2008 ROOKIE FA TRACKER

ROOKIE FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

ARIZONA

OT/OG Carlton Medder, Florida

DE Jason Banks, Grambling State

OT Hercules Satele, Hawaii

OLB Ali Highsmith, LSU

CB Marcus Brown, McNeese State

OT Pete Clifford, Michigan State

WR Lance Long, Mississippi State

OT Thaddeus Coleman, Mississippi Valley State

FB Dionte Johnson, Ohio State

QB Anthony Morelli, Penn State

FS Dennis Keyes, UCLA

DE Bryan Robinson, Wesley

DT Keilen Dykes, West Virginia

ATLANTA

RB Jamar Brittingham, Bloomsburg

SS Ike Brown, Central Michigan

K Jimmie Kaylor, Colorado State

DE Brandon Miller, Georgia

CB Glenn Sharpe, Miami

FS D.J. Wolfe, Oklahoma

BALTIMORE

QB Brad Roach, Catawba

OG Sean Dumford, Eastern Kentucky

P Benjamin Dato, Fordham

OG Brandon Barnes, Grand Valley State

C Isaiah Wiggins, Illinois State

TE Scott Kuhn, Louisville

OG Adam Kraus, Michigan

WR Ernie Wheelwright, Minnesota

DT Lorenzo Williams, Missouri

C/OG Brandon Burns, Pearl River CC

ILB Jameel McClain, Syracuse

K Piotr Czech, Wagner

TE Joe Reitz, Western Michigan

BUFFALO

WR Jason Jones, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

FB Mike Viti, Army

QB Luke Drone, Illinois State

OLB Jon Banks, Iowa State

DT Teraz McCray, Miami

ILB Joe Brockington, Notre Dame

CAROLINA

CB Darren Toney, Arkansas State

QB Taylor Tharp, Boise State

WR Damon Morton, Colorado State

P Dan Zeidman, Idaho State

DT Brandon Jenkins, Mississippi

CB Courtney Grixby, Nebraska

DE Casper Brinkley, South Carolina

FS Joseph Fields, Syracuse

FB Breyone Evans, UMASS

TE Chris Conklin, Wingate

CHICAGO

QB Caleb Hanie, Colorado State

CB Leslie Majors, Indiana

OT Cody Balogh, Montana

P Geoff Price, Notre Dame

DT David Faaeteete, Oregon

DE Joe Clermond, Pittsburgh

DE Nick Osborn, San Diego State

QB Nick Hill, Southern Illinois

K Shane Longest, St. Xavier

CB Trey Brown, UCLA

WR Curtis Hamilton, Western Kentucky

CINCINNATI

OG Justin Britt, Alabama

FS Simeon Castille, Alabama

DT Michael Marquardt, Arizona State

P Johnny Ayers, Boston College

FB Bradley Glatthaar, Cincinnati

DE Anthony Hoke, Cincinnati

RB James Johnson, Kansas State

FB Tyler Whaley, Ohio State

OT James Blair, Western Michigan

CLEVELAND

OLB Nick Moore, Baylor

QB Craig Hormann, Columbia

SS Justin Harrison, Illinois

K Jason Reda, Illinois

DT Brian Schaefering, Lindenwood

WR Lance Leggett, Miami

CB Jerrid Gaines, Miami Ohio

CB Darnell Terrell, Missouri

CB Gerard Lawson, Oregon State

RB Austin Scott, Penn State

C Robbie Powell, Purdue

OG James Lee, SC State

DE Chase Ortiz, TCU

OG Eric Young, Tennessee

DT Kyle Lockett, Urbana

OT Brian Stamper, Vanderbilt

TE Kolo Kapanui, West Texas A&M

DALLAS

DE Darrell Robertson, Georgia Tech

DT Marcus Dixon, Hampton

OT Andrew Brecher, Harvard

RB Keon Lattimore, Maryland

WR Daniel Polk, Midwestern State

FB Julius Crosslin, Oklahoma State

OG Brandon Hale, Sam Houston State

WR Mark Bradford, Stanford

P Jay Ottovegio, Stanford

SS Dowayne Davis, Syracuse

WR Danny Amendola, Texas Tech

OLB Alain Karatepeyan, Tulsa

WR Joe West, UTEP

TE Drew Atchison, William & Mary

DENVER

OT Tyler Polumbus, Colorado

RB Anthony Alridge, Houston

OLB Wesley Woodyard, Kentucky

K Garrett Hartley, Oklahoma

OT Mitch Erickson, South Dakota State

P Brett Kern, Toledo

WR Lorne Sam, UTEP

DETROIT

FS Bobbie Williams, Bethune-Cookman

OLB Tyronne Pruitt, Boston College

S Pacino Horne, Central Michigan

QB Mark Nicolet, Hillsdale

DE Rudolph Hardie, Howard

RB Allen Ervin, Lambuth

OG Carroll Madison, Syracuse

OLB Brian Bradford, Towson

FS Vince Gliatta, Youngstown State

GREEN BAY

OLB Marcus Riley, Fresno State

RB Kregg Lumpkin, Georgia

TE Joey Haynos, Maryland

WR Jake Allen, Mississippi College

WR Rod Harper, Murray State

OLB Durell Mapp, North Carolina

LS J.J. Jansen, Notre Dame

TE Mike Peterson, NW Missouri State

WR Taj Smith, Syracuse

C Brennen Carvalho, Portland State

ILB Danny Lansanah, UCONN

P Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin

RB Justin Beaver, Wisconsin-Whitewater

HOUSTON

TE Cole Bennett, Auburn

DE Jesse Nading, Colorado State

WR Ryan Grice-Mullen, Hawaii

WR Darnell Jenkins, Miami

ILB Ben Moffitt, South Florida

OLB Marcus Richardson, Troy

DT Gabe Long, Utah

INDIANAPOLIS

WR Rudy Burgess, Arizona State

SS Jamie Silva, Boston College

DE Curtis Johnson, Clark Atlanta

OLB Anthony Adams, Grand Valley State

DT Colin Ferrell, Kent State

RB Chad Simpson, Morgan State

SS Jordan Senn, Portland State

DT Eric Foster, Rutgers

QB Adam Tafralis, San Jose State

WR Sam Giguere, Sherbrooke Canada

OT Darren Marquez, Southern Illinois

CB Brandon Foster, Texas

DT Dan Davis, UCONN

WR Charles Dillon, Washington State

JACKSONVILLE

CB Michael Grant, Arkansas

SS Jose Yearwood, Brown

C Drew Miller, Florida

DE Alex Boston, Florida State

WR Clyde Edwards, Grambling State

WR Jeron Harvey, Houston

OLB Lamar Myles, Louisville

FB Anthony Cotrone, Maine

CB Isaiah Gardner, Maryland

TE Adam Bishop, Nevada

CB Brian Witherspoon, Stillman

TE Chris Brown, Tennessee

QB Paul Smith, Tulsa

DT Theo Horrocks, Vanderbilt

KANSAS CITY

WR Jabari Arthur, Akron

DE Jason Parker, Arizona

OG Chris McDuffie, Clemson

WR Sean Bailey, Georgia

FB Mike Cox, Georgia Tech

WR Taurean Rhetta, Jacksonville State

OLB Sir Darean Adams, Michigan State

OLB Jonal Saint-Dic, Michigan State

OLB Steve Octavien, Nebraska

QB Ricky Santos, New Hampshire

K Connor Barth, North Carolina

RB Kalvin McRae, Ohio

DT Derek Lokey, Texas

CB Maurice Leggett, Valdosta State

DT Johnny Dingle, West Virginia

WR Luke Swan, Wisconsin

OLB James Terry, Youngstown State

MIAMI

TE Kris Kasparek, Akron

OT Dan Gore, Boise State

OLB Kelly Poppinga, BYU

OT Mike Byrne, Delaware

WR Jayson Foster, Georgia Southern

WR Justin Wynn, Grand Rapids, CC

WR Davone Bess, Hawaii

FB Rolly Lumbala, Idaho

TE Matt Mulligan, Maine

DE Titus Brown, Mississippi State

K Dan Carpenter, Montana

OT Darren Heerspink, Portland State

CB Aaron Lane, Purdue

WR Selwyn Lymon, Purdue

CB Scorpio Babers, Sam Houston State

QB Willie Copeland, Valdosta State

DT Kory Robertson, Virginia Tech

WR Marcel Reece, Washington

MINNESOTA

DT Leger Douzable, Central Florida

ILB J Leman, Illinois

OT Brandon Joyce, Illinois State

RB Albert Young, Iowa

OLB Erin Henderson, Maryland

QB Kyle Wright, Miami

SS Travis Key, Michigan State

RB Amir Pinnix, Minnesota

K Steven Hauschka, NC State

CB Marcus Walker, Oklahoma

CB Brandon Sumrall, Southern Mississippi

C Matt Roan, Southern Utah

C Tim Mattran, Stanford

FS Marcus Griffin, Texas

WR Nate Jones, Texas

T Drew Radovich, USC

DE Martail Burnett, Utah

FS Husain Abdullah, Washington State

WR Darius Reynaud, West Virginia

ILB A.J. Raebel, Wisconsin-Whitewater

NEW ENGLAND

RB Hugh Charles, Colorado

OT Josh Coffman, East Carolina

C Ryan Wendell, Fresno State

DE/DT Chris Norwell, Illinois

OLB Vincent Redd, Liberty

DT Carlos Feliciano, Maryland

DT Casey Tyler, Portland State

TB Kenny Catthouse, Troy

OLB Curtis Gatewood, Vanderbilt

TE Jonathan Stupar, Virginia

NEW ORLEANS

OG Nate McManus, Georgia Tech

C Kevin Tuminello, Georgia Tech

SS Rocky Schwartz, Houston

OT Akim Millington, Illinois

WR Todd Blythe, Iowa State

OLB Luke Sanders, LSU

LS Ryan Senser, Ohio

FB Olaniyi Sobomehin, Portland State

P Waylon Prather, San Jose State

QB T.C. Ostrander, Stanford

FS David Roach, TCU

DE Jeremy Geathers, UNLV

OT Jason Boone, Utah

OT Gerald Davis, Valdosta State

NEW YORK GIANTS

DT Nate Robinson, Akron

WR DJ Hall, Alabama

P Owen Tolson, Army

OT Glenn Bujnoch, Cincinnati

DT Josh Muse, Louisiana Tech

OT Carnell Stewart, LSU

OG Andrew Bain, Miami

FS Nehemiah Warrick, Michigan State

DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo, Michigan State

OT Dylan Thiry, Northwestern

OG Earl Cager, Southeastern Louisiana

DE Antonio Reynolds, Tennessee

DT Eric Butler, Washburn

OLB Kenwin Cummings, Wingate

NEW YORK JETS

WR Prechae Rodriguez, Auburn

WR Paul Raymond, Brown

RB Danny Woodhead, Chadron State

DE Bryan Mattison, Iowa

RB Jehuu Caulcrick, Michigan State

FB Justin Valentine, Minnesota

OLB Brandon Renkart, Rutgers

SS Nate Lyles, Virginia

CB Alfred Phillips, Wagner

DT Ropati Pitoitua, Washington State

OAKLAND

OG Brandon Rodd, Arizona State

OLB Malik Jackson, Louisville

C Adam Spieker, Missouri

FB Matt Hahn, Penn State

SS Darrick Brown, McNeese State

TE Darrell Strong, Pittsburgh

QB Brian White, Portland State

OLB Ronnie Pentz, San Diego

TE Chris Wagner, South Dakota State

DE Derrick Gray, Texas Southern

DE Greyson Gunheim, Washington

RB Louis Rankin, Washington

ILB Shane Simmons, Western Washington

PHILADELPHIA

WR Shaheer McBride, Delaware State

CB Kyle Arrington, Hofstra

ILB Justin Roland, Kansas State

OT Franklin Dunbar, Middle Tennessee State

WR Frantz Hardy, Nebraska

WR Terrell Golden, Penn State

FB Jed Collins, Washington State

PITTSBURGH

K Julian Rauch, Appalachian State

DE Patrick Bailey, Duke

CB Travis Williams, East Carolina

WR Micah Rucker, Eastern Illinois

C Doug Legursky, Marshall

OLB Donovan Woods, Oklahoma State

TE Dezmond Sherrod, Mississippi State

WR Dorien Bryant, Purdue

DT Martavious Prince, Southern Mississippi

WR Kevin Marion, Wake Forest

CB Roy Lewis, Washington

OT Pat Schwenke, West Texas A&M

QB Mike Potts, William & Mary

SAN DIEGO

CB Josh Bell, Baylor

DT Keith Shologan, Central Florida

FB Mike Tolbert, Coastal Carolina

CB Stanley Franks, Idaho

OG/C Andrew Crummey, Maryland

WR Greg Bracey, Missouri

OT Tyler Luellen, Missouri

WR Brandon Jackson, North Texas

OLB Erik Bakhtiari, San Diego

OG Brandyn Dombrowski, San Diego State

SS Brian Bonner, TCU

DT Lamar Divens, Tennessee State

WR Billy Pittman, Texas

WR Gary Banks, Troy

TE John Tereshinski, Wake Forest

FB Wade Betschart, Wyoming

P Billy Vinnedge, Wyoming

SAN FRANCISCO

DE/OLB Louis Holmes, Arizona

OG Brian De La Puente, California

WR Robert Jordan, California

OLB Gary Guyton, Georgia Tech

OLB Ezra Butler, Nevada

TE Joe Jon Finley, Oklahoma

WR Cameron Colvin, Oregon

SEATTLE

FS Kelin Johnson, Georgia

CB DeMichael Dizer, Grambling State

OG Dustin Dickinson, Houston

SS Jamar Adams, Michigan

WR Travis Brown, New Mexico

CB Donovan Alexander, North Dakota

OT Will Robinson, San Diego State

OLB Matt Castelo, San Jose State

OLB David Hawthorne, TCU

WR Anthony Russo, Washington

WR Michael Bumpus, Washington State

SS Eric Wicks, West Virginia

ST. LOUIS

WR Matt Caddell, Alabama

DT Josh Thompson, Auburn

TE Doug Jones, Cincinnati

DT Vernon Bryant, Hampton

FB Brandon McAnderson, Kansas

CB Justin McKinney, Kansas State

OG Stephen Sene, Liberty

DE Rodney Hardeway, Louisiana-Lafayette

RB Yvenson Bernard, Oregon State

ILB Vince Hall, Virginia Tech

WR Joshua Hyman, Virginia Tech

ILB Mark Magro, West Virginia

TAMPA BAY

RB Carl Stewart, Auburn

DE Vegas Franklin, Miami

OLB Lance Brandenburgh, Nebraska

WR Wes Doyle, San Diego

DT Tywain Myles, Tarleton State

FS Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee

DT Chris Bradwell, Troy

CB Elbert Mack, Troy

WR Derrek Richards, Utah

K Chris Gould, Virginia

OT Floyd Headen, West Texas A&M

TENNESSEE

RB Omar Cuff, Delaware

SS Tony Joiner, Florida

C Fernando Velasco, Georgia

WR Jason Rivers, Hawaii

RB Rafael Little, Kentucky

C Eric Scott, Kentucky

WR Edward Williams, Lane College

OLB Jerrell Freeman, Mary Hardin-Baylor

OT Brock Pasteur, Stephen F. Austin

WASHINGTON

DE Wallace Gilberry, Alabama

OG Kerry Brown, Appalachian State

CB Matterral Richardson, Arkansas

OG Rich Beverley, Delaware

OT Shannon Boatman, Florida State cut

SS Kevin Mitchell, Illinois

QB Bret Meyer, Iowa State

OLB Bryan Wilson, Morgan State

OT Devin Clark, New Mexico

C Kyle DeVan, Oregon State

DE Dorian Smith, Oregon State

WR Horace Grant, St. Olaf

P Brett Curran, don’t know his college- Denver

TRYOUTS

CHICAGO

OLB Darren Mustin, Alabama

K Andrew Larson, California

OLB Nick Watkins, Clemson

DE Brad Larkin, Boston College

OT Ryan Poles, Boston College

DL Mike Ware, Illinois

FB Russ Weil, Illinois

FB Josiah Sears, Indiana

CB Adam Shada, Iowa

LS Matt Purvis, Iowa State

P Tim Reyer, Kansas State

P Zac Atterberry, Lindenwood

SS Willie Cooper, Miami

SS Damon Nickson, Middle Tennessee State

TE Robert Lane, Mississippi

WR Ashton Gronewold, Missouri-Rolla

FB Marcus Stone, NC State

C Brett Byford Nebraska

OG Mike Martinez, New Mexico State

DT Gerard Lee, Oregon State

WR James Townsend, Rutgers

OLB Marc Hull, San Diego State

SS Drew Kelson, Texas

OLB Robert Killebrew, Texas

TE Joey Thomas, Texas A&M

CB Chris Parker, Texas Tech

RB Chris Markey, UCLA

RB Matt Lawrence, UMASS

CB Antonio Lewis, West Virginia

CINCINNATI

RB Jay Peck, Alabama State

OG Tom Anevski, Boston College

RB Greg Moore, Cincinnati

SS Anthony Williams, Cincinnati

CB Clay Hamblen, Georgetown College

WR Brian Piper, Georgetown College

CLEVELAND

WR Nate Hughes, Alcorn State

WR Brandon Copeland, Bridgewater College

P Ben Woods, Buffalo

WR James Banks, Carson-Newman

DT Steven Friend, Central Michigan

RB J.J. Bennett, Colgate

TE Matt Champa, Dayton

FS Kevin Hoyng, Dayton

OG Bill Bourdlais, Ferris State

SS Patrick Wells, Ferris State

K Rob Zarrilli, Hofstra

SS Marcus Watts, Kansas State

TE Ben Barkema, Iowa State

WR Wynton Jackson, Liberty

OT Eddie Pinigis, Liberty

CB Jonathan Zenon, LSU

RB Tony Temple, Missouri

OLB Asa Matthews, Northern Colorado

WR Chris Schubert, Oberlin

ILB Lenny Trusnik, Ohio Northern

DE Jeff Van Orsow, Oregon State

CB Terrell Vinson, Purdue

RB DeShawn Baker, SC State

CB Craig Turner, Southern Illinois

DE Xavier Mitchell, Tennessee

CB Andrew Hawkins, Toledo

QB Tommy Grady, Utah

QB Richard Kovalcheck, Vanderbilt

OT Mike Galassi, Walsh

RB Mark Bonds, Western Michigan

FS Nick Solakian, Yale

DETROIT

OLB Drew Fowler, Air Force

LS Jonathan Weeks, Baylor

TE Buck Reed, Bethel College (TN)

OG Jeremy Breath, Delaware State

C Matt Butler, East Carolina

DL Larry Luster, Eastern Illinois

CB J.R. Bryant, Florida State

CB Steven Williams, Harvard

DT Shemiah LeGrande, Hofstra

CB Justin Sanders, Illinois

C Rory Thomas, Indiana PA

K Troy Van Blarcom, Kansas Wesleyan

CB Terrance Butler, Louisville

QB Eric Sanders, Northern Iowa

OG Dan Marshall, Northwood

WR Kim Thompson, Northwestern

RB Rodney Kinlaw, Penn State

FS Stephen Howell, Richmond

WR Ramal Porter, San Diego State

WR Larry Shipp, Tennessee Tech

CB Stephen Hodge, Texas A&M

P Chris MacDonald, Texas State

OG David Perkins, Toledo

WR Demetrius Harrison, Towson

WR Paul Perry, Towson

GREEN BAY

LB Josh Ferguson, Purdue

RB Louie Runnels, Stephen F. Austin

KANSAS CITY

WR Jeremy Trimble, Army

MIAMI

DT Anthony Toribio, Carson-Newman

DE Brandon Jones, Newberry

MINNESOTA

WR Anthony Schreiber, Bemidji State

FB Tom Busch, Iowa

ILB Mike Sherels, Minnesota

TE Jeff Fielder, Minnesota State

P Brent Halfmann, North Dakota

FB Josiah Fenceroy, Sioux Falls

NEW ENGLAND

TE Tyson DeVree, Colorado

P Mike Dragosavich, North Dakota State

NEW ORLEANS

OLB Shonda Faulkner, Indiana State

WR Byron Ross, Southeastern Louisiana

NY JETS

RB Kareem Huggins, Hofstra

WR Charles Sullivan, Hofstra

K Patrick Fisher, LSU

WR Alan Turner, Southern Illinois

DE Jacob Owens, Fairmont State

WR Alan Turner, Southern Illinois

TE Brad Listorti, UMASS

TAMPA BAY

QB Sam Keller, Nebraska

OT Jared Carnes, South Florida

WR Amarri Jackson, South Florida

OT Walt Walker, South Florida

WASHINGTON

TE Jay Sonnhalter, East Carolina

DB Steve Tate, Hofstra

TE Jason Goode, Maryland

TE Brandon Davis, Northern Illinois

DT J.T. Mapu, Tennessee

CFI: POST GAME - WEEK 13 PART II

OH, THOSE TIGERS

Everyone knows about the Missouri Tigers’ two-headed monster at tight end in senior Martin Rucker (5 receptions, 40 yards, TD) and Chase Coffman (2 receptions, 14 yards) -- a duo the Jayhawks did a nice job of containing. Last year’s leading receiver Will Franklin (5 receptions, 32 yards) only put up modest numbers himself, while freshman sensation Jeremy Maclin led them with his 10 grabs, but again KU had to be happy they kept the record-setting playmaker to only 6.9 yards per grab. How did Chase Daniel throw for 361 yards, you might ask? Career days from sophomore Danario Alexander (8 receptions, 117 yards, TD) and junior Tommy Saunders (8 receptions, 82 yards) certainly helped him achieve those numbers. It seemed like every time Daniel needed a big play, he looked to the 6’4” Alexander.

You know what else this means? The Tigers could be just as dangerous in 2008 with Daniel, Maclin, Alexander, Saunders and Coffman returning.

On the defensive side of the ball, one player stood out among the others -- junior safety William Moore (pictured). He was all over the field Saturday night, tied with linebacker Sean Weatherspoon for the team lead in tackles (seven). Moore also had a tackle for a loss displaying his ability to play near the line of scrimmage and made a key interception near the goal line, stifling a Kansas drive. Moore is a tremendous athlete who can play either safety position. He was also part of a secondary that took Kansas’ top receiver out of the game. Marcus Henry was limited to two receptions for 17 yards…in his three previous games the senior put up 18 receptions for 392 yards and five touchdowns.

ONE PLAY AWAY

The Hokies win over Virginia has them in the ACC Championship, but had their stellar defense been able to make one stop on a rainy night back in October against Matt Ryan, Tech would be right there with West Virginia and Missouri staking a claim to one of the two spots for the BCS Championship game.

MATTY ICE IS STILL NICE

Speaking of Mr. Ryan, before you write him off as a Heisman candidate let’s at least take a look at what he’s done “wrong”. At 8-0 and coming off his thrilling comeback in Blacksburg, Ryan was atop the Heisman race. In four November games, Ryan has thrown for 1,520 yards (380 yards per game). The problem? His touchdown to interception ratio was only 9:8 -- it was 19:8 over the first eight games. Not two mention two losses to start November, but let us not forget that the Eagles have won ten games and are in the ACC Championship game, far exceeding expectations. In his final game in front of the “Beantown” faithful, Ryan threw for 369 yards and three touchdowns against Miami. He also snapped a 15-game losing streak to the ‘Canes, which dates back to the “Flutie game” in 1984. Ryan’s 28th touchdown pass set a new single season school record, surpassing Flutie’s 27 in his Heisman season.

WHY NOT?

In the season of Appalachian St. and Stanford, why not UCLA in the Rose Bowl?

If the UCLA Bruins defeat the USC Trojans and Arizona upends Arizona St. it would leave four teams tied atop the conference standing: USC, UCLA, Arizona St. and the Oregon-Oregon St. winner. With wins over Oregon, Oregon St. and USC (assuming for these purposes), the Bruins would be 2-1 in a head-to-head comparison. If the Ducks win (at home vs. OSU), it would come down to Oregon and UCLA, with the Bruins coming out on top by virtue of their 16-0 win last week. If the Beavers win, losses to USC, UCLA and ASU would knock them out of the running, while the remaining three all split the round robin. The next tiebreaker would knock out the Sun Devils since they lost to “the team occupying the highest position in the final regular season standings”, which is likely to be USC. That leaves us with the teams from the City of Angels and the Bruins winning out again, by virtue of their (hypothetical) win this week over the Men of Troy.

Got all of that?

And you thought the BCS was confusing.

MOMENTUM

It was interesting that the day after the LSU Tigers dropped a 50-48 contest in triple overtime to Arkansas, the Tennessee Volunteers defeated Kentucky in four overtimes, 52-50. So will the Vols build on their emotional win, which included blowing a 17-point lead, UT blocking a potential game-winning field goal in the second overtime, before a two-point conversion from Erik Ainge to Austin Rogers was the difference? Or will LSU come in down? In Baton Rouge, the two-point play was also decisive, as Felix Jones ran it in (following Peyton Hillis’ TD run), with Darren McFadden on the sideline, while Matt Flynn’s final pass landed softly in the hands of an Arkansas’ defender. The Bayou Bengals are sure to lament a 4th-and-10 they allowed Casey Dick to convert in the first overtime.

Photo Credit: Mizzou Media Relations

Ole Miss hires former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt

By CHRIS TALBOTT
Associated Press Writer

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Houston Nutt wasn't out of a job for long: He was hired as Mississippi's football coach just hours after resigning at Arkansas.

Nutt agreed to a contract late Monday night, and replaces Ed Orgeron, who was fired Saturday after the Rebels lost to rival Mississippi State and finished 3-9.

The hiring of Nutt was confirmed by a person close to the program who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made.

Nutt resigned even though the Razorbacks upset then-No. 1 LSU 50-48 in triple overtime last week.

Mississippi planned an announcement on its coaching situation later Tuesday.

Nutt, a proven winner, fits the description of the coach Ole Miss was looking for. He is 111-70 in 15 years as a head coach at Arkansas, Boise State and Murray State.

And he's been a winner in the Southeastern Conference, too. Nutt, a native of Little Rock, Ark., rebuilt the Arkansas program, going 75-48 since he replaced Danny Ford in 1997. He was 42-38 in conference with one of his biggest wins last week against LSU.

While Arkansas is likely headed to the Cotton Bowl, Nutt will be on the recruiting trail trying to hold together the promising class Orgeron was assembling.

The 50-year-old Nutt said Monday he left Arkansas to help mend a split among fans after off-the-field problems were compounded by a difficult season. The Razorbacks started the year in the Top 25 and were expected to contend for the SEC West title.

Arkansas lost its first three SEC games and dropped out of the poll in September, fueling fan discontent over last year's transfer of quarterback Mitch Mustain and the loss of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who left for Tulsa.

A call to Nutt's agent, Jimmy Sexton, was not immediately returned.

Nutt takes over a program that has foundered since a 10-win season in 2003 under David Cutcliffe. The Rebels won a share of the SEC West that season with Eli Manning at quarterback.

Since then Ole Miss has had four or fewer wins in four seasons. Cutcliffe was fired for a lack of effort in recruiting and hoped Orgeron, who helped build two national title teams at USC as Pete Carroll's recruiting coordinator, would bring the kind of energy needed to build a winner.

Orgeron finished 10-25 and was routinely the target of fan discontent.

Athletic director Pete Boone and Chancellor Robert Khayat endorsed Orgeron midway through the season, but decided to go in a new direction after the Rebels lost five of six to end the season.

Missouri is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 36-28 win over Kansas, the Missouri Tigers (11-1) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 24.
Chase Daniel completed 40-of-49 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers won the Big 12's North Division.

With the win, the Tigers handed Kansas its first loss of the season and then earned the school's first No. 1 ranking since 1960.

"The best thing about tonight is the win," said Daniel. "The bottom line is, we got the win. I don't care what happens; I hope we are No. 1, but all of that stuff doesn't matter."

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 24 included:

• Hawaii (11-0): Colt Brennan threw for 495 yards and five touchdown as the Warriors won their first outright WAC title with a 39-27 win over Boise State.

• West Virginia (10-1): Pat White rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in the Mountaineers' 66-21 rout of Connecticut.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the third season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Select members of the FWAA board of directors decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2007 college football season, the FWAA has named the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week. This is the final selection for the 2007 season.

Mackey Award Finalists Named

MANHASSET, N.Y. – The Nassau County Sports Commission (NCSC) has announced three finalists for the 2007 John Mackey Award. Listed alphabetically, they are Travis Beckum (JR, Wisconsin), Fred Davis (SR, USC) and Martin Rucker (SR, Missouri).

The three finalists were determined by confidential balloting of the John Mackey Selection Committee. The 2007 recipient of “The Mackey” will be announced on December 6, 2007 at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show live on ESPN and presented at the Nassau County Sports Commission Annual Awards Dinner on April 28, 2008.

The John Mackey Award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame Tight End John Mackey. The Nassau County Sports Commission is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that promotes sports and healthy lifestyle for Nassau County residents and is responsible for the administration of the John Mackey Award and the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.

For additional information, please visit www.johnmackeyaward.org or www.nassausports.org.

Past John Mackey Award Recipients

Year Player School
2006 Matt Spaeth - University of Minnesota
2005 Marcedes Lewis - UCLA
2004 Heath Miller - University of Virginia
2003 Kellen Winslow II - University of Miami
2002 Dallas Clark - University of Iowa
2001 Daniel Graham - University of Colorado
2000 Tim Stratton - Purdue University

Photo Credit: Mizzou Media Relations