Mark Barron At SEC Media Days

Here is the link to the on camera interview that ESPN's Chris Low had with Alabama All American Safety Mark Barron at SEC Media Days.  Barron is from Mobile and an Alumnus of St. Paul High School.  Barron's teammate at St. Paul's was A.J. McCarron who is competing for the starting QB job at Alabama.  I thought it was interesting that Low didn't mention the connection when he asked Barron about the QB situation.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/25330/video-alabamas-mark-barron

Once Again Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Has Reloaded

Remember the names of the players mentioned in this feature on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs from the Sun Herald.  Chances are they will be among the premier Division I players in the nation in the next couple of years.

Bulldogs to report in two weeks with high hopes

By DOUG BARBER - dmbarber@sunherald.com

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs report for practice in two weeks with the usual high expectations.
Gulf Coast won the Mississippi Bowl back in December along with the MACJC state championship. The Bulldogs went 10-2 in 2010. One preseason magazine -- The Sporting News College Football -- projects the team as high as No. 2 in the nation among community colleges.
“That’s a testament to the guys who have been here before,’’ MGCCC coach Steve Campbell said on Monday. “We try to have high expectations every year. But each year is different. It’s junior college football and you have to replace so many guys.’’

Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2011/07/25/3299206/bulldogs-to-report-in-two-weeks.html#ixzz1TD3wqFvk

Pascagoula's Vick Ballard Representing Bulldogs At SEC Media Days

Here is a link to the soft spoken, yet touchdown scoring machine Vick Ballard of Mississippi State with ESPN's Chris Low at SEC Media Days.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/24967/video-mississippi-state-rb-vick-ballard

Lockett's Return Big Morale Booster For Rebels

Here is another feature on Kentrell Lockett from SEC Media Days:

Rebs welcome Lockett's voice

Written by

Ross Dellenger

HOOVER, ALA. — Brandon Bolden can once again hear the laughs echoing through the hallways of the Ole Miss football facility.
"We know who that is," the Rebels running back says. "That's 40."
It's Kentrell Lockett, the joke-telling, morale-boosting, charisma-oozing Ole Miss defensive end who wears No. 40 on game days.
Lockett, granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after a season-ending injury early last season, has returned to his old form - vintage Lockett, some would say.

To continue reading go to:  http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110723/SPORTS030103/107230326/Rebs-welcome-Lockett-s-voice?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

Hahnville's Kentrell Lockett Preseason All-SEC Pick For Rebels

Hahnville High School in Boutte, Louisiana is one of the strongest programs in the state.  Its alumni include former LSU All American and current Washington Redskins Safety LaRon Landry.  Another former Hahnville Tiger is also bracing for a big season.  Ole Miss Defensive End Kentrell Lockett has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, and is a preseason All SEC selection after missing the majority of the 2010 season due to injury.  Lockett was one of the player representatives for Ole Miss during SEC Media Days and the following is an excerpt from ESPN.com about his return from injury and the high expectations on him for the upcoming season.

Kentrell Lockett: A Rebel with a cause

By Edward Aschoff

HOOVER, Ala. -- Superman lives.

Ole Miss senior defensive end Kentrell Lockett, or "Superman" to his fans, is back and ready to exact his revenge on skittish quarterbacks around the SEC.

[+] Enlarge

Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesKentrell Lockett suffered a knee injury last season, but coach Houston Nutt expects "him to be full go the first game."

Lockett, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility after suffering an ACL injury early last season, says he's fully healthy and ready for his last romp through the SEC.

Lockett skipped spring practice to recover more, but insists that he hasn't lost any quickness or mobility.

To continue reading go to: 
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation

Dan Mullen Imitates Steve Spurrier

Although it is very brief, the highlight of this video clip of Dan Mullen at SEC Media Days on sportsillustrated.com is his impersonation of Steve Spurrier.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/video/ncaaf_video/2011/07/21/072111.allaccess_mullen.SportsIllustrated/index.html?sct=cf_t2_a11

Auburn Won't Have A Drop Off According To Mobile Oddsmaker Danny Sheridan

National Oddsmaker Danny Sheridan of Mobile says that most predictions about Auburn experiencing a letdown this season are wrong.

Agree or disagree with Danny Sheridan's predictions, it's hard to bet against him (Kennedy)

By Randy Kennedy
Mobile Press Register

Nobody knows betting odds better than Danny Sheridan. So the Mobile native and oddsmaker for USA Today is probably right when he says it's better than even money that his predictions for the 2011 college football season will cause some fans to question his sanity and others to encourage him to find another line of work.
"Everybody is assuming that Auburn isn't going to be any good and they're trying to give them a free pass this season," Sheridan said on the eve of SEC Media Days. "But if Auburn doesn't win this year, then the coaching staff didn't do their job the last three years getting their young and talented players some experience. They have recruited great and have a lot of talent. Gene Chizik should take a voluntary pay cut if Auburn doesn't win at least nine games this season."

For full article go to:  http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/agree_or_disagree_with_danny_s.html

Will Trent Richardson Be Pensacola's Next World Class Athlete?

Pensacola has definitely produced its share of world-class athletetes:  NFL all time leading rusher Emmit Smith, nine time All Pro Linebacker Derrick Brooks and boxing great Roy Jones, Jr.  It is yet to be determined whether Alabama RB Trent Richardson will reach their level of achievement, but the expectations are very high for the former All American from Escambia High School, who has been very impressive in his first two seasons while sharing the backfield with Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.  With Ingram's departure and Richardson's display of potential, his new role as the Crimson Tide's featured running back has thrusted him into the national spotlight as one of the anticipated premier players this fall, even though he has yet to run for 1000 yards in a season.    

Richardson's hometwon newspaper, the Pensacola News Journal, published an article this past week on the many preseason accolades that he has received.

Let the Trent Richardson hype begin

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Trent Richardson hype for the 2011 college football season is in full swing now.
A graduate of Escambia High School, Richardson's preseason honors now include his selection to the coaches' All-Southeastern Conference first team on Thursday.
Preparing for his first season as the featured back at Alabama, Richardson, a 5-foot-11, 224-pound junior, has already been named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which has been presented to the country's outstanding college football player since 1937.

To continue reading go to:   http://www.pnj.com/article/20110715/SPORTS/107150325/Let-Trent-Richardson-hype-begin?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|s

Pascagoula's Vick Ballard To Represent Bulldogs At SEC Media Days

Coming out of Pascagoula High School, the only scholarship offer Mississippi State RB Vick Ballard received was from Jackson State.  He greatly surpassed his light recruiting status becoming a JUCO All American at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and then leading the SEC with 19 touchdowns in his initial season with the Bulldogs.  Ballard will be representing Mississippi State in SEC Media Days July 20-22 in Birmingham.  Other Gulf Coast players mentioned in the following article from http://www.gulflive.com/ leading their respective teams at SEC Media Days are:  Kentrell Lockett (Ole Miss, Boutte, LA), Trent Richardson (Alabama, Penscacola), Mark Barron (Alabama, Mobile), Jordan Jefferson (LSU, Destrehan, LA).

View full sizeMississippi State running back Vick Ballard evades Ole Miss safety Fon Ingram while scoring a second-half touchdown during the Bulldogs' 31-23 win in the 2010 Egg Bowl. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Pascagoula's Vick Ballard to meet the press for Mississippi State

By Evan Woodbery/Auburn Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times The Mississippi Press
Pascagoula native Vick Ballard, who burst onto the SEC scene with a big debut season in 2010, will represent Mississippi State later this month at the league’s media days.
The SEC released the list of 36 players who will join their coaches at the conference kickoff July 20-22 in Hoover, Ala.
For full article go to:  http://www.gulflive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/pascagoulas_vick_ballard_to_me.html
 

Will Jordan Jefferson Have A Jason Campbell Like Senior Season?

Before becoming a first round NFL Draft Pick and leading Auburn to an undefeated record in his senior season, QB Jason Campbell was having a very average career for the Tigers on the Plains.  With similar physical features and non spectacular passing statistics, Scott Hotard of the Baton Rouge Advocate draws comparisons between Campbell and LSU QB Jordan Jefferson along with the hope that Jefferson will have a breakout senior season as well.

HOTARD: Jefferson poised for big season?

Scott Hotard

Advocate Sportswriter

1 Comments

Entering his senior season at Auburn, Jason Campbell was 18-9 in 27 career starts with a 25-17 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Entering his senior season at LSU, Jordan Jefferson is 20-7 in 27 career starts with a 28-18 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Campbell was listed at 6-foot-5, 228 pounds. Jefferson is listed at 6-5, 224. Campbell’s major was public administration. Jefferson’s is sports administration.

To continue reading:  http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/354897-64/hotard-jefferson-poised-for-big.html

Baton Rouge's Brandon Bolden Emerging As Rebels Leader

 

Quiet Leader Bolden ready to take charge as senior

By Brandon Marcello
In the hot summer months, an unlikely leader has emerged for the Ole Miss football team.
"I'd love to say it's one of our three quarterbacks," said Rebels offensive coordinator David Lee, "but that hasn't happened yet."
While the quarterback debate will likely last through August two-a-days and perhaps right up until the Sept. 3 opener against BYU, Lee no longer worries about who may or may not be his best offensive weapon or his on-the-field leader.
To continue reading go to:  http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110708/SPORTS030103/107080335/Quiet-Leader-Bolden-ready-take-charge-senior

Inside or Outside? Where does LB transfer Maye fit best for MSU?

Clemson transfer Brandon Maye hopes to lead Mississippi State to the SEC title game in 2011. (Bill Simmonds/Special to The Clarion-Ledger)

The Mississippi State Linebacking Corps has been depleted from last season sending both Chris White and K. J. Wright to the NFL.  Bulldog fans are looking to Clemson transfer Brandon Maye to be their savior. Maye has graduated but qualifies for a final year of eligibility under a special NCAA rule by enrolling in a graduate school program that Clemson does not offer. 

The Mobile native and former 3 Star recruit out of Davidson High School had a stellar career at the Atlantic Coast version of Death Valley, making the All ACC Freshmen Team.  The Jackson Clarion Ledger published two articles this past weekend documenting Maye's transition both on and off the field:
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011107100336http://blogs.clarionledger.com/msu/2011/07/10/injury-pushes-maye-in-classroom-and-eventually-to-msu/


  

Lake Charles Native Janzen Jackson Returns To UT Football Team

After withdrawing from school in February to deal with undisclosed personal problems, Janzen Jackson, the former high school All American DB from Barbe High School in Lake Charles who had originally committed to LSU before switching to Tennessee on National Signing Day, is now enrolled for the second summer semester and will be back on the Volunteer Football Team this fall. 

Jackson's two years on Rocky Top, well, has been rocky.  In his short but turbulent time in Knoxville he has provent to be an incredible talent making the All SEC Freshmen Team and then making 2nd Team All SEC as a sophomore in which he also intercepted 5 passes.  However, personal issues off the field seems to have been more challenging than covering lightening fast SEC Wide Recievers.  As a Freshman he was suspended for one game under then Coach Lane Kiffin for violating team rules, and then was suspended for three more for being allegedly involved in a robbery with other Vol players at a Knoxville convenience store for which charges were later dropped.  Then as a sophomore, he did not participate in UT's Music City Bowl practices or the game itself to deal with personal issues, and then withdrew from school in February to deal with the same personal issues according to Coach Derek Dooley.

The following link is an editorial from John Adams of the Knoxville News Sentinel about what Jackson must prove with his reinstatement:  http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/jul/06/john-adams-yet-another-chance-janzen-jackson-payof/?partner=popular