According to head football coach Gus Malzahn, senior running backs Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant are still 1A and 1B on the depth chart, but Artis-Payne's career-high 177-yard performance against Arkansas helped him secure that No. 1 spot on the depth chart.
"Cameron Artis-Payne really carried the load for us," Malzahn said. "He did a solid job of running between the tackles, and he's at his best as the game goes on."
Artis-Payne has been fighting for the starting job since he arrived on campus last spring, and said he wants to prove that he is more than just that downhill guy.
"If you look back at when I was getting recruited I did it all," Artis-Payne said. "When I got here, I kind of got put in a box from you all, but I mean, all and all, I feel like I can do it all."
While Malzahn has confidence in the two seniors to run the offense, one could rush into the spotlight.
"Cameron Artis-Payne is a very confident guy," Malzahn said. "Got a lot of quality carries last year, especially early. So we know what we are getting with him."
Artis-Payne is confident in his durability needed for carrying the ball more times this season to secure that role.
"Oh, I'm built to last," Artis-Payne said. "I ain't worried about that. I can do that. Twenty times a game, that ain't nothing. I can do that."
Artis-Payne proved that against the Razorbacks when he carried it 26 times and showed that he can last the entire game, as he rushed for 122 yards in the second half alone.
"As the game gets longer, I get stronger," Artis-Payne said. "That's what I pride myself on."
Artis-Payne thinks the second-year comfort level has helped Grant and himself tremendously.
"We're a lot further along just in the execution phase of where we were last year," Artis-Payne said. "It's just being comfortable and being aware of your surroundings, and knowing what is coming next. It helps a lot."
According to Artis-Payne and Grant, Artis-Payne came into this season with a chip on his shoulder from last year, where he only averaged 4.6 carries a game as he sat behind Tre Mason's record-breaking season.
"Yeah, y'all saw me sitting on the bench last year," Artis-Payne said. "I read everything that everybody puts out, talking about how they don't know how the running game's going to be. I'm here to prove it's going to be all right."
Now it's just about going out and performing, said Artis-Payne.
"All those guys are very confident guys," said offensive lineman Shon Coleman. "Any guy that we got back there in the backfield, we have confidence in them. We know they can go out there and perform well."
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