.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Bobby Petrino has never had a difficult time finding and developing offensive talent.
The Arkansas coach's ability to build offensive depth has been tested to its fullest the past two weeks. So far, Petrino and his offense have passed that test.
When the 19th-ranked Razorbacks (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) host Vanderbilt (2-5, 1-3) on Saturday, they'll likely do so with a starting quarterback, Ryan Mallett, who has been knocked out of each of the past two games with injuries.
Mallett returned to practice Tuesday, but the team's top two receivers, Greg Childs and Joe Adams, are still out after sustaining ankle injuries in the win over Mississippi last week.
The injuries haven't slowed Arkansas' offense the past two weeks. Mallett missed more than three quarters of a 65-43 loss at Auburn two weeks ago after suffering a concussion, but backup quarterback Tyler Wilson threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns to help the Razorbacks outgain the Tigers 566-470.
In addition to Mallett's absence because of a bruised throwing shoulder for much of the second half last week against Ole Miss, Arkansas also was without Childs and Adams. The duo has combined for 71 catches for 1,116 yards this season, but junior Jarius Wright and sophomore Cobi Hamilton stepped in and finished with a combined four catches for 86 yards against the Rebels.
''They both made big plays in the fourth quarter there that helped us win the game,'' Petrino said. ''They can run all the routes, and we like them to be in 1-on-1 matchups because they are both very fast.''
Wright saw plenty of action last season for Arkansas, starting 12 of 13 games and finishing with 41 catches and five touchdowns. Hamilton started only one game last season, finishing with 19 catches.
Against Ole Miss, he came off the bench and had a key 40-yard reception from Wilson in the fourth quarter, and he had a 71-yard touchdown reception earlier this season against Texas A&M.
''That goes to Coach Petrino having a good offensive system and getting everybody reps in practice,'' senior offensive tackle DeMarcus Love said. ''And having guys like Tyler Wilson ready to come in and not miss a beat. That's just good coaching, that's all that is.''
Also, sophomore running back Knile Davis helped the Razorbacks when Ole Miss twice pulled within a touchdown in the fourth quarter, rushing for 176 yards and three touchdowns as Arkansas held on for the 38-24 win.
Davis is familiar with the offensive depth, having split carries with as many as three other running backs during his two seasons with the Razorbacks.
''I mean, we're a great team,'' Davis said. ''That was a big hit, losing Mallett, Childs and Joe, but we're all good. We got riled up, our leaders stepped up like (Love), and Tyler came in and we got it done.''
Arkansas is 12th in the country in total offense this season, averaging 477.7 yards. It's a familiar spot in the offensive hierarchy of college football for Petrino, whose teams have finished in the top 10 in total offense six other times in his career.
The Razorbacks finished 20th in total offense last season, Mallett's first as a starter at Arkansas after transferring from Michigan and sitting out a year.
Mallett said Petrino's reputation as an offensive coach has helped recruit depth and talent.
''We've got a bunch of guys who came in wanting the ball,'' Mallett said. ''You can't give the ball to everybody, but we've got guys that can step in and play when they're called on.''
Arkansas leads the SEC in passing offense at 352.1 yards per game, a ranking the Razorbacks have held all season. A 197-yard rushing effort against Ole Miss last week helped lift Arkansas from the basement of the conference's rushing totals. Led by Davis' effort, the team is now next-to-last in rushing at 125.6 yards per game.
''It's hard to get pressure and stop the run and stop the pass,'' Vanderbilt coach Robbie Caldwell said. ''They're pretty well balanced. Even though they've got a lot of throwing statistics, they can hand that ball off.''
---
AP Sports Writer Teresa Walker in Nashville, Tenn., contributed to this report.
