Tennessee's leading tailback out for Arkansas game

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - Tennessee&#39;s starting tailback, Cedric Houston, will miss Saturday&#39;s game against Arkansas because of a torn ligament in his left thumb.<br> <br> Coach Phillip Fulmer said Houston hurt his thumb in the No. 10 Volunteers&#39; 35-14 win Saturday over Rutgers. He had surgery Monday and will be out 10 days, meaning he could be back in time for the Georgia game Oct. 12. <br> <br> Houston, a sophomore from Clarendon, Ark., started the first three games for Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) but deeply bruised his thigh early in the Florida game Sept. 21. <br> <br> Houston remains Tennessee&#39;s leading rusher this season with 193 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns. He has not been tackled for a loss. <br> <br> He played sparingly against Rutgers, running four times for eight yards. He also had one catch for 12 yards. <br> <br> Tennessee has been unable to establish a strong running game so far this season while Houston figured to be the No. 1 back. <br> <br> Sophomore Jabari Davis is now slated to start in his place. Davis is second behind Houston in total yards with 140 on 33 carries and four touchdowns. <br> <br> The Vols rank 80th in the nation in rushing with an average 129.5 yards a game. <br> <br> Meanwhile linebacker Kevin Simon, who broke his right ankle in the Rutgers game, and linebacker Kevin Burnett, who tore an ACL earlier this season, will both probably have surgery this week. <br> <br> Additionally, starting defensive end Karlton Neal will have surgery on a knee. Neal did not play against Rutgers, having been suspended for violating team rules.

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