Kennedy still in good standing despite arrest, Nutt says

By

Posted 1:35PM on Friday, July 18, 2003

LITTLE ROCK - Putting a name to the starting fullback position for Arkansas is no simple matter. In the past two days, starting fullback Mark Pierce has left the team for personal reasons and his possible replacement, Brandon Kennedy, has been arrested and charged with third-degree battery. Next in line, among those on campus already, sophomore Justin Slaughter, who hasn't played a down in two years. But Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said Kennedy remains in good standing. The sophomore was arrested Wednesday after charges were filed over an altercation that occurred on June 26. ``That's a fight and that guy is going to press charges. Maybe we should press charges on him because he knocked out a window in Brandon Kennedy's vehicle last week,'' Nutt said. ``(Brandon) shouldn't have pushed him ... but I know the story on this one.'' Kennedy surrendered to Fayetteville police and was released without bond on the third-degree battery charge, police said. An arrest report was not made available because the case is an ongoing investigation, Fayetteville city prosecutor Casey Jones said. Zachary Venable, an Arkansas student from Greenbrier, filed the charge against Kennedy, according to a Fayetteville police report. Conviction for third-degree battery, a misdemeanor, could draw up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine, Jones said. On Thursday, Nutt stood by a statement he made the day before about Kennedy's status on the team. ``We still feel Brandon Kennedy will be an excellent fullback, and right now if we played tonight, he would go in first,'' Nutt said. Senior defensive lineman Brandon Holmes could return to fullback, but Nutt said he doesn't want to move Holmes again. Last year in his freshman season, Kennedy saw action in 12 games but had only two carries for 4 yards. Kennedy may be expected to help solidify the position the way Pierce has done the past two seasons. In 2000, sophomore fullback Adam Daily suffered a career-ending spinal injury and starting defensive tackle Sacha Lancaster lost more than 50 pounds to prepare to play fullback during the 2001 season. Pierce, who came to Arkansas as a tailback from Weatherford, Texas, came on during his freshman season and took some of the load off of Lancaster. Pierce was one of five freshmen to play in all 11 games in 2001 and he scored all three of his touchdowns in the seven-overtime victory over Mississippi. As a sophomore, Pierce embraced his role at fullback by gaining 25 pounds. He led the team with eight touchdowns, six rushing and two receiving. Only kicker David Carlton scored more points than Pierce. Rick Pierce, Pierce's father, died of a heart attack in December, the week after Arkansas beat LSU. During the Southeastern Conference championship game loss to Georgia, Pierce played with ``Dad, RIP'' written on his arm. Pierce was still trying to cope with the loss of his father before the Music City Bowl. ``I can't say my head was all the way in the game,'' Pierce said just before Christmas. ``I was doing the best I could with what I had. ... It was hard to concentrate sometimes because, looking around, you try to figure out who you're playing for.'' Nutt said he hopes Pierce can return for the fall semester, but if he doesn't, others who could see more time at fullback include tailback Kyle Dickerson, linebacker Shane Collins and freshman defensive lineman Keith Jackson Jr. Collins played running back in high school and tried out at fullback as a freshman, while Jackson also played fullback at Little Rock McClellan. ``We are hoping (Pierce) will be back and I have a lot of confidence that he will,'' Nutt said. ``He's a great kid. (He) just really has some problems right now and I think he will overcome them.''