Arkansas junior starting star running back Michael Smith and senior starting quarterback  Casey Dick appear good to go in Saturday’s SEC game at Mississippi State though Casey Dick may not be good to start.
Nathan Dick, the redshirt freshman backup quarterback and Casey’s younger brother, will compete this week for the starting job, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said.
Both Smith (shoulder) and Casey Dick (concussion) were injured during the Nov. 8 34-21 SEC loss at South Carolina.
Neither practiced during last week’s open date week but both practiced during the Razorbacks’ brief workout Sunday night and both will practice in pads today when drills commence in earnest for Saturday’s nontelevised 1:30 p.m. game in Starkville, Miss.
“Michael practiced last night,” Petrino said Monday at his off day press conference,  “and looked very quick and fast. I think his legs are back and feeling good. He was in a neck roll, and they’ll be some alterations to that. It seemed a little bulky for him, and it was bothering him a little bit. But he real good, and that was good to see. Casey practiced some last night. We’re going to have to wait and see how he reacts to everything, how the week of practice goes, whether he’ll be the starter or Nathan will be the starter.”
Is Casey’s status more health related or performance related?
Casey struggled against South Carolina and Nathan debuted quarterbacking a touchdown drive on Arkansas’ final series.
“Kind of a combination,” Petrino said. “We want to make sure that Casey is back healthy. We do like the way Nathan played when he came in. It wasn’t Casey’s best game of the year against South Carolina. He certainly had some mistakes prior to getting hit in the head.  And also we want to make sure that Mississippi State has to prepare for both of them.”
Junior wide receiver Lucas Miller and senior All-American center Jonathan Luigs, both attending Monday’s press conference as did junior defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard, believe both Dick brothers will be well prepared.
Miller said that final series against South Carolina, Nathan’s first-ever in a college game, gave him something to build on for his three practices quarterbacking the first team in Casey’s absence last week.
“I think playing the game gave him a little confidence,” Miller said.  “In practice he’s definitely reading things a little better, a little quicker and understanding the offense a little more with that game time experience that he’s gaining.”
Casey came back on mission in Sunday night’s practice, Miller said.
“He threw the ball extremely well,” Miller said.  “Me and (third-year sophomore wide receiver) Carlton Salters discussed that at the first of practice when we were just throwing routes how much harder and more accurate he was throwing the ball. I think you are going to see him come back and this week you’ll see a competition. We all believe in him and we all believe in Nathan. So whoever Coach puts out there is going to get it and you know the team is behind it.”
Petrino was asked if he might take a page out of Steve Spurrier’s book and alternate quarterbacks each play like the South Carolina coach did with Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia against Arkansas.
“Run them in and out?” Petrino said.  “Ehhh, I’m never going to say never. One time I worked for a head coach, and every time you said never do this or that, he’d say, well now never is a long time.  So I don’t anticipate doing that. But who knows?”
In addition to Smith and Casey Dick, offensive guard Grant Cook and defensive ends Adrian Davis and Damario Ambrose returned from the injured list.
Adrian Davis, out the past two games with a knee injury Oct. 25 against Ole Miss,  actually practiced on a limited basis last week and intends to go full tilt today in pads.
Sheppard said the D-line of course welcomes Davis back that the secondary most benefits from the pass rush the junior provides with his four sacks.
“Our young corners he’s going to help,” Sheppard said,  “because he’s a great pass rusher.”
Sheppard said both to fight for bowl eligibility, achieved only if the 4-6 Hogs close beating Mississippi State Saturday and defending national champion LSU the day after Thanksgiving in Little Rock, and to atone for failing to prevent South Carolina from running the ball in the fourth quarter, the defense is raring to go to Starkville.
“It’s a welcome challenge,” Sheppard said.  “I think we can do better against the run. All of us are disappointed with the way we played. I know as a defensive front we’re better than what we showed.”