UPDATE (Sept. 20): Greg Brooks Jr., who was already declared out for Arkansas vs LSU, had emergency surgery to remove a large brain tumor last Friday, according to a statement released by his family Wednesday morning. It was a successful procedure and they are now awaiting biopsy results.
FAYETTEVILLE — Only half of the Arkansas-LSU “trade” of two offseasons ago will be in action Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU safety Greg Brooks Jr., who played for the Razorbacks from 2019-21, will miss his second straight game with what LSU football coach Brian Kelly has described as a “medical emergency.”
His absence this past week, when the Tigers crushed Mississippi State 41-14, was a surprise because he hadn’t previously been listed on their injury report. Kelly has declined to reveal any further details about Brooks’ situation, including a timeline for his potential return.
Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman opened his weekly Monday press conference with a comment on his former starting nickel.
“Greg was a wonderful kid when he was here and did a great job for us,” Pittman said. “Whatever it may be, I want him and his family and LSU to know that we’re concerned, we’re praying for him and we hope that he has a speedy recovery.”
Brooks was one of two starting defensive backs to leave Arkansas and transfer to LSU following the 2021 season. He put together a great season last year, finishing with 66 tackles, three pass breakups and two interceptions while posting a 73.0 Pro Football Focus grade.
Rather than begin his professional career, Brooks opted to return to the Tigers as a super senior in 2023. He was elected a team captain and started the opener against Florida State, but played just 15 snaps off the bench the following week against Grambling.
Former Arkansas team captain Joe Foucha was the Razorbacks’ other departure, but he exhausted his eligibility last season. An academic issue prevented him from playing the first four games of 2022, but he started eight of the Tigers’ final 10 games and finished with 40 tackles, four pass breakups and one interception, earning a 64.2 PFF grade.
As if completing a “trade” of sorts between the SEC West rivals, Arkansas nabbed two former four-star recruits from LSU via the transfer portal during the same offseason: defensive end Landon Jackson and cornerback Dwight McGlothern.
Jackson started seven games for the Razorbacks last season, when he racked up 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks and posted a 59.3 PFF grade. His biggest impact is being felt this year, as he’s a team captain and already has 10 tackles, including six for loss — the second-most in the SEC — and two sacks. That’s given him a 78.0 PFF grade through three weeks.
McGlothern may have been the most successful of any of the four players in 2022, as he earned second-team All-SEC accolades after making 52 tackles with 10 pass breakups and four interceptions. He has four tackles, one pass breakup and one interception so far this season, helping him post an 86.2 PFF grade — up from his already impressive 77.2 grade last year.
It’s worth noting that McGlothern missed all but one snap of the Kent State game because of a turf toe injury and then rotated this past week. Pittman indicated on Monday that he would be full-go for the LSU game.
The fourth-year Arkansas coach has spoken highly of all four players involved in the “trade” and is particularly happy with how it’s turned out for his team.
“I just think sometimes kids need a different look,” Pittman said on last week’s SEC coaches teleconference. “We had a couple leave here that went to LSU. I think kids just need a different feel at times and it works out a lot of times. Sometimes it doesn’t, but for those two guys (Jackson and McGlothern), it worked out for us.”
Watch Sam Pittman’s full Arkansas vs LSU preview press conference here:
Arkansas Football Injury Report
Here’s the latest on various Arkansas football players dealing with injuries…
- RB Rocket Sanders (knee): Status for the Arkansas vs LSU game is unknown as of Monday afternoon, but Pittman said he’d be out at practice… Has missed the last two games with a knee injury suffered in the opener
- CB Dwight McGlothern (turf toe): Played against BYU, but rotated more than usual… Should be good to go vs. LSU… “I anticipate him being healthy this week,” Pittman said.
- OL Andrew Chamblee (cramps): Left the BYU game on the final drive… Pittman said it was cramps and that he’s fine
- OL Patrick Kutas (back): Left the BYU game on the final drive… Pittman said it’s a back injury, but also indicated he’s fine
- OL Devon Manuel (stinger): Dressed out, but was unavailable vs. BYU because of a stinger… His status for LSU is still unknown… “He just hasn’t practiced well because he physically can’t,” Pittman said. “I hope so (that he’ll be back, especially) going back to Louisiana, as well. We need him.”
- S Malik Chavis (hand/wrist): Has not played or dressed out for either game this season… No update from Pittman
- OL Josh Street (undisclosed): Dressed out and played on special teams vs. BYU after missing the Kent State game
- DE Quincy Rhodes Jr. (head): Did not dress out for the second straight game… Had to be helped off the field during the Western Carolina game… Pittman said after that game that his head hit the turf, likely meaning he has a concussion
- OL Eli Henderson (undisclosed): Did not dress out vs. BYU
- OL Luke Brown (undisclosed): Has not dressed out this season
- DT Marcus Miller (undisclosed): Has not dressed out this season
- DB Dallas Young (undisclosed): Has not dressed out this season
- CB Quincey McAdoo (neck): Out for the season
- OL Terry Wells (torn pec): Out for the season
- WR Sam Mbake (knee): Out for the season
Arkansas Football Depth Chart
The following depth chart was released to the media by the UA in its weekly game notes…
(NOTE: It’s important to remember that this depth chart is essentially worthless, as has been proved time and time again.)
Offense
| POS | First | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | KJ Jefferson | Jacolby Criswell | |
| RB | Rocket Sanders | AJ Green | Rashod Dubinion Dominique Johnson |
| TE | Luke Hasz | Francis Sherman | Nathan Bax -OR- Var’keyes Gumms -OR- Ty Washington |
| WR | Andrew Armstrong | Tyrone Broden | |
| WR | Isaac TeSlaa | Davion Dozier | Dazmin James |
| WR | Jaedon Wilson | Isaiah Sategna | Bryce Stephens |
| LT | Andrew Chamblee -OR- | Devon Manuel | |
| LG | Brady Latham | Josh Street | |
| C | Beaux Limmer | Amaury Wiggins | |
| RG | Joshua Braun | Ty’Kieast Crawford | |
| RT | Patrick Kutas | E’Marion Harris |
Notable…
- There are no changes to the offensive depth chart.
- It’s worth noting that Rocket Sanders has continued to be listed as the starter despite missing the last two games, so him being listed here means absolutely nothing.
- There is still an “or” between Chamblee and Manuel at left tackle, but Chamblee has started all three games this year. Plus, Manuel is dealing with an injury.
Defense
| POS | First | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Landon Jackson | John Morgan III | Jashaud Stewart |
| DT | Taurean Carter | Keivie Rose | |
| DT | Eric Gregory | Cam Ball | Anthony Booker Jr. |
| DE | Trajan Jeffcoat | Zach Williams | |
| LB | Chris Paul Jr. | Antonio Grier -OR- | Brad Spence |
| LB | Jaheim Thomas | Jordan Crook | |
| NB | Lorando Johnson | TJ Metcalf | Jaylen Lewis |
| CB | Dwight McGlothern | Kee’yon Stewart | LaDarrius Bishop |
| S | Alfahiym Walcott | Malik Chavis | |
| S | Jayden Johnson | Hudson Clark | |
| CB | Jaheim Singletary | Jaylon Braxton | LaDarrius Bishop |
Notable…
- There are no changes to the defensive depth chart.
- Chavis has been listed as a backup safety all season despite being out with a hand/wrist injury.
- Lorando Johnson and Jaylon Braxton started at cornerback vs. BYU.
Special Teams
| POS | First | Second |
|---|---|---|
| K/KO | Cam Little | Blake Ford |
| P | Max Fletcher | Devin Bale |
| LS | Eli Stein | Ashton Ngo |
| H | Max Fletcher | Devin Bale |
| KOR | Isaiah Sategna | AJ Green |
| PR | Isaiah Sategna | Bryce Stephens |
Notable…
- There are no changes to the special teams depth chart for Arkansas vs LSU.
How to Watch Arkansas vs LSU
Date: Saturday, Sept. 23
Location: Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, La.)
Kickoff Time and TV Schedule: 6 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Announcers: Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter)
LSU’s Rankings: No. 12 (AP) | No. 13 (Coaches) | No. 15 (SP+) | No. 9 (FPI)
Arkansas’ Rankings: NR (AP) | RV (Coaches) | No. 33 (SP+) | No. 42 (FPI)
ESPN FPI: LSU has an 88.4% chance to win
SP+ Projection: LSU has a 74% chance to win, favored by 11.0 (proj. score: 35-24)
Odds/Betting Line: LSU, -18.5 | O/U 55.5 (BetSaracen)
BONUS VIDEO: Brian Kelly previews Arkansas vs LSU
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