Vols Malik Jackson on Lombardi Award watch list

Tennessee defensive tackle Malik Jackson was named to his third preseason watch list Tuesday, garnering recognition from the people behind the Lombardi Award. The Lombardi Award is given annually to the nation's top lineman from either side of the ball. Auburn's Nick Fairley won the award last year. Last week, Jackson was named to the watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski and Outland trophies, which are given annually to the nation's top defensive player and top interior lineman, respectively. Jackson, a senior who will be one of three Vols at SEC Media Days next week, led UT with 11 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2010. His 48 tackles were good for sixth-best on the team. Most of Jackson's production came during the second half of the season, when he, despite being undersized, transitioned from defensive end to tackle.

The only Vol to receive more preseason recognition than Jackson is defensive back Prentiss Waggner, who has been named to four watch lists.

Georgia's Drew Butler on Ray Guy award watch list

The Watch List for the 2011 Ray Guy Award has been released.

The trophy will be presented to the nation's most outstanding punter by the Augusta, Ga. Sports Council.

The following five players made the preseason watch list:

Bryan Anger, Sr., California
Drew Butler, Sr., Georgia
Kyle Martens, Sr., Rice
Quinn Sharp, Jr., Oklahoma State
Dawson Zimmerman, Sr., Clemson

Butler is the son of former Bulldogs kicker Kevin Butler, and he won the award as a sophomore in 2009.

Three Tide DBs pace Thorpe Award watch list

This year’s group for the Thorpe consists of 37 players, including a conference-leading 10 players from the SEC. The ACC is next with seven, followed by the Big 12′s six and four apiece for the Big Ten and Pac-12.

Alabama led all individual schools with three players on the list, strong safety Mark Barron, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and free safety Robert Lester. Oklahoma and Florida State with two apiece were the only other schools with more than one player to make the list.

Position-wise, there were 18 cornerbacks, 12 free safeties and seven strong safeties.

Last year’s winner was LSU’s Patrick Peterson, who left school a year early for the NFL draft.

Former UGA lineman goes to Va Tech

In an interview with the Florida Times-Union, the offensive lineman confirmed that he has decided to transfer to the Hokies. Benedict, who will have to sit out the 2011 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules, told the paper that a big part of his decision is due to the fact that Tech will be losing four lineman to expired eligibility at the end of this year, as was his familiarity with the school coming out of high school.

“I liked Virginia Tech the first time around [in the recruiting process],” Benedict told the paper. “It’s a great program with a coaching staff that’s been there awhile. They win games and do well in the ACC. I’m really excited to get up there.”

Benedict had also drawn interest from Florida, Clemson and Marshall before deciding on Tech. UGA gave Benedict an unconditional release from his scholarship, meaning a move to the rival Gators would’ve been allowed.

Gator's Matt Elam named to Jim Thorpe award watch list

University of Florida safety Matt Elam has been named to the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award watch list, announced today by the National College Football Awards Association.

Elam, a 5-10, 205-pound sophomore, was one of six true freshmen to play in all 13 games in 2010. He totaled 22 tackles (16 solo) as the top backup in the secondary and on special teams’ duty. He recorded a career-high five tackles and one quarterback sack on the road at Alabama last season. Elam enrolled at UF in January of 2010.

LSU football media guides available now

LSU fans can pre-order their copy of the 2011 LSU Football Media Guide online at www.LSUsports.net/mediaguides now. Cost of the media guide is $25, which includes shipping and handling. The 2011 LSU Football Media Guide is currently in production and pre-orders will be shipped starting in early August. Members of the Geaux Zone on LSUsports.net may purchase the 2011 LSU Football Media Guide for only $15, a 40% discount off the retail price.
The 2011 LSU Football Media Guide is 208 pages and features an in-depth look at the Tigers offense, defense and special teams as well as updated bios for the squad and the coaching staff.

This year's LSU media guide front cover features the words from a poem about Tiger Stadium written by long-time public address announcer Dan Borne. The back cover features action shots of quarterback Jordan Jefferson, safety Brandon Taylor, linebacker Ryan Baker, receiver Rueben Randle, offensive guard Will Blackwell, receiver Russell Shepard, cornerback Morris Claiborne and offensive guard Josh Dworaczyk.

Gators Howard and Nixon named to preseason watch lists

Redshirt senior defensive tackle Jaye Howard (Apopka, Fla.) and junior offensive tackle Xavier Nixon (Fayetteville, N.C.) were named to the 2011 Outland Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America announced today. Howard was also named to the 2011 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, announced today by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

Howard enters his senior season having played in 31 games, with 12 starts. During his Gator career, Howard has recorded 66 tackles (43 solo, 23 assisted), 15.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

Nixon has seen action in 22 games at UF, making 13 career starts. The two-year letter winner was named to the 2009 SEC All-Freshman Team by the leagues’ coaches and The Sporting News.

Vanderbilt is scheduled to take part in media days

SEC Football Media Days will be held July 20-22 in Hoover, Ala., and on Monday the Southeastern Conference revealed the list of representatives attending from all 12 SEC schools.
Joining Vanderbilt Head Coach James Franklin at media day will be seniors Casey Hayward (DB), Chris Marve (LB) and Larry Smith (QB). The appearance at media day will be the second in a row for Marve and first for Hayward and Smith. Marve is just the fourth Commodore to attend media day multiple times and first since former linebacker Jonathan Goff in 2006 and 2007.

Vanderbilt is scheduled to take part in media day from 8:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. on Friday, July 22. The Commodores are in the morning rotation with Alabama. LSU and Ole Miss will take part in the second session on Friday from 10:50 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Vols Malik Jackson, Prentiss Waggner named to Bronko Nagurski watch list

Tennessee senior defensive lineman Malik Jackson and junior defensive back Prentiss Waggner were both named to national watch lists Friday. Jackson was selected to both the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy Watch Lists, while Waggner earned a spot on the Nagurski list.

The Nagurski Trophy, presented by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club, honors the defensive player of the year. The Outland Trophy, selected by the FWAA, acknowledges the best interior lineman in college football.

With Jackson and Waggner on the Nagurski watch list, UT is one of just six programs in the country with a member of both the defensive line and secondary recognized. Both players, who earned Associated Press All-SEC Second Team honors in 2010, were among 19 SEC players and 87 overall student-athletes selected.

Razorbacks lineman hit with multiple charges

According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Oden was charged with driving while intoxicated, he was booked into jail at 8:52 a.m. local time, incidentally, possession of a controlled substance, driving left of the center line, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, no proof of ownership, driving on a suspended/revoked driver’s license and no driver’s license.

Last July, Oden was charged with DWI, careless driving and driving without a license, so his future with the Razorbacks, a future that was thought to include competing for a starting tackle job in summer camp, is very much up in the air.

Oden, a junior, was listed as the co-starter heading into spring practice.

South Carolina reportedly loses backup receiver...maybe

According to an initial report from GamecockCentral.com, an affiliate of Rivals, and citing sources close to the situation, redshirt junior receiver Bryce Sherman has abruptly “left” the team for yet-to-be-specified reasons.

Apparently, Sherman’s departure is news to his position coach, Steve Spurrier Jr. Spurrier Jr. told GamecockCentral that if Sherman has left the team, the receiver hasn’t informed him.

Sherman himself provided no additional help, telling the site “I don’t want to say nothing right now.”

Big Ten paces Outland Trophy watch list

This year’s initial list features 65 players, with the Big Ten leading the way with 13 lineman. The SEC is next with 11, followed by the Pac-12 with nine, the ACC and Big 12 with seven and the Big East with six. All 11 Div. 1-A conferences are represented, as are independents BYU and Notre Dame.

More than a third of the players on the list (24) play offensive tackle, while 16 are listed as defensive tackles, 14 are guards and 11 are centers.

Wisconsin offensive tackle Gabe Carimi was the winner of the 2010 Outland. The winner of the 66th edition of the trophy, named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn and Kansas at the turn of 20th century, will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8 on ESPN.

Former Georgia AD Evans hired by Savannah State

(AP)—Former Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans has been hired as a consultant for Savannah State. The move was announced Friday by Charles Elmore, a consultant for advancement and communications for Savannah State president Cheryl Dozier.

Elmore told The Associated Press that Evans has no interest in replacing Marilynn Suggs, who was fired this week as Savannah State’s athletic director. Evans “will take no part in personnel matters” but was hired to look at the athletic department, including its administration and fund-raising. Evans’ new role was first reported by the Savannah Morning News.

He resigned as Georgia’s AD in July 2010 following his DUI arrest in Atlanta. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year of probation, a $750 fine and community service.

Dawg gone...Caleb King leaves Bulldogs

Friday’s announcement by coach Mark Richt opens the way for incoming freshman Isaiah Crowell to begin his career as the starting tailback. Even with King on the depth chart, many observers already expected Crowell to win the job. Richt talked about his high expectations for Crowell, from Carver High in Columbus, when the highly recruited back signed with Georgia in February. Richt hinted that Crowell could be the starter when the Bulldogs open their season against Boise State in the Georgia Dome on Sept. 3. “I wouldn’t be shocked to see him run that rock in the Dome against Boise State on the opening play if he does what he’s supposed to do,” Richt said. With the departures of King and Ealey, junior Carlton Thomas (5-foot-7, 170 pounds) is the leading returning rusher, logging 272 yards and two touchdowns last year. Redshirt freshman Ken Malcome also will have a chance to earn significant playing time. Junior linebacker Richard Samuel is a former tailback. Walk-on Brandon Harton was third on the depth chart, behind King and Thomas, at the end of spring.

“It s unfortunate Caleb will not be with us this season,” Richt said. “We wish him the best in whatever he decides to do; however, we have to move forward and this will provide more opportunities for others to step up.”

Gator’s Neiron Ball expected to miss season

A vascular condition that kept Florida’s Neiron Ball from participating in spring practice will probably make him unavailable for the entire 2011 season as well, the player’s brother-in-law told the Orlando Sentinel.

Dary Myricks told the paper that the condition – arteriovenous malformation — and subsequent surgery will most likely prevent the linebacker from playing in 2011. When the congenital condition was first discovered back in February, it was feared his football career may have come to a premature end as a result; that still remains to be seen, although there appears to be more optimism today than there was five months ago.

“He’s healthy. He’s fine,” Myricks said. “He’s probably going to miss next season. …

Ohio State vacates 2010 football wins and Sugar Bowl victory

Ohio State is vacating its wins from the 2010 football season, including its share of the Big Ten championship and the Buckeyes’ victory over Arkansas in the 2011 Sugar Bowl.

Responding to the NCAA’s investigation of a memorabilia-for-cash scandal that cost former coach Jim Tressel his job and led to star quarterback Terrelle Pryor leaving school, the university also said Friday it is waiving a $250,000 fine imposed on Tressel and changing his resignation to a retirement. The move contradicts a comment university President Gordon Gee made last month when he said Tressel “will pay the fine.” Through the school, the ex-Buckeyes coach said that he is taking responsibility for the NCAA inquiry, which developed after it was learned Tressel failed to report players receiving improper benefits. Tressel will attend Ohio State’s Aug. 12 hearing before the NCAA infractions committee, the former coach’s attorney said Friday. The university also is putting the football program on probation for two years, which means there would be harsher penalties if any further wrongdoing is discovered. The response to the NCAA doesn’t mean Ohio State’s woes are over. The governing body for college sports could still impose tougher sanctions, such as a ban on post-season play and a reduction in scholarships in the wake of the August hearing.

Georgia back Caleb King reportedly ineligible

According to a tweet from Bryan Fischer of CBS Sports citing university sources, King has been ruled academically ineligible for the 2011 season.

The University of Georgia has sent out a release confirming the departure and Seth Emerson of dawgextra tweets “UGA release: Caleb King is academically ineligible and will not be with the team this fall. King , a senior, will ‘consider options.’”

King also took to his own Twitter account to offer this cryptic message:

“Somethings u cant control, and what seems bad right now might turn out good. Too all of my homeboyz … “

LSU's Peterson, Duncan sweep Corbett awards

LSU football All-American Patrick Peterson and track and field national champion Kimberlyn Duncan were honored Thursday by both the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame as this year's recipients of the Corbett Award presented annually to the top male and female amateur athletes in the state of Louisiana. Both Peterson and Duncan will be formally recognized in the annual banquet to be held Saturday, July 23, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. This marks the second year in a row and the seventh time since the 1999-2000 athletic campaign that LSU athletes have swept both the men's and women's Corbett Awards.

Recognized as one of the best college football players nationwide in 2010, Peterson was a consensus first-team All-American. He was also the winner of the Bednarik Trophy as the top defensive player in college football and the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. Peterson was also named both the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Players of the Year.