Redshirt junior safety Chris Horton spent most of last year on
the sidelines with a wrist injury, watching as his football
teammates on the defense were run over in game after game. This
year, the hard hitter is back, roaming the secondary and hoping to
make the center of the field no place for a wide receiver.
“I’m itching for a lot of big hits,” Horton said.
“(Free safety Dennis) Keyes had that hit on (former Oklahoma
quarterback Rhett Bomar) last year, and I’ve never had one
like that.” Horton will team with his fellow junior Keyes,
and likely starting junior cornerbacks Trey Brown and Rodney Van,
to make up one of the more experienced secondaries in the Pac-10.
But Horton feels he, in particular, needs to step up to help lead
this defense. “I need to be more of a vocal leader,”
Horton said. “I wouldn’t describe myself as normally a
vocal guy – I’m more of a lead-by-example kind of guy, so
I’m still learning there.”
MCGEE DOING WELL: Freshman running back Jeremy
McGee, who came into fall camp as essentially an option at punt
returner, has progressed enough in camp that he feels he has a
legitimate shot at being the third running back, as well as the
starting punt and kick returner. “I think I’ve worked
pretty hard in practice, and I’ve tried to absorb all of the
plays and try to take it in,” McGee said. “I think
I’ve done pretty well at punt returner and kick returner, but
I won’t say (I’m the front runner). I can’t say
that, but I hope so.” McGee would be backing up junior Chris
Markey and sophomore Kahlil Bell if he wins the third running back
job. If McGee became the punt returner, he would be replacing
Maurice Drew, who was an All-American at the position. Luckily for
him, McGee is one who thrives on pressure. “To tell you the
truth, I like that pressure,” McGee said. “Filling
those shoes is a hard job.”
NOTES: Freshman offensive lineman Sean Sheller,
who partially tore the MCL in his right knee last week, will take a
redshirt this season. … Cornerback Rodney Van sat out
Tuesday’s practice after a collision on Monday that left him
with a headache. … The Bruins practiced for the first time on the
field turf of Spaulding on Monday. … Redshirt junior Steven
Urrutia also sat out Tuesday’s practice.