09/02/10- Kim Royston, rSr, Minnesota, 5-10, 192 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 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- Lee Chambers, rJr, Miami, 5-10, 192 Junior Lee Chambers was moved to cornerback after opening fall camp behind a solid corps of running backs. Chambers rushed for 272 yards on 80 carries in two seasons as a backup.
09/02/10- Robert Sands, rJr, West Virginia, 6-4, 221 SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: This is a hard-hitting, athletic, experienced defensive team that should challenge Pitt as the Big East's best. It is led by tough NG Chris Neild, who is an anchor in the middle, but he has a lot help up front with the veteran Scooter Berry at tackle and pass-rushing Julian Miller at end. When they go to a four-man front in passing situations, they add a junior college transfer in Bruce Irvin, who is something of an athletic freak and figures to be a big factor. The linebackers are led by senior J.T. Thomas while the secondary has hard-hitting 6-foot-5 safety Robert Sands as its centerpiece and the veteran Brandon Hogan as a shutdown corner.
09/01/10- Travis Bradshaw, rJr, Rice, 6-1, 200 PLAYERS TO WATCH: S Travis Bradshaw might be the leader of the defense now that preseason all-conference defensive end Scott Solomon is going to miss the season due to injury. Last year Bradshaw led the nation in unassisted tackles. He is certainly a playmaker but Bradshaw's stats need to drop if the Owls defense is going to be more effective than last season -- more plays need to be stopped before the ball carrier gets to Bradshaw in the secondary.
09/01/10- Travis Bradshaw, rJr, Rice, 6-1, 200 There wasn't one strong area for the Owls on the defensive side of the ball. But there were a couple defensive players that produced impressive years statistically. Defensive back Travis Bradshaw led the nation in unassisted tackles per game with 7.5. The defensive line duo of Scott Solomon and Cheta Ozougwu racked up more tackles than any duo in Conference USA.
09/01/10- Jon Davis, Jr, Air Force, 6-1, 198 KEYS TO SUCCESS: Air Force's secondary is one of the best in the nation. Both cornerbacks, Anthony Wright Jr. and Reggie Rembert, were first-team all-MWC preseason picks. Add in talented FS Jon Davis and some intriguing options at strong safety and on the second team, and the Falcons can compete with any passing team. Ask Houston, which was shut down and frustrated in its bowl loss to Air Force. Wright and Rembert are also ball hawks who can turn around a game with an interception return. Teams shouldn't be able to pass on the Falcons, allowing the front seven to concentrate on the run.
09/01/10- Elijah-Blu Smith, rJr, Colorado State, 5-11, 190 PLAYERS TO WATCH: S Elijah Blu-Smith - The Buffaloes will remember Blu-Smith. He had a great game in an upset win against Colorado last year, with an interception in the first quarter that set the tone early, and a huge hit on Scotty McKnight in Rams territory that forced a momentum-changing fumble in the third quarter. Those are the kind of big plays that could help the Rams this year, too.
09/01/10- Bacarri Rambo, rSo, Georgia, 6-0, 210 Richt said Monday that Bacarri Rambo will start at strong safety and Jakar Hamilton will start at free safety. Nick Williams was listed ahead of Hamilton on the depth chart at free safety. "Nick will certainly play, too," Richt said.
09/01/10- Supo Sanni, Jr, Illinois, 6-3, 220 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- Corbin Louks, rJr, Nevada, 6-0, 200 PLAYERS TO WATCH: S Corbin Louks - The Utah transfer, and former quarterback, is expected to be the quarterback of the defense. Without suspended safety Duke Williams in the opener, Louks will be an important part of the defensive backfield.
09/01/10- Shakiel Smith, So, Tulane, 6-0, 192 BREAKOUT STAR: FS Shakiel Smith has moved to free safety after playing strong-side linebacker and nickelback as a true freshman. It might just be the perfect position for Smith and allow him more opportunities to make game-changing plays.
09/01/10- Damian Payne, Fr, Utah, 6-0, 185 NEWCOMER TO WATCH: True freshman SS Damian Payne graduated from Klein Forest High School in Houston at mid-semester to enroll at Utah and participate in spring ball. At the end of the session, Payne moved even with junior Greg Bird atop the depth chart. Even if he doesn't start immediately, Payne will get considerable playing time early.
09/01/10- Duke Williams, So, Nevada, 6-1, 185 Safety Duke Williams is suspended for the season opener. He was involved in dispute with teammate Marion Johnson. It is the third suspension for Williams, a sophomore.
09/01/10- Kyle Hoke, Jr, Ball State, 5-11, 193 Ball State's starting strong safety in the opener will be junior Kyle Hoke. He is the son of former Cardinal Jon D. Hoke and the nephew of ex-Ball State head coach Brady Hoke.
08/30/10- Rahim Moore, Jr, UCLA, 6-1, 195 Junior free safety Rahim Moore picked off an NCAA-leading 10 passes in 2009 (3 v. SDSU, 2 at Tennessee, 2 at Arizona, 1 vs. Washington, 1 vs. WSU, 1 vs. Temple) in 13 games last season. He was No. 2 on UCLA's single-season list, one shy of the school record of 11 (Carlton Gray, 1991). Moore now has 13 thefts in 25 career games. His 10 interceptions in `09 were the most by a player in the Football Bowl Subdivision since 2003 and he was second (tied) in the country in passes defensed (1.31). - UCLA football
08/28/10- Tejay Johnson, Sr, TCU, 6-0, 208 2010 LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATE: Tejay Johnson Safety Texas Christian University, has been selected one of thirty NCAA football bowl subdivision student-athletes who excel both on and off the field named a candidate for the 2010 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in football. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. - Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award
08/28/10- Quinton Carter, rSr, Oklahoma, 6-1, 195 2010 LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATE: Quinton Carter Defensive Back University of Oklahoma, has been selected one of thirty NCAA football bowl subdivision student-athletes who excel both on and off the field named a candidate for the 2010 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in football. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. - Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award
08/27/10- LeAndre Daniels, rSo, Washington State, 6-2, 213 Washington State safety LeAndre Daniels' playing career is over because of a broken neck. The school said Friday that follow-up tests on the sophomore revealed a C1 neck fracture. Daniels, injured during a preseason practice this month, started two games in 2009 before a broken leg ended his season. Coach Paul Wulff says "my heart goes out to LeAndre." The coach said Daniels will stay on campus to finish his degree. The school added that the injury is stable and that Daniels does not have neurological damage. He will be fitted with a special hard collar, and next week a procedure will fit him for a halo collar that he will wear for up to 10 weeks. He may still need surgery. - AP Sports
08/26/10- Supo Sanni, Jr, Illinois, 6-3, 220 Illinois safety Supo Sanni is out for the season after tearing his Achilles’ tendon. Coach Ron Zook says the junior was injured during practice Wednesday. Sanni, who was slated to start in the secondary for the Illini, was scheduled to have surgery on Thursday. The 6-3, 220-pound Sanni, from Chicago Heights, will be able to redshirt this season and still have two years of eligibility left. He played in 11 games as a sophomore. - AP Sports
08/26/10- Supo Sanni, Jr, Illinois, 6-3, 220 Starting safety Supo Sanni has been lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, Illinois coach Ron Zook said today. The injury was suffered during Wednesday's practice. Sanni will have surgery today. "I feel bad for him, but he'll be all right," Zook said. Sanni hasn't redshirted and will have two years of eligibility remaining. Trulon Henry and Travon Bellamy are now the starters at safety. Bellamy had been contending for a starting spot. To help with depth in the secondary, Justin Green has been moved from running back to cornerback. - Bob Asmussen, IlliniHQ.com
08/25/10- Kim Royston, rSr, Minnesota, 5-10, 192 Kim Royston is undergoing surgery, coach Tim Brewster said Wednesday, to relieve the pain in his healing left leg. "He is presently in surgery," Brewster told a crowd of roughly 300 fans at the Gophers' Kickoff Luncheon on Wednesday. "Today they're taking a little screw out of his leg. They think it will really help him as far as the pain is concerned." A titanium rod was inserted into Royston's leg after the senior safety broke two bones during spring practice, and Royston had improved so quickly, he was able to take part in some drills during fall camp. Though his progress had slowed during August -- Royston said Monday that he was still feeling soreness in the leg the morning after practice -- he had talked about playing in the Gophers' season opener on Sept. 2. - Phil Miller, StarTribune.com
08/25/10- Lee Chambers, rJr, Miami, 5-10, 192 UM's Lee Chambers is making the move from running back to defensive back, and it's a process that coach Randy Shannon knows won't happen instantaneously.``He's learning,'' Shannon said. ``He's a competitor. He doesn't know all the coverages yet, but he's playing well. He's doing real well. It's a process. We don't expect to come out and say, `OK, Lee, you know this whole defense and techniques.' He's nowhere near that. Maybe by the fifth game of the season, something like that, maybe he'll be where he should be.'' Shannon said when he talked to Chambers, a 5-10, 195-pound junior, about making the switch, he pointed out to him that it would be best for the program and also afford Chambers a good opportunity. - Bill Van Smith, The Miami Herald
08/24/10- Fon Ingram, Sr, Mississippi, 5-11, 205 Safety Fon Ingram is out with a knee injury. He’ll have surgery on Thursday and could miss up to four weeks. That means Damien Jackson is now a starter and the second string consists of freshmen Brishen Matthews and Dele Junaid. - David Brandt, Jackson Clarion Ledger
08/19/10- Brian Lainhart, rSr, Kent State, 6-1, 206 Kent State is hoping it can figure out how to win the close games. The Golden Flashes lost Mid-American Conference games to Bowling Green, Buffalo and arch rival Akron by one, three and eight points, respectively, in 2009, when they finished 5-7 overall and fourth in the MAC East at 4-4. "I think everyone is starting to understand that it's not a talent issue at Kent State right now," said coach Doug Martin. "We have reached the point where we are playing in meaningful football games that are close. Now we just have to win those games. "We've been very consistent on defense over the last couple of years. What we need to see from our defense is the ability to close games out," Martin added. "If we have a small lead or if we are behind, our defense will need to show up with the ability to put us in position to win the game. We expect our defense to do that; it's really the backbone of what we've built there." The Golden Flashes have 12 seniors listed on the defensive two-deep, including linebacker Cobrani Mixon, who led the team with 108 total tackles 2009, and free safety Brian Lainhart, who had 87 tackles and seven interceptions last fall. Both were first-team all-conference picks in 2009. "It's just a mindset on defense. We have to have that killer instinct and say that it's on us to win this game," Lainhart said. "Last year we didn't do that, but we're going to get that fixed to be a totally different ballclub."
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