UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
SPRING AWARDS At the conclusion of spring practice each year, coaches vote to determine the winners of the "Spring Awards". Here are the 2006 spring winners: Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter: Senior Linebacker Terrence Jones; Jerry Duncan "I Like to Practice" Award: Junior Defensive End Keith Saunders; Billy Neighbors Most Improved Defensive Lineman: Senior Defensive Tackle Dominic Lee; Bobby Johns Most Improved Defensive Back: Junior Strong Safety Marcus Carter; Paul Crane Most Improved Offensive Lineman: Sophomore Offensive Guard Marlon Davis; Ray Perkins Most Improved Receiver: Junior Wide Receiver Matt Caddell; Johnny Musso Most Improved Offensive Back: Freshman Running Back Roy Upchurch; Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award: Senior Fullback Tim Castille; Woodrow Lowe Most Improved Linebacker: Freshman Middle Linebacker Prince Hall; Ozzie Newsome Most Improved Freshman: Sophomore Running Back Jimmy Johns; "Bear" Bryant Best Non-Scholarship Award: Sophomore Strong Safety Rashad Johnson; Derrick Thomas Community Award: Senior Linebacker Juwan Simpson; Mal Moore Leadership Award: Senior Cornerback Ramzee Robinson and Bart Starr Most Improved Quarterback: Freshman Jimmy Barnes.
TYRONE PROTHRO Alabama's super senior wide receiver Tyrone Prothro was in the spotlight once more as recipient of a $100,000 donation to The University's general scholarship fund. At halftime of the A-Day game, The University was presented a $100,000 check for Prothro's game-changing performance in the Southern Miss game last season, the national season winner. In all, the Tide football team was responsible for $150,000 in donations to the school's general scholarship fund with $25,000 generated in five "Pontiac Game-Changing Performances worth $5,000 each and then DeMeco Ryans' $25,000 check from the Lott Trophy. The individual "Game-Changing" winners were Prothro against Southern Miss and Florida; Keith Brown against South Carolina; Roman Harper against Tennessee and Matt Miller against Mississippi State. Since Pontiac began sponsoring the program two years ago, no team had won five times in a single season.
SPRING INJURIES A number of Tide players did not participate fully in spring practice. Here is a list of those who missed practice time during the spring: offensive guard Justin Britt; wide receiver Keith Brown; offensive tackle Cody Davis; running back Glen Coffee; tight end Barrett Earnest; quarterback Marc Guillon; tight end Charles Hoke; strong safety Chris Keys; tight end Travis McCall; wide receiver Will Oakley; wide receiver Tyrone Prothro; free safety Cory Reamer and running back Ali Sharrief. All but Prothro are expected back to participate in summer workouts.
BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM EXPANSION Construction on Bryant-Denny Stadium continues at a rapid pace as workers aim toward a completion date of mid-July. UA begins the 2006 season on Sept. 2 when hosting Hawaii. The $50 million renovation will boost capacity to 92,138 making it the fifth-largest on campus stadium in the nation behind Michigan (107,501), Penn State (106,537), Tennessee (104,079) and Ohio State (101,568). First erected in 1929, this current expansion will mark the sixth since it opened. In addition to new seating, 38 new skyboxes will be added, as well as a new club level and administrative area. The home locker room will move from the south end to the new north end zone expansion.
GRADUATES A number of Alabama football players are on track to graduate by December, including running back Kenneth Darby (August), Chris Harris (August), Ramzee Robinson (May) and offensive tackle Kyle Tatum (August). Linebacker Juwan Simpson has already earned his undergraduate degree. Since Mike Shula arrived as head coach three seasons ago, the football team's graduation rate stands at 67 percent. A total of 14 players competing in the 2006 Cotton Bowl had already earned their degrees, while 11 who played in the Music City Bowl had earned their degrees.
UA'S 175TH ANNIVERSARY The University of Alabama is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2006. The state's flagship university, UA was founded on April 12, 1831. The University will commemorate that momentous day on April 12, 2006 with a Founder's Day program and a community-wide birthday party. "This anniversary year is an opportunity to celebrate our rich history and to look ahead to a future of continued growth and progress," said UA President Robert E. Witt. "We invite friends throughout the country to join us as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of Alabama's first university." Varsity athletes' uniforms will sport 175th anniversary patches in 2006, with the football team wearing the insignia for the first time at the 2006 A-Day game.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
AUBURN UNIVERSITY TIGERS
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GATORS
The 2006 season will be the 100th year of Florida football. Through 99 years the Gators own an all-time record of 606-367-40.
In 2006, the Gators are scheduled to face eight teams that appeared in bowl games in 2005. The total is the highest amount for any SEC team. No other team that finished in the 2005 AP Top 25 is scheduled to play more than seven (Penn State, Miami, Texas Tech).
In 2006, Florida will begin the season looking for its 19th consecutive winning season. Florida's current streak of 18 winning seasons is the longest in the SEC.
Entering the 2006 season, UF's leaders in each of the following departments are projected to return: rushing, passing, kick returns, fumble recoveries, field goals, total offense, punting and kickoffs. UF also returns five of its top seven leaders in tackles.
Florida returns 41 letter winners and 12 starters from a squad that won nine games last season. The offense features 18 letter winners and the defense has 19 returning. An additional three letterwinners return to the special teams.
The Gators should return six starters on offense and lose five, while the defense will return six starters and lose five. After losing four two-year starters heading into 2005, the Gators lose six going into 2006 (LT Randy Hand, RT Lance Butler, C Mike Degory, DE Jeremy Mincey, SS Jarvis Herring and CB Dee Webb).
Coach Meyer has started his UF career with a 6-0 home record. The streak matches Charles McCoy (1914) and J.A. Van Fleet (1923) for the second-best start by any coach in Gator history in terms of beginning a career without being defeated or tied at home. UF was the only team in the SEC to go undefeated at home during 2005.
The 2006 season will mark the third time in the past 15 years that a Gator coaching staff will remain the same for consecutive seasons. The last time no coaching changes were made was 1996-1997 and previously 1991-1992.
Chris Leak returns to the squad as a true senior who has been a three-year starter at quarterback. He is 22-11 as a starter and ranks fourth on the all-time UF list in yards passing (8,271), completions (663) and fifth in attempts (1,023).
This spring, redshirt freshman Darryl Gresham moved from linebacker to defensive end and redshirt sophomore John Curtis switched from wide receiver to safety.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BULLDOGS
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WILDCATS
The competition for the starting quarterback job between junior Andre' Woodson and sophomore Curtis Pulley will continue in August. Coach Rich Brooks stated that he is not against playing two quarterbacks if neither pulls ahead of the other. As last year's starter, Woodson completed 146 of 253 passes (57.7 percent) for 1,644 yards and six touchdowns. Pulley served as the backup a year ago, completing 31 of 50 (62 percent) for 208 yards. Also an outstanding running threat, Pulley added 149 net rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Kentucky received some great news during the spring when the NCAA granted center Matt McCutchan a sixth year in which to complete his eligibility. McCutchan, a two-year starter, won the team's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in 2005. McCutchan was granted the sixth year because of injuries sustained at Navy before transferring to Kentucky.
With McCutchan continuing his eligibility, Kentucky now has 15 starters returning (eight offense, seven defense) from last season.
The Kentucky defense appeared to make significant strides, dominating the offense in most practices during the spring. "I believe we'll have more depth on defense this season," said Coach Brooks, whose defensive unit has been greatly hampered by inexperience and injuries the last two years.
Among the defensive players showing great improvement were sophomore defensive tackle Myron Pryor, junior defensive end Dominic Lewis, and redshirt freshman cornerback Trevard Lindley. Pryor got better every day and was "nearly unblockable" at times, according to Coach Brooks. After drifting between tight end, fullback, and tailback during his career, Lewis appears to have found a home at defensive end and made numerous big plays in spring. With one cornerback graduated and a returning starter (Bo Smith) out with a shoulder injury, Lindley emerged as the team's most consistent corner during the spring.
There was one major injury during the spring as All-SEC tailback Rafael Little sustained a dislocated wrist and had surgery. However, Little is expected to resume workouts in July and be at full strength when practice resumes in August. Several other players sat out the spring while rehabilitating injuries, all of whom are expected to be ready in August.
Kentucky should have excellent depth at tailback. In addition to Little, who rushed for 1,045 yards last season, sophomore Tony Dixon and redshirt freshman Alfonso Smith are available. Dixon was the starting tailback in 2004 before missing last season because of injury. A former high school state dash champion, Smith has breakaway speed and led all rushers in the spring game with 14 carries for 97 yards and one touchdown.
Another pleasant development in the spring was the return of sophomore offensive tackle Aaron Miller. Miller earned SEC All-Freshman honors in 2004 but sat out last season for personal reasons. He returned to UK in January and participated in spring practice. He will be a strong contender for a starting spot.
Kentucky has excellent competition in the offensive line. All five starters return from last season, along with 2004 starter Aaron Miller, plus several talented youngsters such as sophomore tackle Garry Williams and soph guard Christian Johnson.
The wide receiver positions are a concern for the Wildcat coaches. Junior Keenan Burton, who sat out the contact portions of the spring while rehabilitating an injury, is a big-play performer. The other wide receivers, however, were inconsistent during the spring. UK signed six wide receivers in February and some of them could make an immediate contribution this fall.
An intriguing addition during the spring was former Wildcat basketball player Ravi Moss. Moss, who has played just one year of football (sixth grade), joined the team as a wide receiver. Moss has only one year of football eligibility remaining, but the coaching staff is excited about his potential and believes he can earn playing time in the coming season.
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS
Dwayne Bowe caught 3 TD passes and led all Tiger receivers with 126 yards and 7 catches in the LSU Spring Game. Of Bowe's 3 TDs, 2 came from Matt Flynn and the other from Ryan Perrilloux.
Bowe, along with DT Glen Dorsey, were named the recipients of the Jimmy Taylor Award following spring practice. The award goes each year to the offensive and defensive player for their outstanding spring practice in the areas of leadership, effort and performance.
LSU QB JaMarcus Russell missed most of spring practice as he continues to recover from the shoulder injury suffered against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. In addition, Russell had surgery in January on his wrist. He will be back at full strength come August.
Position moves during the spring had Carnell Stewart going from defensive line to offensive tackle; Quinn Johnson going from linebacker to fullback and Alonzo Manuel going from defensive end to tight end.
Other significant moves had Brett Helms emerge as the starter at center after starting at left guard in 5 games last year.
Linebacker Jacob Cutrera was the lone signee from the 2006 class to participate in spring drills. Cutrera graduated early from Acadiana High School in Lafayette and enrolled at LSU in January. Cutrera emerged as the backup at middle linebacker for the Tigers heading into fall camp.
LSU RBs Alley Broussard and Justin Vincent both saw limited action during the spring as they continue to recover from ACL surgeries. Broussard and Vincent are slated to be LSU's top two running backs come next fall. Broussard injured his knee last August and missed the entire 2005 season, while Vincent was injured against Miami in the Peach Bowl.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI REBELS
Due to having foot surgery, All-America linebacker Patrick Willis was held out of spring drills. Willis has already been named to the Rotary Lombardi Award and Lott Trophy "Watch Lists." Willis was also selected to receive the 2006 Chucky Mullins Courage Award.
Junior running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis received the Jeff Hamm Memorial Award as the Most Improved Offensive Player from spring drills, while sophomore defensive end Peria Jerry won the Jeff Hamm Memorial Award as the Most Improved Defensive Player from spring practice.
Senior offensive lineman Andrew Wicker received the J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award, which includes a scholarship to Ole Miss in the name of Andrew Wicker.
The Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame presented Scholar-Athlete Awards to wide receiver Michael Hicks, kicker Justin Sparks, and quarterback Billy Tapp.
Probably the biggest position change for Ole Miss in the spring was junior Robert Lane from quarterback to tight end. Lane ended the spring as the No. 1 tight end.
Although JC transfer quarterback Brent Schaffer won't enroll at Ole Miss until this summer, Coach Ed Orgeron has already named him the starter heading into the 2006 season.
With JC transfer Brent Scheffer still at the College of the Sequoias, non-scholarship JC transfer Seth Adams vaulted to the top of the QB depth chart in the spring and will enter the fall as Schaeffer's back-up.
Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron brought in four new assistant coaches prior to spring drills -- offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Dan Werner, associate head coach/offensive line coach Art Kehoe, tight ends coach Hugh Freeze, and linebackers coach David Saunders.
With offensive coordinator Dan Werner added to the staff, Ole Miss ditched the USC offense in favor of the Miami offense.
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS
Royce Blackledge, who started the final six games of the 2005 football season at offensive guard, made a pre-spring move to center and had a productive session at his new position. He gives the team veteran leadership in the middle of the offensive line.
Redshirt freshman Craig Jenkins, who lost 30 pounds from the end of his true freshman season until the beginning of spring practice, surpassed sophomore Michael Gates for the first-unit spot at offensive right tackle coming out of the spring.
Junior college transfer Tony Burks went through spring drills after arriving on campus in January, but did no scrimmage work after sustaining a pulled hamstring during the first week of spring practice. Burks is expected to give the Bulldogs a legitimate threat at wide receiver.
After playing nine games at quarterback during the 2005 season, senior Omarr Conner made the move to wide receiver to close his junior campaign. He established himself as the go-to receiver during the spring, making nine catches for 134 yards (14.9-yard average) and one touchdown in the first two scrimmages.
Sophomore Michael Henig, who started the final three games of the 2005 season at quarterback, had a solid spring as the team's No. 1 QB. He completed 33-of-61 passes (.541) for 333 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception. Henig was named the spring's Most Improved Offensive Player.
The offense made significant strides in its third year of the Sylvester Croom era despite missing three projected starters - halfback Brandon Thornton (shoulder), tight end Eric Butler (shoulder) and wide receiver Will Prosser (hip) - who were rehabilitating off-season surgeries. Thornton and Butler went through drills but did not take contact, Prosser sat out the entire spring.
Senior nose tackle Antonio Johnson dominated the line of scrimmage throughout the spring and was named the spring's Most Improved Defensive Player.
The defensive secondary became more opportunistic during the spring under new defensive backfield coach Melvin Smith, who returned to State during the off-season from Texas A&M. True freshman cornerback Anthony Johnson showed that tendency by returning an interception 50 yards for a score in the Maroon and White game.
Sophomore defensive backs Derek Pegues and Keith Fitzhugh, both highly recruited players out of high school two years ago, assumed first-unit roles at cornerback and strong safety, respectively.
Senior place-kicker Keith Andrews supplied a real highlight of the spring-ending Maroon and White scrimmage by kicking a 55-yard field goal.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Senior Syvelle Newton, who missed all of spring ball with an Achilles injury, is expected to move to safety when fall practices begin. Newton has played wide receiver, quarterback and running back in his Carolina career.
Junior Mike West, who started eight games at linebacker in 2005, made the transition to wide receiver in the spring. He caught two passes for 44 yards in the Garnet & Black spring game.
Mike Davis and Marvin Sapp were honored as the Joe Morrison Offensive and Defensive Players of the Spring, respectively.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Cade Thompson was the star of the Garnet & Black spring game, completing 10-of-13 passes for 136 yards and a pair of scores, leading the Garnet team to a 35-7 win.
Jasper Brinkley, a junior college transfer who enrolled at Carolina in January, came out of the spring drills as the number one middle linebacker. His twin brother, Casper, a defensive end, is expected to join the squad this summer.
Walk-on offensive guard Thomas Coleman was honored with the Steve Sisk Outstanding Blocker Award for the spring. Coleman, who made four starts in 2005, is expected to be rewarded with a scholarship for the fall.
Sophomore Carlos Thomas, who spent most of the 2005 season at wide receiver, has made the conversion to cornerback. He is penciled in as a starter at one of the corners, opposite senior Fred Bennett.
Junior Cory Boyd, who sat out all of the 2005 season after a violation of team rules, had a solid spring. He carried five times for 87 yards in the spring game, including a 71-yard touchdown burst.
Tyrone Nix took over as the lone defensive coordinator this spring after sharing the duties with John Thompson a year ago. Nix will also coach the inside linebackers.
South Carolina welcomed three new coaches on staff this spring. Robert Gillespie takes over as the running backs coach. Brad Lawing returns to Carolina as the defensive line coach. Fred Chatham is the new tight ends and special teams coach.
Standout wide receiver Sidney Rice broke his left thumb in a non-football related accident during the spring, but is expected to be at full strength by the start of summer conditioning.
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Three Tennessee footballers - one on offense and two on defense - earned spring practice honors for most improved performers. Junior tackle Steven Jones was named recipient of the Harvey Robinson Award given to offensive players, while senior defensive back Jonathan Wade and redshirt freshman tackle Dan Williams claimed the Andy Spiva Award for most improved defenders.
The dean of Southeastern Conference coaches, Phillip Fulmer enters his 15th season having won five Eastern Division titles in the last nine years. Fulmer also retains his rank atop the winning percentage list for coaches with at least 10 years experience in Division I-A. Fulmer is averaging 9.5 wins a season for the last decade and has a 128-37 overall record.
Head coach Phillip Fulmer picked up his 84th SEC victory - sixth place all-time - with UT's 27-8 win at Kentucky.
Did you know that at least one former Vol has played in each of the last 15 Super Bowls and 18 of the last 19? Cedrick Wilson appeared in Super Bowl XL this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tennessee maintains its standing as the winningest team in the SEC over the last 10 years in terms of victories and percentage. The Vols are 95-30 during that span for a percentage of .760, ranking them fifth nationally in percentage and sixth in victories. The Volunteers also have compiled a 61-19 record in conference games during this period, winning five Eastern Division titles, two overall league crowns and the 1998 national championship. Six different SEC teams have won the championship since 1998: Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Georgia and Auburn.
Tennessee ranked first in the Southeastern Conference and second nationally with a rushing defense that allowed an average of just 82.5 yards per game. Vol opponents averaged only 2.5 yards per rush in 2005. Associate head coach and John Chavis' unit allowed just four rushing plays of 20 yards or longer. Since Chavis assumed the role of Vols defensive coordinator in 1995, UT has held its opponents below a 100-yard rushing average in six seasons (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005).
Tennessee claimed its 32nd straight SEC attendance crown in 2005. The Volunteers led the league and finished second nationally with a total attendance of 645,558 over six games for an average attendance of 107,593. It was the second-best average attendance mark in school history, missing the 2000 record by only two fans per game. UT packed Neyland Stadium to 103.4 percent of capacity in 2005 and was the only SEC team to post attendance of more than 600,000.
The Vols have had 64 NFL Draft selections since 1996 to lead all of college football. Florida State was second overall with 62 picks, followed by Ohio State at 61 and Miami (Fla.) with 60. Tennessee also tied Florida atop the list of SEC schools with 37 former players on 2005 NFL opening-day rosters.
Tennessee led the SEC with 30 football student-athletes on the Fall 2005 Academic Honor Roll. This year's total marks the highest in program history for the third consecutive seasons, topping the 22 selected last year and the 20 who made the list in 2003. Under Fulmer, Tennessee has had 214 SEC Academic Honor Roll qualifiers with no fewer than 10 each year.
Since conference expansion in 1992, Tennessee has the best road record in SEC games with a 43-13 (.768) mark away from home. The Vols have not had a losing road record (including neutral sites) since 1982.
Arian Foster became the first Vols freshman to rush for at least 100 yards in each of his first five starts since Chuck Webb did so in 1989. A redshirt freshman from San Diego, Foster ran for 148 yards in his first start of last season, an Oct. 29 game against South Carolina. He followed that up with a 125-yard effort at Notre Dame, 132 versus Memphis, 223 against Vanderbilt and 114 at Kentucky. He totaled 742 yards in his five starts, averaging 148.4 per game in those contests. For the season Foster gained 879 yards in 183 attempts for the fifth-best rushing total in UT freshman history.
Tennessee's revamped offensive coaching staff for 2006 features three new faces and a complete overhaul of job assignments. David Cutcliffe returned to Knoxville after a seven-year hiatus and reclaimed his role as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. Cutcliffe, who spent six seasons as Mississippi's head coach and part of last year with the Notre Dame staff, was a member of UT's coaching staff from 1982-98. Matt Luke and Kurt Roper also were hired to coach tight ends and running backs, respectively. Luke comes to Knoxville from Ole Miss, while Roper spent the 2005 season at Kentucky. Both Luke and Roper were on Cutcliffe's staff at Mississippi. Greg Adkins and Trooper Taylor stayed with the Vols' staff but have new job descriptions. Adkins is the new offensive line coach and Taylor has moved from running backs to wide receivers.
The Vols own the best interdivision record among SEC teams, going 31-10-1 (.750) against Western Division foes since the league split in 1992. UT was 2-1 a year ago against the West.
Early preseason releases placed senior defensive tackle Justin Harrell and senior offensive tackle Arron Sears on the 2006 Lott Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists, respectively. Harrell earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2005 after contributing 7.5 tackles for loss and intercepting two passes. Sears is Tennessee's most versatile lineman, having played all but the center position in the 2005 season. He was selected first-team All-SEC by both the league coaches and writers last year.
Arian Foster last year became the first Vols freshman to rush for at least 100 yards in each of his first five starts since Chuck Webb did so in 1989. A redshirt freshman from San Diego, Foster totaled 742 yards in his five starts, averaging 148.4 per game in those contests. For the season, He gained 879 yards on 183 attempts for the fifth-best rushing total in UT freshman history. For his efforts, Foster earned second-team Freshman All-America honors from Rivals.com and SEC All-Freshman honors by league coaches.
Tennessee's 21-point rally last season at LSU marked the largest second-half deficit the Vols have overcome to win in school history. Tennessee trailed 21-0 in the third quarter and 24-7 in the fourth period before staging a miracle comeback and winning 30-27 in overtime. ESPN2's coverage of the game averaged a 3.1 rating and more than 2.76 million household impressions, making it the network's highest-rated and second most-viewed game in its 12-year history.
A recent cover story of Sports Illustrated on Campus named Tennessee and Neyland Stadium site of the nation's "best college football weekend." This was just the latest in a series of recognitions of Tennessee's place in the college football landscape. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Knoxville as college football's No. 1 city, listing the Home of the Vols ahead of locales such as Columbus, Ann Arbor, Gainesville and Tallahassee. Then two years later, the same sports publication listed Neyland Stadium as the nation's best college venue.
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY COMMODORES