Mississippi State Team Preview: 2010 Season

The Mississippi State University Bulldogs are coming off season one of the Dan Mullen era. They enjoyed mild success last year finishing tied 4th in the West including a drumming of cross state rival Ole Miss. The offense talent is really young and is still at-least a year away from being a dependable offense. They have play-makers in Brandon Heavens and Chad Bumphis but you must be able to get them the ball for them to have a chance to make plays. Chris Relf was named the starter at quarterback after spring practice but he is not the quarterback that Dan Mullen needs to get his team to a top of the SEC west division. On the defensive side of the ball, the bulldogs have one of the best defensive ends in the SEC in Pernell McPhee to build their defense around. Just like the offense their defensive talent is mostly underclassmen and look out for sophomore defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. The 6-4 300 pound Cox is a talented defensive lineman who has quick hands, good footwork, and has real quick feet off the ball and should give many offensive lineman fits. The leader of the defense is linebacker K.J. Wright. The senior is an underrated linebacker but is one of the hardest hitting linebackers in the SEC. Overall though year two of the Dan Mullen era is going to have a set-back and the bulldogs are two years away from contending for an SEC west division title.

2010 Schedule and Predicted Results:
September 4 Memphis W 24-14
September 9 Auburn L 14-35
September 18 @ LSU L 21-27
September 25 Georgia L 14-28
October 2 Alcorn State W 56-7
October 9 @ Houston W 28-24
October 16 @ Florida L 31-38
October 23 UAB W 38-21
October 30 Kentucky L 7-21
November 13 @ Alabama L 0-24
November 20 Arkansas L 24-28
November 27 Ole Miss L 14-21

Predicted Results Overall 4-8, 0-8 SEC Last Place in SEC West

 Depth Chart

Offense
QB- Chris Relf
RB- Robert Elliot
FB- Patrick Hanrahan
WR- Leon Berry
WR- Chad Bumphis (pictured right)
TE- Marcus Green
OT- Derek Sherrod
OT- Addison Lawerence
OG- Quentin Saulsberry
OG- Tobias Smith
C- J.C. Brignone
K- Sean Bauchle

Defense
DE- Pernell McPhee (pictured left)
DT- Fletcher Cox
DT- Josh Boyd
DE- Nick Bell
LB- Cameron Lawerence
LB- K.J. Wright
LB- Chris White
CB- Maurice Langston
FS- Jonathan Banks
SS- Charles Mitchell
CB- Corey Broomfield
P- Heath Hutchins

2009 Stat Leaders
QB- Tyson Lee 130-221 Cmp-Att, 58.8 cmp% 1444-yds, 4-14 td-int
RB- Anthony Dixon 257-car, 1391-yds, 5.4 ypc, 12-td
RB- Christian Ducre 45-car, 263-yds, 5.8-ypc, 2-td
WR- Chad Bumphis 32-rec, 375-yds, 11.7-ypr, 4-td
TE- Marcus Green 27-rec, 306-yds, 11.3-ypr, 3-td

2010 Recruiting Recap

Top 3 Recruits
DT- James Carmon ****
ATH- Michael Carr ****
DE-Kaleb Eulls ****

John Wall a Wizard?

The NBA held its lottery draft Tuesday night and the Washington Wizards came away with the top pick. Does that mean they will go ahead and draft John Wall, freshman point guard from Kentucky. Wall is considered by many the top player in the draft. The Wizards could find themselves in a strange position here, they already have Gilbert Arenas, who is an NBA all-star year in and year out, who already heads the point position for the Wizards. John Wall is expected to come in and play right away at the point guard position for the team that drafts him. Washington still has plans for Arenas to be a part of their team no matter who they draft at number one, expect them to take a hard look at Evan Turner, Junior guard from Ohio State. None the less the Wizards are about to obtain a great guard to complement Agent Zero and could put propel them to the playoffs next year. Here is the rest of the draft lottery order:

1. Washington Wizards
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. New Jersey Nets
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
5. Sacramento Kings
6. Golden State Warriors
7. Detroit Pistons
8. LA Clippers
9. Utah Jazz
10. Indiana Pacers
11. New Orleans Hornets
12. Memphis Grizzlies
13. Toronto Raptors
14. Houston Rockets

Tennessee Team Preview: 2010 Season

The University of Tennessee has been in a whirlwind this past off-season. Lane Kiffin has bolted after a year and in comes Derek Dooley a Nick Saban "disciple". To say the least Derek Dooley is in a mess in Knoxville as he lost his top returning runningback in Bryce Brown and top offensive lineman in Aaron Douglas. He might surprise a couple of people this year in how close he comes in winning some games but I would not expect much to come from knoxville this year. He named Matt Simms his starting quarterback coming out of spring and Simms will be able to throw to All-SEC caliber wide receiver Gerald Jones this year. Just because Brown left Tennessee does not mean their runningbacks are something to sleep on as Tauren Poole and Davis Oku are a dangerous tandem. Defense lost is best player of the decade in Eric Berry but rising star Janzen Jackson has a year under his belt and easily has the intagibles to become the best safety in the SEC. This will not be Tennessee's year but next year you could start seeing Dooley's plan unfold.

2010 Schedule and Predicted Results:
September 4 Tennessee-Martin W 56-0
September 11 Oregon L 21-28
September 18 Florida L 3-27
September 25 UAB W 28-0
October 2 @ LSU L 7-28
October 9 @ Georgia L 10-14
October 23 Alabama L 38-7
October 30 @ South Carolina L 7-31
November 6 @ Memphis W 42-35
November 13 Ole Miss W 21-14
November 20 @ Vanderbilt L 28-31
November 27 Kentucky L 21-28

Predicted Results: 4-8 Overall, 1-7 SEC 6th place in Eastern Division

Depth Chart:

Offense
QB- Matt Sims
RB- Taureen Poole
FB- Kevin Cooper
WR- Denarius Moore
WR- Gerald Jones (pictured left)
TE- Luke Stocker
OT- Jawuan James
OT- Dallas Thomas
OG- JerQuan Schofield
OG- Jarrod Shaw
C- Cody Pope
K- Daniel Lincoln

Defense
DE- Ben Martin
DE- Chris Walker
DT- Marlon Walls
DT- Montori Hughes
LB- LaMarcus Thompson
LB- Greg King
LB- Nick Reviez
CB- Eric Gordan
CB- Art Evans
FS- Darren Myles
SS- Janzen Jackson (pictured right)
P- Chad Cunningham

2009 State Leaders
QB- Jonathan Crompton 224-384 cmp-att, 2800-yards, 58.3-cmp%, 27-13 td-int
RB- Montario Hardesty 282-car, 1345-yards, 4.8-ypc, 13-td
RB- Bryce Brown 101-car, 460-yards, 4.6-ypc, 4-td
WR-Gerald Jones 46-rec, 680-yards, 14.8-ypr, 4-td
WR- Denarius Moore 40-rec, 540-yards, 13.5-ypr, 7-td

2010 Recruiting Recap

Top 3 Recruits:
WR-Da'Rick Rogers *****
QB- Tyler Bray ****
WR- Justin Hunter ****

Vanderbilt Team Preview: 2010 Season

The Vanderbilt Commodores comes into the 2010 season looking to improve on last years dismal success, where they did not even win a conference game and only won twice. Bobby Johnson is hoping this season has far more success than last, and why not? They return All-SEC freshman of the year Warren Norman at runningback and dual-threat quaterback Larry Smith as well as three top targets from last years team in Udom Umoh, John Cole, and Brandon Barden. However there offensive line is suspect to say the least. On defense they have an under the radar star in linebacker Chris Marve to solidify their defense. Look for safety Sean Richardson to become a rising star in the SEC. If your a Commodore fan, you might have a bunch of playmakers returning but remember these players went 2-10 last year and did not notch a win in the SEC.

2010 Schedule and Predictions:
September 4 Northwestern L 24-28
September 11 LSU L 20-35
September 18 @ Ole Miss L 24-28
October 2 @ Connecticut L 31-34
October 9 Eastern Michigan W 56-0
October 16 @ Georgia L 7-28
October 23 South Carolina L 20-24
October 30 Arkansas L 28-35
November 6 Florida L 7-35
November 13 @ Kentucky L 14-35
November 20 Tennessee W 31-28
November 27 Wake Forest L 31- 34

Predicted Results: 2-10 Overall, 1-7 SEC 5th place Eastern Division

Depth Chart

Offense
QB- Larry Smith
RB- Warren Norman (pictured right)
WR- Brady Brown
WR- John Cole
WR- Udom Umoh
TE- Brandon Barden
OT- Ryan Seymour
OT- James Williams
OG- Kyle Fischer
OG- Chris Aaron
C- Joey Bailey
K- Ryan Fowler

Defense
DE- Tim Fugger
DE- Teriall Brannon
DT- T.J. Greenstone
DT- Rob Lohr
LB- John Stokes
LB- Chris Marve (picture left)
LB- Tristan Strong
CB- Casey Hayward
CB- Jamie Graham
FS- Sean Richardson
SS- Jay Fullam
P- Richard Kent

2009 Stat Leaders
QB- Larry Smith 106-227 cmp-att, 1126-yards, 46.7-cmp%, 4-2-td-int
RB-Warren Norman 145-car, 783-yards, 5.4-ypc, 3-td
RB- Zac Stacy 107-car, 478-yards, 4.5-ypc, 3-td
WR- John Cole 36-rec, 382-yards, 10.6-ypr, 1-td
TE- Brandon Barden 29-rec, 357-yards, 12.3-ypr, 1-td

2010 Recruiting Recap:

Top 3 Recruits:
RB- Rajaan Bennett ****
DB- Kenneth Lander ***
QB- Jordan Rogers ***

Georgia Team Preview: 2010 Season

The Georgia Bulldogs has a lack luster season to say the least in 2009 after starting number thirteen in the intial rankings. Mark Richt is clearly on the hot seat and it gets hotter as each day passes. Georgia needs to have atleast a ten win season if Richt wants to keep his job. Aaron Murry won the quarterback competition in the spring and should give them the best chance to win out of the other quarterbacks, but their strength is along the trenches as they return All-SEC Ben Jones at Center and Cordy Glenn at guard. Ever heard of a guy named A.J. Green? He returns as well and many believe this will be his last. Rennie Curran might be gone from their defense but look out for Akeem Dent to have a stellar year and don't forget about Brandon Boykin at cornerback who is among the elite in the SEC. This team might be a Championship contender type in other conferences but in the SEC expect them to just have another mediocre season.

2010 Schedule and Predicted Results:
September 4 Louisiana Lafayette W 35-7
September 11 @ South Carolina L 21-35
September 18 Arkansas L 24-35
September 25 @ Mississippi State W 28-14
October 2 @ Colorado W 10-0
October 9 Tennessee W 14-10
October 16 Vanderbilt W 28-7
October 23 @ Kentucky L 28-35
October 30 vs Florida L 20-45
November 6 Idaho State W 56-0
November 13 @ Auburn L 28-35
November 27 Georgia Tech L 38-42

Predicted Results: 6-6 Overall, 3-5 SEC 4th in Eastern Division

Depth Chart
QB- Aaron Murray
RB- WaShaun Ealey (pictured right)
FB- Shaun Chapas
WR- A.J. Green
WR- Tavarres King
TE- Orson Charles
OT- Clint Boling
OT- Josh Davis
OG- Cordy Glenn
OG- Chris Davis
C- Ben Jones
K- Blair Walsh

Defense
DE- Abry Jones
DE- Demarcus Dobbs
DT- DeAngelo Tyson
LB- Cornelius Washington
LB- Justin Houston
LB- Akeem Dent
LB- Christian Robinson
CB- Brandon Boykin (pictured left)
CB- Vance Cuff
FS- Nick Williams
SS- Bacarri Rambo
P- Drew Butler

2009 Stats Leader

QB- Joe Cox 185-331 cmp-att, 2584-yards, 55.9 cmp%, 24-15 td-int
RB- Washaun Easley 125-car, 717-yards, 5.7-ypc, 3-td
RB- Caleb King 114-car, 594-yards, 5.2-ypc, 7-td
WR- A.J. Green 53-rec, 808-yards, 15.2-ypr, 6-td
WR- Tavarres King 18-rec, 377-yards, 20.9-ypr, 1-td

2010 Recruiting Recap:

Top 3 Recruits:
DB- Jakar Hamilton ****
DB- Alec Ogletree ****
DE- T.J. Stripling ****

Monday Football Recruiting Recap

The Kentucky Wildcats got a pair of commits from big time wide receivers, one from Kentucky the other from Alabama. Josh Forrest hails from Paducah, Kentucky and always thought he would go to Kentucky playing basketball rather than football. The 6'4 220 pound prospect could play either tight end or wide receiever when he arrives in Lexington. Earlier in the day the Wildcats received great news as Theodore high school's Darien Thomas verbally committed to Kentucky. Thomas, 6'2 191-pounds, also received interest from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, and LSU. Thomas and Forrest became Kentucky's fifth and sixth commitments of the 2011 recruiting class.

Martay Mattox has decided to end his recruitment and verbally commit playing for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Mattox is projected as a duel-threat quarterback and stands in at 6'1 185-pounds. He said that it was the new academic facility that made his decision to choose South Carolina. He joins wide receiver prospect K.J. Brent as the only two South Carolina commits for the 2011 recruiting class.

The North Carolina State Wolfpack received great news monday when Gainesville (GA) high school prospect Thomas Niles verbally committed to play for head coach Tom O'Brien. Niles is a defensive tackle prospect and currently stands in at 6'2 260-pounds. He also had offers from Central Florida and Tennessee. He is the Wolfpack's second commit for the 2011 recruiting class.

Weekend Wrap-up

MLB

NL East:
The Braves took 2 of 3 from the Arizona Diamondbacks including a 13-1 victory Sunday. The New York Mets were swept by the Florida Marlins with 10-8 loss on Sunday.  The Philadelphia Phillies concluded their series with the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night with a sweep.

AL East: The New York Yankees dropped the final game against the Twins on Sunday but won the series 2-1. The Boston Red Sox lost the rubber game of their three game set against the Detroit Tigers, lost series 2-1. The Toronto Blue Jays swept their series against the Texas Rangers. The Baltimore Orioles lost the final game against the Cleveland Indians and the series 2-1. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays wins the rubber game against the Seattle Mariners with a 2-1 win Sunday, took series 2-1.

NBA

The Eastern Conference Finals:
The Boston Celtics won game one of the Eastern Conference Finals over the Orlando Magic 88-84.

NASCAR:
Kyle Busch won the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover Delaware. Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, and David Reuitman finished out the top 5. Other notables: Jeff Gordon-11, Jimmie Johnson-16, Dale Earnhardt Jr.-30.

College Sports

SEC Softball Championship:

The Alabama Crimson Tide went took a four run lead into the 5th until LSU scored four in the 5th to tie the game but a home run by Jazlyn Lunceford in the bottom of the 5th game the Crimson Tide a one run lead they would not give back and beat LSU 5-4 to win the SEC Softball Championship.

Sunbelt Softball Championship:
The Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns defeated Troy Trojans 8-0 on Saturday to claim their third straight Sunbelt softball championship.

ACC Softball Championship:
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets won their second straight ACC softball championship over Florida State Sunday 8-4 in Blacksburg, Virginia.