Our very own Vincent Marshall was game MVP with 8 catches for 100 yards, two big kickoff returns, a 22-yard TD run, and a 19-yard pass completion. QB Kevin Kolb was cold early on, but really put on a show in the second half, tossing his 26th and 27th TD passes of the year against just 3 interceptions. Once the Eagles freshman RB Damien Fletcher went out with a bad ankle sprain in the 3rd quarter the balance was gone for the Southern Miss offense, and with their 3 other top tailbacks all transferred, they had to rely on the passing of Jeremy Young. The funny thing is, he did a darned good job too, but the Houston defense was all fired up by then and was just not to be denied. Houston faces South Carolina in the Liberty Bowl, and Southern Miss. will play Ohio U. in the Meinke Bowl (or whatever it's called.)

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Houston Conference: Conference USA Columnist: Jim ODell
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

Vincent Marshall 17 5' 7.5" 165 4.37 WR 2007: Mister speed and versatility. He may not be drafted high, but he will make some smart team (that drafts FOOTBALL PLAYERS) very happy. He proved again tonight that he can do so much, whether it's in the return game or taking short swing passes and turning them into 11 or 12 yard gains all night. Scored on a 22-yard run in the first quarter on a lateral, completed a 19 yard pass, and did a wonderful job averaging over 35 yards on his KORs. GRADE: Very positive

Kevin Kolb 4 6' 3.0" 225 4.73 QB 2007: Was missing early on, but once he settled down he was deadly. He hits the short-to-medium range stuff with deadly accuracy, and can put it downfield too. He actually scored on a 46-yard run rights up the middle too, running away from the Eagles starting cornerbacks on his way to the endzone. He is Ken Stabler reborn. GRADE: Positive

Willie Gaston 10 5' 11.0" 185 4.50 CB 2007: Willie has the look of a shutdown corner at this level, but I am not so sure he can be at the next. Perfect UDFA for yout nickel and dime packages though. Filled well in run support tonight too. GRADE: Neutral

Will Gulley 18 6' 3.0" 215 4.60 S 2007: He really looks like the Gulley of two years ago now, is up to 220, and is a legit 6'3+". He hits like Steve Atwater, and is no liability in coverage. We have vastly, AND I DO MEAN VASTLY under-rated this guy until now. Count me as one who will not be the least bit shocked to hear his name on Saturday. GRADE: Very positive

Marquay Love 99 6' 0.0" 320 5.28 DT 2007: Marquay came into the game very upset that he was named only 3rd team all-conference this week, and he took it out on the Southern Miss offensive line the whole first half. He had 5 total tackles and 2 TFLs in the first half. One time he split a double team like Sampson and just crushed Fletcher before he could get going. One-on-one with So. Miss's 1st team all-conference center it was not contest. Was rotated a lot more in the second half, and was not nearly as effective. I do worry about his height and his stamina, and I need to see his arm length and 40-time. GRADE: Neutral

SirVincent Rogers 0' 0.0" 0 0.00 OT 2008: Did not scout.

Jackie Battle 27 6' 1.3" 245 4.60 HB 2007: I had to add him to the database. He's got well over 800 yards on the season, and was the unsung hero of the victory tonight. A real clock killer and short-yardage nightmare. Also scored on a 6-yard run. He is a load, and hits the hole quickly. Doesn't have big league moves or topend speed, but he will be in a camp and could surprise because of his prowess in short yardage and around the goal line. GRADE: slightly positive


College: Southern Mississippi Conference: Conference USA Columnist: Jim ODell
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

George Batiste 70 6' 5.0" 309 5.16 OG 2007: An average night for George. Got used pretty bad by Love & Co. early on, but really more than held his own in the second half. He has good feet, plays hard, has great size and size potential and is technically sound in pass pro. May not be drafted, but I will be shocked if he isn't playing somewhere next year. GRADE: Neutral

Darren McCaleb 16 5' 11.0" 165 4.90 K 2007: Nice deep kickoffs. SMU's all-time leading scorer now. Kicke FGs of 30 and 31, but the first one hooked in. GRADE: Neutral

I watched the game and focused in on Love...

You basically say he's unblockable 1 on 1 and he destroyed a double team and only give him a grade of neutral? I agree with everything you said though..

I think the Kolb grade is way too positive. I think his arm is over hyped. It's good enough, but it's not a cannon like some people describe it. His ball was arching on a deep comeback he threw from the opposite dash marks, and he couldn't reach an open man when he threw off the wrong foot. His deep ball was way too inconsistent and even missed some open receivers on the intermediate. Because he 15 of his 19 completions were screen he gets a positive grade and is the next Ken Stabler? hmmm...

But yeah, his athleticism was impressive...

Love gets a neutral because he could not sustain his first half performance for an entire game, and rarely has.

Kolb gets a positive for his leadership qualities, and for 2 TDs...For managing the game, for winning, and for being deadly accurate with the short-to-medium passes. I never said he had the biggest arm around. Stabler didn't either. Kolb could have gotten a "very positive" if he had not missed on three deep balls.