So much for Arkansas making a run for the SEC West Title. Standout tailback Knile Davis (1322 yards rushing and 14 TDs) has been lost for the entire season with a left ankle injury confirmed by the University this morning.
And there goes Arkansas' chances of unseating Alabama or LSU with one severe pop of the ankle. Losing Davis for the season is terrifying for the Razorbacks despite returning multiple starters on both sides of the ball. Davis was suppose to be the star. The darkhorse Heisman contender who led the SEC in rushing last season. This season many considered him up there with Alabama's Trent Richardson and South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore as the league's best. I actually saw scenarios where Arkansas rode Davis' broad shoulders all the way to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta.
Arkansas will now look to regroup despite losing QB Ryan Mallett to the NFL (the Patriots got a steal in the 3rd round) and Davis to injury. Remember the Razorbacks also lost RB Broderick Green (expected to be Davis' backup) for the season due to a torn ACL during the offseason.
Now Arkansas will rely on juniors Dennis Johnson (explosive but coming off an injury depleted 2010 season) and Ronnie Wingo Jr. (5 starts last season and finished with 253 yards rushing) to pick up the slack left by Knile's injury. Head coach Bobby Petrino has gone through this before at Louisville when he lost Michael Bush for the season. It should be pointed out that Louisville still won the Big East and went to a BCS Game. But this isn't the Big East and the SEC is a meat grinder.
Arkansas will start off 3-0 with wins over Missouri State, New Mexico, and Troy but the Sept. 24th trip to Tuscaloosa followed by home games versus Texas A&M and Auburn could be deadly for the Razorbacks season. I see an 8-4 team now with Davis gone and a trip to Atlanta for the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.
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