Rodney Hill spent time as the No. 2 running back for Arkansas behind Ja’Quinden Jackson early this season.
But when he went down with a MCL strain in his knee and missed consecutive games against Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State midway through the year he came back in the fourth spot behind Jackson, Rashod Dubinion and true freshman Braylen Russell. The 5-10, 185-pound transfer from Florida State and Statesboro, Ga., got just 5 carries for 25 yards over the final month against Ole Miss, Texas, Louisiana Tech and Missouri.
Then the transfer portal opened, Jackson declared for the NFL Draft and everything changed in position coach Kolby Smith’s running back room.