SEC coaches not in a rush for expansion

Georgia coach Mark Richt doesn’t think the SEC is in any rush to add teams.
He figures other power conferences are more likely to expand so they can have two six-team divisions and a league championship game, like the SEC.
“There’s some leagues that might be trying to get to that,” Richt said on Thursday’s SEC coaches teleconference. “That would make more sense to me than trying to get these super conferences. You don’t get to play everybody when you do that. It’s almost like two different leagues when you do that.
The SEC has lucrative TV deals and a thriving football championship game that generated $14.3 million in 2008. Alabama coach Nick Saban’s team has played in the last two SEC title games, and he coached in the Big Ten at Michigan State.
“We did expansion years ago to get to 12 teams so we could have two divisions and a conference championship game,” Saban said. “I think that format is great for college football. It’s great for the fans. Our SEC championship game is a fantastic venue for our team to play in. But I also think, like when I was in the Big Ten we always talked about adding another team so we could get to 12 and make two divisions.
“I don’t know the extent that people are talking about expansion. But if they’re going to go to 16 teams, I think there would be a lot of people interested.”
After all, the SEC has won six Associated Press national titles since expanding to 12 teams in 1992.
“I think most of college football is looking for a format like we have, to allow for a championship game that allows them to play for postseason honors,” Miles said. “It will be interesting. I think it’s always a difficult thing to expand and make the schedule fair. Hopefully it won’t happen quickly in this league.”
Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson isn’t dwelling on the issue much but figures the coaches will get an update from Slive soon.
“He’s been on the forefront of just about everything as it came down the pike,” Johnson said. “He was there for the TV contract with ESPN. He knows what’s going on, and I trust that he’ll let us know at spring meetings what he’s thinking and what our situation is. The SEC is a conference that would certainly attract some other schools if they’re interested in tough competition. It’ll be interesting to watch and see how it progresses.”

Brantley has Gators feeling confident in post-Tebow era

Brantley showed precisely why he was one of the top-rated quarterbacks in the nation coming out of high school, in spring practice. The coaching staff has expressed a great deal of confidence in him and the offense will not miss much with Brantley in control.
"Johnny had a great spring which is really no surprise at all," de facto head coach Steve Addazio said according to the St. Petersburg Times. "He had a great fall as well. I think obviously stepping in and walking in that huddle, our team has a great deal of respect for him. He's a guy that's really paid his dues and had great work ethic here. He walks in, they have tremendous confidence in him.''
"Let's not forget last year there was tremendous confidence in Johnny Brantley as well. He's one of the top quarterbacks in our conference. He just continued that this spring and it was great to watch. Obviously his play this spring was excellent. We have great expectations for John. He's gonna have a great year ahead of him, he's a talented guy, he's really prepared and trained for this opportunity so we look for great things."

NCAA rules...Auburn "Tiger Prowl" No More

The NCAA Thursday night approved a measure that would prevent, the Birmingham News writes, more than two assistant coaches from one school from visiting a potential recruit at the same time. In particular, the newly-passed legislation mentions schools using limousines and extravagant buses in the recruiting process.
Auburn, of course, created quite a stir last year with their "Tiger Prowl", a recruiting tack in which assistant coaches would pile into a white or black stretch Hummer limo and visit high school after high school across the state of Alabama. This year, Auburn ditched the Hummers for what could be described as well an extravagant bus.
The explanation from the NCAA on these new rules leaves no doubt that they were pointing their ruling directly at Auburn.
"Multiple coaches are appearing at the high schools of the prospective student-athletes just as much to be seen as to actually conduct an evaluation," the new legislation reads. "Many institutions are unnecessarily expending resources in order to have multiple assistant coaches attend these evaluations as a result of the perceived recruiting benefit."
Chizik seemed to sense that new rules were coming as he attempted to distance himself from the phrase "Tiger Prowl" Thursday evening.
"Tiger Prowl is an event at night that's been really good with our people," the coach said. "And our coaches are working really hard because they're recruiting in the day and they're going to these Tiger Prowl events at night. It's kind of a fundraiser idea, kind of getting the fans excited, kind of a buzz thing out there and it's been really great. The reception has been awesome, especially last minute, spur of the moment-type deal. I think it's gotten bigger as the nights have moved on. I think the reception has been great."
Needless to say, the NCAA heartily disagrees, which is why, as far as recruiting is concerned, "Tiger Prowl" is no more.

Saban on slate quirk: 'It's not going to be an excuse'

The way the slate worked out was not some type of mass conspiracy looking to keep 'Bama down; rather, it was simply a quirk that the league is looking into, both in the here and now in an attempt to give the Tide some relief this season a prospect that's not looking good, incidentally and to prevent something which is admittedly inequitable from happening in the future.
Even if the Tide is forced to play under its current schedule, there's one person from whom you won't hear any wailing and gnashing of teeth the head coach.
Although, admittedly, he would not kick some relief in the week before the Iron Bowl out of bed for eating crackers.
By way of Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nick Saban stated that "sometimes a bye is an advantage, sometimes it's not", but, either way, he will not allow "it to be an excuse for us."
The Auburn game, however, is a different animal altogether.
The Iron Bowl is being held on the day after Thanksgiving, a Friday, and Alabama will be coming into the rivalry game on a short week as they take on Georgia State the previous Saturday. Auburn will be -- you guessed it -- coming off a bye, prompting Saban to say that "the thing [he's] concerned about is playing Auburn on a short week."
School officials are looking to move the date with Bill Curry and Georgia State but, as pointed out by Barnhart, the prospects of such a thing occurring do not look encouraging.

'Huge upside' landed Cam Newton Auburn's starting QB job

Speaking "informally" to reporters this morning, Chizik gushed in praising what Newton has brought to the football program.
"We had to take everything into account," Chizik said according to the Birmingham News. "He's been in the offense less time than anyone we've got...We thought his upside is huge.
"We felt like he really has a great intangible, the leadership skills he brings to the table. He's very confident, but not too confident. His presence is known and felt by the other players when he's in there.
"He manages the offense. He was very good protecting the football this spring. His completion percentages were very high in scrimmages. He brings an element to the table in terms of escapability, of running game, that we feel can create problems for defense. All of those things mixed together were the things that we saw."
The second-year coach also stressed that there is a lot of time between now and the start of the regular season, and that the Neil Caudle, Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley troika could still be in the starting mix if they raise their level of play and Newton were to slip or struggle.
"We made it very clear to our team that there's a long time before September and the journey is still out there," Chizik said. "But at this point in time, we just felt it was the best decision."

Ol' Ball Coach stirring the expansion pot

The Ol' Ball Coach apparently caught wind of rumors that the Razorbacks may somehow be involved in the "conference expansion apocalypse" and felt obliged/obligated/more-than-delighted to share them with the media masses.
"I don't know if we'll do a larger (SEC). I haven't heard that scenario. I've heard maybe Arkansas back to the Big 12 or something like that," Spurrier said according to the Northwest Arkansas Times.
Spurrier wasn't done. Next on the agenda was the Irish, although, in all honesty, it was "just" a rehash of the coach's past thoughts.
"I've said all along Notre Dame should be in the Big Ten and they should have to play the same schedule everybody else up there plays," Spurrier said. "I think it'd be good for them, good for college football. I don't think Notre Dame wants to do that. They like being independent, but I think they should get in that Big Ten and go play."

Ga. politicians give Richt an official shout-out

Six of the nine seasons under Mark Richt at Georgia have ended with double-digit wins. His 90-27 career record averages out to exactly 10-3 a year, that is not bad at all regardless of the competition let alone the conference Richt's Bulldogs reside in.
The Bulldog's are 7-2 in bowl games, winning the last four and are 2-1 in BcS games.
However, an 8-5 mark in 2009, the worst of Richt's tenure and a 4-4 record in the SEC , tied for his worst conference showing , have led some to think that Richt may be on the hot seat if the ship is not "righted" like now.
So, however that, hasn't stopped the state's representatives from bestowing an honor upon the head coach.
According to a press release issued by the school, Richt was recognized by the Georgia House of Representatives during Tuesday's session in Atlanta.
Introduced by House Speaker David Ralston, House Resolution 2103 cited Richt for his success as the Bulldogs' head coach. Richt also visited Gov. Sonny Perdue during his visit to the Capitol.
"I am truly humbled by the resolution," Richt said in a statement. "We are proud of the work we have done and are doing at Georgia, and it's a privilege to be recognized. It's my honor to accept this resolution and share it with our student-athletes and staff members. We are all very appreciative."
Here's a portion of House Resolution 2103 "Commending Coach Mark Richt":
WHEREAS, Coach Richt brings out the superior athletic ability of his players and serves as a role model and mentor to his teams; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his contributions to the University of Georgia football program, it is abundantly fitting and proper for this body to honor the extraordinary commitment and accomplishments of this outstanding individual.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend Coach Mark Richt for his amazing career as a football coach and invite him to be recognized by the House of Representatives at a date and time to be determined by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The entire resolution can be read by clicking HERE.

Cam officially the man under center for Auburn

Cam Newton is heading into summer workouts as Auburn's No. 1 quarterback, coach Gene Chizik announced Wednesday.The decision settled the biggest question for Auburn and comes after a spring practice in which coaches refused to name a leader among four contenders vying for the job. The coaches said then they'd wait and name a leader when they were sure who should be No. 1.That came Wednesday in a team meeting."After thoroughly evaluating our quarterbacks during spring practice and over the last week, Cam has emerged as our post-spring No. 1 quarterback," Chizik said in a statement. "Obviously, he will have a lot of work to do over the summer and during two-a-days to continue along this path. We fully expect our other quarterbacks to continue to work hard and compete with Cam during the off-season and into fall camp."

Murray finds life as Georgia’s No. 1 quarterback ‘pretty cool’

So what is it like, Aaron Murray as Georgia’s No. 1 quarterback?
“It 's cool,” Murray said, “A couple of people said, ‘Congratulations.’ It was in the paper, I guess.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s exciting. It’s definitely something I’ve always looked forward to, taking this job. I’ve just got to keep working and make sure I solidify my spot for that first game of the year.”
Murray got another taste of the celebrity that comes with being Georgia’s quarterback when the school set up a mid-afternoon conference call Friday for him to speak with a half dozen reporters.
Coach Mark Richt announced Thursday that Murray is the No. 1 quarterback on the Bulldogs’ post-spring depth chart but cautioned that being the top Dog at this point doesn’t guarantee starting the season opener Sept. 4. Murray understands that caveat, even as he receives congratulatory calls and texts.
“I heard from family and friends who just said, ‘Congratulations thus far, just continue to work hard,’ basically stuff like that,” Murray said. “I’ve talked to my family, and they have the same feeling as I do, it’s just one step and it’s not a done deal or anything like that.

Arkansas' Mallett nearing a return

According to the Northwest Arkansas Times, Mallett underwent an X-ray Monday, which showed that the foot is healing as expected. Barring an unexpected setback, the paper writes, Mallett is expected to be healthy enough to return and lead the team through June's voluntary workouts.
Mallett wasn't completely idle during the spring as he was permitted to make certain types of throws, although following and driving through on certain throws was frowned upon. Head coach Bobby Petrino said it was hard on Mallett to be so limited.
"The only time I saw him get a little bit antsy was when we started letting him throw the ball," Petrino said. "And then of course he wanted to make sure every pass was perfect and step into the ball. There was one day where he really wanted to do it the right way and I had to say, 'Ryan, settle down here a little bit, now. Just keep working your wrist and your arm. Everything will be fine.'
"I've been very happy with the way Ryan has handled it. It's not easy for him. He's as competitive as anybody on our football team. Just not being able to be out there Saturday night at the Red-White game when the lights went on and the crowd is there is hard for him."

2 Razorbacks arrested on drug charge

Arkansas defensive backs David Gordon and Hunter Miller were arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance by University of Arkansas police Monday night.
Miller and Gordon were observed by a police officer in a university parking lot lying in the back seat of a vehicle Monday evening. The police officer approached the vehicle and could spell a strong odor of burnt marijuana, according to a preliminary arrest report. A cloud of smoke rolled out of the vehicle when Miller opened the door and a plastic bag containing a "green leafy substance" was found inside the driver's side door panel, according to the report.
Gordon was identified as David D. Lopez in the police report and later in booking by the Washington County sheriff's office.
Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino was aware of the arrests and was handling the situation, but did not have a comment when reached through the Arkansas media relations department Tuesday afternoon.
Miller, a walk-on for the Razorbacks, was booked at the Washington County Detention Center at 8:05 p.m. and was released at 9:35 p.m. on $660 bond, according to the Washington County sheriff's office website. Gordon was released at 10:33 p.m.
Gordon and Miller are scheduled to appear May 24 in Fayetteville District Court.
Gordon battled injuries in the spring and did not participate in the Red-White game Saturday. He started in three games last season, playing in a total of 10 games, and had 11 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss.
Miller walked on at Arkansas in 2008 after he learned he would not be awarded an athletic scholarship at his school of choice, Ole Miss. He worked scout team for the Hogs in 2008, was not on the roster in 2009 and returned to the team this spring.

Slive says SEC studying expansion plan...internally

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive says the conference remains comfortable with its status quo of 12 members, but is internally discussing expansion in case other leagues add schools.
"Given the success we've experienced over the past decade, we are comfortable in the position in which we find ourselves," he said. "Having said that, if there's going to be a significant shift in the conference paradigm, the SEC will be strategic and thoughtful in order to maintain its position as one of the nation's premiere conferences."
The Big Ten is considering expansion and could be the first domino to fall in a new landscape for college athletics. It's possible the 11-member Big Ten, which has its own lucrative television network, could expand to 12, 14 or 16 schools.
Slive did not specify what would constitute a significant shift in conference realignment that would trigger the SEC to expand.
"I don't know if I can define it. I'll know it when I see it," he said. "Is one league expanding by two, three or four a paradigm shift? I don't know. Is two leagues expanding a paradigm shift? I don't know."
When asked if the SEC is being proactive or waiting to see what the Big Ten does, Slive said the conference is only talking internally about the advantages and disadvantages of expanding. He declined to say if the SEC has compiled a list of schools that would fit or what factors the SEC might look for should it expand.
SEC teams have won the past four national titles in football, and the conference has lucrative television contracts with ESPN and CBS that provides wide TV exposure.
"That doesn't cry out for change," Slive said. "Even though I might not be able to define it at the moment, we have always been known to be a creative league, be on the cutting edge. Thanks to my predecessors, and hopefully some of the things we've done, we're still on that level. We're not going to allow ourselves in any way, shape or form to be anything less than what we are now."

Razorbacks young guns highlight the 2010 scrimmage

Saturday was the high school prom at Westfield High School in Houston, Texas. Jacoby Walker spent it in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium helping lead the White team to a 31-21 victory over the Red in the 2010 Razorback football spring game.
Walker joined the Razorbacks at midterm, graduating early from Westfield. He went 6-of-11 for 183 yards passing with two touchdowns and a long of 50 yards. He also rushed for 30 yards and along with fellow freshman Brandon Mitchell were the offensive stars of the Red-White Game.
Mitchell ran for two touchdowns, including an 88-yard thriller early in the game.
With quarterback Ryan Mallett completing his comeback from off-season foot surgery, the rookies Mitchell and Walker took center stage.
The Razorback football coaches set out to create even teams for the spring game, and got nearly even production from the two teams. The White had the slight edge with 409 yards of total offense to 357 for the Red team.
“It was a fun spring game, really fun for the players," Razorback head coach Bobby Petrino said. "It was a good way to end our spring football. We moved the ball well at times but we struggled to complete some passes. Part of that was the pass rush and the other part was that guys were out of rhythm at times.”
The game was a back-and-forth contest until the final quarter.

Ex-Vols Fulmer-Dooley relations off to a gratifying start

Dooley seems genuinely interested in having Fulmer around might be a bit of a change from the guy sandwiched between the two of them at UT.
"Dooley did reach out, and he was very flattering in his compliments of what we had accomplished at Tennessee," Fulmer said Friday during his golf tournament for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. "First thing, I'm a Tennessee guy. I want Tennessee to always do well, and I want us to do it with character and integrity, which we've always done, and to appreciate our traditions and our history. Appreciate what other coaches and players have done here prior to me, and what others will do after me or Derek or whoever. We didn't have that with Lane Kiffin.
"I'm very appreciative of how Derek has tried to go about his business and I'm not in his business now. He's just asked for advice and those kinds of things."
When he does, Fulmer is more than willing to provide some answers or be a resource for Dooley, and with his national championship ring and 151 wins at UT, there could hardly be a better one.

UGA not alone with QB issues

South Carolina - Coach Steve Spurrier's assessment of veteran quarterback Stephen Garcia was the most significant news of the Gamecocks' spring practice. Although Garcia ranked second in the SEC in passing yards per game last fall, he didn't perform as Spurrier had hoped this spring.
Garcia's commitment has been questioned more than his talent. If his commitment is still an issue this season, a frustrated Spurrier might pull some fourth-stringer out from behind a clipboard and summon him into the game.
A part-time quarterback alternative would be cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who has excelled in the Wildcat package.

UGA losing yet another quarterback?

According to the Twitter page of Zac Klein, sports director at WSB in Atlanta, Logan Gray is "meeting with coaches, telling them he plans to transfer." Reportedly, the staff is attempting to talk Gray into staying.
Just four days after Mettenberger's dismissal, Georgia released its post-string depth chart, and Aaron Murray was ahead of Gray on the chart. Head coach Mark Richt made it sound like a no-brainer to position the quarterbacks the way he did.
"On a consistent basis, he performed better than Logan at this point," Richt said. "That's really all there is to it. It's the usual things , accuracy, decision making, those types of things."
While Murray is the starter in the here and now, the battle for the job was expected to continue upon the start of summer camp in a couple of months.
So, without a change of heart, it seems as if there will be no QB controversy in Athens this fall. Also, there will be very little experienced depth behind Murray. True freshman Hutson Mason would become Murray's backup if the transfer rumors become true and Gray bolts.
So, protect Murray at all costs, it appears he will be at the helm.

Mark Ingram the Heisman winner might get highway named after him

Alabama tailback Mark Ingram already has a Heisman trophy and a national championship. He might soon have a stretch of highway named after him in his native state.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Alabama running back might have yet another honor bestowed upon him, this one from his home state.
A bill pending in the Michigan Legislature would designate a stretch of I-475 through Flint the "Mark Ingram Memorial Highway." Ingram went to high school at Flint Southwestern Academy.
He won the Heisman last season as a sophomore with Alabama. The Crimson Tide beat Texas in the BCS national championship game.
The Senate Transportation Committee is scheduled to consider the bill designating the highway in Ingram’s honor on May 4.

Auburn's 'Tiger Prowl' set to roll again

Last year, as a way to introduce themselves to the area, then-new head coach Gene Chizik and his coaching staff rolled out "The Tiger Prowl" as a flashy way to traverse the recruiting trail.
Coaches would pile into a white or black stretch limo Hummer, and proceed to travel from high school to high school to high school visiting potential recruits, hoping to make enough of an impression on the players that, come Signing Day, they'd put pen to paper and fax their intentions to Auburn.
While it's debatable what kind of impact Tiger Prowl 2009 had on their 2010 recruiting class -- assistant coach Curtis Luper said "it was significant" something had an effect as the Tigers pulled in the No. 4 recruiting class in the country according to Rivals.com this past February.
With that initial success in hand, Chizik & Company are preparing to unveil Tiger Prowl v2.0 over the next month and a half. This time though, instead of Hummer limos, Auburn will utilize pimped-out buses/motor coaches as they hit the recruiting trail over the next six weeks, culminating in Big Cat Weekend around Memorial Day.

Which Conference reigns supreme in Draft, the SEC that's who

All seven rounds of the 2010 NFL draft are in the books, and there is little doubt or suspense as to which conference caught the most pro eyes over the past three days.
Players from the SEC, winners of the last four BCS title games, were far and away the most popular throughout the selection process as 49 of the 255 players taken were from the league.
The Big 12, after a first-round tear saw them topping even the SEC with nine selections, slowed down significantly over the last six rounds and came in with 30 drafted players, good for only fourth amongst BCS conferences.
Next after the SEC? The Big Ten with 34 and the ACC with 31, with the Pac-10 ending the festivities with 29.
So, where was the Big East , with just 13 players taken the entire draft, and five of those came from one school , South Florida.

UK's ground game grinds out an offensive win

The first spring game with Joker Phillips as HC is finished, and it was the offense , the running game, that stole the show.
Kentucky's ground game accounted for 307 yards and two touchdowns in front of an estimated crowd of 6,000 fans at Commonwealth Stadium.
Sophomore Donald Russell, one of two tailbacks vying to be the backup behind senior Derrick Locke, carried the ball nine times Saturday for 118 yards and two touchdowns in leading the offense (Blue team) to a 60-25 win over the defense (White team).
Even given the offense's statistical dominance, Phillips was pleased with what he saw on both sides of the ball.
"In the scrimmage today, I liked the competition," Phillips said. "Some of you got with the players and talked about the scoring system, but I think it is fair. We have to get the defense off of the field. We weren't very good last year on third downs and getting off the field. That means third-and-1, third-and-2 and even third-and-longs weren't very good. That has been a huge emphasis to get off the field.
"I think the offense did a good job moving the ball. There were some big plays, but the offense didn't get the ball in the end zone enough, especially our number 'ones (first team).' I thought the 'twos' (second team) did a good job getting into the end zone and we made some big plays with our running backs."

Ole Miss, Jevan Snead: A sobering lesson for early leapers

If a Div. 1-A head coach is looking for a way to convince his quarterback to remain in school for another year instead of jumping early into the NFL draft pool, all he needs to do is pull up the bio of Jevan Snead.
The former Ole Miss quarterback left school early following a very pedestrian 2009 season that saw his draft stock plummet. He was advised by those around the program to stay in school for another season in order to repair his tattered QB image.
Still, in spite of the urging, Snead announced in early January that, "[a]fter much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to forego my final year at Ole Miss and enter the NFL Draft."
Snead added that he "had to do what is best for me and my family. ... I look forward to the challenge and hard work that comes with pursuing my dream of playing quarterback in the NFL."
Unfortunately for Snead and his family, he's facing a monumental challenge the likes of which he certainly didn't expect if he's to realize that dream.
The NFL's seven-round draft concluded this evening, and a total of 255 names were called. And, in a cruel blow by the draft gods, not a single one of those 255 names even remotely rhymed with the words "Jevan" and "Snead".
Now, if Snead is going to go about "pursuing his dream", he's going to have to do it as an undrafted free agent. Maybe he'll be Kurt Warner, v2.0, or the next Jake Delhomme, and have the long and productive career he dreams of even as he begins the steep uphill climb as an UDFA.
Then again, maybe the odds are so stacked against him that, at this moment, Snead's kicking his own ass for a decision that, at this point in time, looks dead wrong.

New England takes Ex-Vandy Welch in Round 7

Vanderbilt offensive tackle Thomas Welch was selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the National Football League Draft on Saturday afternoon. Welch, from Brentwood, Tenn., becomes the second Commodore offensive tackle selected in the last three drafts, joining Chris Williams, who was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2008. Welch finished his Commodore career by starting 25 consecutive games, playing right tackle during Vanderbilt's 2008 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl campaign, then switching to left tackle as a senior. Welch made the move to left tackle comfortably. In two of Vanderbilt's three games, he earned the team's offensive player of the week honor. Late in the season, Welch struggled after suffering an ankle sprain against South Carolina. Welch becomes the first Commodore selected by New England since wide receiver Preston Brown was picked in the sixth round in 1980. Welch is the second Commodore selected in this draft. Cornerback Myron Lewis was taken in the third round as the 67th overall pick by Tampa Bay.

Ex-Vols Crompton drafted in fifth round, headed to San Diego

Jonathan Crompton , the former Tennessee quarterback is on the way into a great situation in San Diego.
The Chargers are clearly settled at the top of their depth chart with All-Pro Philip Rivers taking the snaps, which should give Crompton plenty of time to learn and get comfortable with the team that snapped him up in the fifth round with the 158th pick of the NFL draft on Saturday.
Crompton's selection was the sixth for the Vols with two rounds left in New York City, and his came with perhaps the most intrigue. His raw, natural ability stacked up with almost any other passer in the draft, but an up-and-down career made evaluation of Crompton a bit of a challenge.
He certainly finished his time with UT on the way up though, and now it's up to the Chargers to keep that progress going.

Browns see plenty in former Vols' Hardesty

Montario Hardesty may have only had one healthy season to show his stuff.
That was apparently all Cleveland needed to see of the former Tennessee running back.
Hardesty finally got his body to cooperate and allow him to prove he had what it took to be an every-down back as a senior for the Vols, a point he drilled home over 282 carries. Even after piling up 1,345 yards and 13 touchdowns there were concerns about his durability — but not enough to keep the Browns from trading up to take him with pick No. 59 of the NFL draft Friday.
“I had several teams call and ask me about him and about his character and what kind of kid he is, his toughness,” former Vols running backs coach Trooper Taylor said. “I think the knock has been that he’s been injured, but what I told them is that they’ll be another team that gets a steal.

Georgia's Rennie Curran Selected By Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans made linebacker Rennie Curran the first Bulldog to be picked in the 2010 NFL Draft after selecting him in the third round with the 97th pick on Friday night.Curran, a 5-11, 225-pound native of Snellville, Ga., led the Bulldogs with a combined 245 tackles during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, including 130 to lead Georgia this past season. A finalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award, Curran tallied a career-high 16 tackles versus No. 4 LSU during the 2009 season.After having five players drafted in the first three rounds at the 2009 NFL Draft, including the No. 1 overall pick in Matthew Stafford, Curran is the first Georgia player to get selected in 2010.Both Bulldog cornerback Asher Allen and defensive tackle Corvey Irvin were taken in third round of last year’s draft. The Minnesota Vikings selected Allen with the 86th pick while the Carolina Panthers picked Irvin 93rd.Curran is the first Bulldog to ever be selected by the Titans.

Wildcat's Peters Drafted by Atlanta Falcons

University of Kentucky defensive tackle Corey Peters was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the National Football League Draft on Friday.
Peters was the 83rd overall pick in the 2010 draft and the first Wildcat taken in this year's selection process. Rounds four through seven will be held on Saturday.
"It was really exciting (to hear my name called)," said Peters, who watched the draft in his hometown of Louisville. "Atlanta is a good fit for me with the same 4-3 scheme that I've played my whole life and it's not far from Lexington. I'm really looking forward to it."
Playing in the NFL is a long-time dream for Peters.
"I remember when my brother (Christopher) and I played one-on-one football in the backyard, with our dad as the full-time quarterback, and talking about playing in the NFL one day," Peters recalled. "Now having the opportunity to do that for a living is exciting."

LSU's Jones, LaFell Selected in NFL Draft

Chad Jones and Brandon LaFell entered the professional football ranks on Friday as both players were selected in the third round of the NFL Draft.
Jones, a safety from New Orleans, was picked by the New York Giants with the 76th overall selection, while LaFell, a wide receiver from Houston, went two picks later at No. 78 overall to the Carolina Panthers.
Jones and LaFell become the 26th and 27th Tigers picked in the NFL Draft since Les Miles took over the LSU program in 2005.
Jones joins former LSU standout Corey Webster in the Giants secondary. Jones, who also starred as a pitcher on LSU's national championship baseball team last year, opted to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. In three years with the Tigers, Jones played in 40 games, starting 19 times. He recorded 158 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses, two sacks and five interceptions. He also returned 31 punts for 336 yards, including a 93-yarder for a TD against Mississippi State this year.
LaFell finished his career ranked No. 2 in school history in receiving touchdowns (25), No. 3 in receptions (175) and No. 5 in yards (2,517). LaFell led LSU in receiving for three straight years from 2007 to 2009 joining Ken Kavanaugh (1937-39) and Eric Martin (1982-84) as the only players in school history accomplish that feat.
With LaFell going in the NFL Draft, LSU has now had at least one receiver selected in the draft for five straight years. In addition, the Tigers have had a safety taken in the NFL Draft for four consecutive years.

Ol Miss, Lewis, Hardy Taken On Third Day Of NFL Draft

Two more former Ole Miss Rebels were chosen during day three of the 2010 National Football League Draft Saturday, as S Kendrick Lewis was selected in the fifth round by Kansas City and DE Greg Hardy went in the sixth round to Carolina.
They join Dexter McCluster, who was drafted in the second round by KC, and John Jerry, who was a third-round pick of Miami. Four selections equal the most in a single draft for Ole Miss since five Rebels heard their names called in 1985.

Two Rebels Selected On Day Two Of NFL Draft

A pair of former Ole Miss Rebels were selected in the 2010 National Football League Draft Friday, as RB-WR Dexter McCluster was the 36th overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round and OL John Jerry was the 73rd pick by the Miami Dolphins in the third round.McCluster is the second Rebel drafted by the Chiefs in the past five years, as offensive guard Tre' Stallings was a seventh-round choice of KC in 2006.The last time an Ole Miss running back was taken so high was Deuce McAllister's selection with the 23rd overall pick of the 2001 draft. A Rebel wide receiver had never been chosen in the first or second rounds before."I'm glad to be a Kansas City Chief, and I'm glad to be back in red; Ole Miss red and now Kansas City Chief red," McCluster said. "Mini-camp starts Thursday, and the coaches said to be ready to work. You know I'll be ready."

Gamecocks' Norwood Selected by Panthers in Fourth Round

University of South Carolina All-American linebacker Eric Norwood has been selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the 2010 National Football League draft. Norwood was the 26th selection in the fourth round and the 124th player taken overall.
Norwood, who measured in at six-foot and five-eighths inches and 241 pounds at South Carolina's Pro Timing Day on March 31, was a 2009 first-team All-American as selected by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Associated Press. He was a first-team All-SEC selection for three consecutive years, the first player in school history to earn that distinction. Selected to play in the Senior Bowl and invited to the NFL Combine, Norwood concluded his career in the Garnet & Black as the school's all-time leader in both sacks (29.0) and tackles for loss (54.5). He was a finalist for the Butkus Award and a semifinalist for the Lott, Bednarik and Lombardi Awards.
Norwood is the third Gamecock selected by the Panthers in the history of the draft. Carolina used a third round pick in 2004 to select offensive tackle Travelle Wharton and used a seventh round pick in the 2009 draft to select cornerback Captain Munnerlyn.
The Cleveland Browns selected South Carolina defensive end Clifton Geathers in the sixth round. Geathers, a 6-7 ½, 297-pounder who played three seasons for the Gamecocks, was the 17th player selected in the sixth round, the 186th player taken overall.

Philadelphia Eagles Select Gator's Riley Cooper in NFL Draft

Former Gator wide receiver Riley Cooper (Clearwater, Fla.) has been selected in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He is the ninth Gator selected in this year’s draft and the seventh UF wide receiver selected since 2006, tied for the most by any school in that time span. It marks the fifth consecutive year that UF has had a wide receiver selected in the NFL Draft.
Cooper was an Associated Press second-team All-SEC performer in 2009 and led the team with 961 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2009. He caught two first-quarter touchdowns against Georgia last season, including a memorable one-handed grab in the back corner of the end zone. He also posted 181 receiving yards in the Sugar Bowl last season, the second-highest total in the 76-year history of the game.
Since 2008, Florida has had a total of six wide receivers or tight ends drafted, most of any school in the nation over that span.

Florida’s total of nine players drafted continues to lead the nation.

NFL draft ends with only two Auburn Tigers picked; Antonio Coleman will have to try free-agent route

Auburn defensive end Antonio Coleman, whose decision to return for his senior year of college was greeted with excitement a year ago, went unselected on Saturday, the final day of the seven-round NFL draft.
Running back Ben Tate was drafted in the second round on Day 1 and cornerback Walt McFadden was picked up in the fourth round Saturday.
McFadden's brother, NFL defensive back Bryant McFadden, found out he was being traded back to the Pittsburgh Steelers, at nearly the same time Walt found out he had been drafted by the Oakland Raiders.
"He feels like he's going back home," Walt said.
Walt McFadden got the phone call from the Raiders just moments before his name was announced on TV, but he tried to save the surprise from his family.
"I tried to play it off with my family like nothing happened," he said.
McFadden will join former teammate Quentin Groves in Oakland, along with quarterback Jason Campbell, who preceded McFadden at Auburn by one season.

Patriots select ex-Tide DE Brandon Deaderick late in seventh round

The NFL draft didn't end before Alabama defensive end Brandon Deaderick heard his name called.
Deaderick was selected today at pick No. 247 , 40 selections into the seventh round and the ninth before the end of the draft, by Nick Saban's friend Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
A two-year starter at Alabama, Deaderick's career will be best remembered for the fact he was shot as victim of a failed robbery attempt the week leading up to the 2009 season opener against Virginia Tech.
Deaderick makes seven picks for Alabama in this year's draft. All but offensive lineman Mike Johnson have been on the defensive side of the football.

SEC rules second round of NFL draft

It was the SEC that reigned supreme in the second round of the second day of the draft.
Eight players from the SEC were tabbed by NFL teams in the opening round of Day Two, followed closely by the Pac-10 with six and the Big Ten with five.
Interestingly, the Big East had the same amount of players drafted as Div. 1-AA schools in this round , just one.
The Big 12, the "leader" after Day One of the draft, was rather silent with just two selections, the same as Conference USA and the ACC, and one fewer than the Mountain West's three.
After the first two rounds, the SEC is far and away the best conference for picks with 15 selections, followed by the Big 12 with 11.

Denver Broncos Tab Tim Tebow with 25th Selection of the NFL Draft

Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (Jacksonville, Fla.) has been selected by the Denver Broncos with the 25th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. He is the first UF quarterback selected in the draft since Rex Grossman was chosen by the Chicago Bears with the 22nd choice in the 2003 draft.
Florida has tied its school record with three first-round draft picks last night (1989), as Tebow follows Joe Haden (Cleveland, 7th overall) and Maurkice Pouncey (Pittsburgh, 18th overall). He is the 42nd Gator selected in the first round all-time and is the fourth Florida quarterback to be taken in the first round.
“I’m sure Tim and his family are glad the process is over,” said Florida head coach Urban Meyer. “The Denver Broncos are getting a winner. Tim will show on the field what he is capable of doing and more than anything Tim has a competitive fire that will constantly push him to get better and do whatever he can to help his team win.”

Chiefs take Vols Berry with No. 5 pick

“I’m going to be a Chief baby,” a hoarse Berry was overheard saying as he spoke on his cell phone with the Chiefs. “I’m very excited. I would lose my voice, but I don’t have a voice to lose.” Berry’s pick was monumental on multiple fronts. First, he was just the sixth University of Tennessee player picked in the top five of the draft since 1940, and the first since the Baltimore Ravens selected tailback Jamal Lewis in 2000.
Moreover, Berry was only the fifth safety selected in the top five since 1980.
As high as Berry’s selection was, there was talk that it could have been even higher.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were considered a strong player for Berry, but they selected former Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy with pick No. 3.
Next, the Washington Redskins were rumored to have late interest with the fourth pick, but that must have been a typical draft smokescreen. They selected Oklahoma offensive tackle Trent Williams when no other team called their bluff.
Berry walked to the podium in New York and shared an embrace with former UT defensive tackle Dan Williams (who was later selected with the 26th pick by the Arizona Cardinals) before standing in front of the throng of fans and media assembled at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Big 12, SEC own NFL's first round

For the past two years, the cream of college football was controlled by two conferences: the SEC and Big 12. Florida beat Oklahoma for the 2008 national title, with Alabama and Texas not far behind. Alabama beat Texas for the 2009 national title, with Florida finishing No. 3.
We were reminded of the SEC/Big 12 horse race again last night in the NFL Draft, when half of the first-round picks came from the Big 12 (nine) or SEC (seven). The first eight players came from one of those two conferences, including Oklahoma starting the draft with three of the first four picks.
The SEC and Big 12 also had a run like this in the 2009 draft, producing 15 of the 32 first-round picks. These conference trends tend to go in cycles, although the SEC consistently finds itself near the top.

UGA has a No. 1 QB entering summer

Georgia has their starting quarterback.
According to the depth chart released by the school, Aaron Murray, as expected, sits atop the QB position, with Logan Gray listed as the backup.
According to head coach Mark Richt's own words, it was a no-brainer to place Murray as the starter.
"On a consistent basis, he performed better than Logan at this point," Richt said according to the Macon Telegraph. "That's really all there is to it. It's the usual things , accuracy, decision making, those types of things."
Perhaps most noteworthy of all the comments made by Richt , as if he had much of a choice, was that Murray would've been the starter even if Mettenberger had been on the team.
Statistically, Mettenberger outperformed the other two QBs in the two scrimmages and the spring game, but apparently the other 12 spring sessions were enough to show Richt that Murray was the guy regardless of who is or isn't on the roster.
Murray entered spring as the favorite to emerge with a hold on the starting job, so we're right back to where we thought we'd be as it relates to the QB situation. It just took one bouncey ride to get here.

One arrest, one transfer for UGA

According to the Macon Telegraph, walk-on punter Trent Dittmer was arrested for your run-of-the-mill public intoxication Wednesday morning. The paper reports that Dittmer was busted at 2:30 in the morning in downtown Athens.
Dittmer thrice punted in Georgia's spring game recently, but has never kicked in a real collegiate game, and therefore shouldn't really be mentioned.
Anyway, UGA is also losing some depth in the secondary as safety Makiri Pugh has decided to transfer from the program.
Pugh was mainly a special teams player in 2009 and was caught in a numbers game at his position throughout spring practice this year.
"We are appreciative of Makiri's contributions during his two years at Georgia," head coach Mark head coach Mark Richt said. "We understand and support his decision to transfer and wish him great success the remainder of his career."

Who will challenge Alabama in the SEC?

Alabama’s top competition in the division this fall , maybe its only competition in the division , is likely to come from across the state.
With the majority of its offense intact, Alabama showed during the spring that it may be even more explosive than last season. Meanwhile, the Tide is reaping the rewards of several top-rated recruiting classes in pulling up talented youngsters to fill holes on defense.
Auburn, meanwhile, looks as deep as it’s been in several years, with most of its offensive line intact, good depth at receiver and in the defensive front seven and promise in the secondary. If Cam Newton lives up to his considerable billing, 10 wins should be an attainable goal.
Meanwhile, the two other programs that have been fixtures in the SEC West hunt the past two years — LSU and Ole Miss — both have offensive issues that aren’t likely to be smoothed over come fall. Both have concerns at quarterback, as neither Nathan Stanley nor Raymond Cotton has set the world on fire in Oxford, and Jarrett "Pick Six" Lee outperformed returning starter Jordan Jefferson through much of the spring in Baton Rouge.
That is not good news for the Tigers.
Jefferson misfired on nine of his first 10 attempts in LSU’s spring game, finishing 8-of-23 for 94 yards with one interception and four sacks. Lee was marginally better, completing 10 of 20 passes for 114 yards, one touchdown and one pick. But, yes, that interception was returned for a touchdown by Craig Loston.
At Ole Miss, Stanley did make some progress as spring wore on, completing 11 of 16 passes for 165 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the second-team defense in the Grove Bowl. His only two throws against the starting defense were both intercepted, however. Cotton, the former Blount and Faith Academy standout, was slowed at the end of spring by a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
Add the fact that the Rebels lost their leading rusher (Dexter McCluster), leading receiver (Shay Hodge) and best three offensive linemen (John Jerry, Daverin Geralds and Reid Neely) and the prospect of another nine-win season seems remote.
Contact Mike Herndon at mherndon@press-register.com.

Question about starting quarterback remains unanswered for Auburn

When Auburn's spring football season wrapped up Monday afternoon, coach Gene Chizik could point to several questions that had been addressed during the previous four weeks.
And one big question that remained open-ended.
Auburn still has no starting quarterback and might not have one until August. That surprising and perhaps disappointing news is difficult for outsiders to dissect, as practices have been closed and Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn have offered little insight into their thinking.
Junior-college transfer Cam Newton entered spring as the favorite and probably still occupies the top spot. But there's less certainty than a month ago. Senior Neil Caudle and sophomore Barrett Trotter had solid springs.
Redshirt freshman Clint Moseley made progress, but likely remains last in the pecking order.
"Until we're 110 percent for sure, we'll be patient," Malzahn said as spring was winding down. "That's the best way to answer that."
What is clear is that the quarterback situation, the No. 1 question posed by the Press-Register four weeks ago , will provide plenty to talk about through the long summer.

Kentucky's HC Joker Phillips...Likes the look of the D

The Kentucky football defense played well during practice Wednesday morning, perhaps the best it has played this spring, Coach Joker Phillips indicated following the workout.
“I think that it was the defense's best practice,” Phillips said. “They did a good job of holding their gaps and stopping the run and the safeties did a good job of filling. We have to get better in our pass defense because we didn't do that as well but one of the things that we have been putting an emphasis on is stopping the run in the last couple of practices.
“I am really pleased with the way that the defense has started to practice. They are wrapping people up and putting their face on people. (Linebacker) Danny Trevathan was one of the leaders over there in doing that and I think that they have taken what he has shown them and they all have started to practice that way. We are not there yet but we are getting better.”
The Wildcats return to practice Friday for the final workout before the Blue/White Spring Game on Saturday.
Blue/White Game, Presented by Verizon Wireless, Set for Saturday: The Kentucky football team will have its first Blue/White Spring Game under the direction of new head coach Joker Phillips on Saturday, April 24, at 1 p.m. in Commonwealth Stadium. The event is presented by Verizon Wireless.

Tennessee's Eric Berry may be rarity in top 5

Should Tennessee safety Eric Berry get picked by the Kansas City Chiefs with the fifth overall selection,or before that he would become the first defensive back tabbed in the top five since the late Sean Taylor went fifth to Washington in 2004. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper believes players of Berry's ability are becoming increasingly valuable.
"Back in the day you could say it was a different game," Kiper said, "but now with the way everyone is throwing the
football, you see how important Ed Reed is to the Baltimore Ravens and (Troy) Polamalu is to Pittsburgh and (Brian) Dawkins when he was in Philadelphia and now in Denver. You see all these safeties around the league who are so critical to the success of their defense.
"Eric Berry can do so much for you. He can play corner. His ball skills are incredible. He didn't have the interceptions this past year, because people identified where he was and stayed away from that area."

UGA's Aaron Murray...are You Ready for This

Aaron Murray, the field is your domain, now.
On Sunday, Mark Richt dismissed Mettenberger for his arrest last month for an underage drinking, possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct, and obstruction incident in a bar in Remerton, Georgia. But the timing of this seems a bit strange to us, at secfootballonline. We understand, he was already scheduled to miss the opening game this season, and he looked pretty sharp in the spring game, so what'sup? We know the AD claims that there’s no new incident, but from a one game suspension to an outright dismissal, come on!
As for Georgia, this case scenario has all eyes on Aaron Murray. Everyone else is back for the Bulldogs. Florida is missing Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer is crazy and old. So, if Murray is a success they have a chance to run the SEC East this year. So, is Murray up for the task? Let's wait and see! The SEC Rocks!

Florida State vs. Florida at the beginning of the season? Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher could be in favor of the move

For the past 33 years, Florida State has closed out the regular season against in-state rival Florida.
If new FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher had his way, which by the way he doesn't, the schedule would be flipped for a couple of years.
Speaking to a Seminole Booster club in Atlanta, Fisher was asked, the Orlando Sentinel writes, if "organizers from the Chick-fil-A Kickoff had approached" FSU and given the school an invitation to play in the season-opening game at the Georgia Dome, one that annually pits an ACC school versus one from the SEC.
While Fisher conceded they had, a game against Alabama was mentioned by organizers, the coach flipped the script on the question and offered up an intriguing idea for the Kickoff committee, moving the FSU-UF regular-season finale to the beginning of the year.
Fisher's plan would call for the two schools to "do it up here two years in a row," saying that it "makes a lot of sense" from both a financial aspect and from the angle that it would allow the loser of the game -- couchcoughSeminolesSixYearsRunningcoughcough -- the rest of the season to climb back from the loss.
So, with that being said, Fisher amitted that his idea has almost no chance of coming to life.

Nutt, Walls Tee It Up In Bowl Challenge for Scholarship

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt and former All-American tight end Wesley Walls will represent the Rebels and compete for a share of the $400,000 scholarship purse in the annual Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament April 27.
The nation’s premier head coach and celebrity golf event will be held at the beautiful Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee outside Atlanta. Over the past three years, the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge has provided more than $1.3 million in scholarship and charity to its participating universities.Over the three-day event, several tournament rounds will be played. The complete field of former athletes and celebrities includes four Heisman Trophy winners, 10 members of the College Football Hall of Fame, 20 All-Americans, six Coach of the Year winners, four NFL Hall of Famers and players totaling 51 NFL All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections.
Two-time defending champions Steve Spurrier and Sterling Sharpe from South Carolina will lead an impressive list of top NCAA head coaches and celebrities. In all, 12 teams are scheduled to hit the links in the featured event, all vying for the $120,000 first-place scholarship prize.
“From a golf standpoint, this might be the strongest field we’ve ever had in this tournament,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. “Not only are they highly competitive on the football field, but they are ultra competitive when competing for this championship – especially with our largest scholarship purse yet on the line.”
The current field of competitors for the featured event includes:
Alabama: Nick Saban, Steve Sloan
Clemson: Dabo Swinney, Dwight Clark
Florida State: Jimbo Fisher, Terrell Buckley
Georgia Tech: Paul Johnson, Jon Barry
Maryland: Ralph Friedgen, Stan Gelbaugh
Ole Miss: Houston Nutt, Wesley Walls
North Carolina: Butch Davis, Natrone Means
N.C. State: Tom O’Brien, Sidney Lowe
South Carolina: Steve Spurrier, Sterling Sharpe
Vanderbilt: Bobby Johnson, Will Perdue
Virginia Tech: Frank Beamer, Dell Curry
Wake Forest: Jim Grobe, Billy Packer
The Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge main event features pairings that include a university head coach and a celebrity or former athlete from the same school competing in a scramble format against other university teams from around the country.
Past winners: 2009 South Carolina (Spurrier/Sharpe / -12, playoff winners), 2008 South Carolina (Spurrier/Sharpe / -12), 2007 Virginia Tech (Beamer/Curry / -10).
In addition to the $400,000 scholarship purse, additional proceeds will be donated to selected charities including Chick-fil-A’s WinShape Homes. The Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge is a significant contributor to the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s overall charitable and scholarship donations. The Chick-fil-A Bowl leads all bowls in the country in charitable giving, including gifts of more than $5.8 million since 2002.
The tournament is being taped by ESPN for broadcast in the fall. The date of the broadcast will be announced this summer.

Potential Vols DB starter facing charges

University of Tennessee safety Darren Myles Jr. “faces misdemeanor charges from an incident that occurred early Sunday morning,” according to a Sunday night release from the UT athletic department.
Knoxville Police Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Department spokespeople earlier in the day said they had no information on an incident involving Myles, who is projected to start as a sophomore next season.
There was no recent record of Myles being held at the Knox County Detention Facility, either, a facility spokesperson said Sunday night.
“I am disappointed in Darren’s behavior, and we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine a proper course of action,” UT coach Derek Dooley said through an athletic department release. “We will continue to implement our structures to educate, discipline and support our student-athletes so that they represent the University of Tennessee with class and integrity.”
No further details were available Sunday night from the football program’s first known police incident since Dooley took the job in January.
Myles, a highly-regarded young prospect who played sparingly for the Vols last season, mostly on special teams, intercepted quarterback Matt Simms in Saturday’s Orange and White game. Myles was also named one of the team’s four “Fourth Quarter Award” winners from the recently-completed spring practice session.

Vols Defensive backs steal the show

Tennessee's defensive backs owe fans attending the Orange and White Game an apology.
The 35,891 in Neyland Stadium were understandably there to check out UT quarterbacks Matt Simms and Tyler Bray. After all, there's a close competition at the sport's most marquee position.
Neither quarterback, however, was able to do much against UT's secondary, even without departed star Eric Berry. The top duo at quarterback completed just 30 of 66 passes for 325 yards, three interceptions and two touchdowns.
Simms was responsible for all the interceptions, throwing one to safety Darren Myles Jr. just before halftime.
"I saw the quarterback looking at the receiver the whole time-that was his mistake," said Myles, who also batted down another pass. "I just made a play on the ball. At the safety position, Janzen (Jackson) and I just have a connection and we like to confuse the quarterback."
Jackson, who also defended a pass at strong safety, has played closer to the line of scrimmage this season as opposed to last year when he roamed deep as a free safety.
"Janzen is good at everything; that's part of the problem," head coach
Derek Dooley said. "But he can't do everything."
Jackson has impressed Dooley so much with his athleticism that he even returned punts on Saturday, returning two for 43 yards.
"He's got ability back there," Dooley said. "He doesn't know how to hold the ball yet. That kind of worries me. He's not afraid. He's got the great returner mentality."
Said Jackson, "That is pretty new for me in college. I did it in high school, so I might be getting a chance at it this season."
Jackson also showcased the type of play that UT fans are used to when he rocked kick returner David Oku in the first quarter.
Even more importantly, Jackson has shown Dooley none of the shortcomings that nearly derailed his career last year when he was charged with attempted armed robbery last fall - a charge that was later dropped.
"I've seen nothing but a great smile, a phenomenal attitude, a phenomenal work ethic," Dooley said. "We're working very hard to support him off the field. He's been great. He's been a real treat to coach. I hope he continues to do that and I expect him to."

Shocker: UGA dismisses QB Mettenberger

Shocking news, Georgia has dismissed quarterback Zach Mettenberger from their football program. The release issued by the school this afternoon gave no specifics, instead giving the standard line of a "violation of team rules."
Mettenberger had already been suspended for the season opener following an arrest in early March in which he was hit with five misdemeanor charges, including underage consumption and disorderly conduct. Obviously, it's uncertain at this point in time whether the dismissal was related to the previous incident or if a new incident prompted head coach Mark Richt to boot a QB who was perhaps the Bulldogs' best player at the position this spring.
The logicality, would seem to indicate that the redshirt freshman had other issues that pushed Richt to make this decision.
Mettenberger had been in a battle with Aaron Murray and Logan Gray throughout the spring and, at least statistically, seemed to have an edge over the other two competitors, with the exception of the fact that, he would not be able to play in the opener.
The surprising move would seem to clear the way for Murray, the favorite heading into spring to solidify a somewhat tenuous hold on the job, at least until summer camp starts.

Auburn showcases quarterbacks but doesn't tip hand in A-Day exhibition

AUBURN -- Head coach Gene Chizik's effort to manage the flow and content of information about Auburn's spring football season met with 63,217 prying eyes Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
And Chizik still may have won.
The annual A-Day spring exhibition game shed little light on the biggest unresolved question of the season, the race for Auburn's No. 1 quarterback.
Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn rotated four quarterbacks seamlessly from team to team; the only candidate not to put up monster numbers was Cam Newton, the one who most expect to win the job.
"Today is one day out of 15," Chizik said. "Obviously it was good to see guys step out here when there was a crowd situation and make plays. But at the end of the day, it's a comprehensive evaluation of 15 days."
Senior Neil Caudle, a veteran backup, completed 17-of-21 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Barrett Trotter completed 7-of-9 for 154 yards and two touchdowns. All four quarterbacks played for both the "white" and "blue" teams. For the record, the Blue team won 21-17.
The game was witnessed by an announced crowd of more than 63,000 sun-soaked fans who filled up almost the entire lower bowl of the stadium. It was likely a generous estimate, as is often the case on A-Day, but it was indisputably the biggest crowd for an Auburn spring exhibition game that anyone could remember.
Newton played the least of any of the quarterbacks (a clue, perhaps?), and completed 3-of-8 passes for 80 yards. Redshirt freshman Clint Moseley didn't enter until the second half, but got a healthy amount of reps, amassing 55 yards on 10-of-12 passing.
As is typical in spring games, Chizik said both sides of the ball were reduced to the most "vanilla" sets, and Newton said that affected the tenor of the offense.
"It was slowed down a lot, but it's a game for the fans," Newton said. "We just wanted to come out and execute and look polished in the things that are really the base of our offense."
Newton received a loud ovation from the fans when he walked onto the field for the first time, and he appreciated the recognition.
"It was ecstatic," he said. "It was the first time I got to showcase my ability to most of the fans at Auburn. So it was an adrenalin rush, no doubt. But today wasn't a practice that you could really evaluate. It was just something to give the Auburn fans something to brag about."
Auburn's receivers were the beneficiaries of all the passing, and Chizik raved about the Tigers' continued growth in "YAC," or yards after catch.
Moseley said quarterbacks were even joking on the sidelines that their numbers were being inflated by the receivers' after-catch runs.
"We were throwing a lot of side-to-side routes, not very far down the field," said Trotter. "We were stretching out the defense. It's worked throughout the spring and it's going to continue to work. It has a lot to do with yards after catch."
Trotter had the longest pass of the day by the air, a 50-yard bomb to walk-on Nathan Taylor. Quindarius Carr had a 70-yard touchdown in which he used his blazing speed to outrun defenders down the sideline. Terrell Zachery broke tackles and juked his way into the end zone on a 23-yard touchdown catch.
"You can see those guys getting more confidence and making plays," Malzahn said. "If they square their shoulders we've got some guys that can make people miss in one-on-one situations. So that's what we try to do."

Vandy Football closes out with strong scrimmage

On campus in Nashville, Tenn. – After a pair of disappointing scrimmages in recent weeks, the Commodore offense finished off Vanderbilt’s spring drills in style Saturday by scoring three quick touchdowns in the team’s final practice.The offensive fireworks came in the Commodores’ 15th spring session, an abbreviated scrimmage held Saturday morning in Vanderbilt Stadium.After failing to reach the end zone last weekend in the featured Black & Gold Scrimmage, the offense enjoyed plenty of success Saturday, scoring on its first three drives during the abbreviated 41-play scrimmage.Afterward, Head Coach Bobby Johnson said his entire Commodore squad improved during the team’s five-week spring drills. He also liked seeing the offensive success Saturday.“Overall, I think we got better as a football team, especially over the last week to 10 days,” Johnson said. “Offensively, we’re starting to move the football, and see some positive results from the work we’re putting in. “I feel good about our intensity level and effort the entire spring. We’re been able take a close look at several younger players, guys that I definitely think can help us this season. We think this team enters the summer with a lot of optimism and feeling pretty good about itself,” Johnson added.The touchdowns Saturday came on a 11-yard pass from Larry Smith to tight end Brandon Barden, a 2-yard rush by tailback Zac Stacy, and a 19-yard hookup between Jared Funk and receiver Tray Herndon.

U of Kentucky Has Second Major Spring Scrimmage

Kentucky’s second major scrimmage of spring practice, held Saturday morning at Commonwealth Stadium, was remarkably similar to the first a good start by the offense and a rally by the defense.
The format featured the first-team offense vs. the first-team defense and the second-team units against each other. The ball was placed on the 30-yard line for the majority of the scrimmage, requiring the offense to go 70 yards for a touchdown. Late in the workout was a short-field scrimmage in which the offense was given the ball on the defense’s 25-yard line.
Quarterbacks Mike Hartline, Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski each played with the first and second teams.
“The offense started off fast, all three of our quarterbacks did some really good things,” Phillips said. “I’m really pleased with what I’m seeing at wide receiver, catching the ball (by) big, physical guys. We have to do a better job on the perimeter blocking at wide receiver. We should be better at blocking because of our big bodies because I think we have some really nice backs.
“Defensively, the thing we did not do is get ourselves off the field on third down and a lot of that had to do with our tackling, especially in the secondary, we have to be better tacklers. Some guys who still continue to progress are Tristian Johnson (defensive end) and Mark Crawford (defensive tackle). I’m really pleased with what Collins Ukwu is doing (at defensive end) and Qua Huzzie (linebacker). Those four guys continue to show up and we still have (linebacker) Danny Trevathan, who shows up a lot, we know he can play. We just have to get more guys around the football and be able to tackle.”

Bray, Poole lead Vols Offense in Spring Game

Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray is young enough to still be a high school senior. In Saturday's spring scrimmage, the freshman played with the poise of someone with much more experience.
Bray, who graduated high school a semester early and enrolled at Tennessee in January, threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Denarius Moore to lead the white team to a 16-7 win in the Orange and White game. Bray finished 18-for-40 for 200 yards to lead all quarterbacks.
"I was real pleased with his presence out there," first-year coach Derek Dooley said. "He's really a high school senior (but) wasn't nervous, nothing jittery and performed the way he'd been performing all spring. I think that says a lot about him."
Bray was at his best during the Volunteers' hurry-up drill just before halftime that led to the touchdown. He completed six of nine pass attempts in that drive, hitting Tauren Poole twice on 14-yard tosses and Ben Bartholomew on two 9-yard passes.
Bray is competing for the starting job in the fall with junior-college transfer Matt Simms, who also had a few strong drives but faltered late in the game.
Simms connected with Gerald Jones three straight times for passes of 20 yards, 33 yards and a 6-yard touchdown strike to pull the orange team within 10-7. He finished 12-for-26 for 125 yards but gave up two of his three interceptions late in the second half that led to field goals of 28 yards and 48 yards by Chip Rhome for the white team.
"I did some things well. I did some other things not so well," Simms said. "I wanted to come out and put on a show for the fans and get ready to work for the summer. It was good to get a little game preparation."
Poole, who put on a show by bouncing off defenders like a pinball, lead the offense with 101 all-purpose yards, 58 yards receiving on three catches and 50 yards rushing on 12 carries. Dooley praised him for performing consistently well throughout the spring.
"Hopefully I can show them that I can be an SEC running back," Poole said.
Jones led receivers with 84 yards on six catches, Matt Milton added 47 yards on six catches and Moore had 39 yards on three catches.
Linebacker Herman Lathers led the defense with nine tackles and had one sack. Marlon Walls had three sacks for a loss of 16 yards.
It was Tennessee's first Orange and White game under Dooley, who introduced a major change to the format. Previously the spring scrimmage pitted the offense versus the defense, but Dooley allowed the senior Vols to draft teams to play in a regular game.
Dooley said much of the spring was spent determining what could be done with the Vols' offense. He cautioned that it would be hard to judge the quarterbacks much on their performances.
"With the quarterbacks, this game is always tough," he said. "Matt and Tyler are very different in the things they do well. It's hard to shape and gameplan to fit their strengths. That's why you don't want to put too much on this game."

White team wins Alabama A-Day game 23-17 on TD pass on last play

In the football-obsessed state of Alabama, you could probably gather a crowd of a few thousand strong in the middle of February if Tide wind sprints were open to the public. Coming off a national championship season and a spring game is involved?
Well, say hello to nearly 100K of your closest friends. A.J. McCarron threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson after time had expired on a fourth-and-15 play to lead the White team to a 23-17 victory over the Crimson team in Alabama's A-Day game today at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Crimson team featured the first-team offense; the White team featured the first-team defense.
A crowd of 91,312 was announced. Admission was free and the game was televised on ESPN until the broadcast ended after time ran out with the score at 17-all.
Time expired on an incomplete Hail Mary pass on third-and-15, but the White team was allowed to run one more play.
The Crimson team led 10-7 at halftime and extended the lead to 17-7 early in the third quarter on a 5-yard touchdown run by Eddie Lacy. That TD was set up by a 60-yard run by Mark Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner.
The White team came back with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Star Jackson to Demetrius Goode with 10:42 left in the game and a 27-yard field goal by Cade Foster with 3:13 to go.

Ole Miss has Record Crowd for Cellular South Grove Bowl

Nathan Stanley directed touchdown drives in the opening two series of each half, leading the Blue to a 49-35 win over the Red in Saturday's Cellular South Grove Bowl, which drew a record crowd of 30,229 for Ole Miss' spring football finale.
“I made some good decisions and our line and receivers did a really good job,” Stanley said. “I'm not where I want to be physically or as a leader just yet, but compared to where I was, I think there is night and day difference.”
After two seasons backing up Jevan Snead, the sophomore debuted at 11-of-16 for 166 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, Stanley put together consecutive scoring series to open each half.
“Nathan Stanley will go out there first,” confirmed Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt. “In those opening series, we saw exactly what we needed to see.”
The Blue had the designed personnel edge, consisting of the No. 1 offense, defense and special teams units. The Red was alloted seven points each quarter and included several projected top reserves.
Quarterback Raymond Cotton, playing with a sore throwing shoulder, was impressive in selected series with both squads. Cotton was 5-of-7 for 178 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Grandy.
“We're not afraid to play Raymond Cotton,” Nutt said. “He's can rise to the occasion. We will make a decision on his physical status in the next two weeks. The best case scenario is Raymond can rehab and play, but we're going to do what is best for Raymond.”
The spring game confirmed the offseason expectations from the coaches. The No. 1 defensive unit was dominant, limiting the Red to 132 yards and included a pair of interceptions by Charles Sawyer.
“Are we where we need to be? Not yet. But our defense gives us a chance to be good,” Nutt said. “I love this team. I love their personality. I like the way they listen. They have good listening skills and they want to get better."
Grandy led all receivers with three receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown. Melvin Harris added a 61-yard touchdown pass to go along with the scoring catch by Summers.
“We're still getting there as an offense,” Grandy said. “But our quarterbacks threw it well today and our running backs were really good.”