FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will be down at least one defensive lineman for its bowl game against TCU on Dec. 31.
Defensive end Julius Coates will not play in the Texas Bowl, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Monday. Pittman did not elaborate as to why the transfer from East Mississippi Community College would miss the program’s first bowl game since 2016.
Coates did not play in Arkansas’ regular-season finale against No. 1 Alabama on Dec. 12.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported prior to that game Coates was not expected to play for reasons unrelated to an injury. He played in seven games this season and earned three starts, finishing with 18 tackles, including a season-high six against Tennessee.