Arkansas coach Houston Nutt was named the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by his fellow coaches Wednesday as he tried to squash rumors he was a candidate for the open job at Notre Dame.

“I have not been officially contacted,” Nutt said. “We’re in preparation for a bowl and concentrating on what we have here. We have a great thing going. Recruiting is going well. There has been no talk.”

But has Nutt been unofficially contacted?

He laughed.

“I don’t know the definition of that,” he said.

Nutt, who is signed to a 10-year contract through 2009, said the possibility was “just not a reality right now” and said the Notre Dame job was “not happening.”

Still, Nutt said he would listen if Notre Dame called and Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles granted permission.

“I think you owe it to your family,” Nutt said. “You have to listen. The way the coaching jobs are now days, it’s very difficult. Especially in the SEC.”

LIGHT WORK CONTINUES

Arkansas continued to work in shells and helmets for the second straight day and went for just more than an hour with three rounds of gassers after practice. Nutt said the team will return to more full contact drills in pads Thursday when the rest of his staff returns from the recruiting trail.

Defensive line coach Bobby Allen, receivers coach/recruiting coordinator George Pugh, outside linebackers coach Chris Vaughn and tight ends/special teams coach James Shibest were absent for the second straight day and will return Thursday. A new NCAA rule prohibits coaches from traveling after Dec. 16.

“Tomorrow we’ll have more kicking, more middle drill, little bit more tackling and maybe end it with a 10-play scrimmage with our redshirts,” Nutt said.

CARLTON, O’DONOHOE TO DUEL FOR KICKING JOB

The place-kicking job is up for grabs beginning Thursday between sophomore starter Brennan O’Donohoe and freshman David Carlton. Nutt said “not much” had progressed in the last two days.

O’Donohoe missed a 43-yard field goal against LSU and missed 41- and 43-yarders against Mississippi State. He missed a 35-yard field goal that could have won the game for Arkansas in the second overtime against Ole Miss after Eli Manning fumbled. Nutt said after the LSU game that Carlton would have kicked if Arkansas had gotten the ball back trailing 41-38.

Carlton handles kickoffs and has a strong leg — he hits from 55 yards every day from both hash marks and the middle of the field, and hit a wind-aided 60-yarder Wednesday.

“We both know we’re going out there to compete for the job,” Carlton said. “Whoever gets it — I don’t know his opinion, but I’m sure it’s the same as mine — we’re both competitors and whoever wins it deserves it.”

TALLEY ONLY HOG ON COACHES LIST

Nutt was “disappointed” junior tailback Fred Talley was the only Razorback named to the coaches’ All-SEC teams. Talley led Arkansas with 774 yards on 164 carries, fifth-most yards in the conference with a 4.7 average, and was named to the second team.

Linebacker Jermaine Petty (first team), safety Ken Hamlin (first team), center Kenny Sandlin (second team), right tackle Shawn Andrews (second team), linebacker Tony Bua (second team) and punter Richie Butler (honorable mention) were all named to the Associated Press team.