Lavunce Askew

FAYETTEVILLE - University of Arkansas senior three-year letterman and defensive tackle Lavunce Askew of Camden Fairview will redshirt this season, Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino confirmed Thursday after the Razorbacks prepped for Saturday's 6 p.m. ESPNU televised game against New Mexico.

Though playing every game for last year's 10-3 Razorbacks, Askew did not play in Saturday's 51-7 season-opening victory over Missouri State.

The redshirting of Askew may be related to academics and is easier for the Razorbacks to do with sophomore (junior college transfer) Robert Thomas arriving as a starter to go with an experienced interior cast of fellow starting tackles: Byran Jones, a starting nose tackle from Junction City, senior Zach Stadther and juniors D.D. Jones and Alfred Davis and emerging true freshman Lonnie Gosha.

"We just feel like with the depth right now," Petrino said, "he came in and played as a true freshman. You're always looking at your APR (academics progress rate) and this will be a good year for him to get his redshirt in."

Askew has played in 45 games in three years, including all 13 games last year when he made 22 tackles, including a career high four when the Razorbacks beat LSU 31-23 last year in Little Rock.

 

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