Well I am enjoying the ending of the college football season. This weekend there was an upset and some great games. In the St. Petersburg Bowl, versatile freshman Mohamed Sanu doing a little bit of everything, Rutgers extended its postseason success with a 45-24 rout of Central Florida. The multi-threat receiver ran for two touchdowns out of the Wildcat formation and also scored on an 11-yard reception from Tom Savage, another true freshman who threw for a career-best 294 yards. Sanu scored on runs of 5 and 1 yards in the first half. His first reception, a 61-yard gain to the UCF 12 on a pass that was slightly underthrown, set up his 11-yard TD catch that made it 35-17 early in the third quarter. He will be something SERIOUS in the Big East next season. He will be the next big thing in college football — or at least Rutgers’ version of it. Sanu stands 6-2 and weighs 215 pounds, and can run over defenders or away from them. He can throw, catch and run, and even returns kicks.
Next year’s Oklahoma offense should be improved. Quarterback Landry Jones will have a season of experience under his belt.Wideouts Ryan Broyles, Dejuan Miller and Jaz Reynolds form a promising, young corps. And DeMarco Murray, if he returns, gives OU a quality feature running back. But in all reality, with the offensive line projecting to remain in rebuild mode, it will be on the defense again to carry the Sooners to any kind of championship level, Big 12 or beyond. That’s why the expected return of Dominique Franks is huge for next season. The All-Big 12 cornerback, who could have bolted for the NFL Draft, announced two weeks ago that he will instead return for his senior season. Their 2010 opponents Florida State, Cincinnati, Texas, Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State all averaged 30-plus points a game this season. And only FSU and Tech have to come to Norman. With Franks, the defense will be equipped to handle all comers. And perhaps carry OU back to championship-caliber status.
Todd McShay, ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst, has some advice for UM running back Graig Cooper. Skip your senior season and head to the NFL. Cooper were told by Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon last month to test the NFL waters by applying to the league’s advisory committee for a projection on where they might be drafted if they choose to forego their final seasons. But McShay, who views Cooper as a second or “worst-case” third round pick, said the 6-foot, 200-pound running back is the only UM junior that should pull the trigger and enter the NFL Draft. “Obviously, he’s had his ups and downs throughout his career, but when it comes to running backs, I just think the sooner you can go the better,” McShay said during a conference call on Monday afternoon. “It’s the only position I would say that for. The shelf life for backs is so short as it is that if you’re going to come back and take another pounding…he’s looking at a not-great running back class [in] a year where he showed some flashes. “It’s a business decision that he has to make. Is he better off moving up a round by coming back next year and losing out on a [NFL] year, or is he better off being one year closer to free agency in what projects to be a very short career in the NFL because of the position he plays. That’s why I think Cooper, of those four, is the one that should go and the other three should go back to school.” McShay said tailback Javarris James will be taken “somewhere in the middle to late rounds.” Among running backs, James will be the 10th to 14th player picked at the position, McShay added. Personally I would hate to see Cooper gone because the U maybe something special next season. He has to do what is best for him though.
Well I am sure everybody knows that Nike is back at it with the puppets (if not I'll update tomorrow). This is the recent one from tonight. It has a Christmas edition to it:
As prelude to Saturday’s New Orleans Saints-Dallas Cowboys game, New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU-Channel 6 will produce a one-hour pregame special at 6 p.m. During this special, there is an interview with Joe Horn, in which the former Saints wide receiver told Fulton that he’s still in playing shape and would like to retire as a Saint. He probably just trying to get him a ring which I don't blame him for doing but clearly that is all he is trying to do.
UNC backup quarterback Mike Paulus will transfer to William & Mary. UNC offensive coordinator John Shoop's brother, Bob Shoop, is the defensive coordinator at William & Mary. UNC and William & Mary will face each other next season. Paulus will not go to the Meineke Car Care Bowl. UNC will still be in good shape at quarterback next year without Paulus, as the Heels will return Yates, Hanson, and Bryn Renner, and A.J. Blue, whocould also help the position in 2010.
Another possible violation at USC. Oh what a surprise! Guess what position he plays? Running back, Joe McKnight, the Trojans' leading rusher, has been driving an SUV owned by a Santa Monica businessman, which would be a violation of NCAA rules. The NCAA prohibits student-athletes from accepting benefits from marketing representatives or agents or "extra benefits" based on their athletic ability. McKnight said, "I haven't done anything wrong. I'm just being a football player and a father to my child. "I won't break any rules because I know if I do I can't get on the football field. I'm trying to keep my life secure and stay on the football field."
ECU coach Skip Holtz may have added the Pirates' quarterback of the future. Holtz said Friday that former Boston College quarterback Dominique Davis is one of three junior-college transfers who signed letters of intent to play for East Carolina. Davis helped lead the Eagles to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in 2008 but transferred after he was suspended for academic reasons. He landed at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas and led an offense that averaged 492 yards. Davis will be in the mix to replace Patrick Pinkney.
Miami Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon talked about the importance of having a primary runner. He was lucky after the Hurricanes used three running backs this season. Shannon wasn't disappointed not having a 1,000-yard back because Graig Cooper, Damien Berry and Javarris James took turns leading the ground game. When any suffered was hurt, another filled in with a solid performance. Cooper leads UM with 666 yards, ahead of Berry 587 and James 491.
Other notes: Cooper, remains unsure if he will return for his senior year. His father, Tino Thomas, said he expects Cooper back for another season. Cooper will announce his plans sometime after the bowl game. As of now Graig Cooper is a potential ``third-rounder because of speed, versatility, return ability.''
I know everybody heard Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, a former West Virginia star, died Thursday morning, one day after falling out of the back of a pickup truck in what police have called a domestic dispute. The day before his death, he and his fiancée met with a wedding planner, who says Henry was "annoyed" and "aggravated" by the cost of his nuptials, TMZ reports. The company's rep told TMZ that Henry got upset over the bill and, "with an attitude," asked his fiancée, "How much we paying for all this?" According to TMZ, the couple "bickered" and then Henry walked out of the store, leaving Tonga to ultimately decide, fill out the paperwork and pay the deposit. Below is the video of Chad OchoCinco who talks about his friend.
