National Notes: Hogs lose RB Williams

Alex Collins will be expected to carry more of the rushing load with Jonathan Williams out for the Razorbacks.

Alex Collins will be expected to carry more of the rushing load with Jonathan Williams out for the Razorbacks.

Published on Wednesday, 8/19/15, at 1:07 a.m. Eastern.

–Arkansas won’t have senior running back Jonathan Williams during the 2015 season after he sustained a foot injury that will require surgery. He hasn’t used a redshirt year, so he could return in 2016. However, that’s unlikely as Williams already bypassed the NFL Draft once in hopes of improving his stock. The more likely scenario is for Williams to try and return for Razorbacks’ bowl game. Williams rushed for 900 yards and started 11 games in 2013. In 2014, he ran for 1,190 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Nevertheless, Bret Bielema’s team didn’t see much movement in its gambling numbers for Games of the Year or its season win total. That’s because of the presence of workhorse RB Alex Collins, who ran for 1,100 yards and 12 TDs last season. Junior Kody Walker can look for increased playing time, while the Hogs also have sophomore Denzell Evans and freshman Rawleigh Williams.

–If you wish, you can check out my Tuesday interview on the Bo Mattingly Show discussing Auburn, Arkansas and the loss of Williams.

My breakdown of injuries from last week in a column filed to VegasInsider.com this past Friday.

UF beat writer Thomas Goldkamp has the latest on the Gators’ injuries, which haven’t been a major factor to date.

–BYU’s personnel issues grew even deeper when expected starting TE Steven Richards went down with a season-ending knee injury at Monday’s practice. Richards, a member of the 2012 recruiting class for the Cougars, has already taken a two-year Mormon mission and was going to be redshirt freshman. Bronco Mendenhall’s team has already lost star RB Jamaal Williams for the 2015 campaign. Also, around 10 players, who remain unnamed at this point, are going to miss the opener against Nebraska stemming for the brawl in the bowl game against Memphis. After facing Nebraska in Lincoln, BYU has these three additional games in September: vs. Boise St., at UCLA and at Michigan.

–UCLA saw three starting offensive linemen leave practice with injuries Tuesday. The trio includes center Jake Brendel (39 career starts), OG Alex Redmond (20 career starts) and OT Conor McDermott (seven career starts). When quizzed about the extent of the injuries after practice, UCLA o-line coach Adrian Kleem told the Associated Press, “we’ll have to see.” Stay tuned.

–Before the start of his freshman season at USC, quarterback Ricky Town has already decided to transfer. Arkansas and Florida are considered leading candidates to land Town, who de-committed from Alabama during the recruiting process. According to the 247 Sports Composite, Town was the No. 79 overall player and the No. 6 ranked pro-style QB in the 2015 class.

–Georgia WR Justin Scott-Wesley injured his knee yet again earlier this week. Scott-Wesley has been plagued by injuries the last two years but was believed to be healthy and ready to make a major impact for the Bulldogs this season. He wasn’t at practice Tuesday and the school has yet to announce the extent of this latest injury.

–Kentucky announced Monday that Patrick Towles will be the starting QB after beating out redshirt freshman Drew Barker.

–Alabama QB Jake Coker will miss a few days of practice with a foot injury.

–You can get signed up for my 2015 college football season pack here!

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