When left tackle Jose Valdez couldn’t go against Mississippi State because of an injured ankle, there was little doubt in Arkansas offensive line coach Mike Markuson’s mind who would step in to replace him.

Robert Felton has been a mainstay on the Arkansas offensive line since his redshirt freshman season in 2004. However, Felton hasn’t been a mainstay at one position over that time. The fifth-year senior from Houston has started at four of the five positions on the Razorback line during that time and was on the move once again in Arkansas’ 45-31 win over the Bulldogs.

“ He’s always been that way, ” Markuson said. “ He’s a smart player. If we didn’t think he had the sense to do it, obviously we couldn’t use him the way we’ve been able to. He’s a capable guy. He’s always accepted his role if the team needed him first. He’s always been a team guy. He’s been an awesome guy to coach that way. ”

Not only is Felton an awesome guy to coach, he’s an agile one. At 6-foot-4, 328 pounds, Felton showed off his agility at the team’s preseason media day by doing cartwheels for the cameras. That agility has NFL scouts interested in allowing Felton the opportunity to play football when his days at Arkansas are finished.

“ They [the NFL ] like that, ” Markuson said. “ Particularly, I’ve told guys he can snap. He hasn’t snapped here in games much, but he can snap the football. He’d be an inside guy there. That in itself might give him a chance to get in a camp. You’ve just got to see what people are saying in April when that comes around. He has some ability that way, but we’ll see. ”

Felton’s abilities allow him to switch positions and his attitude doesn’t hurt.

“ I’ll play anywhere, ” Felton said. “ If that’s where the team needs me, it’s where I’ll be. Who doesn’t want to stick in one spot ? But if that’s my role on the team to play everywhere, that’s my role. ”

While right guard has been Felton’s starting spot for two years, his role has changed with injuries this season. Along with starting at left tackle against Mississippi State, Felton filled in against Kentucky for a series when starting center Jonathan Luigs went down with an injury.

Markuson said he has had “ one or two” players who could switch positions as easy as Felton, citing former center / guard Kenny Sandlin as the last.

Felton returns to his right guard position for today’s match-up with No. 1 LSU. The Razorback offensive line has a big challenge ahead, Markuson said, going up against the nation’s top interior defender in LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.

“ He’s the best interior guy we’ve seen all year, ” Markuson said. “ He’s just an exceptional athlete. He’s a boulder in there... a big ol’ rock that is hard to move. ”

Dorsey has been atop ESPN’s mock draft board all season and is expected to be a top five NFL Draft Pick in April. Many analysts believe Dorsey’s top competitor for that distinction is Arkansas ’ Darren McFadden.

McFadden is still in the running for the Heisman Trophy and many voters have circled Friday’s date to see how the nation’s best player fares against the nation’s best defense.

“ It’s really exciting, ” Felton said. “ It’s even more exciting to know that Darren is not imposing that on us. He’s not giving us that burden. He’s the type of guy that’s going to put team in front of himself. He’s the type of guy that’s going to do what he has to do for us before he accepts any awards. So that’s just the kind of guy he is. I commend him for that.

“ It’s already pressure for us. We [on the offensive line ] want him to win the Heisman. Everybody on the team wants him to win the Heisman. That’s enough pressure and he doesn’t impose any more. ”

And if that’s not enough for Felton to get up for this week’s game, the fact no one on Arkansas’ roster has beaten LSU, is.

“ It’s always a motivator, ” Felton said. “ Coach Markuson talked to us how we’ve never been down there and won. I’ve never beat LSU and I’ve been here five years. It’s a great, big motivator just because you want to win. We know what we have to look forward to. They know what they have to look forward to at LSU. It’s going to come down to attitude and who wants it more. ”