Nevada QB Henry benched so he can put emphasis on studies
Maryland’s Locksley going through rough patch in first year
RENO, Nev. — Nevada football coach Jay Norvell says he’s benching starting quarterback Malik Henry so he can focus on his studies.
Norvell emphasized in a statement Tuesday the junior transfer who played at Florida State and Independence Community College in Kansas is not suspended.
But Norvell said he made the decision to take him off the field “so that he can continue to focus on academics and his life outside of football.”
Henry started the last two games for Nevada (4-3 overall, 3-1 Mountain West Conference), beating San Jose State and losing to Utah State. In three games this year, he has completed 54% of his passes for 593 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.
Norvell says Carson Strong, who has started four games, and Cristian Solano, who started one, will be Nevada’s top quarterbacks heading into Saturday’s game at Wyoming.
MARYLAND: A snapshot of the Maryland football program reveals a team that has lost four of five and has little chance of earning a bowl bid.
The big picture is not nearly as narrow in focus. In his first year as head coach, ex-Lobos boss Mike Locksley has used virtually everyone on the roster and attempted to develop a positive culture within a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2014.
So, even though the Terrapins (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten) have struggled following a 2-0 start, Locksley remains upbeat.
“We want to win now, but winning isn’t something we talk a lot about,” Locksley said Tuesday. “It’s really the process and the habits and behaviors that help you win. We set standards for how we practice, how we want to prepare and how we want to play.”
Maryland faces No. 17 Minnesota (7-0, 4-0) on the road Saturday before hosting No. 19 Michigan and traveling to No. 3 Ohio State. SOUTH CAROLINA: The school paid a $10,000 fine and lost several weeks of off-campus recruiting activity because a former assistant coach had impermissible contact with a sophomore recruit.
After the recruit visited unofficially, the coach sent an impermissible text and set up a meeting, which also was impermissible. According to a school release, there were 13 impermissible messages between January and June 2018.
The outcome was reached through a “negotiated resolution process.”
“Once our compliance staff learned of the violations in question, we conducted a thorough internal review and worked closely with the NCAA in the handling of this matter,” South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said in a statement. “We are diligent in our compliance efforts, both proactively and reactively. ”
In the statement, Gamecocks football coach Will Muschamp added: “As the head coach of the football program at the University of South Carolina, I am responsible for all facets of the program. I recognize that a violation occurred within my program and I have taken substantial corrective actions to ensure that similar instances do not continue to occur.”
USC: Running back Kenan Christon showed he can provide big plays, scoring on touchdowns runs of 55 and 30 yards in a memorable debut against Arizona.
Now the freshman with elite speed will have to show he can handle a bigger role, as Christon is expected to start for the Trojans at Colorado on Friday because of a spate of injuries at the position.
Redshirt freshman Markese Stepp is out up to five weeks because of an ankle injury he suffered on Saturday against the Wildcats that will require surgery, coach Clay Helton said. Junior Stephen Carr did not practice Monday after sustaining a hamstring strain in the same game. Redshirt junior Vavae Malepeai remains out after undergoing knee surgery last week.
“I’ve never lost three backs in one week in 25 years before, but you know what, there’s a first time for everything,” Helton said.