NEWS & NOTES: Nov. 14

With Indiana's early struggles this season -- five losses in the first six games -- most observers (including me) wouldn't include Hoosiers senior QB Antwaan Randle El among the top five Heisman Trophy candidates.

	Indiana's Antwaan Randle El is the NCAA's all-time career rushing leader for QBs.

But when you look at his awesome performance level in recent weeks and factor in his spectacular career at Bloomington, Randle El has definitely made his mark as one of the top college quarterbacks in Big Ten history. Even nationally, he ranks among the best college QBs ever.

Providing a dynamic pass-run option, the multitalented Randle El is a defensive coordinator's nightmare. This season, he has thrown for more than 1,100 yards while rushing for 714, accounting for 13 TDs. For his career, he is the all-time leading collegiate rusher for QBs (3,645 yards and counting).

Randle El's skill and versatility has opened up running room for his backfield teammates. Senior tailback Levron Williams has rushed for 1,093 yards and and scored 16 TDs, averaging an impressive 7.3 yards per carry. Junior FB Jeremi Johnson is averaging nearly 6 yards per carry.

After recent wins over Northwestern and Michigan State, Indiana's bowl hopes are barely alive. The Hoosiers need to win their three remaining games against Penn State, Purdue and Kentucky.

The problem Saturday at Happy Valley is that the Nittany Lions are also scrambling to make it to postseason action. The loser of this game is out of the mix and the winner remains alive and in the hunt for a bowl invitation.

Defense has UAB in bowl hunt
The UAB Blazers, under the direction of Watson Brown, take a 5-4 record into their game Saturday at Houston. On Dec. 1, they travel to Pittsburgh.

UAB is still in the bowl hunt because of a talented and veteran defensive unit that leads the nation against the rush, allowing opponents an average of only 53.8 yards per game. Last weekend, the Blazers held TCU to 20 yards rushing.

Senior defensive linemen Eddie Freeman and Bryan Thomas lead UAB's stop troop. With Freeman clogging the middle and Thomas excelling as an outside pass rusher, the Blazers have been able to free MLB Rod Taylor to flow to the football. Freeman has recorded 10 stops behind the line, while Thomas leads the way with 11 sacks. Taylor paces the defense with 87 tackles. The Blazers have also benefited from the solid seasons turned in by CB Chris Brown and safety Avery Warner.

With 10 senior starters -- Brown is the only non-senior -- the Blazers' defense was obviously built for this campaign.

Gators loom for banged-up 'Noles
When Florida State travels to The Swamp on Saturday to face surging Florida, it will do so without the services of a key performer, LT Brett Williams.

In last weekend's loss to N.C. State, Williams suffered a sprained knee that will sideline him this week and make him questionable for Georgia Tech on Dec. 1. The injury couldn't have come at a more inopportune time. Now, it will be up to redshirt freshman Alex Barron, who has played sparingly until now, to handle the outside charge of Florida's senior sack artist, Alex Brown.

In addition, the Seminoles may be without hard-charging sophomore RB Greg Jones. After rushing for 70 yards early against N.C. State, Jones suffered a sprained neck that sidelined him for the second half. Jones has been a key performer in recent weeks (91 yards vs. Miami, 107 vs. Virginia, 160 vs. Clemson).

Against the supremely talented Gators, Florida State's game plan would have been to control the clock some with Jones, in the process limiting possessions for Florida QB Rex Grossman and company. Now, with Jones questionable, Nick Maddox and freshman Eric Shelton will handle the work load. Maddox just returned to action last weekend after missing time due to a sprained ankle.

Despite return, Huskies TE Stevens still hurting
In last weekend's loss to Oregon State at Corvallis, Washington was at least able to get outstanding junior TE Jerramy Stevens back on the field. He had been out since the Idaho game Sept. 22 with a broken right foot.

Stevens played in about half the snaps, not catching a pass. With the foot still sore, Stevens didn't practice Tuesday and is still reportedly far from 100 percent. The hope is that Stevens will be back at full strength for postseason action, which looks to be either the Holiday Bowl or Seattle Bowl.

Freeney-McKinnie matchup is game within game
Other than the games, if you're looking for a matchup of the week, it will be between Dwight Freeney and Bryant McKinnie, Syracuse's great pass-rushing defensive end and Miami's highly rated left tackle -- one-on-one.

It will be the game within the game when the two Big East rivals meet. When the two teams played last year, Freeney missed the game with an injury. That won't be the case Saturday.