Ex- Hogs reminisce, rekindle memories
Arkansas put together a solid 18- 9 record during the 2006 and 2007 football seasons, but former Razorbacks fullback Peyton Hillis says those teams had the ingredients to become championship material.
“There’s no doubt we had all the weapons in our arsenal to do what we wanted to do,” said Hillis, who along with former teammate Felix Jones, spoke during Monday’s Little Rock Touchdown Club meeting at the Embassy Suites. “But I really believe during that time, if everybody would have came together … if we would have been stronger in what we did and became more of a unit, we could have went to some far places those two years.”
The Razorbacks were on track in 2006, winning 10 consecutive games after an opening loss to Southern California and reached No. 5 in the BCS standings, behind Arkansas’ football version of the triplets — Hillis, Jones and Darren McFadden.
But the Razorbacks lost their final three games in 2006 and finished 10- 4. In 2007, the Razorbacks defeated No. 1 LSU in a tripleovertime game in Baton Rouge, but wound up 8- 5. Both seasons ended with Jan. 1 bowl game losses.
Hillis, Jones and McFadden combined for 101 touchdowns during their careers, and went on to establish themselves in the NFL.
Jones said the fierce competition between the three drove them to play their best.
“I remember competing every day,” said Jones, who scored a combined 27 touchdowns — 20 rushing, 3 receiving and 4 on kickoff returns — in his three years at Arkansas. “You always wanted to outdo the next person, even if they were your teammate. And on game day, you definitely wanted
to outdo the other team. They [ Hillis and McFadden] pushed me. They pushed me to be the very best I could be.”
The end result was that Jones and Hillis, along with McFaddden, were taken in the 2008 NFL draft. McFadden was taken fourth overall and Jones was also a first- round selection ( 22nd overall) by the Dallas Cowboys. Hillis was taken in the seventh round ( 227th overall) by the Denver Broncos.
Jones and Hillis enjoyed successful rookie seasons but were slowed by injuries, which dogged them throughout their careers.
Jones spent five seasons with the Cowboys before becoming
a free agent after the 2012 season. He signed a oneyear contract with the Eagles in 2013 but was traded to Pittsburgh before the start of the season. He was not re- signed after the 2013 season.
Hillis played two seasons for Denver before being traded to Cleveland, where he ran for a career- best 1,177 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Hillis played three more seasons and announced his retirement from football earlier this year.
Hillis and Jones are out of the NFL, but they are not out of football. Hillis is a volunteer coach at Siloam Springs High School, where he is working with the running backs.
“I just thought I could give back,” Hillis said. “There are two things I really enjoy — football and kids. To be around kids and to see how full of life and how pure they are, you want to try to lead them down the right path and teach them the right things. … If I can just help one kid, that’s all I can ask for.”
Jones is living in Dallas, working out and waiting for a call.
“I had a lot fun, but I definitely want to play for a few more years,” Jones said. “But if not, I’m excited and happy. I had a chance to do what I wanted to do. I’ve lived out my dream and I’m happy with that.”