COLLEGE FOOTBALL | News & notes

Michigan State: Michigan State defensive back Chris L. Rucker (Warren Harding High) has been jailed for violating probation. East Lansing District Court Judge David Jordon says Rucker plead guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving and is scheduled be released from Ingham County Jail on Thursday after serving eight days. His written waiver on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated was processed last Wednesday. Rucker’s plea bargain included him acknowledging that consuming alcohol violated his probation. Rucker was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 150 hours of community service for assault less than a year ago for his role in an on-campus fight. Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio has suspended Rucker indefinitely.

Texas: Mack Brown says he could see the warning signs back in August. After the Texas Longhorns’ first training camp scrimmage, the coach privately noted a lack of passion among his players — and it worried him. For good reason. Texas (4-3) has lost two in a row at home for the first time since 1997, and Brown says his team must quickly find some passion for the game by Saturday, when the unranked Longhorns play No. 25 Baylor (6-2). Brown was candid when speaking with reporters on Monday. He said some of his players feel a sense of entitlement and questioned whether some of them have the will to fight back when they get behind.

Nebraska: Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez has been named the Big 12’s co-offensive player of the week and one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. The redshirt freshman shared the Big 12 honor Monday with Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Martinez threw for five touchdowns and generated a Nebraska freshman-record 435 yards of total offense in Saturday’s 51-41 win at Oklahoma State. Martinez is the only freshman among the Davey O’Brien semifinalists. He’s the first Cornhusker to be a semifinalist since Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch won the O’Brien in 2001. Martinez was also named national offensive player of the week on Sunday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Associated Press