Arkansas Football: Knile Davis Has One More Hurdle to Clear in Spring Practice

Knile Davis seems to be a perpetually lost in SEC headlines.  

In 2010 he led all SEC running backs in rushing with 1,322 rushing yards, but was overshadowed by Auburn's Cam Newton.  He was poised to make a Heisman run last year, but a broken ankle ended his 2011 season before it started. After considering an early jump to the NFL, Davis is back with the Hogs for 2012, and ready to prove that 2010 was no fluke.

Just how excited is Davis about this season? Head coach Bobby Petrino may have to hold him back at practice.

Davis told Chris Bahn of ArkansasSports360.com after Tuesday's practice that he hasn't been cleared for contact yet, but is ready for the pads to pop. The lack of contact apparently hasn't had an impact on his enthusiasm: 

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"I’m just ready to go get the first lick. It’s football. I love contact. That’s what football is all about.”

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Consider me fired up. That quote makes me want to go hit somebody.

Contact in practice is one of the last steps in Davis' rehabilitation. Once he gets over that hurdle— which doesn't seem like much of a jump based on the above quote—he will be well on his way to becoming a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. He chimed in at No. 2 on my ranking of SEC running backs earlier in the week, but the difference between Davis and No. 1 Marcus Lattimore is paper-thin.

The Lattimore/Davis debate will be one of the most interesting storylines this season. If they both stay healthy throughout the year, they'll both be in New York City in mid-December.

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