SEC College Football: RB Knile Davis Returns to Practice for Arkansas

The rumor mill had been churning for weeks about the possible return of All-SEC running back Knile Davis to the Arkansas Razorbacks. On Tuesday, Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee confirmed that Davis has been cleared to practice with the team.

The 2011 Razorback team was targeted to be Davis’ team after the departure of All-SEC quarterback Ryan Mallett to the NFL. Davis was the second-leading rusher in the SEC in 2010 to Auburn’s Cam Newton after posting 1,322 rushing yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry, and 13 touchdowns.

Davis injured his left ankle Aug. 11, in an intra-squad scrimmage and was thought to be lost for the season. According to Arkansas running back coach Tim Horton, Davis was cleared to practice two weeks ago and he has been doing drills and conditioning exercises every since.

The Razorback rushing attack has been hit-or-miss without Davis this season. Dennis Johnson leads the Hogs with 508 rushing yards and a 6.6 yard-per-carry average after a slow start to his season.  

Johnson, a 2009 All-American as a kickoff returner, missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury after missing all of 2010 with a bowel injury. Johnson did not register 15 or more carries in a game this year until the seventh game of the season against Ole Miss when he carried the ball 15 times for 160 yards and one touchdown.

The presence of Davis could help the Hogs in their biggest game of the season against No. 1 LSU on Nov. 25. Arkansas is ninth in the SEC in rushing yards with 1,444.

There has been no conformation of Davis’ availability for Saturday’s game against Mississippi State.