ALABAMA

The mother of Alabama cornerback Simeon Castille isn’t happy. Jean Castille said her son “did absolutely nothing wrong” when he was arrested by Tuscaloosa Police Department for disorderly conduct, Simeon told his mother he was horsing around with teammates on “The Strip,” an area of stores and nightspots on University Boulevard near campus. Jean Castille said police approached the group of young men and asked if they were about to fight each other. Simeon responded “no,” that these were his teammates. “The next thing he knows he’s cuffed and in jail for disorderly conduct,” she said. “This officer wouldn’t listen to him. They begged him. … He wielded his authority like a bully.” Castille, 21 and an All-SEC performer, was booked into Tuscaloosa County Jail at 3:30 a.m. Sunday and released on $500 bond at 4:25 a.m. He was charged with a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a fine of no more than $500 and no more than three months in jail. His preliminary court date has been set for Aug. 27, five days before the Crimson Tide’s season opener against Western Carolina. Tuscaloosa police spokesman Capt. Greg Kosloff said the TPD stands behind the actions of the arresting officer.

ARKANSAS

The Hogs took Monday off, but Arkansas coach Houston Nutt was happy some reserves who stepped forward in Saturday’s scrimmage. Sophomore running Michael Smith ran for 50-yard touchdown. Freshman linebacker Ryan Powers had five solo tackles one (-1) for loss. Freshman cornerback Brandon Barnett had a 39-yard interception return.

AUBURN

Third-team quarterback Neil Caudle is working to rehab a separated throwing shoulder. He’s exercising with a stretch band along with manual resistance work with trainers. Caudle agreed with Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville that he’ll be back in three to four weeks. Tuberville sent a bunch of scholarship players (redshirt freshmen and true freshmen) to the scout squad, such as linebacker Josh Bynes, receiver Quindarius Carr, defensive tackle Kyle Coulahan, offensive lineman Bart Eddins, linebacker Adam Herring, defensive lineman Bryant Miller, defensive lineman Darrell Roseman, defensive back Mike Slade and defensive back Ryan Williams.

FLORIDA

Former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, who lives in Orlando, stopped by Florida’s practice on Monday. Holtz, now an ESPN analyst, hired Meyer as an assistant when he took the Notre Dame head coaching job in 1996. He watched practice wearing a blue Florida hat and then spoke to the team. “He’s an encyclopedia of college football and he’s the greatest motivator I’ve ever been around,” Meyer said. Florida is still awaiting word from the NCAA Clearinghouse regarding the status of freshman defensive tackle John Brown, of Lakeland. Brown’s academic credentials are being reviewed by the NCAA and were expected back by Monday. Sophomore defensive end Jermaine Cunningham showed out in a two-minute drill Monday, consistently getting to the quarterback.

GEORGIA

Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Michael Moore has been the biggest surprise of training camp. He’s come from beyond the bottom of the depth chart to working with the first-team offense in last Friday’s scrimmage. He’s pushing Mikey Henderson for the starting job at flanker. Henderson has had a hip injury. “Michael Moore has probably made the biggest move of all of them from where he was to where he is now,” coach Mark Richt said. “He’s really smoothed out his game. We’ll see how he handles gametime. He’ll get some playing time unless something crazy happens.” Moore redshirted as a freshman and suffered a PCL injury to a knee in Sugar Bowl practice in December 2005. He reinjured the knee during spring practices last year. Last year, Moore had two catches for 36 yards last season in 10 games.

KENTUCKY

UK coach Rich Brooks is shuffling his offensive line. He said his first team line is Garry Williams at left tackle, Zipp Duncan at left guard, Eric Scott at center, Jason Leger at right guard and Justin Jeffries at right tackle. Christian Johnson, an 11-game starter at left guard last year, is a backup, because he missed the spring and most of the off-season program because of academic issues. . .Brooks also said that sophomore Mike Hartline is now the No. 2 quaretrback. True freshman Matt Lentz also holds a slight lead on redshirt freshman Will Fidler for the No. 3 spot.

LSU

Sophomore Charles Scott may have edged ahead of fellow soph Keiland Williams to be LSU’s starting tailback could be turning in Scott’s favor. Scott got first snaps with the No. 1 offense in Monday’s practice.
Scott was great early last season before suffering a concussion Oct. 7 at Florida. Then Williams took over and finished as LSU’s second-leading rusher with 436 yards and five touchdowns, while Scott was fourth with 277 yards and five TDs. Scott, who is down to 225 pounds from 233 last season, proclaimed himself to be in the best shape of his life. “I think they’re going to rely on me more this year,” Scott said. LSU is now thinking about its Aug. 30 season opener at Mississippi State. For the first time this preseason, scout squad members wore maroon shirts. . .The Tigers got a commitment from Houston (Texas) Aldine quarterback Darron Thomas. The 6-3, 217-pound Thomas selected the Tigers over 20 other scholarship offers, including Florida and USC. Thomas said he wants to play QB, but also that LSU recruited him as an athlete, raising the possibility of him playing wide receiver.

OLE MISS

With Ole Miss quarterbacks being iffy, there’s no doubt the Rebels will try their running game first. Besides senior BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who rushed for 1,000 yards, senior Bruce Hall and sophomore Cordera Eason have stepped up in preseason scrimmages. Hall had a nice scrimmage last week with three runs of 15 yards or more. Ole Miss coach Ed Oregeron said his offense will show patience, getting short gains before breaking a big play. “We have some big play guys back there,” he said.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

State coach Sylvester Croom is feelng more comfortable about his kickers.“I was extremely pleased with (Adam) Carlson’s kickoffs,” Croom said. “With the speed we have on our kickoff team, he gives us a chance to get done there what we need.” Croom is feeling good about his defense after reviewing tape of Saturday scrimmage. “The defense played well, in fact, the second group played very well,” Croom said. “I was pleased with them. We tackled well. They have an attitude over there that they don’t intend to be the weak link on this football team. Offensively, we stopped ourselves. We had two fumbled quarterback-center exchanges in the scrimmage, and we haven’t had one all camp long. I think we’ll be alright there, if they do the things that they have taught.”

SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier doesn’t expect his offense to be dynamic right out of the gate.“We struggled against Central Florida and we struggled against Mississippi State (in season-opening wins) the last two years,” Spurrier said. “We’ll probably struggle against Louisiana-Lafayette. Heck, we’re struggling throwing against the air right now out here. Hopefully, our defense can play. Maybe we can block a punt or run a kick back. There’s other ways to win beside offense. I’ve seen some of them coaches at Alabama do it for a long time.”Defensive end Jordin Lindsey said he was “100 percent” cleared academically to play this season, but Spurrier said, I can’t say he’s cleared. I’m not sure.” Lindsey, a returning starter from Mobile, Ala., blamed the eligibility issue on a “miscommunication” between him and his professor over grades in a speech class that Lindsey took during the second session of summer school.

TENNESSEE

With freshman Ben Martin sidelined because of a knee injury, true freshmen Chris Donald and Chris Walker were moved from linebacker to defensive end during Monday’s practice. . .Senior linebacker Ryan Karl returned to full contact on Monday. Karl, who started all 13 games last season, said his legs feel fresh but conditioning is a concern. back. . .Center Josh McNeil has had a stomach virus since Saturday. . .Today’s scrimmage will find projected starters getting limited snaps.

VANDERBILT

Vanderbilt Coach Bobby Johnson is now focused on the season opener against Richmond. “We’ve got an idea of who we’re going to prepare for Richmond,” he said. “If you try to teach everybody the game plan, you teach nobody the game plan. We’re trying to get our scout teams worked out.”. . .Former offensive linemen Tim Fugger and Reilly Lauer have made some plays since moving to defensive end a week ago.Vanderbilt’s Sept. 15 game against Ole Miss has been set for a 6 p.m. kickoff. A ticket sales campaign was announced Monday that will see half the proceeds from all single-game tickets for that game earmarked for the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital’s Children’s Fund.