FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks will hold wide receiver Jared Cornelius out of practice for an extended period of time after the senior’s back tightened up following Thursday’s first workout of camp, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday.
Cornelius had not been cleared for full participation to start training camp, Coach Bret Bielema said Thursday, adding that the receiver was limited in team drills, as was linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
Cornelius dealt with tightness in his back for parts of last season. He sat out the Razorbacks’ 42-3 victory over Texas State on Sept. 17. Cornelius returned the following week and caught 7 passes for 126 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown, in the Razorbacks’ 45-24 loss to Texas A&M.
The senior from Shreveport is the only returning wide receiver on the Arkansas roster with more than 2 receptions from a year ago, when he had 32 catches for 515 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Cornelius injured a knee in Arkansas’ season-ending loss at Missouri and did not play in the Belk Bowl.
His absence will allow a group of inexperienced receivers a chance to work with the first offense and quarterback Austin Allen.
Sophomore Deon Stewart, who was on the first unit with Cornelius to open camp, was joined by others during the open part of Friday’s practice. Among them were junior college transfer Jonathan Nance, sophomores La’Michael Pettway and T.J. Hammonds and freshman Jordan Jones.