This is a Little Weird

by John Expat on Feb 18, 2008 5:33 PM CST in Darren McFadden

Chris Gaythen/Getty Images

Hey, remember this guy? He used to be a pretty decent running back for the Razorbacks, made a few big plays here and there, enjoys piano bars, eventually decided to take a shot at the NFL. Ah yes, it's coming back to me now...Darren McFadden. He's not only considered the best football Hog ever, the consensus is that he belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of SEC runners right next to legends like Walker and Jackson and, well, that's it.

So it's a foregone conclusion that such a superstar would be one of the top picks in the NFL draft, right? Well, maybe not: a recent article on AOL Fanhouse quotes draft analyst Mike Maycock as saying, "Great burst, great acceleration, but I don't touch Darren McFadden in the first 20 picks of the draft." Wow. Really? It all seems a bit insane to me, but the Throwing into Traffic blog has some good observations about the thought process that leads to such madness.

It's worth noting that not all experts are so bearish on McFadden. He's still at the top of ESPN robo-draftnik Mel Kiper's "big board". At any rate, draft day should be interesting this year.

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I know I would certainly take him early. But trying for a more objective view of things, not colored with Hog red glasses, I think the fumbles and impatience to let blocks get set up, the tendency to just try to headbutt himself through tacklers, might have some people looking at McFadden as more of a risk than what we see him as being. Plus, the lack of anything big in the bowl game couldn’t have helped him. Too bad the LSU game isn’t the last memory people have of McFadden in a Hog uniform. Still, he’ll be a millionaire before it is all said and done. I just hope he can handle that sudden change in fortune and keeps a good head about himself.

Darren, if you are reading this, here is what I hope happens: Stay out of trouble, have a good career in the pros, invest your money well, and come back to Arkansas where you can have just about any job (if you want one) that you so desire. Then have a few little running backs of your own for a future SEC Championship Razorback team!

by KevinHog on Feb 19, 2008 1:21 PM CST reply actions