College Football Capsules: Georgia QB Gray 'weighing options' for career
ATLANTA — Georgia's depth at quarterback, already thin, could soon take another hit.
Georgia spokesman Claude Felton confirmed on Monday night that Logan Gray, the only scholarship player behind No. 1 quarterback Aaron Murray, met with coach Mark Richt to discuss his future with the team.
Felton's statement was released in response to rumors Gray may transfer from Georgia.
"Gray's current status with the team has not changed, however, he is weighing options for the remainder of his playing career," Felton said in an e-mail.
Gray, a junior, met with Richt early Monday.
Murray, a freshman, ended spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback after Richt kicked Zach Mettenberger off the team for violating team rules. Richt previously suspended Mettenberger for one game after Mettenberger's arrest on alcohol charges.
Gray played last season behind senior Joe Cox.
Georgia's only other scholarship quarterback is 2010 signee Hutson Mason of Lassiter High near Atlanta. Mason, a Parade magazine All-America pick, is expected to enroll in the fall.
Gray considered a position change after the 2009 season before remaining at quarterback for spring drills. He has appeared in 25 games, but much of that time came on special teams. He has more yards on punt returns than passes.
Gray completed 10 of 17 passes for 132 yards and one TD in the spring game. Murray completed 10 of 22 passes for 96 yards with one interception.
Richt said Murray was the most consistent quarterback through the spring. Richt said he was not picking a starter but simply establishing a depth chart at the end of spring practice.
"On a consistent basis, he's performed better than Logan at this point," Richt said of Murray last week. "That's all there is to it. It's the usual things: accuracy, decision-making, those type of things."
Murray, from Tampa, Fla., was rated the No. 3 quarterback in the nation by Scout.com and Rivals.com and was a Parade magazine All-America pick.
Murray is in position to be the first Georgia freshman to start at quarterback in the season opener since David Greene in 2001, also after a redshirt season.
Four N.C. State football players face drug charges
RALEIGH, N.C. — Four North Carolina State football players face drug charges after police found marijuana in an off-campus apartment.
Raleigh police say offensive tackle Jake Vermiglio, and defensive tackles Markus Kuhn and J.R. Sweezy each were charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling for use of controlled substances.
All-Atlantic Coast Conference tight end George Bryan was charged with maintaining a dwelling for use of controlled substances.
A fifth person, Allison Elaine Davis, faces the same charges as Vermiglio, Kuhn and Sweezy. Davis listed the same home address as Vermiglio on a police incident report.
All charges are misdemeanors.
N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien didn't immediately announce disciplinary action for the players.
"I have been made aware of the situation and appropriate action will be taken," O'Brien said in a statement released by the school.
According to a search warrant, an off-duty Raleigh police officer working a secondary job as security at the apartment complex early Saturday smelled the odor of marijuana coming from an apartment. After meeting with the tenants, a search uncovered three sandwich bags containing approximately six grams of marijuana, a cigar containing the drug, two homemade bongs and other paraphernalia, according to a police inventory of seized property.
The four players' home addresses are listed on the incident report as the same apartment where the search warrant was executed, though they each specified different units within the same apartment that a police spokesman said also contained a common area.
Bryan, a rising junior, had 40 catches for 422 yards and six touchdowns last year. Vermiglio started nine games at left tackle as a junior last season, while Sweezy played in all 12 games last year and tallied 17 tackles as a sophomore reserve. Kuhn redshirted last season as a junior.
O'Brien had suspended Sweezy for an unrelated incident last month. Sweezy was charged with misdemeanor assault and larceny following an altercation on a bus with its driver in his hometown of Mooresville, according to the Mooresville Police Department.
-- Aaron Beard
Slive: SEC exploring expansion just in case
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive says the league isn't considering adding teams but is working on a plan to keep up with other conferences if they expand just in case.
The commissioner said Monday that the 12-member SEC hasn't talked to any institutions about joining and has no plans to do so. The expansion exploration is just an internal look at the potential advantages and disadvantages in case there is a "significant shift in the conference paradigm," he said.
Slive didn't elaborate on how much expansion would fit that billing.
"But I'll know," he said.
League expansion has been a hot topic since the Big Ten announced in December that it was considering expanding.
SEC teams have won the past four national titles in football and have lucrative TV deals with CBS and ESPN.
"That doesn't cry for change," Slive said. Any changes would only be made if the league deems it necessary to maintain its prominent position, he said.
"We've always been known to be a creative league, be on the cutting edge," Slive said. "We're not going to allow ourselves in any way, shape or form, to be anything less than what we are now."
He declined to talk about what factors the SEC might look for in potential new members.
"The important thing is we're paying attention, we're going to be strategic, we're going to be thoughtful, but we're not going to relinquish our role as one of the premier conferences," he said.
Slive spoke to editors and writers from the Southeast Region of the Associated Press Sports Editors across the street from his office in downtown Birmingham.
-- John Zenor
Washington moves UCLA football game for TV
SEATTLE — The final game of quarterback Jake Locker's career at Washington is being given a prime-time showcase.
The school announced Monday that the Huskies home finale against UCLA has been moved from Saturday, Nov. 13, to Thursday, Nov. 18. Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. and the game will be broadcast by ESPN.
"These types of games are the one's kids are excited to be a part of," Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said.
It will be the first weekday home game at Husky Stadium since 1939 when Washington hosted Oregon on Thanksgiving Day. But moving the game from the weekend is going to cause logistical issues the school is still tackling. Athletic director Scott Woodward said the school will use private charter buses to help transport fans and encourage using public transportation to help ease what will be a traffic challenge around the bustling campus.
Woodward said one area of concern is making sure the nearby University of Washington Medical Center has adequate parking and accessibility. The medical center is across the street from Husky Stadium.
Locker's presence wasn't lost on ESPN. Dave Brown, vice president of programming at ESPN, noted that while it could be an important game in the Pac-10 race, it also is a chance for Locker to showcase himself to a national audience shortly before Heisman Trophy ballots are due.
"Obviously Jake coming back gave it so much momentum going forward," Brown said.
Illini players charged in burglary
URBANA, Ill. — A University of Illinois football player has pleaded not guilty to residential burglary and property theft.
Sophomore defensive back Walt Aikens entered his plea Monday in Champaign County court.
The 18-year-old sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., was arrested April 21.
State's Attorney Julia Rietz says Aikens and fellow player Lendell Buckner are suspected of stealing a laptop computer and other electronics from a dorm room.
Court records indicate Chicago native Buckner has been charged with two counts of residential burglary. The 19-year-old redshirt freshman lineman has not entered a plea.
Lawyers for the players did not return telephone calls for comment.
University spokesman Kent Brown says Aikens and Bucker are indefinitely suspended.
Armed Forces Bowl set for Dec. 30
FORT WORTH — The eighth Armed Forces Bowl will be Dec. 30, not on the final day of the year like the last three years. The noon EST kickoff on ESPN is unchanged from last year.
Teams from Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference are set to play in this year's game at TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.
If C-USA or the Mountain West has an opening among its contractual bowl agreements, Army would get the opportunity to play in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Black Knights would have to have six wins before their annual game against Navy on Dec. 11.
Owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television, the bowl has featured a military theme since 2006, the last time it was played before Christmas.
Alabama's Ingram might get Michigan highway honor
LANSING, Mich. — Alabama tailback Mark Ingram already has a Heisman trophy and a national championship. He might soon have a stretch of highway named after him in his native Michigan.
A bill pending in the Michigan Legislature would designate a stretch of Interstate 475 through Flint the "Mark Ingram Memorial Highway."
Ingram went to high school at Flint Southwestern Academy. He won the Heisman last season as a sophomore with Alabama. The Crimson Tide beat Texas in the BCS national championship game.
The Senate Transportation Committee is scheduled to consider the bill designating the highway in Ingram's honor on May 4.
Penn player found dead in home; cause unknown
PHILADELPHIA — University of Pennsylvania officials say one of the football team's captains has been found dead in his off-campus residence.
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle says Wharton junior Owen Thomas was found dead at 2 p.m. Monday. She says the cause of death has not been determined but "no foul play is suspected."
Thomas, of Allentown, was voted one of Quakers' captains earlier this month. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound defensive end was a second-team All-Ivy player in 2009, recording 29 tackles and finishing second in the league with six sacks.
Thomas' older brother, Matt, also played for Penn and graduated in 2002.
Four former Wyoming players sign NFL free-agent deals
LARAMIE, Wyo. Four former Wyoming football players have agreed to free-agent contracts with NFL teams and are scheduled to participate in training camps this summer.
Mitch Unrein, a defensive end, is joining the Houston Texans. John Fletcher, a defensive tackle, will join the Baltimore Ravens. Weston Johnson, an outside linebacker, agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan Otterson, an offensive tackle, signed with the San Diego Chargers.
The players graduated from Wyoming in December, except for Otterson, who is scheduled to graduate this spring.
None were selected during the three-day NFL draft, but signed deals with the squads after the draft concluded on Saturday.
Plus draftees, Gophs have handful of NFL hopefuls
MINNEAPOLIS — The Gophers have a handful of former players hoping to make it in the NFL.
Eric Decker became the highest-drafted wide receiver in the history of the program, going to the Denver Broncos in the third round. Linebacker Nate Triplett went to the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round.
Five ex-Gophers players also signed as undrafted free agents: punter Blake Haudan with Carolina, linebacker Simoni Lawrence with St. Louis, tight end Nick Tow-Arnett with Dallas, defensive tackle Garrett Brown with Kansas City and cornerback Traye Simmons with San Diego.
Cornerback Marcus Sherels and defensive end Barrett Moen will also get a tryout with the Vikings at their rookie minicamp this weekend, though they don't have contracts.
