OLE MISS REBELS at TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 12:30 p.m. ET * Knoxville, Tenn. * Neyland Stadium (107,529)
LIVE TELEVISION: Jefferson Pilot Sports (Dave Neal, play-by-play; Dave Rowe, color analyst; Dave Baker, sideline reporter) SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO: Tennessee [Channel 144]
OLE MISS (1-2, 0-1 SEC) Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (Northwestern (La.) State, '84) Overall/Yrs: 1-2 (.333) / 1st Season UM/Yrs: 1-1 (.333) / 1st Season National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Multiple * Defense - Multiple 4-3
Key Players
WR Mike Espy (6-0, 195, Sr., Madison, Miss.) Espy has scored a touchdown in the last two games ... His 41-yard TD reception against Wyoming was his first catch for a score since 2003...Entered 2005 season ranked seventh in school history with 547 career punt return yards...Returned a punt for a touchdown against Vanderbilt...Senior Mike Espy broke free for a 31-yard punt return against Wyoming and has totaled 87 PR yardage over the last two games.
LB Patrick Willis (6-2, 230, Jr., Bruceton, Tenn.) Willis was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 6, following the Rebels' 10-6 season-opening win at Memphis. It marked the SEC's first POW selections of the 2005 season and the first of Willis' career. Making his first career start, Willis recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including 10 solo stops, with a forced fumble and two tackles for loss against the Tigers...Tied for 2nd in the SEC in tackles.
DT McKinley Boykin (6-2, 285, Sr., Bessemer, Ala.) Earned second-team All-SEC honors by the league's coaches and was honorable mention by AP...Appeared in all 11 games last season, drawing 10 starts...Had 2004-high six tackles, including two for losses, against Alabama...Missed spring 2004 due to knee surgery...Two-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week in 2004 (5 tackles, 2 TFLs vs. Vanderbilt; 6 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack vs. South Carolina).
OT Tre' Stallings (6-4, 317, Sr., Magnolia, Miss.) Entered senior campaign earning 37 consecutive starts, now at 40, which is the third-longest active streak in the SEC....Can play either left or right tackle. Started eight games at right tackle and three at left tackle in 2004 season...Named to 2002 SEC All-Freshman Team by league's coaches and was fourth-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News.
TENNESSEE (2-1, 1-1 SEC) Head Coach: Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee, '72) Overall/Yrs: 125-32 (.796) / 14th Season UT/Yrs: 125-32 (.796) / 14th Season National Rankings: 10th - AP / 9th - USA Today / 12th - Harris Formations: Offense - Multiple * Defense - 4-3
TB Gerald Riggs, Jr. (6-0, 217, Sr., Chattanooga, Tenn.) Riggs Jr. has tallied seven career 100-yard games, including four in the Vols' last seven contests, dating to last season. Riggs needs just three more 100-yard outings to join the six Tennessee rushers who have surpassed the century mark in at least 10 games during their respective careers.
DT Jesse Mahelona (6-2, 300, Sr., Kailua-Lona, Hawaii) 2005 Playboy Preseason All-America...2004 All-America selection by The Sporting News...Led SEC with 18.5 tackles for loss, resulting in minus-81 yards for Vol opponents...Also garnered All-SEC honors from AP and second-team selection by Coaches...Recorded multiple TFLs in six games--Fla. (2), Aub. (2), Ga. (3), S.C. (2), N.D. (5) and SEC title game (2).
DB Jason Allen (6-2, 200, Sr., Muscle Shoals, Ala.) 2005 Playboy Preseason All-America...2004 All-America Associated Press (3rd)...All-SEC Coaches and Associated Press (2nd)...Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist...Returns for senior year after leading SEC in tackles last season with 123....First non-linebacker to lead Vols in total hits since records began in 1970...Third in I-A with 88 solo tackles...Two-time team captain.
OG Cody Douglas (6-4, 330, Sr., LaMarque, Texas) Part of offensive line that helped the Vols to two 1000-yard rushers in 2004...Returned to form in SEC Championship Game and Cotton Bowl after missing most of second half of 2004 with foot injury...Can play multiple positions on offensive front...Made nine starts at right guard in 2003.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: UT, 42-18-1 * Last: UT, 21-17 (10/16/2005 at Oxford)
This game will mark the 62nd meeting between the Rebels and Volunteers dating back to 1902... Tennessee holds a 42-18-1 advantage in the series and has won 11 straight in the series since a 41-17 win in 1984 and 13 of the last 14 dating back to 1981... The Volunteers rallied for a 21-17 victory last year in Oxford... The Rebels will be making their first visit to Knoxville since a 31-17 win by Tennessee in 1997...Ole Miss has won eight of its last 11 games against SEC Eastern Division foes ... Tennessee has an 11-game win streak in the series ... The Rebels are looking to avoid a second straight 1-3 start...This game at Tennessee will mark the first ranked opponent the Rebels will face this season.. The Rebels are 3-5 versus top 25 teams dating back to a 45-30 win over No. 25 Mississippi State in the 2000 Egg Bowl...Since the SEC started divisional play in 1992, Ole Miss is 23-14 versus the SEC Eastern Division...Entering the game with Tennessee, the Rebels have won eight of their last 11 games versus the SEC East, dating back to Ole Miss' 45-38 win over Vanderbilt to end the 2001 season.
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LIVE TELEVISION: TigerVision/ESPN Gameplan SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO: Mississippi State [Channel 146]
LSU (1-1, 0-1 SEC) Head Coach: Les Miles (Michigan, '76) Overall/Yrs: 29-22 (.569) / 5th Season LSU/Yrs: 1-1 (.500) / 1st Season National Rankings: 4th - AP / 4th - USA Today / 5th - Harris Formations: Offense - Multiple * Defense - 4-3
WR Craig Davis (6-2, 195, Jr., New Orleans, La.) With three catches for 63 yards against Tennessee, junior WR Craig Davis has caught at least one pass in 14 straight games. The streak dates back to LSU's season-opener in 2003 against Oregon State. Davis caught at least one pass in all 12 games a year ago.
QB JaMarus Russell (6-5, 2485, So., Mobile, Ala.) Russell engineered another fourth quarter comeback for the Tigers on Sept. 10 when LSU scored 28 fourth quarter points to beat Arizona State, 35-31. The Tigers clinched the win with just over a minute left when Russell drove the Tigers 91 yards on 10 plays, capped on a 39-yard TD pass to Early Doucet on a fourthand-10 play...When he ook the first snap at quarterback for LSU against Arizona State two weeks ago, he became the seventh different season-opening quarterback for the Tigers over the past eight years.
FS LaRon Landry (6-2, 187, Jr., Ama, La.) Second-team All-SEC in 2004 by the league's coaches and AP...Led Tigers in total tacles last season with 92 (53 solos), which was sixth in the SEC...Also had five tac- les for losses, including three sacks, and four interceptions...Had season-high 14 stops againstVanderbilt and 12 tackles against Oregon State...Named Freshman All-America andsecond-team All-SEC in 2003 after reaching 80 total tackles.
WR Skyler Green (5-10, 195, Sr., Westwego, La.) One of nation's most dangerous punt returners, has become a known as a gamebreaker over his career at LSU...Had 90 yards of return yards versus Tennessee, along with much more that were wiped out due to blocking penalties on the return...Also serves as a dangerous wideout for LSU.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-2, 0-2 SEC) Head Coach: Sylvester Croom (Alabama, '75) Overall/Yrs: 5-10 (.333) / 2nd Season MSU/Yrs: 5-9 (.333) / 2nd Season National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Multiple Pro-Style * Defense - 4-3
HB Jerious Norwood (6-0, 202, Sr., Brandon, Miss.) Opened 2005 with 123 yards on 16 carries versus Murray State...Saw limited time at Auburn due to shoulder sprain...Rushed for 99 yards on 21 carres and a touchdown versus Tulane...Also hauled in a touchdown reception versus the Green Wave, the first of his career...Named Pre-season first team All-SEC tailback in 2005.
DE Willie Evans (6-2, 267, Sr., Waynesboro, Miss.) SEC leader in sacks (5) and Defensive Lineman of the Week once already this season...Evans led Mississippi State with 10 tackles, including 4.0 for losses, in the Bulldogs' 21-14 win over Tulane...Evans has had a tackle for loss in 13 of his last 15 games and a sack in eight of the last 10, dating back to last season.
QB Omarr Conner (6-0, 215, Jr., Macon, Miss.) Junior signal caller for the Bulldogsin his second season with Croom's newly-installed 'West Coast Offense'...Has thrown for 662 yards, seven TDs with three interceptions so far during the 2005 season...Can be dangerous outside the pocket with scrambling ability both throwing and running...Has started every game in 2005 and all but two (missed due to injury) in 2004.
LB Quinton Culberson (6-0, 216, Jr., Jackson, Miss.) Has played in 23 games for the Bulldogs, earning starts at both linebacker and in the secondary during his career...Started the final five games of his sophomore season at linebacker after having started all eight of the games in which he saw action as a freshman at cornerback...Tallied 56 tackles on the season, with one interception return (35-yard touchdown), two pass deflections and a caused fumble...Has tallied 28 tackles and one interception during the 2005 season.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: LSU, 62-33-3 * Last: LSU, 51-0 (9/25/2004 at Baton Rouge)
When State and LSU face off this weekend, it will be the 99th meeting of the two SEC Western Division competitors...Only Ole Miss (101 games) is a more common opponent on the MSU schedule through the years...Mississippi State will be playing their second consecutive top-10 team at home...Since 2001, LSU has outscored the Bulldogs 165-19 and 83-6 in two games in Starkville...The Bulldogs last win over LSU came in 1999, a 17-16 win in Starkville...LSU has averaged 42 points per game versus Mississippi State since the 2000 season...LSU has won 12 of the last 13 meetings and 17 of the last 20 with Mississippi State...MSU defeated LSU in back-to-back seasons in 1990 and 1991...This is the first time the MSU-LSU game will not be televised by one of the SEC's TV partners in 10 years...A win over LSU would give Mississippi State a 3-2 overall record for the first time since the 2000 season... Since that bowl season, MSU has started four consecutive seasons 1-4...A victory over the Tigers would end State's long bout with setback to SEC West competition...The Bulldogs have not won a game against a divisional opponent since the final league game of the 2001 season, a streak that has reached a school-record 16 games.
LIVE TELEVISION: CBS Sports (Verne Lundquist, play-by-play; Todd Blackledge,color analyst; Tracy Wolfson, sideline reporter) SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO: Florida [Channel 181], Alabama [Channel 180]
FLORIDA (4-0, 2-0 SEC) Head Coach: Urban Meyer (Cincinnati, '86) Overall/Yrs: 43-8 (.843) / 5th Season UF/Yrs: 4-0 (1.000) / 1st Season National Rankings: 5th - AP / 5th - USA Today / 4th - Harris Formations: Offense - Spread * Defense - Multiple, 4-3
QB Chris Leak (6-0, 195, Jr., Charlotte, N.C.) Against Kentucky, Chris Leak was 5-of-5 passing on third down and is now 14-of-16 passing on third down in the last two games...Entering the Alabama game, Leak is tied for fifth in the category of most touchdowns responsible for by a Gator... Leak has been involved in 60 (54 passing, six rushing)...Leak has a career completion percentage of 61.1 and is tied with Rex Grossman for number one on UF's career chart.
LB Earl Everett (6-2, 224, Jr., Webster, Fla.) Against Kentucky, Everett recorded the first two interceptions of his career becoming the fifth player under head coach Urban Meyer to pick off two in a single game...Named second-team All-SEC by the league's coaches in 2004...Finished second on squad in total tackles last season with 74, including 46 solos. Also tied for team lead with 4.5 sacks...Earned 11 starts last season, missing only the Vanderbilt game with a concussion.
WR Chad Jackson (6-1, 202, Jr., Hoover, Ala.) Jackson went over 1,000 yards in his career in the Kentucky game and has already established a career high with 32 receptions...Jackson has caught a pass in 16-straight games, which ranks third on the SEC's active list...In the game against Wyoming, Chad Jackson (three receiving, one rushing) became the eighth player in UF history to score four-or-more touchdowns in a one game.
LB Brandon Siler (6-2, 230, So., Orlando, Fla.) SEC Freshman of the Year by the league's coaches in 2004 and member of Freshman All-America teams...Led Gators in tackles last season with 77 stops, including 50 solos. Also had 10 tackles for losses, including two sacks...Only the second true freshman in school history to lead Gators in tackles (Scot Brantley, 1976, 145 tackles)...Had 14 stops against South Carolina and 10 against Miami (Fla.) in the Peach Bowl.
ALABAMA (4-0, 2-0 SEC) Head Coach: Mike Shula (Alabama, '87) Overall/Yrs: 14-15 (.483) / 3rd Season UA/Yrs: 14-15 (.483) / 3rd Season National Rankings: 15th - AP / 16th - USA Today / 15th - Harris Formations: Offense - Multiple * Defense - Pressing
QB Brodie Croyle (6-3, 205, Sr., Rainbow City, Ala.) Is 11-9 (.550) as the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback ... Croyle has a seven-game winning streak as the Tide's starting QB, the longest winning streak by an Alabama signal-caller since Freddie Kitchens led UA to seven straight wins in 1996 ... Croyle completed 13 of 27 passes for 173 yadrs and two TDs in the win over Arkansas ... He completed at least one pass to seven different receivers ... In 31 career games, Croyle has completed 348 of 639 passes for 4,711 yards, with 20 interceptions and 33 career TDs.
SE Tyrone Prothro (5-8, 176, Jr., Heflin, Ala.) Has caught at least one pass in an SEC-leading 22 straight games ... accounted for 87 all-purpose yards in the win over Arkansas ...On offense, he had three catches for 48 yards and added three rushing attempts for eight yards ...Prothro's 15-yard reception on third-and-12 gave UA a first down at the Arkansas 27-yard line
LB DeMeco Ryans (6-2, 232, Sr., Bessemer, Ala.) Ryans recorded a game-leading 15 tackles last week (6 solos, 9 assists), including two TFLs (-9), one sack (-5), one PBU, one QB pressure and one fumble recovery ... Ryans fumble recovery and two-yard return set up Jamie Christensen's 36-yard FG that gave Alabama a 10-3 lead on the opening possession of the third quarter.
FS Roman Harper (6-1, 197, Sr., Prattville, Ala.) Named second-team All-SEC in 2004...Third on squad in tackles last season with 77 total (45 solos), including seven behind the line of scrimmage (-33 yards), three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble...Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week last season against Ole Miss with 11 total tackles...Has 233 career total tackles, three interceptions and 12 pass deflections entering 2005 season.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: UA, 19-12 * Last: UA, 34-7 (12/4/2005 at Georgia Dome)
This will be the 32nd meeting between Florida and Alabama and the first in Tuscaloosa since 1998...UF and Alabama both enter the game undefeated for the second time in the series (1964) and both are ranked for the 10th time in the series and the eighth time in the last nine meetings...The Crimson Tide holds a 19-12 edge, however, UF has won seven of the last 10 meetings... The two schools first played in 1916, with Alabama winning 16-0 in Gainesville... UF and Alabama met eight times before the SEC began in1933, with Alabama claiming five of those eight initial games...Since the inception of the SEC, Alabama has won 14 of the 23 meetings as league foes...Florida and Alabama have met five times in the SEC title gameand UF has won three of those meetings...The Tide won the first SEC Championship game with a 28-21 victory over Florida in Birmingham, Ala., before the Gators captured the next four title games, with three of those wins coming over Alabama...Of the 13 SEC Championship games played since the first one in 1992, Florida and Alabama have combined to win seven titles... Additionally, the two teams together have 12 of 26 possible appearances...The series is tied at 5-5 in Tuscaloosa.
LIVE TELEVISION: ESPN2 (Sean McDonough, play-by-play; Mike Gottfried, color analyst; Alex Flanagan, sideline reporter) SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO: Auburn [Channel 123]
SOUTH CAROLINA (2-2, 0-2 SEC) Head Coach: Steve Spurrier (Florida, '66) Overall/Yrs: 144-42-2 (.771) / 16th Season USC/Yrs: 2-2 (.500) / 1st season National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Multiple * Defense - Multiple
PK/P Josh Brown (6-3, 203, Sr., Clarksburg, Md.) Brown is one of those rare athletes who handles both the punting duties as well as the kicks on field goals and extra points... He has converted all three of his field goal attempts this season and is 13-of-18 in his career with a long of 43 yards...Brown is averaging 39.3 yards per punt with four of his 18 punts downed inside the 20.
LB Ricardo Hurley (6-3, 233, Sr., Greenwood, S.C.) Hurley recorded 10 tackles, including nine solo stops, against Alabama, two of his tackles were behind the line of scrimmage. For the season he has logged 28 stops, including four tackles for loss...Hurley forced a fumble against Troy that Brandon Isaac scooped up and rambled 11 yards into the end zone for a TD.
QB Blake Mitchell (6-3, 193, So., LaGrange, Ga.) Mitchell has been the primary signal-caller for the Gamecocks this season..Mitchell suffered a high left ankle sprain against Troy and is listed as doubtful for Saturday's SEC contest at Auburn...If Mitchell can't go, Antonio Heffner would make the start at quarterback...Mitchell and Heffner combined to complete 17-of-23 passes for 268 yards and three TDs with no interceptions last week versus Troy.
ROV Ko Simpson (6-2, 180, So., Rock Hill, S.C.) USC's only pre-season all-conference selection and has been named to numerous pre-season all- America squads... He is regarded as the top safety in America and a first team all-America by The Sporting News and is on the Watch List for the Bronco Nagurski Award... Simpson was named the SEC Freshman of the Year by the Associated Press and was a Freshman all-American last season after logging six interceptions, tying for the SEC lead and tying for third nationally... This season he is second on the team with 29 tackles, including 19 solo stops.
AUBURN (3-1, 1-0 SEC) Head Coach: Tommy Tuberville (Southern Arkansas, '76) Overall/Yrs: 79-45 (.637) / 11th Season AU/Yrs: 54-25 (.684) / 7th Season National Rankings: RV - AP / 24th - USA Today / RV - Harris Formations: Offense - West Coast Hybrid * Defense - 4-3
OT Marcus McNeil (6-9, 332, Sr., Decatur, Ga.) First-Team All-SEC in 2004 by AP and league's coaches...Has started in 30 career games during the last three seasons entering 2005, including 12 games last season...Consistently earned mid-to-high 90 grades in 2004, including a 99 percent grade against Georgia and a 98 percent mark against Alabama...Named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week against Kentucky last season...Named SEC All-Freshman by league's coaches and The Sporting News in 2002.
LB Travis Williams (6-1, 212, Sr., Columbia, S.C.) First-Team All-SEC in 2004 by AP and league's coaches...Has started 27 career games, including all 13 of last season's contests...Led Auburn with 80 total tackles last season, including nine for losses and two sacks...Had a tackle for loss in eight of 13 games last season...Has career best 12 stops last season against Ole Miss.
WR Courtney Taylor (6-2, 198, Jr., Carollton, Ala.) Taylor hauled in six passes for 80 yards Sept. 3 vs. Georgia Tech, giving him 21 catches for 367 yards and two touchdowns over a four-game span dating back to last season, with at least 80 yards receiving in each game. Taylor became the first Tiger since 1980 to have four consecutive 80-yard receiving games.
RB Kenny Irons (5-11, 202, Jr., Dacula, Ga.) Irons has started the last two games at running back for Auburn and responded with two straight 100-yard games. In fact, Irons had 100 yards rushing by halftime of each game, totaling 147 yards in 11 carries in the first 30 minutes vs. Ball State and 108 yards on 16 rushes in the first half vs. Western Kentucky.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: AU, 4-1-1 * Last: AU, 23-6 (10/45/1997 at Columbia)
This is just the seventh meeting between Carolina and Auburn and the first since the 1997 season... The Tigers lead the alltime series, 4-1-1... The teams met four times in the 1930s, with Carolina winning one, tying one and losing two. ..All four of those contests were played at neutral sites (Columbus, Ga., Montgomery, Ala., and twice in Birmingham). ..The teams have met twice as SEC rivals, with Auburn winning both of those games, taking a 28-24 decision in Auburn on October 5, 1996, then winning by a 23-6 count in Columbia on October 4, 1997...South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier owns a 10-3 lifetime record against the Auburn Tigers...Auburn has won 10 consecutive SEC games, and 11 straight games over SEC schools including the 2004 SEC Championship game victory over Tennessee... The Tigers are 30-11 (.732) against SEC foes since 2000...Auburn has not allowed a point in the first half of its last three games, and has outscored opponents 114-20 in the first half this year...The Tigers rank fifth nationally in scoring defense (10.0 ppg) this season...USC and AU's starting long-snappers are brothers.
LIVE TELEVISION: UPN Channel 30 (Nashville) SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO: Vanderbilt [Channel 125]
MIDDLE TENNESSEE (0-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) Head Coach: Andy McCollum (Austin Peay, '81) Overall/Yrs: 30-41 (.423) / 7th Season MT/Yrs: 30-41 (.423) / 7th Season 2005 Schedule: 9/3-at Alabama (L, 26-7); 9/10-NORTH TEXAS (L, 14-7); 9/17-AKRON (L, 17-7); 9/24-at Temple; 10/1-at Vanderbilt; 10/8 at Florida Atlantic; 10/22-LA-LAFAYETTE; 10/29-at Florida International; 11/5-ARKANSAS STATE; 11/12-LOUISIANA-MONROE; 11/19-at Troy. National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Multiple * Defense - 4-2-5
QB Clint Marks (6-2, 203, Jr., Fort Myers, Fla.) Completed a school record 35 passes at Louisiana-Lafayette in 2004 ... Set the single-season passing yardage record with 2,749 in 2004 ... No. 2 on the single-season completion percentage list (70.4) ... Ranks first on the single-season list in passing completions with 259 set in 2004 ... His 14 touchdown passes in 2004 ranks tied for seventh ... Ranks ninth on the career list with 21 touchdown passes.
DL Jeff Littlejohn (6-2, 318, Sr., Gaffney, S.C.) Earned the defense's Most Valuable Player award during 2004 spring drills ... Played in nine contests with five starts, registering 17 total stops including 1.5 for loss and one fumble recovery.
WR Chris Henry (5-8, 171, Sr., Kingsport, Tenn.) Registered a career-high 60 receptions for 586 yards, ranking second on the team in both categories ... Also rushed six times for 27 yards ... Caught a career-high 10 passes for 80 yards at Akron ... Made five catches for 44 yards versus Florida Atlantic ... Had seven receptions at Louisiana-Lafayette.
LB Jonathan Bonner (6-0, 222, Jr., Birmingham, Ala.) Was recovering from his injury and did not compete in contact drills during the spring ... When healthy, Bonner is one of the best linebackers in the Sun Belt Conference...2004: Played in the opener against Akron and collected seven total stops including six solo tackles ... Missed the remainder of the year after having a cervical fusion.
VANDERBILT (4-0, 2-0 SEC) Head Coach: Bobby Johnson (Clemson, '73) Overall/Yrs: 70-65 (.519) / 12th Season VU/Yrs: 10-29 (.256) / 4th Season National Rankings: RV - AP / RV - USA Today / RV - Harris Formations: Offense - Two-Back "I" * Defense - 4-3
QB Jay Cutler (6-4, 225, Sr., Santa Claus, Ind.) Cutler continued his torrid early season pace Saturday, establishing a pair of important team records during the Commodores 37-13 victory over Richmond...Cutler became the team's all-time leader in touchdown passes and total offense in the win...Cutler completed a career-high 28 passes for 263 yards. His connections included touchdowns to Erik Davis, Jeff Jennings and George Smith...The three touchdown passes gives Cutler 44 on his career, leaving him in sole possession of the team mark he formerly shared with Greg Zolman (1998-2001) and Whit Taylor (1979-82).
WR Erik Davis (6-1, 190, Sr., Nashville, Tenn.) Entered senior campaign needed 33 receptions and 355 receiving yards to reach Commodore all-time top 10 in both categories...Caught at least three passes in eight games in 2004...Has started in 23 of 25 career games played...Recorded a game-high and career-best eight receptions for 107 yards against Ole Miss last week...Added another touchdown versus Richmond.
LB Moses Osemwegie (6-0, 228, Sr., Nashville, Tenn.) Osemwegie is leading the defense by example...A 2004 All-SEC linebacker selection by the league coaches and media, Osemwegie tops the unit in solo tackles (24), total tackles (33), tackles for loss (4.5) and forced fumbles (2). He also shares the team lead in sacks (2) and interceptions (1).
SS Kelechi Ohanaja (6-1, 200, Sr., Arlington, Texas) Returning two-year starter, drawing 23 career starts...Accounted for 64 total tackles last season after reaching 99 tackle mark in 2003...Logged career-high 18 total tackles against South Carolina in 2004....Has five career double digit tackle games and has earned team Defensive Player of the Week honors three times.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: VU, 12-2 * Last: MTSU, 21-20 (9/12/2002 at Nashville)
Vanderbilt will attempt to end a two-game losing streak in the Middle Tennessee series, having dropped decisions in 2001 (37-28) and 2002 (21-20)... Both games were played on the Vanderbilt campus...Prior to renewing the series in 2001, the Commodores won the first 12 games played between the schools... The first game was played in 1915...Vanderbilt and MTSU did not play between 1956 and 2001...Bobby Johnson, in his fourth year at the Vanderbilt helm, is 0-1 versus the Blue Raiders...Vanderbilt is off to its best start since the 1984 season when the Commodores opened 4-0 with victories over Georgia (27-25), Ole Miss (30-27), Army (41-10) and Kentucky (17-7)...When Middle Tennessee visits Vanderbilt Stadium, the Commodores will be looking for their first 5-0 start since World War II... Vanderbilt has opened with five straight wins on nine other occasions (1897, 1902, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1915, 1921, 1928, and 1937) in its 116-year history of organized football.