MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-7, 0-5 SEC) Head Coach: Sylvester Croom (Alabama, '75) Overall/Yrs: 8-23 (.258) / 3rd Season MSU/Yrs: 8-23 (.258) / 3rd Season National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Multiple Pro-Style • Defense - 4-3 Internet Web Address: www.mstateathletics.com
Key Players
WR Tony Burks (6-4, 219, Jr., Gulfport, Miss.) Hauled in a season-best seven passes for 192 yards, a 27.4-yard average, and two touchdowns against Kentucky this past Saturday... It was the fifth time in the last seven games that he had surpassed 100 yards receiving in a game... Over that span, he has caught 25 passes for 699 yards, a 28.0-yard per catch average, and three touchdowns...He ranks fourth in the SEC in receiving yards per game (79.8) and his 26.6-yard average per catch for the season easily tops the league's receiving leaders.
DL Titus Brown (6-3, 247, Jr., Tuscaloosa, Ala.) Had five tackles against Kentucky this past Saturday, including one and a half tackles for loss (minus 19 yards), one of which was a quarterback sack (minus 16 yards)... It was the seventh time this year that he had made at least a hit behind the line of scrimmage, and he now has 7.5 tackles for loss in the last five weeks... Following his performance against UK, he is third in the Southeastern Conference in tackle-for-loss average (1.28), sixth in QB sacks per game (0.67).
LB Quinton Culberson (6-0, 239, Sr., Jackson, Miss.) He led Mississippi State with nine tackles vs. UK, a total that included one tackle for loss (minus 1 yard)... He was also credited with a forced fumble, a recovery and a pass deflection against the Wildcats. It marked the fifth time in nine games that he has led the club in total tackles... With that performance, Culberson advanced to third in the league in average tackles per game (8.7).
DB/KR/PR Derek Pegues (5-10, 192, So., Batesville, Miss.) Two weeks ago at Georgia, Pegues intercepted two passes (46 yards in returns), returned one punt 37 yards, and added three kickoff returns for 65 yards... He has now had four interceptions for 95 yards (23.8-yard average) over the last five weeks.
ALABAMA (6-3, 2-3 SEC) Head Coach: Mike Shula (Alabama, '87) Overall/Yrs: 25-20 (.556) / 4th Season UA/Yrs: 25-20 (.556) / 4th Season National Rankings: RV- AP / NA- USA Today Coaches / RV - Harris / NA - BCS Formations: Offense - Multiple • Defense - 4-3 Internet Web Address: www.rolltide.com
RB Kenneth Darby (5-11, 205, Sr., Huntsville, Ala.) Ran 10 times for 70 yards (7-yard average) in the win over Florida International ... He had a 33-yard run, which was his second-longest of the season ... For the season, Darby has 158 rushing attempts for 672 yards in nine games ... In his 42 game career, Darby has 650 rushing attempts for 3,171 yards for the Crimson Tide.
QB John Parker Wilson (6-2, 209, So., Hoover, Ala.) Improved to 6-3 (.667) as the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback following today's win over Florida International ... Wilson completed 8 of 13 passes for 72 yards and one touchdown ... Wilson suffered an ankle injury on the Crimson Tide's final possession of the first half and played only two series in the third quarter.
WR DJ Hall (6-3, 186, Jr., Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.) Had his streak of five straight 100-yard game snapped against FIU ... Hall finished the game with two catches for 27 yards....Also holds records with five 100-yard games this season and eight in his career...Hall now has 38 catches for 732 yards and five touchdowns... His 732 yards rank eighth among the highest totals for a single season in school history.
CB Ramzee Robinson (5-10, 190, Sr., Huntsville, Ala.) Recorded his first career touchdown against FIU ... Robinson's 34-yard interception return gave Alabama a 31-3 lead in the fourth quarter ... Robinson has four career interceptions and two this season for Alabama... Had 32 tackles last season with two interceptions...Pre-season first-team All-SEC by league's coaches and SEC media ... Only returning starter in Tide secondary.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: UA leads, 71-16-3 • Last: UA, 17-0 (2005 at Starkville)
Mississippi State and Alabama battle for the 91st time this weekend, the 59th-consecutive meeting between the two schools, which are the closest in proximity in the SEC... Alabama is bowl eligible for the third straight season under Mike Shula...Mississippi State has dropped 23 straight SEC road games, dating to a 35-17 win over Eastern Division opponent Kentucky in Lexington on Nov. 4, 2000... MSU has lost 18 consecutive SEC West games away from Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, a skein that dates to an 18-16 win at Auburn midway through 1999... A native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., MSU head football coach Sylvester Croom graduated from the University of Alabama in 1975... He was a three-year letterman (1972-74) for legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, earning all-America and all-SEC recognition as a senior... With Croom at center, Alabama earned three straight SEC titles and a national championship... Croom later served as an assistant coach on Bryant's staff from 1976-86... During his tenure as a defensive assistant, UA won back-to-back national titles in 1978-79.
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FLORIDA (7-1, 5-1 SEC) Head Coach: Urban Meyer (Cincinnati, '86) Overall/Yrs: 55-12 (.821) / 6th Season UF/Yrs: 16-4 (.800) / 2nd Season National Rankings: 7th - AP / 7th - USA Today Coaches / 7th - Harris / 4th - BCS Formations: Offense - Spread • Defense - Multiple, 4-3 Internet Web Address: www.gatorzone.com
QB Chris Leak (6-0, 195, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.) Leak needs 939 yards to pass Danny Wuerffel as UF's all-time passing leader and 1,591 to pass Georgia's David Greene as the SEC's all-time leader...With his 14 completions against Georgia, Leak has 787 on his career, which is first in school history...Leak is also first on the Florida career attempts list.
WR Dallas Baker (6-3, 206, Sr., New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) This season, Baker leads the Gators with six touchdown receptions (T27 nationally)... He has caught a touchdown in seven of the last 10 games... Baker had five touchdowns his entire sophomore and junior seasons...Baker returned to the squad after an Outback Bowl MVP performance in which he set career highs in catches (10) and yardage (147).
RB DeShawn Wynn (5-11, 238, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio) Wynn returned to the starting running back position for Florida at Auburn... Wynn missed all but one snap against LSU due to a twisted knee suffered in the Alabama game...Wynn rushed for 104 yards on 14 carries against Kentucky, giving him back-to-back games with 100-yards rushing for the first time in his career... Prior to the game, Wynn averaged just 56.0 yards following his previous 100-yard performances during his career.
LB Brandon Siler (6-2, 235, Jr., Orlando, Fla.) Siler was one of four Gators to record a sack versus Georgia to raise his season total to 3.5, which ranks third on the team and first among members of the team not on the defensive line...Siler has started 24 consecutive games for the Gators.
VANDERBILT (4-5, 1-4 SEC) Head Coach: Bobby Johnson (Clemson, '73) Overall/Yrs: 75-76 (.497) / 13th Season VU/Yrs: 15-40 (.273) / 5th Season National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Multiple • Defense - 4-3 Internet Web Address: www.vucommodores.com
WR Earl Bennett (6-1, 202, So., Birmingham, Ala.) Bennett was sensational at Duke, helping the Commodores to a 45-28 win with eight catches for 184 yards and a touchdown... During the performance, the sophomore continued his move up the Vanderbilt all-time receiving charts... It marked the fifth time for Bennett to surpass the 120-yard mark in receiving yards... He has at least eight receptions in seven games.
S Reshard Langford (6-2, 218, So., Tanner, Ala.) Langford ranks eighth in the SEC and shares the team lead with Darlron Spead with three interceptions... He also is the team's active career leader with six interceptions... Langford also leads the Commodore secondary with 28 solo tackles, 41 total tackles, six tackles for loss and seven defensed passes.
LB Jonathan Goff (6-4, 240, Jr., Stoneham, Mass.) Goff leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with 54 solo tackles. He is fifth in the league with 73 total tackles and is among the league leaders with two forced fumbles...Goff has been outstanding since the season opener when he established a new career best with 12 solo tackles and 14 total tackles in Vanderbilt's 27-7 loss at Michigan.
QB Chris Nickson (6-1, 210, So., Brundidge, Ala.) Nickson became the first quarterback in Commodore history to throw for 250 yards and rush for 150 yards in a single game at Duke, helping Vanderbilt to its second consecutive road win. Nickson set career highs with 250 passing yards, hitting 14 of 24 attempts, and 150 rushing yards. Nickson also accounted for five touchdowns – three rushing and two passing.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: UF leads, 28-9-2 • Last: UF, 49-42 [2 OT] (2005 at Gainesville)
Florida has captured the last 16 games played between the schools... Vanderbilt controlled the series in its infancy, winning five of the first seven games played between the schools from 1945-1955... The Commodores have lost the last seven games played on campus in Nashville, dating back to a 24-9 win in 1988... The losses include a pair of close decisions to ranked Gator squads – 21-17 to No. 23 Florida in 2002 and 28-21 to No. 1 Florida in 1996... From 1974-1988, Vanderbilt captured three of six games played in the series. All three victories came in Nashville...Florida looks to move to 8-1 for the first time since 2001... Coach Meyer looks to join Charles Bachman (1928) Steve Spurrier (1990 and 1991) as the only three Gator head coaches to open a season 8-1 as quickly as their second season in Gainesville...Georgia was the fourth team with a unit ranked inside the top 25 in total defense that the Gators have played this season.
GEORGIA (6-3, 3-3 SEC) Head Coach: Mark Richt (Miami, Fla., '82) Overall/Yrs: 58-16 (.784) / 6th Season UGA/Yrs: 58-16 (.784) / 6th Season National Rankings: NA- AP / RV - USA Today Coaches / RV - Harris / NA - BCS Formations: Offense - Pro-Style • Defense - 4-3 Multiple Internet Web Address: www.georgiadogs.com
DE Quentin Moses (6-5, 250, Sr., Athens, Ga.) Moses has 23.5 sacks for his career, which ranks sixth all time... Former three-time All-America defensive end David Pollack holds the mark with 36 while Richard “Le Sack” Tardits is second with 29... Moses is the team leader with 21 quarterback pressures, and his two sacks against Mississippi State were his first since the season opener.
RB Kregg Lumpkin (6-1, 224, Jr., Lithonia, Ga.) Lumpkin has led the group in six of the last seven games... His best game came in the win at Ole Miss when he had a career-best 101 yards on 13 carries...Led Georgia with 43 yards rushing last week versus Florida.
LB Tony Taylor (6-1, 237, Sr., Watkinsville, Ga.) Taylor had three interceptions entering 2006, but last week against #9 Florida he notched his fourth pick of the year... Also, it marked the third week in a row that he had an INT.... He leads the Bulldogs with 63 tackles including a team-best 42 solo stops.... His four INTs are also a team best as are his two forced fumbles.
P Gordon Ely-Kelso (6-2, 227, Sr., Athens, Ga.) Ely-Kelso, a native of Athens, Ga., is another Georgia special teams weapon... This year, he's punted 36 times for a 41.1 average, ranking him sixth in the SEC... He has 3 punts of 50-yards or more including 10 inside the 20.
KENTUCKY (4-4, 2-3 SEC) Head Coach: Rich Brooks (Oregon State, '63) Overall/Yrs: 104-138-4 (.431) / 22nd Season UK/Yrs: 13-29 (.310) / 4th Season National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Multiple Sets • Defense - 4-3 Internet Web Address: www.ukathletics.com
QB Andre' Woodson (6-5, 232, Jr., Radcliff, Ky.) Woodson registered his sixth 200-yard passing game of the season vs. Mississippi State after having just two all of last year. He finished the game 19-of-28 for 284 yards - six yards shy of his season high in passing yardage...Second in the SEC and ninth in the nation in passing yards per game, averaging 240.1
WR Dicky Lyons Jr. (5-11, 190, So.,New Orleans, La.) Eight of Lyons' 31 receptions have been scores... He is one of just 13 players in the nation with eight or more TD catches this season..The first player in UK history to catch two touchdowns in three consecutive games (vs. Louisville, Texas State, Ole Miss) ... 80-yard touchdown reception at Louisville is the longest in his career, good for the eighthlongest TD pass in school history.
LB Wesley Woodyard (6-1, 212, Jr., LaGrange, Ga.) Woodyard surpassed the 200-tackle mark for his career and how has 205 stops as a Wildcat...Woodyard ranks second in the SEC in tackles, averaging 8.9 tpg...One of 65 players named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top collegiate linebacker...Third-team pre-season All-SEC by SEC media and league's coaches.
WR/RS Keenan Burton (6-2, 195, Jr., Louisville, Ky.) Burton was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after accumulating 188 all-purpose yards in the win over Mississippi State... He had two long kickoff returns that set up Wildcat scores and he also caught two touchdown passes as a wide receiver...Burton needs four catches to move into the UK career top-10 list for pass receptions.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: UG leads, 47-10-2 • Last: UG, 45-13 (2005 at Athens)
Kentucky and Georgia meet for the 60th time in school history … Georgia leads the all-time series 47-10-2 and has won each of the last nine meetings, including a 45-13 win over the Wildcats last season in Athens … Georgia leads the series in games played in Lexington 22-6-0 … UK's last win over the Bulldogs was in Lexington, a 24-17 win in 1996 ... The teams played nine times from 1939-49, and after a six-year lull, have played annually since 1956 ... The Wildcats have shut out the Bulldogs three times in the series history, while Georgia has recorded five shutouts in the history of the series...Georgia has 10 turnovers in its last two games, which now ranks them at the bottom of the SEC in turnover margin at -6... Mississippi State had 17 points off five Bulldog miscues, while the Gators managed just seven points off five turnovers... A week ago, the Bulldog defense rallied in sudden change situations, limiting the Gators to one TD after five turnovers.
NORTHWESTERN STATE (4-4, 2-2 Southland) Head Coach: Scott Stoker (Northwestern State, '91) Overall/Yrs: 32-23 (.582) / 5th Season NSU/Yrs: 32-23 (.582) / 5th Season 2006 Schedule: 9/2-at Kansas (L, 49-18); 9/9-at Baylor (L, 47-10); 9/16-DELAWARE STATE (W, 23-3); 9/30-ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO (W, 20-3); 10/7-SAM HOUSTON STATE (L, 30-20); 10/14-atSE Louisiana (L, 31-24 OT); 10/21-at Nicholls State (W, 9-0); 10/28-TEXAS STATE (W, 19-10); 11/4-at Ole Miss; 11/11-MCNEESE STATE; 11/16-at Stephen F. Austin. National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Multiple, 1-back, 2-backs • Defense - Multiple, 5-DB Internet Web Address: www.nsudemons.com
PK Robert Weeks (5-11, 177, So., Pineville, La.) Weeks broke the Demons' single-season school record for field goals with his second successful kick at Nicholls State... Heading into TSU game, he had 16, including making his last five in a row, his longest streak of the season...His season total leads Division I-AA, with Weeks going16 for 21 (76%) in seven games... He also leads the country in attempts...Weeks has quadrupled his output from his freshman season (4-7).
DT Tory Collins (6-3, 280, Sr., New Orleans, La.) (Sports Network) Preseason All-American 1st Team (Street & Smith's)... Preseason All-American 1st Team... Preseason All-SLC 1st Team... 2005 All-SLC 1st Team ....2004 Football Gazette All-American... 2004 All-SLC 2nd Team Honors.
DE Ed Queen (6-2, 274, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.) After more than a season of frustration, Ed Queen seems likely to return to the form that made him an All-America candidate as a sophomore, when he was one of the dominant defensive linemen in the Southland Conference and helped NSU win the league title... Queen was hampered late in that season with a puzzling abdominal problem that never improved, despite him taking off the entire 2005 spring and all but a few days of preseason camp.
S Russ Washington (5-9, 185, Sr., Lamarque, Texas) (Sports Network) Preseason All-American Honorable Mention Preseason All-SLC... 1st Team 2005 All-SLC... 1st Team 2004 All-SLC... 1st Team 2004 All-Louisiana... 2nd Team 2004 SLC All-Academic... Ranked as the No. 5 safety in the nation by the Sports Network, Washington has been an outstanding figure in the Demons secondary for three seasons.... Smart and hard-hitting, he sets the tone for the Purple Swarm defense.
OLE MISS (2-7, 1-5 SEC) Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (Northwestern State, '84) Overall/Yrs: 5-15 (.250) / 2nd Season UM/Yrs: 5-15 (.250) / 2nd Season National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Pro-Set • Defense - Multiple 4-3 Internet Web Address: www.olemisssports.com
LB Patrick Willis (6-2, 230, Sr., Bruceton, Tenn.) Willis led the Rebel defense with 15 tackles (nine solo) versus Auburn last week... Willis has now recorded 10 or more tackles in 15 of his last 17 games ...The 15 tackles ties a career-high...Willis leads the SEC in tackles with 11.2 per game...Was recently named to two midseason All-America teams...Earned a spot on the CBS Sportsline.com Halfway All-America Team First Team and first team honors on the Collegefootballnews.com Midseason All-America Team.
QB Brent Schaeffer (6-2, 205, Jr., Deerfield Beach, Fla.) Highly touted junior college transfer who started at Tennessee as a true freshman...Schaeffer completed 13 passes on the afternoon versus Alabama, which ties a career high … Schaeffer was 13-for-20 for 163 yards and one TD versus the Tide...Attempted a career-high 30 passes at Arkansas last week...Threw for 161 yards and a touchdown versus Auburn.
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (5-11, 211, Jr., New Orleans, La.) Green-Ellis led Ole Miss in rushing for the ninth-straight game ... Green-Ellis finished with 44 yards on 13 carries ... He now has 750 yards on the season and is on pace to become Ole Miss' first 1,000-yard rusher since Deuce McAllister recorded 1,082 yards on 212 carries during the 1998 season.
LB Rory Johnson (6-1, 235, Jr., Vicksburg, Miss.) Against the Commodores, Johnson posted 16 tackles (nine solo), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed... Johnson haulted a late Vandy drive by taking the ball out of Commodore QB Mackenzi Adams hands and giving the ball back to Ole Miss....Johnson did not stop there as he has recorded double-digits in tackles in each of the last four games and has collected 53 tackles over that span.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: First Meeting
This will be the first meeting between the Rebels and the Demons...The game versus Northwestern State will be Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron's first opportunity to coach against his alma mater ... The Demons, a Division 1-AA team, are playing their third Division 1-A team of the season ... The Demons improved to 4-4 with a 19-10 win over Texas State in their last outing. After taking losses at Division 1-A opponents Kansas and Baylor, the Demons posted back-to-back wins over Delaware State and Arkansas-Monticello. They opened Southland Conference play with losses to Sam Houston State and Southeastern Louisiana, but they have evened their record up with wins over Nicholls State and Texas State....Three former Rebels (Tim Henderson (OL), Rogers Loche (LB) and Gary Riggs (DB) will be suiting up for Northwestern State on Saturday.
ARKANSAS STATE (5-3, 3-1 Sun Belt) Head Coach: Steve Roberts (Ouachita Baptist, '83) Overall/Yrs: 74-64-1 (.536) / 13th Season ASU/Yrs: 25-31 (.446) / 5th Season 2006 Schedule: 9/2-ARMY (W, 14-6); 9/9-vs. Oklahoma State (L, 35-7; 9/23-at SMU (L, 55-9); 9/30-at Florida International (W, 31-6; 10/7-LA-MONROE (W, 10-6); 10/14-at Memphis (W, 26-23); 10/21-NORTH TEXAS (W, 29-10);10/28-at Florida Atlantic (L, 29-0); 11/4-at Auburn; 11/11-MTSU; 11/18-at Troy; 11/25-at Louisiana-Lafayette. National Rankings: N/A Internet Web Address: www.ASUIndians.com
S Tyrell Johnson (6-1, 197, Jr., Rison, Ark.) Named to 2006 preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team by The Sporting News ... also picked as TSN's Preseason “Defensive Player of the Year” in the league...Led team in tackles last season with 112 (83 solo, 29 assists) ... Also had two pass interceptions for 112 return yards ... Had one stop for minus three yards ... Recovered one fumble and caused another.
C Tanner Jenkins (6-1, 279, Sr., Baton Rouge, La. ) Jenkins is looking to be one of the most decorated players ASU has had... He has been selected to the 2006 Dave Rimington Trophy Watch List, the Outland Trophy Watch List, and to the Rotary Lombardi Watch List... The Sporting News has tabbed him as a preseason All-Sun Belt Conference performer and NationalChamps.net has picked Jenkins to its 2006 preseason Allamerica team.
LB Josh Williams (6-1, 255, Jr., Beaumont, Texas) Highly anticipated return after sitting out all of 2005...Ended the 2004 season as one of the most decorated freshmen ever at ASU ... started all 11 games ... led the team in tackles, with 110 (58 solo, 52 assists) ... top freshman tackler in the nation ... had five games in double-figure tackles.
RB Reggie Arnold (5-9, 217, Fr., Little Rock, Ark.) Arnold ranks fourth in the nation in rushing among freshmen, averaging 84.8 yards per game...Rushed for 121 yards and a career-high three touchdowns to lead ASU to a 3-0 start in Sun Belt play with a 29-10 victory over North Texas....Arnold carried the ball a career-tying 25 times and averaged 4.8 yards per rush, while leading all players in rushing yards.
AUBURN (8-1, 5-1 SEC) Head Coach: Tommy Tuberville (Southern Arkansas, '76) Overall/Yrs: 93-48 (.660) / 12th Season AU/Yrs: 68-28 (.708) / 8th Season National Rankings: 6th- AP / 6th - USA Today Coaches / 6th - Harris / 6th - BCS Formations: Offense - Pro • Defense - 4-3 Multiple Internet Web Address: www.auburntigers.com
RB Kenny Irons (5-11, 200, Sr., Dacula, Ga.) Irons, who currently ranks No. 2 in the SEC averaging 98.6 yards rushing per game, has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in 11 of his last 17 games. During the past 17 games, Irons has totaled 1,947 yards rushing (114.5 yards per game).
PK John Vaughn (6-1, 195, Sr., Brentwood, Tenn.) Vaughn is having an All-American senior season, ranking second nationally with 17 field goals made (in 20 attempts) and ranking 16th in scoring (8.6)... Vaughn, whose field goal percentage of .850 ranks second in the SEC and would rank second in Auburn history for a single season, has twice made four field goals in a game this season.
WR Courtney Taylor (6-2, 202, Sr., Carrollton, Ala.) Taylor now ranks sixth in the SEC in catches per game (4.8), and his 43 catches this season tie his single-season high and leave him 15 shy of Auburn's single-season record of 58 ..Taylor is the SEC's active leader in career receptions with 142 and ranks third with 1,902 career receiving yards... He ranks second in Auburn history in receptions and sixth in receiving yardage... Of his 142 catches, 95 have resulted in first downs (66.9 percent).
DE Quentin Groves (6-3, 254, Jr., Greenville, Miss.) Groves leads the SEC lead with 7.5 sacks this season, including three in the second half of Auburn's 27-17 victory over Florida Oct. 14, which earned him SEC Defensive Player of the week honors. Groves is already tied for second in Auburn history with 21 career sacks, and has had at least one sack in five of Auburn's nine games this season.
Auburn plays its final non-conference game of the season when the Tigers host Arkansas State Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium... Auburn is looking to extend a three-game winning streak and improve to 4-0 in non-conference games this year, while Arkansas State hopes to bounce back from a 29-0 loss to Florida Atlantic that snapped a four-game winning streak... The game will be televised on a pay-per-view basis...Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville coached defensive ends and linebackers at Arkansas State from 1980-84... The Indians advanced to the Division I-AA Playoffs in his final season in 1984...Auburn running backs/special teams coach Eddie Gran was the running backs coach at Southeast Missouri State in 1989 when ASU cornerbacks coach/recruiting coordinator Tony Gilbert was a senior All-Gateway Conference running back at SMSU...Arkansas State is 3-1 in the Sun Belt Conference this season ... The Indians played in the New Orleans Bowl last season, which was their first bowl game since becoming a Division I-A school in 1992 ... ASU needs one more win to match last season's win total with six victories, which would also equal the most wins in school history as a I-A program
LSU (6-2, 2-2 SEC) Head Coach: Les Miles (Michigan, '76) Overall/Yrs: 45-25 (.643) / 6th Season LSU/Yrs: 17-4 (.810) / 2nd Season National Rankings: 13th- AP / 13th - USA Today Coaches / 13th - Harris / 17th - BCS Formations: Offense - Multiple • Defense - 4-3 Internet Web Address: www.lsusports.net
QB JaMarcus Russell (6-6, 252, Jr., Mobile, Ala.) Named to both the Manning and Maxwell Award watch lists ... Leads the SEC and ranks fourth in the NCAA in passing efficiency (174.6) ... Has completed 135-of-193 passes (69.9 percent) for 1,910 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions this season ... Has twice been named the SEC's Offensive Player of the Week ... Most recently honored after completing 15-of-18 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers' win over Kentucky.
WR Dwayne Bowe (6-3, 217, Sr., Miami, Fla.) Named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list ... Combines with Craig Davis and Early Doucet to form one of the nation's premier receiving corps ... Has caught 37 passes for a team-high 620 yards and a team-best seven touchdowns this season ... Ranks fifth in the SEC in both receiving yards per game (77.5) and touchdowns (seven) ... Is coming off back-to-back 100-yard receiving games.
FS LaRon Landry (6-2, 204, Sr., Ama, La.) The Tigers' second-leading tackler, he has 40 stops on the season, including a team-high 25 solo tackles ... Has also been credited with two tackles for loss, one interception, one pass break up, three quarterback hurries and a blocked punt ... Registered a season-best 12 tackles, including nine solo stops, against Florida ... Also blocked a punt against the Gators...Has started 43 consecutive games.
S Craig Steltz (6-2, 204, Jr., New Orleans, La.) Ranks third in the SEC and 16th nationally with four interceptions this season ... Is the first athlete in LSU history to intercept a pass in four straight games, picking off passes against Arizona, Auburn, Tulane and Mississippi State ... Has returned his interceptions for 111 yards, a total that includes a career-long 76-yard return against Tulane in week four.
TENNESSEE (7-1, 3-1 SEC) Head Coach: Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee, '72) Overall/Yrs: 135-38 (.780) / 15th Season UT/Yrs: 135-38 (.780) / 15th Season National Rankings: 8th- AP / 8th - USA Today Coaches / 8th - Harris / 11th - BCS Formations: Offense - Multiple • Defense - 4-3 Internet Web Address: www.utsports.com
QB Erik Ainge (6-6, 220, Jr., Hillsboro, Ore.) Ainge ranks second in the SEC and 11th in NCAA Division I-A with a 158.41 passer efficiency rating this year ... Ainge is 15-4 as a starter and ranks sixth on UT's all-time passing yards chart (4,402) and eighth on the school's all-time total offense list (4,261) ... Ainge's five best career games (yardage-wise) have all come this season, and he has set season-highs for completions and passing yards.
WR Robert Meachem (6-3, 210, Jr., Tulsa, Okla.) Meachem is one of 14 semifinalists for the 13th annual Biletnikoff Award...Meachem leads the SEC and ranks fourth in the nation in receiving yards per game (108.5) through eight contests... The Tulsa, Okla., native has piled up 868 yards on 45 catches for six touchdowns to help pace one of the SEC's most potent offenses.
PK James Wilhoit (5-10, 195, Sr., Hendersonville, Tenn.) UT's fourth all-time scorer with 293...Also second on SEC active list...Second in SEC this year in pts (8.0 avg), FG per gm (1.4)...Made 22 of last 25 FG tries, including 11-of-13 this year...4-of-6 from 45 yards and longer...Tied career long of 51 vs. FLA (2nd from that distance vs. FLA)...25-of-51 kickoffs (.490) have been touchbacks...Draddy semifinalist.
OT Arron Sears (6-4, 320, Sr., Russellville, Ala.) Sears entered the 2006 season as a preseason All-America selection, and through the Vols' first eitht games, he's lived up to the hype...Sears earned first-team status on both SI.com's and CollegeFootballNews.com's Midseason All-America squads... He is also a candidate for the Outland Trophy and the Jacobs Award, presented to the SEC's top blocker.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: UT leads, 20-5-3 • Last: UT, 30-27 [OT] (2005 at Baton Rouge)
Tennessee hosts LSU for the first time since 2001, as the Tigers and Vols meet for the 29th time at Neyland Stadium Saturday... An open date following LSU's Oct. 21 rout of Fresno State has given the Tigers an extra week of preparations for Saturday's clash on Rocky Top...The Vols took the last meeting between the two teams in historic fashion, turning a 17-point, fourth-quarter deficit into a 30-27 overtime win in Baton Rouge last year... The Vols trailed by as much as 21 points in the second half; both deficits rank as the largest UT has overcome in school history...Second-year LSU head coach Les Miles is 0-1 against the Vols, and UT head coach Phillip Fulmer is 3-2 against the Tigers... Tennessee leads the all-time series 20-5-3, and UT has lost just once in Knoxville in 13 games against the Bayou Bengals...Two of the last four games between the teams have gone to overtime, including last year's UT win in Baton Rouge by a 30-27 count … LSU beat UT in overtime in 2000 by a 38-31 margin in Tiger Stadium … LSU also beat the Vols 31-20 in the SEC Championship Game in 2001 to claim the Tigers' first outright league title since 1988.
ARKANSAS (7-1, 4-0 SEC) Head Coach: Houston Nutt (Oklahoma State, '81) Overall/Yrs: 100-63 (.613) / 14th Season UA/Yrs: 64-41 (.610) / 9th Season National Rankings: 12th- AP / 12th - USA Today Coaches / 12th - Harris / 13th - BCS Formations: Offense - Multiple • Defense - 4-3 Internet Web Address: www.hogwired.com
LB Sam Olajubutu (5-9, 227, Sr., LaGrange, Ga.) Olajubutu leads the team with 72 tackles in just seven games for an average of 10.3 stops per game. He recorded 12 tackles in vs. USC, 13 against Utah State, 14 vs. Vanderbilt, 13 vs. Alabama and 14 at Auburn...He has five of his 14 double-digit tackle games this season...He became only the 14th Hog in school history to notch 300 career tackles in the Alabama game.
TB Darren McFadden (6-2, 205, So., Little Rock, Ark.) He leads the SEC and ranks 18th in the nation averaging 102.38 yards per game rushing... He is averaging 99.7 yards a game rushing in three games against nationally-ranked opponents including two 100-yard rushing games...He has rushed for 100 yards or more four times (Utah State, Alabama, Auburn and ULM) in the Hogs' first eight games...He has nine 100-yard rushing games in his 19-game collegiate career....That ties him for fifth on the UA career chart
SE Marcus Monk (6-6, 227, Jr., Lepanto, Ark.) Named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, he is the Hogs' starting split end...He has caught at least one pass in all 30 of his career games...His streak ranks him 10th in the nation in consecutive games with a reception...He leads the Razorbacks in catches (25), receiving yards (450) and touchdown receptions (5)... He ranks 15th in the SEC and 82nd in the nation with an average of 56.25 recieving yards per game... He owns 18 career touchdown receptions and ranks second on the UA career charts in that category.
TB Felix Jones (6-0, 208, So., Tulsa, Okla.) Jones leads the nation with a 9.87 yards-per-carry average the best among the nation's top 100 rushers...West Virginia's Pat White is a distant second on that list averaging 8.48 yards per carry... He has averaged more than 6.9 yards per carry in seven of eight games this season including double-digit carry averages in three games...He ranks second on the team, fourth in the SEC and 37th in the nation with 82.6 rushing yards per game.
SOUTH CAROLINA (5-3, 3-3 SEC) Head Coach: Steve Spurrier (Florida, '67) Overall/Yrs: 154-48-2 (.767) / 17th Season USC/Yrs: 12-8 (.600) / 2nd Season National Rankings: N/A Formations: Offense - Multiple • Defense - Multiple Internet Web Address: www.uscsports.com
WR Sidney Rice (6-4, 200, So., Gaffney, S.C.) Rice set the school's single-season record for receiving yards (1,143) and touchdown catches (13) in 2005... He has caught a touchdown pass in 11 of his 19 career games... He ranks 10th in the SEC in receptions per game (4.50) and in receiving yards per game (70.0)... He became the 10th player in school history with 100 career receptions and tied the career touchdowns receiving leaders with 19 in the win at Vanderbilt.
RB Cory Boyd (6-1, 201, Jr., Orange, N.J.) Boyd established career highs in carries (25) and yards rushing (113) in the win at Kentucky, then came back with a 22-carry, 113-yard performance at Vanderbilt... They are the fi rst two 100-yard rushing days of his career... He is the fi rst USC back to rush for 100+ yards in consecutive games against SEC opponents since Derek Watson rushed for 100+ in three straight games in 2000.
QB Syvelle Newton (6-0, 210, Sr., Wallace, S.C.) Newton is 88-of-143 (61.5 percent) for 1,240 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season... He has a quarterback rating of 152.28, the third-best mark in the SEC and the 15th best mark in the nation... For his career, Newton has completed 163-of-281 passes (58.0 percent) for 2,398 yards and 20 touchdowns.
P/PK Ryan Succop (6-3, 215, So., Hickory, N.C.) He is averaging 44.5 yards per punt, which ranks third in the SEC and would rank 12th in the nation with enough attempts... Succop owns a long punt of 58 yards...He has hit on 10-of-11 fi eld goal attempts, including a career-long 55-yarder against Vanderbilt and missing only from 51 yards when he bounced it off the left upright against Georgia.
SERIES/GAME NOTES Record: ARK leads, 8-6 • Last: SC, 14-10 (2005 at Fayetteville)
This is the 15th meeting between Carolina and Arkansas... The Razorbacks lead the all-time series, 8-6, but the Gamecocks holds a 4-3 advantage in games played in Columbia... The teams have met every year since 1992 when they joined the Southeastern Conference... USC won last year's meeting in Fayetteville by a 14-10 score... The Gamecocks won the last meeting in Columbia by a 35-32 margin, snapping a three-game losing streak in the series...Arkansas has won five of the eight meetings during the Houston Nutt era (1998-2005)...The Razorbacks have won the two of the three games in the series played in Fayetteville, dropping last year's Homecoming matchup 14-10...Arkansas is 5-1 overall against South Carolina in the state of Arkansas... In addition to the pair of Fayetteville wins, the Hogs won games in Little Rock in 1999, 2001 and 2003... South Carolina recorded a win at War Memorial Stadium in 1997.