The Long Snapper (5/7/10)
USF added another piece to the 2010 recruiting class. A big piece. A 6’8” piece. T.J. Knowles comes to the Bulls from Saddleback College where he had 49 catches for 924 yards and seven touchdowns last season. The 245-pound receiver who has three years of eligibility left chose USF over Oregon State and Washington. Knowles is said to be a good route runner, but his size is obviously his biggest asset. With the loss of A.J. Love for possibly the season, any additions at wide receiver are welcome. A target like Knowles should be extremely valuable to B.J. Daniels, especially in the red zone.
NationalChamps.net has selected three Florida players to its preseason All-American teams. New center/former guard Mike Pouncey – a second team All-American last season – was named to the first team. Punter Chas Henry was named to the third (which really is a travesty considering Henry has been the best punter in the nation for the past few seasons). And safety Ahmad Black was an honorable mention. With a young team in terms of age and experience heading into the 2010 season, the three seniors will be looked at to lead. Their performances on the field should be the first step they take in becoming the next leaders for the Gators.
Who will end up claiming the other cornerback spot for the Gators remains a question. Janoris Jenkins has one spot locked up and will hold onto it until he decides it’s time for him to head to the NFL, but the other side has plenty of competitors. Many believe Jeremy Brown currently has the edge. Brown, you may remember, actually outperformed Jenkins after their first few practices as freshman. Since then, injuries have plagued Brown, but he may finally be back at full strength. True freshman Joshua Shaw and Jaylen Watkins have also been impressive and both are expected to see plenty of time even if neither earns the starting spot. Moses Jenkins is a consideration, but he’s probably a long-shot. And finally, there’s Adrian Bushell. Bushell may have had a chance to claim the position, but troubles pushed him down the depth chart.
Could Derek Dooley be any more different than Lane Kiffin? Probably not. Dooley is saying all the rights things. He mentions hard work, discipline, and building a problem. Nothing about other coaches, recruiting violations, pumping gas, or small towns in Florida. While Kiffin wanted the spotlight, Dooley seems to be most concerned about cleaning up the state of the program both on and off the field. And Tennessee fans seem excited. Of course that could be just because he isn’t Kiffin. But fans are ready for the next step of the program. Good, bad, or ugly, the last few years are behind them and they are ready to move on. Regardless of what Dooley says and does now though, he will ultimately be remembered for what the Vols do on the field during his tenure.
The Friday Fifth: Dont’a Hightower is already a good college football player. When he’s done with his career at Alabama, he may even be considered great. But is he the most exciting defensive player in the nation? I have a lot of trouble naming someone who missed more than half of last season the most or best anything, but then again I don’t have a list of those I think are more exciting. What other defenders out there vie for the title?
The List: A little of what you should be watching this weekend.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics – Game 3 (Tied 1-1) – Friday, 8:00
2. Chicago Blackhawks @ Vancouver Canucks – Game 4 (Blackhawks lead 2-1) – Friday, 9:30
3. Orlando Magic @ Atlanta Hawks – Game 3 (Magic lead 2-0) – Saturday, 5:00
4. Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins – Game 5 (Tied 2-2) – Saturday, 8:00
5. Saturday Night Live – Betty White, that’s right! – Saturday, 11:30
6. Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics – Game 4 (Tied 1-1) – Sunday, 3:30
7. Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks – Game 5 (Blackhawks lead 2-1) – Sunday, 8:00
8. And the New York Yankees visit the Boston Red Sox this weekend.
The Sixth Man: I’m a fan of Kenny Kadji. I have been since he first signed with Florida. Unfortunately, his career didn’t start out exactly like a fan would have liked it to. He had some flashes during his freshman year, but struggled mightily as well. Then the injury came. Problems with his back caused Kadji to miss his entire sophomore season and led many to question whether he would ever live up to his promise. He’ll have at least one more year to try to prove himself. The NCAA granted Kadji a medical redshirt for last season. He’ll enter the 2010-2011 season as a redshirt sophomore and have three full years left of eligibility. Hopefully he’ll use them all because I still believe he can be an important part of the Gator basketball team.