Mac Smack
Moderated by Arkansas Online Staff
His stock is rising
Posted November 6, 2007
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT MCFADDEN
Joseph Person, Columbia (S.C.) State
“If Darren McFadden ends up holding the Heisman Trophy next month, the Arkansas tailback's first thank-you at the podium should go to the South Carolina defense. For the third consecutive year McFadden treated the 23rd-ranked Gamecocks like a punching bag Saturday, rolling up an SEC-record 323 rushing yards to lead Arkansas to a 48-36 victory that likely dashed USC's SEC East title hopes for good.”
Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal Constitution
“Think Arkansas' Darren McFadden is back in the Heisman Trophy race? Florida's [Urban] Meyer does. He watched McFadden tie an SEC record with 321 yards rushing in a 48-36 win over South Carolina.”
Urban Meyer, Florida Gators football coach:
“No. 5 [McFadden] is as good a football player as I have ever seen. And that was one of the most incredible offensive performances I've ever seen.”
Darren McFadden, Arkansas running back, on his standing in the Heisman race:
“The numbers speak for themselves. That's the only thing I can say to them.”
Houston Nutt, Arkansas football coach:
“He's got to go to New York. He's the best player in the country, period.”
Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times:
“Three early-season Arkansas losses jolted Darren McFadden's chances for winning this year's Heisman Trophy, but a 321-yard rushing performance against South Carolina puts him right back in the race. McFadden has marquee games left at Tennessee on Saturday and at LSU on Nov. 23.”
Arkansas offensive lineman Robert Felton:
“They took him out of the race. I bet they'll open their eyes now.”
South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier, when asked Saturday night whether McFadden had done enough to get back in the Heisman race.
“Three twenty-three. Yeah, that will get him in there.”
Mike Lopresti, Gannett News Service:
“323 rushing yards against South Carolina. Heisman-wise, is that too late?”
Nico VanThyn, Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
“This was Darren McFadden at his best. The preseason Heisman Trophy favorite ran for [321] yards and capped it with a clinching 80-yard touchdown for the Razorbacks, who almost blew a 21-3 lead.”
Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News:
“2006 Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden might be back in this year's race by rushing for 321 yards in Arkansas' 48-36 win over South Carolina, tying the SEC record set by Vanderbilt's Frank Mordica in 1978.”
Steve Megargee, Rivals.com National Writer:
“By tying an SEC-record with 321 yards in a 48-36 victory over South Carolina, Arkansas TB Darren McFadden at least earned himself a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. He also may have given himself a realistic shot at winning the prize.”
Randy Rosetta of the Baton Rouge Advocate, before McFadden’s 321-yard performance:
“The Gamecocks offense may finally be clicking, but their defense is still 10th in the league against the run — an ominous number for a team about to face Arkansas.”
Herb Gould, Chicago Sun Times:
“ With his SEC-record-tying 321 yards vs. South Carolina, he reminded everyone who the nation's best tailback is.
WATCHING THE WATCHES
McFadden’s performance on Saturday catapulted him back in the top five in many of this week’s Heisman polls after dropping out:
CBSsportsline
1. Dennis Dixon (42 points); 2. Tim Tebow (27 points); 3. Darren McFadden (23 points); 4. Matt Ryan (10 points); 5. Chase Daniel (8 points)
Tom Jones, St. Petersburg Times
1. Dennis Dixon, senior quarterback, Oregon; 2. Darren McFadden, junior running back, Arkansas; 3. Chase Daniel, junior quarterback, Missouri.
Herb Gould, Chicago Sun-Times
1. Dennis Dixon, Oregon QB; 2. Darren McFadden, Arkansas RB; 3. Chase Daniel, Missouri QB
COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING
Troy Coach Larry Blakeney used McFadden as his measuring stick when asked about Georgia freshman running back Knowshon Moreno, who rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-34 Georgia victory over Troy. Arkansas beat Troy 46-26 in the season-opener on Sept. 1.
“No. 24, Knowshon, man. He's a great back. Not quite a (Darren) McFadden, but definitely a Felix Jones.”
Wonder what he thinks now?
South Carolina linebacker Marvin Sapp downplayed the challenge of trying to stop Darren McFadden in the days before Saturday’s game.
“He's a guy that's got two legs and we've just got to wrap guys up, don't miss tackles and play our assignments. I have confidence that we can hold him. I really believe that.”
Wonder what he thinks now, II?
Paul Stone of the Las Vegas Review-Journal encouraged his readers to take South Carolina and the five points it was getting against Arkansas. Why?
“The Razorbacks still have a one-dimensional offense heavily dependent on the outstanding running abilities of tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Despite some significant losses to injury, South Carolina still has enough defensive horses to slow the Hogs' running game and possibly get the outright win.”
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