SEATTLE — Much to his relief, Jake Locker no longer has to be a spectator.
Washington’s star sophomore quarterback returned to practice this week after missing 11 days with a hamstring strain that had many fans concerned about his availability for the Huskies’ opener Aug. 30 at No. 21 Oregon.
“I don’t expect to be anything less” than 100 percent, Locker said Tuesday.
The Huskies will need him at full strength for the critical opener against their Northwest rivals, and the start of three straight games against ranked teams to begin the season.
Louisville QB suspended
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville quarterback Matt Simms was suspended for the team’s first four games for breaking undisclosed team rules.
The redshirt freshman was competing with Tyler Wolfe for the backup spot behind starter Hunter Cantwell.
Simms is the son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms and the brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms.
QB Craft to start for UCLA
LOS ANGELES — Redshirt junior Kevin Craft will start at quarterback for UCLA in its season opener against No. 18 Tennessee on Sept. 1.
“He’s earned it with his consistent play and he has the best mastery of the offense at this point,” first-year UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said.
Craft was competing with redshirt freshman Chris Forcier for the job.
The Bruins lost Patrick Cowan, who was scheduled to be their starter, to a knee injury in spring practice that will sideline him for the season. Ben Olson moved back into the starting role, but he broke his foot at practice Aug. 9 and is expected to miss at least eight weeks.
Purdue loses RB Taylor
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue running back Jaycen Taylor will miss the season because of a torn knee ligament.
Taylor, who rushed 107 times for 560 yards and four touchdowns last season, is expected to return for his fifth year of eligibility in 2009.
Vols lose one tight end, gain another
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee tight end Jeff Cottam will have surgery on his back today and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. The news came the same day the Vols learned the NCAA cleared tight end Brandon Warren to play.
Warren, who caught 27 passes for 301 yards as a freshman at Florida State in 2006, has been trying to get approval to play since leaving Florida State in February 2007 to be near his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, but Seminoles coach Bobby Bow- den chose not to release him from his scholarship.
The Associated Press
