FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas tailback Knile Davis’ struggles continued again last Saturday against Rutgers, when the preseason All-SEC first-team pick rushed 10 times for 17 yards in a 35-26 loss. He has 64 carries for 208 yards through four games and is averaging 3.3 yards per attempt.
Davis wasn’t among the Razorbacks made available for interviews after Tuesday’s practice, but his teammates said he’s staying positive after missing all of last season because of a broken ankle.
“I think he’s always been a grinder,” receiver Brandon Mitchell said. “He’s still mentally focused. ... Like today, he came out and was just running full speed like he always does, just trying to get better.”
Davis rushed for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010.
“It’s tough coming back off of an injury,” guard Alvin Bailey said. “It’s his first time playing in awhile. He’ll get back to himself. We’re four games in. We’ve still got eight more. We’ve still got a long ways to go.”
Damontre’s da man
Texas A&M is averaging 5.3 sacks to lead the nation with junior end Damontre Moore doing much of the damage. Moore is averaging a national-best 2.0 sacks through three games and has 12 sacks in seven games going back to last season.
“The defensive end is a stud,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “We’ve got to do everything we can to have different people chipping him and hitting him and coming from different directions to block him.
“He causes the most of [the sacks]. He either gets them himself or flushes them into other people.”
Petrino said the Aggies’ linebackers and defensive backs also have helped create coverage sacks.
“A lot of it is four-man rush,” Petrino said. “They do a good job covering and then they sack the quarterback. ... If we can get the ball off, then I think we have a good matchup with our skill guys against their secondary. We just have to make sure we protect long enough.”
Injury report
Arkansas tight end Chris Gragg was not on the field during the 20-minute media viewing portion of Tuesday’s practice. Gragg suffered a deep bruise to his left leg in the first quarter against Rutgers.
“We wouldn’t have been able to count on him today, but it looks like he’s getting better, sounds like he’s getting better,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said.
Cornerback Tevin Mitchel, who has missed the past two games after suffering a concussion and gall bladder surgery, did not dress out Tuesday. Mitchel watched and encouraged his fellow corners from the sideline.
Senior guard Tyler Deacon, who missed the Rutgers game with an undisclosed ailment and was replaced by Luke Charpentier, split time with the first-teamers Tuesday.
“Deacon’s back feeling better this week, so those two are competing,” Petrino said. “They split the exact same amount of reps in practice. They’ll do that the next two days and whoever is practicing best will start.”
Safety Eric Bennett did limited work during the early portion of practice, and sophomore Alan Turner worked with the starters when Bennett rode the stationary bike.
Mixed bag
Arkansas’ first four opponents are a combined 10-4 this season. Both Jacksonville State and Louisiana-Monroe are 1-2, while Alabama and Rutgers are 4-0 and ranked.
The Scarlet Knights jumped into the Associated Press poll at No. 23, while the Crimson Tide remained No. 1.
Jacksonville State has beaten Chattanooga (27-24) and lost to Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Kentucky (51-21) since losing 49-24 to Arkansas. The Warhawks have fallen at Auburn (31-28, OT) and at home to Baylor (47-42) since defeating the Hogs.
Worth noting
The Razorbacks wore their white helmets at Tuesday’s practice, perhaps signaling they could be in all white for their road opener.
Will Hines and Kaelon Kelleybrew worked with the first-team defense at cornerback Tuesday, while Terrell Williams remained as a starting linebacker along with Alonzo Highsmith. Tenarius Wright stayed with the defensive ends.
Sports, Pages 24 on 09/26/2012