Bielema: WR has options

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Razorbacks receiver Jared Cornelius underwent successful surgery on Monday to repair an injury to his left Achilles tendon, his mother said.

“Because we have faith, we know without a shadow of a doubt that Jared will come back stronger than ever,” Sylvia Cook Cornelius posted on a social media site, adding her thanks to fans for phone calls, text messages and prayers. “Surgery went GREAT!!!!!”

Cornelius suffered a noncontact injury on the first play of the second half of the Razorbacks’ 50-43 loss in overtime to Texas A&M on Saturday.

“I visited with him and his mom a little bit earlier just to lay in front of them several options that exist,” Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said, without clarifying the details of the injury.

“Obviously he’s a fourthyear player that has a redshirt year available,” Bielema said. “I think we’ll continue to make decisions as they come. No need to make any hurried ones now.”

Cornelius received an evaluation from the NFL Draft advisory board last winter before deciding to return for his senior year.

Bielema said he would try to show Cornelius a number of different scenarios that might be available to him after his recovery, including the possibility of returning to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, getting another NFL evaluation or looking into the NFL supplemental draft.

Special to NWA Democrat-Gazette/ DAVID BEACH Arkansas wide receiver Jared Cornelius underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon Monday. Cornelius is a fourth-year player who has the option of taking a medical redshirt and returning next season.