The Razorbacks ought to have a better book on the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks Saturday night in Little Rock than they did last Saturday against the Western Illinois Leathernecks they edged in Fayetteville.

K irk Botkin, the new defensive ends / special teams for new Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, is a familiar Arkansas face as a four-year letterman Razorback tight end, All-SEC in 1993.

He’s an even more recently familiar face at ULM as the Warhawks’ linebackers / special teams coach in 2006 and 2007 under ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie.

Weatherbie was Arkansas’ quarterbacks coach during Botkin’s 1990 and ‘ 91 Razorback playing campaigns.

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“ I know a bunch of the guys there, ” Botkin said. “ So I know some of their strengths and some of their weaknesses. Hopefully that can help us. You spend two years with each other 12 hours a day and you get a bond with those guys. ”

Botkin speaks highly of the ULM program and of Weatherbie.

“ He’s familiar with what they do offensively, going against them [in practice ] all the time, ” Petrino said. “ Certainly he’ll have a big input there, and we went through their defensive personnel with all of our [offensive ] coaches. It’s certainly an advantage that he knows their players real well. ”

Botkin knows ULM’s personnel better than Petrino knows than War Memorial Stadium.

Other than a brief stop by to War Memorial Stadium while recruiting in Little Rock, Petrino said he has no past experience with the Razorbacks’ Central Arkansas home away from home.

“ I have never been in the locker room, ” Petrino said after Thursday’s practice in Fayetteville. “ Never stood out on field. That’s why we’re leaving a lot earlier [this morning ] than I’d normally leave. We’ll do our walkthrough on Friday that we normally do here down there. ”

Starting junior wide receiver London Crawford is practicing headache-free from the concussion he suffered during the Western Illinois game and looks fine versus ULM, Petrino said after Thursday’s practice.

“ I’d anticipate him starting, unless some setback happens overnight or in the morning, ” Petrino said.

Fourth-junior tailback Michael Smith, the leading returning rusher from 2007, returns from a one-game suspension and will start, Petrino said.

Also, linebacker Wendel Davis and cornerback Jerell Norton, both two-year lettermen, likely will log some spot duty after missing the opener rehabbing from offseason surgeries, and Jack linebacker / safety Walner Leandre should debut after missing last Saturday’s game.

“ Some guys are off injuries and some are off suspension coming back, ” Petrino said. “ We were playing a little shorthanded the other night which is something you don’t want to do. We will have more depth. ”

It does not appear likely that backup senior offensive guard Mitch Petrus, unable to play against Western Illinois because of eligibility issues, the UA acknowledged last week, will play against ULM.

The depth chart lists junior Michael Aguirre and redshirt freshman Grant Cook as the backups to starting guards Wade Grayson, the weakside sophomore letterman guard from Harrison, and strong guard sophomore letterman DeMarcus Love.

Senior captain and linebacker Elston Forte of Little Rock Mills is on the travel squad to come home to Little Rock though Petrino said it’s pretty iffy if he’ll be gameready available Saturday.

Forte injured a knee early during the August preseason. He is practicing some but his game debut more likely will be Sept. 13 at Texas.