Hogs' McFadden to decide NFL future after season

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Darren McFadden will have plenty of time to think about the NFL draft -- after the season is over.

For now, the Arkansas star isn't saying much.

"For me, it's something I'm going to sit down with my family at the end of the season, sit down with my family, coaching staff and try to weigh out my options," McFadden said Thursday.

If McFadden turns pro, it won't be much of a surprise. The junior is a Heisman Trophy candidate for the second year in a row. He's rushed for a school-record 1,725 yards this season, breaking the mark of 1,647 he set in 2006.

McFadden's mother told ESPN.com's Pat Forde in August that her son would play his last year of college football this season before turning pro.

"He told me, 'Mom, I'll be through in December,' " Mini Muhammed said. "I said, 'What you mean?' He said, 'I'll be through.' That's what he told me."

Asked if that meant her son would be entering the draft and joining the NFL, Muhammed said, "Yeah. He'll be making big money."

McFadden finished second in last year's Heisman race to Ohio State's Troy Smith.

Arkansas is awaiting its bowl fate. The Razorbacks are hoping for a Cotton Bowl bid, which they took a big step toward earning with their 50-48, triple-overtime win over LSU last week. The Cotton Bowl is a good bet for Arkansas if LSU beats Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference title game this weekend.

If Tennessee wins, LSU could drop to the Cotton Bowl, so McFadden and his teammates can root for the Tigers.

"It's not tough pulling for a team you just beat because we beat them," McFadden said. "It's not hard for us. It would be different if they beat us and we still had to pull for them. But we beat them, it's just another team that we want to win."

Arkansas is looking for a coach to replace Houston Nutt, who departed Monday and was hired by Mississippi.

"A lot of players are down," McFadden said. "Everybody loved Coach Nutt here. We love Coach Nutt. He's a great guy. He's a great coach. He's going to be very well missed around here."

Defensive coordinator Reggie Herring took over as interim coach and will lead the Hogs in their bowl game. Herring said offensive coordinator David Lee will remain in charge of the offense.

"I don't think he'll try to come over and run the offense," McFadden said of Herring. "I think he likes his defense."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Source: ESPN.com