SEC Football: Top 5 Wide Receiver Candidates for 2011

Joe Adams (pictured r.) in 2011 spring scrimmage

Over the last three seasons, the SEC has seen plenty of talent at wide receiver, but the media love was pointed squarely on the jersey's of two phenoms: A.J. Green and Julio Jones. Both players were game-changers for their respective teams and their potential as impact players on the next level led them to be selected in the Top 10 of this years NFL Draft. Their departures leave the door wide open for a few other difference-makers in the SEC, some of whom need no introductions, to make their presence felt on a national level.

The players you will find in this list are guys who have made key contributions on their teams already and could be poised to have an outstanding season in 2011:

1. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina: This is a no-brainer. Jeffery could have been a first-round pick in this year's draft had he been eligible, but his under-classmen's status will be South Carolina's gain this year as his return is sure to have SEC defensive backs running scared. Last season, he put up some beastly numbers (88 receptions, 1,517 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 17.24 ypc average) on his way to helping lead the Gamecocks to their first SEC Championship Game appearance in more than two decades. This season, if South Carolina can settle their quarterback situation, you can expect to see a lot more of him on the highlight reel.

2. Joe Adams, Arkansas: Where Cobi Hamilton (see next) brings the thunder, Adams is most certainly the lightning as the rising senior lit up the Arkansas spring game for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He is clearly on a mission to lay waste in the SEC West this season and assert himself as a candidate for the league's best player. Look for him to make a marked improvement over last season's numbers in Petrino's pass-happy offense (50 receptions, 813 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 16.26 ypc average).

3. Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas: Before you figure me for a fool because I neglected to name either Greg Childs or Jarius Wright in this space, hear me out. Hamilton, the junior receiver who is often lost in the shuffle of the Razorbacks plethora of talent at receiver, did more with less than any other wide receiver on the team last season (32 receptions, 680 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 19.69 ypc average). Even more, he barely played until after the first four games were in the books. Hamilton had a great spring and looks to be on track for a breakout season with the Hogs.

4. Justin Hunter, Tennessee: Denarious Moore is gone and the Vols will be looking to a new guy to fill that void, look no further than Justin Hunter (16 receptions, 415 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 25.94 ypc average). Hunter has the size, the physical playing style, and the talent to both stretch the field and make the big plays.With Tyler Bray solidifying his place at quarterback—stabilizing the Vols passing game—you can expect to see a lot more of Houston in 2011.

5. Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State: Bulldog quarterback, Chris Relf, isn't exactly a candidate to win any Heisman trophies, but he won't have to be if he can avoid making bad decisions with the football. Bumphis (44 receptions, 634 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 14.41 ypc average) is a skilled receiver with a ton of speed and he can definitely make plays in the open field. With the Bulldogs returning much of their offense, bolstered in part by the stout running of Vick Ballard, Mississippi State could be tough yet again.

Other notable players: Orson Charles, Georgia, Jarius Wright, Arkansas, Rueben Randle, LSU, Emory Blake, Auburn, LaDarius Perkins, Mississippi State

So, who did I miss? Go ahead...feel free to let me know.

*All stats appear courtesy of cfbstats.com.

Cam Newton and Under-Armour Make A Deal

Under-Armour must have a lot of faith in what Cam Newton can do for them, and their brand, after offering the Heisman winner $1 million to endorse their athletic training products—beating out Nike for his services.

While some are predicting that Newton could go be a Top 5 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, it is much more likely that his name in the public arena already dwarfs whatever his actual draft position turns out to be.

As for Nike, they tried to get in on the Newton sweepstakes, but they obviously felt comfortable that they had enough in their coiffures to remain atop the sports apparel, and shoe mountain, if he didn't jump on board. Under-Armour, however, needed a name to push their brand forward and there isn't a hotter name out there right now than Cam Newton currently. The high degree of public interest in him will only trend higher between now and the NFL Draft (April 28-30) and that can only help Under-Armour.

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College Football Preview: TCU, Cincinnati, and Northwestern Are On "Upset Alert" in Week One

The college football season is just around the bend now and we are all steadily watching the injury reports and scrimmage outcomes as we get ever-so-close to snap one of the NCAA football season.

Even more, if you are anything like me, you are taking a closer look at the match-ups taking place in week one and wondering who might be caught sleeping a little while still basking in the glow of their preseason hype.

In 2009, it was Oregon. So enthralled were they with the accolades and the prognosticators who thought they would be a potential sleeper pick for the BCS title, they forgot to show up against a very hungry Boise State team with a lot to prove and one very huge chip on their shoulder. The result, a loss for those Ducks and a permanent place in history for one Oregon player who couldn't keep his hands to himself.

So, who should be very careful tip-toeing into week one of 2010:


1. TCU vs Oregon State (TCU -12.5)

The Horned Frogs are eager to right the wrong that was their loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl last season. They came in with just as much pomp and circumstance as those Broncos from Idaho, but failed to deliver on the goods as they walked away with a bitter loss.

2010 promises a new look to their defense, minus Daryl Washington and Jerry Hughes, but the corps of their offense and plenty of talent on the defense still remains. That said, they will be looking to run over and place a firm set of handcuffs on the Mountain West again this year in hopes of gaining another shot at BCS glory.

However, they would do well not to overlook the under-appreciated and under stated talent of the Oregon State Beavers. The Beavers were one win away from making a Rose Bowl appearance in 2009 and played very well against the Pac-10 last season.

They have a solid offensive line, two phenomenal talents in both Jacquizz and James Rodgers, and a chip that sits similar to the one that Boise came in with against Oregon last season. If the Beavers can find an adequate replacement for QB, Sean Canfield, this game could be a lot more interesting than many think.

2. Cincinnati at Fresno State (No Line Yet)

Despite the fact the Bearcats lost Tony Pike (QB) and Mardy Gilyard (WR) to the NFL Draft and their former head coach, Brian Kelly, to Notre Dame, people still seem to feel they will be the team to beat in the Big East this season.

The Bearcats have options at quarterback, most notably QB Zach Collaros who fared well in relief of Tony Pike last season. Even more, the receiving corps, even minus the talented Gilyard, has just as much promise with Armon Binns leading the way and former USC recruit, Vidal Hazelton, finally able to contribute as well.

Plus, there is plenty of reason to feel that Butch Jones, who replaced Brian Kelly when he moved on from Central Michigan as well, will do a more than capable job of replacing him at Cincy too—at least that's the thinking.

No matter what the Bearcat hopeful are shooting for this season, the fact remains that they are still questionable on defense and apt to give up more points than you'd like to see on any given Saturday—a weakness that shone most brightly near the tail end of the year.

Fresno State gave the Bearcats all they could handle last season in a 28-20 loss in Cincy, look for the Bulldogs to come out firing on all cylinders in this rematch as they try and avenge that bitter loss on their home turf—minus the stellar running of Ryan Matthews but with the, hopefully, much improved arm of Ryan Colburn.

3. Northwestern at Vanderbilt (Northwestern -3.5)

The Wildcats lost a significant portion of their offense with the departures of QB Mike Kafka as well as their two leading receivers, Andrew Brewer and Zeke Markhausen. Even still, they return the bulk of their offensive line so new QB, Dan Persa, will have a firm foundation as far as that is concerned.

Their defense will be solid up front, despite the loss of Corey Wooton, but their secondary will need an overhaul after losing all three starters.

Vanderbilt may seem like a relative throw-away opponent for the Wildcats who are much more steady in several key areas than the Commodores who will not only be breaking in a new head coach, but are also shaky on the offensive line—at best.

So, how could this game possibly be an "upset special"...well, no one thought Northwestern should have lost to either Syracuse or Minnesota either. The Commodores may have plenty holes to fill but their fiery new coach will have them more prepared for this game than any other this season and that makes this a dangerous proposition for the Wildcats.

Six Georgia Bulldogs Make 2010 Preseason All-SEC, But...

The 2010 coaches' preseason All-SEC team was released on Tuesday and six Georgia Bulldogs made the list.

Four players earned a place on the first team, as A.J. Green (WR), Drew Butler (P), Blair Walsh (K), and Clint Boling (OL) all made the cut.

Heading up the second team were Cordy Glenn (OL) and Brandon Boykin (DB)—Boykin made the team as a member of the special teams. His multiple 100-yard returns last season, no doubt, played a part in the selection.

However, what's more intriguing than who did make the list was who didn't.

Justin Houston, the Georgia Bulldogs standout defensive end who, despite missing the first two games of the 2009 season, racked up 38 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss (2nd in the SEC), and 7.5. sacks (3rd in the SEC) didn't receive a nod.

It's a head-scratcher considering the expectations for him in 2010 are very high. The talented player, who recently made the move to outside linebacker, is considered by many to be in line for a stellar year playing in Georgia's newly installed 3-4 defensive scheme.  And, depending on his success this season, there is a good possibility that he could become an early round selection in next year's NFL Draft.

So, it begs the question, how on earth did the coaches see fit to leave him off the list?

Did his suspension at the start of 2009 play a role in their decision?

Did the lack of eye-popping tackles overshadow his other more impressive stats?

Whatever the case may be, it's clear that Houston still has some proving to do in the SEC and I have no doubt he's more than ready for the challenge.

Sam Bradford Could Earn $50 Million Based On His...Potential—Huh?

Sam Bradford was the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He is now entitled to guaranteed monies in the neighborhood of $45+ million—more than Matthew Stafford received last season from the Detroit Lions as their No. 1 pick.

My first question is, why?

Bradford sustained an injury in the first game of the 2009 college football season and, basically, missed the year.  Yet, he's guaranteed to make $45+ million as a pro player?...Wow, that's a nice gig if you can get it.

First of all, I don't blame Sam Bradford for taking the money, but I can understand a proven veteran player who will feel upset as a result. Bradford may be full of potential but, as my mother always said, "potential means you ain't done squat, yet."

Bradford will be a rookie on a team that is in rebuild mode but commanding that kind of a price tag on your skills means that your learning curve just got shorter. No matter what state the Rams are in at this time, Bradford will be looked upon as the savior and, as such, will be expected to produce big results  within the next season or two.

Is that fair to Bradford? No, but it comes with the job and the money. Just ask Reggie Bush how hefty his burden was coming into New Orleans after the tragedy of Katrina. Or, better still (and a little less dramatic), ask Matthew Stafford what he's expected to do in season two with the Lions—they expect better than eight wins in 2010.

No excuses. 

However, if there were a more reasonable system in place for paying the unproven rookie, players like Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, JaMarcus Russell, and Mario Williams would be less savior than table-setter. Even more, the passion and the work-ethic to prove their worth would be greater—possibly translating into more-focused play on the field.  

For example, Sam Bradford's contract would likely look like this: 3-years, $8.5 million with around $4 million guaranteed—sounds like a bargain, right? Perhaps Bradford's agent wouldn't be nearly as happy with his cut, but in my opinion, it's high time the agents stopped becoming the focal point of the negotiation.

Let's get back to the dollars and sense of it all: if it doesn't make sense, don't spend the dollars. Period.

Some might say, well, what if Bradford comes in and blows people out of the water (leading the Rams to the playoffs in his first two years as a starter)? At that point, you have a situation where the Rams will be placed into a bidding war for his services—they could lose him to a team with deeper pockets.

Look at what happened in Cleveland with LeBron James!

That's a good point, but, you have to take into account your relationship with that player as well. If he sees the opportunity to continue with the franchise that drafted him as a positive thing (i.e. they are bringing in the right personnel and making the proper adjustments around him to help him maintain his success), then the likelihood of him bolting is minimal.

It's a calculated risk but it's a risk worth taking when you consider the sheer number of players selected in the Top 10 who don't pan out.

The downside of this is that as the picks get higher, the guys outside of the Top 15 will stand to make even less money than they do now. However, that also means that some early-entry players from the NCAA ranks could decide to stick around a little longer to increase their draft stock.

As a college football, fan, I see little wrong with that scenario. One more year of Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford would have been nice for Georgia in 2009—just saying.

In the end, though, there is plenty to be discussed and lots to consider when making a change as big as this one would be. However, the fact remains, it's time for a NFL Rookie Wage scale to be put into place—pay needs to start reflecting play instead of potential.

Nuff' said.

The Georgia Bulldogs Receive 13th Commitment With Hunter Long

The Georgia Bulldogs received the allegiance of a stellar offensive lineman in Watts Dantzler on this past Sunday. Today they added another nice piece to their future offensive line puzzle in Hunter Long.  He wasn't recruited with as much gusto or fanfare as Watts Dantzler but he will hopefully be a solid addition to what is shaping up to be a nice 2011 recruiting class.

He will join his older brother Austin, who signed on with the Bulldogs last season and who is expected to play the prestigious left tackle spot at some point in the near future. Unlike Hunter, Austin was a U.S. Army All-American and was heavily recruited by every major SEC school in the country—including both Alabama and Florida.

Hunter is rated the No. 11 propect in the state and held offers from Memphis, Murray State, Arkansas State, Tennessee-Martin, Southern Miss, and Middle Tennessee State before receiving his most recent offer from the Georgia Bulldogs—an offer he accepted on the spot.

Despite his 3-star rating, Long is considered to be a good athlete and Georgia offensive line coach, Stacy Searles obviously likes what he has seen from this young man during his time camping at Georgia.

For those who choose to question the offer when no other major D-I school seemed to be on Long's radar, I need only mention that both Ben Jones and Clint Boling were also rated as 3-star prospects and Boling, in particular, is considered a first-round prospect for the 2011 NFL Draft.

Sometimes it's all about the coaching—the stars just look pretty on paper.

The Georgia Bulldogs continue to do well on the recruiting trail and it's any body's guess who will be the next to take the plunge.



John Isner

After making Wimbledon tennis history by competing in the longest set ever played, Isner finally managed to win the competition. He will face Thiemo De Bakker in round 2.

Wimbledon Round 1: John Isner def Nicolas Mahut
	John Isner (23) 6 3 6 7 70 Nicolas Mahut 4 6 7 6 68 Next match: Round 2, Thiemo De Bakker vs. John Isner (23)

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Two Georgia Bulldogs Listed on Outland Trophy Watch List

The 2010 preseason Outland Trophy watch list has been released and Georgia Bulldog linemen, Ben Jones (C) and Clint Boling (T) have made the cut.

The Outland Trophy is awarded yearly to the nation's top interior lineman, on either side of the ball, and has been handed out since 1946. It has been awarded to a Georgia Bulldog player only once—Bill Stanfill took home the honor in 1968.

Both Boling and Jones are thought by many to be future first-round draft picks and are expected to be very important pieces to one of the more experienced offensive lines in the nation for 2010.

The total number of players listed on the watch list totaled 63—including 11 SEC players—and the last four winners eventually would be chosen in the Top 10 of the NFL Draft that same year.

Other Notable SEC Players Listed:

James Carpenter, Alabama (T)
Omar Hunter, Florida (DT)
Carl Johnson, Florida (G)
Barrett Jones, Alabama (G)
DeMarcus Love, Arkansas (T)
Drake Nevis, LSU (DT)
Mike Pouncey, Florida (C)
Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss (DT)
Lee Ziemba, Auburn (T)

Also worth noting, linebacker, Justin Houston has been tabbed for the Bronco Nagurski watch list. The Nagurski is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player. Houston is expected by many to have a stellar season operating under new defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham's, 3-4 defense.