April 15, 2008

University, MS (UWIRE) -- However unlikely the marriage between Houston Nutt and Ole Miss might have seemed at first glance, the two had a terrific honeymoon period with Saturday's 40-14 Blue victory over Red in the annual Grove Bowl.

The spring record 28,311 fans that showed up were not disappointed with the debuts of highly touted quarterback Jevan Snead, first-year starter Cordera Eason at running back, or the play of the all-purpose Dexter McCluster.

The Blue team got off to a quick start as Eason took his second carry of the game 44 yards for a touchdown. On his next carry of the following series, Eason burst up the right sideline, and juked his way into the end zone for 90 yards on two carries.

"He has really improved," Nutt said about the junior running back. "If you took the first week of spring until now, there is a lot of improvement ... We expect him to be a very physical running back, and also pass protect. He has got to protect the ball for us. He had a few too many fumbles this spring that we have to get corrected. Overall, he has been very good."

Eason finished with 101 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries.

Snead equaled the fast start of his running back, as the redshirt sophomore connected on his first five passes and had no problem battling pre-game jitters.

"I was kind of nervous, more anxious I think," Snead said. "I was just ready to go out there and show everybody what I can do."

By the end of the day, Snead had sent a reminder of what made the former Texas Longhorn one of the highest rated quarterbacks in the country coming out of high school with his 20-26 269 two-touchdown performance. The only blemish on Snead's day came in the second quarter when Snead was hit as he released a pass that would end up a floating duck and in the hands of Red team safety Fon Ingram.

It was that kind of pocket presence that has Nutt praising Snead.

"Jevan has had an excellent spring," Nutt said. " I love Jevan's way of standing in that pocket. He is fearless, he has a quick release and he doesn't flinch. He doesn't care if somebody is coming full speed, he will take a shot for this team. I've seen a lot of quarterbacks turn, run and hide - he doesn't. He sets in there strong with confidence, and he finds our receiver."

Both of Snead's touchdown passes came late in the fourth quarter. Snead hit wide receiver Markeith Summers for a 14-yard score with three minutes to play, but it was the second scoring strike that caught Nutt's attention.

Greg Hardy recovered a red team fumble with only 20 seconds left, but it was all Snead needed to find Lionel Breaux for a six yard score.

"He drilled that between two defenders, and you got to have an arm to do that, and you got to have accuracy," Nutt said about the buzzer-beating pass. "He gives us a chance offensively to keep people off balance. I am real excited about Jevan."

It wasn't just Snead lining up at quarterback for the Blue team. McCluster ran the wild rebel formation out of the shotgun, and played wide receiver and running back for good measure.

The speedy sophomore totaled 141 yards, which included eight catches for 108 yards, five rushes for 35 yards and a touchdown. McCluster scored in the third quarter on a 21-yard run out of a pistol formation with Snead in a shotgun and McCluster lined up directly behind him.

The multitalented McCluster caught Nutt's eye early in spring practice with his speed.

"Just watching him run day in and day out, and make plays," Nutt said about the tought process to install McCluster at three positions. "Then I found out he did play quarterback, had some experience at quarterback. Immediately the alarm went off, he has handled the ball, he can hand it off, and then he can read it. Not only a great route runner, a reverse runner, a quick screen runner, but put the ball in his hands and he is dangerous."

The Blue team defense was as equally impressive as the offense against the Red team, which was comprised primarily of second and third string players.

The Red team's lone touchdown came on a one-yard touchdown on a bootleg by quarterback Billy Tapp. The Red team was also given seven points at the end of the first quarter.

The Red team only managed four first downs and 84 total yards.

Linebacker Ashlee Palmer paced the defense with five tackles, and fellow linebacker sophomore Allen Walker capped a strong spring with two tackles and a sack.

"I thought Ashlee Palmer and Allen Walker showed flashes of making plays," defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said. "When I took the job they were saying the linebackers were one of the weaknesses of the team. We took that as a challenge, and I think our kids have responded. We're not where we need to be, but we're making strides."

(C) 2008 Daily Mississippian via UWIRE