Frank Ragnow's Arkansas career over

Arkansas center Frank Ragnow lines up during the fourth quarter of the Razorbacks' 52-20 loss to Auburn on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in Fayetteville.

Arkansas senior center Frank Ragnow will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a severe high-ankle sprain in Saturday's 52-20 loss to Auburn.

The injury, suffered in the first quarter of the game, will require a procedure and comes with a 12-week recovery time, coach Bret Bielema said Monday. The timetable means his Arkansas career is over and he will likely be unable to participate in the Senior Bowl or any similar showcase game, but he should be able to participate in a pro day and the NFL combine.

"This is a minor procedure that has actually had high, high, high success rate," Bielema said. "So our hope and pray for him. ... The sad part is he's playing absolutely unbelievable football. I've had a handful of offensive linemen drafted in the first round and he is at their level if not even higher."

Ragnow is Arkansas' top linemen on a unit that has struggled mightily. He considered leaving school after his junior year, but ultimately decided to return for the 2017 season.

"He just holds a special place to people's hearts," Bielema said.

He earned preseason All-SEC and All-American recognition in addition to being on the watch list for every major offensive lineman award, including the Rimington and Outland trophies. Mel Kiper slotted him as the No. 2 center in the 2018 NFL Draft, while NFLDraftScout.com rates him the No. 3 prospect.

"The thing about Frank is he's an exceptional football mind, but he's an exceptional athlete for a big guy. At 315 pounds, the way he runs, his genetics, his ability to just bend, move, flex and just his competitive nature is off the charts. Had several NFL people tell me during the course of this first seven weeks of the season, he's probably playing not just as the best interior linemen but one of the best linemen in the country.

Without Ragnow, Arkansas will turn to junior Zach Rogers, who started against Alabama when Ragnow slid to right guard. Senior Jake Raulerson will play the position, too, while true freshman Shane Clenin has also worked there. Bielema noted Arkansas is recruiting several junior-college center prospects.

"I thought he did a nice job," offensive coordinator Dan Enos said of Rogers' play against Alabama. "There was an outside zone there where he got overpowered by a nose and gave up some penetration. I think he missed a twist one time in protection, but for the most part I thought he battled in there. He played extremely hard, played with toughness and that'll do a lot for you."

Ragnow was a four-year letterman who started the final 33 games of his career at either center or right guard.

"Yesterday was a tough, tough day," Bielema said. "The finality of his college career was big, but not being able to help in the situation right now, I could tell by the look in his eye, the things he said, not being able to help us, being able to help me, I think that's probably his biggest thing."