A third career 100-yard rushing game was just what Devwah Whaley needed to jump-start his season.

The sophomore running back rushed for 119 yards on 19 carries and scored a touchdown — his second of the season — to help Arkansas Razorbacks win 42-24 against New Mexico State in Fayetteville last Saturday.

“It was a good game and give credit to our offensive line,” Whaley told The Royal Gazette. “It was the third 100-yard game in my career and it was big.”

Whaley’s 119 rushing yards was his second-highest total in college football and the first time rushing for 100 or more yards since the Mississippi State game last season.

He also rushed for a touchdown and had five first-down runs, including a season-long 33-yard gain.

The solid performance has done Whaley’s confidence the world of good and he is now keen to build on the momentum.

“It has boosted my confidence a lot, but not only that, as it also made me realise how much of a better player I can be in the future,” the son of former local middle-distance runner Devoe Whaley said.

With the resounding win over the Aggies, the Razorbacks improved to 2-2 for the season.

“Things are going pretty good for the team, but we still have a long season ahead of us,” Whaley said.

“It’s still too early to determine what we will do or how far we will go, but hopefully we can make it to a bowl game.”

Whaley and the Arkansas rushing attack appear to be coping well, despite last year’s leading rusher, Rawleigh Williams, being forced to retire after suffering a neck injury in the spring.

“We have had some others step up and become big leaders of the team, so it doesn’t make a big difference that we lost some players, which is a good thing,” Whaley said.

The Bermudian rushed for 602 yards on 110 carries with three rushing touchdowns as a freshman last season. He rushed for 50 or more yards seven times, had 113 receiving yards and is the fourth Razorback in school history to record two 100-yard rushing games as a freshman.

Whaley, along with fellow running backs David Williams and Chase Hayden, will be hoping Arkansas can win their first Southeastern Conference game of the season tomorrow, when they travel to South Carolina.

“We just have to finish out these last two days of practice strong and go in there Saturday and execute what we have been doing all week,” he said.