Count former Razorback great Darren McFadden among those who would like to see the Hogs continue to play football games in Little Rock.
McFadden, the two-time Doak Walker Award winner as the nation’s best running back — and, in Arkansas anyway, the should-be 2006 and 2007 winner of the Heisman Trophy — was the guest Monday of the Little Rock Touchdown Club.
McFadden told club founder and host David Bazzel that he thinks the Hogs should continue to play games in Little Rock. On Saturday, the Hogs defeated Arkansas State in what is currently believed to be the last game Arkansas plays in central Arkansas.
Credit: DeWaine Duncan
“I’m a Little Rock kid. I like to be able to see the Hogs come down here and play,” he said. “I know that game means a lot to the people in the southern part of the state. A lot of people don’t get to make it up there to Fayetteville. You have the big, nice and everything up there, but everybody in the southern part of the state, they don’t get to see those amenities and things like that on a weekly basis. Being able to have that Razorback game here, whether it’s just one game a year or two games a year, I think it’s a great feeling. I would love to see that game continue to go on.”
McFadden will have his No. 5 jersey number honored by Arkansas on Oct. 18 when Texas A&M comes to Fayetteville. Moving forward, all Razorback players who wear No. 5 will also wear a special commemorative patch honoring McFadden, who said he was moved to tears when he first heard the news. His Razorback jersey will be placed on permanent display at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Credit: University of Arkansas
The Little Rock native was a high school all-American and prep player of the year for Arkansas as a senior at the old Oak Grove High School in the Marche community of northern Pulaski County. Despite offers from all the bluebloods, McFadden was determined to play for the Hogs. Growing up a Razorback fan, he said Fayetteville was his only possible destination for college.
At Arkansas, he was a consensus all-American, winner of the Doak Walker and Jim Brown awards and two-time runner-up for the Heisman, joining Andrew Luck as one of just two players to finish runner-up in back-to-back years. In 2007, McFadden won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award over Heisman winner Tim Tebow.
Credit: DeWaine Duncan
Over his three-year playing career on the Hill, McFadden ran for 4,590 yards and 41 rushing touchdowns, including 1,830 yards and 16 scores on 325 totes in ’07. He also caught a pair of receiving TDs, returned a kick for a score and from the now famous “wildcat” formation, threw for a score as well.
The sting of not winning the Heisman, especially in ’07, when it seemed ESPN had preordained a Tebow win, has abated, he said.
“It’s water under the bridge for me,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do about it. I feel like I did everything leading up to that point to win a Heisman. After that, it was up to the voters. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to have a Heisman in my trophy case.”
McFadden was selected fourth overall by the Raiders in the 2008 NFL draft. He played in the league for 10 seasons, but injuries derailed what could’ve been a standout career. Still, playing for the Raiders and Cowboys, McFadden rushed for 5,421 yards and 28 scores in the league, while amassing 2,114 receiving yards and five more scores.
Credit: DeWaine Duncan
After his playing career, McFadden dealt with issues related to his alcoholism. In 2019, he was arrested and charged with DUI after being found asleep in his car in the parking lot of a Whataburger in suburban Dallas. He told Bazzel and those in attendance at the DoubleTree Hotel that he has been sober for more than two years.
“I tell people it’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life,” he said. “I’ve racked up a ton of accolades over the years playing football, [but] that alcohol is something else. Just to be able to shake that off my back, it makes me proud of myself. It means a lot to me and my family, my children, just to have a sober dad in the house every day.”
AY Media Group is a proud media sponsor of the Little Rock Touchdown Club.
Feature Photo Credit: DeWaine Duncan
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