Gator linebacker Jarrad Davis cited by SEC for community service
University of Florida senior linebacker and Camden County High graduate Jarrad Davis was named to the SEC’s Community Service team in football, which will be honored before Saturday’s SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Davis, a St. Mary’s, Ga., resident, has volunteered at Shands Hospital, Boys and Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, the Williams Elementary School and the Newberry Library in Gainesville. He is a past Academic All-SEC player.
Among the other SEC players on the Community Service team and the areas in which they volunteered:
* O.J. Howard of Alabama has volunteered for both child-related and elderly services, Habitat for Humanity and helped organize and pack football equipment to send to West Virginia high schools affected by the flooding last summer.
* Daniel Carson of Auburn has participated in the Champions of Chemo Lake Party for children fighting cancer and volunteers for holiday toy and food drives.
*Jeb Blazevich of Georgia, who is a 2016 Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist for football players active in their communities, has visited charities for individuals with developmental disabilities, sick and disabled children and the Georgia Transplant Foundation.
* Evan Engram of Ole Miss has volunteered for Special Olympics and children’s hospitals in Jackson, Miss., and New Orleans.
* Elliot Fry of South Carolina, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a 7-year-old, is active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Scarbrough emerging?
Alabama expected Bo Scarbrough to step in for Yulee’s Derrick Henry as the team’s battering-ram back.
The 6-foot-2, 228-pound sophomore struggled early. But he may be rounding into form as the Crimson Tide enters the post-season, first against the Florida Gators in the SEC championship on Saturday and then in the College Football Playoff — where Henry was at his best.
Scarbrough carried a season-high 17 times against Auburn last week, for 90 yards. It was his second-best day for yards gained (he had 109 against Tennessee) and ended a streak of seven games in a row in which he carried eight times or less.
Fellow sophomore Damien Harris has become the Tide’s feature back and freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts became more of a running threat than ‘Bama quarterbacks in recent years.
Alabama wide receiver ArDarius Stewart said after the game, “That’s the Bo I know.”
“He came into his own tonight,” Stewart said.
Scarbrough’s slow start has been mostly due to two issues coach Nick Saban requires of his running backs: taking care of the football and pass blocking.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to continue to get that kind of production out of him and performance because he’s a guy we have a lot of confidence in,” Saban said. “He gives us a little different type of runner than the other two guys that play.”
Troubles continue at Missouri
Missouri wide receiver Keyon Dilosa has been suspended indefinitely after his arrest on Wednesday on charges for a third-degree misdemeanor domestic assault.
The police report states that Dilosa was arguing with a woman outside a Columbia, Mo., bar and a witness said he struck her in the face. Dilosa posted $1,000 bond.
He is the fourth Missouri player to be arrested this season and the second in 10 days. Freshman running back Damarea Crockett was arrested on Nov. 20 for marijuana possession, hours after running for 225 yards in a victory over Tennessee.
Engram wins Mississippi honor
Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram has won the Conerly Trophy, named for former Rebels’ quarterback Charley Conerly and presented each year to the best college football player in the state.
Engram finished the season with 65 receptions for 926 yards and eight touchdowns. The finalists were Mississippi State wide receiver Fred Ross, Southern Miss running back Ito Smith and Jackson State defensive lineman Javancy Jones.
The Conerly Trophy has been awarded since 1996. Dak Prescott of Mississippi State won it in 2014 and 2015.