Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

News and notes from Arkansas' football media availability on Monday...

I.Knile Looked Like Knile
Teammates got a chance to see Knile Davis run in situations where he was tackled to the ground late last week. He'll start against Jacksonville State and get hit in a game for the first time since Jan. 2011.

So how'd he look?

"Knile is still Knile," defensive end Chris Smith said.

Coaches and teammates all had praise for Davis' outing. Coach John L. Smith said Davis did lose his grip on the ball during his first carry, but was quick to note the ground caused the ball to pop out and go out of bounds, so it wasn't technically a fumble.

II. Righting Some Wrongs
Arkansas will be without a couple of players on Saturday against Jacksonville State, Smith confirmed. He would not elaborate on which players were serving suspensions.

"You'll figure it out," Smith said when asked to elaborate. Smith would only say that more than one player would be out "righting some wrongs."

Offensive tackle Jason Peacock is likely one of those who will miss playing time. Peacock was arrested in the offseason, but has met all conditions of his return to good standing up to this point.

III. Depth Chart Released
Arkansas has released its depth chart for the 2012 season opener against Jacksonville State (the full list is at the bottom of this post). Among the surprises/noteworthy items at a quick glance:

• Junior Brandon Mitchell will start at receiver just a few months after making the transition from quarterback.

• Freshman Mekale McKay has emerged as a starting receiver. Keon Hatcher, another promising freshman, is No. 3 behind Mitchell and junior Julian Horton.

• David Hurd will start at tackle opposite Brey Cook.

• Alvin Bailey has worked his way back into the starting lineup at guard. Coaches indicated he had been in trouble for academic shortcomings.

• Knile Davis will start at running back. This isn't a surprise, though Davis went through limited full contact in fall camp.

• OLB Jarret Lake, MLB Tenarius Wright and OLB Alonzo Highsmith are the listed starters at linebacker.

• Fullback Kiero Small is No. 2 at MLB behind Wright.

• Eric Bennett missed big chunks of camp because of injury, but is listed as the team's No. 1 safety.

Speaking Out
"I have definitely got a speech or talk planned for Friday night. ... We are not going to take them lightly. This is a statement game for us. This is the first time you guys are going to see us live and the rest of our state. And we are going to put on a show."
—Quarterback Tyler Wilson on opening with unheralded Jacksonville State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

DEPTH CHART
OFFENSE
WR 17 Brandon Mitchell (Jr., 6-4, 230); 2 Julian Horton (Jr., 6-1, 194); 4 Keon Hatcher (Fr., 6-2, 205)
WR 11 Cobi Hamilton (Sr., 6-3, 209); 19 Javontee Herndon (Jr., 6-1, 204)
WR 82 Mekale McKay (Fr., 6-6, 190); 81 Demetrius Wilson (Jr., 6-3, 180); 15 Keante Minor (So., 6-0, 205)
TE 80 Chris Gragg (Sr., 6-3, 236); 87 Austin Tate (Jr., 6-6, 253); 46 Alex Voelzke (RFr., 6-6, 220)
OT 69 David Hurd (Jr,. 6-6, 300); 70 Chris Stringer (So., 6-7, 304)
OG 76 Tyler Deacon (Sr., 6-4, 300); 75 Luke Charpentier (So., 6-4, 305)
C 64 Travis Swanson (Jr., 6-5, 305); 65 Mitch Smothers (So., 6-4, 296)
OG 67 Alvin Bailey (Jr., 6-5, 312);75 Luke Charpentier (So., 6-4, 305)
OT 74 Brey Cook (So., 6-7, 308) 71; Jason Peacock (Sr., 6-4, 305)
QB 8 Tyler Wilson (Sr., 6-3, 220); 10 Brandon Allen (RFr., 6-3, 212)
RB 7 Knile Davis (Jr., 6-0, 226) 33; Dennis Johnson (Sr., 5-9, 213) OR 20 Ronnie Wingo Jr. (Sr., 6-3, 231)
FB 36 Kiero Small (Sr., 5-10, 255); 40 Kody Walker (RFr., 6-2, 240)
K 18 Zach Hocker (Jr., 6-0, 180); 43 John Henson (So., 5-11, 138)
P 14 Dylan Breeding (Sr., 6-1, 211); 18 Zach Hocker (Jr., 6-0, 180)
SNP 53 Alan D’Appollonio (So., 6-0, 201); 56 Will Coleman (Jr., 6-3, 253)

DEFENSE
DE 86 Trey Flowers (So., 6-4, 243); 41 Austin Flynn (Jr., 6-5, 260)
DT 54 Byran Jones (Jr., 6-2, 312); 51 Alfred Davis (Sr., 6-1, 318); 57 Jared Green (Sr., 6-0, 315)
DT 92 DeQuinta Jones (Sr., 6-5, 299); 98 Robert Thomas (Jr., 6-3, 308)
DE 42 Chris Smith (Jr., 6-3, 251); 90 Colton Miles-Nash (Sr., 6-6, 261)
OLB 39 Jarrett Lake (Jr., 6-3, 223); 24 Daunte Carr (So., 6-3, 224)
MLB 43 Tenarius Wright (Sr., 6-2, 252); 36 Kiero Small (Sr., 5-10, 255)
OLB 45 Alonzo Highsmith (Sr., 6-1, 233); 25 Terrell Williams (Sr., 6-3, 232)
CB 8 Tevin Mitchel (So., 6-0, 192); 13 Davyon McKinney (RFr., 6-3, 190); 9 Will Hines (Fr., 6-1, 185)
S 35 Ross Rasner (Sr., 6-0, 212); 27 Alan Turner (So., 6-0, 212)
S 14 Eric Bennett (Jr., 6-0, 206); 26 Rohan Gaines (RFr., 5-11, 190)
CB 21 Darius Winston (Sr., 6-0, 191); 23 Kaelon Kelleybrew (Sr., 5-11, 180)

SPECIAL TEAMS
H 16 Brian Buehner (So., 5-11, 195);  14 Dylan Breeding (Sr., 6-1, 211)
KOR 33 Dennis Johnson (Sr., 5-9, 213); 22 Nate Holmes (Fr., 6-1, 175); 20 Ronnie Wingo Jr. (Sr., 6-3, 231)
PR 33 Dennis Johnson (Sr., 5-9, 213); 15 Keante Minor (So., 6-0, 205)