Turner lined up for start

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas linebacker A.J. Turner, a freshman from Lepanto, may be in line to make his first start when the Razorbacks play Kentucky on Saturday night.

Turner worked at the first-team weakside linebacker spot during Tuesday’s practice with senior Terrell Williams moving to middle linebacker in place of senior Alonzo Highsmith, who sustained a season-ending foot injury at Auburn last Saturday.

Highsmith leads the Razorbacks with 54 tackles this season. He underwent surgery on his right foot Monday and watched Tuesday’s practice while getting around with the aid of a medical scooter.

Turner played as a reserve and on special teams the first six games. He has eight tackles.

Williams, who has made three consecutive starts, is fourth on the team with 32 tackles.

Freshman cornerbacks Will Hines and Davyon McKinney, who both started last week, continued to work with the first-team defense, but sophomore Tevin Mitchel and senior Kaelon Kelleybrew practiced. Mitchel has missed the past four games after sustaining a concussion and having his gall bladder removed. Kelleybrew didn’t play against Auburn after sustaining a concussion during the previous game at Texas A&M.

Senior defensive end Tenarius Wright, who didn’tplay against Auburn because of a shoulder injury, wasn’t dressed out Tuesday.

Gragg update

Senior tight end Chris Gragg, who has missed the past two games because of a bone bruise on his leg, dressed out and went through individual drills on the sideline with a trainer but didn’t take part in the team portions of practice that were open to the media.

Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said Gragg is doubtful for the Kentucky game but that added his status is day-to-day.

Redshirt junior Austin Tate has started the past two games at tight end.

Fewer distractions

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson said when he went to the sideline lastSaturday at Auburn, he put on a headset to talk with offensive coordinator Paul Petrino and then draped a towel around his head.

“It was something I did there because you’re away, you’re in a road environment,” Wilson said.

“There’s a lot of distractions and you limit it. ... Just kind of something I did a little bit different.

“I think it helps you focus in on what they’re saying better as opposed to having people talking to you. I want to hear what [Petrino] has to say. I don’t feel like I had a problem with that in the past. I think it was just something that happened during the game.”

Petrino called plays from the press box during the Razorbacks’ 24-7 victory at Auburn after being on the sideline for the first five games this season, when theHogs were 1-4.

“I think it gave us a tremendous advantage in terms of things he was able to see up there,” Wilson said. “I think me being able to have a headset on and understand everything that they were talking about because you could hear, you can hear a number of those guys on the headset. I think that helped me out through the game.”

I’m from Houston

Freshman receiver Mekale McKay played at Louisville (Ky.) Monroe High School, so he should be extra pumped up to play Kentucky, right?

“If you asked him that, he always says he’s from Houston,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “I asked him that earlier in the year - ‘What’d you think of this?’ - and he said, ‘Coach, I’m from Houston.’ He grew up there. He moved to Louisville in high school, so I don’t know if it’s as big for him.”