Ryan Perrilloux went into this season as one of D-1AA's best-known players with fellow big-time transfer Rhett Bomar and the electric Armanti Edwards. Like SFSU's Bomar he arrived with as much apprehension as anticipation, but thus far both have let their play do the talking and avoided controversy. In the wet and wild match up with another one of the OVC's top field generals his Perrilloux's opposite number, Cade Thompson showed he deserves attention from fans and scouts as well. The former SC Gamecock dealt with very wet and sloppy conditions while sowing poise accuracy and an above average arm.
Though the marquee match was between signal callers, JSU power back Daniel Jackson was impressive and UT-M's Miguel Barnes nearly equalled his efforts. Truthfully elements as much as defense thwarted the high-octane offensive onslaughts. Both teams had plays that likely would have resulted in tallies if not for dropped passes that were likely due to the wetness of the football as well as hands of the players. UT-M's WRs Juniors: Ole' Miss Transfer Michael Hicks who had 112 yards and 2 TDs including a 40 yard deep strike from Cade Thompson and his partner Roren Thomas got the see-saw scoring started, putting the Skyhawks on the board 53 seconds into the game when he scored on an 85-yard run. Senior Tom Hansen added the PAT and the Skyhawks led 7-0.
Cade Thompson threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns, and Tennessee Martin hung on to win 31-30 after Jacksonville State missed a fourth-quarter extra point Thursday night. The Skyhawks (7-2, 5-1 Ohio Valley) took the lead for good when Thompson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mike Hicks in the first minute of the fourth quarter to break a 24-24 tie.
Thompson was 15-of-24, while Hicks led the Skyhawks with 112 receiving yards on five catches. Jacksonville State (5-3, 3-2) pulled within a point when Ryan Perrilloux threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to James Wilkerson with 4:38 left in the game. However, Gavin Hallford missed the extra point. The Gamecocks held a 24-16 lead after scoring twice in the first five minutes of the third quarter. But the Skyhawks tied the game with 7:29 left in the third quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Miguel Barnes and a pass from Thompson to Roren Thomas on the two-point conversion. Barnes finished with117 yards. Perrilloux threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns for Jacksonville State.
Defensive highlights were hard to come by, but JSU's LB Alexander Henderson was balaced by UT-M's fine FS Dontrell Miller and LB Brent Acker who made several solid and a few outstanding plays on defense.
Jacksonville St.
#8 WR Maurice Dupree 5'9.6 183 4.54 This very quick WR and RS is very much like Bobby Engram, more quick than fast, but fast enough to exploit safeties or linebacker. He had 96 yards on 4 catches including a 54 yarder, 2 KORs for 48 yards with a long of 32, 1 PR of 4 yards and 1 run for 2 yards. His best chance at the next level is as a returner, but he has prototypical slot skills. Priority UDFA
#4 TB Daniel Jackson 5'9.4" 216 4.58 Think Garrison Hearst, Jackson is one of the better backs that virtually nobody is discussing he is only catching screens, flats and flares, but he is decent at blitz pick up and runs very hard. He is patient with good vision, he has solid burst, deep speed and polish as a receiver are all he lacks. Jackson wrapped up the game with 98 yards on only 13 carries including a 45 yarder that showcased cutting ability and balance. Priority UDFA.
QB #11 RS Jr. Ryan Perrilloux 6'2.3" 227 4.65 The mobile big-armed LSU transfer was victimized by 4-5 drops as his receivers made some very good catches but dropped some balls they should have brought in. 2010 will have quite a few true dual threat QBs and though Tebow is best-known, Colt Daniel, Bryant Lee, Dan Lefevour, Colt McCoy, Perrilloux, Paul Roberts and Jevan Snead all have a chance at playing on Sundays. If he keeps his nose clean Perrilloux could hear is name in the middle rounds, he is mobile and though UT-M's defense did little in way of deception Perrilloux clearly was correct in nearly all of his reads and made 3-4 NFL type passes in the seams, on deep comebacks and out and ups. Though he is no Vick he is a bit quicker than Garrard when he tucks it. If he has matured he is a bargain anytime from the 4th on.
Defense-
OLB #45 Jr. Alexander Henderson 6'0.1" 213 playing 'Sam' but could be a Cato June type 'Will' or perhaps even an 'in the box' SS. Early in the year he racked up 21 stops, he tied that mark with 8 solo, including a TFL and 13 assists. Good tackler who takes the right angle most of the time but gets dragged or run over if he comes in too high. Could sneak into the tail-end of the 2010 draft.
Others PK #41 Gavin Halford 6'0.6" 224 Was 3 of 4 and had 1 ill-advised 6 yard 'pooch punt', his limit seems to be about 49 yards and he can kick off but lacks great power. AFL perhaps.
FS #16 5'11.5" 194 Kenny Walker got burned deep and is a former WR who is still figuring defense out, but he is a hitter with good hands who might be a real standout on special teams. Finished with 1 sack, 2 assists on TFLs and 4 solo stops. If he can learn not to be too nosey he might be a decent reserve in the secondary, UDFA.
UT-M
TB #30 Miguel Barnes 4.53 is a 5'10.3 201 pound Junior transfer from Memphis State, he has excellent instincts, good power and is learning to block and catch. His brother Marlon played in the NFL, he might get a chance also.
Junior WR #19 Mike Hicks is a 'poor man's' Dwayne Bowe he has size at 6'2.216 and about 4.52 speed he made some eye-catching grabs and ran away from people. He has been tried at safety and TB, it's clear that he has found a home, I would not be suprised if he was a mid-round selection next year.
Junior WR #9 Roren Thomas 5'11.6 176 4.51 Teams with Hicks to give the Skyhawks one of I-AA's top WR tandems, he is a Keary Colbert-type who is more polished than Hicks but lacks the tremendous upside, likely a Priority UDFA
RS Jr.Cade Thompson 6'1.5" 193 4.76 Is very accurate, has enough arm and fairly mobile he is less than ideal in terms of his frame but he is about the same size as Joe Montana and Drew Brees at the same point. He is not as strong as Brees but has a better arm than Chad Pennington. He has a shot as the last rounds next year.
OG #79 Kevin Bannon 6'2.5" 282 5.15 Is a smart but undersized OG who uses mobility and leverage to turn and handle defenders, but he will struggle against the size and speed of NFL defenders, will need to gain 15-20 pounds of muscle and be in a system that wants smaller mobile blockers. UDFA.
Defense
Junior LB #45 Brent Acker 6'0.4" 224 4.62 Is another Ian Goldesque 'run and hit' type who is effective as long as he is clean and chases plays down from the backside or beats blockers to the spot on the frontside, posted 7 solos 1.5 TFL and 6 helpers. With a big year he might be a 7th round/PUDFA.
Jr. FS # 14 Dontrell Miller is undersized at 5'7.6" 177 4.49 but makes up for that with aggression, speed and quickness, his best chance at the next level is as a Nickel and on special teams. He finished with 2 solos, 6 assist and .5 TFL.
#92 DT Ray Miller 6'1.1" 287 5.11 Is quick and powerful but not quite sudden enough to be an elite level one gapper and he would need to gain 25-40 pounds to be a 2 gapper and likely slow down. He is strong for his size and productive he gathered 2 solos, '8 me toos' and 1 TFL. UDFA.