FAYETTEVILLE — Mallett not able to finish
A bruised right shoulder sidelined Arkansas starting quarterback Ryan Mallett for the Razorbacks’ final series in the third quarter and all of the fourth quarter in their 38-24 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday.
Mallett said he couldn’t get “any velocity” behind his throws and the team doctors and coaches made the decision to go with backup quarterback Tyler Wilson.
Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said he expects Mallett will be ready to play against Vanderbilt next week.
“There’s no damage done to the labrum or rotator cuff or anything like that,” Petrino said. “... I think he’ll be OK.
“It’s just a matter of him getting his strength back and being able to throw the ball.”
Mallett said he’ll be ready to play against the Commodores.
“I’ll be good,” he said. “It’s just a little bruise.”
Mallett was unable to finish a game for the second consecutive week after suffering a concussion in the Razorbacks’ 65-43 loss at Auburn last week.
“Obviously it’s not what I hope for, but it’s part of the game,” Mallett said. “Getting banged up, I just had to go with what the coaches and doctors said.”
Arkansas backup quarterback Tyler Wilson was 3 of 5 for 71 yards against Ole Miss after throwing for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns in relief of Mallett against Auburn.
“I think the team was confident in him anyway,” Mallett said when asked if Wilson’s performance last week made his teammates more comfortable Saturday.
“They see him in practice and see him make throws a lot of people can’t make.
“I think the team just understands that we’ve got quarterbacks that can play.
There’s no doubt about that 1 through 4 or 5. We’ve got quarterbacks that can play.” Record return
Junior Joe Adams’ 97-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter set a school record, breaking the previous mark of 95 yards by Ken Hatfield against Tulsa in 1963.
Ankles, ankles
Arkansas’ top two receivers, Greg Childs and Joe Adams, were sidelined by sprained ankles in the second half against the Rebels.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Coach Bobby Petrino said about their status for next week. “I didn’t hear the word ‘high,’ so I’m happy about that. Hoping that’s not what it is.”
High ankle sprains usually have a lengthy healing process.
Bad timing
It appeared Arkansas had stopped an Ole Miss drive when quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was taken for an 8-yard loss, which would have resulted in fourth-and-14 from the Ole Miss 41.
But an official announced that Arkansas had called timeout before the snap to have the previous play - on which the cornerback Isaac Madison was called for pass interference and Ole Miss was called for a chop block - reviewed by the replay official.
The replay official ruled the pass was tipped, but after Madison had made contact, and the Rebels had thirdand-6 from their 49.
Ole Miss then kept the drive alive and eventually scored a touchdown on Masoli’s 43-yard pass to Markeith Summers to pull within 24-17 with 11:39 left.
Not good
Ole Miss Coach Houston Nutt wasn’t pleased when punt returner Jesse Grandy, a sophomore from Pine Bluff Dollarway, made a fair catch at the Ole Miss 4 in the first quarter.
“That was ridiculous, ridiculous,” Nutt said. “Jesse, poor decision there. I don’t know what he was thinking.
He wasn’t paying attention.” Ray’s turn
Redshirt freshman Lance Ray became the fifth Razorback to be deep man on kickoff returns this season. He had three returns Saturday for 66 yards.
Arkansas’ other deep returners have been Dennis Johnson, Maudrecus Humphrey, Joe Adams and Cobi Hamilton.
Johnson, a junior who has been the primary kickoff returner since his freshman season, underwent bowel surgery after being injured in the second game against Louisiana-Monroe and likely is out for the rest of the season.
Captain Walker
Former Arkansas defensive tackle Jimmy Walker, an All-American as a senior in 1978, was the Razorbacks’ honorary team captain for the pregame coin toss. Walker is a member of Arkansas’ All-Decade team for the 1970s.
Big foot
Freshman Zach Hocker’s 46-yard field goal in the third quarter that gave the Razorbacks a 24-3 lead was his third made kick this season of 46 yards or longer.
He also has hit twice from 48 yards, against Georgia and Alabama.
Sports, Pages 36 on 10/24/2010