College football notes

Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace is expected to need four to six months to recover from shoulder surgery, meaning he will likely miss spring practice.
Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace is expected to need four to six months to recover from shoulder surgery, meaning he will likely miss spring practice.

— OLE MISS Wallace to have surgery

OXFORD, Miss. - Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace will have surgery on his throwing shoulder Tuesday, meaning he will likely miss spring practice.

Coach Hugh Freeze said Monday that Wallace is expected to need four to six months to recover. The 6-4 sophomore initially hurt his shoulder against Tulane in the second game of the season, but continued to play with discomfort, starting every game for the Rebels.

Wallace still had a productive season, completing nearly 64 percent of his passes for 2,994 yards and 22 touchdowns and throwing 17 interceptions. He also rushed for 390 yards and eight touchdowns.

Ole Miss finished with a 7-6 record after beating Pittsburgh 38-17 on Saturday in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

FLORIDA Jenkins declares for NFL

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Florida linebacker Jelani Jenkins is turning pro after an injury plagued season, one that ended with foot surgery.

Jenkins missed four games, including the Sugar Bowl, and might not be 100 percent for the NFL combine in February.

Nonetheless, the junior from Olney, Md., announced his decision to enter the NFL on Monday. He joins safety Matt Elam, defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and tight end Jordan Reed as juniors leaving Florida early.

“Jelani informed me that he wishes to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL,” Florida Coach Will Muschamp said in a statement. “We wish him the best of luck and encourage him to return to Florida and complete his degree.”

Jenkins finished the season with 29 tackles, two sacks and an interception. His biggest play came in November, when he returned a blocked punt 36 yards for a touchdown with 2 seconds remaining to beat Louisiana-Lafayette.

Jenkins played in 36 games at Florida, including 31 starts, and totaled 182 tackles, 16 1/2 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and 3 interceptions.

STANFORD Tight ends leaving

STANFORD, Calif. - All-American Zach Ertz and fellow redshirt senior Levine Toilolo announced Monday that they would forego their final year of eligibility at Stanford to enter the NFL Draft.

While the moves had been somewhat expected, the Cardinal’s recent run of success - and the emergence of quarterback Kevin Hogan - made both consider returning for one more run at a national title.

“Kevin’s special, man. All those guys coming back on defense, I think they’re going to be one of the best teams in the country next year,” Ertz said by phone. “They’re going to be really good. But at the same time, I have to do what’s best for me and my family at this time. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

Ertz submitted paperwork to the NFL to gauge where he could be selected. He’s expected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in April.

After playing in the Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl the previous two years, The 6-6, 252-pound Ertz had a team best 69 receptions for 898 yards and 6 touchdowns last season. Toilolo, 6-8, 265, had 24 receptions for 393 yards and 4 touchdowns last season.

OKLAHOMA Two choose draft

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma safety Tony Jefferson and receiver Kenny Stills plan to enter the NFL Draft and skip their final season in college.

Coach Bob Stoops said Monday that the Sooners wish Jefferson and Stills the best in the NFL.

Jefferson was a second-team All-American this season after leading Oklahoma with 119 tackles. He also had two interceptions. Stills was the team’s leading receiver with 82 catches for 959 yards and 11 touchdowns.

NEVADA Texas A&M assistant hired

RENO, Nev. - Nevada athletic officials reached an agreement with Texas A&M assistant Brian Polian to become the Wolf Pack’s next football coach under a five-year deal that will pay him $475,000 in annual base pay plus incentives if it is formally approved this week by the state board of regents, school officials said Monday.

Polian, 38, the Aggies’ tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, also has coached at Stanford, Notre Dame, Central Florida and Buffalo. He said in a joint statement with the university that he is looking forward to the “incredible opportunity” to replace Chris Ault, who recently announced his retirement after 28 seasons at Nevada.

“I cannot express how excited I am to lead the Nevada football program into what will be a very bright future,” said Polian, who joined the Aggies in capping an 11-2 season with a victory over Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl last week.

Before Texas A&M, Polian spent two years at Stanford as special teams and recruiting coordinator while also coaching safeties. He also coached mostly defense five seasons at Notre Dame before that. He primarily coached running backs at Central Florida and Buffalo. He said his mentors include Marv Levy, Tony Dungy, Nick Saban, Charlie Weis and Jim Harbaugh.

FLORIDA STATE

Running back arrested

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State running back James Wilder Jr. is out of jail on a $500 bond after being arrested for the third time in less than a year.

Wilder, who has rushed for 795 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Seminoles, turned himself into authorities Sunday at the Leon County Jail after a warrant for his arrest was issued. He failed to make a court appearance on a charge of driving with a suspended license. That date is now set for Jan. 24.

Florida State athletic department spokesman Elliott Finebloom said Monday that Coach Jimbo Fisher is aware of Wilder’s latest brush with the law. Fisher was in Tallahassee, but unavailable for comment. Tallahassee attorney Tim Jansen, who has previously represented Wilder, did not immediately return a message for comment on the player’s run-in with authorities.

Wilder, 20, spent a few days in the Leon County Jail in June after testing positive for alcohol, which was within legal parameters, while taking part in a work day program for a previous incident. The work day resulted from a plea agreement earlier this year on a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest without violence in February 2012.

Sports, Pages 19 on 01/08/2013

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