DG148

As a result of spending so much time searching for basketball photos this summer, I didn't do anything on college football. I'd estimate that of all the games from last season for which I wanted to save pictures, only about one fourth of them was I able to search all the websites I wanted to. So I can only imagine how many pictures of great dreads that I missed. From the games I did save pictures I've already posted all of the best photos I could find. But there are a few more that I didn't post that you might find interesting. Let's take a look at them in dread gallery #148, as we take a (quick) look back at last season and look ahead to 2013.
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1. The season got off to a bang on Aug. 30. As South Carolina senior TE Justice Cunningham makes the catch on 2nd and 7 on the 3rd play of 4th quarter, he is hit so hard by Vanderbilt CB Andre Hal that his helmet comes off .....

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2. ..... Despite being outweighed by nearly 80 pounds, Hal sends Cunningham crashing to the turf .....
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3. ...... If you're gonna get hit this hard, you might as well hang on to the football, and Justice does .....
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4. ..... With his helmet still bouncing around, Justice rolls over and begins to get back up on his feet .....
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5. ...... Cunningham gets up and gives his dreads a little shake just to show everybody he's OK. "Ain't no little DB gonna hurt me!" Cunningham's reception went for a 20-yard gain, and Hal's helmet-to-helmet hit drew a penalty worth 15 more yards, moving to ball to the Vandy 17-yard line. 4 plays later the Gamecocks scored a TD to take a 17-13 lead, which ended up being the final score. Cunningham, the last player selected in 2013 NFL draft, was in the starting lineup for the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason game last weekend, and it certainly looks like he's going to make the team.
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6. Also in Week 1, Miami (Ohio) junior CB Dayonne Nunley thinks the pass is overthrown and that he's going to get an INT, but Ohio State WR Devin Smith has other ideas, going high and snatching the ball out of the air .....
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7. ..... and somehow hanging on for a spectacular 23-yard TD catch, the Buckeyes' 1st TD of the season, giving them a 7-3 lead early in 2nd quarter.
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8. Dayonne Nunley fares better against Devin Smith on this play later in the game, breaking up a pass on 3rd and 11 in 3rd quarter, forcing an OSU punt on the next play. But the Buckeyes went on to an easy 56-10 victory. Nunley is set to begin his 4th season as a starting CB for the other Miami. He begins 2013 with 12 career INT, more than any other active player in the FBS.
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9. Mississippi junior CB Charles Sawyer stops Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel for a 7-yard loss on 2nd and 5 on the last play of 1st quarter on Oct. 6 - one of 6 tackles (3-3) on the night for Sawyer. But Manziel ran for 20 yards on the next play to convert the 3rd and 12, and the drive ended with a FG. The Rebels led by 10 midway through 4th quarter, but A&M scored 2 TD to come back and win 30-27. 
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10. Eastern Illinois senior RB Jake Walker tries to break a tackle by senior S Darius Buck of Murray State during Week 4. Walker had 102 yards rushing, 1 TD, and 1 lost fumble in the game. Buck had 5 tackles (3-2). After Murray State scored a TD and extra point in overtime, EIU scored a TD and 2-point conversion to win a wild one 50-49.
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11. Since he will not be playing in the NFL, this will likely be our last look at the awesome of dreads of Jake Walker - the starting RB on my dread all-America team - as he is tackled by CB Brandon Bender (#23) and LB Brenton Tolson of Jacksonville State at the 7-yard line on 2nd and 9 during 3rd quarter in Week 7. The drive ended two plays later with an incomplete pass on 4th and 2. Walker rushed for 103 yards and 1 TD as EIU won another close one on their path to the OVC championship, 31-28. Walker, who played his freshman season at Toledo before transferring to EIU, rushed for 1,133 yards and scored 13 TD in his senior season.
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12. S Jahleel Addae of Central Michigan displays the improper way to tackle as he leads with his head while putting a hit on Miami (Ohio) WR Nick Harwell during Week 12. Addae had 10 tackles (7-3), 1.5 TFL, and 1 INT on senior day as CMU kept their bowl hopes alive with a 30-16 victory. Even though he was not drafted, I've been hearing good things about Jahleel from the San Diego Chargers' training camp; so we might very well be seeing these dreads on Sundays this fall. 
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13. Senior WR Rob Jones of Delaware loses his helmet after being clobbered by Delaware State S Davon Moore while trying to catch an overthrown pass during 2nd quarter in Week 2. Moore was called for a personal foul penalty. Jones' season came to an end later in the game when he broke his foot. But since he was able to redshirt, he'll be back with the Blue Hens in 2013.
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THE THRILL .... AND THE AGONY
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14. Sophomore WR Jazz King of Marshall celebrates his 3-yard TD catch with WR Aaron Dobson during 1st quarter in Week 3. It was one of 2 TD for King in 2012. Marshall blew a 14-0 lead and lost at home to Ohio 27-24. With Dobson moving on to the NFL, hopefully we'll see King on the field more often. He had just 15 catches for 151 yards last season. 
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15. Junior WR Korvic Neat cannot contain his joy after Mississippi finally wins an SEC road game, kicking a FG on the last play of the game to defeat Arkansas 30-27. The Rebels had lost 11 straight SEC road games since last winning in 2009. Neat had a career best (so far) 25 catches for 257 yards in 2012 and will be trying to not only improve on that, but also find the end zone. He had 0 TD in 2012 and has only 1 in his career.
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16. Alabama State junior CB Darius Knox is consoled by #14 (who I think is S Najee Bright, but I'm not sure who it is) after a tough 37-34 home loss to Jackson State in a key SWAC game in Week 7. JSU scored 10 points in the final 4 minutes, including a FG on the last play of the game. Knox had tackles on pass plays that gained 53 and 24 yards on those final two drives, so I'm thinking he might have been beaten in coverage on one or both of those plays.
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17. Sophomore LBs Christian Henry (#28) and Leighton Gasque are not twins, but they kind of look like they are while celebrating MTSU's satisfying victory at Georgia Tech 49-28 in Week 5. Henry finished with 6 tackles (4-2), while Gasque's only 2 tackles were key sacks on the same drive during 4th quarter. But these two weren't smiling at the end of the season. Despite a 5-2 road record, 8-4 overall record, and 2nd place finish in the SBC, MTSU somehow got snubbed when the bowl invitations were given out. 
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18. Junior LB T.J.Stripling and teammates sit quietly on the bench as Georgia's hopes for an undefeated season come to an end with a 35-7 blowout loss at South Carolina in Week 6. Despite the loss, Georgia came back to beat out South Carolina for 1st place in the SEC East before suffering that heartbreaking loss to Alabama for the SEC championship. A reserve LB and special teams player, Stripling had just 8 tackles (3-5) in 2012.
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19. Junior S Thomas Gordon celebrates with Coach Hoke and S Jordan Kovacs after Michigan's first victory over Michigan State since 2007, 12-10 on a FG with 5 seconds remaining at Ann Arbor in Week 8. Gordon had 6 tackles (3-3) and 1 PBU in the game.
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20. Kent State senior S Sidney Saulter does a flying hip bump with Coach Hazell to celebrate his INT early in 4th quarter at Rutgers in Week 9. It was one of 6 INT and 7 turnovers overall by the Kent State defense. Saulter also had a FR in the game as KSU improved to 7-1 and handed Rutgers their 1st defeat of the season 35-23.
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21. Freshman WR Breshad Perriman walks off after UCF's disappointing 33-27 road loss in overtime to Tulsa in the CUSA championship game. Perriman had 3 catches for 65 yards in the game. At least the season had a happy ending for Breshad, whose father Brett was a WR in the NFL for 10 seasons. He had  5 catches for a season high 90 yards in UCF's bowl victory over Ball State. Look for these dreads in jersey #11 this season.
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22. Sophomore CB Kevin King has a glad hand for both senior S Levi Jackson and CB D'Mekus Cook after Southern U's 38-33 victory over Grambling in the Bayou Classic at New Orleans in Week 13. It was SU's first win over GSU since 2007, ending their 4-game losing streak in the rivalry. Jackson finished with 7 tackles (3-4) and 1 PBU. King had no tackles. 
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23. The sick dreads and sad face belong to Alabama State junior CB Marcus Berg after the Hornets dropped the Turkey Day Classic at home to Tuskegee 27-25 on Thanksgiving afternoon. The defeat closed out a disappointing 7-4 season for ASU and wrecked the grand opening of their new stadium. At least for now, this was the last Turkey Day Classic between these teams. Tuskegee, which has sacrificed a chance to play in the Division 2 playoffs every year just to play ASU, has decided they now would rather compete for the D-2 championship than take the big payday. So on Thanksgiving this season, Alabama State will be hosting Stillman instead of Tuskegee.
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24. IN MEMORIAM. Freshman LB Lydell Hartford poses with the trophy after Arkansas-Pine Bluff's 24-21 overtime victory over Jackson State in the SWAC championship game at Birmingham on Dec. 8. Unfortunately there will be no chance for Hartford to hold the trophy if UAPB repeats this season, because he tragically was shot to death about 5 weeks ago. In a nation that leads the world in senseless shootings, the senselessness of Hartfiord's shooting just about takes the grand prize. It's just so sad. Details from the UAPB website: http://www.uapblionsroar.com/news/2013/7/23/FB_0723132506.aspx?path=football

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SENIOR DAY

Just a few photos of some seniors with dreads before playing their final home game.
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25. CB Tony Foster and family on Senior Day at Duke on Nov. 24. Foster led the team with 9 tackles (6-3) and had 1 PBU, but Duke lost to Miami 52-45. Then in the Blue Devils' bowl loss to Cincinnati a month later, Tony blocked a punt and recovered it for a TD, the only TD by a Duke player with dreads in 2012. Foster was at the Kansas City Chiefs' rookie minicamp in May but was not signed to a contract.
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26. Here's CB B.W.Webb with his family before closing out a stellar career at William & Mary on Nov. 17. He had 5 tackles (4-1) and 2 PBU as W&M lost to Richmond 21-14. A 4-time all-CAA selection, Webb was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and just happened to get an INT in a preaseason game last weekend.
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27. After having his name introduced on Senior Day at Sam Houston State, LB Darius Taylor waits for his brother, Darnell, to join him .....
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28. ..... The two twins hug and then run out on the field together (what else?) before facing Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 3. S Darnell Taylor had 3 tackles (3-0) in his final home game, and Darius recorded a game-high 10 tackles (9-1) and 2 TFL in the Bearkats' 70-0 victory. They both were all-Southland conference selections in 2012, and I thought we might see their dreads in the NFL, especially Darnell's; but neither one of them was signed by any of the teams.
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29. DE Lamar Wallace holds his daughter while posing with his family on Senior Day at Tennessee State on Oct. 27. I never mentioned it last season, but I think 2012 brought the return of dreads hating to TSU. At least the players didn't have to cut their dreads shorter like they did in 2010; but Wallace, and Rogers Gaines, and Travis James, and Trabis Ward all had their dreads reduced all the time last season, and I don't think that was a coincident. Wallace had 1 tackle as TSU won a thriller on Senior Day 22-21 over Tennessee Tech to improve to 8-1. But the Tigers dropped their last two to finish at 8-3 and missed the playoffs.
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30. RB Andre Ellington runs down the hill by himself, as the seniors do one by one on Senior Night at Clemson .....
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31. ..... and is greeted by Coach Swinney as he runs onto the field. Come on Andre, it's OK to smile, you know. Maybe he doesn't look too happy because he knows he's going to be facing the South Carolina defense. He finished his final home game with 72 yards rushing on 15 carries. Ellington fell all the way to round 6 of the NFL draft and is currently trying to win a job with the Arizona Cardinals.
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32. Andre Ellington was just one of several NFL prospects playing in the Week 13 game between South Carolina and Clemson. Here are two more, as S D.J. Swearinger can't prevent WR DeAndre Hopkins from making a 43-yard TD catch, giving Clemson a 14-7 lead during 1st quarter. As luck would have it, Swearinger and Hopkins are now teammates, with Hopkins being picked in round 1, and Swearinger in round 2 - by the Houston Texans.
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33. Sophomore WR Sammy Watkins of Clemson has words - friendly words, I'm sure - with sophomore CB Victor Hampton, most likely after Hampton made the tackle on Watkins' 14-yard reception during 1st quarter ..... 
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34. ..... But Hampton and the Gamecocks got the last word, celebrating with teammates near the end of the game. That's Swearinger on the left sticking his tongue out. The four fingers everybody is holding up? That's the number of years in a row that the Gamecocks have now defeated the Tigers. The final score was 27-17, ending Clemson's 13-game home winning streak. The only other time South Carolina won 4 in a row against Clemson was from 1951-1954. The 2013 edition of the Palmetto Bowl rivalry could potentially be something very special. If (and it's a very big if) Clemson (in Week 1) and South Carolina (in Week 2) both defeat Georgia, they both very possibly would be undefeated when they face each other at the end of November.
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35. Sammy Watkins deals with the severe pain of an injured ankle, suffered on the 2nd play from scrimmage against LSU in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31 - a fitting conclusion to a disappointing sophomore season .....
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36. ..... Watkins receives encouragement from somebody, probably a member of the coaching staff, at the end of the game. Sammy's ankle was not broken, and he was at 100% for spring practice. And if this article from a couple days ago in the Naples Daily News (link below) is right, we're going to see something special from him this season.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/aug/24/college-football-south-fort-myers-sammy-watkins/ 
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37. Texas Tech sick junior WR Javon Bell tries to elude New Mexico CB Destry Berry on the run after a catch in Week 3, one of his 4 catches for 53 yards in the Red Raiders' 49-14 win. Bell, who caught 17 passes for 269 yards and 1 TD before missing the last 8 games of the season due to a broken foot, will not be back for his senior season. He was dismissed from the team after becoming academically ineligible. Seemingly his only options to play this year would be at a Division 2 or NAIA school; but if he is, I haven't heard about it yet.
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38. Syracuse junior RB Prince-Tyson Gulley walks off after his 264-yard, 3-TD performance in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 29, a performance that earned him game MVP honors in a 38-14 win over West Virginia. Unfortunately it turned out to be Gulley's last game with dreads. When he showed up for spring practice, the dreads were gone. Most disturbingly, joining Gulley on the ex-dread list are three players would likely would have made my 2013 dread all-America team - Cincinnati QB Munchie Legaux, FAU QB Melvin German (NO!!), and ODU CB Eriq Lewis. No doubt there are many more ex-dreads than those four, but those are the the only ones I'm aware of at this time.
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39. WR Cordarrelle Patterson's specialty during his junior season at Tennessee was making defenders miss. But he couldn't quite elude this unidentified Kentucky defender, who managed to grab a hold of his undershirt trying to stop him. Actually, whoever this was fared better than most others when facing Patterson in the open field. In his only season with the Volunteers Cordarrelle set a school record for all-purpose yards in one season and made my all-America with dreads team as both a WR and KR.
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40. With Tennessee leading Georgia State big late and the reserves on the field in Week 2, Cordarrelle Patterson holds still and hopes fellow WR Justin Hunter has a steady hand while cutting the wrap holding together his dreads.
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41. Having successfully made the cut, Hunter now takes the wraps off manually ...... You get the feeling the Patterson is one of those persons who just enjoys being different. Instead of simply reducing his dreads (as you probably know by now, UT players weren't allowed to have their dreads hanging loosely outside their helmets), he put his into two bunches and then wrapped the bunches together. Like I said - different. Cordarrelle stayed with that look for about half the season but then probably got tired of all the work. There are no such restrictions on dreads in the NFL; and that's where Patterson (and Hunter too) will be playing this season after being drafted in the 1st round by the Minnesota Vikings. And all indications are that there will no longer be any restrictions on dreads at UT either now that a new coaching staff is in charge.
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I know you've probably seen the "hit heard 'round the world", starring Jadeveon Clowney, 100 times already; but I don't care. Let's make it 101 times.

42. The fun actually begins on the previous play. South Carolina senior LB Damario Jeffery (#33) waves his arms in a criss-cross, celebrating because he is certain he has stopped S Floyd Simmons short of the first down on a fake punt by Michigan from their own 37-yard line midway through 4th quarter of the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day with the Wolverines leading by 1. 
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43. But after finding out he did indeed stop Simmons (inches) short, only to have the referee give Michigan the first down anyway, the celebrating stops, and Jeffery storms away in a rage, while the incredulous Carolina sideline continues to argue (to no avail) that the referee made a mistake.
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44. Damario is howling mad at the injustice, his big play nullified by an incompetent zebra. Fortunately for him none of the zebras saw him, and he avoided being charged with a 15-yard penalty for having his helmet off while on the field.
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45. On the next play, as senior RB Vincent Smith sets to take the handoff from QB Devin Gardner on a draw play, superstar sophomore DE Jadeveon Clowney - like a kid in a candy store - finds himself totally unblocked and takes aim on Smith. 
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46. Clowney, 80 pounds heavier and nearly a foot taller than Smith, slams into poor old Vincent before he can get the handoff secured, hitting him so hard that his helmet blasts off of his head.
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47. Jadeveon probably wanted to remain on top of Smith and add a little verbal abuse to his hit, but then he realizes the ball is right there under his leg.
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48. Clowney reaches to scoop up the fumble ......
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49. ..... and does so by palming the ball in his left hand.
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50. Not satisfied with just the scoop, Jadeveon wants the score too and begins to get up off the ground to make his return.
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51. But just before he can break into the clear, Clowney is tripped up by Smith and (accidentally) his own teammate, DE Devin Taylor, and goes back down.
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52. With the play finally over, a dazed Smith takes a moment to make sure he's still in one piece.
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53. Clowney celebrates his play from a distance with CB Victor Hampton after giving the Gamecocks the ball at Michigan's 31-yard line - 10 yards better field position than if the referee hadn't blown the call on the previous play.
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54. Clowney accepts congratulations from S Brison Williams and LB Shaq Wilson, while Smith, after finding his helmet, heads to the sideline. The Gamecocks scored a TD on the very next play to take the lead. Michigan went back in front with a TD on the next possession, but the Gamecocks scored again with 11 seconds to play to win 33-28.
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55. All-America DE Jadeveon Clowney and All-America OT Taylor Lewan pay their respects after spending the afternoon battling against each other (a battle in which Lewan arguably held the upper hand, despite Clowney's big hit).
JC: Good game. You goin' pro next year, right?
TL: Not yet. Still gotta get that Big 10 ring. See you in the NFL in 2014.
JC: No. See you at the 'ship next year first. Then the NFL .....

.... Hmm. South Carolina vs. Michigan in the BCS title game? That sure would be a nice change of pace. No doubt it's a longshot that it will happen. But if just a couple of things here and there break in both teams' favor, you never know.

Usually at the start of a new season I do a list of all the players with the best dreads. But I have to admit that my little spiral notebook that helps me keep track of which players do and do not have dreads on every team currently is almost entirely full of blank pages. So there will be no preseason list of the best dreads this year, and I'm sorry about that.

I know the players who should have dreads who are returning from last season. But I won't know for sure if they still have dreads until I see them. For the most part I don't know which players have started growing dreads since last season. And I barely know any of the incoming freshmen with dreads.

What I do know is that barring a record-shattering season by RB Isaiah Crowell, Alabama State will not repeat as the Division 1 leader in TD scored by players with dreads. I'm expecting Georgia, led by RB Todd Gurley and the new dreads of WR Chris Conley (photo) and RB Keith Marshall to ascend to the top spot. But don't count out Clemson. The loss of DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Ellington to the NFL leaves some big shoes to fill. But the Tigers have a couple of players who might fill them - junior WR Martavis Bryant (who didn't have dreads last year) and sophomore RB Zac Brooks. With them plus with Sammy Watkins returning to form, Clemson should contend. And keep an eye on Kent State too.

WEEK 1

As luck would have it, Clemson hosts Georgia in the season opener Saturday night. That one should be a lot of fun; try not to miss it. I'll also be trying to keep an eye on FAU-Miami (Friday night), Toledo-Florida, Kentucky-Western Kentucky, LSU-TCU, Miami (Ohio)-Marshall, and the SWAC/MEAC Challenge on Sunday between FAMU and Mississippi Valley State.