Ark starting RB injured in scrimmage today

[Dossenator]

Well, the SEC's leading rusher last year and starting RB for Arkansas (Knile Davis) was injured in practice today. He was carted off the field and was unable to put pressure on one of his legs. It is amazing that Davis led the SEC in rushing last year. He did not even become Ark's starter until week 5 I believe. He still rushed for over 1,300 yards (13 TD's) and he did his best damage against the best teams: 110 (3TD) against South Carolina, 187 (2TD) against Mississippi State, 152 (1TD) against LSU, and 139 against Ohio State. If you take the games he started and project those numbers for the first four games where he was not a starter and his numbers would have been better than any of Darren McFadden's seasons. That's how good Knile Davis was last year when he go the starting job.

Arkansas lost RB Broderick Green for the season with an injury sustained in Spring ball. If Knile Davis is down then you will see a mix of: Dennis Johnson (senior, missed last year with a bowel injury sustained in the first game of the year), Ronnie Wingo, and true freshman Kodi Walker.

Here is the story:
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.co ... s/related/

I will be holding my breath (like most Razorback fans) until I hear about the severity of his injury. Davis missed his senior year of high school ball due to a broken ankle, and he sustained a season ending ankle injury his freshman year at the UofA. I hope we are not looking at another situation where he misses a year. Davis was a real Heisman contender this year.

[Dossenator]

Message boards are reporting that he broke his ankle/leg, had surgery tonight, and will miss the season.

This is just like last year is true. Dennis Johnson was named the starter, fell on the ball in the first game, and ruptured his bowels. He was gone for the season. No one knew at the time that Knile Davis would explode onto the scene. Hopefully one of the others guys will step up big time. I have to remain optimistic.

Injuries are a part of football...but man your starting RB (the #1 rusher in the SEC last year...and he did not start the first 4 games). That is a big blow.

[Eric]

Yeah I know how it feels. Mikel LeShoure just tore his Achilles and is out for the year without having ever taken an NFL snap. You feel awful because you don't know what could have been and know that your team will not be heading into the season at full strength.

[Dossenator]

http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewA ... =205242192

Well, he is out for the year. It is an ankle injury.

So far Davis' injury list:
1. Missed senior year football due to a broken ankle (2008)
2. Missed freshman year at UofA due to a broken ankle (larger screws were put in ankle) (2009)
3. In spring ball before last year he broke his collar bone (2010)
4. Yesterday sustained a season ending ankle injury (2011)

Davis was named to the Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award watch lists. He was considered a Heisman candidate. He was the returning leading rusher in the SEC.

I feel bad for the kid. I hope he can recover from this. These injuries will keep him from making the big bucks in the NFL. He has the body, the talent, etc but they will not invest in a guy prone to injury.

Pat Forde tweeted that before this injury he thought Arkansas was a NT contender. He then tweeted he did not think they were anymore. I can't believe that the lose of one player will have that much of an impact. Yes Davis was a key to last year's success. But I have to believe one of the other highly touted recruits will be able to step up. Whether it be Wingo, Walker, or Dennis Johnson running like he did two years ago before his bowel injury.

I for one am not righting off the season like I am reading from most Razorback fans on message boards. That's crazy. I still think the Hogs have a chance at a very special season. They have 4 WR's named to the Biletnikoff watch list, they have a very good QB in Tyler Wilson, the defense is going to be stout (especially the front 7), the secondary is fast, tall, and physical, and luckily the RB core is a deep position on the team (even with the loses of Davis and Broderick Green).

Go Hogs!!!!

[Cane from the Bend]

Apparently he was a team captain too.

Knile Davis led all SEC running backs with 1,322 yards rushing last season, averaging 147 yards per game over the final seven games.

That's unfortunate, not just for the team, but the player as well.

Any chance of taking the step towards the nfl is downgraded, due to his being prone to injure.

Hopefully Petrino takes advantage of the lighter D-lines vs Missouri St, New Mexico and Troy in those first three games; giving the backfield a chance to build confidence & experience before the rigors of the SEC schedule.

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[Dossenator]

Well Dennis Johnson was the starter going into last season and the year before. A season ending injury to DJ last year is what gave Knile Davis the chance to shine.

Here is a look at Dennis Johnson to see what kind of back he is. He will be the starter now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKPoZ1d1FWQ

That one run is impressive. Dennis Johnson stiff arms, stiff arms, stiff arms, runs a guy over, and stiff arms a guy out of bounds. And not one Gator could bring him down. He is a stud returner as well. The Hogs will be fine, but I feel bad for Knile Davis. The Hogs need no more injuries at RB though. They are down to two guys with experience and a true freshman.

Here is the highlight video from last season for Ark....watch how Knile ran the ball. He will be missed but if you watch the video above of Dennis Johnson you will see the Hogs will be in good hands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6oIvE5mWAA

[Cane from the Bend]

It's the classic night & day analogy.

Davis is more elusive, and has stupid fast acceleration, blazing between the line-backers before they can react, speeding his way towards the D-backs.

Johnson is a very physical, tough and rugged runner. Though, he doesn't quite have the break away speed Davis has.

That could play against them.

You can pound the ball at the D into fatigue, or you could wind up tiring out your own man.

You simply have to rotate when you are planning on power running.

Also, with all of the experience they have, they are not game fresh, seeing as how long it has been since they took true competition snaps.

However, as long as Petrino gives them significant field time in those first 3 games, the Hogs should be alright.

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[Dossenator]

It's the classic night & day analogy.

Davis is more elusive, and has stupid fast acceleration, blazing between the line-backers before they can react, speeding his way towards the D-backs.

Johnson is a very physical, tough and rugged runner. Though, he doesn't quite have the break away speed Davis has.

That could play against them.

You can pound the ball at the D into fatigue, or you could wind up tiring out your own man.

You simply have to rotate when you are planning on power running.

Also, with all of the experience they have, they are not game fresh, seeing as how long it has been since they took true competition snaps.

However, as long as Petrino gives them significant field time in those first 3 games, the Hogs should be alright.

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There will be a rotation. Dennis Johnson will be the starter (but he will not get all the carries). Ronnie Wingo will probably get 6-8 carries a game (if he is hot then more), and true freshman Kodi Walker will get goal line and short yardage carries more than likely (I am guessing...Walker is something like 240 and the coaches have been raving about how hard he is to bring down during practice).

It does hurt having your top two backs from last year out for the season due to injury (Broderick Green and Knile Davis), but if the above three backs can stay healthy the Hogs should be fine.