Hogs juniors lean toward returning to school not testing NFL waters

DALLAS Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs all but promised Saturday that he would be back for his senior season.

Running back Felix Jones also indicated that he would return in 2008, though he left the possibility open that he could leave early for the NFL Draft.

Both Luigs and Jones are juniors, making them eligible to enter April's draft. But it appears neither is ready to turn pro at least for now.

"I'd say it's 99 percent I want to come back unless just something dramatic happens and they say I'll go with the No. 1 pick or something," Luigs said Saturday afternoon during a media gathering for the Cotton Bowl. "But I still have things that I want to accomplish at the university and get a second degree and just be with my family and friends for another year. The NFL will always be there."

Luigs won the Rimington Trophy earlier this month as the nation's top center.

Jones, meanwhile, said he has made the decision to return to Arkansas for his senior season. But even he admitted those plans could change, depending on where he's projected to be drafted.

"I will be a Razorback next year," Jones said.

Asked if that was a definitive statement that he planned to return to Arkansas next season, Jones said, "I will be on the field, yeah."

Jones, named this month as an All-American, said he hasn't heard back from the NFL on where he's projected to be selected if he left after his junior season. His projection could influence his decision whether to stay in school.

"There (are) no promises or anything like that, but right now I'm a Razorback," Jones said. "... I still have time to (change my mind), so anything can happen."

Let McFadden Play

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden's eligibility for the Cotton Bowl remains unclear, but count Missouri free safety William Moore among the many who want to see the two-time, Heisman Trophy runner-up on the field Tuesday.

"I hope he plays so he can raise the level of competition," Moore said. "I really want to play against him. I hope he plays.

"You want to play against somebody whose great and has a chance to be one of the greatest running backs. You want to say, 'I played that guy. I tackled him. He scored on me.' Anything. I hope he plays and wish the best for him."

Injury Update

Arkansas fullback Peyton Hillis was held out of practice Saturday because of a pulled right hamstring suffered Friday.

"I got fatigued and dehydrated toward the end of practice and kind of overworked (the hamstring) toward the very end," Hillis said. "(It) just slowed me up a little bit to where (Arkansas' trainers) didn't want anything else to happen. So (I will) take it easy for a couple of days."

The hamstring injury is not believed to be serious, and Hillis is expected to play in the Cotton Bowl. So is receiver Robert Johnson, who was sidelined because of his sore ankle.

Meanwhile, defensive tackle Fred Bledsoe returned to practice Saturday after being held out the past few days because of pink eye.

Track Meet Coming?

Two high-powered offenses have grabbed much of the headlines leading up to the Cotton Bowl. In fact, the common belief is that a game featuring talented players like McFadden, Jones, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and receiver Jeremy Maclin is destined to be a shootout. After all, Missouri and Arkansas are averaging 40 and 39.8 points, respectively.

Missouri defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams doesn't mind if the Tigers' score at will. He's just hoping Arkansas doesn't.

"I'd like to see a 55-7 game," Williams said. "But it's probably not going to happen. I just expect it to be a good game. They've got a great offense. We've got a good offense. Both can score fast, both of them can do great things with the ball.

"It will probably be up to whose defense can cause the most turnovers and stop them the most times."

Kicker Does What?

Plenty of college football teams get their place kickers from soccer fields around the country. Missouri got its kicker in the swimming pool literally.

Jeff Wolfert, who kicked in one game in high school, was on a diving scholarship at Missouri when he decided to quit and join the football team in 2005.

"I had him come in and met him and talked to him and said, 'Do you realize what you're doing?'" Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "He said, 'I realize what I'm doing.' Obviously, he's turned into a great kicker and has done a great job for us."

Wolfert has made 38 of 44 field goals in his two seasons with the Tigers and was named a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist in 2006. He has never missed an attempt in Big 12 play.