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Bobby Petrino has big plans for running back Knile Davis.
The Arkansas coach just isn't quite sure how he will handle Davis' return to football when the Razorbacks open spring practice on Wednesday.
Petrino said Davis is ''100 percent'' healthy and recovered from a fractured left ankle that cost him all of last season. He also expects plenty of production this fall from the junior, who briefly considered leaving for the NFL after last season.
''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 all Southeastern Conference running backs in rushing in 2010 as a sophomore, finishing with 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was particularly effective after taking over as the primary back at midseason, averaging 147 yards over the final seven games of the season.
Davis was expected to be the focal point of Arkansas' offense last season, but he injured his ankle during a preseason practice in August. He returned to practice during the Razorbacks' prep for the Cotton Bowl but didn't face in live contact and didn't play in the 29-16 win over Kansas State.
Petrino said he plans to keep a close eye on Davis, but he isn't concerned about protecting Davis or his lengthy history of injuries. The broken ankle was his third dating back to high school, and he's also broken his collar bone before.
''I mean, he's a football player,'' Petrino said. ''He knows that's what he does, and he's very, very good at it. He's one of the biggest, strongest, fastest guys on the field, so we expect him to come back and be full speed and be ready to go.''
Arkansas finished 11-2 last season without Davis, with its only losses coming at Alabama and LSU. It led the SEC in total offense, averaging 445.8 yards per game but enters its first spring after the departure of former offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, who left for Alabama-Birmingham before the Cotton Bowl.
Paul Petrino returned from a two-year stint at Illinois to fill McGee's position. Petrino watched Davis as a freshman at Arkansas before leaving for the Illini, and he likes what he's seen from the running back during his offseason recovery.
''He's the fastest and strongest guy on the team, so I'd say that's pretty darn good,'' Petrino said.
The Razorbacks enter spring with several other question marks on offense, primarily at wide receiver. The team's top three receivers over the past four seasons, Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs, each completed their eligibility after last season and are expected to be taken during the upcoming NFL draft.
The three combined for 141 catches for 2,009 yards receiving last season, but their absence has opened the door for youngsters like Julian Horton, Javontee Herndon and Marquel Wade. Senior Cobi Hamilton is expected to lead the receiving corps after catching 34 passes for 542 yards last season.
''I think that's the exciting thing about spring ball,'' Petrino said. ''A lot of times when you know you're a backup, you kind of get used to that role, but now there's a whole bunch of guys gone.''
One position that has few question marks is quarterback, where senior Tyler Wilson returns after earning first-team All-SEC honors in his first season as the starter. Like Davis, Wilson briefly considered declaring for the NFL draft after last season before deciding to return for another chance at a national championship.
Wilson's backup position, though, will be one of the most watched throughout spring and into the summer. Junior Brandon Mitchell played sparingly last season as the backup, but redshirt freshman Brandon Allen is listed as the backup entering spring after Mitchell spent the last few months playing for the Arkansas basketball team.
