In spite of a shoulder injury against Georgia running back Michael Smith will be full speed for the Alabama game according to head coach Bobby Petrino. |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark--Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino says linebacker Jerry Franklin will likely start against Alabama Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa. Frankin was ejected in the second quarter of Arkansas game with Georgia on a penalty that appeared to cause a huge momentum shift to the Bulldogs.
"He's hurting," Petrino said of Franklin at the team's Monday afternoon press conference. "It's hard on him. He feels like he let his teammates down. He and everyone else will learn from it. As of right now, he will start against Alabama."
Starting running back Michael Smith, who missed much of the first half of the Georgia game with a shoulder injury, will start the game against Alabama as well.
"He'll (Smith) be good to go," Petrino confirmed. "He felt good yesterday. He's got good strength in his shoulder. We'll keep him non-contact on Tuesday, and if he's ready for contact on Wednesday and Thursday, he'll be ready to go. He's a big part of the offense, but we haven't been able to establish him yet."
The Razorbacks will also get one of their injured receivers back in time to face the Tide. Lucas Miller, who broke a collarbone in a preseason scrimmage, has been working out for a week now.
"Lucas Miller will be back this week and he will help keep everyone fresh," said Petrino who noted that Arkansas needed more receivers in their rotation against Georgia. "Lucas is a great leader in that receiving group. It's great to have an older guy come back from injury. He will be hungry and ready to go. He will want the football. We will get another weapon back with him."
The Alabama game is the Razorbacks second straight SEC game on national TV against a ranked opponent. Petrino said even though losing to Georgia was a disappointment he thinks the Hogs will be better able to handle the pressure of big games this season:
"I think we've made a lot of progress from last year to this year in terms of handling the pressure. We need to get a win though. You need to be in that game, at home, and win the game, and then you feel good about it. We certainly feel like we can compete with anybody but now it's time to learn how to win a big game like that."
The Arkansas-Alabama can be seen Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm on KFSM and CBS.
"He's hurting," Petrino said of Franklin at the team's Monday afternoon press conference. "It's hard on him. He feels like he let his teammates down. He and everyone else will learn from it. As of right now, he will start against Alabama."
Starting running back Michael Smith, who missed much of the first half of the Georgia game with a shoulder injury, will start the game against Alabama as well.
"He'll (Smith) be good to go," Petrino confirmed. "He felt good yesterday. He's got good strength in his shoulder. We'll keep him non-contact on Tuesday, and if he's ready for contact on Wednesday and Thursday, he'll be ready to go. He's a big part of the offense, but we haven't been able to establish him yet."
The Razorbacks will also get one of their injured receivers back in time to face the Tide. Lucas Miller, who broke a collarbone in a preseason scrimmage, has been working out for a week now.
"Lucas Miller will be back this week and he will help keep everyone fresh," said Petrino who noted that Arkansas needed more receivers in their rotation against Georgia. "Lucas is a great leader in that receiving group. It's great to have an older guy come back from injury. He will be hungry and ready to go. He will want the football. We will get another weapon back with him."
The Alabama game is the Razorbacks second straight SEC game on national TV against a ranked opponent. Petrino said even though losing to Georgia was a disappointment he thinks the Hogs will be better able to handle the pressure of big games this season:
"I think we've made a lot of progress from last year to this year in terms of handling the pressure. We need to get a win though. You need to be in that game, at home, and win the game, and then you feel good about it. We certainly feel like we can compete with anybody but now it's time to learn how to win a big game like that."
The Arkansas-Alabama can be seen Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm on KFSM and CBS.
