Devwah Whaley says he is eager to improve every facet of his game as his Arkansas Razorbacks look to have one of the Southeastern Conference’s best rushing attacks for the upcoming season.

Bermudian Whaley is scheduled to start the 2017 campaign as the second-string running back in his sophomore season, and forms one of the SEC’s most potent ground games with starter Rawleigh Williams, a junior.

Williams and Whaley will be the third-highest returning running back tandem in the conference this autumn, with 1,962 yards in 2016. Williams finished third in the SEC with 1,360 yards last season, with Whaley pitching in with 602 yards in his freshman campaign.

Arkansas have emphasised their running game this spring, and did so again over the weekend as Bret Bielema’s squad underwent their final scrimmage before this Saturday’s spring game at Donald W Reynolds Razorback Stadium. And Whaley said he wanted to get better in every department as the Razorbacks look to improve on last season’s 7-6 record in what is widely regarded as the toughest conference in college football.

“[I’m] just working on being a better back all around,” Whaley told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. “Just pass protection, running speed, strength, getting bigger, faster and stronger. Pretty much everything.”

Arkansas head coach Bielema has called Whaley and Williams “gifted” as the pair look to surpass Auburn’s Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson (2,119 yards) and Nick Chubb and Sony Michel (1,970) as the SEC’s best running back pair.

“I think if you’re one of the best in the SEC, you’ve got a chance of being the best in the country,” Bielema said. “Those two guys, man, they’re very gifted.

“Rawleigh probably has shown me that he’s got a little bit more patience that we’ve ever seen, and that’s a good thing on some of the wide plays. Devwah, as we all know, is very gifted.”

Running backs coach Reggie Mitchell, who has coached or recruited six first-round NFL Draft choices in a 34-year coaching career, said the running backs’ pass protection has been much improved.

“We might have missed a blitz just from a guy not seeing it, but from a physical standpoint, when they’ve noticed it they’ve been able to pick it up,” he said. “I’ve been pleased. And it’s been the younger guys who have missed it. Rawleigh and Devwah have been pretty good as far as picking up blitzes.”Arkansas’s spring game kicks off at 2pm Bermuda time on Saturday and will air live on SEC Network.