FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas junior starting quarterback Ty Store passed concussion protocol Sunday and is ready to start Saturday's 11 a.m. Southeastern Conference game for the Razorbacks against Vanderbilt.
The Hogs (2-6, 0-4) will host the Commodores (3-4, 0-4) at 11 a.m. at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. The game will be shown on the SEC Network (Resort Channel 79).
Storey, of Charleston, was removed during the fourth quarter of Arkansas' 37-33 loss to Ole Miss (5-3, 1-3) on Oct. 13 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. He practiced a week ago and Wednesday in the no-contact green jerseys all Arkansas quarterbacks wear in practice, but he did not pass concussion protocol by the week's end.
True freshman Connor Noland, of Greenwood, started Saturday's 23-0 non-conference home victory against Tulsa (1-6, 0-3 American Athletic Conference). Third-year sophomore backup Cole Kelley played in short-yardage situations.
"He is cleared and was great and everything, excited to be back and ready to go," Morris said in his Monday press conference while the Razorbacks take their weekly NCAA-mandated day off.
Morris said Storey was on the sideline Saturday assisting Noland and Kelley.
"Looking back and watching the film, we definitely missed Ty's leadership on the field," Morris said. "But it was good to see him helping out on the sidelines."
Craddock said he fully believes Storey is ready to pick up where he left off, exiting the Ole Miss game up, 33-24. The offense did not punt in the game until after he left with a head injury.
"He's doing good," Craddock said. "He tried everything he could do last week to play. He prepared himself as if he was going to get the nod. He just couldn't clear the protocol. I know he wanted to play. But he passed his test yesterday and he'll be ready to go this week."
Morris and Craddock both praised Noland for his poise as a freshman under fire. He recovered a fumble by running back Rakeem Boyd on Arkansas' first play and overcame throwing an interception on that first series.
With four games to play, Nolan can play a maximum of two and still preserve his freshman eligibility for 2019 under the NCAA's new rules. His only previous experience was mop-up duty in the ugly 44-17 loss to North Texas (6-2, 2-2 Conference) in September. Morris said the coaching staff will play the situation by ear through the rest of the season.
Noland not only started for an injured starter, but he had a redshirt freshman starting at left oggensive tackle because junior starter Colton Jackson, of Conway, awoke Saturday morning with severe back spasms. Hackson missed the season's first two games after recovering from back surgery in July.
Jackson was replaced by Dalton Wagner in the starting lineup. Senior right guard Johnny Gibson, of Dumas, also injured his knee during the game and was replaced by junior Austin Capps, of Star City.
Boyd and redshirt senior Jared Cornelius sustained injuries during the game. Reserve T.J. Hammonds was on crutches Saturday after undergoing surgery. He likely will not play again in 2018 and will be eligible to redshirt having played in just four games.
"It was good to find a way to get it done, considering all the injuries that we've had to deal with on this side of the ball," Morris said.
On defense, starting cornerback Jarques McClellion exited Saturday's game with an injury. Morris said Jackson's back spasms were not related to his back surgery and that he is listed as "probably" for Vanderbilt.
Morris said Gibson is "day-to-day," "Boyd is back," Cornelius will be reevaluated for an ankle injury and McClellion should play on Saturday, as should cornerback Montaris "Buster" Brown, who had a groin injury.
Special teams player and reserve nickel back Nate Dalton apparently remains in the coach's doghouse. Dalton was banished by Morris to the locker room for his deadball foul after a Tulsa fair catch.
"He won't be around this week," Morris said Monday.
Arkansas' defense yielded more than 600 yards of total offense to Ole Miss and No. 1 Alabama (8-0, 5-0) in the previous two weeks. Defensive coordinator John Chavis said he wanted cause to attend Monday's press conference with a smile.
"Obviously, it's a better feel today," Chavis said. "But what we've got to do to keep that better feel is get better."
Sports on 10/23/2018