FAYETTEVILLE -- The 2025 football season at Arkansas is mercifully nearing an end with the Missouri game set for Saturday.
Arkansas (2-9, 0-7) interim head coach Bobby Petrino held his Monday press conference. Petrino talked about what it has been like jumping into the mix after five games and having to hire three new assistants on defense.
"It’s been difficult, I can’t say it hasn’t been difficult," Petrino said. "There’s a staff that was already in place. There are guys in the building that, you know, you didn't hire, you're trying to make it so everybody has a good experience. You're trying to go out and compete on the field, find ways to win. We haven't been able to do that. We've gotten very close a number of times and then just didn't follow through with it. So it hasn't been like the funniest thing I've ever done in my life, I can tell you that. But, you know, we just tried to make it about the players and them having, you know, encouraging them to do well."
Arkansas is closing in on a new coach. Petrino was asked if he would have any interest in staying on as offensive coordinator for the new coach if asked?
"Yeah, things that I haven't thought about," Petrino said. "It's hard for me to say that right now, I guess."
As far as Saturday's game, running back Braylen Russell has missed the last two games while in concussion protocol. Petrino provided an update on him.
"Not yet," Petrino said. "He’s got a chance, from my understanding. Met with the trainer here at 11 today, and he said he’s got an opportunity as far as his reaction to workouts tomorrow will be something that will really decide it. Rodney (Hill) should be back, he’s still not feeling great, but he should be back. I don’t know what sickness he had, but it put him down. It was not good."
Defensive end Charlie Collins was injured against Mississippi State and he too has missed the last two games.
"Charlie’s got a chance, too," Petrino said. "He ran last night, did a good job running straight ahead. Had experienced some pain on his change of direction and cutting, so we’ve got to see that, but bone bruises are very painful injuries. Sometimes you shift and just one simple way and the pain comes back and the swelling comes back. I know I had a couple quarterbacks that had that before and it's hard to come back from, especially in a position where you have to change directions and lean and do that. So, for a defensive end, quarterback, they're very hard injuries to come back from. He's working hard at it. I'll tell you that he's really put a lot into it."
Arkansas and Missouri will kickoff at 2:30 Saturday afternoon and televised on the SEC Network from Razorback Stadium.
