FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks will probably keep their starter at left guard under wraps right up until pre-game warmups for Saturday's 11:45 a.m. kickoff at Mississippi State.
With Patrick Kutas back in the mix, the junior is in a battle at left guard with Keyshawn Blackstock, who moved to the spot after the University of Arkansas downed No. 4 Tennessee 19-14 three weeks ago.
"They've gone half and half," Coach Sam Pittman said of the division of reps between Blackstock and Kutas this week. "There's still a battle there. We probably won't know exactly who we're going to start there.
"I think they'll both play. But it's been a good competition this week. Both of them have played well, but it is a competition."
The Razorbacks have run out the same starters on the offensive front every game, with tackles Fernando Carmona and Blackstock, guards Josh Braun and E'Marion Harris and center Addison Nichols through the first six games. Harris and Blackstock swapped spots for last week's 34-10 loss to No. 8 LSU and Pittman indicated Harris is probably sticking at right tackle to provide a taller, more nimble edge blocker.
Right tackle was Kutas' starting job for eight of his nine games last season, but he moved inside to left guard during spring drills and was there in training camp before a back issue sidelined him for roughly two months.
Kutas was back at practice for the open date after the Tennessee win and was in position to play last week, though he stayed on the sideline.
Nichols said Wednesday night that Kutas did not let the injury layoff get him down.
"He came back to practice and it's almost like he hasn't skipped a beat," Nichols said. "You'd think someone would have to come back and knock the rust off. He hasn't had to do that.
"He's come back and he's had great effort. He's got fresh legs so it's been great to see him go out there and run fast, physical.
"We know he wanted to get back and to be able to finally see him get back and get some snaps, get out there and practice and play football, it's been really exciting for us."
Injury report
The Arkansas injury report tracks with what Coach Sam Pittman has been suggesting during the week, with tailback Ja'Quinden Jackson listed as doubtful for Saturday's game at Mississippi State.
The mandatory availability report released by the SEC office on Wednesday night also included tailback Rodney Hill as questionable and cornerback Jaylon Braxton (knee) and kicker Kyle Ramsey (groin) as out.
Mississippi State had a much lengthier report, with four players listed as questionable: Wide receiver Mario Craver, defensive end De'Monte Russell, linebacker Zakari Tilliman and defensive lineman Trevion Williams.
The Bulldogs have seven player listed as out, including quarterback Blake Shapen and defensive lineman Kedrick Bingley-Jones.
Green groove
Despite playing at less than 100% last week, Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green completed 67.7% of his passes (21 of 31) for 240 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception against No. 8 LSU.
That performance came on the heels of Green completing 19 of 27 throws (70.4%) for 266 yards in basically three quarters of the Hogs' 19-14 win over No. 4 Tennessee.
The solid completion percentage against those two SEC defenses came after Green was on the run a lot in the three prior games against Alabama-Birmingham, Auburn and Texas A&M and completed just 48.9% of his passes (46 of 94).
The vast improvement is tied to a couple of things, Coach Sam Pittman said.
"I think his confidence is growing in the offense," Pittman said. "He's brand new too. Of course, all of them are, but that quarterback position here playing for Bobby (Petrino) is very, very difficult. But it's also very rewarding once you figure it all out, and for your future going to the NFL.
"I think we're protecting him a little bit better than what we were early in the year, and I believe he's getting a little more confidence in where his wideouts are going to be. He's throwing the ball a little bit faster than what he did before. The hanging in the pocket ... I think it has a little bit more to it."
Captains called
Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman revealed all four game captains on Wednesday night during his "Sam Pittman Live" radio show.
The captains group will be receiver Tyrone Broden, cornerback Marquise Robinson, linebacker Brooks Both of Harrison and fullback Maddox Lassiter of Warren.
Robinson is a native of Crosby, Miss., one of only a handful of Razorbacks who were born in the Magnolia State.
Worth wait
It took six games for transfer Larry Worth to make his first start and the junior from Jacksonville, Fla., made a huge impression.
Starting as a third safety with plenty of responsibilities inside the box, Worth racked up a season-high seven tackles in Arkansas' 19-14 win over Tennessee on Oct. 5.
"It felt great to be able to put my talents on display and for my coaches to be able to trust me," Worth said. "It felt great to be able to make some plays and help the team out."
Worth also accounted for a combo sack with Landon Jackson in the third quarter, just after the Razorbacks had pulled within 14-10.
Worth, a 6-4, 224-pound junior transfer from Jacksonville State, had 4 tackles against LSU last week.
50-plus first
The Razorbacks have had an uneven season from the field goal unit, as kickers Kyle Ramsey and Matthew Shipley have combined to make 9 of 15 field goals (60%) and all 25 points after touchdown.
However, the duo entered the Arkansas record books last weekend when Shipley connected on a 51-yard field goal to open the second half against LSU. As Ramsey had previously connected on a 51-yard field goal in a win over Alabama-Birmingham, they became the first pair of Arkansas kickers to make 50-plus yard field goals in the same season.
The trouble area for the Hogs has been the 40-to-49 yard range, where Ramsey is 4 of 9 and Shipley is 0 of 1.
Arkansas opponents have made 9 of 10 field goals, the lone miss coming by Oklahoma State's Logan Ward from 41 yards at the end of the first overtime.
Cody connection
Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman is very close to Mississippi State offensive line coach Cody Kennedy, who worked as his offensive line graduate assistant at Georgia in 2018 before joining Pittman's staff for a three-year stint from 2021-23 as offensive line coach.
Kennedy moved on after last year's offensive struggles for the Razorbacks, which began with an underperforming offensive front, and joined Coach Jeff Lebby's first-year staff with the Bulldogs.
"He's done an outstanding job over Mississippi State, and he did for us," Pittman said on Wednesday's SEC coaches teleconference. "The last year wasn't good, and he understands that. We all understand that.
"But the year before that we were really good up front. So Cody, he's from that area, and when that job came open I'm sure Coach Lebby reached out to him. And I'm happy for Cody. I love him, and he's one of my GAs, and he's having great success."
Kennedy isn't the only Mississippi State assistant who has worked for Pittman.
First-year tight ends coach Jon Cooper served in the same position at Arkansas in 2020. Cooper has a solid association with Lebby, working with him at Central Florida (2018-19) and Oklahoma (2022).