On the fast track

Speedy McFadden rates among the elite

Running back Darren McFadden of Arkansas put on a show at the NFL Combine in February. (Michael conroy/Associated Press)

Six teams passed on Adrian Peterson in the 2007 NFL draft. You would think after the Minnesota Vikings running back garnered the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, teams, loathe to repeat that folly, would be clamoring for the services of this year's top-rated runner, Darren McFadden of Arkansas.

However, just like Peterson, who fell to seventh in the draft, McFadden could slip outside of the top five. If "D-Mac" makes the same impact "A.D." made as a rookie, a new set of teams will be muttering about missing out on a franchise running back.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 211-pound McFadden, who is second only to Herschel Walker on the Southeastern Conference's all-time rushing list with 4,590 yards on 785 carries (5.8 yards per carry) and 41 touchdowns, compares physically to the 6-1, 217-pound Peterson, who set an NFL single-game record with 296 yards rushing and rolled up 1,341 yards rushing and 12 TDs in 14 games as a rookie.

McFadden a junior who collected 5,881 all-purpose yards, trailing only Patriots running back Kevin Faulk in SEC history, doesn't shy away from the comparison.

"I admire Adrian Peterson," said McFadden. "He's a great running back, and I feel like if I go in and do all the work that I should do and put in the right work necessary, I could have the type of season he did."

Former NFL general manager Charley Casserly, now an analyst for CBS Sports and the NFL Network, said McFadden, who ran the 40-yard dash in a blistering 4.33 seconds at the combine, .08 faster than Peterson clocked last year, has "almost rare speed for the running back position."

Casserly, who passed on running back Reggie Bush as the Houston Texans GM in 2006 to select defensive end Mario Williams, said teams are trying to gauge just how closely McFadden compares with Peterson.

"You're talking about two elite running backs," said Casserly. "It's a moot point who is better because they're not in the draft together. McFadden had less injury problems in college than Peterson, but Peterson might see the holes better and be more physical.

"But I wouldn't say that McFadden is non-physical. You talk to the guys who do this for a living and it's a tough one for them to answer. McFadden is terrific."

While Peterson is generally regarded as more suited to carry the load, McFadden bears the burden of the off-field baggage he accumulated, along with 44 TDs, during three seasons at Arkansas, where he rushed for a school-record 1,830 yards last year to win his second consecutive Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back.

In July 2006, McFadden, who won't turn 21 until Aug. 27, dislocated his left big toe during a fight outside a nightclub in his hometown of Little Rock, Ark.

This January, McFadden was handcuffed by police outside a Little Rock piano bar after exhibiting what police called agitated and aggressive behavior. He was released without being charged.

The running back has been implicated as the father of four children. According to his agent, Ian Greengross, two of the paternity tests came back negative and tests confirming him as the father of the other two children have not been conducted yet.

"He's done everything like a gentleman," said Greengross, who said that no actual paternity suits had been filed against McFadden.

Danny Nutt, McFadden's position coach at Arkansas for his first two seasons and the brother of Houston Nutt, the head coach at Arkansas during McFadden's three seasons, said teams that have contacted him about McFadden have asked him about the off-field transgressions.

"They know he's strong, they know he can run, they're just worried about the off-the-field things he's gotten into," said Danny Nutt. "But he's grown up a bunch."

The second-youngest of 12 children, McFadden grew up on the hard-scrabble streets of North Little Rock, and his mother, Mini Muhammad, dealt with a cocaine addiction.

"A lot of bad things were laid out in front of me, and at any point in time in life I could have took the wrong road," said McFadden, who took responsibility for his actions. "But I felt like I always stayed on the right road and did the positive things."

Danny Nutt, who has joined his brother at the University of Mississippi as director of player development, said McFadden, who has an "Arkansas Bred" tattoo inked across his abdomen, was a victim of his own loyalty in some cases.

"The times he went in those fights he was with one of his brothers and we're trying to get that young man right, and I think Darren is, too," said Nutt. "I think Darren has to learn to walk away when things are not going right."

But that wasn't always easy for McFadden in Arkansas, where he was a celebrity from the time he starred at Oak Grove High School.

"He got pulled in so many directions because in Arkansas there are no pro teams, so everything revolves around the Razorbacks," said Arkansas running backs coach Tim Horton. "I mean, the poor kid couldn't go to Wendy's and get a hamburger because he gets mobbed. In some ways I felt sorry for him.

"I think it did weigh on him some. The thing he was so good at was that all the distractions never affected his preparation or how he would play on Saturdays."

The on-field question about McFadden on Sundays is can he be a tough, between-the-tackles runner like Peterson?

"I can get long yards for you or I can get short yards for you," McFadden said.

There is one area where he already has Peterson beat - passing.

The Razorbacks lined up McFadden at quarterback in their "Wildhog" spread offense and half of his 14 career completions - in 22 attempts - went for touchdowns, four of which came last season.

Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who faced Peterson twice last year in NFC North Division matchups, said Peterson is a unique NFL talent and only time will tell if McFadden is, too.

"Both are extremely talented backs, but Adrian, man, he's a load," said Marinelli. "The final analysis is when the guy has a year in the league. That's when you measure them."

Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.

Correction: Because of an editing error, a story in Saturday's Sports section about Arkansas running back Darren McFadden incorrectly reported that his agent said paternity suits had been filed against McFadden. No lawsuits have been filed, according to the agent.