Senior receiver rejoins Razorbacks on the field

By Nate Allen

Special to the News-Times

FAYETTEVILLE - With Monday’s start of fall semester classes, senior receiver Jared Cornelius rejoins the Razorbacks.

After preseason practice began on July 27, Cornelius injured his back and was removed from the 105 maximum active preseason roster that doesn’t expand until the fall semester officially begins.

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema expects Cornelius to resume practice this week and likely be available for the Razorbacks’ Aug. 31 Thursday night season opener against the Florida A&M Rattlers at War Memorial Stadium.

“J-Red can’t join us until we start back in school,” Bielema said last Wednesday. “But if there wasn’t a rule, he’d probably be back with us right now. But he’ll join us on Monday.”

Only the combined three catches by third-year sophomores Deon Stewart and La’Michael Pettway return from last year’s receiving corps adding to the 32 that Cornelius caught last year for 515 yards and four touchdowns.

Cornelius’ absence did allow Bielema and receivers coach Michael Smith to get more work for a host of new receivers.

Junior college transfer Jonathan Nance, true freshman Koilan Jackson and redshirt freshman Jordan Jones appeared to benefit the most to be in the regular receivers’ rotation. Junior college transfer Gary Cross also has been cited.

Brandon Martin, the more heralded receiver at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College when he and Nance played there, has been set back by inconsistencies and injuries since signing on at Arkansas, but has healed from a recent back injury and is practicing again.

Although still recovering from injuries during the preseason that removed them from the 105-man preseason active roster, defensive end Jamario Bell, middle linebacker Josh Harris, sophomore receiver/running back T.J Hammonds and true freshman offensive line Dalton Wagner can practice when their health allows due to classes starting.

Speaking Monday at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, Bielema reiterated Monday his statement of last week in Fayetteville that the Razorbacks’ uniforms in some way will honor the memory of Frank Broyles, the iconic Razorbacks head football coach (1958-1976) and athletic director (1973-2007) and athletics director emeritus thereafter until his death Aug. 14 at 92.

With the Razorbacks getting adjusted to their first day of classes and Monday their customary off day during the traditional Saturday game weeks that begin when Arkansas hosts TCU Sept. 9 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, practice accelerates today.

Arkansas’ first two games are nationally televised. The SEC Network televises the 7 p.m., Thursday night, Aug. 31 game against Florida A&M in Little Rock.

CBS televises the 2:30 p.m. Sept. 9 game against TCU in Fayetteville.

CBS also televises Arkansas’ final regular-season game at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 24 against SEC opponent Missouri at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Kickoff times for the other Razorbacks games and who will televise them remain to be announced.

Arkansas fans can get a TV preview of the Florida A&M Rattlers of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The Rattlers, coached by Alex Wood, who under Houston Nutt coached Arkansas quarterbacks in 2006 and receivers in 2007, open their season at home in Tallahassee, Fla. at 11 a.m. (CDT) Saturday on ESPNU hosting Texas Southern.

Bielema completes his preseason speaking obligations this week.

He spoke to the Little Rock Touchdown Club Monday and on Wednesday, addresses the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club at Mermaid’s Restaurant in Fayetteville.

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