Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

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

I. Early Exit
Arkansas didn’t engage in full contact Monday, but there was a big enough collision to force linebacker Tenarius Wright into an early exit.

Wright made contact with running back Knile Davis during inside run drills. Players weren’t tackling to the ground, but the impact was enough to shake up Wright, who Coach John L. Smith said was being evaluated post-practice.

Team medical personnel examined Wright after the play. He was driven off the field moments later in cart, an athletic trainer riding behind him to help keep him sitting upright.

Davis said the collision didn’t seem out of the ordinary.

“I didn’t even know he was hurt until after practice,” Davis said. “I saw he wasn’t in there. We’ll see. I don’t know what happened to him.”

Arkansas was already without linebacker Alonzo Highsmith, who was injured Saturday. He sat out after sustaining what Smith described as a hamstring tweak.

Freshman Otha Peters and senior Terrell Williams got work in place of Highsmith and Wright.

II. Getting Heated
Energy was high when Arkansas donned full pads for the first time in fall camp. Emotions were also amped up a bit.

Coaches and support staff had to break up a skirmish between sophomore offensive lineman Mitch Smothers and freshman defensive tackle Darius Philon. Other players jumped into the fray, including defensive end JaMichael Winston, Philon’s former high school teammate. Defensive tackle Jared Green was taken to the ground by strength and conditioning coach Jason Veltkamp after Green got involved.

Smith addressed the team once order was restored. Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said the incident wasn’t a reason to be alarmed.

“That's just football, no big deal,” Petrino said. “That's just a part of practice that happens every once in awhile. Guys get fired up flying around and things happen.” 

III. Wilson ‘Struggles’
As good as quarterback Tyler Wilson is, there are days he struggles.

Petrino noted Wilson didn’t have his best day Monday. Wilson, in fact, missed more throws than he has in months.

Wilson’s “bad” days are still pretty dang good.

“I think sometimes we start thinking he’s going to hit 500 throws in a row, but he did miss a couple today,” Petrino said. “[We will] go back and watch tape he’ll probably end up being like, 25 for 28 or something.”

Speaking Out
“It’s going to be pretty hard, but I know that guy, and I know how hard he’s going to work and rehab. He’s one of those guys that’s determined. When he puts his mind to something, he can do it. I’ve seen him to do it, so I think there’s a good chance he can come back.”
—Tight end Chris Gragg on former high school and college teammate Greg Childs, who suffered season-ending knee injuries in Minnesota Vikings camp Saturday.