JSU 'O' Could Have Strong SEC Feel

By Al Muskewitz
Star Sports Writer
06-18-2008

Reprinted here in its entirety.

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville State football team has a chance to have an all former Southeastern Conference backfield this fall.

The Gamecocks already have Ryan Perrilloux (LSU) pegged at quarterback and, the Star has confirmed, former Alabama cornerback Tremayne Coger is expected to visit campus this weekend.

Coger, a 2006 Tide signee, was Simeon Castille's backup at Alabama, never playing a down, but was a productive running back in high school.

The Gamecocks are in the market for a game-changing running back since losing JUCO signee Roosevelt Ross to academics and learning Ray-Ray McElrathbey was not coming from Clemson.

Ross was expected to be a difference maker when he signed out of East Central Mississippi JC in December. He was held out of spring drills while rehabbing a knee injury and didn't make the grades to stay.

The Gamecocks return leading rusher Daniel Jackson (509 yards) and Weaver's Shawn Green (235 yards, 3 TDs), who is striving to be all he can be this summer at Army boot camp.

"We were so spoiled when we went from Rondy (Rogers) to Chappy (Kory Chapman) to Oscar (Bonds) and Clay (Green)," JSU coach Jack Crowe said. "They're all-star running backs. Last year — and I'm not throwing (the other backs) away — we sure didn't get it done."

• Among other 2007 Gamecocks who won't be with the team this fall are DBs C.J. White, Arsenio Hayes and Abram Gordon. White was an academic casualty, while Hayes and Gordon said they are planning to transfer.

There could be other departures when the final notification of scholarships is made July 1.

• Perrilloux has already had an impact on the JSU football program and he hasn't even taken a snap for the Gamecocks.

Athletic department officials said phones in the ticket office have been ringing off the hook since the announcement of the quarterback's signing.

Perrilloux' JSU debut will be at Georgia Tech.

Speaking of tickets, the Georgia Tech game will not be part of the Gamecocks' season-ticket package, an about-face from the decision of offering the Mississippi State game in the package two years ago.

The signing of Perrilloux was met with trepidation in some circles, but Crowe has noticed a difference. The quarterback has a full agenda every day that starts well before dawn and includes off-season non-structured workouts with his new receivers and lengthy film sessions.

"He's not the LSU Perrilloux and we're not (the same) JSU," Crowe said. "Both of us have changed."

• On the scheduling front, the Gamecocks have much of their non-conference schedule locked up for the next three years. All they're looking for is one game in 2009. They have Georgia Tech in 2009, Ole Miss in 2010, Georgia State in 2010 and 2011, and have had conversations about a game with Kansas State for 2011.

The opening in 2009 was created by Tennessee State's absence in the OVC schedule to accommodate the Tigers' Classic commitments. Right now, the Gamecocks have Georgia Tech, Chattanooga, Alabama A&M and seven OVC games in 2009.

• BASKETBALL NEWS: Women's basketball coach Becky Geyer's recently signed contract extension through 2012 came with a nearly $6,000 per year raise to $78,950. The rest of the perks and bonuses remain the same from her original contract. JSU officials said new men's coach James Green's five-year contract was "still in draft form," but could be on record in the school library "within a week"

The Los Angeles Times reported last week the Gamecocks have landed a JUCO point guard, Jacobe Shannon with the help of Southern Cal coach Tim Floyd, one of Green's former bosses. The offer is contingent on Shannon completing some course work this summer, the Times said. JSU has not announced any of the players Green has signed since his hiring in April.

See story at The Anniston Star's website: www.annistonstar.com .

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