No Redshirt for Monk
Marcus Monk practiced with his Razorbacks teammates Tuesday and his intention is to play with them once again this season.
The Razorbacks practiced in shorts and shoulder pads and Monk went through the 90-minute session without having a problem with his knee that has endured two arthroscopic surgeries since he injured it on Aug. 9.
Monk missed the Hogs first five games, but the senior from LePanto practiced last week and was in on one play last Saturday in Arkansas’ 9-7 loss to Auburn. His intention is to play more Saturday when the Razorbacks face the Ole Miss Rebels at 1 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Monk could redshirt and return for a full senior season next year, but the 6-6, 225-pound wideout plans to do his playing next year in the NFL.
“(Marcus) really wants to play,” Arkansas head football coach Houston Nutt said. “He doesn’t want to redshirt, he wants to play. So he’s going to do everything he can do to be on the field Saturday and that’s the way he’s approaching it.
“He wasn’t able to do everything,” Nutt said, “but it’s better than it was the last few weeks. He’s definitely going to play unless something comes up and a doctor says he can’t.”
Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee was a little more specific about what Monk could do.
“He just can’t get out of cuts,” Lee said. “Right now Marcus is having trouble putting his foot in the ground, and getting out of a cut and separating. Right now it’s not ready to go yet. At some point and time he’s got to get where he can get through that so we can get him to run a full-speed route.”
Monk, who has started 31 consecutive games for the Razorbacks, was the Razorbacks go-to guys in 2006. He made 50 receptions for 962 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns and averaging 19.2 yards per catch.
Monk’s 11 TD catches moved him into position to challenge for the SEC all-time TD reception record. He needs eight touchdown receptions to surpass Florida’s Chris Doering’s record of 31, set in 1995.
If he plays Saturday, he will have only six — seven with a bowl — games to get the record.
Monk knows whats coming back next yr. and he doesn’t want anything to do with it.Smart player.