THE BIG STORY

When Arkansas running back Darren McFadden sat out Tuesday’s practice, it was big news.

“It was my (sore) knee a little bit, but it was more just trying to give my body a day to rest,” McFadden said.

But McFadden was back at practice on Wednesday, claiming, “I’m 100 percent today.”

Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said of McFadden, “He was running very, very well. He was very, very fast today. I think when he’s out here, it lifts everyone.”

McFadden, the nation’s leading rusher, is averaging about 28 carries a game. And as hard as he runs, he said he’s not going to change his running style to avoid injury. He already had a slight concussion against Alabama and last week against Kentucky was dehydrated at halftime, partially due to a virus.

“I’ve been (running hard) for as long as I’ve played football, and it’s what I’m going to continue to do, McFadden said.”

A look at the league:

ALABAMA

Alabama’s defense gets a talent injection on Saturday against Florida State, since linebacker Darren Mustin and nose tackle Brian Motley are returning from injuries. Motley has missed the first four games because of an ankle fracture after winning the starting job as a redshirt freshman. Alabama coach Nick Saban said of Motley, “He’s been able to do fairly well in practice. If he doesn’t have any reoccurring problems, he could be available for the game. He’s done well.” Mustin has been out since getting a shoulder stinger in the second quarter against Arkansas on Sept. 15. “Mustin has been able to practice some,” Saban said. “He’s probably been upgraded. I think he’ll be able to play in this game.” Saban also said kicker Jamie Christensen has healed from a quad injury and is set to be the backup to starter Leigh Tiffin.

ARKANSAS

Hogs’ coach Houston Nutt is stressing the importance of paying attention to details as Arkansas prepared for Saturday’s game against North Texas. “(We) really emphasized taking care of the ball today. We had too many balls on the ground and stopped ourselves offensively,” Nutt said. “We emphasized the little things, whether it is carrying out a fake, protecting the ball or running a route. Whatever it is, you have to win on every play.”. . .The Arkansas wide receivers continue to work to boost the passing game for the Hogs. Nutt has been happy with the efforts of the receiving unit and looks forward to their contributions on game day. “I really like the way London Crawford has worked. He’s had a great week,” Nutt said. “Reggie Fish (and) Carlton Salters have stepped up. Chris Baker has stepped up. (The) tight ends have looked good—Andrew Davie, Lance Thompson, D.J. Williams. They have to do it now on Saturday.”

AUBURN

At least 10 true freshmen will probably be on Auburn’s travel squad for Auburn’s first road game at Florida on Saturday . “That’s by far the most I’ve been around since I’ve been coaching college ball,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. Set to make the trip are quarterback Kodi Burns, offensive guard Chaz Ramsey, offensive tackles Lee Ziemba and Ryan Pugh, wide receiver Chris Slaughter, safety Michael McNeil, linebacker Bo Harris, defensive end Antoine Carter and kicker Wes Byrum. Ramsey, Ziemba, Pugh and Byrum are first-teamers. . . .Sophomore linebacker Tray Blackmon is expected to play on Saturday, Tuberville said Wednesday’s he’s not sure how much. Blackmon hasn’t played since suffering an ankle injury returning an interception on the final play of the first half in the season opener against Kansas State. . .Tuberville also said tailback Tristan Davis, who missed the first four games with a broken toe, could get some playing time against the Gators. Davis led the nation in kickoff returns last season. “He hasn’t done a whole lot,” Tuberville said. “Of course, he’s working on kickoff return. He needs to come a little ways before Saturday. Pat Lee is faster than he is right now.”

FLORIDA

The Gators worked on on fielding squib kicks at the end of Wednesday’s practice. “Auburn does a lot of that,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “We’re starting to see it now because of Brandon James … I don’t think I would kick to Brandon, either.”. . .The competition between Kyle Jackson and Major Wright for the starting free safety job remains tight. “They are practicing much better,” Meyer said. “That position just has to play great.” . . .Florida will kick off against Florida Atlantic at noon on Nov. 17 at Florida Field as part of a football-basketball doubleheader. The two-time defending national champion Gator men’s basketball team will face Rutgers across the street at the O’Connell Center at 7 p.m. on the same day.

GEORGIA

Georgia placekicker Brandon Coutu has been one of the league’s best kickers the last few years, hitting 10-of-11 last season. But this year, he’s 7-of-10 with all of his misses coming from at least 47 yards. He missed from 50 and 47 in Georgia’s overtime win against Alabama last Saturday. The kick from 47 yards was into a crosswind and would have won the game as time expired in regulation, but was wide left. “I don’t think a minute has slipped through that I haven’t thought about it since the game,” said Coutu, who also converted from 45 and 47 against Alabama. “I definitely was kicking myself. I was a little disappointed. I felt like it was well within my range and I let it slip away. That’s why it’s a team sport and the team had my back.”

KENTUCKY

The Wildcats have won nine of its last 10 games overall, and five of those wins have come through fourth-quarter comebacks. One reason is experience. Kentucky’s top players, such as quarterback Andre Woodson, receiver Keenan Burton, running back Rafael Little, linebacker Wesley Woodyard and tight end Jacob Tamme, are all seniors. “There’s not too much that we haven’t seen,” Burton said. “So there’s really no situation that we’re afraid of.” That experience leads to confidence, like Kentucky scoring 21 straight points in the fourth quarter last Saturday at Arkansas to rally back for 42-29 victory. “It really just comes down to a belief or a conviction that they can do it no matter what,” Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. “I don’t know how dark rain clouds can get, but when you give up a safety and kickoff-return TD and go from up one to down (eight), that’s about as dark of a rain cloud as you can get, and these guys fought their way through it.”

LSU

LSU wide receiver Early Doucet has not practiced this week, but LSU coach Les Miles said he was encouraged by Doucet’s efforts at trying to come back from a groin injury he suffered on Sept. 14. “He’s making very good progress. He’s winding into health and shape. We’re optimistic,” Miles said. Doucet is not expected to be ready for Saturday’s 11 a.m. game against Tulane in the Louisiana Superdome. Miles is hopeful that he will be ready for the Florida game on Oct. 6. . .Starting quarterback Matt Flynn’s injured ankle continues to improve. “He feels really pretty good,” Miles said. “He’s ready to play, and he’s going to get nothing but better as we go forward. So I expect him to play a lot of football (Saturday).” Miles said Flynn had a good practice Wednesday and “hit a lot of passes.” He also said backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux practiced well.

OLE MISS

Ole Miss receiver Dexter McCluster was still wearing a yellow, non-contact jersey Wednesday, but coach Ed Orgeron told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger he won’t hesitate to put the sophomore on the field if he’s cleared to play this weekend. McCluster has been sidelined all season because of a shoulder injury he sustained a few days before the season opener at Memphis. “I just listen to what they say and if they say he’s ready, then I play him,” Orgeron said. “I ask him in pregame warmups, ‘How do you feel?’ He wanted to play last Saturday. He’s always going to say, ‘Coach I’m ready.’ So if the doctors say he’s ready and he feels like he’s ready, I’m putting him out there.” Orgeron has said the Rebels won’t rush him back on the field until he’s healthy. He added Wednesday there are no plans to redshirt him, though. . .Orgeron didn’t want to discuss the injury status of two defensive starters, end Greg Hardy and strong safety Jamarca Sanford. Both wore yellow, non-contact jerseys and were limited during the portion of practice open to the media Wednesday.

MISS. STATE

The emergence of running back Christian Ducre, added to starter Anthony Dixon, has finally given Mississippi State a nice combo in the backfield. Heading into Saturday’s game at No. 16 South Carolina, Dixon (87.2 yards per game) and Ducre (40.5) lead a rushing attack that’s 74 percent improved over last season in terms of per-game rushing yards. Even after running 26 times for a mere 10 yards in the season opener against LSU, State is ranked sixth in the SEC in rushing offense, collecting 165.2 yards per game.
Only twice since 2001 has Mississippi State had two backs who contributed more than 40 yards per game. In 2003, Nick Turner (58.0) and Jerious Norwood (53.5) had about equal yards, but the MSU rushing offense was the worst in the Southeastern Conference. In 2001, Dicenzo Miller (75.1 per game) and Dontae Walker (49.8) combined for 124.9 yards per game, but that still ranked 10th in the league. “If you’re serious about running the football, you need at least two and I like more backs than that,” State coach Sylvester Croom told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. “Because I’m always under the assumption - we’ve been fortunate - but I always assume that one of them is going to be in the training room.”

SOUTH CAROLINA

Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC’s late-night show, joked about the last names of South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley and Gamecocks kicker Ryan Succop during his Tuesday monologue. The bit included video clips from the LSU game, with CBS announcer Verne Lundquist repeating their names.“That’s pretty funny,” said Smelley, a redshirt freshman from Tuscaloosa, Ala. “I figured that would start happening every once in a while.” Not that Smelley has heard much of that humor lately. “I think overall it kind of stopped in about third grade. Every once in a while it pops up,” he said. “It’s a pretty common name in Alabama. Once you get out of there it’s kind of unusual. But people like to jab at it sometimes.” Smelley, who will make his second career start against Mississippi State, hoped to find the clip on the Internet. “I’m going to have to go to YouTube and check that one out.”

TENNESSEE

The Vols will hold a junior varsity game at 6 p.m. CT tonight at Neyland Stadium against Hargrave Military Academy. Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe and defensive coordinator John Chavis will handle the coaching duties. The only UT players allowed to participate are those who won’t play in all 12 regular season games this season, per NCAA rules. Also, players who the staff is looking to redshirt this season will not be permitted to play. The staff was considering playing backup quarterback Jonathan Crompton, but Vols’ coach Phillip Fulmer said Wednesday that Crompton would sit out. Redshirt freshman Nick Stephens is expected to receive the majority of the snaps tonight. “It’s a chance to look at some young guys that haven’t played very much that have eligibility that can play,” Fulmer said. “It’s important from a recruiting standpoint that we have those guys on campus and get a chance to see them firsthand. There are some guys who we know about.”

VANDERBILT

The Commodores, who tied a school mark with seven sacks two weeks ago against Ole Miss, will need to successfully pressure quarterback Easterm Michigan Andy Schmitt this weekend. Schmitt has been sacked just twice through Eastern Michigan’s first four games. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, has managed eight through its opening three contests.” In this league, you’ve got to get a pass rush, whether it’s with your four down people or whether you bring five or six,” Vanderbilt Coach Bobby Johnson said. “It’s a prerequisite playing in this league. You can’t sit back and give these guys time to throw. But you’ve got to mix it up; you can’t just be pass rush-happy. That opens you up for other things.” Johnson complimented defensive coordinator Bruce Fowler for knowing when and how to go after the quarterback.