Mitchell suspended for Kentucky game, Tuck handed staring role

BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/57334/

Arkansas junior right defensive tackle Er nest Mitchell has been suspended for the Razorbacks’ entire SEC game with Kentucky on Saturday and will be replaced by senior Fred Bledsoe, Arkansas coach Houston Nutt announced Monday.

Mitchell was ejected from last Saturday’s 41-38 loss at Alabama for swinging the dislodged helmet of Alabama offensive guard Justin Britt at Britt.

Nutt said Mitchell had been retaliating for some of Britt’s actions during a pileup, but Nutt said there is “ no excuse” for Mitchell’s “ behavior. ”

Nutt said he talked with Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive.

“ I visited with Commissioner Slive this morning and told him that while the NCAA policy only mandates the suspension of the player for a half in the following game, I felt that a fullgame suspension was appropriate in this circumstance, ” Nutt said in a statement. “ Ernest regrets his actions and he will have to learn from his mistake. He made a serious error in judgment. However, he remains a valued member of this team. ”

Bledsoe of Little Rock Central will make his first start as a Razorback. Junior Marcus Shavers, Wynne junior Cord Gray and true freshman Patrick Jones are the reserve tackles behind Bledsoe and starting sophomore left tackle Malcolm Sheppard. Senior Marcus Harrison, a defensive tackle the last two years but moved this season to defensive end, will start at left end against Kentucky, Nutt said.

On offense, Nutt now lists true freshman wideout Crosby Tuck of Shiloh Christian as the starting split end ahead of sophomore London Crawford.