NEWS & NOTES: Nov. 7

Boston College running back William Green was starting to be talked about as a Heisman Trophy candidate. As the nation's leading rusher, averaging 145.5 yards a game and 5.3 yards per carry, he was arguably third in the Heisman race behind a pair of quarterbacks, Nebraska's Eric Crouch and Miami's Ken Dorsey.

	Boston College RB William Green is the nation's leading rusher, but he'll miss the Miami game to serve a one-game suspension.

Saturday's game against top-ranked Miami (Fla.) would have been a great showcase for Green, an opportunity to make a statement in front of a national TV audience on ABC. But his one-game suspension -- for breaking an unspecified team rule -- has destroyed any chance he had of winning the Heisman Trophy.

Going into the game, there were questions about the run-stopping ability of Miami's defense. The Hurricanes -- who had to replace a pair of first-round picks, defensive tackle Damione Lewis and inside linebacker Dan Morgan -- have incorporated young players in the front seven and have been susceptible against the run. Florida State had success running the ball in the first half against Miami and finished with 214 yards on the ground. Two weeks later, West Virginia's Avon Cobourne rushed for 132 yards on 21 carries.

Everyone knows about the Hurricanes' strong secondary and talented, deep offense. But Saturday's matchup against Green, the nation's best junior running back, was supposed to be the biggest test for the Miami front seven. Instead, with Green's suspension, the Eagles will go with Derrick Knight, an undersized back (5-foot-9, 197 pounds) who was a good complement to Green.

Knight, the likely starter, has only 32 carries for 188 yards in a situational role. Another player Boston College will work into the mix is freshman Brandon Brokaw, a Green type in terms of his size at 6-3, 225. Brokaw, who has 12 carries for 46 yards in two games of action, was highly recruited out of Pennsylvania.

Rix on a roll
Florida State quarterback Chris Rix has had a combination of good and bad moments, things that come from being a redshirt freshman. Against Miami, he was 13-of-30 passing with four interceptions. Against Virginia the following week, he was 11-of-21 for 205 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, including an intolerable interception in the red zone.

After his struggles in back-to-back games, the Seminoles brought in the competition. Freshman Adrian McPherson began splitting time in practice, getting equal reps to Rix. But Rix responded to the challenge. In his defining game against Maryland, Rix was 15-of-24 for 350 yards and five touchdowns with only one interception. Then, he came back last week against Clemson and was 19-of-30 for 369 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions.

So in his last two games, Rix has thrown for 719 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions -- and solidified the Seminoles' No. 1 job. Looking down the stretch, Florida State will need strong efforts from Rix. The Seminoles play three key regular-season games in a row -- hosting N.C. State, playing at Florida and then returning home against Georgia Tech.

Rix, who has completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 1,984 yards and 18 TDs to go with 11 interceptions, is sixth in the nation -- and first in the ACC -- in passing efficiency. His rating of 164.9 is the best of any freshman quarterback (Georgia's David Greene, at 19th overall, is the closest) and ahead of such notables as Ken Dorsey, David Carr, Eli Manning and Joey Harrington. Rix is also third on the team in rushing with 259 yards -- an average of 32.4 per game, a number that would have been higher if it didn't include sack totals.

While a few weeks ago it looked like he could be in a three-way battle next season with McPherson and Fabian Walker, who sat out this year and will be a third-year sophomore next year, Rix is showing he is the clear No. 1 QB. McPherson and Walker have their work cut out for them to get back into the mix, especially if Rix can be consistent over the next three weeks.

In addition, as a 6-3, 215-pounder who runs a legitimate 4.5 40, Rix is the most athletic Florida State quarterback since Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward. Other than Ward, look at a list of former Seminole quarterbacks: Wally Woodham, Jimmy Jordan, Chip Ferguson, Thad Busby, Danny McManus, Peter Tom Willis, Brad Johnson, Casey Weldon, Danny Kanell and Chris Weinke. Rix is more athletically gifted than any of them.

Next season Rix will benefit from the return off the injury list of Anquan Boldin and Robert Morgan. Receiver Talman Gardner, who has come to the forefront the past few weeks, will be back for his senior year. Also returning will be freshman receivers Craphonso Thorpe and P.K. Sam and running backs Nick Maddox, Greg Jones and Eric Shelton.

By the way, heading into Saturday's game against N.C. State, Maddox has a sprained ankle and is questionable. Jones will see the bulk of the running duties. Florida State is excited about the progress of Jones, who rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against Clemson. Shelton, a true freshman, will see action as Jones' backup.

High on Vols' Haynesworth
At Tennessee, all the attention has been focused on outstanding defensive tackle John Henderson. But his linemate, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, is emerging as a dominating player in his own right.

The 6-6, 315-pound junior was tremendous against South Carolina, stuffing a third-down run on the 1-yard line to force the Gamecocks to kick a field goal. With 11 quarterback hurries, three pass deflections, seven tackles for loss and one sack, Haynesworth is establishing himself as one of the more dominating defensive tackles in college football.

On the Tennessee defensive line, Haynesworth and Henderson complement each other well. Henderson is an outstanding run-stopper, a player who can collapse things whether he is or isn't double-teamed. But Haynesworth is explosive. For such a huge physical specimen, his speed and quickness are remarkable. He is the first defensive lineman you see off the ball, and he explodes into the backfield.

Next year as a senior, he will be my No. 1 defensive lineman in the country. Haynesworth wears No. 92, Reggie White's old number. White had 16 sacks his senior year and finished his career with 32 to be the all-time Vols' sack leader. Haynesworth won't challenge the career number next year, but he is capable of reaching 16 sacks as a senior.

Grant a star in the making
Notre Dame has been criticized for not having any difference-makers. Redshirt freshman quarterback Carlyle Holiday may be the Irish's only true offensive difference-maker with his ability to run and throw. But now Notre Dame appears to have a player who could be a solid complement to Holiday as a difference-maker -- running back Ryan Grant.

Grant had only one carry against Boston College. And against Tennessee last week, on one of his six carries, he fumbled in the red zone. The fumble was picked up by Tennessee's Julian Battle and returned 81 yards for a touchdown to give the Vols a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.

So why am I highlighting Grant? He showed a burst through the hole and some flashes in the Tennessee game. Grant has good size at 6-1, 200 pounds. As a senior prep in New Jersey, he rushed for nearly 2,000 yards, scored 26 TDs and ran a 10.7 in the 100 meters.

Grant is a talent, a star of the future. Despite the costly fumble, he could be the next star player in the Notre Dame offense.