FROM THE VAULT: Darren McFadden

The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly

Originally released in 2020.

No player is referred to as Arkansas' G.O.A.T.—greatest of all time—more than Darren McFadden. And rightfully so: He’s one of the best running backs in college football history. But for the Little Rock native, the path to greatness wasn’t always apparent. For one, he had to overcome obstacles in his childhood. And that’s where football came in, serving as an escape of sorts for McFadden and keeping him out of trouble. On the field, McFadden quickly proved to be an elite talent, but only had eyes for the Razorbacks. And after starting his Arkansas career down on the depth chart, McFadden quickly made a name for himself, setting a school freshman rushing record and earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. As a sophomore, he would lead Arkansas to the SEC championship game and become the school’s first Heisman Trophy finalist. He repeated that feat a year later, and wrapped up a three-year career having provided some of the most iconic moments in Razorback history. Is Darren McFadden the greatest of all time? That’s for each Razorback fan to decide. But this is how he captivated a state and made the people of Arkansas proud.