GAME OF THE DAY | NO. 24 OLE MISS AT AUBURN, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Highly prized freshmen give Tigers, Rebels a lift
Those prized recruits at Auburn and Mississippi already are key figures in the programs’ efforts to climb the SEC West ladder.
The Rebels have started five freshmen heading into the game against the Tigers, led by defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche (Grayson High), wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and safety Tony Conner.
Auburn relies heavily on defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Dooly County High), defensive lineman Elijah Daniel, wide receiver Marcus Davis and defensive end Carl Lawson (Milton High).
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and his Ole Miss counterpart, Hugh Freeze, haven’t been bashful about throwing the youngsters into the SEC fire as they rebuild. LSU, Georgia and Alabama each have gotten more than a dozen freshmen significant playing time.
“I think it says that myself and Hugh, we’re not scared to play freshmen right off the bat, especially if they’re talented enough,” Malzahn said.
Nkemdiche has started every game on the defensive line, moving from end to tackle at least temporarily for the Alabama game. He and Georgia’s Leonard Floyd are tied for second among SEC freshmen with 4.0 tackles for loss, behind only Vanderbilt’s Adam Butler (4.5). Adams is a backup defensive tackle, but leads the Tigers with five quarterback hurries and has a sack.
“He’s a big man. He’s already physically ready to play at this level, and you can see, he’s making plays,” Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said of Nkemdiche.
Inside skinny
Fast-paced: These offenses largely are geared toward pace, but haven't proved ready to floor it just yet. Auburn has averaged 72.5 plays per game, and Ole Miss 73.75. But Freeze said his offense at Lambuth once ran 117 snaps, and Malzahn got in 98 last season when Arkansas State played Memphis.
Georgia State at No. 1 Alabama, 12:21 p.m., WPCH
Physically embarrassed, Mosley steps up game
Trey DePriest has lined up alongside C.J. Mosley for the past two seasons, but he never had seen him quite like this.
Alabama’s normally mild-mannered All-American linebacker was fired up after a Mississippi lineman pushed him 5 yards downfield and onto his back at the end of a play near the top-ranked Crimson Tide’s goal line. His reaction was a highlight of a week when the Tide’s top defender took charge with more than his play.
This time, DePriest said, Mosley “turned into a different guy.” Two plays later, Mosley swatted away a fourth-down pass headed toward the goal line late in the third quarter to squash the Rebels’ comeback hopes.
“It got me excited, it got the whole team fired up,” fellow linebacker DePriest said. “He was ready to play, out there screaming, letting everyone know what the play was. It was good.”
It’s no surprise that Mosley has been the unquestioned leader of the Tide’s defense since choosing to return for his senior season. His fiery, vocal sides are less often on public display. But he has stepped those up in recent weeks.
Coach Nick Saban said Mosley, who returned an interception for a touchdown against Georgia State two years ago, wasn’t so comfortable speaking up as a younger player.
“This is the first year since he’s been here that he actually plays all downs,” Saban said. “He’s so athletic. … He’s gotten bigger, and he’s a little stronger. A little better taking on blocks now. … He’s so instinctive and so quick, he doesn’t have to overpower people.”
Inside skinny
Missing for now: Suspended junior safety HaHa Clinton-Dix likely won't miss the rest of the season. He has paid back a short-term loan from a strength-and-conditioning coach, now on leave, and that repayment likely will mean Dix will be out for a few weeks. Sophomores Landon Collins and Geno Smith (St. Pius), who had his own one-game suspension for the opener, have worked at the safety this week.
Kentucky at No. 13 South Carolina, 7:30 p.m., FSSO
Gamecocks set sights on turnaround performance
When Steve Spurrier and No. 13 South Carolina need to get back on track, Kentucky’s usually there to point the way.
The Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1 SEC) will look to return to form against the struggling Wildcats (1-3, 0-1).
South Carolina started the season in the top 10 and figured to contend for the SEC and BCS championships behind a fearsome defense led by Jadeveon Clowney. Instead, the Gamecocks are two games behind Georgia in the SEC East title chase and questioning the defenders nearly every week after squandering big leads the past two games.
“We have some coaching to do if we are going to turn around this season,” Spurrier said. “We have been on the verge of really blowing a couple games, and we know that, us coaches know that. We are going to try to coach a whole bunch better and see if we can’t be fundamentally sound if we get in position to put a team away.”
The Gamecocks have won 12 of the past 13 in the series, and Spurrier is 19-1 against the Wildcats. In Spurrier’s South Carolina’s debut season of 2005, the Gamecocks were 1-3 when a 44-16 win over Kentucky began a five-game win streak.
Two years ago, the last time Kentucky came to Williams-Brice Stadium, Connor Shaw took over as starting quarterback on a full-time basis and led South Carolina to a 54-3 pile-on over the Wildcats a week after the Gamecocks lost to Auburn — the team’s previous loss at home.
And it sounds as if Kentucky coach Mark Stoops isn’t too confident about his team’s chances. He was angered about his players’ showing after Wednesday’s practice, criticizing their effort, attitude and approach. “It’s effort, it’s mental, it’s preparation, it’s everything,” Stoops said.
Inside skinny
Balance: Whether it's Connor Shaw (Flowery Branch High) or Dylan Thompson at quarterback, and you should see both this week, it's sophomore Mike Davis (Stephenson High) who has put a smile on Gamecocks' fans faces. Davis has had three 100-yard games this season and leads the SEC with 127 yards per game. He also has shown the speed that even Marcus Lattimore didn't have at his best, breaking off four runs of 50 yards or more this season.
Arkansas at No. 18 Florida, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Gators’ line digs in, seeks physical attack
Given the choice, Florida’s offensive line likes to keep things simple in an ever-changing world.
While college offenses continue to evolve and speed up, the five guys up front for the Gators are glad to grind out yards and wins on the ground.
“If we had 80 plays, they want to run it 79,” offensive coordinator Brent Pease said. “That’s their world; that’s what they like.”
The styles suits defensive-minded head coach Will Muschamp, especially as Florida transitions to a new starting quarterback.
Tyler Murphy will make his second start when Arkansas visits the Swamp. The better Florida’s running game, the better Murphy’s chances.
“Where they’re not worried about playing the run, that’s when you have some issues offensively,” Muschamp said of opposing defenses. “The way we’re built at this point, we need to have teams respect our running game.”
Florida ran the ball 71.4 percent of the time (45 of 63 snaps) in a victory against Kentucky to control the game clock and ease any first-game jitters for Murphy, who completed his first 13 throws. Expect a similar game plan this weekend against coach Bret Bielema’s run-based Razorbacks. Arkansas (3-2, 0-1) runs the ball 66 percent of the time, is second in the SEC in rushing (237 yards per game) and third in time of possession (33:38 minutes per game). Florida averages 211.2 rushing yards and leads the nation in time of possession (38:58).
Inside skinny
Return trip: Former Miami coach Randy Shannon is returning to the Swamp for the first time since 2008. His last trip didn't go well. Shannon, now Arkansas' linebackers coach, lost 26-3 at Florida five years ago and was upset that former coach Urban Meyer called for a meaningless field goal with 29 seconds remaining. Shannon has been instrumental in helping Bielema recruit in Florida, and there's no question he would love to beat the Gators as much as anyone.
Missouri at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m., CSS
Aggressiveness to be on display by Commodores
Vanderbilt offensive lineman Wesley Johnson’s locker-room outburst seems to have given his teammates the spark they needed this season. The Commodores are playing much more aggressive.
Now they need to see if the approach that helped them win two consecutive games carries over to the bulk of their SEC schedule.
The Commodores (3-2, 0-2) will host Missouri (4-0) for the Tigers’ SEC opener and their first trip to Nashville, Tenn., as members of the league.
Johnson erupted at halftime of a win at Massachusetts nearly two weeks ago. Franklin and his staff preach aggressive play, and it finally took hold last week when Vanderbilt took shots down field and forced two interceptions in beating UAB 52-24.
For the first time in program history, the Commodores had a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and pair of 100-yard receivers in a single game. “We are going to build on that,” Franklin said.
Inside skinny
QB be careful: Missouri has the second-most interceptions in the NCAA this season with 10. The Tigers also possess a 34-game streak with a turnover forced, the longest active streak in the nation. Vandy's Austyn Carta-Samuels has been intercepted in all but one game this season.
No. 10 LSU at Mississippi State, 7 p.m., ESPN
LSU’s pass-run mix keeps Mullen awake at night
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen says figuring out a way to stop LSU’s offense is harder than ever.
That’s because Tigers quarterback Zach Mettenberger has developed into one of the league’s best, throwing for 1,398 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one interception.
The Bulldogs (2-2, 0-1 SEC) host LSU (4-1, 1-1). Mississippi State has lost 13 in a row in the series dating to 1999.
Mullen says LSU is still a power running team, but the addition of a vertical passing game creates problems.
“They’ve done a good job,” Mullen said. “They’ve got two NFL receivers and an NFL quarterback with a big arm to get them the ball, which causes you a dilemma. How do you stop the power run? If you load everyone in the box then you’re one-on-one with a bunch of NFL players on the perimeter.”
It will be a tough test for Mississippi State’s inexperienced defense, which has generally played better as the season has progressed.
LSU might have a much-improved offense, but the defense is suspect after last week’s 44-41 loss to Georgia. The Tigers gave up nearly 500 total yards.
Inside skinny
Return to field: Mississippi State senior quarterback Tyler Russell is expected to return after missing three games because of a concussion. Mullen says he likely will get playing time along with sophomore Dak Prescott. Russell had the best passing season in Mississippi State history last season, throwing for 2,897 yards and 24 touchdowns, but Prescott has done well in his place. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Prescott adds more of a running threat, and he's already rushed for 215 yards and five touchdowns this season.
