LOOKING BACK Grant done for year

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has lost a second starter on defense to a season-ending knee injury.

Junior free safety Michael Grant tore ligaments in his left knee in the Razorbacks’ 26-20 victory at South Carolina on Saturday night and won’t be able to play the rest of the season, Coach Houston Nutt said Sunday.

“I hate to see us lose Michael Grant,” Nutt said. “He was playing such good football.

“ It breaks your heart to see him so upset he can’t finish the year.”

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Grant was injured while making a leaping attempt to knock down a pass from Blake Mitchell to Sidney Rice that resulted in a touchdown with 13: 50 left in the fourth quarter.

Nutt said Grant heard a pop in his knee as he jumped in the air, then landed on it awkwardly.

“It looked awful,” Nutt said.

Grant moved from cornerback to free safety last spring and had started the first nine games at his new spot, helping solidify the position.

Two years ago Grant ran the leadoff leg on Arkansas’ NCAA championship 400-meter relay team and his sprinter’s speed gave the Razorbacks a measure of security in preventing big plays by opposing offenses. His 41 tackles rank ninth on the team this season and his 3 interceptions (all against Louisiana-Monroe ) lead the Razorbacks.

Junior Matt Hewitt, a junior college transfer, opened this season as the backup free safety after an impressive fall camp, but he’s started the past six games at strongside linebacker in place of sophomore Freddie Fairchild, who suffered torn knee ligaments in the second game against Utah State and is sidelined for the year.

Nutt said Hewitt will stay at linebacker, so the options to replace Grant as a starter for Saturday’s game against Tennessee include junior Kevin Woods and sophomore Elston Forte.

Woods has been the backup free safety and he finished the South Carolina game after Grant’s injury. Forte is the backup strong safety, but has played free safety, too.

Nutt said cornerbacks Jamar Love and Jerell Norton also are possibilities to play at free safety, but Woods will get the first shot in practice this week.

Senior cornerback Darius Vinnett, who intercepted a pass on South Carolina’s final drive, possibly could play free safety, but Nutt said that move is too big of a risk because Vinnett has been limited to two games this season because of knee injuries and redshirted last year after undergoing knee surgery.

“If we knew Vinnett could handle the hitting, we’d put him back there,” Nutt said. “But you can’t do it.” Other injuries

Several other Razorbacks were injured against South Carolina, including sophomore tailback Darren McFadden (ankle ), junior fullback Peyton Hillis (knee ), and senior guard Stephen Parker (knee ).

Nutt said he expects all three to be ready for the Tennessee game.

McFadden was in the training room to get treatment at 4 a. m. Sunday, Nutt said, after the Razorbacks flew home from South Carolina.

“He’s a tough guy,” Nutt said. “The toughest guy I’ve ever met.”

McFadden was injured when South Carolina linebacker Jasper Brinkley made a “horse-collar” tackle by grabbing the back of his shoulder pads and pulling him down.

“I wish they had the rule [in college ] like the NFL has [against such tackles ] because getting hit in the back of the neck... that’s pretty dangerous,” Nutt said. Off to the races

Arkansas sophomore Darren McFadden has 2, 151 rushing yards in 20 games, including 406 in two games against South Carolina.

McFadden had a career-high 219 yard in Saturday night’s game after having 187 against the Gamecocks last season.

McFadden became the first opposing player with a 200-yard rushing game against South Carolina since 1997, when Tennessee’s Jamal Lewis had 205.

McFadden’s previous careerhigh rushing yards was 190 against Georgia last season. In the rankings

Arkansas was ranked 11 th across the board Sunday in the Bowl Championship Series standings, the Associated Press poll and the USA Today poll. Beating Spurrier

South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier had been 4-0 against Arkansas before Saturday night’s game, including 3-0 when he was at Florida.

“Everybody has a lot of respect for Steve Spurrier and the things that he’s done and the championships he’s won,” Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said. “It’s so much better talking about [a victory over Spurrier ] than saying, ‘We can’t beat Steve Spurrier.’”

Nutt said Spurrier was “real gracious” in the postgame handshake and complimented the Razorbacks for their play. Nice block

Senior Anthony Brown got Arkansas’ first blocked kick of the season when he went untouched up the middle to block a punt by South Carolina’s Ryan Succop that resulted in a safety.

It was the first block by a Razorback since Kyle Dickerson had one at Alabama last season to set up a field goal. Give Carolina credit

The Gamecocks had 289 passing yards, but Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said the Razorbacks’ position on coverages wasn’t that bad.

“When you watched the film, we actually were in good position covering very well,” Nutt said. “We could play the ball better and get our head around and jump for it and all the things we talk about. But for the most part, you have got to give [credit ] to [wide receiver ] to Sidney Rice, [quarterback ] Blake Mitchell and [receiver Kenny ] McKinley.” Did you notice ? Junior fullback Farod Jackson made his first career reception with a third-quarter catch for 18 yards. The Razorbacks won the coin toss for the eighth time in nine games this season. Darren McFadden has had at least one rushing touchdown in six consecutive games. Cornerbacks Darius Vinnett and Johnny Johnson each made their first starts of the season when the Razorbacks opened in a multiple-defensive back set. LOOKING AHEAD Up next

Arkansas (8-1, 5-0 SEC ) plays Tennessee (7-2, 3-2 ) at 6 p. m. Central on Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN 2.

It will be the first time Arkansas and Tennessee have played since 2002, when the Vols beat the Razorbacks 41-38 in six overtimes at Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennessee comes into the game off a 28-24 loss to LSU.