Miami freshman WR Davon Johnson made the biggest play during Saturday's first scrimmage of the fall, which was closed.
The 5-foot-11 speedster scored on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Robert Marve as he fought for the jump ball in the end zone and came down with it.
"My speed is still working for me [on the college level],"
Johnson said. "If you are fast, then you are always fast. I am not the biggest guy and I am not the strongest guy, but a lot of defensive backs will respect you if you have speed."
Johnson is the third freshman receiver to receive high praise in fall practice as LaRon Byrd and Travis Benjamin have consistently scored touchdowns.
TE Chris Zellner scored the other touchdown during the scrimmage and Matt Bosher converted two field goals within 40 yards.
Derron Thomas "stood out"
in the scrimmage, according to Coach Randy Shannon. Javarris James and Graig Cooper received limited work.
UCLA's Oslen hobbled
It was a bad weekend for college quarterbacks from Los Angeles.
A day after USC lost Mark Sanchez for up to a month with a dislocated kneecap, UCLA's Drew Olsen aggravated an injury to his right foot on Saturday.
Olsen had broken a bone in the foot during spring practice and spent three months recovering after a screw was placed in the foot. "He said he felt discomfort in the foot,"
Coach Rick Neuheisel told the Los Angeles Times. "It sounded like it was the exact same thing as last spring. He was carrying out a fake. He said it was not as bad as last spring. The pain was not the same. We'll see what that means."
Olsen has been injury-prone at UCLA. He tore a knee ligament in 2006 and last season missed a game because of a concussion and five others with a knee injury.
Schiano: No buyout
Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano denies reports that his contract contains a buyout clause.
The Star-Ledger of Newark reported last month that Schiano has the option to leave Rutgers after the 2009 season -- without paying a $500,000 buyout -- if the school's $102 million stadium expansion is not completed on time.
But during a media session Sunday, Schiano said, "There is no such thing."
Schiano said the buyout issue came up during negotiations and that he could have had it included in his deal if he wanted it, but he declined.
Scrimmage roundup
At Tennessee, QB Jonathan Crompton completed 12 of 16 passes for 114 yards on Saturday but was picked off once by Demetrice Morley, who nearly had another interception on a play that was whistled dead. . . . At Alabama, QB John Parker Wilson had a big day in Alabama's first scrimmage, passing for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson completed 17 of 30 passes but was intercepted twice. . . . At Auburn, Coach Tommy Tuberville praised QBs Kodi Burns and Chris Todd for their performance running the Tigers' new spread offense. . . . At Maryland, the highlight was a 50-yard TD run by freshman RB Davin Meggett, son of former New York Giants RB Dave Meggett.
