College Football Nation: Chad Jones
OFFENSE
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Tim Tebow torched Cincinnati for a career-high 482 passing yards and three TDs.Broke Vince Young’s record for total offense in a BCS bowl game with 533 yards in the Gators’ 51-24 rout of Cincinnati in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Completed 31 of 35 passes for a career-high 482 yards.
RB Dexter McCluster, Ole Miss
Was there a better player in the SEC the second half of the season? McCluster rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the AT&T Cotton Bowl win.
RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
Despite cramping up in the Citi BCS National Championship Game, the Heisman Trophy winner showed his grit and led the Crimson Tide with 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
WR Riley Cooper, Florida
Led the Gators’ offensive explosion in the Sugar Bowl with 181 receiving yards, including an 80-yard touchdown. Cooper averaged 25.9 yards on seven catches.
WR Brandon LaFell, LSU
The Tigers didn’t put up much offense, but LaFell had five catches for 87 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown. LaFell led all SEC players with 19 touchdown catches over the past two seasons.
TE Aaron Hernandez, Florida
His nine catches led all players in the Sugar Bowl, and he finished with 111 receiving yards. Hernandez opened the Gators’ scoring with a 7-yard touchdown catch.
OL John Jerry, Ole Miss
Helped clear the way for Ole Miss’ 193 rushing yards against an Oklahoma State defense that finished ranked 11th nationally against the run.
OL James Carpenter, Alabama
Combined with Mike Johnson to make the key block that helped spring Trent Richardson on his 49-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of the Citi BCS National Championship Game.
OL Justin Anderson, Georgia
The Bulldogs were playing without starting right tackle Josh Davis, and Anderson came off the bench in the second half to help give a much-needed lift to the running game.
OL Mike Johnson, Alabama
The anchor of an Alabama offensive line that paved the way for both Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson to each rush for more than 100 yards against Texas’ vaunted defense.
C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida
Spent more than five hours at Tulane Hospital with kidney stones and had several IV’s, but didn’t miss the start and led the way for the Gators up front.
DEFENSE
DE Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Had the hit that knocked Texas quarterback Colt McCoy out of the game and also returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown right before halftime.
DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida
Came back strong from his suspension in the SEC championship game with two sacks in the Gators’ Sugar Bowl romp.
DT Geno Atkins, Georgia
Pressured Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson relentlessly. Atkins finished with a sack and also blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter.
DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
A rock all season long in the middle for the Vols, Williams ended his career with nine tackles, including a half a sack in the 37-14 loss to Virgina Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
LB Patrick Trahan, Ole Miss
His 34-yard fumble return for a touchdown sealed the game for the Rebels with 3:12 remaining. Trahan also had an interception on Oklahoma State’s next possession.
LB Jerry Franklin, Arkansas
Finished with 10 tackles and had a third-quarter interception that turned the game around for the Hogs. East Carolina was leading 10-0, but Franklin intercepted a pass and returned it 31 yards to set up an Arkansas field goal.
LB Eric Norwood, South Carolina
Wrapped up a record-setting career at South Carolina by leading the Gamecocks with 10 tackles in their 20-7 loss to Connecticut in the Papajohns.com Bowl.
DB Walter McFadden, Auburn
Intercepted two passes in Auburn’s Outback Bowl win. McFadden’s first pick set up a touchdown, and he did the honors himself on the second one – returning it 100 yards for a touchdown.
DB Tramain Thomas, Arkansas
His 37-yard interception return for a touchdown tied the game in the third quarter. Thomas also tipped away a pass at the goal line in the final minutes that might have saved the game.
DB Kendrick Lewis, Ole Miss
Intercepted two passes in Ole Miss’ 21-7 Cotton Bowl victory over Oklahoma State. His big hit in the fourth quarter also forced the fumble that Patrick Trahan returned 34 yards for a touchdown to break the game open.
DB Chad Jones, LSU
Did a little bit of everything in his final game at LSU. Led the Tigers with eight tackles, including one for loss, while also forcing a fumble, breaking up a pass and blocking a kick.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Alex Tejada, Arkansas
His 37-yard field goal in overtime was the difference in Arkansas’ 20-17 victory over East Carolina in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
P Spencer Lanning, South Carolina
In extremely cold conditions, Lanning punted seven times for a 42.3-yard average and had a long of 48 yards. He also doubles as the Gamecocks’ place-kicker.
KR Brandon Boykin, Georgia
Tied an SEC record with his third kickoff return for a touchdown this season, taking one back 81 yards to answer Texas A&M’s first touchdown.
The timing’s not too bad, though. Both teams can use a breather with the SEC championship game just around the corner.
The marquee game this week features LSU traveling to Ole Miss. The winner can lay claim to being the SEC’s third best team and will also move to the head of the list for a Capital One Bowl invite.
Here’s a look at what to watch in the SEC in Week 12:
1. An updated roster at Alabama: It’s not a matter of whether the starters will finish the game against Chattanooga, but whether they finish the first half. Especially those players who have been fighting off nagging injuries, look for them to play just enough to stay game ready. There’s no need to push it in a game like this. Plus, it’s a perfect opportunity to get some younger players into the game that you’re going to need down the road. The fourth quarter might resemble the final quarter of the A-Day Game in terms of all the unfamiliar jersey numbers on the field.
2. An updated roster at Florida: Remember all the buzz about possibly seeing John Brantley against LSU when Tim Tebow was coming off his concussion? Well, Florida fans ought to get a heavy dose of Brantley against Florida International this weekend. Tebow has already taken a ton of hits this season, and there’s no way the Gators are going to take any chances with him. He’ll probably be done by halftime. It’s also a chance to get some of those younger receivers into the game and maybe rest some of the veteran defensive players who’ve been slowed by injuries.
3. Going bowling: Tennessee can become bowl eligible by winning this weekend, and Arkansas can improve its standing in the SEC’s bowl pecking order by winning. The Hogs face Mississippi State in Little Rock, while the Vols take on Vanderbilt in Knoxville. Mississippi State, meanwhile, is eliminated from bowl contention unless the Bulldogs can win over the Hogs at War Memorial Stadium. Mississippi State would then have to win on the final weekend of the regular season over Ole Miss to become bowl eligible. Currently, nine teams in the SEC are already bowl eligible. Vanderbilt is the only team that’s been eliminated.
4. Magnificent McCluster: Already one of the most exciting players in the country, 5-foot-8, 170-pound Dexter McCluster has been one of the hottest players in the country the past few weeks. He has 591 rushing yards in his last three SEC games to go along with six touchdowns. He’s coming off a school-record 282-yard performance against Tennessee where he scored four times, including a 71-yard run that will be a fixture in Ole Miss highlight packages for a long time to come. Even though he carried it 25 times last week, McCluster ought to be plenty fresh for LSU and the rest of the season. He had double-digit carries only once in his first six games.
5. Porter’s days dwindling at LSU? He’s been one of the key pieces to LSU’s coaching staff under Les Miles, but Larry Porter is now one of the leading candidates for the head coaching job at Memphis. A former running back at Memphis, Porter is widely viewed as one of the top recruiters in college football. His handprints were all over the class the Tigers brought in last year that was ranked No. 1 nationally by ESPN’s Scouts Inc. Porter coaches the running backs at LSU and also has the title of assistant head coach. It may be just a matter of time before he’s heading up his own program at his alma mater.
6. Big test for Jones: Tennessee was missing its starting free safety last week, and you see what McCluster did to the Vols. LSU free safety Chad Jones is now the guy responsible for making sure that McCluster doesn’t poster-ize the Tigers, too. Jones won’t be the only one trying to slow down the red-hot McCluster. He’ll have some help from his LSU defensive mates, who’ve been stingy against the run all season. LSU has allowed just three rushing touchdowns, which is tied for the SEC low with Florida, but McCluster poses the kind of big-play threat that can make any defense look silly.
7. Dixon vs. Mallett: It’s the classic run vs. pass matchup. Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon is second in the SEC in rushing and averages 120.2 yards per game. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett leads the SEC in passing with an average of 288.2 yards per game. Dixon may end up being the Bulldogs’ best defense against Mallett, who’s already set or matched 10 different school records this season. If Dixon can pound away at the Arkansas defense and help Mississippi State play keep-away, Mallett won’t get as many chances. Dixon has been a workhorse for the Bulldogs, carrying the ball 204 times. The only person to carry it more in the SEC this season is Auburn’s Ben Tate, who has 205 carries.
8. Berry bids adieu: He’s not officially saying this will be his Neyland Stadium farewell, but you know it will be. Tennessee junior safety Eric Berry is projected to be one of the top handful of picks in April’s NFL draft, meaning the chances of him hanging around for his senior season are remote at best. Berry has been a wonderful player for the Vols. He’s been an even better representative of the university and has gone out of his way to do everything with class. He insists that he’s not thinking of this as his final home game and instead just wants to soak everything up and enjoy the moment. Either way, he’ll go down as one of the finest to ever wear the orange.
9. Georgia leaning on the run: With star receiver A.J. Green out with a shoulder injury, the running game becomes more important than ever for the Bulldogs this weekend against Kentucky. The good news is that they’ve been running it better these last few games and have seemed to find the right combination up front. Georgia coach Mark Richt said one of the keys was moving sophomore Cordy Glenn back inside to guard from tackle, and freshman running back Washaun Ealey has also added some pop to the Bulldogs’ running game. They’ve averaged 191.7 yards on the ground in their last four games.
10. Cobb-Locke duo carrying Wildcats: Kentucky is holding its breath that Mr. Versatility, Randall Cobb, will recover from his shoulder injury well enough to be able to play Saturday against Georgia. He’s been the heartbeat of this team all season along with junior tailback Derrick Locke. They rank No. 3 and No. 4 in the SEC in all-purpose yards. Cobb is averaging 148.1 yards per game and Locke 146.1 yards per game. When healthy, they pose an ominous challenge for any defense, and both players are also extremely involved in special teams. Between them, they’ve scored 18 touchdowns this season.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Chad Jones has seen the black-and-white footage of Billy Cannon’s legendary punt return plenty of times.
It just so happens that this year is the 50th anniversary of Cannon's 89-yard return for a touchdown on Halloween night, one of the most famous plays in SEC history.
“He definitely broke more tackles than I did, but we were both moving at the same speed because we were both so tired,” quipped Jones, whose 93-yard punt return for a touchdown last week against Mississippi State saved LSU in a 30-26 victory.
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| Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE | |
| LSU’s Chad Jones thinks the Tigers can be even better than their 4-0 record indicates. |
It wasn’t the only time Jones saved the Tigers in that game, either. He deflected away a pass in the end zone that would have been a sure touchdown in the final minutes had he not seen the tight end out of the corner of his eye at the last moment.
“I’m just glad he tried to line-drive the pass,” Jones said. “If he lobs that ball, we’re definitely in trouble.”
It’s been that kind of season for the Tigers so far, too close for comfort.
They’re unbeaten, ranked fourth nationally and loaded with talent.
But as Jones says himself, they’ve just sort of been getting by.
“We’re definitely nowhere close to being as good as we’re supposed to be,” Jones said. “We’ve been getting by lately and have been at our best at times. But we haven’t played our best ball. That’s still to come.”
This Saturday would be as good a time as any for the Tigers (4-0) to put it all together. They face a Georgia team in Sanford Stadium that opened the flood gates for LSU’s collapse last season with a 52-38 beatdown of the Tigers in Baton Rouge.
“To get beat like that at home and give up that many points isn’t a good memory for anybody,” Jones said.
But, then, Jones is all about creating new memories. He’s coming off a national championship in baseball where he stepped up in several key relief appearances for the Tigers.
The collateral damage for football was that he gained too much weight and got out of shape coming into the summer. He ballooned up to 242 pounds.
“Just being a lazy pitcher,” Jones cracked.
In Tommy Moffitt’s strength program, it didn’t take Jones long to get back into shape, and he’s now back down to 227 pounds. And more importantly, he’s settled into a position that feels like home -- free safety.
After shuffling around between several different spots last season, Jones has locked in at free safety this season. As a result, he’s moving in the direction of locking in as the player everybody expected him to be when he came to LSU as the No. 1 safety prospect in the country in 2007.
“I enjoy Chad in his progression and how he’s developing at safety,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “There’s always room for improvement, and I think Chad understands that. But he plays with as much passion and want and anticipation of big plays as any safety I’ve been around.”
Jones has two interceptions through four games and is fifth on LSU’s team with 20 tackles. He’s part of a secondary that will get its stiffest challenge yet this weekend against A.J. Green and the Bulldogs.
“We’re a run-stopping team, and I think that’s going to continue,” Jones said. “I think the game’s going to come down to our defensive backs.
“They’ve got some guys who can go get the ball, but we can go get it, too.”
What this LSU team hasn’t done is get off the field consistently on third down. The Tigers are 11th in the SEC in third-down conversion defense, something Jones says has to improve.
“Just too many busts. That’s how Mississippi State scored one of its touchdowns,” Jones said. “We’re playing aggressively and forcing some turnovers, so I like how we’re getting after teams.
“People better keep their eyes open when they come across the middle against us, but we’ve still got to put it all together. And that means getting off the field on third down.”
Jones thinks the Tigers can build off their goal-line stand against Mississippi State. He also thinks there’s something to be said for finding ways to win despite not playing a complete football game.
“We definitely haven’t played our best football yet, but we’re on our way ... slowly but surely,” he said.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
A.J. Green is bigger, stronger, faster and better this season.
So far, it hasn’t really mattered how much opposing defenses have shadowed Georgia’s sensational sophomore receiver.
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| Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE | |
| Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green is even better in his sophomore season. |
Sooner or later, he’s going to get you.
And, oh yeah, he’s a bit wiser, too.
The inevitable comparisons between Green and Alabama’s Julio Jones will no doubt endure. They both came into the SEC together a year ago, and they both dazzled as true freshmen.
So who’s better?
“I don’t know, man,” Green said with a slight laugh and not about to be drawn into that debate. “I’ll let everybody else decide that.”
This season, it’s been no contest. For that matter, few receivers nationally have been able to match Green’s production.
He has 25 catches for 428 yards and four touchdowns heading into Saturday’s showdown with LSU at Sanford Stadium. To put those numbers into perspective, he’s almost halfway to his production from a year ago in four games.
And what’s more, he’s done his damage with defenses aligning their coverage to stop him. Single coverage has been a rarity for Green, especially with Mohamed Massaquoi now playing in the NFL.
“I’ve still got some things to work on, but I’m trying to make plays whenever my number is called,” said Green, who’s as humble off the field as he is explosive on the field.
He’s been unstoppable the last two weeks, as Arizona State and Arkansas would surely attest. He’s caught 15 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns.
Not only did he set up the game-winning field goal with a 36-yard catch against Arizona State last week, but he also blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt with 4:31 remaining to keep the Sun Devils from going ahead.
“I’ve seen him do too many crazy things to be surprised at anything he does,” Georgia quarterback Joe Cox marveled.
The 6-4 Green is up to 210 pounds, which is about 20 pounds heavier than he was as a freshman, but he hasn’t lost any of his speed or agility.
“I can feel it in my body when guys try to wrap me up and with the arm tackles around the legs,” Green said. “I’m running through the tackles now and finishing plays.”
He also feels a step faster.
“I don’t know about running faster, but I’m playing faster,” Green said. “It goes back to being more of a student of the game. I’m more comfortable out there.
“Last year, I didn’t know how to read coverages and just ran my route basically against air, but I’m looking now at how the corner’s playing me, finding the open gaps in the zone and stuff like that. I was playing on raw talent a lot last year. Coach (Tony) Ball has helped me to be more fundamentally sound.”
That may be, but Green’s unlimited talent, his ability to go get the football and catch the football no matter who’s around him is what sets him apart.
“He doesn’t wait for the ball to come to him. He goes and makes a play on the ball a lot of times before the defensive back even knows the ball is coming,” LSU safety Chad Jones said. “Most receivers wait for the ball to fall in the bread basket, but not him. He goes and gets it.”
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
The stars were out this week in the SEC. A lot of familiar names were making big plays.
Here are the helmet stickers for Week 4:
South Carolina outside linebacker Eric Norwood: He's been the SEC's best defensive player four weeks into the season. Norwood had two sacks in South Carolina's 16-10 win over Ole Miss on Thursday night to raise his league-leading total to six. He also partially blocked a punt and generally made life miserable for Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead. There's not a player in the league right now who has made a bigger impact on his team to this point than Norwood.
Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy: For a guy who was supposed to be one of the question marks for Alabama coming into the season, McElroy has been off-the-charts good. He threw for a career-high 291 yards and three touchdowns in the 35-7 win over Arkansas. He has seven touchdown passes and one interception this season and has gone 81 straight pass attempts now without throwing an interception. He's been terrific at spreading the ball around.
LSU safety Chad Jones: You can watch football for a long time and not see a better punt return than Jones' 93-yard gem for a touchdown in LSU's 30-26 win over Mississippi State. It accounted for LSU's only points of the fourth quarter, but Jones wasn't finished. In the final minute, he tipped away a Mississippi State pass on third down at the goal line after going skyward to stop the over-the-top play and having enough athleticism to reach out and deflect the play-action pass. The Tigers would have been toast without him Saturday.
Auburn quarterback Chris Todd: The Tigers' senior quarterback has them scrambling on the Plains to find out what the school record is for touchdown passes in a season. He threw five more Saturday in Auburn's 54-30 win over Ball State and has 11 through four games. Todd only missed seven passes all night, and four of his touchdowns were 26 yards or longer. He's easily the SEC's comeback player of the year at this point.
Georgia place-kicker Blair Walsh: Some of the special-teams units in the SEC haven't been anything to write home about this season, but Walsh saved the Bulldogs from what would have been a devastating loss with a pair of fourth-quarter field goals. His 37-yarder as time expired was the game-winner in Georgia's 20-17 win over Arizona State.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
You don't have to look very hard or very long in the SEC to find some teams loaded in certain areas.
Here's a closer look at where the depth and talent will be bursting at the seams in 2009:
Florida secondary -- It's not out of the realm to think that the Gators' second-team secondary would be one of the better ones in the SEC next season. Safety Dorian Munroe is back after tearing up his knee during the preseason a year ago. He was probably going to start had he not gotten hurt. Will Hill is another terrific safety prospect itching to get a shot. All four starters from last season return, including lock-down cornerbacks Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins. Junior safety Ahmad Black tied for the league lead with seven interceptions, while the Gators' other starting safety, Major Wright, is one of the fiercest hitters in the league. Senior cornerbacks Markihe Anderson and Wondy Pierre-Louis and redshirt freshman cornerback Adrian Bushell are also lurking, providing the kind of depth most teams can only dream about.
Ole Miss defensive line -- Former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron obviously knew a thing or two about recruiting and developing defensive linemen. The Rebels will go about eight deep across the defensive front in 2009, and that's after losing first-round draft pick Peria Jerry. Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt says pass-rushing extraordinaire Greg Hardy is dialed in mentally like he hasn't seen him, and tackle Jerrell Powe lost weight and is coming off a stellar spring. Ends Marcus Tillman and Kentrell Lockett combined for 17.5 tackles for loss last season, and both are dynamic leaders. Ted Laurent, Lawon Scott and Justin Smith make for an imposing trio on the inside.
Alabama defensive line -- Senior nose guard Terrence Cody was a first-team All-American last season, but sit back and watch other guys on the Alabama defensive line become household names in 2009. Sophomore Marcell Dareus is a star in the making, and the same goes for freshman Kerry Murphy. Senior end Brandon Deaderick returns after racking up four sacks a year ago, and sophomore linebacker Dont'a Hightower will be used like a defensive end in the jack linebacker/pass-rushing role. Senior Lorenzo Washington and sophomore Josh Chapman have also played a lot of quality minutes for the Crimson Tide.
LSU secondary -- The Tigers were deep enough in the secondary that first-year defensive coordinator John Chavis was able to move Harry Coleman from safety to outside linebacker this spring. One of the reasons Chavis could do that was Ron Brooks' development at safety. The former cornerback was everywhere the ball was this spring. Chavis is anxious to see his safety tandem of Chad Jones and Brooks in action. Sophomore cornerback Patrick Peterson appears poised to take that step toward All-SEC status, and Chris Hawkins and Jai Eugene are two more cornerbacks who could start for a lot of teams.
Georgia offensive line -- The misery that the Bulldogs went through last season should pay dividends in 2009. The glut of injuries up front forced them to shuffle the deck and move people around. A year later, they're as deep and versatile in the offensive line as anybody in the league. Junior Clint Boling can play both guard and tackle. He ended last season at left tackle, but Trinton Sturdivant will be back after tearing up his knee in the preseason a year ago. Cordy Glenn was a Freshman All-American at guard last season, while Justin Anderson earned Freshman All-America honors at tackle and Ben Jones Freshman All-America honors at center. When you throw in junior tackles Vince Vance and Josh Davis, it all adds up to what should be one of the strongest offensive lines in the SEC.
Arkansas receivers -- Bobby Petrino found some wideouts in the spring who can make it happen after the catch, namely Joe Adams and Jarius Wright. Greg Childs is another sophomore who put up big numbers. Senior London Crawford is a seasoned receiver who complements those three guys well, and the Hogs are also hopeful that senior Lucas Miller can return to full strength after tearing a ligament in his knee against LSU in the season finale a year ago. And while he's listed as a tight end, junior D.J. Williams is a force in the passing game and the kind of matchup that causes nightmares for opposing defenses. Ryan Mallett is going to have fun throwing to this bunch in the fall.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
How about a few helmet stickers from the spring?
Yeah, yeah, I know. They don't play any games against real opponents, just spring games and scrimmages.
But there's still plenty of material to work with, so here goes:
Best numbers: Did you see some of the receiving statistics the Arkansas receivers put up? Joe Adams and Jarius Wright, in particular, had touchdown-fests this spring. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino is hoping that's good news for his offense and not necessarily bad news for the Hogs' defense.
Best performance by a freshman: Easy choice here. South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore walked onto campus after graduating from high school early and promptly won one of the starting cornerback jobs. Steve Spurrier is also going to give him a shot to play quarterback in certain situations. And if that's not enough, Spurrier said recently on the booster club speaking circuit that Gilmore is one of the best football players to ever come to South Carolina.
Best no-show: For a guy who was supposed to be next in line to take over for Knowshon Moreno, Georgia's Caleb King sure had a pretty mediocre spring. He has gobs of talent. What he's yet to prove is that he has the toughness to be a great running back in this league.
Best comeback: Has to be LSU's Chad Jones. The Tigers tried to play him at too many positions in 2008 and he didn't play up to his potential. But he's at free safety to stay now under new defensive coordinator John Chavis and was a force this spring. Look for him to be a force in the fall as well.
Best surprise: Some thought Alabama's Robby Green was barely big enough to be a cornerback in the SEC. But he played plenty big this spring and laid claim to Rashad Johnson's old safety position. Talk about some big shoes to fill, but Green is smart, tough and driven -- all the qualities Nick Saban likes in a player.
Best surprise II: Florida's found itself a quarterback. OK, a backup quarterback. John Brantley was slinging the ball over the field in Gainesville this spring, and Urban Meyer was impressed enough to say that Brantley would see meaningful action next season. Maybe they'll line Tim Tebow up in the slot and let Brantley throw to him.
Best news: It was actually post-spring, but Auburn receiver signee DeAngelo Benton received word from the NCAA Clearinghouse that he was eligible to play next fall. Benton was a "must-have" for the Tigers.
Best hands: Some of the catches Vanderbilt receiver Terence Jeffers made this spring had his teammates oohing and aahing. The transfer from Connecticut isn't too bad after the catch, either. He's still working toward passing enough credit hours to be eligible in the fall, but Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said at the end of spring that he was somewhat optimistic that Jeffers would make it. The Commodores sure need him to.
Best breakthrough: We'll start with Tennessee defensive end Chris Walker, who's joined in that club by Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Trahan, Georgia running back Carlton Thomas, Kentucky safety Winston Guy and Alabama safety Robby Green.
Best quote: "The feeling around here is that we've got new life. We've got a new coaching staff, a new offense, a new attitude. Coach (Dan) Mullen said everybody was starting back to square one. That changed everybody's attitude, because everybody was going to get a chance to show what they could do," Mississippi State tailback Anthony Dixon on the impact of the new coaching staff.
Best quote II: "The number I'll be looking at is wins. Nobody wants to go through what we did last season," Auburn defensive end Antonio Coleman on how many sacks he'll get in 2009.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Taking a look at the latest happenings around the SEC:
- Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun breaks down the SEC coming out of the spring and picks Florida to beat Alabama in an SEC Championship Game rematch.
- With Bruce Figgins suspended for six games, Georgia coach Mark Richt says freshmen had better be ready to play at tight end.
- On further review, columnist Paul Finebaum thinks that maybe Tennessee did the right thing in giving Daniel Hood a second chance.
- The attorney for Alabama signee Nico Johnson is confident Johnson will be cleared of harassment charges.
- LSU's Chad Jones is turning heads on the baseball diamond, too, and has added pitching to his repertoire.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
How about a few helmet stickers from the spring?
Yeah, yeah, I know. They don't play any games against real opponents, just spring games and scrimmages.
But there's still plenty of material to work with, so here goes:
Best numbers: Did you see some of the receiving statistics the Arkansas receivers put up? Joe Adams and Jarius Wright, in particular, had touchdown-fests this spring. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino is hoping that's good news for his offense and not necessarily bad news for the Hogs' defense.
Best performance by a freshman: Easy choice here. South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore walked onto campus after graduating from high school early and promptly won one of the starting cornerback jobs. Steve Spurrier is also going to give him a shot to play quarterback in certain situations. And if that's not enough, Spurrier said recently on the booster club speaking circuit that Gilmore is one of the best football players to ever come to South Carolina.
Best no-show: For a guy who was supposed to be next in line to take over for Knowshon Moreno, Georgia's Caleb King sure had a pretty mediocre spring. He has gobs of talent. What he's yet to prove is that he has the toughness to be a great running back in this league.
Best comeback: Has to be LSU's Chad Jones. The Tigers tried to play him at too many positions in 2008 and he didn't play up to his potential. But he's at free safety to stay now under new defensive coordinator John Chavis and was a force this spring. Look for him to be a force in the fall as well.
Best surprise: Some thought Alabama's Robby Green was barely big enough to be a cornerback in the SEC. But he played plenty big this spring and laid claim toRashad Johnson 's old safety position. Talk about some big shoes to fill, but Green is smart, tough and driven -- all the qualities Nick Saban likes in a player.
Best surprise II: Florida's found itself a quarterback. OK, a backup quarterback. John Brantley was slinging the ball over the field in Gainesville this spring, and Urban Meyer was impressed enough to say that Brantley would see meaningful action next season. Maybe they'll line Tim Tebow up in the slot and let Brantley throw to him.
Best news: It was actually post-spring, but Auburn receiver signee DeAngelo Benton received word from the NCAA Clearinghouse that he was eligible to play next fall. Benton was a "must-have" for the Tigers.
Best hands: Some of the catches Vanderbilt receiver Terence Jeffers made this spring had his teammates oohing and aahing. The transfer from Connecticut isn't too bad after the catch, either. He's still working toward passing enough credit hours to be eligible in the fall, but Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said at the end of spring that he was somewhat optimistic that Jeffers would make it. The Commodores sure need him to.
Best breakthrough: We'll start with Tennessee defensive end Chris Walker, who's joined in that club by Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Trahan, Georgia running back Carlton Thomas, Kentucky safety Winston Guy and Alabama safety Robby Green.
Best quote: "The feeling around here is that we've got new life. We've got a new coaching staff, a new offense, a new attitude. Coach (Dan) Mullen said everybody was starting back to square one. That changed everybody's attitude, because everybody was going to get a chance to show what they could do," Mississippi State tailback Anthony Dixon on the impact of the new coaching staff.
Best quote II: "The number I'll be looking at is wins. Nobody wants to go through what we did last season," Auburn defensive end Antonio Coleman on how many sacks he'll get in 2009.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Rahim Alem thinks he's finally found his niche on the LSU football team.
He's not the guy who used to be known as Al Jones, Jr. only to change his name to reflect his African roots.
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| Greg McWilliams/US Presswire | |
| LSU's Rahim Alem is out to prove he can do more than rush the passer. |
He's not the older brother of safety Chad Jones, one of the most sought after prospects in the country when he signed with the Tigers.
He's not a role player, and he's definitely not just a pass-rusher.
Don't even think about referring to him as such.
"It's like everybody wants to box me in as a guy who just rushes the passer," said Alem, who was third in the SEC last season with eight sacks. "I'm the starting right end."
The 6-foot-3, 254-pound senior was the Tigers' best pass-rusher a year ago. For that matter, he was one of the best pass-rushers in the SEC. But because of LSU's depth and bulk on the defensive line, Alem only started one game.
In a lot of ways, he was pigeonholed as the Tigers' designated pass-rusher and was used as part of their "Express" package on passing downs.
But there's much more to his game than just getting after the quarterback, and he's determined to show his full repertoire next season.
"When you're on a team where everybody else is 270-plus and then they see me, they say, 'Oh, he must be the pass-rusher,'" said Alem, clearly miffed by that label. "I'm good at it, but I'm an end. They didn't recruit me to pass-rush. I'm not on half scholarship. I'm on full scholarship. I can do what any defensive end does."
He points to the Alabama game last season as proof. That was his only start, and he went against All-American offensive tackle Andre Smith all game.
"They had the best running game in the SEC behind Florida. Alabama was a downhill running team," Alem said. "The coaches started me because they knew I could play against that kind of team. I played against Andre Smith for four quarters and overtime, so I've played against the best and held up."
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Chad Jones refers to it as ripping and running.
"That's the way I like to play football. It's the only way I know how to play football," LSU's junior safety said.
Last season, though, there wasn't a lot of ripping and even less running from the guy who arrived on LSU's campus in 2007 as one of the most coveted safety prospects in the country.
"I was thinking too much last year with all the different positions I was playing -- nickel, dime, strong safety, a little linebacker," Jones recounted. "My game is roaming back there and making plays."
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| Doug Benc/Getty Images | |
| Plays like this Chad Jones gem in 2007 were not as plentiful for the Tigers in 2008. |
That's precisely the plan under new LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis, who wants to use Jones exclusively at free safety.
Jones has linebacker size. He said he played around 227 pounds last season and expects to play around 230 this fall. But he's the kind of impact player Chavis is looking for in the middle of his defense.
And even though the Tigers are only a handful of practices into the spring, Jones can already tell that he's going to like Chavis' style of defense.
"I really believe this is the year for me," Jones said. "I've been getting the feel for college football for two years now. But this is a new defense for all of us. The main thing is that I'm comfortable with my role now, comfortable with my teammates and comfortable with this defense.
"It's time to let it loose."
Jones started in six of the 13 games last season and had his moments, but the LSU secondary gave up more big plays than it made. The Tigers finished 11th in the SEC in passing defense.
There was clearly something missing, and Jones admits that he was as disappointed with his sophomore season as anyone. As a freshman, he was one of the most promising young defenders in the SEC. Everybody remembers his play at Alabama where he shot through on a blitz, sacked quarterback John Parker Wilson and forced a game-clinching fumble.
That version of Jones was rarely seen last season, as he seemed to be paralyzed at times while trying to adjust to all of his different roles.
"From what the coaches are saying, I'm a full-time safety. That's what I wanted," said Jones, who tied for sixth on the team last season with 50 tackles. "This will be my first year playing all safety. I played a little bit of everything last season until that last game when I was at free safety [in the Chick-fil-A Bowl]. I'm looking for that kind of performance and better this year."
One change he's made this spring is that he's not going to miss any spring practice time for baseball. Last spring, he missed some practice time while playing baseball.
"With a new system, it was going to take a little longer to learn the defense, and I wanted to make sure I didn't get behind," said Jones, who was drafted in the 13th round by the Houston Astros out of high school. "Doing extra stuff in the summer wasn't going to be enough. It was important to me that I was out here for all of the practices this spring."
There's still the business of getting into football shape.
"Standing in the outfield is not running and hitting," Jones said. "Other than that, I feel pretty good about where I am this spring and the defense as a whole."
Jones said the entire LSU defense has embraced what he called a more intense approach by Chavis and the other new defensive assistants.
"We've got talent. We had talent last year," Jones said. "There's no way a team should put up points on us like they did last year. With this new defensive scheme, we're going to be rocking this year. It's going to be LSU defense the way it's supposed to be -- turnovers, three-and-outs and getting the ball back to our offense as quick as possible.
"We know what kind of defense we play around here. That wasn't us last year, staying on the field like that and letting people put up big points. This year, we're going to get back to playing defense our way."
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Here are a few SEC links for you to munch on:
- Georgia coach Mark Richt's answer to making it through the ups and downs of recruiting is simple -- prayer. He asks the "Lord to give us the guys that belong at Georgia."
- A day after Georgia linebackers coach John Jancek turned down an offer to become defensive coordinator at South Florida, he's promoted to co-defensive coordinator at Georgia by Richt. Willie Martinez will remain the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator.
- With spring football practice looming, LSU's Chad Jones is doing his thing on the baseball diamond right now.
- Top running back prospect Bryce Brown is impressed by his visit to LSU. He's also considering Oregon and Tennessee.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Who are the players who will emerge from the shadows?
You know, those guys who've shown flashes, but either haven't been on the big stage consistently or haven't reached star status ... yet.
Here are five guys I think may break out next season in the SEC:
Vanderbilt cornerback Myron Lewis: Talk to newly promoted Vanderbilt defensive coordinator Jamie Bryant very long, and it's obvious what the coaches think of Lewis. There's no question that he was overshadowed by D.J. Moore last season, but the 6-foot-3, 202-pound Lewis may end up being an even better NFL prospect. He'll be the Commodores' lockdown cover guy this season and he has the versatility to play a number of different roles. He was tied for fourth on the team last season with 76 tackles, finished among the league leaders with five interceptions and is one of the better blitzers on the team as evidenced by his five sacks. He's the kind of player you can build your defense around.
Florida tight end Aaron Hernandez: Much like Lewis, Hernandez was a full-time starter for Florida last season. He took over the lead role at tight end after Cornelius Ingram went down in the preseason with a knee injury. But in a league laden with quality tight ends, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Hernandez flew under the radar. He didn't even receive honorable mention on the Associated Press' All-SEC team last season despite leading all tight ends with five touchdown catches. In 2009, Hernandez will be at the top of everybody's list. He has great hands. He's a physical blocker and can be utilized in a number of different ways. The Gators love to use him on the shovel pass, and they run it better than anybody.
Georgia tailback Caleb King: One of the most intriguing position battles next season in the SEC will be the Georgia starting tailback job. The front-runner is King, although Richard Samuel will also be a big part of the rotation. But with Knowshon Moreno gone and after so much hype about his potential, this is the 5-foot-11, 212-pound King's time to shine and he knows it. He rushed for just 247 yards on 61 carries last season, but Moreno was the centerpiece of the Georgia running game. Here's betting that King seizes this opportunity during his junior season and showcases what kind of back he really is behind an offensive line that should be one of the strengths of the team in 2009.
LSU safety Chad Jones: He's one of the more versatile athletes in the SEC, and 2009 is the season that Jones becomes one of the better football players in the SEC. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound Jones has shown just enough during his first two years that you know he has greatness written all over him. But with a new defensive coordinator (John Chavis) and new position coach (Ron Cooper), look for Jones to not only be a full-time starter, but much more consistent. The other thing that should help him is that he won't miss any spring practice to play baseball for the Tigers this spring. Despite starting in just six games last season, Jones still tied for sixth on the team with 50 total tackles and also forced two fumbles. Those numbers will only climb next season.
Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Trahan: If there were any questions about Trahan, they were erased at the end of last season when he played lights out for the Rebels. He had a sack and forced a fumble in the Cotton Bowl win over Texas Tech and finished the season 11th on the team in total tackles. Despite starting in just two games, he recorded 4.5 tackles for loss. It sometimes takes a year or part of a year for a junior college transfer to fully adjust, but Trahan will be an integral part of the Rebels' defense in 2009. He goes in as the starter at weakside linebacker and has all the tools to be one of the best big-play defenders in the league. Remember, the Ole Miss defense under Tyrone Nix last season had a staggering 111 tackles for loss.
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
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| J. Meric/Getty Images | |
| The Gators are expecting big things from Major Wright this season. |
Now for those players in the SEC on the cusp of breaking out and becoming household names. Some of these players have already made their mark to varying degrees, while others either haven't gotten the chance or just haven't done it yet. Keep an eye on all 10 this season:
1. Major Wright, S, Florida: A punishing hitter who tied for the SEC lead in forced fumbles a year ago as a true freshman. Took his lumps along with the rest of the Gators' young secondary, but he'll be better for it this season.
2. Jeremy Jarmon, DE, Kentucky: For all intents and purposes, had a breakout season last year with nine sacks in his first full season as a starter. But with more depth and better talent around him, Jarmon will be even better in 2008.
3. Chad Jones, S, LSU: Another physical safety to watch in 2008. Jones showed his playmaking abilities in spots last season as a true freshman. At 6-foot-3 and nearly 230 pounds, he has all the tools to be a great one.
4. Tray Blackmon, LB, Auburn: A suspension his freshman season held him back, and it was an ankle injury last season. Blackman still finished seventh on the team in tackles despite playing in just nine games. This is the year he puts it all together.
5. Gerald Jones, WR, Tennessee: Was underutilized last season by the Vols as a freshman. But he's something to see in the open field, and new Tennessee offensive coordinator Dave Clawson is determined to get him the ball.
6. Al Woods, DT, LSU: Probably will back up Charles Alexander to start the season, but this is the year he puts it all together and plays like the NFL first-round draft pick he's been projected as. Think the Tigers are deep up front?
7. London Crawford, WR, Arkansas: Finally ready to live up to lofty high school credentials now that he's in Bobby Petrino's pass-happy offense. One of the Hogs' most improved players in the spring.
8. Terry Grant, RB, Alabama: Set an Alabama freshman rushing record last season with 891 yards despite being hindered by a painful sports hernia. Had offseason surgery to correct the problem and has become a more complete back.
9. Richard Murphy, RB, LSU: Even with Jacob Hester gone, the LSU backfield remains crowded. Some are fingering Keiland Williams as the breakout guy, but Murphy had the better spring with his blend of speed and pass-catching ability.
10. Mario Fannin, RB/WR, Auburn: Shoulder surgery derailed him in the spring, but the explosive Fannin is moving to the slot in Tony Franklin's spread offense. He's still going to get his touches running the ball, too.
In closing: Arkansas has a couple of tight ends to watch this season -- Andrew Davie and D.J. Willams. South Carolina tight end Jared Cook has "star" written all over him, too. Is this the year Tennessee defensive tackle Demonte Bolden puts it all together for 12 games? And for that matter, does another member of that Tennessee defensive line, senior end Robert Ayers, finally realize how good he can be?
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