Aaron Rodgers’ brother to start at QB for Vandy
After nearly helping lead Vanderbilt to an upset over Georgia in a relief effort Saturday, Jordan Rodgers will get the opportunity to lead the Commodores’ offense from the outset this coming weekend.
Wednesday evening, head coach James Franklin confirmed the early-week chatter and announced that Rodgers will get the start at quarterback against Army Saturday. Rodgers, who transferred to Vandy from the JUCO ranks in 2010, will replace Larry Smith, the team’s starter since the season opener.
This will be Rodgers’ first career start at this level.
“Jordan will start the game. He’s having a good week of practice and we thought he made some really good plays on Saturday,” Franklin said following practice Wednesday. “There are some things that we’ve got to get cleaned up, but they’re very correctable things.”
“It was a combination of some of the playmaking he brought. I thought how he fought, how he competed and how he broke tackles, he really gave us some momentum plays when we needed it. I think we kind of fed off that, so we’ll keep going with it and see what happens.”
Rodgers, whose brother is former Cal and current Green Bay Packers star QB Aaron Rodgers, replaced Smith early in the second quarter of the 33-28 loss following the former starter’s second interception in 10 attempts. While his passing stats were nothing to write home to brother about — he completed just 4-of-19 passes for 47 yards and a pick — Rodgers did rush for 80 yards on 11 carries, and the Commodores scored all 28 of their points after Smith was benched.
Big East Quotable
Cincinnati: "What I've realized is it's just as hard to maintain a successful program as it is to build one. It never ends, at least not in the Big East."
-- Coach Mick Cronin
Connecticut: "I don't love this team like I loved last year's team. Yet. But they're pretty likeable."
-- Coach Jim Calhoun
DePaul: "We need to play pressure defense and run. It's what we have to do. Our pressure defense has got to be the difference-maker for us."'
-- Coach Oliver Purnell
Georgetown: "The world doesn't know what we're going to have. Losing Austin Freeman and Chris Wright, those two guys have had the ball in their hands for most of their four years, so I understand that."
-- Coach John Thompson III
Louisville: "We're a little unsettled right now because of the situation with [freshman] Wayne [Blackshear, who is awaiting clearance from the NCAA]. With him, we are an extremely good team. Without him, we are very good."
-- Coach Rick Pitino
Marquette: "I fear we may have bitten off more than we can chew with our nonconference schedule, but I also hope that will prepare us better for the Big East and then again for March."
-- Coach Buzz Williams
Notre Dame: "I saw that we were [picked] ninth, and I like that 9-hole. We've come out of that before."
-- Coach Mike Brey
Pittsburgh: "I like this team. We've got a lot of guys who played a few minutes last year. We lost three good players, so usually you're not picked that high, but we are based on past history because they think we're going to have somebody. And I think we will."
-- Coach Jamie Dixon
Providence: "I want to do it my way. That's not to be arrogant. I can steal pieces here and there, borrow an idea, but I want Providence to be Providence and to find our own way. That's the only way I know."
-- Coach Ed Cooley
Rutgers: "We want a winning record in the Big East. That's our goal, to do something our predecessors haven't done. I don't know if that's going to be one over .500 or six or seven games over, but that's the goal."
-- Coach Mike Rice
Seton Hall: "It takes five solid years to really build something. There is no quick fix, and if you try to use one, you'll be out of a job."
-- Coach Kevin Willard
South Florida: "The big challenge for us is to be consistent, to not be that up-and-down team. We need to learn how to handle the highs and the lows."
-- Coach Stan Heath
St. John's: "I never had a team this young in a league this good, so it will be difficult. But I don't want to hear about how we're young. That's an excuse."
-- Assistant Gene Keady, filling in for Steve Lavin
Syracuse: "Fab [Melo] lost 30 pounds. That's the big difference for him. Last year, his biggest problem was getting up and down the court. Once he got there, he could do some things. He just couldn't get there."
-- Coach Jim Boeheim
Villanova: "I think he's ready, like he's waited his turn and it's his time. He knows it's on him now."
-- Coach Jay Wright on Maalik Wayns
West Virginia: "Usually you have two or three older guys, so they can help you out as you try to fix things. Well, we've got trouble all over the place and you can't fix it all."'
-- Coach Bob Huggins
Buckeye Football Recruits
WR 1 Dorial Green-Beckham
(Hillcrest HS)
Springfield, MO 6-6/220/4.47 Med Yes Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, USC
DE 3 Adolphus Washington
(Taft HS)
Cincinnati, OH 6-6/240 Med Yes Alabama, Kentucky, Miami (Fl), Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Boston College, Florida, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, USC
RB 4 Rushel Shell
(Hopewell SHS)
Aliquippa, PA 5-11/215 None Yes Committed to Pittsburgh
RB 5 Brionte Dunn
(GlenOak HS)
Canton, OH 6-1/220 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
OT 9 Jordan Diamond
(Simeon Vocational HS)
Chicago, IL 6-6/290 Med Yes Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, Miami (Fl), Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin
OG 3 Jordan Simmons
(Crespi Carmelite HS)
Encino, CA 6-5/340/5.10 Med Yes Arizona, Auburn, California, Georgia, Miami (Fl), Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, SMU, TCU, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington
OLB 3 Ifeadi Odenigbo
(Centerville HS)
Centerville, OH 6-3.5/217/4.50 Med Yes California, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Stanford, UCLA
OLB 6 Deaysean Rippy
(Sto-Rox HS)
Mc Kees Rocks, PA 6-2/200 Med Yes Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Colorado, Florida State, Iowa, LSU, Maryland, Miami (Fl), Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pittsburgh, UCLA, USC, West Virginia, Wisconsin
RB 8 Warren Ball
(St. Francis DeSales HS)
Columbus, OH 6-2/200 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
WR 13 Brandon Sheperd
(Central HS)
Chesterfield, MO 6-2.5/185/4.45 Med No Cincinnati, Colorado State, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, LSU, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Tennessee, Tulsa, USC, Vanderbilt
S 13 Deon Bush
(Christopher Columbus HS)
Miami, FL 6-1/185/4.40 Med Yes Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Florida, Florida International, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, LSU, Miami (Fl), Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, Rutgers, Tennessee, USC
S 14 Demetrious Cox
(Jeannette SHS)
Jeannette, PA 6-1/185 Med Yes Arizona State, Kansas, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Wisconsin
RB 15 Greg Garmon
(McDowell SHS)
Erie, PA 6-2/200 Med Yes Buffalo, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, West Virginia
WR 15 Cyrus Jones
(Gilman School)
Baltimore, MD 5-10/185 Med Yes Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Maryland, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia
WR 20 D'Vario Montgomery
(Winter Park HS)
Winter Park, FL 6-3/211 Med No Alabama, Florida, Florida International, Florida State, Georgia, Iowa, LSU, Miami (Fl), Ohio State, Rutgers, South Carolina, South Florida, Tennessee, UCF, Wake Forest, West Virginia
OLB 20 Joshua Perry
(Olentangy HS)
Lewis Center, OH 6-3/225 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
S 20 Jordan Diggs
(Island Coast HS)
Cape Coral, FL 6-1/194/4.60 Med Yes Auburn, Boston College, Connecticut, Florida, Florida International, Florida State, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (Fl), Michigan State, Middle Tennessee, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue, South Carolina, South Florida, Tennessee, UCF, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, West Virginia
S 24 Devan Bogard
(Glenville HS)
Cleveland, OH 6-1/175 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
OT 31 Nick Davidson
(Eden Prairie Sr.)
Eden Prairie, MN 6-6/280 Med Yes Clemson, Duke, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, South Carolina, Stanford, Virginia Tech
WR 32 Joel Caleb
(Clover Hill HS)
Midlothian, VA 6-2/200 Med Yes Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia
WR 39 Monty Madaris
(Moeller HS)
Cincinnati, OH 6-2/190 Med No Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Florida State, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Syracuse, Wisconsin
WR 40 Dwayne Stanford
(Taft HS)
Cincinnati, OH 6-4/195/4.50 Med Yes Alabama, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Florida State, LSU, Miami (Fl), Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Stanford, Texas Tech, USC
TE 22 Blake Thomas
(St. Ignatius HS)
Cleveland, OH 6-4/240 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
MLB 25 Luke Roberts
(Lancaster HS)
Lancaster, OH 6-2/225 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
OG 29 Patrick Elflein
(Pickerington HS North)
Pickerington, OH 6-3/270 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
S 29 Bam Bradley
(Trotwood-Madison HS)
Trotwood, OH 6-1/195 Med Yes Arizona, Boston College, Florida, Illinois, Louisville, Miami (Fl), Michigan State, Missouri, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
MLB 30 Mason Monheim
(Orrville HS)
Orrville, OH 6-1/219 Med No Illinois, Akron, Ball State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Iowa, Kent State, Miami (Oh), Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio, Ohio State, Toledo, Western Michigan, Wisconsin
DT 31 Vincent Valentine
(Edwardsville HS)
Edwardsville, IL 6-4/315/5.20 Med No Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee, Wisconsin
S 36 Karl Joseph
(Edgewater HS)
Orlando, FL 6-0/190 Med No Cincinnati, East Carolina, Florida, LSU, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCF, West Virginia
DT 38 Alex Pace
(Glenville HS)
Cleveland, OH 6-3/260 Med No Air Force, Cincinnati, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Syracuse, Toledo, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Ohio, Youngstown State
S 39 Chaz Elder
(Banneker HS)
College Park, GA 6-2/172/4.79 Low Yes Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Clemson, LSU, Mississippi, Ohio State, Purdue, Southern Miss
CB 40 Najee Murray
(Steubenville HS)
Steubenville, OH 5-11/172 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
S 42 Tyvis Powell
(Bedford HS)
Bedford, OH 6-3/180 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
MLB 50 Nathan Ricketts
(Holland HS)
Holland, MI 6-2/215 Med No Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Syracuse, Toledo, Western Michigan
CB 54 V'Angelo Bentley
(Glenville HS)
Cleveland, OH 5-10/182/4.45 Med No Akron, Cincinnati, Illinois, Kent State, Ohio State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Texas
RB 55 Danny Dillard
(Venice Senior HS)
Venice, FL 6-2/200/4.40 Med No Boston College, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Miami (Fl), North Carolina, Ohio State, Purdue, South Florida, USC, Western Kentucky
WR 55 Frank Epitropoulos
(Upper Arlington HS)
Upper Arlington, OH 6-3/195 Verbal Yes Committed to Ohio State
WR 57 Ian Thomas
(Franklin HS)
Reisterstown, MD 6-1/190 Med No Auburn, Boston College, Connecticut, Maryland, Miami (Fl), Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Southern Miss, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
S 57 James Sanford
(Xenia HS)
Xenia, OH 6-2/185 Med No Cincinnati, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio, Ohio State, Purdue, Toledo, Ball State, Bowling Green, West Virginia
DT 60 Jordan Washington
(North Gwinnett HS)
Suwanee, GA 6-2.5/275/5.58 Med Yes Mississippi State, Ohio State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, South Alabama, South Florida, Southern Miss, Troy
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