09/02/10 - Kim Royston, rSr, Minnesota, 5-10, 192 (DS#27 FS) The status of S Kim Royston, one of two returning starters on defense, is uncertain for the opener. Royston, who broke both bones in his left leg during the spring, had surgery on Aug. 25. The free safety had surgery to insert a titanium rod in the leg after he was injured and was taking part in drills in fall camp, but was still feeling pain. Coach Tim Brewster hasn't ruled out that Royston will play against Middle Tennessee.
09/02/10 - Kim Royston, rSr, Minnesota, 5-10, 192 (DS#27 FS) SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Nine starters are gone so there will be inexperience all over. Just how quickly the new players adjust to getting more playing time and step up will be crucial to the Gophers' success. Safeties Kim Royston and Kyle Theret, the only returning starters, were question marks going into fall practice. Royston, who started every game last season, broke both bones in his left leg in spring ball and had two operations. He returned for fall drills but had further surgery on Aug. 25. Theret, a two-year starter, was suspended from spring ball but has worked his way back to the top of the depth chart at strong safety.
09/02/10 - Marty Patterson, Sr, Gardner-Webb, 6-2, 225 (DS#999 OLB) Gardner-Webb football coach Steve Patton was joking a month ago when he warned Big South preseason defensive player of the year Marty Patterson to be careful as there had seemed to be some sort of jinx on former Bulldogs after earning that honor. Unfortunately for the team, that curious trend continues. "Sure enough, Marty Patterson has a hip socket [issue] that he was born with, and he's going to have to have surgery and miss the whole year," Patton said Tuesday on the Big South coaches teleconference. Patterson, a senior linebacker who led the Big South with 110 total tackles last season, told Patton several days into preseason camp that he had felt a pop in his hip. The injury was not sustained during contact drills, and the coaching staff didn't know what to make of it. After seeing a specialist in Charlotte, N.C., it was determined that Patterson had a labrum tear in his hip caused by an irregular structure of his hip socket, Patton explained. "When the gentlemen said if he didn't have surgery, he could [need] a hip replacement before he was 30, [that] obviously got our attention," Patton said. - Ryan Young, The Sun News
09/02/10 - Gene McCaskill, Jr, Kentucky, 6-0, 191 (DS#999 WR) Junior WR Gene McCaskill will miss the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a mid-August scrimmage. McCaskill was Kentucky's third receiver.
09/02/10 - Joe Evinger, Sr, Louisville, 6-6, 328 (DS#56 OG) OL Joe Evinger is out for the season with a back injury. He was expected to contend for a starting job.
09/02/10 - Michaelee Harris, Fr, Louisville, 6-0, 168 (DS#42 WR) Freshman WR Michaelee Harris suffered a torn knee ligament in practice. He was expected to play as a true freshman, but now will miss the season as a redshirt.
09/02/10 - Troy Woolfolk, rSr, Michigan, 6-0, 198 (DS#999 CB) CB Troy Woolfolk suffered a dislocated ankle and broken bone in his leg in practice, and is lost for the season following surgery to repair the damage.
09/01/10 - Scott Solomon, Sr, Rice, 6-3, 272 (DS#22 DE) SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: No team in all of the FBS allowed more points per game last year than Rice (43.1). The Owls have more experience this year, but might be plagued by the same problems. The loss of Solomon stings, and weakens what was the best part of the defense. Questions remain about the most of the defensive backfield, which could be a significant problem in an aerial league like Conference USA.
09/01/10 - Steve Paskorz, rJr, Notre Dame, 6-2, 245 (DS#999 OLB) LB Steve Paskorz, who moved from fullback in the spring (Brian Kelly's offense doesn't have a fullback position), suffered a knee injury in practice last week and will be out three weeks. He was expected to at least help on special teams.
09/01/10 - Kevin Pamphile, rFr, Purdue, 6-5, 278 (DS#62 DT) DT Kevin Pamphile is out after foot surgery in July. The redshirt freshman could return before the Big Ten slate.
09/01/10 - Jon Hodde, rFr, Rice, 6-7, 292 (DS#138 OT) Reserve redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jon Hodde will miss the entire season after suffering a knee injury.
09/01/10 - Jarrett Ben, Jr, Rice, 5-10, 170 (DS#136 CB) Junior corner back Jarrett Ben has decided to redshirt this season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
09/01/10 - Tray Allen, Sr, Texas, 6-4, 308 (DS#36 OG) Offensive lineman Tray Allen (foot), tight end D.J. Grant (knee), safety/tailback Demarco Cobbs (hamstring), defensive end Tevin Mims (shoulder) and linebacker Tevin Jackson (wrist) all will miss the Rice game because of injuries. And wide receiver Greg Timmons is doubtful because of a neck injury.
09/01/10 - Colin Larmond, Jr, Boston College, 6-3, 200 (DS#64 WR) With WR Colin Larmond Jr. out for the season with a knee injury, fellow pass catchers Billy Flutie, Shakim Phillips and Alex Amidon all battled injuries in camp.
09/01/10 - Ken Lamendola, rSr, Air Force, 6-2, 232 (DS#999 ILB) Backup LB Ken Lamendola, who would be a starter if healthy, has been very slow to heal from a knee injury. There has been no timetable set for his return.
09/01/10 - Damik Scafe, rSr, Boston College, 6-3, 292 (DS#999 DT) DT Conor O'Neal will start with Damik Scafe still out after back surgery.
09/01/10 - Scott Solomon, Sr, Rice, 6-3, 272 (DS#22 DE) Scott Solomon was supposed to stabilize the Owls' defense this season, providing senior leadership to a relatively young group. Instead, Solomon will be sidelined after breaking a bone in his right foot just days before the season opener. He could redshirt and return in 2011. "It was very emotional for him," Rice coach David Bailiff told the Houston Chronicle.
09/01/10 - Terry Hawthorne, So, Illinois, 6-0, 185 (DS#12 CB) Illinois had concerns about its secondary when everybody was healthy. Then, just 10 days before Saturday's opener against Missouri, the Illini started losing crucial players. Junior safety Supo Sanni wrecked his right Achilles' tendon in practice on Aug. 25 and required season-ending surgery. Sophomore cornerback Terry Hawthorne, one of Illinois' brightest lights in the latter half of the 2009 season, was revealed on Aug. 28 to have a stress fracture in his right foot that'll keep him out for 4-6 weeks. With those two starters out, the Illini have made several shifts, including sophomore Justin Green's move from running back to corner. Starting corner Tavon Wilson has moved to safety, where he assumes Sanni's spot.
09/01/10 - Zach Becker, Jr, Illinois, 6-2, 250 (DS#28 FB) FB/TE Zach Becker, the only fullback in the program with experience, suffered a stress fracture during fall practice and isn't expected to return until Big Ten play begins Oct. 2 against Ohio State.
09/01/10 - Corey Lewis, rJr, Illinois, 6-6, 305 (DS#999 OT) Offensive tackle Corey Lewis, projected as a starter based on his spring-ball performance, tore his ACL in spring practice and isn't expected to play this year. Fifth-year senior Ryan Palmer, who has eight career starts on his ledger, takes Lewis' place.
09/01/10 - Terry Hawthorne, So, Illinois, 6-0, 185 (DS#12 CB) Starting cornerback Terry Hawthorne, who started the final five games last year and had one interception with five pass breakups, suffered a stress fracture in his right foot and will miss four to six weeks, according to head coach Ron Zook. Fifth-year senior Travon Bellamy, who played several games at nickel in 2006 before shifting to safety, has moved back to corner and taken the job.
09/01/10 - Supo Sanni, Jr, Illinois, 6-3, 220 (DS#33 FS) Starting safety Supo Sanni ruptured his Achilles' tendon in practice on Aug. 25 and will be lost for the season. Sanni has yet to use a redshirt, so he'll still have two years of eligibility remaining. Starting cornerback Tavon Wilson has shifted to safety to take Sanni's spot.
09/01/10 - Jerrell Jackson, Jr, Missouri, 6-1, 190 (DS#51 WR) The fact that Missouri returns all four secondary starters comes with a caveat. Junior college transfer Jarell Jackson was a starter at safety midway through the 2009 season. However, he entered coach Gary Pinkel's doghouse during spring practices and was dropped to third on the depth chart. An offseason arrest for shoplifting, and another ticket for trespassing, won't help his position with the team. He's currently second on the depth chart, behind Kenji Jackson.
09/01/10 - Zach Huerter, So, Michigan State, 6-6, 330 (DS#999 OG) Backup OT Zach Hueter was supposed to battle for playing time this season, but a shoulder injury requiring surgery has ended Hueter's season.
09/01/10 - Brandon Beachum, Jr, Penn State, 6-0, 218 (DS#999 RB) RB Brandon Beachum, who tore an ACL last November, is listed as out for this week's game and, barring injuries to other running backs, will likely redshirt his junior season.
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