College FB '13 Dread News - Week 2

After just two weeks of the 2013 season there's already one thing that has become very clear: if you are a running back with dreads, the competition for spots on my postseason all-America with dreads team is going to be stronger than ever before. Of the 7 running backs with dreads for FBS teams who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, five are back in 2013 (with only Eddie Lacy and Andre Ellington having moved on to the NFL). Joining those five and Kansas State senior John Hubert (who was about 50 yards short of 1,000 in 2012) in the competition are several freshmen along with a couple others who are not freshmen but who figure to be carrying the ball a lot this season. It's not at all out of the question that at least a dozen FBS running backs with dreads will top the 1,000-yard mark by the end of the season. And it's possible that a half dozen of those will be from teams in the SEC. 10 of the 14 teams in the SEC have at least one RB with dreads who has carried the ball already this season. Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall of Georgia and Jeff Scott of Mississippi were featured in last week's report. So let's take a quick look at the RBs from the other 8 teams this week.

Florida sophomore Matt Jones (photo above), who came on strong late last season, made his 2013 debut this week after missing Week 1 (and a lot of training camp as well) with a viral infection.
Not surprisingly he struggled a bit, rushing for 47 yards on 18 carries in the Gators' 21-16 road loss to Miami. The Gators held a huge advantage in total yards 413-212, but a -4 turnover margin - including a fumble by Jones - did them in. But Jones remains #1 on the UF depth chart at RB; and with the Gators appearing to be not all that great at passing the ball, they're going to be counting on Matt for a lot of yards. 

Auburn junior Tre Mason (photo above), who joined the 1,000-yard rushing club on his final carry of 2012, is off to a strong start. He made the dread stars list in Week 1 and fell 1 yard short this week, finishing with 99 yards rushing and 1 TD on 14 carries in the Tigers' 38-9 home victory over Arkansas State. Sophomore WR Sammie Coates also scored a TD for AU, on a 68-yard reception. Mason, a 3rd team selection on my all-America with dreads team last year, also will be in the running to be selected as a kick returner as well as a RB this year after having already taken a kickoff return to the house in Week 1. 

Alabama, as usual, has a RB with dreads - two actually. But also as usual, Coach Saban will not allow us to see their dreads very clearly when they're on the field. Sophomore Dee Hart - finally healthy after two injury-riddled seasons - had 15 yards on 5 carries, and freshman Altee Tenpenny (photo above) rushed for 24 yards on 6 carries in the Crimson Tide's Week 1 victory over Virginia Tech 35-10. The Tide were off this week. With Lacy and Trent Richardson on the team the past few years, Alabama has been among the leaders in TD scored by players with dreads. But don't expect to see Hart and Tenpenny in the end zone very much this season, because sophomore T.J. Yeldon is the clear #1 RB for the Tide.

At LSU junior Terrence Magee (photo on right) starred in Week 1; but with starting RB Jeremy Hill back from suspension this week, Magee had only 4 carries for 7 yards in the Tigers' 56-17 home-opening win over UAB. Magee rushed for 133 yards as a freshman in 2011 but had no yards rushing at all last season, so I'm not expecting big things from him. But Coach Miles likes to use a lot of running backs; and with his 95-yard game against TCU in Week 1 he showed he can get the job done when called upon. Hopefully he'll be called upon again as the season moves along. 

Tennessee has a RB with dreads at #3 on their depth chart, but it's not the player I was expecting. Sadly, Quenshaun Watson did not return for his sophomore season in Knoxville - either unwilling or unable to take care of his business academically. Taking his place - although with much shorter dreads - is junior Deanthonie Summerhill (photo on left), who followed up his 67-yard performance in Week 1 with a 9-carry, 40-yard game this week in a 52-20 blowout of Western Kentucky. But once SEC play begins I expect to see Summerhill mostly on the bench, with Rajion Neal and Marlin Lane getting the bulk of the carries for the Volunteers. You may have noticed that Neal is letting his hair grow. But after viewing a couple of videos of him, I don't think I can welcome him to the house just yet. I just don't think those are dreads. But we'll continue to monitor him closely. 

After rushing for 219 yards as a freshman for Oklahoma in 2011, the highly-recruited Brandon Williams (photo above) sat out last season after a transfer to Texas A&M. He made his debut in an Aggies uniform this week, rushing for 37 yards and catching 2 passes for 17 yards in a 65-28 victory over Sam Houston State. Yes, Heisman Trophy winning QB Johnny Manziel is the A&M offense. But he does hand the ball off every now and then, so Williams - currently #2 on the depth chart - figures to get his share of carries.

I'm really excited about the freshmen RBs with sick dreads at Arkansas and Mississippi State. Ashton Shumpert (photo on left) did not play in Mississippi State's Week 1 loss to Oklahoma State. But with the Bulldogs taking on FCS opponent Alcorn State this week we got a good look at what he can do, as he barely missed making the dread stars list. Shumpert rushed for 98 yards and 2 TD in his debut as MSU routed Alcorn State 51-7. Although he's not starting, the fact that he's not redshirting indicates the MSU coaching staff is planning on playing him a lot this season.

The coaching change at Arkansas is likely what convinced the very highly-recruited Alex Collins (photo on right) to sign with the Razorbacks. With new Coach Bielema bringing his run-oriented offense along with him from Wisconsin, there will be plenty of carries for Collins. And he's already 2 for 2 in appearances on the dread stars list, becoming the first Arkansas freshman ever to start his career with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. He had 109 yards in the 4th quarter alone last Saturday to help the Razorbacks get by Samford 31-21. After scoring the final points of the game on a 2-yard run with 9:04 to play, Alex celebrated his 1st career TD with the fans as he ran beyond the end zone and stood up on a bench right in front of the stands - drawing a 15-yard penalty in the process. With 300 yards already after two weeks, Collins certainly has lived up to expectations; but there will be a lot tougher defenses than Louisiana-Lafayette and Samford in the weeks ahead. 

Although it may seem so, the SEC does not hold a monopoly on talented freshmen running backs with dreads. I'm also excited about what's happening for a couple of teams in the ACC. I did not watch the Virginia Tech-Alabama game in Week 1, only the highlights. And when I saw Trey Edmunds break free for a 77-yard TD run late in the 1st quarter, I wasn't thinking dreads. I was thinking that maybe Alabama's defense won't be as good as usual this year. It wasn't until I went through the game recap that I found out that Edmunds does have dreads - dreads too short to be seen with his helmet on, but dreads nonetheless. Or are they? It wasn't that long ago that Edmunds had his hair in braids; but it certainly looks like he has made a successful conversion over to dreads, so I have welcomed him into the house. Hopefully he's here to stay, but I'll continue to monitor the situation to make sure he truly does have dreads. If you click on the link below, there's a video that includes a recent interview of Edmunds, so you can decide for yourself. It's between the 15:15 and 18:00 marks of the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47F6LyGhoTk
Edmunds did not make a 2nd straight appearance on the dread stars list, as he finished with 68 yards and 2 TD rushing on 15 carries in a 45-3 home-opening romp over Western Carolina. Not only Edmunds, the Hokies have another freshman RB with dreads - Chris Mangus, whose dreads are long enough that you can see them. Mangus had 84 yards rushing against WCU, including a 76-yard run for his 1st career TD. On a team seriously lacking in dreads in recent years, it's a very pleasant surprise to see Edmunds and Mangus carrying the ball for Virginia Tech.

If you are looking for the freshman RB with the sickest dreads this season, one of the places you need to go to is North Carolina, where Khris Francis (photo above) recently made his debut in a Tar Heels uniform. Francis first came onto my radar when somebody (ESPNU?) televised the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star game last season. Although it's good to see that he's not redshirting this year, he still is at best #3 on the UNC depth chart; so you'll be seeing those great dreads of his much more on the sideline than on the field. But he figures to see a lot of action in the seasons ahead. After not playing in Week 1, Khris rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries last Saturday in a 40-20 victory over MTSU. 

Revenge no doubt was very sweet for the Georgia Bulldogs last Saturday - not just for last season's loss to South Carolina, but for losses the last three seasons in a row. But especially for last year. You may recall the Bulldogs took a 5-0 record to Columbia last October - and suffered a humiliating 35-7 defeat at the hands of the Gamecocks. The Bulldogs were totally shut down by the Carolina defense, finishing with a puny 224 total yards and needing a late garbage time TD just to avoid being shut out. The futility endured that night is what makes last Saturday's 41-30 victory over the Gamecocks so satisfying for the Bulldogs and their fans.

It was a complete 180 from last year's game, as the Bulldogs offense absolutely shredded the supposedly very good Carolina defense, racking up 536 total yards, punting just twice, and running 76 plays with no turnovers. Being dominated like that didn't sit very well with the Gamecocks, Coach Spurrier was unhappy after the game. Jadeveon Clowney was complaining after the game. Heck - you've probably seen the highlight by now - it was so bad that a couple of Gamecock defensive assistant coaches were quarreling so intensely that they actually wanted to fight each other, right there on the sideline while the game was going on. I mean, if that didn't make your day, UGA fans, nothing did. After South Carolina got a FG on their opening drive, the Dawgs took all of 2 minutes to answer, driving 65 yards in 6 plays to take make it 7-3. Georgia went on to score on their first three possessions to up the lead to 17-3; but the Gamecocks came back, and the teams went into the locker room at halftime tied at 24. After going three-and-out to start the 2nd half, the Bulldogs again had three consecutive scoring drives to build a 41-30 lead. And after a goal line stand by the Bulldogs' D maintained the lead, the offense stayed on the field for the final 8:28 of the game, driving from their own 1 and reaching the Carolina 18 when the clock ran out.

The highlight of the game for me, of course, came on a play early in the 2nd quarter. Star sophomore RB Todd Gurley has dreads that don't extend very far outside of his helmet yet. So if you're at the game, they're kind of hard to see. But nobody had any problem seeing them on this play (video on link below), because he had his helmet ripped off his head by a South Carolina D-lineman trying to keep him from picking up the first down on 3rd and 4. Gurley stayed on his feet and kept running without his helmet (photos above), although by (bad) rule the play was whistled dead as soon as it came off.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/09/georgia-running-back-todd-gurley-didnt-need-a-helmet-to-shred-south-carolinas-defense/
Gurley let the Bulldogs' other sophomore RB with dreads, Keith Marshall, finish the drive - with a 6-yard TD reception two plays later to make the score 17-3. Marshall finished the game with 112 total yards (58 rushing, 54 receiving) on just 9 touches before leaving due to injury. Gurley made the dread stars list for the 2nd straight week. And sick junior LB Ramik Wilson had 9 tackles (4-5) and 1 PBU.

For South Carolina sophomore LB Kaiwan Lewis had 12 tackles (5-7), but only 1 was a TFL. Junior CB Victor Hampton had 3 tackles (2-1), junior S Sharrod Golightly had 2 tackles (2-0) and 1 PBU. And Clowney, the superstar DE, had 3 tackles (2-1), including 2 TFL, one of which his 1st sack of the season (photos above). The thing that made him so upset was that the majority of Georgia's running plays were directed away from his side of the formation. He suggested after the game that maybe the game plan should include him lining up in different places in the formation instead of always at right DE. I understand his frustration. He needs to play well, and the Carolina defense needs to have success in order for him to maintain his place at the top of next year's NFL draft. And giving up 536 yards ain't cutting it.

One of the biggest victories during Kent State's rise to the top of the MAC standings last season was a 31-24 road victory over Bowling Green in Week 12. Well, Bowling Green paid back KSU last Saturday, going on the road and whipping the Golden Flashes 41-22. With Coach Hazell moving on to Purdue, it's starting to look like the 2012 Flashes were a one-hit wonder. This season began with a too close for comfort 17-10 victory over Liberty, and now this. But before we start putting nails in their coffin, it should be noted that they've been without their best player, sensational senior RB Dri Archer, who injured an ankle early against Liberty and did not play this week. Junior RB Trayion Durham was shut down by a BGSU defense that has been downright dominating so far, finishing with only 24 yards rushing on 11 carries. Star senior S BooBoo Gates had 5 tackles (5-0) and 1 TFL for the Falcons. Junior LB D.J. Lynch had 3 tackles (3-0), including his 1st sack of the season; and sophomore RB Travis Greene followed up last week's 88-yard game by making his first-ever appearance on the dread stars list.

ELSEWHERE

Senior RB John Hubert gained 91 total yards and scored 2 TD to help Kansas State improve to 1-1 with a 48-27 home victory over Louisiana-Lafayette ..... Sophomore RB Jay Ajayi rushed for 80 yards and 2 TD as Boise State also got their 1st win, 63-14 over Tennessee-Martin ..... Junior S Quentin Hayes led Oklahoma with 8 tackles (3-5) and had 1 FF, and senior FB Trey Millard (who must have started growing dreads last year without me knowing about it) had a 1-yard TD catch that put the Sooners ahead to stay 10-7 in a 16-7 Big 12 home win over West Virginia ..... Junior WR Bradley Marquez had 2 catches for 94 yards, including a 60-yard TD (photo above) for Texas Tech in a 61-13 home win over Stephen F. Austin ..... Senior TE Marcel Jensen had 3 catches for a career high 66 yards for Fresno State in a 41-25 home win over Cal Poly .....

Senior WR Travis Reynolds caught 4 passes for a career high 59 yards and 1 TD (left photo above), and JC transfer WR Ronald Butler's first catch in a Utah State uniform went for a 23-yard TD (right photo above) as the Aggies made an impressive debut in the MWC, whipping Air Force on the road 52-20 ..... Minnesota senior LB Aaron Hill had a team-leading 10 tackles (7-3), with 1 TFL, and took a fumble return 50 yards to the house in a 44-21 road victory over New Mexico State ..... Marshall senior CB Monterius Lovett took an INT (the 6th of his career) return 70 yards to the house (photo below) for his 1st career TD in a 55-0 slaughter of Gardner-Webb ..... And with the starters sitting for most of the day, Clemson junior WR Sammy Watkins did not make the dread stars list, finishing with 3 catches for 19 yards; but junior WR Martavis Bryant, who struggled last week, had 4 catches for 87 yards as the Tigers blasted South Carolina State 52-13.  

IN THE FCS

Alabama State went 61 yards in 5 plays after receiving the opening kickoff; and when junior RB Isaiah Crowell then ran 84 yards for a TD on the first play of their next possession, the Hornets had a 14-0 lead over Jackson State. And the rout was on ..... Not quite. The Tigers tied the game up before the 1st quarter was over and from there made just enough plays to pick up a 30-23 home win in a key early-season game in the SWAC. With Rico Richardson and E.J. Drewery graduated, I didn't see a lot of sick dreads in Jackson State uniforms (although I watched only the 2nd half). The Tigers do have a couple of key players with shorter dreads - sophomore LB Ryan Griffin (left photo below) had 10 tackles (5-5), 1 TFL, and an INT in the game; and NFL-bound (at least he thinks he is) senior CB Qua Cox finished with 1 tackle (1-0) and a key PBU on a deep pass that looked like it was going to be a 98-yard TD. A sack in the end zone on the next play increased JSU's lead to 30-23, and the Tigers proceeded to keep the ball for the final 4:30 of the game. 



















Crowell (photo below) wasn't done after his long run, averaging 5.6 yards on his other 17 carries but he didn't score again. Malcolm Cyrus, ASU's other junior RB with dreads, ran for 32 yards on 7 carries. Senior LB Leland Baker finished with 7 tackles (2-5); and sick sophomore S Najee Bright (right photo above) had 9 tackles (5-4), 1 FR, and 1 PBU. An early loss to Jackson State last year haunted Alabama State for most of the season; and it looks like more of the same this season, as they'll need JSU to lose at least twice (don't bet on it) to finish 1st in the SWAC East.

Senior RB Marcus Washington had 84 total yards and 2 TD, and senior S T.J. Lumar had 9 tackles (6-3) and an INT to earn SLC defensive player of the weeks honors as Nicholls State bounced back from last week's drubbing at Oregon to win at Western Michigan 27-23 ..... Robert Morris junior CB Antwan Eddie (photo below) had punt returns of 38, 35, and 23 yards (two of which set up short TD drives) to earn NEC special teams player of the week honors and added an INT in a 31-14 home win over Morgan State .....

.....Senior WR Lamar Scruggs scored North Carolina Central's 1st TD of the season on a 32-yard reception in the 3rd quarter and finished with 5 catches for 64 yards; and sophomore WR Adrian Wilkins had 3 catches for 53 yards, including a game-tying 2-yard TD on 4th down with :29 to go, and the Eagles went on to win their home opener 23-20 over St. Augustine's in two overtimes ..... Senior DE Eddie Williams took an INT return 43 yards to the house (photo below) for Bethune-Cookman in an easy 66-7 home-opening win over Virginia Union .....

..... Valparaiso junior WR Fred Gladney barely missed the dread stars list with 5 catches for 98 yards, but the Crusaders lost at St. Joseph (IN) 34-31 ..... William and Mary freshman RB Kendell Anderson also just missed the dread stars list, rushing for 97 yards and 2 TD in a 31-7 home win over Hampton .....And freshman RB Kalif Phillips, who last week scored UNC-Charlotte's first-ever TD by a player with dreads on a 15-yard run in a 52-7 win over Campbell, scored his 2nd TD on a 40-yard catch and finished with 72 total yards; freshman RB Alan Barnwell (photo below) rushed for 80 yards; and freshman DE Greg Cunningham had 7 tackles (6-1), including 3 TFL, as the 49ers improved to 2-0, blasting Chowan 47-7.

 
FINALLY

I usually don't have a lot of love for any players who cut off their dreads and leave the house. In fact, I occasionally (childishly) even hope that some players don't perform well after they decide to leave. But I was still a fan of Munchie Legaux even after he lost his awesome dreads early this year. So it almost brought tears to my eyes to see the senior QB suffer a horrible, season-ending knee injury last Saturday in Cincinnati's 45-17 loss to Illinois.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2415352/Cincinnati-pays-tribute-Quarterback-Munchie-Legaux-suffers-horrific-leg-injury-43-000-fans.html

http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091313aac.html

Legaux is a true senior, so he'll be able to come back for a redshirt senior season either next year or even in 2015 if he's not recovered yet in time for next season. Get well ASAP, Munchie.
Legaux's injury, oddly enough, may open the door for another QB with dreads, as redshirt freshman Bennie Coney - ready or not - moves up to #2 on the UC depth chart. 

DG

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1. Junior TE De'Marieya Nelson, a junior college transfer, scores Ariziona State's 1st TD of the season on his 1st catch in an ASU uniform, as S Dijon Washington makes the hit at the 2-yard line but can't keep him out of the end zone. The 16-yard TD, Nelson's only catch in the game, completed an 11-play, 80-yard drive on the Sun Devils' first possession of the season, and ASU went on to rout Sacramento State 55-0 on Sept. 5.

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2. With Toledo trailing Missouri by 8 but threatening to score early in 3rd quarter, QB Terrance Owens has the ball slip out of his hands, and junior DE Markus Golden is right there for the easy INT. Golden took the return 70 yards to the house to increase Missouri's lead to 24-9, and the Tigers went on to win 38-23.

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3. Arkansas State sick senior WR Julian Jones is tackled by CB Ryan White at the Auburn 24-yard line after a 7-yard reception on 2nd and 8 on the first play of 4th quarter at Auburn on Sept. 7. The drive ended with a FG, cutting Auburn's lead to 31-0. Jones caught 7 passes but for only 29 yards in Arkansas State's 38-9 defeat.





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4. Junior RB Darrin Reaves dives into the end zone past LSU S Ronald Martin for an 11-yard TD run on 3rd and 5, getting UAB on the board and cutting LSU's lead to 28-7 with 11:11 to go in 2nd quarter at Baton Rouge on Sept. 7. Reaves finished with 84 yards rushing and 25 yards receiving, but UAB was whipped by LSU 56-17.



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5. Junior WR Ja'Tyuan Landing of Eastern Kentucky is about to be knocked out of bounds by LB George Durant at the Louisville 39-yard line after a 7-yard reception on 1st and 9 on EKU's opening drive on Sept. 7. The Colonels punted two plays later. Landing finished with 2 catches for 16 yards in Louisville's 44-7 home win.


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6. Junior WR Jamal Robinson beats the coverage of CB Dorrian Roberts and looks in an 18-yard TD catch, pulling Louisiana-Lafayette to within 41-24 of Kansas State late in 3rd quarter on Sept. 7. Robinson finished with 6 catches for 83 yards, but the Ragin Cajuns lost to K-State 48-27.

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7. UNC-Charlotte freshman RB Kalif Phillips is knocked out of bounds by Chowan CB Sidney Hilliard at the 34-yard line after a 16-yard run midway through 3rd quarter at Charlotte on Sept. 7. This was the first play of an 82-yard TD drive that upped Charlotte's lead to 33-7. Phillips rushed for 21 yards on 5 carries and had 3 catches for 51 yards and a TD as UNCC, playing their inaugural football season, improved to 2-0 with an easy 47-7 victory.

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8. Sophomore CB Demario Donnell of Tennessee Tech makes a last ditch lunge at the 5-yard line but can't prevent Wisconsin sophomore RB Melvin Gordon from finishing off a 37-yard TD run, increasing Badgers' lead to 21-0 with 3:51 to go until halftime at Madison on Sept. 7. Donnell finished the game with 8 tackles (4-4), while Gordon made it 2 for 2 in appearances on the dread stars list as UW rolled to a 48-0 victory.

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9. Burned by Jameon Lewis' double move, Alcorn State junior CB Hendrick Taylor can only watch helplessly as the Mississippi State junior WR scores easily on a 31-yard reception on the first play following an ASU turnover, increasing the Bulldogs' lead to 34-0 with 5:15 to go until halftime on Sept. 7. Taylor finished the game with 1 tackle. Lewis rushed for 44 yards on 1 carry and had 2 catches for 35 yards in Mississippi State's easy 51-7 home victory.

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10. Louisville junior S Calvin Pryor makes a 26-yard return after getting his 1st INT of the season (and 5th of his career) during 2nd quarter. The pick set up a 22-yard TD drive that gave the Cardinals a 24-0 lead. Pryor also tied for the team lead in tackles with 8 (7-1), with 1 TFL, and had 1 FF in Louisville's 44-7 victory  over Eastern Kentucky.


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11. On 3rd and goal from the 7-yard line (after originally having 1st down at the 1), MTSU comes away empty on their opening possession as North Carolina senior S Tre Boston makes a spectacular, leaping, one-handed INT in the end zone for a touchback. It was Tre's 9th career INT. He finished with 6 tackles (2-4) as the Tar Heels whipped the Blue Raiders 40-20.




DREAD STARS

• Alex Collins - Arkansas - 172 yards and 1 TD rushing on 24 carries in 31-21 home W over Samford
• Tevin King - Louisiana Tech - 20 carries for 182 yards rushing in 27-14 home W over Lamar
• Todd Gurley - Georgia - 30 carries for 132 yards and 2 TD rushing in 41-30 home W over South Carolina

• Rannell Hall - UCF - 4 receptions for 127 yards in 38-0 road W over FIU
• Tevin Reese - Baylor - 4 catches for 130 yards, including 61-yard TD, as Bears racked up school record 781 total yards in 70-13 home W over Buffalo
• Darius Joseph - SMU - 12 receptions for 113 yards, including game-winning 4-yard TD (photo) with 12 seconds remaining in thrilling 31-30 home W over Montana State

• Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin - 140 yards and 1 TD rushing on only 9 carries in 48-0 home W over Tennessee Tech
• Travis Greene - Bowling Green - 24 carries for 145 yards and 1 TD rushing in 41-22 road W over Kent State
• Vintavious Cooper - East Carolina - 95 yards and 1 TD rushing on 20 carries, and 5 catches for 49 yards in 31-13 home W over FAU
• Ryan Jackson - Houston - 109 yards and 1 TD rushing on 22 carries in 22-13 road W over Temple
• Deontay Greenberry - Houston - 14 receptions for 165 yards as Cougars take first-ever game in the AAC
• Damante Horton - Washington State - named Pac-12 defensive player of the week - 4 tackles (3-1), including 2 TFL, and had 2 INT, the first of which he took 70 yards to the house late in 2nd quarter for WSU's only TD of the game, the second of which (photo) ended USC's last drive of game with 2:18 to play in 10-7 road W over USC

• Za'Darius Smith - Kentucky - 6 tackles (4-2), including 3 sacks for 25 yards lost, in 41-7 home W over Miami (Ohio)
• Joe Ferguson - San Diego - 15 carries for 156 yards, including 55-yard TD, and 3 catches for 15 yards and 1 TD in 38-35 home W over Western New Mexico
• Rob Jones - Delaware - 3 catches for 43 yards and 2 TD, and took punt return 62 yards to the house in 42-21 home W over Delaware State

• Isaiah Crowell - Alabama State - 18 carries for 179 yards, including 84-yard TD, in 30-23 road L to Jackson state
• Tromaine Dennis - Northern Colorado - 102 yards and 2 TD rushing on 26 carries in 41-36 home L to Colorado State-Pueblo
• Timothy Flanders - Sam Houston state - named SLC offensive player of the week - 19 carries for 170 yards and 2 TD rushing, and 1 catch for 33-yard TD in 65-28 road L to Texas A&M

HOUSE OF DREAD

The final name on the dread stars list is huge. Timothy Flanders, one of the best running backs in the FCS, has started growing dreads (!) after not having them in his first three seasons at SHSU. His 3 touchdowns help carry the end zone at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, to this week's HOD award. 4 TD by players with dreads were scored in Texas A&M's 65-28 victory over Sam Houston State. Flanders' TD were on runs of 11 and 68 yards and a 33-yard reception. The other TD was a 10-yard reception by A&M sophomore  RB Brandon Williams. With Flanders now growing dreads, don't be surprised if SHSU games take another HOD award or two this season.

HEAD DREAD

The player of the week for Week 2 is Fresno State senior WR Isaiah Burse. Last week Burse had a lot of catches but no TD. This week he catches just 4 passes and takes the head dread. Huh? Well, in addition to his 4 receptions for 43 yards, including a 15-yard TD in the 2nd quarter (first photo below), Isaiah also earned MWC special teams player of the week honors after taking 2 punt returns to the house. 

 His first punt return TD, a 61-yarder (photo below), was one of the best you'll ever see because he had to get past at least 6 defenders with only one teammate blocking for him. Take a look: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9649001

 His 2nd return to the house was a 58-yarder (photo below) with just 30 seconds remaining in the 1st half, and it increased Fresno State's lead to 34-0. The Bulldogs went on to defeat Cal Poly 41-25.
Keep playing like this, Isaiah, and the NFL will come calling.

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  There aren't really a lot of games that stand out this week as far as dreads are concerned. I'm not really sure what games I will watch. I probably will catch some of Mississippi State-Auburn and Marshall-Ohio. We'll see.