LITTLE ROCK — Nutt says Felix looks a lot faster
FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas junior tailback Felix Jones has been fast since the moment he stepped on campus two years ago, but Razorbacks Coach Houston Nutt said he's even faster now.
"He looks very, very fast, much faster than this time last year," Nutt said. "I'm real excited about that goingdown the home stretch."
Jones, who teams with Darren McFadden to give Arkansas the nation's top tailback tandem, said he feels,faster, too.
"I believe I got a little faster," Jones said.
"Coach Deck [strength and conditioning coach Don Decker] has had a great summer workout plan for us."
Jones said he doesn't know how fast he can run the 40-yard dash, but guessed he could do it in 4.4 seconds.
In 32 games for the Razorbacks, Jones has gained 2,467 yards on 334 carries. His career average of 7.7 yards per carry leads active players nationally and his 9.6 average this season leads the nation and is2.1 yards better than the secondplace mark of 7.5 by Oklahoma State freshman Kendall Hunter.
"That's a big honor," Jones said. "The line really made it happen. Without them, I couldn't have done it."
Along with averaging 110.6 rushing yards per game to rank third in the SEC, Jones is the conference's top kickoff returner at 31.6 yards per attempt.
SEC honor for Luigs
Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs, a junior from Little Rock, was named SEC offensive lineman of the week for his performance in the Razorbacks' 44-8 victory at Ole Miss.
Luigs graded a team-high 90 percent on 62 snaps, including 94 percent in pass blocking and 88 percent in run blocking, and helped the Razorbacks gain 437 yards in total offense.
"Jonathan has really been a guy that we lean on," Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said. "He's a great leader. He's the quarterback of the offensive line, calling out the fronts and finding the linebackers for us and doing all the little things." No TV for Carolina
The Arkansas-South Carolina game Nov. 3 in Fayetteville won't be televised. Kickoff will remain 1 p.m.
There is no word yet on whether the Razorbacks' games against Tennessee on Nov. 10 and against Mississippi State on Nov. 17 will be televised.
The Arkansas-LSU game onNov. 23 is a national telecast for CBS.
Good reaction
Arkansas sophomore defensive end Adrian Davis was supposed to rush Ole Miss quarterback Seth Adams on a second-and-5 play from the Razorbacks' 43, but instead followed his instincts.
"During the week [the coaches] said if something doesn't seem right, just react to it and make a play," Davis said.
"I saw something wasn't right and the running back flared out, and I went out there and made a play."
Davis jumped in front of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, intercepted Adams' pass and returned it 24 yards to the Ole Miss 25 to set up a touchdown that gave Arkansas a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
It was the first interception of Davis' college career, but he had seven interceptions as a senior at Rosenberg (Texas) Terry High School, where he played safety.
More injuries at WR
Sophomore wide receiver London Crawford, who has six starts this season, is questionable for Saturday's game against Florida International because of strained neck he sustained against Ole Miss.
It's the latest injury to hit the receiving corps. Senior Marcus Monk has played just one snap(against Auburn) because of a knee injury, freshman Crosby Tuck is out for the rest of the season after breaking his arm against Kentucky and senior Robert Johnson missed the Tennessee-Chattanooga game because of a sprained ankle.
Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said Crawford won't practice and it will be determined later in the week if he can play.
Sophomore Lucas Miller will start at split end in Crawford's place with senior Chris Baker at the second-team spot.
Monk is still eligible to redshirt this season but has said repeatedly that he wants to play.
"He still wants to play, especially this month of November," Nutt said. "I'd love for him to play. Hopefully, hopefully we'll know by [the South Carolina game Nov. 3] where we are."
Nutt said it's unlikely Monk will play against Florida International, but didn't rule it out entirely.
Little break
Arkansas usually has a light practice Sunday before taking Monday off, but the Razorbacks didn't get on the field the Sunday after winning at Ole Miss.
The Razorbacks lifted weights, watched game film, had a team meeting and got flu shots.
Coach Houston Nutt said it was a good time to take a break from practice with the team in the midst of playing 11 games without a break.
Sports, Pages 21 on 10/23/2007