College Confidential

Baylor stands alone without RG3

When Robert Griffin III announced he would be entering the NFL draft, the expectations for Baylor’s 2012 season took a harder crash than the stock market in 2008.

After two consecutive bowl appearances with Griffin that turned the face of the Baylor football program around, most critics thought the program would end just as quickly as it started when Griffin left.

Now, a year later, the Baylor Bears stand before their last regular season game against Oklahoma State having already claimed bowl eligibility for a third consecutive year. Without Griffin.

“That just goes to show that it wasn’t the players that got us there,” nickelback Ahmad Dixon said. “It was the coaches, it was the strength and conditioning staff and all of the others, all of the little things that got us there, not just one player or two or three guys.”

All-American receiver Terrance Williams said the credit needs to be given to everyone on the team. He said they worked hard, paid attention to the little details, and knew the struggle they were up against, but also knew there would be no drop off in production.

Griffin stood on the sidelines last week as he watched his former teammates make Baylor history by clenching bowl eligibility with a win over Texas Tech. Although Griffin was and continues to be a huge part of the Baylor family, this year’s team has proved that they can pull together as a whole unit and make improvements where needed.

Perhaps one of the most noticeable and effective improvements that have been made this season was in the defense. Throughout most of the season, Baylor had the worst ranked defense nationally.

The changes are noticeable. The Baylor defense had three turnovers in its upset of then top-ranked Kansas State. Last week against Texas Tech, the team forced four turnovers, helping to push them to victory in that game.

In addition, Baylor has claimed the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week two weeks in a row. First cornerback Joe Williams against Kansas State then middle linebacker Eddie Lackey against Texas Tech.

“I think when people across the conference and the nation look at us they think, ‘Hey, that’s a pretty tough football team,’” head coach Art Briles said. “These guys are going to fight hard, they’re going to play hard, they’re going to have some dynamic qualities to them on both sides of the ball. So I think we’re working hard to relevant, and that’s the thing you want to be in this business. You want to be relevant.”

This season, Baylor has been able to successfully find an identity without RG3. It is a different identity than the one developed with Griffin, but is an identity nonetheless; one that has kept the team motivated and ready to work hard, no matter at what point in the season or the opponent. -- Savannah Pullin

Phillips bounces back after rough start

Texas Longhorns strong safety Adrian Phillips has worked himself back into the mix defensively after a rough start to his junior campaign. 

Phillips briefly lost his spot atop the depth chart in October, mainly because of poor tackling. But he's rebounded well and become a factor defensively for Texas in recent weeks.  

"I had to identify the problem and get it fixed," Phillips said. "It was just missed tackles. I just have to eliminate the missed tackles and that can hurt any defense. One player can mess up the whole team and I just have to get that fixed."

Phillips twice missed tackles on long touchdowns against Oklahoma State on Sept. 29, and saw a decrease in playing time in the following weeks. Several games passed before the Texas coaching staff regained faith in Phillips as a tackler. 

Now, Phillips is once again making plays in the secondary for the No. 23 Longhorns (8-3, 5-3 Big 12). He had his first interception of the season against TCU on Thanksgiving and is third on the team with 67 total tackles.  

During those early struggles, free safety Kenny Vaccaro drew upon past experience to help his fellow defensive back.  

"I think his confidence got down," Vaccaro said. "I told him, 'My junior year, I didn't start out hot. Nobody was talking about me and then I got better. If you get better and better every game,that's how you get better as a player.' I think he really took that to heart and started playing better."

Senior defensive end Alex Okafor said he's been impressed by Phillips' thick skin.

"He received a lot of criticism at the beginning of the season, but he didn't let it get to him," Okafor said. "He always kept a positive mindset. I'm just so proud of him for being able to stay on and stay confident and continue to elevate his game."

Phillips had successful surgery on his right shoulder and January and missed spring practice as a result. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz believes that played a role in Phillips' slow start. 

"I would certainly say that was a factor," Diaz said. "He plays a position with a lot of physical, one-on-one tackles that he has to make. I would imagine he'll benefit next year, getting a full season of being able to lift weights.

"All that being said, he has played much better the last four weeks and he's been very important to us. It's been valuable having him come back and play the role he has."

The Longhorns will need Phillips to be a sound tackler again on Saturday at No. 7 Kansas State (10-1, 7-1). Led by bruising dual-threat quarterback Collin Klein, the Wildcats lead the Big 12 with 36 rushing touchdowns. 

By Austin Laymance/Special to the Star-Telegram

Sooners game against TCU "the biggest game of the year, by far," Stoops says

Oklahoma Sooners football coach Bob Stoops was a little ticked on his radio show earlier this week when the subject, again, was brought up that the Sooners would be facing a natural letdown in Saturday's game against the TCU Horned Frogs after dramatic victories over West Virginia and Oklahoma State.

The overtime victory against Oklahoma State set off a long postgame celebration at Owen Field. Oklahoma's season, and maybe its reputation, seemed ready to go over a physical cliff had the West Virginia and OSU games not been steered away from the abyss by last-second touchdowns.

But as far as letdown at 11 a.m. Saturday in Fort Worth, against a 7-4 TCU team?

"I don't get that," Stoops said Tuesday. "I'm really tired of hearing about it, to be honest with you."

Stoops said he's always preached that the more you win, the bigger the games get.

"We've got a big challenge in front of us, on the road, a chance for the Big 12 championship. What more do you need?  To me, it's the biggest game of the year, by far."

-- Vince Langford

 

Was wrong TCU player credited with act of sportsmanship as Sooners kept winning streak alive?

The Oklahoman sports columnist Berry Tramel tried to get to the bottom of the fabled act of sportsmanship by TCU football player Johnny Crouch in the Oklahoma Sooners' 1954 home game against the Horned Frogs.

Legend has it that Crouch admitted to a game official that, no, he didn't catch a pass that was called a touchdown, that he had caught it on a hop.

Tramel did his best to try to find Crouch, a captain of that 1954 TCU team. "Efforts to reach Crouch failed, and I had half of Fort Worth looking for him this week," Tramel writes.

TCU built a 16-7 lead. Oklahoma rallied to score two touchdowns in the final 10 minutes and won 21-16, Tramel writes, and extended the Sooners' winning streak to 11 games, a streak that would grow to a storied 47 straight.

The game ended with TCU's Ronnie Clinkscale tackled at the Oklahoma 7-yard line. Different game had Crouch's apparent 38-yard touchdown catch not been ruled incomplete.

Read Trammel's column here.

 

 

Malcolm Brown sees decrease in touches

Malcolm Brown has all but disappeared from the Texas Longhorns' offense in recent weeks.

Brown, who led Texas in rushing yards as a freshman in 2011, did not touch the ball in a 20-13 loss to TCU on Thanksgiving. In the game prior against Iowa State, Brown didn't have a touch until Texas was ahead 30-7 in the fourth quarter. 

Will the Longhorns attempt to get last year's leading rusher more involved Saturday against a Kansas State defense that allowed Baylor to run for 342 yards two weeks ago?

"I hope so," offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin said. 

That's not exactly a strong endorsement from the man calling the plays.  

On Wednesday, running backs coach Major Applewhite said Brown is fully recovered from a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for five games. Brown was injured at Oklahoma State on Sept. 29. He returned against ISU on Nov. 10. 

 
Brown's ankle injury appears to have factored into his lack of touches in recent weeks. During Brown's five-game absence, freshman Johnathan Gray rushed for 398 yards on 106 carries and emerged as the starter. Sophomore Joe Bergeron carried 69 times for 327 yards over that same period.  

"That's one thing. Guys get dinged and other guys step up," Harsin said. "Johnathan stepped up. Joe stepped up. So your game plan as the season goes on starts to form itself with some of those guys in there. Now all of a sudden one of your players comes back and you have to get them back in the mix. It's nothing against Malcolm."

Brown led Texas with 238 rushing yards during non-conference play, despite carrying just twice for five yards against New Mexico in the second game of the season. But Gray and Bergeron have been productive as well. Gray leads UT with 654 rushing yards. Bergeron is second with 562 and has a team-high 16 rushing touchdowns. Of course, there is only one football to go around. 

"Both those guys continue to keep to keep playing at a high level and doing a nice job," Harsin said of Gray and Bergeron. "We've got to get Malcolm back in the mix. But you don't want to spread it too thin to where nobody is getting enough reps as the game goes on to get into a rhythm."

Brown missed consecutive games last November, but played through a sprained MCL and turf toe against Kansas State and suited up again five days later to face Texas A&M. He totaled 29 touches in those two games, nearly triple the amount he's received since returning from his latest injury.

"I know he is frustrated," Applewhite said. 

By Austin Laymance/Special to the Star-Telegram

Manziel emerging as runaway Heisman favorite, given 1/6 odds by sports book #TAMU, #JohnnyFootball

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, a record-setting redshirt freshman, is an overwhelming favorite to become the first freshman winner of the Heisman Trophy, based on odds released today by Bovada Sport Book (www.Bovada.lv).

The site has established Manziel as a 1/6 favorite to hoist the hardware in New York on Dec. 8. Manziel, who set an SEC record for total offense (4,600 yards) while accounting for 43 touchdowns (24 pass, 19 rush) during the Aggies’ 10-2 regular season, has far more favorable odds than Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o (7/2), who ranks as the second favorite. Other candidates receiving Heisman Trophy odds today include Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein (15/2) and Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller (40/1).

Manziel, Klein and Miller are the three finalists for the 2012 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

Below is a look at today’s odds on other college football issues, including the BCS championship race:

Odds to win the 2012-2013 BCS National Championship
Alabama           4/7
Notre Dame       9/4
Georgia             9/2

Odds to win the 2012 Heisman Trophy
Johnny Manziel (QB Texas A&M)            1/6
Manti Te'o (LB Notre Dame)                    7/2
Collin Klein (QB Kansas State)               15/2
Braxton Miller (QB Ohio State)                40/1
          
SPECIALS - Who will be the Head Coach of the Auburn Tigers for the 2013-2014 season?
Bobby Petrino                7/4
Guz Malzahn                 13/4
Chad Morris                   15/4
Sonny Dykes                 5/1
Gary Patterson              21/4
Kirby Smart                   11/2
 

SPECIALS - Who will be the Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers for the 2013-2014 season?  
Butch Davis                   3/1
Larry Fedora                  15/4
Jim Tressel                    9/2
Dan Mullen                    5/1
Al Golden                      21/4
Jimbo Fisher                  7/1
 
SPECIALS - Will Chip Kelly be a Head Coach for a NFL Team for the 2013-2014 season?
Yes                  +125     (5/4)
No                    -160     (5/8)
 
SPECIALS - Will David Shaw be a Head Coach for a NFL Team for the 2013-2014 season?
Yes                  +175     (7/4)
No                    -260     (5/13)

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Texas A&M DE Moore a finalist for Hendricks Award #TAMU

Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore, who ranks second nationally in sacks (12.5) and is third in tackles for losses (20), is one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Other finalists announced today include South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, LSU’s Sam Montgomery, Southern California’s Morgan Breslin and Florida State teammates Cornelius Carradine and Bjoern Werner. The winner will be announced Dec. 5.

_ Jimmy Burch

Manziel maintains comfortable lead in weekly Scripps Heisman poll #TAMU, #JohnnyFootball, #Heisman

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, a record-setting redshirt freshman, maintained a comfortable lead in today’s 10h installment of the Scripps Howard News Service Heisman Trophy Poll.

Manziel, the first freshman in FBS history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, received eight of 10 first-place votes from members of the voting panel for a second consecutive week. He leads Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, who moved into second place after receiving the other two first-place votes from members of the voting panel.

Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, who will be the only Heisman frontrunner in action Saturday, slipped from second to third in this week’s balloting. The Wildcats (10-1) were idle last week but close the regular season Saturday against No. 18 Texas (8-3) in Manhattan, Kan.

A&M (10-2) and Notre Dame (12-0) have completed their regular seasons.

The Scripps poll is the longest-running Heisman Trophy poll in the nation. Since its inception in 1987, it has correctly forecast the Heisman winner in its final weekly installment in 21 of 25 years, including last season. Below is a look at this week’s poll and a list of voters:

This week's top five:
 
Player, School, Season Stats, Poll Points (first-place votes in parentheses).
 
1. QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, 3,419 passing yards, 68.3 completion pct., 24 TDs, 8 ints., 1,181 rushing yards, 19 TDs, 47 (8).
 
2. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, 103 tackles, 7 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered, 1.5 sacks, 36 (2).
 
3. QB Collin Klein, Kansas State, 2,306 passing yards, 66.7 completion pct., 14 TDs, 6 interceptions, 787 rushing yards, 20 TDs, 32.
 
4. RB Kenjon Barner, Oregon, 1,624 rushing yards, 21 TDs, 19 receptions, 1 TD, 12.
 
5. QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State, 2,039 passing yards, 58.3 completion pct., 15 TDs, 6 ints., 1,271 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 6
 
Others receiving votes: USC WR/KR Marqise Lee 5, Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch 4, Wisconsin RB Montee Ball 3, Clemson QB Tajh Boyd 2, Alabama QB A.J. McCarron 2, South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney 1.
 
Last week's top five:
 
Player, School, Season Stats, Poll Points (first-place votes in parentheses).
 
1. QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, 47 (8).
 
2. QB Collin Klein, Kansas State, 32 (1).
 
3. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, 27 (1).
 
4. WR/KR Marqise Lee, USC, 11.
 
5. RB Kenjon Barner, Oregon, 10.
 

   Voters: Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman; Randy Beard, Evansville Courier and Press; Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Bob Condotta, Seattle Times; Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com; Vahe Gregorian, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; John Helsley, The Oklahoman; Mike Griffith, Knoxville News-Sentinel, and Todd Jones, Columbus Dispatch.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Tevin Jackson set to make first start for Texas

The revolving door at linebacker continues for Texas this week.

Tevin Jackson is set to make his first career start for the Longhorns on Saturday, when No. 23 UT (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) visits No. 7 Kansas State (10-1, 7-1) for the regular season finale. The sophomore will be the seventh different starting linebacker for Texas this season. 

Jackson began the year backing up Demarco Cobbs at strong side linebacker. Cobbs suffered a season-ending knee injury on Thanksgiving in a 20-13 loss to TCU, which opened the door for Jackson to start this week. The Garland High School product is tied for the team lead with eight tackles on special teams. But Jackson will now be tasked with stopping a potent Kansas State rushing attack. 

"Things change and all of a sudden here you are playing massive [numbers of] snaps against really good teams," defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. "We sort of worked him into our third down packages to give him something to do midway through the year and he's made some plays doing that. But now he has to be a dependable guy to play every down on defense."

Jackson responded well to increased playing time against TCU after Cobbs was carted off the field with 11:08 remaining in the second quarter. Jackson finished the game with four tackles (three solo) and two tackles for loss. 

"When he's had his chances, he's made plays," strong safety Adrian Phillips said. "He's going to get more chances now, so he has to step up more."

Steve Edmond is the only linebacker to start all 11 games. The sophomore leads Texas with 92 tackles. Junior Jordan Hicks was expected to carry the group, but he suffered a season-ending hip injury at Mississippi on Sept. 15 and was limited to only three games. Sophomore Kendall Thompson has made six starts since, and freshmen Peter Jinkens and Dalton Santos each have a start. 

Jackson has a nose for the ball and recovered two fumbles on special teams in 12 games last season. But Saturday's contest will be his biggest challenge yet. Still, the Longhorns trust he can fill the void. 

"Tevin is going to be a great player," cornerback Quandre Diggs said. "He's making a lot of strides. He just has to continue to grow and learn concepts. He's going to be angry on the field all the time. We've just got to continue to keep him in the film room and get him right. He can be a great contributor to this defense." 

By Austin Laymance/Special to the Star-Telegram

Texas A&M QB Manziel selected as one of five finalists for Walter Camp Award #TAMU, #JohnnyFootball

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, a contender to become the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in the award’s 77-year history, was selected today as one of five finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Manziel, a redshirt freshman, was joined on the list of finalists by Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, Oregon running back Kenjon Barner and Southern California receiver Marquise Lee. The winner will be announced Dec. 6.

Below is a look at each of the finalists, based on current statistics:

KENJON BARNER – OREGON – Senior – Running Back – Kenjon Barner ranks fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game (135.33) for the 11-1 Ducks… He has totaled 1,624 rushing yards (on 248 attempts) and 21 touchdowns on the season… Barner’s 22 total touchdowns rank sixth in the nation… Barner has seven 100-yard rushing efforts on the season, including a career-high 321-yard effort – with five touchdowns – in a win over USC on November 3.

COLLIN KLEIN – KANSAS STATE – Senior – Quarterback – Collin Klein has led the Wildcats to a 10-1 record entering Saturday’s regular-season finale versus Texas… Klein has passed for 2,306 yards and 14 touchdowns, completing 172-of-258 passes… He has thrown for 200 or more yards in a game six times… A dual threat, Klein has rushed for 787 more yards and 20 touchdowns…. He has rushed for two or more touchdowns in a game six times this season.

MARQISE LEE – USC – Junior – Wide Receiver – Second in the nation in receiving yards per game (140.0), Marqise Lee has totaled 112 catches for 1,680 yards and 14 touchdowns for the 7-5 Trojans... Lee has also returned 28 kickoffs for 802 yards (28.6 yards per return) and one touchdown… His best game came in a win over Arizona on October 27 when he had 16 catches for 345 yards and two touchdowns.

JOHNNY MANZIEL – TEXAS A&M – Redshirt Freshman – Quarterback – Johnny Manziel ranks second in the nation in total offense (383.3 yards per game) for the 10-2 Aggies… He has passed for 3,419 yards and 24 touchdowns, completing 273-of-400 throws… Manziel has thrown for 200 or more yards nine times this season… He has rushed for 1,181 yards and 19 touchdowns, including six 100-yard efforts… His best game came in a win over Louisiana Tech on October 13 when he accounted for six touchdowns (3 rushing; 3 passing) and 576 yards (395 passing, 181 rushing), which earned him Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week honors.

MANTI TE’O – NOTRE DAME – Senior – Linebacker – Te’o is the leader of the top-ranked Fighting Irish (12-0) defensive unit that ranks second in the nation in scoring defense (10.3 points allowed per game) and sixth in total defense (287.3 yards allowed per game)… Te’o has totaled 103 tackles (8.6 tackles per game) and ranks third in the nation with seven interceptions…Has played a role in 11 of Notre Dame’s 23 turnovers this year (7 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 pass hurries that directly led to interceptions).

_ Jimmy Burch