FAYETTEVILLE — UA stars receiving treatment
Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said he expected quarterback Ryan Mallett to be able to practice at least a little bit today as Mallett recovers from what Petrino called a bruised throwing shoulder.
Mallett was one of three key Arkansas skill players injured in the Hogs’ 38-24 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday.
In succession, receivers Joe Adams and Greg Childs, then Mallett came out during the third quarter against Ole Miss. Adams and Childs had twisted ankles.
“They all came in yesterday for treatment, twice, and we’re in here early this morning,” Petrino said at his Monday news conference.
Petrino reported that all three were significantly better early Monday and that they faced another treatment session later in the day.
“It’ll probably be a day to-day situation,” Petrino said. “I think Ryan will be able to practice some [today], and right now I don’t know about the other two.” Sunday off
Bobby Petrino switched up Arkansas’ normal routine this week by giving the team Sunday off following the lengthy game against Ole Miss, which stretched nearly five hours because of two weather delays. Between an early wake-up and the long game, the Razorbacks were at the football stadium for nine-plus hours.
“I felt like everyone felt like I did Saturday night when it was about 8 o’clock, and it felt like 1 o’clock in the morning,” Petrino said.
“It was the first time I’ve ever been a part of anything like that,” linebacker Jerico Nelson said. “To have the day off was a big thing on our legs.”
The Razorbacks held meetings Monday night and will begin practicing for Saturday’s homecoming match against Vanderbilt today.
Mallett makes cut
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Mallett has completed 145 of 215 passes for 2,040 yards, with 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. The junior from Texarkana ranks ninth with 291.4 passing yards per game and with a 163.7 efficiency rating.
The other semifinalists are Southern California’s Matt Barkley, Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins, TCU’s Andy Dalton,Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert, Baylor’s Robert Griffin III, Oklahoma’s Landry Jones, Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick, Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez, Boise State’s Kellen Moore, Auburn’s Cameron Newton, Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor, Michigan’s Denard Robinson, Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi and Oregon’s Darron Thomas.
Mallett has thrown for 300-plus yards in five games, tying the single-season school record he set in 2009.
Quotebook
“It’s all up to Coach Petrino. He felt confident enough to give me 22 carries this game, and I made him not regret it.” - Arkansas tailback Knile Davis on his workload against Ole Miss, which produced a career high 176 rushing yards and three touchdowns
Adams honored
Arkansas’ Joe Adams was chosen as the SEC special teams player of the week Monday.
Adams had three punt returns for 120 yards in the Hogs’ 38-24 victory over Ole Miss, including a school record 97-yard return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
The junior from LIttle Rock, who also had two catches for 49 yards against Ole Miss, posted the fifth longest punt return in SEC history.
Tube talk
The Arkansas at South Carolina game Nov. 6 has been picked up by ESPN for a 6 p.m. Central broadcast.
It will mark the Razorbacks’ second appearance on ESPN, following their 31-24 victory at Georgia on Sept. 18.
Net punting
Arkansas fell 18 spots to No. 85 in net punting after a subpar day by the punt team.
Sophomore punter Dylan Breeding had a 41.7-yard average for the game, down a couple of yards from his normal average. But the team’s net punting included a 49-yard touchback for a 29-yard net, and punts that were returned 19 and 33 yards by Ole Miss’ Jesse Grandy, the Pine Bluff Dollarway product, that hurt the Hogs’ net.
Sports, Pages 21 on 10/26/2010