FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - De'Arrius Howard waited a long time to play for the Razorbacks, and this season he got his chance.<br>
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A five-game winning streak gave Arkansas (8-3, 4-3 SEC) a chance to play LSU (8-3, 5-2) for the Southeastern Conference Western Division title and a berth in the SEC Championship on Dec. 7 in Atlanta.<br>
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The 6-0, 220-pound redshirt freshman from West Memphis logged his first collegiate 100-yard rushing game Saturday against Mississippi State in Arkansas' 26-19 victory in Starkville, Miss. <br>
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Most of Howard's career-high 25 carries and 121 yards came from drives up the middle of the field, where he is most comfortable because he loves contact, Razorbacks head coach Houston Nutt said. <br>
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Howard doesn't play like a freshman, Nutt said Sunday, but senior tailback Fred Talley said it depends on the definition of ``freshman.'' <br>
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``It just depends on what you expect a freshman to play like,'' said Talley, who had 94 yards on 18 carries last week. ``Most people probably wouldn't have thought he'd get a chance to play this year, and he was very patient. He listened, like me my freshman year. ... He comes in and studies film, he's a guy that's been there. He's got natural ability.'' <br>
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Talley said the trio will make it difficult for LSU to focus on one running style when the teams meet at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium. <br>
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Nutt said Howard has given Arkansas a complete backfield this season. <br>
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``What I love about him is he loves contact,'' Nutt said. ``He'll hit linebackers full steam ahead and his legs never stop. Just like a great back does it just goes to another gear. That's what he gives you.'' <br>
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Talley stepped in for Cobbs when he suffered a toe injury early in the season, and Howard had been Talley's backup when he got tired or sore. <br>
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But now, Howard has established himself as a force in the Razorback running back corps with seven rushing touchdowns, the most on the squad. <br>
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``You can't just prepare for one because me, I'm mostly quick-drive, stressing the defense,'' Talley said. ``D. Howard, he likes to come in there and just plug it. It keeps the defense guessing.'' <br>
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Talley has had three 100-yard games and has 917 yards on 151 carries this year. He ranks third in the conference and 64th in the nation for rushing yards. Talley and Howard's totals last week helped Arkansas retain its first-place standing in the conference for rushing offense, amassing 2,675 yards on 529 carries, which ranks 10th in the nation. <br>
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Howard has 534 yards on 113 carries, while Cobbs, who has played in eight and started four games, has 385 yards on 69 carries. <br>
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LSU is ranked first in the league and second in the nation for pass defense, and fourth in the conference for rushing defense, so the Hogs know they're up against a talented team, Howard said. <br>
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``They're really good, especially on defense,'' Howard said. ``Bradie James ... the middle linebacker is really good, and their defensive line is really good, too. We know we got to go in there and execute and just play well.'' <br>
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James has 129 stops on the season, the only LSU player in triple-digit tackles.
