After spending just one successful year in Fayetteville, it appears running backs coach Jemal Singleton is leaving for to take a job with the Indianapolis Colts.
Arkansas STC/RBs coach Jemal Singleton is new RBs coach for Indianapolis Colts HC Chuck Pagano per source. https://t.co/tXZJ8uO9hB
— Thayer Evans (@ThayerEvansSI) February 5, 2016
Singleton's departure had been rumored due to his reported absence at Signing Day celebrations in Fayetteville and Little Rock this week, but his rumored destination was to be Texas since the Longhorns have an opening for his position and Texas recruiting is his background. Thankfully, he's actually leaving for the NFL, a move which is hard to blame.
It's not really a great look to leave right after Signing Day, particularly when you're largely responsible for bringing in big talent from out of state (Singleton was a big recruiter for Devwah Whaley, and would have been for Kyle Porter), but that's how this business works. There's never really a perfect time to leave. He came to Fayetteville in a similar situation last year and Rawleigh Williams still worked out fine for the Hogs.
Singleton's year was successful not just for landing Whaley but also because of Alex Collins' monster season for the Razorbacks. Collins, forced to shoulder a bigger load thanks to Jonathan Williams' injury, put together the greatest season by a running back in Arkansas history not named McFadden, and Singleton deserves credit for helping him boost his game.
The Razorbacks can now search for a new coach. It seems they'd want to replace him with someone
Congrats to Jemal and his family!!
— Coach Michael Smith (@CoachMichaelSmi) February 5, 2016
Keep chasing your dreams bro!! Good luck!