Razorback Watch

FIRST DOWN: Smith A Game-Time Decision Arkansas running back Michael Smith has continued to practice this week, but his status for Saturday’s game at top-ranked Florida remains uncertain.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said Thursday that Smith is a game-time decision because of a nagging hamstring injury suffered in last week’s 44-23 win against Auburn.

“Michael got out there (Thursday) and did some work. Right now, I’d say it’ll probably be a game-time decision,” Petrino said. “But I’m encouraged in the fact that he did get some work (Wednesday) and more (Thursday).”

Smith had a breakout game in the Auburn win, rushing for a season-high 145 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries to go along with one catch for 12 yards. He’s the Razorbacks’ leading rusher with 325 yards and two touchdowns.

Petrino said he is confident his other tailbacks could get the job done if Smith is unable to play, but he didn’t want to disclose who would get the start in the senior’s place.

“I’ll kind of wait on that one,” Petrino said, grinning.

Meanwhile, Petrino said wide receiver Jarius Wright has looked good in practice this week and hasn’t shown any ill effects from the concussion he suffered against Auburn.



TWO-MINUTE DRILL

• Petrino said freshman quarterback Brandon Mitchell will be sidelined for awhile with what he believes is an inguinal hernia, which occurs in the groin area.

In the meantime, redshirt freshman Jim Youngblood has worked at tight end and quarterback in practice. The former Camden Fairview quarterback was moved to tight end before the start of the season.

“He’s been able to do both,” Petrino said.

• Petrino said wide receiver Joe Adams will make the trip to Florida, even though his status for the remainder of the season is uncertain after suffering what was described as a mild stroke last week.

• Walk-on quarterback Nick Petrino, the son of Bobby Petrino, has spent the past few days playing the role of Florida’s Tim Tebow in practice. So how has the sophomore done in mimicking the Heisman Trophy winner?

“He’s a lot smaller than Tim Tebow,” Bobby Petrino said, laughing.



INSIDE SCOOP

Arkansas wide receiver London Crawford admitted he played a bit tentatively in his first game back from a broken collarbone, but he feels better going into his second game.

Crawford caught two passes for 10 yards against Auburn, but also got more playing time than he had expected. The senior had missed the previous three games because of a broken collarbone suffered in a 48-10 win over Missouri State in the Sept. 5 season opener.

“Right now, I’m just feeling kind of great about it. I took a couple of hits on (my collarbone),” Crawford said. “It feels pretty good, so I’m ready to go.”

Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said Crawford had his best practice earlier this week, and the senior admitted he has more confidence than he did when he first returned from the injury.

“This is a big week for us. We’re going to go in there, play the game that we can play, play as hard as we can and go all out,” Crawford said. “And I feel like I had to come to practice with that mindset.”