FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has lost starting middle linebacker Alonzo Highsmith for the rest of the season because of a foot injury he suffered at Auburn on Saturday, Razorbacks Coach John L. Smith said Monday.
Highsmith was scheduled to undergo surgery Monday because of a ligament injury in his foot, Smith said.
Highsmith, a senior from Missouri City, Texas, has a team-high 54 tackles last season. He had 80 last season when he became a starter after transferring from Phoenix College.
“It’s a big blow,” Smith said of losing Highsmith. “It’s just something that we have to [deal with], and I think our football team realizes that. We’ve had to adjust for other guys missing time, and whoever is there has to step in and play and go make plays.”
Freshman Otha Peters replaced Highsmith against Auburn and finished with five tackles, but Smith said Peters may not start against Kentucky Saturday. Smith named junior Jarrett Lake and senior Matt Marshall as possible replacements, noting that Peters and freshman A.J. Turner also will have to get more playing time at linebacker along with senior starter Terrell Williams, who has started the last three games at the weakside spot.
Marshall has spent the fall on the scout-team defense, but has played in all six games on special teams. He’s played in 31 games during his Arkansas career. Lake has been listed as a starter on the depth chart throughout the season, but hasn’t started or played at linebacker.
“We can bounce some guys around,” Smith said. “That’s what we’re going to have to do.
“It will probably be a little bit of, fill the void by committee. All of them are going to have to get ready to go and be ready to practice, and be ready to play hard.”
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Injury report
Coach John L. Smith said senior tight end Chris Gragg, who has missed the last two games because of a bone bruise on his leg, ran “very gingerly” Sunday night. He remains questionable for the Kentucky game.
Sophomore cornerback Tevin Mitchel, out the last four games after a concussion and then having his gall bladder removed, practiced on a limited basis last week and is looking to be full go.
“Tevin informed the coaching staff and the team that he is going to be ready to go this week,” Smith said.
“That’s his diagnosis. It will be great to get Tevin back.”
Senior defensive end Tenarius Wright missed the Auburn game because of a shoulder injury. He was scheduled to undergo testing Monday and is questionable.
Senior cornerback Kaelon Kelleybrew should be able to practice this week and play, Smith said, after being sidelined by a concussion.
SEC honors Flowers
Arkansas sophomore defensive end Trey Flowers was named SEC defensive lineman of the week after having 3 1/2 sacks in the Razorbacks’ 24-7 victory at Auburn.
“Congratulations to Trey,” Coach John L. Smith said. “He deserves it. It was great to see him go home and smile and have such a great a day.”
Flowers, of Huntsville, Ala., wasn’t offered a scholarship by either Alabama or Auburn. He chose Arkansas over Georgia Tech. He has 15 tackles this season, including 7 for losses of 58 yards. He also has five quarterback hurries.
Stat corrrection
Tyler Wilson’s passing numbers against Auburn got even better Monday after some adjustments were made to the final statistics.
Wilson is now credited with completing 22 of 29 passes for 230 yards after being listed 20 of 27 for 216 yards in the game book.
Auburn’s stat crew initially credited Cobi Hamilton with two rushing attempts for 14 yards. After film study, those plays where changed to pass completions.
The corrected stats mean Wilson completed 72 percent of his passes (71 of 99) in three games against Auburn for 824 yards.
Arkansas (2-3, 1-2 SEC)
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION RESULT/TIME
Sept. 1 Jacksonville St. Fayetteville 49-24, W
Sept. 8 La.-Monroe Little Rock 34-31 (OT), L
Sept. 15 Alabama* Fayetteville 52-0, L
Sept. 22 Rutgers Fayetteville 35-26, L
Sept. 29 Texas A&M* College Station, Texas 58-10, L
Oct. 6 Auburn* Auburn, Ala. 24-7, W
Oct. 13 Kentucky* Fayetteville 6 p.m.
Oct. 27 Ole Miss* Little Rock TBA
Nov. 3 Tulsa (HC) Fayetteville TBA
Nov. 10 So. Carolina* Columbia, S.C. TBA
Nov. 17 Mississippi St.* Starkville, Miss. TBA
Nov. 23 LSU * Fayetteville 1:30 p.m.
*SEC game
Sports, Pages 15 on 10/09/2012