SEC football: Top 5 running backs for 2020 season

Rakeem Boyd was one of the few bright spots for the Razorbacks last season and he should be even better in 2020.

Boyd leaped into national prominence as part of the Netflix series Last Chance U, transferring to Arkansas from Independence Community College in Kansas before the 2018 season. He appeared in 12 games last season, rushing for 1,133 yards with eight touchdowns and a 6.2 yards per carry average, up from 729 yards and two touchdowns in 2018.

The Razorbacks need more than just Boyd to improve on their 0-8 conference record and 2-12 overall mark from 2019, but he can at least be the catalyst of the offense.

New head coach Sam Pittman is a master at using the offensive line to further the run game, so that in itself will benefit Boyd. If Pittman does at Arkansas what he did at Georgia with the offensive line, Boyd could very well be the leading rusher in the conference when the end of the season arrives.

He’ll definitely give Arkansas fans something to cheer about this year regardless of the Hawgs’ record.