Smith made his mark in Louisiana-Monroe game

The Associated Press

Before last weekend, Michael Smith’s career high in carries was eight.

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The Arkansas junior admits he wasn’t physically ready for Saturday night, when he rushed for 157 yards on 22 attempts in a 28-27 victory over Louisiana-Monroe. Smith was given an IV at halftime.

“That was mainly because I allowed myself to get out of shape,” he said.

Smith’s season debut was delayed when he was suspended for Arkansas’ opener for improper use of scholarship textbooks. The Razorbacks missed him, relying instead on a couple of freshmen at running back. De’Anthony Curtis and Dennis Johnson combined for 54 yards on 12 carries in a 28-24 victory over Western Illinois.

Back in the lineup against Louisiana-Monroe, Smith ran for 121 yards on 13 carries in the first half, but by intermission, he’d hit a wall.

“It was a little bit hard on him. It was his first game, so obviously there was some anxiety there and some emotions,” coach Bobby Petrino said. “He was very fatigued at halftime.”

In the second half, Arkansas (2-0) couldn’t mess around trying to establish the run. Quarterback Casey Dick passed the Razorbacks back from a 24-6 deficit, and they avoided an upset. Smith kept carrying the ball when needed, though, and on Monday he took responsibility for his condition.

“After we found out that I wasn’t playing that first game. I didn’t practice much,” Smith said. “When this next week came around, I was a little bit out of shape. We’re going to do a little bit more running now.”

Smith showed flashes of potential during the last two seasons while backing up Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Now that those two are in the NFL, the starting job is clearly Smith’s to lose.

Smith averaged 6.8 yards per carry over his first two seasons. He opened the scoring against Louisiana-Monroe with a 13-yard touchdown run and added a 4-yarder in the fourth quarter that pulled Arkansas within six at 27-21.

In the first quarter, he had back-to-back runs of 24 and 29 yards, but that drive ended with a missed field goal. In the second quarter, Smith’s 22-yard run helped Arkansas escape terrible field position shortly before halftime.

Listed at 5-foot-7, 173 pounds, Smith is considerably smaller than McFadden and even Jones. He has provided highlights with his speed and elusiveness, but he also had a costly fumble in a September loss to Kentucky last season. It remains to be seen how well he’ll hold up as a No. 1 back.

Arkansas plays at No. 8 Texas on Saturday, and the Southeastern Conference opener is the following weekend against Alabama. Petrino hopes Curtis, Johnson and Brandon Barnett can rotate into the lineup to keep Smith fresh in the future.

“As long as I don’t take any unnecessary hits, ones that I don’t bear down for, I think that I’ll be all right,” Smith said. “We’ll just try to keep my body recovering fast.”