Wilson’s injury leaves Arkansas with QB questions

After their shocking and possibly season-derailing loss in overtime to Louisiana-Monroe, the Razorbacks don't have much time to wallow in misery: They host No. 1 Alabama (2-0) on Saturday, a team that has beaten them five straight times.

Arkansas (1-1) faces the very real possibility of facing the defending national champion and its nasty defense with either Mitchell or redshirt freshman Brandon Allen under center after a dismal showing against the Warhawks on Saturday.

"You've just got to throw that behind you," Mitchell said. You can't forget what happened because you've got to stay hungry, but we're not even thinking about (Louisiana-Monroe) now. It's like it never happened for us."

Wilson made his first Southeastern Conference start in last season's loss to the Crimson Tide, a game in which he was battered and bruised after being on the receiving end of hit after hit by Alabama's swarming defense.

The first-team All-SEC quarterback took a similar beating in the first half of last week's loss to the Warhawks. He didn't play after halftime and Razorbacks coach John L. Smith said he was still experiencing "grogginess" two days later.

Wilson hasn't practiced this week while waiting on clearance from doctors and his availability for Saturday's game is uncertain.

It was Allen's emergence during the summer and preseason camp that allowed Arkansas to move Mitchell to wide receiver. Allen struggled in his first extended playing time in last week's loss, finishing 6-of-20 passing for 85 yards as the Razorbacks blew a 21-point third-quarter lead.

He also victimized by several dropped passes against the Warhawks, one of which resulted in an interception. Allen didn't make any excuses for his performance, but he did say the Razorbacks had a false sense of security after his 13-yard third-quarter touchdown pass to Mekale McKay put them up 28-7.

"Everyone's thinking, 'We've got this thing wrapped up,' and we kind of let off the pedal a little bit," Allen said. "And obviously that bit us in the butt, and they came back and we lost the game."

Smith has remained confident this week in Allen, who has long been thought of as the quarterback of the future with the Razorbacks. Facing Alabama is another matter altogether.