Dein erstes Forum » g returning players.T

AUBURN, Ala. -- Undersized, baby-faced and sporting floppy blond hair, Will Hastings doesnt really look the part of a Southeastern Conference receiver.Auburns converted placekicker played the part pretty well in the opener against No. 2 Clemson. He caught two balls to convert third-and-long situations and his third catch moved the chains on fourth down.He even drew a pass interference call on a second-half pass. Not bad for a 5-foot-10, 178-pounder who walked on two years ago as a kicker despite a prolific high school receiving career. Auburn tailback Kerryon Johnson doesnt think it really matters if Hastings looks the part or not.I say this to Will all the time: When you see him, no, Johnson said. If you go down to the weight room, hes got records on our board from this first summer. He has records on our board for pro agility and things like that, so hes an athlete.Dont be mistaken. Hes very quick. Hes very shifty. Hes a competitor.And the sophomore has found his way from backup kicker to part of Auburns young receiving corps, which also includes several highly rated freshmen.Hastings was one of the most prolific receivers in Arkansas High School history for Pulaski Academy -- the team that famously doesnt punt and routinely goes for onside kicks -- but only drew interest from a few of the states Division II schools. Hastings was only the states second prep receiver to gain 2,000 yards in a season.Auburn offered him a preferred walk-on spot as a kicker but his only action last season was an onside kick attempt at LSU that Auburn couldnt recover. He played a significantly bigger role in a primetime game against one of the nations top teams after an offseason position switch.It was a ton of fun being out there again, Hastings said. I havent played real football since my senior year in high school and it meant the world to me to finally go out there and catch a collegiate pass. That was really cool.Auburn needed some receiver, any receiver, to come through at the time. The Tigers played three quarterbacks early and Hastings came up with their initial two first downs when the offense was struggling badly.Hes got some natural things to him, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. With a new guy you worry if the moment is too big. Obviously it wasnt and he responded pretty well in some pressure moments. Hes a real quick guy, hes a fast guy. And I thought he did a solid job.Chances are, Hastings will face increasing competition as some of the four freshman receivers develop roles alongside senior Marcus Davis. One freshman, Kyle Davis, had a 43-yard catch in the third quarter. Fellow freshman Nate Craig-Myers also played.Hastings grandfather played at Arkansas State, which visits on Saturday. He said his only scholarship offers came from three small schools in his home state: Ouachita Baptist, Henderson State and Southern Arkansas.My family, friends and my whole high school believed in me and I called Auburn a couple days before signing day, Hastings said. I did a kicking camp here before the summer going into my senior year and I called a couple days before (signing day) and said, whats going on? I kept coming to the games and they kept recruiting me.---AP College Football website www.collegefootball.ap.org Wholesale Shoes . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Wholesale Shoes Website . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/ . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Wholesale Shoes USA . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Air Max 97 Sale . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahomas defense might need to reach midseason form in the opener.Houston, led by explosive quarterback Greg Ward, Jr., is ranked 15th and looking to make a jump on the big stage against the third-ranked Sooners on Saturday at Reliant Stadium.Ward went 13-0 as a starter last season and closed by winning most valuable player honors in a Peach Bowl victory over Florida State. A victory for Houston could push the Cougars into the Top 10 and Ward into the Heisman conversation.Ward finished last season with 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing and 2,828 yards and 17 touchdowns passing.Offensively, everything goes through Greg Ward Jr., Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said at the first of his weekly media sessions Monday. Great player who can run the football -- designed runs, a great scrambler and a good thrower as well.It will be a challenge for the Sooners to maintain the discipline needed against such a player right out of the blocks.You just have to stay strong and stay focused, keep your eyes out of the backfield, Oklahoma cornerback Dakota Austin said. The biggest thing he does is take advantage of blitzing teams or D-ends running up field. Hes just going to step up and try to get down field or get a scramble drill going.Houston, which uses a run-heavy spread similar to Ohio States, ranked 13th nationally in yards rushing per game last season.The Cougars lost top receiver Demarcus Ayers to the NFL, but they still return four of their top five pass catchers from last season. Chance Allen, who had 56 catches for 752 yards last season, is in line to do more damage this season. Steven Dunbar and Linell Bonner both are ready to step into biggerr roles.ddddddddddddWard uses his legs to create for his receivers.Especially for the DBs, he can extend the plays, Austin said. When you get a route and initially you jump the route and kill the route, the receiver just cuts back up field and its a scramble drill and now, youre beat all of a sudden.When Ward cant find anyone, he runs as well as anyone. He joins Clemsons Deshaun Watson as the only quarterbacks to pass for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 last season. His 21 touchdowns rushing last season rank second nationally among returning players.The Sooners return six defensive starters from a unit that led the Big 12 in total defense (364.5 ypg), scoring defense (22.0 ppg), passing defense (202.8 ypg), pass efficiency defense (108.5) and sacks (3.08 per game). Though the Sooners lost experience with sack leader Eric Striker, tackles leader Dominique Alexander and linebacker Devante Bond, defensive end Charles Tapper and cornerback Zack Sanchez, they return an experienced secondary. Safeties Ahmad Thomas and Steven Parker and cornerback Jordan Thomas are back, and Austin has been elevated to the starting lineup.Linebacker Jordan Evans is the teams top returning tackler, and the Sooners are expecting big things from linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. Those returnees help Oklahoma enter the game with confidence.If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, Austin said. If you can pop it off and just get it out the way, you know what youll bring to it.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP . ' ' '