Razorbacks Report

Williams' recovery on track

Arkansas running back Rawleigh Williams runs during the second quarter of a game against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.
Arkansas running back Rawleigh Williams runs during the second quarter of a game against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said doctors who performed running back Rawleigh Williams' neck surgery informed him Thursday morning Williams is on track in his rehabilitation.

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"They told me he couldn't be in any better shape from a recovery standpoint," Bielema said on his weekly radio show Thursday night.

Williams needed surgery after a helmet-to-helmet collision with a defender during Arkansas' 54-46 four-overtime victory Oct. 24.

Bielema provided several updates for injured Arkansas players during the program, including that senior tailback Jonathan Williams will not be able to return for the Razorbacks this season.

"His return date won't be anything for us," he said. "He might be ready for the Senior Bowl."

Williams, an 1,190-yard rusher last season, suffered a torn ligament in his foot during a scrimmage Aug. 15.

Bielema said receiver Keon Hatcher, who broke a bone in his foot Sept. 12, is "still a ways away, not close to being ready."

Bielema said linebacker Josh Williams, who had a rod measuring 7-8 inches inserted into his broken leg after Arkansas' 24-20 victory at Tennessee on Oct. 3, had a setback and will not be ready to return by spring practice.

"Hopefully he'll be able to join us in the fall," Bielema said.

Cast call

Receivers coach Michael Smith must feel like there is a revolving door in his meeting room after going through a season like no other at his position.

The Razorbacks have lost three receivers to injuries for multiple games this season -- but got one back last week and might get another this week -- and had two dismissed.

"I've never coached a year like this," Smith said. "For me, it's been a learning experience also. It's made me have to step my game up. It's a challenge that I've accepted and I've enjoyed it.

"To have the guys playing as well as they're playing right now, I have to keep my fingers crossed and knock on wood."

Jared Cornelius played last week against Tennessee-Martin and had four catches for 33 yards after missing four games with a broken left arm. Cody Hollister (broken foot) has missed six games but is practicing and might play against Ole Miss. Keon Hatcher (broken foot) is still in rehab. He's eligible for a medical redshirt after playing in only the first two games.

Jojo Robinson and Kendrick Edwards were dismissed and granted scholarship releases.

In the wake of so many roster issues with the receivers, the Razorbacks have gotten big contributions from Drew Morgan (35 catches for 498 yards) and Dominique Reed (11 for 237). Damon Mitchell (4 for 72) had his first touchdown catch last week.

Beanum bash

Arkansas defensive end Tevin Beanum said a group of family and friends will make the drive to Oxford, Miss., from his hometown of Forrest City for Saturday's game.

It's the closest SEC road game available for Arkansas fans from Forrest City.

"I got a few of my relatives going, my mom, my sister, and some close friends," said Beanum, who recovered a fumble in Arkansas' 30-0 victory over the Rebels last season.

SEC Nation

Arkansas opened the season as the host location for the traveling SEC Nation show, and the Razorbacks are scheduled to be part of the on-site show again Saturday.

SEC Nation is scheduled to broadcast its weekly show from The Grove in Oxford, Miss., from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Weather report

The forecast for game day in Oxford, Miss., according to weather.com is for a kickoff temperature of 56 degrees at 2:30 p.m. with a 15 percent chance for rain. The possibility of rain decreases through the course of the game, and the temperature is expected to drop into the low-50s by 6 p.m.

Nkemdiche named

Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche was named Thursday as one of 12 semifinalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award, given annually to college football's top lineman on offense or defense.

Nkemdiche, a 6-4, 296-pounder who is considered a high draft pick for next spring's NFL Draft, was named a mid-season All-America pick by several outlets. The Loganville, Ga., native is also a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award. He has 21 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks on defense and has scored 3 touchdowns as a big back on offense.

"Obviously Nkemdiche is as talented as it gets," Arkansas guard Frank Ragnow said.

Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman extolled the talent of the entire Ole Miss front seven.

"They've got four defensive linemen that are outstanding and their linebackers are good," Pittman said. "They make a lot of plays.

"We'll see what happens. We're definitely working on our leverage this week and we're going to have to get underneath them. If we don't, they're going to shove us into the backfield."

Bear down

Ole Miss shot to No. 3 in The Associated Press poll after upsetting No. 2 Alabama 43-37 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Sept. 19, but the Rebels lost twice in their next four games, 38-10 at Florida and 37-24 at Memphis.

Coach Hugh Freeze said there were a combination of factors at work in those losses.

"We could go into a lot of things, but maybe we listened to too much of the noise around the fact that we went in to Tuscaloosa and won," Freeze said. "Obviously some of it had to do with injuries, playing without guys that were very much the leaders on our football team.

"Even trying to get through the 10-game stretch without a break and backing off some, maybe we lost some of our intensity and attention to detail. I think it's more likely a combination of all of those."

Duwop does it

Sophomore receiver Duwop Mitchell, a former quarterback who has taken pitch plays, run end-arounds and thrown passes in addition to catching it, showed his versatility by taking reps at tailback in practice last week.

"He's really kind of our third-string tailback right now, 3A and 3B with him and Denzell [Evans], and he runs the ball really well when it's in his hands," Coach Bret Bielema said. "He's got two more years to play and he's fun to be around."

Expansion

Ole Miss' Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is in the midst of a two-year expansion project that will increase capacity from 60,580 to 64,038 by adding 30 luxury suites and 770 club level seats and by enclosing the north end zone. The premium seating was completed in time for this season, and the north end zone work, which will feature a "front door" entry with a plaza and bell tower, should be in place by 2016.

Charting the Rebs

Ole Miss is ranked in the top 25 for the 27th consecutive week, the longest streak for the program since 1957-1962. The Rebels' 7-2 record matches their best through nine games in the past 25 years.

Ole Miss has scored 355 points this season, an average of 39.4 points per game and double the amount of 177 (19.7 per game) allowed by its defense.

Sports on 11/06/2015

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