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FAYETTEVILLE -- Darren McFadden, a two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up while playing running back for the Arkansas football team from 2005-07, had a hard time describing his expected emotions roughly three hours before a ceremony honoring him during halftime of the team's matchup with No. 4 Texas A&M at Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday.
McFadden's No. 5 was unveiled as the program's debut honored jersey on the south videoboard next its retired numbers -- Brandon Burlsworth's No. 77 and Clyde Scott's No. 12. Defensive tackle Cam Ball and wide receiver Ja'Kayden Ferguson have sported a "DM" patch on their No. 5 uniforms this season.
"Anytime you see that patch with that DM on there and you see that silhouette, I can almost remember the image," McFadden said. "It took me probably up until about three or four years ago to really reflect ... and realize like, 'Man, you really left a hell of a mark on the state of Arkansas and Arkansas football. I never looked at myself as this Darren McFadden guy. Everybody back home calls me D-Dog. To me, I'm just little ole D-Dog running around."
McFadden's father, stepmother, wife and three children were in town for the ceremony. The most recent Arkansas game McFadden attended was the season opener on Aug. 30, a 52-7 win against Alabama A&M. He holds the program records in career rushing yards (4,590), rushing attempts (785), 100-yard rushing games (22), single-game rushing yards (321), single-season rushing yards (1,830) and career all-purpose yards (5,881).
"I've got some names that I've been running through my head that I want to send my thank yous to," McFadden said, including a high school teacher, his high school coach and his parents. "My father is my biggest critique. I can say without him, I probably wouldn't be as humble as I am. I remember playing against South Carolina, rushing for 321 yards. ... I go talk to him, he's like, 'If you would have did this, if you would have did that, you would've had 500 yards.'"
McFadden, from Little Rock, was the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and went on to play 10 professional seasons with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys. After the halftime performance by Arkansas' band, musicians formed into a "DM5" formation on the field as his jersey was put on a stand. McFadden, 38, called the Hogs beside Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek and hoisted his uniform in front of the crowd. Then, it was time for prepared words.
"Hey Razorback fans, I want to tell you guys, I appreciate the love," he said. "I'm so thankful for the state of Arkansas, for the University of Arkansas. I appreciate the love and support you guys have continued to give me over the years.
"The late, great Dean Weber, he always kept me good when I was in school. He's a guy that I really miss and I wish he was here to celebrate this with me."
Green's knee
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green was forced out of Saturday's 45-42 loss to No. 4 Texas A&M early in the second quarter after a strange-looking read-option play.
On second-and-goal from the Texas A&M 5-yard line, Green and tailback Braylen Russell got tangled on a mesh in the backfield. Green elected to keep it with the Aggies closing in on both players. Aggie linebacker Daymion Sanford got through, and as he brought Green down their knees collided.
Green stayed down after the 2-yard loss, came off the field with help from the athletic trainers while favoring his right leg and went straight into the medical tent.
KJ Jackson completed a 3-yard pass to CJ Brown on third-and-goal from the Aggies' 7, then Scott Starzyk came on for his second 22-yard field goal of the game to cut the Razorbacks' deficit to 14-6.
Green emerged with a compression sleeve on his right knee. He rode the stationary bike to stay warm as Texas A&M executed a drive of 7:45 capped by Marcel Reed's 1-yard touchdown pass to Nate Boerkircher for a 21-6 lead.
The senior starter came returned to the field for Arkansas' next possession. He started it with a 15-yard pass to O'Mega Blake and then tossed to Rohan Jones for a 34-yard gain.
Shown wincing in pain during the ESPN broadcast, Green proved he could still flex the knee moments later when he raced through the right side for a 27-yard touchdown run with 1:51 remaining in the half. He played the rest of the game.
"It was like a knee-to-knee collision," Green said. "Went into the tent and just doing the examinations. I was good. I wanted to go back and play. They just put a brace on it and just went out there and played. I don't think it's anything major."
Going big
Mike Washington Jr. had another huge opening half, rushing for 126 yards on 9 carries against Texas A&M. Washington ended with a new season-high of 147 yards on 16 carries for a 9.2-yard average.
Washington, a senior from Utica, N.Y., had runs of 48 and 57 yards in the first and second quarters, respectively, setting up a field goal and a touchdown for the Razorbacks.
Washington tallied 100 rushing yards in the first half at Tennessee last week en route to a season-high 131 yards and a touchdown. His 84-yard first quarter at Tennessee was the most since Rakeem Boyd's 108-yard opening quarter at Kentucky in 2019.
Opening salvo
Arkansas scored on the game-opening drive for the sixth time in seven games with Scott Starzyk's 22-yard field goal. The Razorbacks have taken the opening kickoff in every game. They scored touchdowns against Alabama A&M, Arkansas State, Memphis and Tennessee, and Starzyk made field goals against Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
The only non-scoring opening drive came against Ole Miss, when Starzyk missed a 51-yard field goal after a 42-yard drive to the Rebels' 33.
Arkansas overcame a first-and-25 hole on Saturday as Mike Washington Jr. broke off a 48-yard run up the middle to reach the Texas A&M 10. The long-distance conversion was needed after Jaden Platt was flagged for offensive pass interference for making contact with a defender as Rohan Jones caught a crossing route and advanced 17 yards.
Lee's series
Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III had an active series on the Arkansas' third possession, which featured him coming off the field with an injury.
On a first-down play from the Aggies' 21, Arkansas fans roared with disapproval when Lee appeared to have hands on receiver CJ Brown on what was ruled an incomplete pass at the 10-yard line. Two plays later, O'Mega Blake caught a 15-yard pass to convert on third-and-9.
After Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green went out with an apparent right knee injury, KJ Jackson completed a third-and-goal pass from the 7 to CJ Brown. Lee delivered a forceful form tackle to stop Brown at the 4 and force a field goal.
Familiar name
Texas A&M's opening sequence -- a 10-play, 75-yard march -- ended on a score to a familiar face for Arkansas.
On a second-and-10 play, Marcel Reed executed a play-action throw perfectly to Ashton Bethel-Roman, a redshirt freshman and one-time Arkansas commitment. He made a 24-yard score against man-to-man coverage by cornerback Kani Walker.
Early jump
Late in the first quarter, Texas A&M center Mark Nabou Jr. had a bit of fun when Arkansas defensive tackle Ian Geffrard jumped offsides and pushed him over. Geffrard fell for quarterback Marcel Reed's second clap, and Nabou sprawled his arms and legs as he momentarily laid on the turf. Both groups of linemen couldn't help themselves but point at the other as the culprit.
Geffrard cracked a smile while backpedaling from the Arkansas 31 to the 26. Texas A&M later scored to take a 14-3 lead.