Cobbs questionable

Ailing back may sideline Razorbacks' RB

Cedric Cobbs has rushed for 340 yards and 7 touchdowns this season. AP

DALLAS (AP) -- Arkansas running back Cedric Cobbs, scheduled to start against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, said Thursday that he will not be able to play unless his back gets better.

Moments later, coach Houston Nutt said he expected Cobbs to be ready.

Cobbs did virtually nothing Thursday during the Razorbacks' two-hour practice in Texas Stadium. While the offense ran plays, No. 4 stood yards behind the line of scrimmage, arms folded. At the end of practice, when the players dumped their pads for cross-field sprints, Cobbs did not participate.

Tuesday's game is supposed to be Cobbs' first start since the Tennessee game on Sept. 8.

Last week, Cobbs sat out a practice because of his back but said the injury was not serious. Trainer Dean Weber said the back had bothered Cobbs off an on during the season and that he aggravated the condition while lifting weights.

"I'm really mad about it," Cobbs said before leaving Texas Stadium. "I just wish something like that hadn't happened because I was working so hard in practice. I was loving practice, getting myself ready to play against Oklahoma. "I hadn't really faced an injury like this where it held me back so much," Cobbs said. "It leaves me limited. If it's hurting like it is today, I won't be able to play"'

Cobbs said he hoped rehabilitation would help. Weber said that would involve mostly stretching and possibly a couple of sessions with a chiropractor.

"We haven't talked past today," Weber said. "I'm not as good as Bill Clinton was, I can't feel your pain. If you tell me you hurt, I'll believe you."

"I'm not really able to do any quick movement on it at all," Cobbs said. "I'm not really able to run on it or jump on it, so it is pretty severe. I really can't do anything about it right now. I hope it gets better."

"Just the timing and the practice time that he misses, that's what you hate," Nutt said. "I think he'll be there."

If not?

"The thing you feel good about is you have Brandon Holmes," Nutt said. "The guy has been working very, very hard. He's very hungry. He's ready to go."

Nutt also mentioned freshman Decori Birmingham and said he would know about Fred Talley's status on Friday.

Talley started eight of 11 games this year, but Nutt suspended him for his alleged involvement in a bar fight a few weeks ago. Despite undergoing knee surgery less than a year ago, Talley led the team in rushing with 774 yards on 164 carries. He topped 100 yards against South Carolina, Mississippi, Weber State and Central Florida.

Holmes made two starts during the year and played in seven games, but had only one carry after a suspension in mid-October.

A year ago, after Cobbs separated his shoulder and Talley tore up his knee, Holmes carried the load in consecutive victories over Mississippi State and LSU when both were nationally ranked.

Cobbs, who set a school record for an Arkansas freshman when he ran for 668 yards in 1999, was the starter when the 2001 season began. He made 29 yards against Nevada-Las Vegas and 22 against Tennessee. After the loss to the Vols, Cobbs knocked his blocking. He later said the remarks were misinterpreted, but he did not start the following week against Alabama. On his only carry against the Crimson Tide, Cobbs fumbled and Reggie Myles returned it 42 yards for a 14-3 lead.

For the next several weeks, he was bothered by a pulled hamstring.

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