans such as Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed are seeing their eligibility expire while freshman Braylon Mullins could opt to enter the NBA Draft.

Veteran guard Silas Demary has been a nice addition from Georgia out of the portal this season and will likely return as the Huskies’ starting point guard.

3. Duke

The Blue Devils are set to lose the Boozer twins, but have signed capable replacements in true freshmen Cameron Williams and Deron Rippey, Jr.

Coach Jon Scheyer’s group will continue to run the ACC until anyone else decides to be up for the challenge. If he can find a way to keep Patrick Ngongba around for next season as his key big man, then there’s no reason to count out Duke as national title favorites once again.

Duke Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer speaks with the media during a press conference ahead of the east regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

4. Michigan State

No one will ever doubt coach Tom Izzo’s ability to assemble a championship contender and he did just that with Coen Carr, Jeremy Fears and company this season.

With a top high school recruiting class and a couple of key portal additions on the perimeter, the Spartans will be Big Ten title contenders and earn a Top 4 NCAA Tournament seed.

5. Illinois

Coach Brad Underwood has made the Fightin’ Illini a raging success and nearly led his team to the promised land this season.

He discovered freshman wing Keaton Wagler before anyone else, and became a household name and potential lottery pick after arriving to school as aTop 150 prospect.

Lightning might not strike twice next year, but he’ll probably have another solid team built for a deep NCAA Tournament run. Sharpshooter Andrej Stojakovic and forward David Mirkovic are both expected to return after playing key roles in Illinois’ first Final Four run in two decades.

6. Arizona

The Wildcats were no match for Michigan in the Final Four and are likely going to lose key freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries to the NBA Draft. Keeping veteran big man Mo Krivas and key wing Ivan Kharchenkov in the rotation is key.

Adding McDonald’s All-American MVP Caleb Holt won’t hurt either as the next great freshman for the Wildcats.

7. Arkansas

Coach John Calipari knows his biggest assignment will be adding a big man or two to round out his rotation. He has a three 5-star freshmen in Jordan Smith, Jr. (No. 2 ranked prospect, JJ Andrews and Abdou Toure coming in with potential key returnee Billy Richmond to potentially lockdown the perimeter.

Jordan Smith Jr during the McDonalds All American Boys Game at Desert Diamond Arena. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arkansas fans are hungry to see their team get back to the Final Four and have been inching closer each of the previous five seasons.

8. Purdue

The Boilermakers are set to lose All-American guard Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn which will be hard to come back from for any team.

However, Matt Painter continues to reload with guys who often fly under the radar or lesser known on the recruiting trail out of high school. His next team may not be as talented, or veteran laden but should be fixtures in the Big Ten no matter what the offseason brings.

9. St. John’s

Arkansas guard Boogie Fland (2) and forward Billy Richmond III (24) fight for a rebound against St. John’s guard Aaron Scott (0) during the second half of a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game at Amica Mutual Pavilion. | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Red Storm will find it tough to replace versatile big man Zury Ejifor, but if anyone can do so it’s hall of fame coach Rick Pitino. His team has been close to breaking into national title contention over the previous two seasons.

Pitino’s combination of Ian Jackson, Dylan Darling and Ruben Prey can give St. John’s a boost next season.

10. Alabama

Nate Oats has the Crimson Tide at a level never before seen in Tuscaloosa with at least a Sweet 16 or better finish in each of the previous four seasons.

Star guard Labaron Philon is probably headed to the league as a mid-first round prospect which leaves a gaping hole in Alabama’s rotation for next season.

Top 20 freshman guard Qadyden Samuels is potentially a solid replacement with a complete offensive skillset as a three-level scorer. If his length translates well to college, he can be an exceptional perimeter defender.

Oats will need to find a way to keep key big men such as Amari Allen and Aiden Sherrell around or pick up a couple out of the transfer portal to stay near the top of the SEC.

Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats looks on in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. | David Banks-Imagn Images

11. Iowa State

The Cyclones were on the verge of a breakthrough before falling short in the Sweet 16. Losing All-American Joshua Jefferson early in the tournament sidelined any hopes of coach T.J. Otzelberger leading his team to its first Final Four since 1944.

Iowa State will probably make a strong run in the portal to replace other key contributors. But one thing is sure that this program has staying power on the national scene.

12. Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks forward Justin Cross (25) is welcomed by Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self before the Sunflower Showdown game against Kansas State Wildcats inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. | Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Each passing year it seems that the biggest question is whether or not coach Bill Self will return for another year.

He is, at least this year, but even with his exceptional recruiting skills and a deep portal budget, it seems like a slight nosedive has taken place since winning the national title in 2022.

Star freshman Darryn Peterson’s one-and-done stay in Lawrence certainly didn’t live up to the hype. Big man Flory Bidunga is currently evaluating his options, which shouldn’t give anyone a reason to rank the Jayhawks higher.

13. Iowa Hawkeyes
14. Gonzaga Bulldogs
15. Florida Gators
16. North Carolina Tar Heels
17. Louisville Cardinals
18. Wisconsin Badgers
19. Nebraska Cornhuskers
20. Houston Cougars
21. Providence Friars
22. St. Louis Billekins
23. Texas Longhorns
24. Auburn Tigers
25. LSU Tigers