Jim Harris: Comeback Kids Spark Arkansas' Big Win Over South Carolina

FAYETTEVILLE -- D.J. Williams is part of Arkansas' offense after all. Jerell Norton, who seemed so out of place as a cornerback for the previous regime two years ago, may be the cornerback the Hogs have been needing all season

And Broderick Green, who returned to Arkansas amid such hoopla in transferring from Southern Cal, only to fall well short of expectations during the early part of the season, is emerging now as the bruising truck of a runner Bobby Petrino has so needed these past two seasons.

All three made the significant plays in Arkansas' 33-16 comeback win over South Carolina on a perfect bluebird-sky Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

On Arkansas' second possession of the game, trailing 3-0, Green took a swing pass on the left side from Ryan Mallett, began rolling like an Amtrak engine and barreled 39 yards, setting up Joe Adams' 18-yard touchdown run.

Watching that play unfold, it was as if Bobby Petrino had dug up some of Green's old high school film from Pulaski Academy to figure out how he had become a Parade All-American. No doubt Green's prep coach, Kevin Kelley, had to love seeing it.

"I was thinking about that on the sidelines afterward, how that was what I did in high school," Green said. But it wasn't a special designed play just for Green; he was just one of Ryan Mallett's check downs, with the Gamecocks guarding all game against the deep throw. "I just caught it and ran," he said.

Green also finished off long, clock-consuming drives in the second half for the Hogs with short touchdown plunges (2 and 3 yards). Though his rushing yardage numbered just 47 on 13 carries, with a long of 14, each yard seemed huge. All were positive carries in which the South Carolina tackler on the play paid for it. His 40 yards receiving gave him 87 all-purpose yards.

Green's game seemed to change at Florida on Oct. 17, when he scored twice.

"Joe Adams and I talked that week and Joe said that I needed to go back to playing like I did in high school, don't think about anything and just go out and play. That's what I've been doing," said Green, who broke a 47-year-old UA record for longest run from scrimmage with a 99-yard gallop last week.