Brady Latham will probably play. Devon Manuel may not. Antonio Grier almost certainly won’t.
Arkansas isn’t in tip-top shape for Saturday’s season opener against Western Carolina. But at the same time, none of the lingering injuries the Razorbacks have suffered this fall are expected to keep anyone out for too long and by the meat of the season, those three players, at least, should be good to go.
Latham is a four-year starter at left guard and one of the rocks of the offensive line with center Beaux Limmer. Latham was listed as the starter on the team’s official depth chart released Monday, but has missed a bulk of the last week-plus of practice.
Manuel, the projected starting left tackle, is in the same boat. He may be more questionable as coach Sam Pittman listed him alongside Andrew Chamblee at the position, separated with an “OR.”
Even if it is just Western Carolina, an offensive line missing the entire left side of its line isn’t great. Still, it’s better to keep starters out against an FCS team than risk further injury in a game that’s winnable without them.
Grier is not expected to play at all in the opener. A linebacker transfer from South Florida, he had basically locked up a starting spot with Chris Paul in Arkansas’ two-linebacker base. But Jordan Crook, a sophomore, was an easy choice for third-in-line and wasn’t listed next to anyone as a starter for Saturday.
Regardless, Arkansas will be a heavy favorite against the Catamounts when the teams kick off at noon from Little Rock.
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