There would be reason to believe that Arkansas senior free safety Michael Grant would be a step slower this season. After all, he is only nine months removed from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. But assistant coach Chris Vaughn said Monday that’s not the case.

“ I personally think he’s faster, ” Vaughn said. “ It’s really surprising to see him do some of the things he’s doing after coming off the injury. You never knew if he’d be the same. But he’s looked a little faster. ”

Grant suffered the injury during Arkansas’ 26-20 victory over South Carolina last Nov. 4.

During his rehabilitation, Grant actually shed some weight, which may have contributed to his increased speed.

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“ I feel I am in the best shape of my life, ” said Grant, who is 5-11 and tops out on the scale at 182 pounds. “ The knee doesn’t bother me. It gets stiff now and then. But I feel strong and fast. ”

Grant figures to play a major role in Arkansas’ secondary this season, teaming with strong safety Matt Hewitt to provide support for the cornerbacks.

“ Me and Michael back there is a great tandem, ” said Hewitt, who was stationed at linebacker for most of the 2006 campaign. “ He’s got the speed. I am more of a physical player. With Michael Grant back there, you have the confidence that on a run or whatever he can chase somebody down. ”

That certainly was the case in 2006, when Grant made 41 tackles and three interceptions before watching his career flash before his eyes in the ninth game of the season. Now that he’s back, his outlook has changed.

“ I play as hard as I can, because a couple months ago I didn’t know I was going to play again, ” he said. Monk down, Crawford in ?

After news broke Monday that senior split end Marcus Monk would likely be out four to six weeks after suffering a knee injury last week, the question shifted from when he would be back to who would take his place.

Although sophomore London Crawford would be a likely candidate to fill the void left by Monk, he wasn’t about to proclaim he was the front-runner Monday.

“ I am a competitive guy who is working against my teammates but also working with my teammates, ” he said. “ So whoever wins that job, I’m going to be proud whether it’s me or anybody else. But hopefully Marcus will get back as soon as possible. I’m a player who likes to be out on the field. But I’d rather have my teammate back on the field. ”

Although four inches shorter than the 6-6 Monk, Crawford, a sophomore, is a big target. He weighs 200 pounds and is a physical receiver. However, he lacks experience and is known for his inconsistent route running. In 2006, he made five catches for 117 yards — getting the bulk of his production on a 45-yard touchdown reception in a 38-3 victory over Ole Miss last October.

“ He’s very fast, ” Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick said. “ That’s the one thing we love about him — he can run. He can go get the football for us. That’s something we’re looking for him to do. ”