Former Arkansas teammates thrilled Broncos' Hillis is ridin' high

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 19, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.

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Photo by Rick McFarland / Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/2007

During their playing days at Arkansas, from left, Peyton Hillis, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Selected in the draft long after his first-round-pick pals, Hillis has turned injuries to his advantage, while McFadden and Jones have been hurt.

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Having lost touch somewhat with his college buddy at Arkansas, his focus being the rigors of his own rookie season in the NFL, Darren McFadden mostly knows about Peyton Hillis' season with the Broncos on a cursory level.

Yet McFadden, an Oakland Raiders tailback, can close his eyes and from afar imagine Hillis as he was as a college senior.

"I haven't seen him go to a game this year," McFadden said Wednesday, punctuating his words with a chuckle. "But I can imagine he's going to have a button-up shirt on with the top three buttons not buttoned, chest hanging out and his neck showing - and wearing cowboy boots."

Yes, Hillis still is country through and through.

He was as much cowboy as McFadden's homeboy during their three seasons together in Fayetteville, Ark.

But Hillis also is sporting a new look these days - as a starting running back.

Neither McFadden nor Felix Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, both No. 1 draft picks and once the flash in the Razorbacks' rushing attack, can say that. Both have battled injuries.

So it's Hillis, the unheralded lead blocker and receiver in college, whose fortunes have turned as a pro, thanks to a convergence of ailments in his own backfield.

"We'll crack jokes about it," said McFadden, who stays in regular contact with Jones and ventures he has talked with Hillis three or four times this season. " 'Hey, Peyton is starting - us two guys aren't. . . . ' "

A left hamstring problem felled Jones for several weeks, and he won't play Sunday against San Francisco.

Jammed big toes on both feet have nagged McFadden nearly all year, but he's expected to spell Justin Fargas on Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High when the Raiders (2-8) visit the Broncos (6-4) in a rematch of the season opener (2:05 p.m., CBS 4).

Meanwhile, Hillis is coming off his first two-touchdown game, in which he added a key catch on the final scoring drive in Denver's victory at Atlanta.

He has fewer rushing yards than Jones and McFadden, in large part because he has played tailback for all of six quarters.

But he has scored more touchdowns than McFadden and has more receiving yards than his two former teammates combined.

"It's neat for both of them to be rookies and both of them playing such vital roles on their teams," said Tim Horton, Arkansas' running-backs coach. "But I'm just so proud of Peyton because he didn't come in there as the first-round guy. He came in there as the late-round guy who's had to earn it. And it sounds like he's done that and performed very well."

As much as McFadden expressed frustration at his own inability to stay on the field, he, too, is "proud" of what Hillis has accomplished. But he's not surprised, though he was shocked Hillis was drafted 227th overall in the seventh round, 223 spots after McFadden was taken.

"Coming out of high school, me and Peyton were 1-2 in the state of Arkansas in rushing. . . . At Arkansas, he ran the ball several times," McFadden said. "So I knew he's very capable of running the ball."

McFadden has flashed his own abilities only once this season.

After he was limited to nine carries by the Broncos on Sept. 8, he rumbled for 164 yards at Kansas City but hurt his right big toe on a 50-yard run. He injured his left foot against the New York Jets on Oct. 19 and missed three games.

"It's been frustrating, obviously, for the player, as well as the team and the coaches," Raiders coach Tom Cable said.

McFadden returned Sunday but logged only three carries for 13 yards in a 17-15 loss at Miami. He ended the game "a little sore, but not bad at all."

"He feels as good as he's felt all year today," Cable said. "We're looking forward to getting him into the mix and getting him back into the flow."

Hillis is dinged up as well. He has been wearing ice bags on his bruised right shoulder this week after smashing into a Falcons linebacker. But he was a full participant in practice Wednesday.

Sunday's game against the Raiders is special to Hillis because it might be his first home start at tailback. It would be even more special if he could outrush McFadden.

"I can't lie about that," Hillis said. "But you also want him to do good. And you want to win, no matter what the obstacles are."

Hillis has had his share of barriers along the way. He was hurt early in training camp and stuck behind the since departed Cecil Sapp and Michael Pittman, who was moved to tailback.

He started at fullback, then lost the job to Spencer Larsen before winning it back. And on Nov. 6, after the Broncos lost their fifth tailback of the season, Hillis found himself graduating to a role as single-set back for the second half of a win at Cleveland.

His first start at running back came the next week against the Falcons and included career highs in carries (10) and yards (44).

"He knows how to work. He's a worker," said Horton, Hillis' college position coach. "And he loves the weight room."

Hillis also likes to have fun at his former teammate's expense.

Apprised of McFadden's description of him, Hillis was given equal time to paint a picture of the present day McFadden. And as he has done this season for the Broncos, Hillis didn't disappoint.

"How would he be dressed?" Hillis asked. "Some Fubu jeans, an Oshkosh B'Gosh shirt and some braids. That's how he'd be dressed."

Then, after a slight pause, he continued: "Nah, I'm just trying to get back at him about what he said about me. That's just not right."

On the Razorbacks' edge

How University of Arkansas backfield members in 2007 have fared as NFL rookies.

• November 19, 2008

  10:25 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Hillis is very impressive as a rookie. He proves the point that if you work hard enough at it then you can accomplish just about anything. Hope he has a huge game against the Traiters.

• November 20, 2008

  7:20 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Rutabaga writes:

  Maybe Al Davis has turf brain. If you can jam a toe, you could probably do that to your brain too. That would splain all the crazy stuff he does to make his team extra bad.

  Oh yea, I almost forgot with all the turf talk to say I think Hillis is great. I have cowboy boots too. It's hard to get turf toe when you wear cowboy boots, that's for sure.

• November 20, 2008

  8:42 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jubei writes:

  Dave,

  Remember that discussion we had about speed vs. power?

  Well, I happy to say that the Broncs now have both. I was VERY impressed with both the power of Hillis and the speed of Pope. What a find on both counts. Even Tatum looked good and showed some maturity there at the end. He could have kept going, but went down to run the clock and end the game. Classy.

  So far so good. If we can make defenses play eight in the box more, then either Marshall, Royal or Sheffler are going to be single covered. Pick your poison.

  I love it.

• November 20, 2008

  11:41 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Jubei, and don't forget Stokley? He is our 3rd down "go-to-guy". So, are you going to make the "4 Mile" this weekend? Let me know and I'll save you a seat. They also have free pizza and wings during the game so you can eat.

• November 20, 2008

  1:24 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Coltgm56 writes:

  I like Hillis. He is tough, works hard, and respects his competition. What a refreshing difference in a quality NFL player. Pope looks quick and T-Bell may have grown up. If they stay healthy we will be fine the rest of the year. How about a hand for Shanahan and all of this years Rookies! Who would have thought that the Rookie class would become the leaders on this team??? The future is bright and it is going to be a fun ride. GO BRONCOS!!!!

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