FAYETTEVILLE — Levi Draper, a linebacker-turned-tight end who transferred to Arkansas from Oklahoma last year, suffered a shoulder injury in preseason practice and will no longer play football for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Draper injured his shoulder on the day he was moved to tight end last weekend. Draper was recruited by the Razorbacks as a linebacker, but did not play last season due to a shoulder injury.
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“His shoulder went out and he has, with my blessing — basically I talked to him about it — and he’s medical redshirting, so he’s done,” Pittman said.
“I actually called him in to talk to him about it because he’s already had three surgeries in his career, two last year.”
Draper was injured during Arkansas’ season opener against Georgia last season and underwent surgery last October. It is unknown when the other surgery was performed.
NCAA rules allow for injured players to remain on scholarship without counting toward a team's scholarship limit.
Draper was moved to tight end this preseason because the Razorbacks needed “some more bodies there,” Pittman said.
Arkansas was already less than full strength at the position. Senior Koilan Jackson is limited in practice as he works his way back from knee surgery last October, and freshman Erin Outley has not practiced due to a torn meniscus suffered last year while playing at Little Rock Parkview High School.
Dominique Johnson moved from running back to tight end for Tuesday’s practice and “he was more than happy to do it,” Pittman said.
“On the [running back] depth chart he’s not in the top three or four guys,” Pittman said, “and we thought he could help us at tight end, so we’re trying to get that done right now.”