college football

college football

News & notes

Ohio State: The Buckeyes have appointed four more players captains. Coach Urban Meyer said Friday that cornerback Gareon Conley, offensive lineman Billy Price, defensive end Tyquan Lewis and linebacker Joe Burger will join previously appointed captains quarterback J.T. Barrett, center Pat Elflein and linebacker Raekwon McMillan. All but Burger are returning starters this year. Burger, a fifth-year senior and three-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree, is a former walk-on who earned a scholarship. The players were chosen by a vote of their teammates. Barrett is the only returning captain. The Buckeyes open the season at home Sept. 3 against Bowling Green.

Wisconsin: Bart Houston will be following in his namesake’s footsteps at Lambeau Field. The new starting quarterback will make his first career start at the home of the Green Bay Packers, in a marquee season opener Sept. 3 against No. 5 LSU. Houston is named after Packers great and Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr. “With my Packer background, it’s pretty cool, named after Bart Starr,” the laid-back Houston said after practice Friday. “I never thought it’d happen like that. It’s cool.” Houston has had to wait for his shot for quite some time. Joel Stave, who is out of eligibility, was the primary starter the last few years at Wisconsin. Houston’s most extensive action came last season on Oct. 24 in a 24-13 win at Illinois, when he went 22 of 32 for 232 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in relief of an injured Stave. “Illinois, I just kind of closed my eyes and winged it,” Houston deadpanned. “I’m kidding.”

Western Kentucky: Junior Mike White has been named Western Kentucky’s starting quarterback for the Hilltoppers’ Sept. 1 opener against visiting Rice. Western coach Jeff Brohm announced Friday that he chose the South Florida transfer from competition that included senior Tyler Ferguson and sophomore Drew Eckels. He says White “has done a nice job preparing himself for this moment and operates our offense well.” Though White gets the initial call to replace record-setting All-American Brandon Doughty, Ferguson and Eckels could also play this season. White, who sat out last season per NCAA transfer rules, started 15 games for the Bulls in 2013 and ’14 and recorded USF’s best quarterback debut when he completed 26 of 41 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns against Houston. Florida State: Two weeks after breaking a bone in his right foot, Sean Maguire returned to preseason practices for No. 4 Florida State. The senior quarterback did team and individual drills during Friday’s session. When Maguire was hurt Aug. 11, coach Jimbo Fisher said he expected Maguire to miss 3-4 weeks. Maguire, who had a screw placed in his foot on Aug. 15, started five games of the final six games last season as he completed 59.3 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. Redshirt freshman Deondre Francois is still expected to start the Sept. 5 opener in Orlando against 11th-ranked Mississippi, but if Maguire is available for that game it could ease Fisher’s mind. Currently backing up Francois are sophomore J.J. Cosentino and freshman walk-on Jake Rizzo. Freshman Malik Henry remains indefinitely suspended for what Fisher called a violation of team rules.

East Carolina: Starting defensive lineman Darius Commissiong has been dismissed from the team after his arrest on a felony animal cruelty charge. Coach Scottie Montgomery announced the move Friday, the same day Greenville police arrested Commissiong. Police say a 1-year-old Shih Tzu belonging to a woman they declined to identify was found dead. The dog had three cracked ribs, a collapsed lung, a torn liver, fractured teeth, a broken left rear leg and other injuries. Commissiong was booked at the Pitt County Detention Center on $25,000 secured bond. Montgomery says he won’t tolerate “unacceptable behavior” that “clearly crosses the line of humanity.”

Associated Press