FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will have most of its players back from injuries for Saturday’s game against Texas Tech, head coach Bret Bielema said Monday.
The only player that won’t play in Lubbock, Texas, is cornerback Tevin Mitchel, who has been battling a hamstring injury. Bielema said the senior is as close as he’s ever been to being healthy, but still isn’t involved in the game plan.
“We’re getting to that point, to be quite honest, where the redshirt thing really becomes a tangible issue right now,” Bielema said. “If he’s not involved in next week’s game plan, then it’d probably be a decision to redshirt him unless something catastrophic happens at corner.”
Mitchel has started 24 games during his career with the Razorbacks.
Freshman linebacker Randy Ramsey suffered a mild ankle sprain in Wednesday’s practice and was held out of the Nicholls State game so he could rehab. He will return to practice Tuesday.
Safety Davyon McKinney (heel) and wide receiver JoJo Robinson (leg) have not played this year, but Bielema said they would see their first game action against the Red Raiders.
The Razorbacks wanted to play Robinson, a true freshman from Miami, Fla., against Nicholls State, but he could not push off of his leg, which was stepped on during Wednesday’s practice.
McKinney might have been able to play in Arkansas’ 73-7 win over the Colonels, but the coaching staff decided to sit him until the Texas Tech game.
“He’s an incredibly tough kid and he really wanted to play last week,” Bielema said. “He kept coming up to me and buttering me up a little bit. We just felt to held him and preserve him for this game would be huge.”
Similarly, defensive end Deatrich Wise, Jr., who played some against Auburn, was held out of the Nicholls State game to keep him healthy for this Saturday.
Bielema said he might limit Wise in practice, but he should be involved in the Razorbacks’ game plan for the Red Raiders.
Two players – safety De’Andre Coley (hamstring) and running back Korliss Marshall (arm) – suffered injuries against Auburn and did not play against the Colonels. Both should play Saturday.