Arkansas' Knile Davis Finally Cleared For Contact

Arkansas Football: Knile Davis Could Finally Get Taste Of Live Action

Arkansas Razorbacks running back Knile Davis could finally participate with live contact on Friday.

Davis, who has been out for an entire year because of a fractured ankle sustained in practice last August, will participate in a mock game on Friday as the team prepares for their season opener against Jacksonville State on Sept. 1.

Razorbacks coach John L. Smith doesn't know how much action Davis could get in the mock scrimmage.

It's a deal like if he takes the first handoff and breaks three tackles and scores, then that's enough - which you'd like to see. That's going to be something that we'll kind of play by ear and let Knile kind of determine a little of that.

The one thing that could give Razorback fans a pause is the fact that every injury that Davis has received while at Arkansas occured during scrimmages. In Davis' last full season of play, he rushed for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010. He could be a possible Heisman Trophy candidate if he stays healthy.

For more on Hogs football, visit Arkansas blog Arkansas Expats, plus SEC blog Team Speed Kills.

Knile Davis Returns To Arkansas Football, But No Hitting Just Yet

While Arkansas RB Knile Davis has been cleared to return to practice after missing the entire 2011 season with a serious ankle injury in the pre-season, the Razorbacks coaching staff is being careful with their star RB, as he sat out the contact drills in the team's first scrimmage of the spring on Friday:

"He's been doing everything full speed,'' Petrino said. "He's been cutting, making everything, looks good. There's just something in consulting with our medical staff, and we made the decision that let's not tackle him today."

The 6'1 225 RB had a dominant sophomore season in 2010, rushing for 1,322 yards and 17 TD's on 6.5 yards per carry.

He took part in the non-contact portion of the scrimmage, but he stood on the sidelines once Arkansas' offensive and defensive units split off for some live tackling.

The Razorbacks will have two more scrimmages before their spring game on April 21.

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For more on Hogs football, visit Arkansas blog Arkansas Expats, plus SEC blog Team Speed Kills.

Arkansas Spring Football: Knile Davis '100 Percent' Healthy, Ready To Return

The Arkansas Razorbacks begin spring football on Wednesday, and one of their best players is set to make his return. Running back Knile Davis, who missed all of 2011 after suffering a gruesome left ankle injury last year in preseason practice, will give the SEC's most explosive offense a weapon to replace what it's losing to the NFL Draft.

Coach Bobby Petrino says Davis is ready to return to form ... too ready to stick around for more than a year, in fact:

"I count Knile as a senior because basically this will be his last year and then he'll come out, go in the draft,'' Petrino said Tuesday. "We'll list him as a junior because he redshirted last year, but we anticipate him having a great year and coming out. That's what the plan is, that's what he needs to do.''

Davis led the SEC in rushing in 2010, and he was able to return to practice before last year's Cotton Bowl. There was some word that he might be able to participate against Kansas State, but he didn't quite make it all the way back just then.

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For more on Hogs football, visit Arkansas blog Arkansas Expats, plus SEC blog Team Speed Kills.

Knile Davis Will Return To Arkansas, Postponing Jump To The NFL

Arkansas running back Knile Davis has decided to stay in school at least one more year, postponing his inevitable foray into the NFL draft. He didn't play in a single game this past season after breaking his left ankle during a scrimmage last August, but as a sophomore in 2010 he rushed for 1,322 yards, best among all SEC running backs.

"I have made the decision to return to the University of Arkansas for the 2012 season as I am determined to help this program accomplish the goals we have set in place," Davis said in a statement released by Arkansas' athletic department. "My injury was unfortunate, but I feel I have worked extremely hard for the opportunity to lead the Razorbacks on the field. Through my setback last season, I remained positive and was committed to persevering and I plan to apply those principles to this year's team.

"I believe Coach (Bobby) Petrino is the best coach in America, and he has put this program back on the national stage. He has instilled in everyone the expectation to be great and that we will win championships. ... Also, our fans make playing for the Razorbacks a great experience. I can't wait for another season with them and my teammates in 2012."

Even without Davis, the Razorbacks finished 11-2, ranking No. 5 in both the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls. Davis admitted earlier this month that he submitted paperwork to the NFL's draft advisory board to learn where he stands in the eyes of the league's decision-makers and was thinking about making the jump.

"I would love to come back and do what I didn't do this year, what I think I could have," Davis said at the time, according to ArkansasNews.com. "But at the same time, you know, a lot of different variables play a part in that and I have to take that under consideration."

It seems likely that Davis received feedback from the NFL between then and now, helping make his decision that much easier. If he can produce a season in 2012 like he did in 2010, it's possible he'll receive consideration as a first-round pick in 2013.

Knile Davis Won't Play Vs. Mississippi State, Says Bobby Petrino

Arkansas Razorbacks running back Knile Davis has made an amazing recovery from a preseason broken ankle, but isn't quite ready to return to the field. Though he's practicing, coach Bobby Petrino denied he'll play this Saturday against the Mississippi St. Bulldogs.

That doesn't rule out an eventual return against the LSU Tigers, of course, a game that could swing the entire national title picture.

Petrino also added that Davis has been practicing for several weeks now, but still has "hardware" to remove from his leg. Backs coach Tim Horton described Davis as close to coming back.

Davis went down in early August during practice, suffering extreme pain and putting a dent in Arkansas' hopes for the year. They've done just fine without him, and there's the question of how much of an impact he could really make at this point, but his return could be a big inspirational boost if he's able to make it back against LSU.

For more on the Hogs, visit Arkansas blog Arkansas Expats.

Arkansas' Knile Davis Might Play Football This Year, But Should He?

It was assumed that when Arkansas running back Knile Davis fractured his ankle in August, he was lost for the season. Turns out, that might not necessarily be the case. Would playing him at this point bring a boost to the Hogs' run at an unlikely BCS title game appearance?

Knile Davis Returns To Practice For Arkansas

Knile Davis may not be lost for the entire season after all. The Arkansas running back, who suffered a fractured ankle during a team scrimmage in August, practiced in pads on Tuesday, Razorback offensive coordinator Garrick McGee confirmed to ArkansasSports360.com. 

It's not yet known if Davis will see any action in this week's game against Mississippi State, but Davis revealed on Twitter that his recovery is going well:

Davis, a preseason All-SEC second-team selection, recorded 204 carries for 1,322 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns in 2010, adding 19 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown through the air. He helped carry the Razorbacks to a 10-2 record and Sugar Bowl berth, ultimately falling to Ohio State. 

In his absence this season, Dennis Johnson (77 carries, 508 yards, three TDs) and Ronnie Wingo, Jr. (81 carries, 380 yards, three TDs) have shared most of the rushing duties. Arkansas is currently 9-1 (5-1 SEC).

Knile Davis Injury: Arkansas Press Release Confirms Ankle Fracture

Arkansas has wasted no time in issuing a press release on the status of star running back Knile Davis, following a grisly injury in Thursday's practice. As reported late last night, the would-be Heisman contender will miss the entire 2011 season with a broken ankle: 

"I am extremely disappointed for Knile," UA head coach Bobby Petrino said. "He is a captain who was incredibly focused on the upcoming year. His leadership throughout the offseason was significant in the development of this team. Our athletic trainers and medical staff are the best in the country, and Knile's mental toughness will be an asset to him during the recovery process. I am fully confident in the mindset of our running back group and their ability to perform."

On that last point, Petrino is entirely accurate. With Ronnie Wingo and Dennis Johnson healthy in the stable, there's no reason to think the Razorbacks can't remain competitive even in the deep and dastardly SEC West. But for even non-Arkansan fans of the game, 2011 just lost some luster. 

Knile Davis Injury: Arkansas RB To Miss Season With Broken Ankle, According To Report

The morning after Arkansas' Knile Davis left a team scrimmage with a scary ankle injury, Tracy Wolfson of CBS Sports reports that the star running back will be out for the year. She tweets:

Huge loss. Looks like Arkansas RB Kniles Davis is out for the year with a fractured ankle. Feel terrible for him and the hogs. #arkansas

This is an enormous blow to the Arkansas program. In Davis, they're losing an all-SEC running back who recorded over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010. But while Friday's news is devastating, it isn't terribly shocking. The mood following Thursday's scrimmage was a somber one, with one witness describing Davis' scream as "so loud it will haunt us in our dreams."

Follow along with this StoryStream for further updates. And for more on Arkansas football, check out SB Nation's Razorbacks blog, Arkansas Expats.

Knile Davis Injury Draws Strong Reactions On Twitter

Knile Davis Injury: Heisman Contender Injures Left Leg In Practice

Star Arkansas running back Knile Davis has been carted off the practice field, unable to put any weight on his left leg.