TB, QB get back to work
FAYETTEVILLE — Tailback Michael Smith and quarterback Casey Dick returned to practice for Arkansas on Sunday night after missing all the work during the Razorbacks’ open week.
Smith wore a neck roll to help protect the neck / shoulder injury that sidelined him during the second quarter of Arkansas’ 34-21 loss at South Carolina on Nov. 8.
Dick was given clearance to return from the fourth-quarter concussion he suffered against the Gamecocks, and he finds himself in a battle with his brother Nathan for the starting job as the Razorbacks prepare to face Mississippi State on the road on Saturday.
“We’re going to have to wait and see how Casey reacts to everything, how the week of practice goes, whether he’ll be the starter or Nathan will be the starter,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said at his Monday news conference. “I certainly feel confident with either one of them starting.”
Petrino admitted his reluctance to name his quarterback is partly due to Casey Dick’s status and partly to make sure Mississippi State has to study for both quarterbacks as the Razorbacks will for the Bulldogs’ Tyson Lee and Wesley Carroll.
“We want to make sure that Casey is back healthy, and we do like the way Nathan played when he came in,” Petrino said. “It wasn’t Casey’s best game of the year against South Carolina. He certainly had some mistakes prior to getting hit in the head.”
Smith has had back-to-back subpar games — 67 yards in a victory over Tulsa and 25 against South Carolina — to fall behind Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno for the SEC rushing lead. Moreno averages 113. 1 rushing yards per game while Smith averages 112. 4.
Petrino said Smith looked very quick during Sunday’s practice and that his legs looked fresh.
“He was in a neck roll, and there’ll be some alterations to that,” Petrino said. “It seemed a little bulky for him, and it was bothering him a little bit.” Personnel report
The good news on the injury front extended beyond the Razorbacks’ skill talent. Defensive end Adrian Davis (knee ) is expected to be near 100 percent for today’s practice, as should offensive guard Grant Cook (knee ), and defensive end Damario Ambrose (knee ) is healthier and might have a chance to play against Mississippi State.
“We’ll be as healthy as we’ve been all year, I think, barring the week of practice,” Coach Bobby Petrino said.
“After that eight-week stretch, it was good to have that week off to get some players back,” Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs said. Williams for Mackey
Sophomore tight end D. J. Williams was named one of eight semifinalists Monday for the John Mackey Award, which is presented to the nation’s best tight end.
Williams is the only sophomore up for this year’s award, and he’s the first semifinalist for the Mackey Award in Arkansas history. The Central Arkansas Christian product has already established school records for tight ends with 48 catches for 613 yards this season. Both of those figures lead the Hogs and rank sixth nationally at his position.
“He’s been our go-to guy,” Coach Bobby Petrino said. “He’s the guy that’s had the big plays and a lot of third-down conversions.
“ When D. J. is full-speed healthy, he can run routes with anybody.... He’s had a terrific year.”
The other semifinalists are Missouri’s Chase Coffman, South Carolina’s Jared Cook, Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham, Houston’s Mark Hafner, Western Michigan’s Branden Ledbetter, Oklahoma State’s Brandon Pettigrew and Brigham Young’s Dennis Pitta.
The three finalists for the award will be named next week and the award will be presented at the ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla.
Streak snapped Mississippi State had held Alabama without an offensive touchdown for 13 quarters before John Parker Wilson’s 1-yard quarterback sneak in the second quarter of Saturday’s 32-7 victory by the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide. In game time, Mississippi State held Alabama without an offensive touchdown for 3 hours, 30 minutes and 45 seconds, dating to the fourth quarter of a 30-14 Alabama victory in 2004. The Razorbacks understand this is a quality Mississippi State defense they’ll see Saturday. “They’ve always had a great defense,” junior receiver Lucas Miller said. “It’s going to be a hard-nosed football game, and it’s in Starkville, so it should be a lot of fun to watch.”
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