Davis practicing with Razorbacks
Running back Knile Davis is practicing with No. 6 Arkansas again, offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said Tuesday.
Davis, a junior, suffered what was described as a season-ending ankle injury in the preseason. It was unclear whether he would return to a game this season.
''I don't get to make those decisions, so I try to stay out of stuff I don't have anything to do with,'' McGee said.
''Knile is the man. He battles back, he's tough, he doesn't get down. He's on the sidelines, he's in the meetings and he's really helped us a lot this year. He's helped us without carrying the football.''
Davis rushed for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, the most for any running back in the Southeastern Conference.
He was a preseason all-SEC selection before breaking his ankle during a team scrimmage on Aug. 11. The injury, which required surgery, was the fifth major one for him in less than four years.
''He was really focused on having a huge season,'' McGee said. ''When that happened to him, we were sad for him, that he was not going to be able to help us this year and play the game he loves to play.''
Arkansas running backs coach Tim Horton said Davis had been cleared to return to practice in the past two weeks. He spent Tuesday going through several individual drills and some team drills.
''He's close to being ready to play,'' Horton said. ''Whether he will or not remains to be seen and he probably won't. It's really nice to have him out there doing what he can right now.''
If Davis can return, he would assist an Arkansas running game that ranks ninth in the SEC with 144.4 yards per game. The Razorbacks lead the league in scoring offense, total offense and pass offense.
Arkansas (9-1, 5-1 SEC) has won six consecutive games heading into Saturday's home game against Mississippi State. The Razorbacks finish the regular season at No. 1 LSU on Nov. 25.