Sports

Hogs plan for 2 OL to return

FAYETTEVILLE -- The University of Arkansas should have a pair of key offensive linemen back, but will not have the services of a third injured lineman when the Razorbacks face LSU at 11:45 a.m. Saturday in Baton Rouge. Starting center Caden Kitler and starting right tackle E'Marion Harris should be back in the mix for Arkansas (2-7, 0-5 SEC) when it takes on LSU (5-4, 2-3 SEC). Kitler and Harris both missed a 38-35 loss against Mississippi State on Nov. 1 with unspecified injuries. Redshirt freshman Shaq McRoy, who started at right tackle, suffered a leg injury on the game's second play and did not return. "Both offensive linemen are back going," Arkansas interim Coach Bobby Petrino said in reference to Harris and Kitler. "Shaq did not practice last night. We probably won't have him available for us." McRoy was helped off the field and replaced by redshirt freshman Kavion Broussard for the rest of the game. "I'm just glad that it's not worse than it was," Petrino said of McRoy's injury. "It was an ugly look on video so he's actually fortunate that it wasn't worse than it was." Petrino said quarterback Taylen Green and nickel back Jordan Young should be full go for Tuesday's practice, while defensive end Charlie Collins is less probable to be ready by Saturday. Collins and Young both left the game against Mississippi State with leg injuries. "Charlie Collins should get some work in tomorrow," Petrino said. "That'll give us an idea of where he'll be at. A lot of his is just being able to handle the pain and see where that's at. It's a bone bruise, which are always very painful in your knee. No structural damage, so that's a great thing for him and his future. But it'll just be how quickly he can get back and whether he can or not." LSU injuries LSU is dealing with injuries to key players, though not as many as the Razorbacks. Tigers linebacker Whit Weeks' availability is still uncertain for the Arkansas game on Saturday, interim LSU Coach Frank Wilson said Monday. Weeks has had a bone bruise in his ankle since Sept. 27, and he's missed the last three games. Wide receiver Nic Anderson suffered a knee injury during Saturday's 20-9 loss at Alabama and he's questionable for this week. "We were really worried on the sideline that it could be something long term," Wilson said. "It is not. It does not require a procedure, and so we're day by day in a rehabilitation, preventative manner with him to get him along the way." Anderson left the game walking gingerly and was seen on crutches on the sideline later. The junior transfer from Oklahoma has 12 receptions for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns on 18 targets. The Arkansas at Texas game on Nov. 22 in Austin, Texas, will not receive a kickoff time until Sunday after the SEC's broadcast partners applied further "flex" status to the game. The former Southwest Conference rivals have three potential kickoff times -- at 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Central. The Tennessee at Florida game, also set for Nov. 22, has the same kickoff options. Every other SEC game has a set kickoff time for that date. There are only four conference games, with Missouri at Oklahoma at 11 a.m. Central and Kentucky at Vanderbilt at 2:30 p.m. Central, joining the others. Arkansas will have its seventh consecutive morning or afternoon kickoff at 11:45 a.m. Saturday at LSU. Weather watch The forecast for Saturday in Baton Rouge is calling for a partly cloudy day with a high of 79 degrees and about a 22% chance for rain. That'll make for a much more pleasant end to the week than the Razorbacks had to start it. Sunday evening's practice was held inside Walker Pavilion, as it was windy with temperatures dropping rapidly throughout the day to an overnight low of about 20 degrees in Northwest Arkansas. Monday's high temperature in the region was in the low 40s. However, the afternoon highs are expected to reach into the mid 70s again for a few days, beginning Thursday. The nature of Arkansas' tight losses is evident in the team's scoring numbers. Despite being five games below .500, the Razorbacks are still outscoring opponents 319-300 on the season. The Razorbacks are 0-5 in one-score games this season; 0-2 under Sam Pittman and 0-3 under interim Coach Bobby Petrino. Arkansas has been outscored 191-167 while going 0-5 in SEC games for an average score of 38-33. Notre Dame handed the Razorbacks a 56-13 loss on Sept. 27, their only margin of defeat greater than 10 points this season. In its three other nonconference games, Arkansas beat Alabama A&M 52-7 on Aug. 30, downed Arkansas State 56-14 on Sept. 6 and lost to Memphis 32-31 on Sept. 20. First action With starting center Caden Kitler and tackle E'Marion Harris unavailable for a 38-35 loss to Mississippi State on Nov. 1, freshman Kash Courtney and redshirt freshman Shaq McRoy started the first game of their careers. Redshirt freshman Kavion Broussard replaced an injured McRoy for the game's third snap and played the final 80 in a quasi start. Courtney played all 82 snaps and was graded harshly by Pro Football Focus in the pass-blocking category. "They both played well at times," interim Coach Bobby Petrino said. "They showed their ability and that they're both going to be really, really good football players. And then their inexperience showed up at times, too. So it's kind of that balancing act of being able to get your job done even though you're inexperienced." Petrino made it sound like Kitler and Harris should be back in the lineup on Saturday, but the young linemen gained key experience. Redshirt freshman Kobe Branham, in his first season as a full-time starter, posted the highest run and pass-blocking grades by PFF. Sunday practices under Bobby Petrino usually feature younger players, while the starters from Saturday's game pair running and conditioning to reduce soreness. However, this past Sunday's hour-and-a-half-long practice following the bye week was different than normal. The interim coach said he likes to bring players back on a Sunday to ensure an entire roster is present and ready for Monday classes. Petrino said it was a longer, more grueling practice and players handled it well. "We had two good days of work last week and then came back last night," Petrino said. "Had a good practice last night. I thought the players reacted really well, had a lot of enthusiasm and worked extremely hard to get us into a normal schedule so they could be off (Monday) and then get us into a regular Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday schedule."

Matt Byrne,Tom Murphy • November 11, 2025

Starting center Caden Kitler and starting right tackle E'Marion Harris should be back in the mix for Arkansas (2-7, 0-5 SEC) when it takes on LSU (5-4, 2-3 SEC).

Kitler and Harris both missed a 38-35 loss against Mississippi State on Nov. 1 with unspecified injuries. Redshirt freshman Shaq McRoy, who started at right tackle, suffered a leg injury on the game's second play and did not return.

"Both offensive linemen are back going," Arkansas interim Coach Bobby Petrino said in reference to Harris and Kitler. "Shaq did not practice last night. We probably won't have him available for us."

McRoy was helped off the field and replaced by redshirt freshman Kavion Broussard for the rest of the game.

"I'm just glad that it's not worse than it was," Petrino said of McRoy's injury. "It was an ugly look on video so he's actually fortunate that it wasn't worse than it was."

Petrino said quarterback Taylen Green and nickel back Jordan Young should be full go for Tuesday's practice, while defensive end Charlie Collins is less probable to be ready by Saturday.

Collins and Young both left the game against Mississippi State with leg injuries.

"Charlie Collins should get some work in tomorrow," Petrino said. "That'll give us an idea of where he'll be at. A lot of his is just being able to handle the pain and see where that's at. It's a bone bruise, which are always very painful in your knee. No structural damage, so that's a great thing for him and his future. But it'll just be how quickly he can get back and whether he can or not."

LSU injuries

LSU is dealing with injuries to key players, though not as many as the Razorbacks.

Tigers linebacker Whit Weeks' availability is still uncertain for the Arkansas game on Saturday, interim LSU Coach Frank Wilson said Monday. Weeks has had a bone bruise in his ankle since Sept. 27, and he's missed the last three games.

Wide receiver Nic Anderson suffered a knee injury during Saturday's 20-9 loss at Alabama and he's questionable for this week.

"We were really worried on the sideline that it could be something long term," Wilson said. "It is not. It does not require a procedure, and so we're day by day in a rehabilitation, preventative manner with him to get him along the way."

Anderson left the game walking gingerly and was seen on crutches on the sideline later. The junior transfer from Oklahoma has 12 receptions for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns on 18 targets.

The Arkansas at Texas game on Nov. 22 in Austin, Texas, will not receive a kickoff time until Sunday after the SEC's broadcast partners applied further "flex" status to the game.

The former Southwest Conference rivals have three potential kickoff times -- at 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Central. The Tennessee at Florida game, also set for Nov. 22, has the same kickoff options.

Every other SEC game has a set kickoff time for that date. There are only four conference games, with Missouri at Oklahoma at 11 a.m. Central and Kentucky at Vanderbilt at 2:30 p.m. Central, joining the others.

Arkansas will have its seventh consecutive morning or afternoon kickoff at 11:45 a.m. Saturday at LSU.

Weather watch

The forecast for Saturday in Baton Rouge is calling for a partly cloudy day with a high of 79 degrees and about a 22% chance for rain.

That'll make for a much more pleasant end to the week than the Razorbacks had to start it. Sunday evening's practice was held inside Walker Pavilion, as it was windy with temperatures dropping rapidly throughout the day to an overnight low of about 20 degrees in Northwest Arkansas.

Monday's high temperature in the region was in the low 40s. However, the afternoon highs are expected to reach into the mid 70s again for a few days, beginning Thursday.

The nature of Arkansas' tight losses is evident in the team's scoring numbers. Despite being five games below .500, the Razorbacks are still outscoring opponents 319-300 on the season.

The Razorbacks are 0-5 in one-score games this season; 0-2 under Sam Pittman and 0-3 under interim Coach Bobby Petrino.

Arkansas has been outscored 191-167 while going 0-5 in SEC games for an average score of 38-33.

Notre Dame handed the Razorbacks a 56-13 loss on Sept. 27, their only margin of defeat greater than 10 points this season. In its three other nonconference games, Arkansas beat Alabama A&M 52-7 on Aug. 30, downed Arkansas State 56-14 on Sept. 6 and lost to Memphis 32-31 on Sept. 20.

First action

With starting center Caden Kitler and tackle E'Marion Harris unavailable for a 38-35 loss to Mississippi State on Nov. 1, freshman Kash Courtney and redshirt freshman Shaq McRoy started the first game of their careers.

Redshirt freshman Kavion Broussard replaced an injured McRoy for the game's third snap and played the final 80 in a quasi start. Courtney played all 82 snaps and was graded harshly by Pro Football Focus in the pass-blocking category.

"They both played well at times," interim Coach Bobby Petrino said. "They showed their ability and that they're both going to be really, really good football players. And then their inexperience showed up at times, too. So it's kind of that balancing act of being able to get your job done even though you're inexperienced."

Petrino made it sound like Kitler and Harris should be back in the lineup on Saturday, but the young linemen gained key experience. Redshirt freshman Kobe Branham, in his first season as a full-time starter, posted the highest run and pass-blocking grades by PFF.

Sunday practices under Bobby Petrino usually feature younger players, while the starters from Saturday's game pair running and conditioning to reduce soreness. However, this past Sunday's hour-and-a-half-long practice following the bye week was different than normal.

The interim coach said he likes to bring players back on a Sunday to ensure an entire roster is present and ready for Monday classes. Petrino said it was a longer, more grueling practice and players handled it well.

"We had two good days of work last week and then came back last night," Petrino said. "Had a good practice last night. I thought the players reacted really well, had a lot of enthusiasm and worked extremely hard to get us into a normal schedule so they could be off (Monday) and then get us into a regular Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday schedule."

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