UA FOOTBALL : Crawford out 4-6 weeks with broken collarbone
TD on opening kickoff earns Johnson SEC accolade
Posted: September 8, 2009 at 5:30 a.m.
Arkansas sophomore Dennis Johnson returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown during the Hogs' game with Missouri State Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas senior wide receiver London Crawford underwent surgery Monday while Arkansas kick returner Dennis Johnson received a Southeastern Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Week accolade.
During Arkansas' 48-10 season-opening victory over Missouri State last Saturday night in Little Rock, Crawford suffered a broken collarbone, and Johnsonreturned the opening kickoff for a 91-yard touchdown.
The Razorbacks' media relations department reported Crawford underwent surgery Monday morning to repair a broken right collarbone. The UA report estimated the senior would be sidelined from four to six weeks.
Since the three-year letterman has never redshirted, Crawford would be eligible to apply for a hardship for 2010 senior eligibility should his condition not make it feasible for him to play again this season.
Crawford caught two passes for 44 yards against Missouri State. Last year he caught 27 for 311 yards and one touchdown, the TD that beat LSU, 31-30 in the final 21 seconds of the 2008 season finale in Little Rock.
Crawford becomes the second seniorRazorback receiver sidelined by a broken collarbone.
Fifth-year senior Lucas Miller of Greenwood broke his collarbone during an August preseason practice. Miller watched the Missouri State game from thesidelines in a sling.
It's uncertain whether Miller will be ready for the Razorbacks' next game, their SEC opener Sept. 19 against Georgia in Fayetteville.
For his game-opening 91-yard touchdown kick return, the sophomore Johnson of Texarkana was named the SEC's Co-Special Teams player of the week along with Florida's Brandon James.
Johnson became the first Razorback since Felix Jones against Ole Miss in2006 to return an opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Johnson also returned a 24-yard kickoff againstMissouri State.
Last year Johnson set a Razorback kick return record of 905 yards for a season, including a 96-yard touchdown return against Tulsa.
As a running back last year, Johnson netted 184yards on 36 carries, capping the season with a career-high 18 carries for 127 yards against LSU.
The Razorbacks were off Labor Day Monday and today hold the first of three bye-week practices before taking a weekendbreak while the coaches go recruiting.
While the Hogs are off Saturday, Georgia, 0-1 after losing last Saturday at Oklahoma State, hosts South Carolina in the SEC opener for both teams.
Sports, Pages 9, 10 on 09/08/2009
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