College FB '12 Dread News - Week 9

If at first you do not succeed, try, try again - until the other team scores a touchdown, that is .....

I had the Purdue-Minnesota game on the list of games I wanted to watch for Week 9. But there were several other games I needed to see, so I ended up skipping the Boilermakers and Gophers. Now, after reading what happened at Minneapolis last Saturday, I'm kicking myself because of all the interesting stuff that I missed. Not the least of which was a sequence at the beginning of the 2nd half.

After converting a 3rd and 10 on the first series after halftime, Purdue QB Caleb TerBush tried to hit WR Gary Bush on 1st down, but the pass was broken up by senior CB Michael Carter. 2nd and 10: Carter again breaks up a pass to Bush. So what does Purdue do on 3rd and 10? Right, throw the ball to Bush. And yet again Carter made them pay, this time intercepting the pass and taking it 43 yards to the house (photo above) for his 1st career TD.
The pick 6 upped the Gophers' lead to 41-7 and was the cherry on top of a record-setting day for Carter, whose cousin, Tyrone Carter, just wrapped up an 11-year career in the NFL. For more on Michael's career-best game, click on the link below for an article from the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.
http://www.twincities.com/gophers/ci_21871292/gophers-football-michael-carter-has-career-day

Troy Stoudermire, Minnesota's other starting senior CB with dreads, tied for the team lead with 7 tackles (6-1) but had only 1 PBU. On offense, the Gophers were not led by senior MarQueis Gray. It has been great watching Gray play QB for the past season and a half, but it was obvious the Gophers needed a better passer in there. So MarQueis has moved back to WR, and he had 4 catches for 53 yards, including a nice 33-yarder to the 4-yard line in the 2nd quarter (photo below). The Gophers scored on the next play and took the lead for good at 14-7. Sophomore WR Marcus Jones had a 21-yard punt return in the 3rd quarter to set up a FG.

After Carter's pick 6, Purdue was able to make the final score a bit respectable with 3 TD, including the 1st career TD by freshman WR Dolapo Macarthy (who had 5 catches for 53 yards) and the 6th TD reception of the season by senior WR Antavian Edison (photo below) (who finished with 5 catches for 51 yards). The 44-28 defeat dropped Purdue - the Big 10's most disappointing team - to 3-5 (0-4 in league play). Minnesota improves to 5-3 but still needs one more win (which they might not get) to become bowl eligible.

Like MarQueis Gray, if Denard Robinson wants to play in the NFL next season, it's not going to be as a QB. I thought that as he gained more experience, Robinson would steadily improve as a passer. But he's not much better now than when he first came to Michigan in 2009 and certainly not good enough to be an NFL QB. But he's the best Michigan's got, which became painfully (to Wolverines fans) obvious in the game at Nebraska last Saturday.

Denard was on pace to make his usual appearance on the dread stars list as the game approached halftime. But on his 10th carry of the night - a 7-yard gain for a 1st down at the NU 8-yard line that upped his total to 46 yards rushing - he aggravated an elbow injury and had to come out of the game. That was pretty much all she wrote for the Michigan offense. They ended up settling for a FG, cutting Nebraska's lead to 7-6 at halftime, and did very little after halftime. A measly 44 total yards was all the Wolverines could muster without Robinson, and the result was a 23-9 Nebraska victory that left both teams tied for 1st in the Big 10 Legends Division at 3-1. Senior S Daimion Stafford, one of a handful of Nebraska players with dreads, had 6 tackles (3-3), 1 PBU, and his 1st INT of the season.

The Big 10 isn't the only place featuring dreadlocked QBs who are struggling with accuracy. I'm talking about the Big East, where Cincinnati junior QB Munchie Legaux seems to be doing the best he can to play himself out of the starting lineup. Back in Week 5, Legaux was the hero as his final pass of the game produced the game-winning 39-yard TD with 13 seconds to play in a thrilling victory over Virginia Tech. But in each of these last two weeks his final pass of the game has brought only pain for Bearcats fans and defeat for the Bearcats. Last week it was an INT in the closing seconds that sealed UC's loss at Toledo, and this time it was an ill-advised lob into the end zone on 3rd and 9 IN OVERTIME that all but sealed the Bearcats' fate.

1st place in the Big East was on the line as UC traveled to Louisville for ESPN's Friday night football. And I was eager to see how Legaux (photo above) would play after he was quoted earlier in the week that he was better than Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater. After he said that, you just knew he was going to go out and play a great game. But no. Munchie continues to be shaky on the road, this time going 13 for 28 for 157 yards and 3 INT. Yes, the weather was terrible (rainy and windy); but Bridgewater didn't mind - he torched the UC secondary for 416 yards passing. Yo Munchie, come on man. If you can't back up what you say, why don't you just shut up.

Legaux rushed for a TD, and his only TD pass of the game - a 26-yarder to WR Damon Julian, tied the game at 31 with 1:03 to go. But then came that awful throw in overtime, right into the waiting hands of sophomore CB Terell Floyd (photo below) for his 1st career INT. A turnover in OT is as good as a death sentence, and 6 plays later a 30-yard FG gave the Cardinals the victory 34-31. 

Besides Floyd, also contributing for Louisville were junior RB Senorise Perry (57 total yards and 1 TD), senior WR Andrell Smith (2 catches for 63 yards), senior CB Adrian Bushell (6 tackles and 2 PBU), and sophomore S Calvin Pryor (7 tackles, 3-4, 1 PBU, and his 2nd INT of the season). With the win, Louisville ends their 4-game losing streak in the series with UC and improves to 8-0. After starting 5-0, Cincinnati is now 5-2. 

At the start of this season, I had Clemson sophomore WR Sammy Watkins as a lock to be a starter on my All-America with dreads team (as he was last year). But if I had to name the team at the end of Week 8, I have to admit Watkins wouldn't have made it (as a starter or a reserve). Sammy missed 3 of Clemson's first 7 games due to suspension and illness. But he looked like his old self (like last year, that is) against Wake Forest. After Clemson punted on their first two possessions, Watkins got things going with a 57-yard reception to the 10-yard line (photo below) on the 3rd drive of the game, and the Tigers scored a TD three plays later. On the next drive Watkins broke two tackles on a 61-yard catch and run on 3rd and 10 to make it 14-0. The Tigers scored again on their next drive, and on the one after that Watkins hauled in a 50-yard reception to the Wake Forest 12. Three plays later junior WR DeAndre Hopkins made it 28-0 with a 12-yard TD catch.

After gaining 295 total yards all game last week, the Tigers had 343 in the 1st half against Wake Forest and led 35-0. By the time it was over Clemson had won 42-13 (improving to 2-9 all time on ESPN Thursday night football), and Watkins had doubled his total of yards receiving for the season. A couple more games like that, Sammy, and you'll make that all-America with dreads team after all. Hopkins finished with 6 catches for 64 yards, and senior RB Andre Ellington had 61 yards rushing on 15 carries. But for once Watkins carried them instead of the other way around.

Cleveland Browns WR Josh Cribbs lost a couple of his old records from his days at Kent State this week - and he probably couldn't be happier about it. That's because it happened in one of Kent State's finest hours (or should I say, three hours). After starting at QB for four seasons (2001-04), Cribbs left KSU with a handful of school records; but he hasn't had much to brag about to his Browns teammates on Saturdays about his alma mater over the years since then. Until now. If Josh was watching last Saturday, he saw his records for career passing yards and career points scored surpassed. But he also saw KSU spoil Rutgers' homecoming, whipping the #18 ranked Scarlet Knights 35-23. The victory improved the Golden Flashes to 7-1 (already bowl eligible!) and gave them their first 6-game winning streak in 72 years. It was also their first win against a top 20 ranked team ever (after 22 losses).

Kent State beat Rutgers at their own game - turnovers. Rutgers, +14 in turnover differential, was -5 against KSU, losing the battle 7-2. KSU, no slouch themselves in the turnover game, improved to an FBS best +19 after their feast in New Jersey. Senior CB Sidney Saulter had a hand in 2 of the 7 turnovers by Rutgers, recovering a fumble by senior WR Quron Pratt late in the 3rd quarter (photo above) and then getting his 1st INT of the season on Rutgers' next possession. Sophomore RB Trayion Durham was responsible for both of the KSU turnovers (but he still made the dread stars list). Star senior LB Khaseem Greene forced one of Durham's fumbles and recovered the other one and finished with 7 tackles (3-4). 

I never could get Marcus Lattimore to switch from his trademark cornrows over to dreads, but he's still been one of my favorite players ever since he played his first game for South Carolina in 2010. So it was heartbreaking to me - and to pretty much everybody else as well, to see him down on the field in the 2nd quarter last Saturday (photo above) after suffering a devastating knee injury for the second year in a row. "As a person, there is none better that I've ever met," said Coach Spurrier about the junior RB after the game; so it wasn't at all surprising to see his teammates along with several Tennessee players too leave the sideline and walk out to gather around him as he was tended to by the trainers. The look on senior RB Kenny Miles says it all (photo below). Even though his playing time will increase in Lattimore's absence, he's almost in tears after seeing what has happened to Marcus.

Lattimore's injury last year was a freak accident, but what happened last Saturday certainly was not. As Lattimore was being tackled around the shoulders by LB Herman Lathers, junior CB Eric Gordon came in low and hard (photos below). When this is done to a defensive lineman, it's called a chop block, and it's a 15-yard penalty. But if you're the ball carrier, it's a perfectly legal, although somewhat dirty, play. I mean, Gordon got at least a 5-yard running start before slamming into Lattimore's leg. I know football is violent; but in my book Gordon's hit was nothing other than a direct intent to injure. Lattimore suffered a dislocated knee along with torn ligaments, so he's facing a very long recovery and likely will not be back on the field until 2014. Get well ASAP, Marcus. Hopefully we'll still see you in the NFL someday. 

As for the game, it was a typical Tennessee game - lots of points by both teams. Junior WR Cordarrelle Patterson, returning to his home state, had a very quiet afternoon with just 52 all purpose yards. Sophomore LB A.J. Johnson had 11 tackles (9-2). For the Gamecocks junior WR Ace Sanders had 5 catches for 79 yards, including a 24-yard TD (photo below). Senior S D.J. Swearinger had 10 tackles (8-2). And senior TE Justice Cunningham, whose previous career high was 46 yards receiving, made the dread stars list (!).

With South Carolina clinging to a 38-35 late lead, but with Tennessee already in FG range at the 19-yard line, sophomore DE Jadeveon Clowney (who had been quiet almost all day), sacked and stripped QB Tyler Bray, ending the threat with 1:08 to play. Then after Tennessee got the ball back, a beautiful leaping INT by sophomore CB Victor Hampton with :23 remaining sealed the victory for the Gamecocks.

ELSEWHERE

Junior RB Jeff Scott had 96 total yards and 1 TD, and junior S Charles Sawyer had 7 tackles (6-1), 1 sack, 2 PBU, blocked a punt, and got his 1st INT of the season as Mississippi won at Arkansas 30-27 on a last-second FG, their 2nd straight SEC victory after 16 straight losses ..... Junior RB Eddie Lacy had 77 total yards and scored his 8th TD of the season, junior WR Kenny Bell had a 57-yard reception for his 3rd TD of the season, and senior S Robert Lester got his 3rd INT of the season as Alabama won a battle of 7-0 teams, whipping Mississippi State 38-7 ..... Junior RB Jonathan Wallace rushed for 87 yards, and sophomore WR William Dukes had the game-winning 22-yard TD catch with :17 on the clock as FAU snapped their 6-game losing streak with a 34-27 home win over Troy ..... Junior CB Dayonne Nunley had 11 tackles (6-5) and 2 PBU to help Miami (Ohio) defeat Ohio U for the first time since 2005, 23-20, dealing the Bobcats their 1st loss this season - OU had 1st and goal with :09 to play but took a sack and time ran out ..... sophomore CB Cortney Lester took an INT return 23 yards to the house for his 1st TD in a Buffalo uniform, but the Bulls lost at home to Toledo 25 -20 .....

Junior CB Shaq Bell had 6 tackles (3-3), 1 FF, and 3 PBU, and freshman CB Jasen Oden (photo above) took his 1st career INT 40 yards to the house with 1:17 to play to ice Colorado State's 42-27 home win over Hawaii ..... Sophomore CB Bradley Roby had 5 tackles and 4 PBU as Ohio State improved to 9-0 with a 35-23 win at Penn State ..... Sophomore RB Rob Kelley had 59 yards rushing and 66 yards receiving on 17 touches, part of Tulane's 619 total yards in a 55-45 home win over UAB ..... And freshman WR Deontay Greenberry had a 9-yard reception for his 2nd TD of the season, and freshman S Trevon Stewart had 15 tackles (4-11), 1 PBU, and his 1st career sack (photo below) as Houston improved to 3-1 in CUSA West with a 45-35 home win over UTEP.

IN THE FCS

Before Superstorm Sandy ravaged the New Jersey coast, it came perilously close to Southeast Virginia, making for less than ideal conditions for the CAA matchup between Delaware and ODU. But neither team seemed bothered by the weather, and the #6 ranked Monarchs improved to 7-1 with an exciting 31-26 win at Norfolk. On the down side, it was the 2nd ODU game in a row with no touchdowns by players with dreads. Junior RB Colby Goodwyn and sick junior WR Marquel Thomas hardly played at all (if at all). But sick senior WR Nick Mayers did well enough to make the dread stars list - despite losing a fumble on a play in the 1st quarter.

Mayers was tackled by S Tim Breaker, who also got credit for forcing the fumble. But from this angle (photo above) it sure looks like senior DE Quincy Barr might actually have been the one who actually separated Mayers from the ball. Barr finished with 1 tackle for the Blue Hens, and senior LB Leon Jackson had 5 tackles (1-4). Senior WR Rob Jones is redshirting this season (I think) after breaking his foot in Week 1. On defense for ODU, sick sophomore CB Eriq Lewis had 3 tackles (2-1), 1 TFL, and 1 PBU. And senior S Devon Simmons had 7 tackles (3-4), including 1 sack, and got his 2nd INT of the season (photo below) with :57 remaining in the game to seal the victory.Delaware fans think that maybe Simmons should have been called for pass interference; but what I think happened was the officials ruled that Simmons knocked down WR Michael Johnson before the pass was thrown.

Everyone has their own preference, and sad to say Greg Jenkins (photo below) just loves to have his dreads reduced when he's on the field. In spite of that, I've still been a big fan of the Alabama State senior QB these last two seasons. After playing his first two years in junior college, Jenkins thought he would be playing in the FBS with Troy. But after failing to win the job there, he transferred to ASU, where he was expected to deliver a SWAC championship (or two). Not that it's all his fault (it's hard to blame him because he wasn't 100% healthy most of last season), but the Hornets have come up small in their biggest games since Jenkins' arrival, with some of the most damaging losses coming at home. Thanks to a home loss to Jackson State back in Week 7, ASU's SWAC title hopes for 2012 were in critical condition heading into their annual battle against Alabama A&M in the Magic City Classic at Birmingham. 

Similar to Denard Robinson and MarQueis Gray, Jenkins looks like a good enough athlete to play on Sundays - play WR or RB, that is, but not QB. His passes too often in the games I've seen have been off target. But last Saturday  his passing was just fine. He hit a couple of big completions to help lead ASU to a season-saving 31-13 victory. AAMU had the momentum after coming from a 10-0 deficit to take a 13-10 lead in the 2nd quarter. But ASU answered - with authority - driving 93 yards in 15 plays, capped by sophomore RB Isaiah Crowell's 9-yard TD run to regain the lead. Then the Hornets drove 70 yards in 53 seconds just before halftime, with Jenkins scoring on a 9-yard run to make it 24-13. To open the 2nd half Jenkins hit senior WR T.C. McWilliams for a 57-yard catch and run to the 6-yard line, and two plays later Crowell's 2nd TD of the game concluded the scoring. ASU put it in cruise control from there, as the Bulldogs' offense penetrated no further than the ASU 33-yard line the entire 2nd half. Their offense was so futile that they didn't even bother to use their 3 timeouts on an ASU drive that began with 3:04 remaining, instead just letting the Hornets run out the clock. 

Crowell (photo above) (60 yards rushing, 32 receiving) and McWilliams (4 catches for 94 yards) were close to making the dread stars list. Sophomore RB Malcolm Cyrus rushed for 58 yards on 12 carries. For AAMU sick sophomore LB Robert Nelson (the transfer from Tennessee) had 3 tackles, and sick senior QB/WR/RB David Isabelle had 2 catches for 38 yards. If you like, you can enjoy some of the ASU highlights from the game on this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzkYpatMJmk

After whipping AAMU, ASU (5-2 in SWAC East) now needs AAMU to beat Jackson State (4-2) coming up in Week 11. AAMU (5-2) needs to win out and hope that ASU loses once more (which is not likely to happen).

Eastern Illinois, 2-9 in each of the last two seasons, stayed alive in the OVC race, improving to 4-1 (5-3 overall) with an impressive 24-7 road win over Eastern Kentucky. Unlike Greg Jenkins, senior RB Jake Walker doesn't do reduced dreads. Walker (photo below) lets his dreads spill out of his helmet and dangle halfway down his back. And if somebody happens to grab onto them, so be it. This is the way dreads are meant to be worn.

Walker is not the only EIU Panther with great dreads. Junior S Nick Beard had 6 tackles (4-2), 1 sack, and 1 PBU; and junior CB Tavares Crawford had 1 PBU and got his 2nd INT of the season with 1:31 to play to ice the game. For EKU senior CB Justin Bell had 11 tackles (9-2) and 1 PBU, and senior DE Robert Knowles (#95 in photo above) had 6 tackles (2-4). Senior WR Cameron Bailey was held to 4 catches for 34 yards.

Junior RB Sam Ojuri rushed for a season high 90 yards, and junior CB Marcus Williams got his 4th INT of the season as North Dakota State rallied from a 17-10 deficit in the 4th quarter for a huge 23-17 home win over Southern Illinois ..... Senior RB Darreion Robinson rushed for 74 yards and 2 TD on 11 carries as Georgia Southern improved to 7-1 with a tough 39-31 road win over UT-Chattanooga in 3 overtimes ..... New Hampshire senior CB Dontra Peters nabbed CAA defensive player of the week honors, making 5 tackles (4-1), one of which was a FF, and getting his 4th INT of the season in a 40-20 win at Rhode Island ..... Sophomore S Donovan Layne (I think those are dreads that he has) took an INT return 52 yards to the house, and senior CB Johnny Towalid (photo below) returned an INT 25 yards for his 3rd pick 6 of the season (4th career) as Indiana State won their 5th straight, 45-14 over South Dakota .....

..... Almost making the dread stars list were: Furman senior RB Jerodis Williams (95 yards and 2 TD rushing in a 31-17 road win over Elon); Maine junior RB Rickey Stevens (45 yards rushing and 4 catches for 80 yards in a 24-10 road win over William & Mary); Northwestern State freshman RB Daniel Taylor (90 yards rushing, including a 55-yard TD, in a 27-26 home win over Nicholls State); and Stephen F. Austin RB Gus Johnson (93 yards rushing on 13 carries in a 35-24 loss at McNeese State) ..... Freshman CB Jermaine Hough had 8 tackles (6-2), 3 TFL, and his 3rd INT of the season, and sophomore CB Rashod Byers got his 2nd INT of the season with 2:04 remaining in the game to help Jacksonville State knock off Murray State 38-35 ..... Freshman LB Monte Gaddis had a game high 12 tackles , including 2 sacks, and senior DE Romale Tucker added 2 TFL as Towson won at Villanova 49-35 ..... Junior CB D'Vonte Graham got his 4th INT of the season and earned MEAC special teams player of the week honors with a 108-yard missed FG return to the house for North Carolina A&T in a 30-9 home win over Norfolk State .... And senior DT Robert Dorsey had 10 tackles (3-7), including 1.5 TFL, and junior DE Damien Lee had 7 tackles (5-2), 2 sacks, and 2 FF as Arkansas-Pine Bluff stayed in command in the SWAC West (5-1), shutting out Mississippi Valley State 10-0.  

DG

1. Junior QB Munchie Legaux of Cincinnati is about to be sacked by DE Marcus Smith on 3rd and 12 early in 4th quarter at Louisville. Legaux fumbled on the play, but UC recovered it and punted on the next play.

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2. Junior CB Deven Drane gets up just high enough to break up the would-be 25-yard TD pass to WR Charles Gaines on 1st and 10 late in 2nd quarter. Louisville scored the TD anyway 3 plays later. It was the only PBU of the night for Drane, who later injured his hand. Cincinnati led 17-7 in 2nd quarter, but Louisville rallied to win 34-31 in OT to remain undefeated.

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3. On 2nd and 9 from the Washington 17-yard line, S Sean Parker nails Oregon State senior WR Markus Wheaton  with a helmet-to-helmet hit as he breaks up a pass early in 2nd quarter. No penalty was called, and the deflected pass was intercepted. And also .....

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4. ...... Wheaton had to leave the game with concussion symptoms. Markus finished with 2 catches for 25 yards, and without one of their main weapons, OSU suffered their 1st loss of the season, 20-17 at Washington.

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5. Sophomore RB Tony Creecy is in disbelief after dropping a pass on 2nd and 14 at the UNC 35-yard line during 3rd quarter at Chapel Hill. The Wolfpack threw an INT on the next play. Creecy, who finished with 89 total yards, wasn't feeling any better at the end of the game. North Carolina rallied from a 35-25 deficit in 4th quarter and scored the game-winning TD on a 74-yard punt return with 13 seconds to play to defeat N.C. State 43-35.

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6. Sophomore LB Markus Golden of Missouri forces a fumble by WR DeMarcus Sweat on a kickoff return on his only tackle of the game during 3rd quarter at Columbia. Sweat was able to recover his own fumble. Missouri picked up their 1st ever SEC win, defeating Kentucky 33-12.

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7. Naughty boy Cyril Richardson, senior OT for Baylor, heads for for exit early after being ejected from the game at Iowa State early in 4th quarter. Richardson kicked an ISU player in the groin and will be suspended for the 1st half of Baylor's next game. Baylor lost to Iowa State 35-21.

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8. There was no caption with this picture from the Southeastern Louisiana website. What it looks like is a shot of Central Arkansas freshman CB Dillon Winfrey breaking up a pass to WR Tony McCrea during 1st half. Winfrey had 9 tackles (9-0) and 3 PBU as UCA improved to 5-1 in the SLC and handed Southeastern Louisiana their 1st league loss 34-14.

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9. Freshman CB Demario Donnell of Tennessee Tech struggles but gets the job done, holding Tennessee State WR Travis James to a 5-yard reception on 3rd and 17 late in 1st quarter at Nashville. The Tigers settled for a FG on the next play. TSU went 59:59 without scoring a TD; but their TD on the last play of the game (and the point after) was enough to defeat Tennessee Tech 22-21.

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10. Sick junior CB Tremaine Shepherd of Alabama A&M tries but can't prevent the TD by sophomore RB Isaiah Crowell, giving Alabama State a 31-13 lead early in 3rd quarter at Birmingham. The 3-yard run was Crowell's 2nd TD of the game and 12th of the season. Shepherd finished with 3 tackles (2-1), but AAMU's SWAC title hopes took a big hit with the 31-13 loss to Alabama State.

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11. Senior WR Anthony Amos of MTSU beats North Texas junior S Marcus Trice deep and makes the catch for a 52-yard gain on the 1st play of a drive that ended with a FG late in 2nd quarter. Trice finished with 8 tackles (7-1), with 2 TFL. Amos, as usual, made the dread stars list.

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12. Freshman DT O'Shea Bridges gets his 1st career sack and forces a fumble by QB Derek Thompson on 4th down early in 4th quarter. It was Bridges' only tackle of the game in MTSU's 38-21 home win over North Texas.

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13. It may be hard to believe, but from the looks of it I'd have to say that Fresno State senior TE Marcel Jensen's dreads have gotten shorter than they used to be. But they're still plenty long as he runs after a catch for a 21-yard TD, bringing the Bulldogs to within 24-21 of New Mexico early in 3rd quarter at Albuquerque. It was Jensen's 2nd career TD. After trailing 21-0, Fresno State roared back to whip New Mexico 49-32.

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DREAD STARS

• Sammy Watkins - Clemson - 8 receptions for school record 202 yards and 1 TD in 42-13 road W over Wake Forest

• Devonta Freeman - Florida State - 104 yards and 2 TD rushing on 12 carries in 48-7 romp over Duke
• Trayion Durham - Kent State - 22 carries for career high 131 yards rushing (the first 100-yard rushing game against Rutgers this season) and 1 TD as KSU recorded first ever W vs. a Top 20 ranked opponent, beating Rutgers 35-23. We'll forgive those 2 fumbles this time.
• Todd Gurley - Georgia - 27 carries for 118 yards rushing a 1 TD, and added 2 catches for 23 yards in big 17-9 victory over Florida

• Michael Carter - Minnesota - named Big 10 defensive player of week - 6 tackles (5-1), tied school record with 6 PBU, and had 1 INT, which he took 43 yards to the house in 44-28 home W over Purdue
• Justice Cunningham - South Carolina - 6 catches for career high 108 yards in 38-35 home W over Tennessee

• Jarvis West - Iowa State - 7 receptions for career high 99 yards and 3 TD (!) in 35-21 home W over Baylor

• Anthony Amos - MTSU - 8 catches for 121 yards and 1 TD in 38-21 home win over North Texas
• Kyle Griswould - MTSU - 3 catches for career high 140 yards, including TDs of 72 and 49 yards as Blue Raiders improve to 3-1 in SBC

• Jamal Robinson - Louisiana-Lafayette - 5 catches for 106 yards in 50-27 home L to Arkansas State
• Cobi Hamilton - Arkansas - 12 receptions for 146 yards in tough 30-27 home L to Mississippi
• Vintavious Cooper - East Carolina - 121 yards and 1 TD rushing on 18 carries, and had 4 catches for 26 yards in 56-28 home L to Navy
• Darrin Reaves - UAB - career high 166 yards and 3 TD rushing on 21 carries, and had 7 catches for 55 yards in 55-45 road L to Tulane
• Greg Jenkins - Alabama State - named SWAC offensive player of the week - 12 yards and 1 TD rushing on 10 carries, and went 10 for 15 for 264 yards and 1 TD (1 INT) passing in huge 31-13 W over Alabama A&M
• Jake Walker - Eastern Illinois - 119 yards and 1 TD rushing on 21 carries in 24-7 W at Eastern Kentucky
• Tyrone Walker - Illinois State - 7 catches for 120 yards, including 76-yard TD, in 33-21 W at Northern Iowa
• Nick Mayers - ODU - 11 receptions for 131 yards in 31-26 home W over Delaware
• Trabis Ward - Tennessee State - 28 carries for 129 yards rushing, and had 2 catches for 15 yards in last-second 22-21 home W over Tennessee Tech
• Isidore Jackson - Bethune-Cookman - 14 carries for 158 yards and 2 TD rushing, including 93-yarder, in 42-17 home W over NCCU

• Donte Sawyer - Morehead State - 6 catches for 89 yards and 1 TD, and took kickoff return 94 yards to the house to put MSU ahead to stay 21-14 in 70-28 blowout of Campbell
• Teddy Allen - Charleston Southern - 115 yards and 2 TD rushing on 17 carries in 42-7 home win over Edward Waters
• Sean Price - Appalachian State - 10 catches for 142 yards and 1 TD in 38-27 W at Western Carolina
• Morris Norrise - Sacramento State - 7 catches for 97 yards and 2 TD in big 35-29 home W over FCS #11 Cal Poly
• Deonte Williams - Cal Poly - 168 yards rushing on 22 carries as Caly Poly drops to 7-1
• Keion Wade - St. Francis (PA) - 26 carries for 129 yards rushing and 2 TD in 32-30 road L to Central Connecticut State

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HOUSE OF DREAD

I could hardly believe it. I knew that sick sophomore WR Jarvis West had scored his 1st TD in an Iowa State uniform (finally!) in the 1st quarter last Saturday night. But I had no idea, until I checked the game recap, that he scored two more! That made it a total of 4 TD by players with dreads in the end zone at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, as ISU defeated Baylor 35-21. West had TD receptions of 23 yards (photo below), 7 yards, and 22 yards as he made his first appearance on the dread stars list. Junior WR Tevin Reese had a 49-yard TD catch for Baylor.

Sharing the award with Jack Trice Stadium were two other stadiums.

Staying in the Big 12, the end zone at Snyder Stadium in Manhattan, KS, takes its 2nd HOD award this season. Kansas State junior RB John Hubert was a one-man house of dread back in Week 6, but he got some help this time as K-State defeated Texas Tech 55-24. Hubert scored on runs of 4 and 15 yards. Senior RB Angelo Pease added a 7-yard TD catch for the Wildcats. And junior RB SaDale Foster had an 8-yard TD run for Tech.
Also with 4 TD was the end zone at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, where Prairie View A&M defeated Southern 49-29 in the Shreveport Classic. Senior WR Spencer Nelson scored 3 TD for PVAMU - on receptions of 17 and 10 yards and a run of 5 yards. Senior WR Charles Hawkins (5 catches for 91 yards) had a 15-yard TD reception for SU.

HEAD DREAD

I guess it's my personal bias, but it requires an exceptional performance to make the dread stars list if you're a defensive player. To be the player of the week? Well, you better do something really special. If you were watching the Florida-Georgia game , you saw a special performance. Not that it was all that surprising because junior LB Jarvis Jones is a special player. With Florida poised to clinch the SEC East with a victory, Georgia, thanks in no small part to Jones, turned the tables on the Gators, winning the game 17-9, and now it is the Bulldogs who have the inside track in the SEC East race. Jones was named SEC defensive player of the week after racking up a career high 13 tackles (12-1), including 4.5 TFL and 3 sacks. 

That wasn't all, of course. Coming into the game, Florida had committed only 4 turnovers all season; but the Gators gave it away 6 times in this game, and Jones had a say in 4 of them with 2 FF and 2 FR. Jones got started early with a FR on the 3rd play from scrimmage and then saved the best for last, stripping the ball from TE Jordan Reed (photo below) at the Georgia 5-yard line on a play in which it looked like Reed was going to score. The fumble rolled into the end zone, and Georgia recovered it for a touchback with 2:05 remaining to save the day for Bulldogs fans.

For more on a player who will be coming to an NFL stadium near you next season, I'll include links to two articles - the first from the SEC website, and the other from the AJC.
http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/NEWS/tabid/473/Article/238441/return-of-jarvis-jones-proves-critical-for-uga.aspx
http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2012/10/27/jarvis-jones-takes-soft-out-of-georgias-defense-leads-way-for-17-9-win-over-no-2-florida/?cxntfid=blogs_uga_sports_blog


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NEXT
Well, if anybody is going to stop Alabama, LSU has as good a chance as anybody. Alabama pretty convincingly proved they were the better team last year (in both matchups), but LSU has a lot going for them in this one. We'll see what happens. Also next week, Tennessee State-Murray State should be a lot of fun. Duquesne is on TV at Robert Morris in what likely will be your only chance to see the awesome dreads of Serge Kona. I'll also try to catch a bit of Michigan-Minnesota, Syracuse-Cincinnati, Clemson-Duke, FAU-Navy, and Mississippi-Georgia.