The college season has been going on for just shy of two months, and the action is still heating up. With Baylor looking to creep into the top spot, playoff hopefuls such as Ole Miss seeing their ranking starting to slip, and several unexpected faces (especially an upstart Memphis team) settling in among the top 25, this year continues to build up to what should be a very exciting finish to the playoff race. Keep up-to-date with the latest personnel news here:
By: Cory Burrell
Ole Miss Junior Laremy Tunsil Set to Make Season Debut Saturday
One of the top offensive line prospects in the nation is ready to make his debut this Saturday. Junior Laremy Tunsil will play in his first game of the season Saturday against Texas A&M. Tunsil sat out the first six games of the season for the Rebels because of an Ole Miss and NCAA investigation into improper benefits Tunsil may have received. These allegations came from Tunsil’s stepfather, Lindsey Miller, following an altercation between the two during the offseason. Last week, the NCAA determined Tunsil had accepted impermissible benefits, such as airline tickets and loaned vehicles, and that Tunsil was not initially forthcoming and cooperative with investigators. Based on these findings, Tunsil was suspended seven games. This suspension was retroactively applied to the start of the season, meaning Tunsil’s suspension was over after the Rebels’ game against Memphis. After losing two of their last three games, Ole Miss has fallen to 23rd. The team will hope Tunsil long-awaited debut will give them a sorely-needed boost.
FSU Standout Dalvin Cook Continues to Dominate Despite Hamstring
Sophomore running back Dalvin Cook could not be slowed down by a feisty Louisville defense or a nagging injury. Cook reinjured his left hamstring left the first half with a mere 28 yards, but returned to finish with 223 yards in the 41-21 win for the Seminoles. Cook first hurt his hamstring three weeks ago against Wake Forest. Cook’s leg has remained sore, but head coach Jimbo Fisher is optimistic on Cook’s health and says the team will continue to monitor the star back. One of the most explosive weapons in the nation, Cook leads the ACC in rushing with 955 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Left Guard Alex Bars Becomes Latest Notre Dame Player Out for Season
Redshirt freshman Alex Bars is the latest on the Fighting Irish’s lengthy injury list. Bars will miss the remainder of the season after fracturing his left ankle in Notre Dame’s win over USC Saturday. Bars has been in the starting lineup since October 10, taking over starting duties from an injured Quenton Nelson. Nelson, came into the game after Bars’s injury and is expected to return to the starting role.
Miami Loses Veteran Linebacker Raphael Kirby to Knee Injury
Senior Raphael Kirby, a leader for Miami’s defense since last season, had his collegiate career come to an untimely end last Saturday. The senior linebacker will miss the rest of his final season with Miami because of a right knee injury. Kirby, who has started 19 straight games since last season, left the Hurricanes’ 30-20 victory against Virginia Tech early because of the injury, but the full extent of the injury was not known until Sunday. Kirby led the team with 44 tackles this year. He is the third Miami linebacker who suffered a season-ending injury this season. Miami’s depleted linebacking corps will look to regroup against a sixth-ranked Clemson team this Saturday.
MSU’s Unlikely Hero Jalen Watts-Jackson to Miss Remainder of Season
Michigan State Redshirt Freshman Jalen Watts-Jackson put together what may end up as the best play of the 2015 season, returning a fumbled punt for the game-ending touchdown against rival Michigan. Unfortunately for Watts-Jackson, his first highlight of the year will be his last. Watts-Jackson broke his hip on the play and underwent season-ending surgery Sunday morning. Head coach Mark Dantonio said Watts-Jackson was injured when he was tackled as he scored the touchdown; earlier reports stated he was inadvertently injured when his teammates swarmed him to celebrate the win. Watts-Jackson has been exclusively a special teams player for the Spartans, but Dantonio said he was hoping to get Watts-Jackson more involved on defense in the second half of the season. Watts-Jackson will need to keep weight of his left leg for three months before he can began rehabbing.
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