Soccer Sports News & Betting

A trial has been averted in a teenager lawsuit claiming she suffered psychological trauma. From nearly a two-year sexual relationship with former Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick, a newspaper reported.

Steven Smith, an attorney for the Christiansburg teenager, told The Roanoke Times on Monday the parties have agreed in principle to a settlement in the $6.35 million lawsuit. He would not discuss details of the settlement.

Lawrence Woodward, Vick’s attorney, did not immediately respond to a voice mail left by The Associated Press on Monday night.

A trial was to begin next week in Montgomery County on the lawsuit’s charges of sexual battery upon a minor and willful and wanton conduct.

The girl, now 19, said in her lawsuit that she and Vick, brother of former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, had a sexual relationship that began in January 2004 and lasted through December 2005.

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East Carolina LB Cotton could be out for season.

The excitement over East Carolinas first 3-0 start since 1999 was tempered somewhat Monday, when coach Skip Holtz announced that senior linebacker Quentin Cotton could miss the remainder of the season.

Cotton, who had started 15 games over the last two seasons, suffered a right knee injury in Saturdays 28-24 victory over Tulane.

Its look like he will be done, which is really unfortunate because he probably played the best half of football any player has played since Ive been here, Holtz said Monday at his weekly news conference. Its one of those things that really breaks your heart in sports, when you see somebody who has come so far as Quentin Cotton has.

Cotton was named Conference USAs special teams Player of the Week after returning a blocked field goal 44 yards in the second quarter for a touchdown, the first score of his career. He also recorded two tackles, including a sack, and an interception in the first half before the injury.

Cottons injury likely means that reserve Nick Johnson will move into the starting lineup.

The 17th-ranked Pirates also will be without starting left tackle Stanley Bryant for next Saturdays game against North Carolina State.

Bryant, also a senior, injured his left knee on the second play of the second quarter and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Cowboys safety Roy Williams fractured his right forearm. While making a special teams tackle in Dallas 41-37 victory over Philadelphia on Monday night. The five-time Pro Bowl selection could miss at least three games.

Williams was hurt when he and Keith Davis combined to hit Eagles return man Quintin Demps during a kickoff. The safety went to the sideline and was escorted to the locker room a few plays later.

Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten played through a separated shoulder that forced him to the locker room in the first half. But in the fourth quarter, Witten had a 32-yard catch to the Eagles 5 that set up Marion Barber’s 1-yard go-ahead TD run.

“Little shoulder pops out and that’s nothing,” Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens said. “It just shows you how tough the guy is.”

Witten, who finished with seven catches for 110 yards, will be re-evaluated Tuesday.

Backup Patrick Watkins took Williams’ place in the defensive backfield and was called for a key face mask penalty on the final play of the third quarter. Two plays later, Brian Westbrook scored on a 1-yard run to put the Eagles up 37-31.

Beleaguered Syracuse coach Greg Robinson finally has something to look forward t. A seemingly sure victory after three straight losses.

Then again, even an opponent from college football’s second tier might be a match for his struggling Orange, who have allowed 127 points in three games.

Northeastern comes to town for the first time on Saturday, and the Huskies (0-2) could still create some high anxiety in the Carrier Dome despite their record: They’re coming off an overtime loss at Georgia Southern, a perennial powerhouse in the Championship Subdivision.

“It’s a real important game for us,” Robinson said Monday. “It’s our last game before we get started in the Big East, and we need to gain some momentum.”

The Orange dropped to 7-31 in Robinson’s three-plus years as head coach after Saturday’s 55-13 drubbing by No. 16 Penn State. That dropped the Orange defense to 115th in the nation, allowing 507 yards per game.

Syracuse has lost seven straight dating to last November and has won just three of its previous 19 games.

“I want this thing to turn,” Robinson said. “Right now, my focus is just one day at a time, keep working. If we can get some guys back - we had to play a number of young kids here in the past two weeks - all of a sudden I think it can work in our favor.

“Some of these younger players that did play have a little more experience and we have a little more depth,” Robinson said. “The timing of all that would be great if all of a sudden this week we were more equipped. Right now, we’re not a deep football team, and that’s showing.”

Especially in the secondary.

In Jordan Norwood, Deon Butler and Derrick Williams, Penn State has a trio of receivers that’s as good as any group in the country. Sophomore Mike Holmes was beaten twice by Butler for scores, after also getting beat for a pair of touchdowns in the previous week’s 42-28 home loss to Akron.

Freshman Dorian Graham and sophomore Da’Mon Merkerson played cornerback in place of Nico Scott, who started the game with a sore ankle. Scott left soon after allowing Norwood to slip out of a tackle and score on a 55-yard touchdown reception on Penn State’s third play from scrimmage.

And redshirt freshman Kevyn Scott started against the Nittany Lions at strong safety in place of slumping senior A.J. Brown.

“The positive out of this game is, my first game’s over,” said Graham, who also was beaten by Norwood for a touchdown. “The butterflies are out of there. From here on out, I’m not a veteran, but you might as well say I have some experience. Now I just need to work on getting better.”

So, too, does the offense. It’s ranked 114th, having gained just 737 yards, an average of 245.7 per game. And only three teams have a worse mark than the Orange’s 4.19 yards per pass attempt.

Cam Dantley, who played well against Akron in only his second start at quarterback, appeared flummoxed at the outset by the Penn State defense and never got into a rhythm until long after the game was decided. Dantley finished 13-of-32 for 110 yards with one interception before giving way to last year’s starter, Andrew Robinson, in the fourth quarter.

The Orange failed to convert any of 12 third-down chances through the first three quarters and finished 2-of-17.

“I wasn’t dissatisfied with Cam,” Greg Robinson said. “There were a couple situations where he could’ve made better throws, but he handled the situations pretty well and I liked the touchdown pass (to freshman Marcus Sales) on fourth down. He hung in there tough.”

The similarities between No 13 Kansas and No 19 South Florida don’t end. With the Jayhawks and Bulls both having mobile quarterbacks who run, throw and - most of all - win.

The teams, relative newcomers to the college football spotlight, burst onto the scene a year ago when each climbed as high as No. 2 before falling out of contention for a spot in the BCS Championship Game.

Both began this season ranked in the Top 25 - a first for South Florida - and view their nationally televised matchup Friday night as a chance to showcase what their programs are all about.

“This is a statement game for both of us,” USF All-American defensive end George Selvie said.

“It’s a Friday night game. Everybody in the nation is going to be watching us, two ranked teams going head-to-head. Both of us have got something to prove. The nation doesn’t know if we’re for real or not.”

The Jayhawks agree.

“It is a big game for us to go play a ranked team like ourselves,” Kansas cornerback Chris Harris said. “Everyone says we always play cupcakes, so this is about respect for us, playing a team that is ranked. We are going to try and prove that we should be ranked higher.”

The Jayhawks (2-0) and Bulls (2-0) have come a long way from the first meeting between the teams two years ago. Kansas won 13-7 in Lawrence after neither managed to score in the opening half.

Kansas coach Mark Mangino recalled walking away that night feeling USF, whose program was launched from scratch a little over a decade ago, had a bright future under Jim Leavitt, who worked with Mangino for five years while they were assistants at Kansas State.

“I realized that they had some really talented players,” Mangino said.

“We thought that the quarterback had the potential to be pretty good, but he was young when he was here. Their defense was as good as any that we had played that year in the Big 12.”

That quarterback is Matt Grothe, who has developed into one of the country’s top dual threats. He was USF’s leading rusher last season and equally capable of shredding defense throwing the ball.

He reminds some Kansas players of the Jayhawks’ Todd Reesing, who has thrown for 668 yards and six touchdowns in two games.

“He is a lot like some of the quarterbacks in the Big 12. Most of our quarterbacks can run and throw. It’s not something that we haven’t seen before, but it is something that will prepare us better for our conference games,” Kansas safety Darrell Stuckey said.

Grothe conceded there are similarities, adding that both defenses should know what to expect Friday night.

“They see the same type of quarterback all year (in practice),” said the junior, who threw for 346 yards and three TDs in South Florida’s 31-24 overtime win at UCF last week.

“They do some similar things that we do. Both sides of the ball,” Leavitt added. “They are very good at what they’re doing. They’ve got a tremendous quarterback. They’re a good football team all the way through.”

Reesing has a trio of receivers who rank among the nation’s leaders, beginning with Kerry Meier, who has 18 receptions in two games. Dezmon Briscoe has 16 catches and four touchdowns, while Daymond Patterson has 11 catches.

One of the keys for South Florida figures to be getting pressure on Reesing, who has thrown one pick in 90 pass attempts this season.

“I don’t know if it’s so much with him or anybody, you always want to try to get some pressure somewhere at certain times,” Leavitt said.

“He’s seen a lot of defenses, this is not the first time someone has talked about getting pressure to him. I mean he’s played a lot of people, there’s a lot of good coaches out there. Just cause someone says you’re trying to do that doesn’t mean you can.”

Selvie is one of the nation’s best pass rushers, but Mangino said the Jayhawks cannot become preoccupied with him.

“When you focus on one aspect of a team’s defense, if they have enough good players, they will hurt you somewhere else,” Mangino said.

“You have to keep it in perspective. You want to do some things to keep Selvie from having a major impact on your offense, however there are so many other quality football players out there that you can’t just focus on one guy.”

Roren Thomas ran 65 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game. And later caught two scoring passes to help Tennessee-Martin rout Concordia College 87-21 Thursday night.

Thomas’ scoring receptions covered 60 and 72 yards and were part of a Skyhawk offense that produced 699 total yards against the outmanned Hornets (3-1). Thomas had four catches in all for 180 yards.

Cade Thompson threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns - all in the first half - while freshman Daryl Bourne (111) had his second straight 100-yard rushing game for Tennessee-Martin (2-1), including a 57-yard touchdown. Thompson’s other TD passes went to Jamaal Akbar (14 yards) and Mike Hicks (12 yards).

Miguel Barnes ran for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns and three in all for the Skyhawks, who also recorded nine quarterback sacks and recovered three Concordia fumbles.

Tennessee-Martin kicker Tom Hansen set a new school record by converting 12 PATs. He also equaled a UTM mark for most points in a game by a kicker with 15 total.

A.J. Ward ran for 153 yards with a 59-yard touchdown sprint for the Hornets.

The 87 points was the second-highest total in Tennessee-Martin history, No. 2 only to the 97 scored vs. Bethel College in 1995.

New Mexico State coach Hal Mumme jokes that he can’t explain his team exotic new defensive system. He just hopes it works.

“I think Joe Lee is trying to get 12 guys on the field without the officials knowing it, and hopefully he’ll get away with it a few times,” Mumme said this week.

The Aggies are playing a 3-3-5 system under first-year defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn, and it has Nebraska’s coaches and players scratching their heads in advance of Saturday night’s game in Lincoln.

Receiver Nate Swift called the Aggies’ schemes “crazy stuff,” and quarterback Joe Ganz used the term “weird” five times while answering two questions about what he’ll see.

“It looks like a defense I play against in Madden,” he said, referring to the video game.

The 3-3-5 is anchored by three down linemen. The three linebackers and five defensive backs are given lots of freedom to move before the snap, forcing the offense to consider the possibility of a blitz every play.

Two strong safeties line up anywhere from the line of scrimmage to 5 yards deep, 2 to 3 yards outside the offensive tackle or tight end. The linebackers are directly behind the three down linemen, the cornerbacks are in their usual spots and the free safety is deep.

Almost anything goes, however, with the defense giving the opponent a wide variety of looks.

“They try to confuse you. But like all things that look complicated, there’s simplicity in it,” Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. “That’s our job, to uncover the simplicity, and hopefully, that’s what I think we’ve done.”

Watson said the Huskers will have a well-rounded game plan that incorporates most of their core plays.

“You shouldn’t leave yourself vulnerable to anything - and that’s what we try to do every week,” Watson said. “We try to account for everything that we know the nature of that defense can do, and then anticipate maybe what changes they might be making based on either personnel or situations in terms of coverage.”

The 61-year-old Dunn was out of college football for two years before Mumme hired him last winter following Woody Widenhofer’s retirement.

Dunn used the 3-3-5 with success at the University of Memphis from 2002-04. Before that, he was defensive coordinator at Mississippi State, which led the nation in rushing defense and total defense in 1999. He also has been a coordinator at Arkansas and South Carolina and head coach at New Mexico.

Nebraska’s offense has studied film of Dunn’s defenses at Memphis. Ganz said it made for entertaining viewing.

“Sometimes they rush two guys and drop nine. I’ve never seen that before,” he said. “They’re playing all different types of fronts. They’ll bring two linebackers and drop their two defensive ends (into pass coverage).”

Offensive lineman Matt Slauson said it’s been a challenging week of preparation, and he said he and his line mates will have to adjust on the fly.

“For our blocking schemes,” he said, “it’s going to be coming up to the line, recognizing a front and then finding your guy and going and blocking him.”

The Aggies have seven starters back from last year, when they ranked 94th in total defense (429 ypg) and 107th in scoring defense (36.2 ppg). The strength of the unit is in back. Safety Derrick Richardson had 108 tackles, and cornerback Davon House intercepted four passes and broke up eight others.

Ganz said the effectiveness of the 3-3-5 probably is as much a mystery to the New Mexico State defenders as it is to the Huskers. That’s because Saturday will be the Aggies’ first game.

Their Sept. 4 opener against Nicholls State was canceled because Hurricane Gustav kept the opponent from Louisiana from traveling.

“They don’t know how it’s going to be,” Ganz said, “and we don’t know how it’s going to be.”

Wisconsin senior linebacker Jonathan Casillas took plenty of time. When grasping for the words to describe Fresno State’s offense.

“Similar, actually,” Casillas conceded. “Their running back is not as big, but I think they’re very similar. They do a lot of similar things. They shift and motion and burst out of formations a lot. They kind of run similar plays.”

Casillas’ assessment wasn’t necessarily enlightening, but it’s fundamentally sound. When No. 10 Wisconsin (2-0) plays at No. 21 Fresno State (1-0) on Saturday night, the similarities will exceed their differences, right down to the colors.

Wisconsin’s defense, which failed them on the road last year, will be tested against an offensive scheme that is close to what the Badgers practice against.

Credit part of that to Wisconsin running backs coach John Settle, who came to the Badgers after working for eight years at Fresno State and learning from Bulldogs coach Pat Hill.

While Wisconsin’s history is deeply rooted in bruising backs like Ron Dayne and current starter P.J. Hill, Settle developed six 1,000-yard rushers himself with the Bulldogs.

“When he first came aboard, I walked into one of his meetings, and he was showing plays from Fresno State,” Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. “And I remember him showing the guys the film, and trying to get them to do what they wanted here at Wisconsin.”

No one batters opposing defenses with a power running attack like Wisconsin can. The Badgers are deep at running back.

Still, they moved away from Hill, Zach Brown and John Clay against Marshall, electing to air it out after trailing 14-0. The Badgers reeled off 51 unanswered points on 329 yards passing with the trio of backs finishing five drives with short TD runs.

The air assault doesn’t fool Pat Hill, though.

“They’re still going to lead with the run,” the coach said. “They are a conventional type of offense that is able to spread the field at time with formation. But I still think if you’re going to have a chance to beat Wisconsin you need to be able to stop their run game.”

Wisconsin will also look to gain some road traction after going 1-4 away from Camp Randall last season. And the game against Fresno State has garnered plenty of BCS hype even with Ohio State playing down the road at Southern California.

“I go to class, I hear it all the time, ‘Are you thinking about Fresno? Are you ready for Fresno, blah, blah, blah,”‘ Wisconsin linebacker Jaevery McFadden said. “I go on Facebook, and I get tons of messages about Fresno.”

While it’s a new season, clearly the failures at Illinois, Penn State, Ohio State and Tennessee in the Outback Bowl hang on the minds of the Badgers.

“We want to make a statement that we’re for real this year,” McFadden said. “I don’t want to go back to last year, but last year we were disappointed with ourselves, with the way we played some games. I think we let up in a lot of games that we played. We didn’t play to our potential, that’s what I should say.”

It’ll help, too, if Wisconsin gets back talented tight end Travis Beckum, who has been out of action the first two games this season with a strained hamstring.

“I think it’s great to have several weapons on offense. With me being out, other players have had the opportunity to step up and make some plays and make a name for themselves. And I think they took advantage of that,” Beckum said.

Casillas, who also hopes to see his first action this season after missing the first two games with a sprained left knee, has another way to look at their trip to California.

“Fresno State, they’re red just like us. Why don’t we make it our home? The atmosphere, it’s going to be loud, just like Camp Randall is, they’re just not going to be cheering for the defense, they’re going to be cheering when the offense is out there,” he said. “I don’t know how we were thinking last year, but we weren’t thinking the right way because we didn’t win a lot on the road. So I think maybe our mindset is going to have to change in that regard. We play well at home, so why don’t we take the home with us when we’re away?”

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Thursday it is doubtful. That starting tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells will play Saturday night against No. 1 Southern California.

Tressel said there was lingering soreness for Wells in his right foot after he worked out Wednesday night. Wells didn’t practice with the team Thursday morning just before it departed for Los Angeles.

“We were hoping he’d wake up this morning and feel even better than yesterday,” Tressel said shortly before boarding the team bus to the airport. “But it didn’t happen. We’ll see from here.”

Wells injured his right foot in the fifth-ranked Buckeyes’ opener against Youngstown State, didn’t play last week against Ohio and hasn’t had contact in partial practices this week. He flew with the team Thursday afternoon.

Tressel didn’t rule out the possibility of the junior seeing action, but didn’t sound optimistic.

“Beanie practiced about 20 carries yesterday, and maybe 20 percent of the practice,” Tressel said. “We didn’t have him work today. He had more soreness this morning than we had hoped for. A late afternoon practice followed by a morning practice, we’re hoping that’s a little bit of the reason why. So we’ll just have to play it by ear.”

Co-offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said after Wednesday night’s practice that Wells was about 75 percent healthy.

“The chances of him being 100 percent are not high, I would think,” Bollman said. “That would be a miraculous recovery.”

Ohio State is a 10 1/2-point underdog against the Trojans in the first meeting between the teams in 18 years. USC has won its last seven meetings with Big Ten teams, by an average margin of 27.8 points.

With Wells out of last week’s come-from-behind 26-14 victory over 33 1/2-point underdog Ohio, redshirt freshman Dan Herron, sophomore Brandon Saine and senior Maurice Wells handled the load at tailback. They have also been seeing most of the action in practice this week, with Wells working out on Monday and Tuesday on his own away from his teammates under the supervision of team trainers.

Tressel said the three backups would share the job of replacing Wells, who rushing for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns last season and was considered a top Heisman Trophy prospect this season.

“I would call it more by committee,” he said. “Now if someone starts really feeling it, no matter who that is, you would (play them). But we’re pleased with all those guys.”

Tressel said team doctors, trainers and the coaching staff would monitor Wells’ condition and then consult with him before ruling on whether he will play in the game at the Coliseum.

He said the Buckeyes’ playbook would not be severely hampered by Wells’ absence. But he did say that it still might come as a shock to Wells’ teammates if he cannot play in a game of this magnitude.

“Our guys have seen that we’ve practiced for quite some time without him,” Tressel said. “I suppose maybe when you get to the realization that, OK, maybe he won’t play, then perhaps there’s a ‘Man!’ type of thing. But we’ve got to go (on).”

USC coach Pete Carroll said he’s expecting Wells to play.

“Doubtful doesn’t mean he’s not playing,” Carroll said after practice. “We’re still going to prepare like everybody’s playing. We’re just going about our business. We’re planning on him playing.”

Defensive end Kyle Moore hopes Wells is able to give it a go.

“I want their team to be 100 percent, I don’t want any excuses,” Moore said. “Our team’s going to be at 100 percent. We’ll see who comes out the best Saturday.”

Defensive tackle Fili Moala seemed surprised at the news.

“I hadn’t heard that,” he said. “You never know with these types of things. He’s a competitor, I’m sure he’d like to be out there. We’re prepared as if he’s going to play. The other running backs are all very capable. (But) they’re not Beanie Wells.”

No 3 Oklahoma has a new Big Dog, and it’s not coach Bob Stoops black-and-white Great Dane, Lola.

In a competition started by offensive line coach James Patton, the blocker who records the most knockdowns in a game is recognized as the Big Dog of the week. Tackle Trent Williams’ picture was posted on the Sooners’ meeting room wall this week after he notched 12 knockdowns in a 52-26 win against Cincinnati to lead all linemen.

“It’s just a way to get competition between the O-line to see who gets the most knockdowns in the game,” Williams said. “You get your picture up and you get to look at it all week.”

The nickname comes from an acronym - DOG stands for defenders on ground - and Williams has flattened the most heading into this Saturday’s game at Washington. He and All-America guard Duke Robinson shared the title the first week after tying with nine apiece against Chattanooga.

“I just kind of stepped it up trying to get the title,” said Williams, a junior who thinks his dozen knockdowns were his most since his freshman year.

Williams’ crowning as the “Big Dog” is a symbol of his rising status on Oklahoma’s offensive line. He was thrust into action as a freshman after Branndon Braxton broke his leg, and immediately made an impact with 75 knockdowns on 462 snaps.

“When he played two years ago as a freshman, he’s the best freshman lineman that I’ve ever seen, and I saw Davin Joseph as a freshman as a first-round pick,” said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, the Sooners’ former offensive line coach. “I thought the kid was awesome.”

With Braxton back, Williams started only six of 14 games last season and Stoops thinks he flew under the radar despite consistently grading out well. Much of the attention instead focused on Robinson and tackle Phil Loadholt, who both are considered NFL prospects.

“We have enough good guys, not everybody gets their hype. He’s every bit as good, and in our opinion probably more consistent than, any of the seniors,” Wilson said. “And all of those seniors are really good players, so he’s an outstanding lineman.”

While Robinson (6-foot-5, 335 pounds) and Loadholt (6-8, 337) are impressive in their sheer size, Williams brings a slightly different package with his 6-5, 308-pound frame

“He has size, strength, all of that, but it’s his feet. He’s one of those unusual guys with his size, Trent truly could be a defensive lineman,” Stoops said. “That doesn’t happen a lot.”

The “Big Dog” recognition is just another motivating tool to get a sound offensive line playing at its best. Through two games, the Sooners have allowed only one sack on 76 pass attempts while racking up 379 yards rushing.

All together, Williams said the Sooners’ front line racked up more than 50 knockdowns and he narrowly won the “Big Dog” competition over other linemen that notched nine and 10 knockdowns.

“The knockdown, that’s the whole purpose of the O-line: to block people, maul people, get them on the ground,” Williams said. “It’s a little token of how you’re doing your job.”

Javier Arenas was going the wrong way.

He fielded the punt, spun away from a defender, reversed field and eventually made his way toward the end zone for an 87-yard return and yet another big play for No. 11 Alabama.

“When he popped out the back door, I’m thinking, ‘What is he doing?”‘ Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. “Two seconds later you’re saying, ‘He may go all the way.”‘

It’s an increasingly familiar refrain whenever Arenas fields a punt with a little open space. The junior, also a starting cornerback, tied David Palmer’s 15-year-old school record with his fourth punt return for a touchdown.

Arenas enters Saturday night’s game against Western Kentucky ranked seventh nationally with an average of more than 24 yards per return. He also broke Harry Gilmer’s 61-year-old mark for single-game return yards with 147 against Tulane.

Arenas downplays the records, treating them like a return and keeping his eyes focused in front of him. When he graduates, then there will be time to look back.

“It means something to me now, but it’ll mean more to me then,” Arenas said. “I’m just playing ball. I’m not really focusing on anything like that.”

Arenas was forced to improvise on his 87-yarder and didn’t reverse directions on purpose. He’ll take the result, though.

“I was trying to go forward,” he said. “A guy grabbed me and slung me around; that’s the only reason why I went backwards. I didn’t intend on going backwards. After that, I just had to make the best of the situation, so I just cut across the field. After that, my blockers took over. Guys made great blocks.”

Later in the game, a hard hit briefly knocked Arenas out, prompting the fans to chant his name. He felt fine a few minutes later and has been cleared to play against Western Kentucky. Trainers wouldn’t let him back in the game as a precaution.

“They took my helmet, man,” he groused.

Arenas’ returns have been a boost for a team that hasn’t supplied many big plays on offense. The Tide’s longest run is 28 yards and the longest pass is 24. Arenas has been getting about that on average.

No wonder teammates and fans alike keep a close eye when he lines up to take a punt.

“I mean, you never know what he’s going to do,” quarterback John Parker Wilson said. “He’s pretty good. Usually, I get to go up there and walk up there and see it. I think everybody is interested in watching him.”

Safety Rashad Johnson is on the punt return team, but sometimes wishes he could be a spectator.

“Sometimes it’s just get a hand on my guy and then get out of the way, because I’m pretty sure Javy will make him miss if I miss that block,” Johnson said. “When he gets the ball in his hands it’s definitely electrifying. It’s better to be on the sidelines so you can see him do what he does than to be on the field blocking for him.”

The long returns ensures one thing: Arenas is still talked about more as a return man than a cornerback despite working his way into a starting job on defense.

He hasn’t had all that many chances to rack up defensive stats. Arenas has six tackles and no pass breakups, partly because teams haven’t tried to challenge him, even though he’s the new guy opposite Kareem Jackson.

Arenas attributes some of that to the fact that he doesn’t carry himself like a new guy. He said he even looks to the opposing sidelines trying to goad a coach into testing him.

“I’m not surprised. I’ve got a swagger out there,” he said. “I look like I’ve been out there for like 17 years. I’m not thinking about that. If I thought about that, I’d be out there all stiff and nervous and jumping around.

“And college coaches are college coaches for a reason: They’ll notice that and they’ll attack.”