FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas linebackers Brooks Ellis and Randy Ramsey and strong safety Rohan Gaines, all starters, didn't finish because of injuries the Razorbacks' 52-14 nonconference victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday but should practice this week and play in Saturday's Southeastern Conference West game against Texas A&M, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said Monday.
Arkansas, 3-1, 0-1, and the sixth-ranked Aggies, 4-0, 1-0, clash at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on CBS at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Bielema said he anticipates freshman Ramsey and junior Gaines both practicing today. It marks the Razorbacks first practice in pads following Sunday's light day and Monday's off day.
Ellis, inadvertently hit by teammate Martrell Spaight as the two linebackers converged on a Northern Illinois ball-carrier, must pass tests before he's cleared to practice. Bielema said Ellis might have little contact this work this week but that the coach is optimistic Ellis will be recovered.
Sophomore junior college transfer Josh Williams replaced Ellis at middle linebacker during the first half of the Northern Illinois game and drew Bielema's praise both on the field and in the classroom off the team's latest academic report.
Senior receiver Demetrius Wilson, withheld from the Northern Illinois game upon aggravating an ankle injury from the Sept. 13 victory at Texas Tech, returns this week, Bielema said.
Fourth-year junior safety/special teamer Davyon "Sleepy" McKinney of Forrest City, in Arkansas' plans from preseason on, Bielema, defensive coordinator Robb Smith and defensive backfield coach Clay Jennings have said but not played yet in 2014 because of a lingering, fluctuating foot injury, should practice today, Bielema said.
McKinney practiced fine last Tuesday but was limping so by Thursday that Bielema devoted McKinney's weekend to recovery.
"We are getting to that point if he doesn't keep moving forward then I think we have to think about the surgery," Bielema said. "But the surgery is about a 6- to 8-week recovery and he has already had a redshirt. So you don't want to cross the bridge unless you have to."
Junior college transfer receiver Cody Hollister took Wilson's receiver time against NIU and earned Bielema's "honorable mention" among offensive players of the week along with junior quarterback Brandon Allen and sophomore left tackle Dan Skipper.
Junior receiver Keon Hatcher, six catches for 107 yards with a 44-yard touchdown and a great block on Korliss Marshall's game-opening 97-yard kickoff return, was "going away" the offensive player of the week for Arkansas, Bielema said.
Bielema said senior defensive end Trey Flowers was the team's defensive player of the week, enough to earn SEC defensive lineman of the week, with honorable mention to Spaight and sophomore cornerback Jared Collins.
Walk-on debuting kickoff man Adam McFain of Greenwood earned Bielema's special teams honorable mention but the special teamer of the week became shared by Osceola's Marshall for his return and sophomore tight end Jeremy Sprinkle of White Hall for his coverage.
"Jeremy Sprinkle was absolutely awesome in every phase of the kicking game that he's involved in," Bielema said. "He had the big hit on the punt, obviously, but did a nice job on the kickoff coverage and several other phases. Korliss Marshall to start the game off the way he did was pretty special."
Although 3-1 with the lone loss on the road to the fifth-ranked reigning SEC champion/national runner-up Auburn Tigers, Arkansas is the lone member of the seven-team SEC West not ranked in The Associated Press Top 25.
In national order, the West has Alabama third, Auburn fifth, A&M sixth, Ole Miss 10th, Mississippi State 14th and LSU 17th.
A&M, opening its season routing 52-28 in Columbia, S.C. the then ninth-ranked and even now 13th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks of the SEC East, certainly has earned its ranking, Bielema said Monday.
"A&M is obviously a top-10 team for a reason," Bielema said, noting A&M coach Kevin Sumlin replacing past Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel with sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill, off to a Heisman candidacy himself completing 97 of 139 passes for 1,359 yards with 13 touchdowns vs. one interception.
"I think they're averaging a score every seven plays. Under seven plays, actually, which is an incredible stat."
Sports on 09/23/2014