Roles change for freshmen due to injuries

Freshman tailback Brandon Holmes isn't alone in getting an increased role as Arkansas prepares for Saturday's game against No. 25 Georgia at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The redshirts appear to be off fellow freshmen Radale Pearson and Steven Harris as they suddenly figure into the Razorbacks' game plan after being relegated to scout-team duties just last week.
The same injuries -- to Cedric Cobbs and Fred Talley -- that elevated Holmes to Arkansas' No. 2 tailback have made Pearson the No. 3 back. Pearson also could figure in on the Razorbacks' special-teams units, which lost Talley and George Wilson.
"We just need fast, smart guys like Radale, and I think he can help us right now," Coach Houston Nutt said. "We're trying to win the conference."
Harris most likely will play on special teams, but receivers coach Fitz Hill said as long as he's going to play, he will get a look at receiver, too.
"The situation is different today than it was three weeks ago," Hill said. "[Harris] has a lot of the same things that Richard Smith brings to the table as far as getting yards after the catch. He's also got good hands and he's a very intelligent kid. The learning process for him is not very difficult."
If Pearson and Harris play Saturday, they will join Holmes, Shane Collins and Bo Mosley as true freshmen who have played this season.

JOHNSON SLATED TO START
Derrick Johnson made his presence felt in Arkansas' 28-21 victory over Alabama on Saturday, returning a fumble 24 yards to set up the touchdown that gave the Razorbacks at 14-14 tie at halftime.
Arkansas co-defensive coordinator Bobby Allen said Johnson has made his presence felt enough the last two games that he is scheduled to start at bandit against Georgia.
Senior Jeremiah Harper, who started the first three games at bandit, will still get plenty of playing time, Allen said.
"[Johnson] had a real good game [against Alabama], and with the type of offense [Georgia] is running and the way he's playing right now, he's probably going to get the nod to start," Allen said. "But with our rotation, and the way we do everything, that doesn't really mean anything. Harper's going to be in there and play just as much."

PERFECT TIMING
Arkansas' game-winning drive against Alabama had the most plays (13) of any Razorbacks drive this season.
Offensive line coach Mike Markuson was more pleased, however, with the timing of the drive, than the length.
"We didn't quit," Markuson said. "That's the one thing -- with all the adversity we had in that game, they didn't quit."

TIGHT END ALERT
Alabama tight end Terry Jones Jr. burned Arkansas with two catches for 53 yards. Now Arkansas gets to go against Georgia tight end Randy McMichael, who has seven catches for 111 yards this season.
McMichael's 15.9-yard per-catch average is higher than any Razorbacks receiver's other than Boo Williams'. Williams is averaging 28.8 yards.
"[McMichael] can block, he can catch and he can run when he catches it," Coach Houston Nutt said. "I'm sure the Georgia coaches see that as an advantage for them."
Arkansas won't be able to find McMichael if it simply looks next to the tackle on every play. Georgia used McMichael as an H-back and fullback in Saturday's 37-0 rout of New Mexico State, and Coach Jim Donnan liked the results.
"I was real pleased with the way Randy played," Donnan said. "We'd never used him in the backfield before. He had some tremendous blocks, he gives us some point-of-attack running that we didn't have. That multiple look certainly helped and created some open areas for us."

GOOD GUY
Arkansas sophomore center Josh Melton will be featured during Jefferson-Pilot's broadcast of the Georgia-Arkansas game as this week's SEC Good Works Team player of the week.
Melton, of Batesville, participates in the Razorback Readers Program, which works with local elementary schools, is a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, is active in Arkansas Athletes Outreach and participated in the NCAA Leadership Conference.
Melton also was a member of the 1999-2000 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Jefferson-Pilot features one member of the SEC Good Works Team during its weekly telecast.

SIDELINES
Arkansas is 3-0 for just the second time in the last 11 seasons. The other time was in 1998, Houston Nutt's first year as coach. The last time -- excluding 1998 -- Arkansas opened a season 4-0 was 1989. ... The last time an Arkansas team opened a season 3-0 and didn't go to a bowl game was 1966. ... The Georgia offensive line has allowed just two sacks in four games, and the Bulldogs have the fewest penalty yards (97) of any team in the SEC. ... Arkansas and Georgia rank 1-2 in the SEC in third-down conversion rate. The Razorbacks have converted 24 of 45 attempts (53.3%). The Bulldogs have converted 15 of 32 (46.9%).

TUESDAY'S INJURY REPORT
PLAYER POS. INJURY STATUS
T. Bua BAN Hamstring pull Practiced
R. Garner DE Ankle sprain DNP
C. Glenn TE Foot sprain DNP
S. Money LT Ankle sprain DNP
B. Shockley OT Arch sprain Practiced
M. Snowden WR Hip bruise Practiced

SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT SITE RESULT/KICKOFF
Sept. 2 SW Missouri St. Little Rock W, 38-0
Sept. 16 Boise State Little Rock W, 38-31
Sept. 23 Alabama* Fayetteville W, 28-21
Sept. 30 Georgia* Fayetteville 11:30 a.m.
Oct. 7 La.-Monroe Fayetteville 6 p.m.
Oct. 14 S. Carolina* Columbia, S.C. 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 Auburn* Auburn, Ala. 1 p.m.
Nov. 4 Ole Miss* Fayetteville 1 p.m.
Nov. 11 Tennessee* Knoxville, Tenn. 12:30 p.m.
Nov. 18 Mississippi St.* Starkville, Miss. 1 p.m.
Nov. 24 LSU* Little Rock 1:30 p.m.
*SEC game
All times Central

This article was published on Wednesday, September 27, 2000

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