UA staff has eye on Davis

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said Tuesday he hasn’t made up his mind on how much full-contact work tailback Knile Davis will be involved in this spring.

“I haven’t decided on live tackling or anything like that, but everything else he’ll be full go,” Petrino said on the eve the first of Arkansas’ 15 spring practices. “I think we’ll play that by ear, really keep an eye on whether he gets sore, how he’s running.

“I feel like he’s 100 percent. His testing has shown that he is.”

Davis, who led the team with a 4.33 time in 40-yard dash testing last week, is coming off a broken ankle he suffered in the first tackling work last fall.

Open sesame

Mitchell No. 3

Junior Brandon Mitchell, who has played basketball since early January, will be listed behind Tyler Wilson and Brandon Allen at quarterback to open spring.

Coach Bobby Petrino explained Allen has helped lead the off-season throwing

Arkansas’ practices today and Thursday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium will be open to the public, as well as workouts March 30, April 6 and April 13, along with the annual Red-white spring game.

Because of construction around the practice fields, parking is limited.

Workouts that are moved to Walker Pavilion will be closed. with Wilson while Mitchell was “playing hoops and getting dunks.”

“It’s just when we start with our work tomorrow, it’s only fair that Brandon Allen jumps in there with the second group,” Petrino said.

Injury update

Redshirt freshman Austin Beck, who tweaked his knee during winter workouts, will open spring behind Brey Cook and Chris Stringer at one offensive tackle spot.

Beck is the most limited player on the roster heading into spring.

Left and right

Defensive coordinator Paul Haynes will have the safeties and cornerbacks work and learn both the right and left sides during spring ball, the better to aid versatility next season.

That means there won’t be listings as “strong” safety and “free” safety.