Arkansas: What did Bobby Petrino get himself into? He lost his top four receivers — and three were running backs. Returning wideouts have little speed and his replacement for star tailback Darren McFadden is junior Michael Smith, all 5-feet-7, 175 pounds. Linebacker corps is thin and Petrino has grumbled about quarterback Casey Dick’s technique. To make up time, Petrino is having his team hit more and holding 164-play scrimmages.
Mississippi: Houston Nutt picked a good time to leave Arkansas. Eligible this fall will be Jevan Snead, the Texas transfer who is the sharp quarterback fired coach Ed Orgeron didn’t have. Maybe Nutt can get another McFadden out of junior Cordera Eason, a ballyhooed recruit who hasn’t reached his potential.
Nebraska: One of Bo Pelini’s first edicts to his players was to lose weight. Guards Matt Slauson dropped from 355 to 325 and Cruz Barrett from 360 to 335. Middle linebacker Phillip Dillard, who’s shorter than 6-1, is at 238 after playing last year at 260. Pelini also moved senior Cody Glenn from tailback to linebacker. Putting his own stamp on the program, Pelini is following players to class and canvassing certain off-limit bars.
Texas A&M: Mike Sherman revamped the running attack. Out go all option plays and in goes a straight I formation. Jorvorskie Lane, pushing 300 pounds, was moved from tailback to fullback to make room for junior Mike Goodson, who rushed for 711 yards last year. Sherman must rebuild a woeful offensive line and linebacker group. Also, sophomore Jerrod Johnson is pushing incumbent Stephen McGee at quarterback.
West Virginia: Yes, people still want Rich Rodriguez’s head mounted on their wall after he dumped his alma mater for Michigan. They’ll take solace in promoted assistant Bill Stewart, who has quarterback Pat White back. Sophomore Noel Devine, who had 108 yards in the Fiesta Bowl, replaces Steve Slaton. Stewart will have White throw more but must replace seven starters on defense.
John Henderson, The Denver Post
