Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

News and notes from Tuesday’s Arkansas football media availability…

I. Knile Davis Back
Running back Knile Davis has returned to practice for No. 6 Arkansas.

Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee confirmed Davis worked out in pads on Tuesday. It is unclear if Davis, who broke his ankle Aug. 11 and was declared out for the 2011 season, will receive playing time this week against Mississippi State or at some point this season.

“I don’t get to make those decisions, so I try to stay out of stuff I don’t have anything to do with,” McGee said.

Davis returned to practice last week. But running backs coach Tim Horton said the preseason all-SEC pick has yet to get hit since his injury, and Davis hasn’t picked up right where he left off in running for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010.

“He’s like any kid, he wants to play,” Horton said. “So we’ll see what happens.”

Davis hasn’t been in the lineup, but has been a fixture on the Arkansas sidelines this season. He travels with the team for road games and even when he hasn’t practiced coaches and teammates say he’s been involved.

Having Davis around has helped lift the Razorbacks’ spirits in practice and on game days. Davis, elected a team captain prior to the season, was in the weight room doing upper body work within a month of breaking his ankle.

“Knile is the man,” McGee said. “He battles back. He’s tough. He doesn’t get down. He’s on the sideline, he's in our meetings.  He’s helped us a lot this year without carrying the football. He’s a part of what we have going on right now.”

Arkansas is off to the best start of the Bobby Petrino era, but has struggled to run the ball consistently this season without Davis. Currently the Razorbacks are ninth in the SEC in rushing at 144.4 yards per game, though they did post 254 yards on the ground against Tennessee.

Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen said he respected Arkansas’ running backs with or without Davis on the field. Getting Davis back at full-speed would be a good addition for the Razorbacks.

“I’m sure it would give an uplift to the team, but I don’t know how healthy he’d be,” Mullen said. “Obviously if he’s 100 percent it would be a big plus for them.”

Davis finished strong in 2010, but started slow and struggled throughout spring practice. Prior to his injury in fall camp Davis had been running well.