Razorback Preview: Off to Athens

story by College Sports Matchups (CSM is a content partner with The City Wire)

Georgia lost its Southeastern Conference opener on the road with one of its top offensive stars on the sideline. Arkansas hopes to avoid the same fate when it visits Athens on Saturday (Sept. 18).

The 13th-ranked Razorbacks open their conference schedule at Georgia, and they’ll be without running back and kick returner Dennis Johnson. Johnson suffered an abdominal injury while returning the second-half kickoff during last week’s 31-7 win against Louisiana-Monroe. He had surgery to repair his bowels Saturday night, but coach Bobby Petrino said this week there is no timetable for his return.

That’s a big blow to the Razorbacks, as Johnson ranked ninth in the SEC in total offense a year ago and is the school’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards.

Sophomores Knile Davis and Ronnie Wingo Jr. and junior Broderick Green will pick up the extra work in the backfield. Davis is the team’s leading rusher this season with 86 yards on 11 carries, an average of 7.8 yards per carry, and Wingo and Green each have scored a rushing touchdown. Johnson has gained 83 yards on nine carries (9.2 yards per carry) and scored a touchdown.

Without Johnson, Arkansas’ offensive approach likely will focus even more on quarterback Ryan Mallett, who ranks fifth in the nation with 350.5 passing yards per game and has thrown six touchdowns through two games, but he has also thrown two interceptions.

The turnovers have been a concern for the Razorbacks, who have committed three turnovers in each of their two lopsided wins to start the season.

Greg Childs (16 catches, 172 yards, 2 TDs), Joe Adams (nine catches, 214 yards, 2 TDs) and D.J. Williams (eight catches, 112 yards) have been Mallett’s favorite targets.

The Bulldogs hope to get their top receiver back this week, as they await word from the NCAA about junior A.J. Green’s status. Green last week was suspended four games for selling his game jersey from last year’s Independence Bowl to an individual meeting the NCAA’s definition of an agent.

Georgia has appealed the ruling and hopes to have Green’s penalty reduced in time for him to suit up Saturday.

Green gave the Razorbacks fits a year ago, catching seven passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns in Georgia’s 52-41 win in Fayetteville.

Without Green, Georgia struggled in a 17-6 loss to South Carolina last week, managing only 253 yards of total offense and failing to score a touchdown for the first time since a 16-12 loss to the Gamecocks in 2007.

Regardless of whether Green returns, the Bulldogs should benefit from the return of starting tailback Caleb King, who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. King is listed first on the depth chart, ahead of Washaun Ealey.

King’s return should take some pressure off redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, who has completed 66% of his passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns against one interception in his first two games as the starter.

Georgia has won six straight in the series, dating to Arkansas’ 20-10 win in Athens in 1993. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 9-3.

The last two meetings in Athens have been tight ones, with Georgia winning 24-23 in 2001 and 23-20 in 2005.