Tight End

Defensive end Datone Jones got in the scoring column last week, tackling Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez for a safety. He upped that total considerably against Houston on Saturday. Jones, playing tight end, caught a seven-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to give the Bruins a 14-0 lead. It was the first reception of Jones' career at UCLA. UCLA's offense does not have a traditional tight end. Jones was used at the position briefly against Nebraska. Jones was back to his usual duties moments later, dropping Houston running back Ryan Jackson for a five-yard loss.

In an offense that features two of college football's best wide receivers, USC tight ends Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer don't get many opportunities to look spectacular. Both, however, have been instrumental in the second-ranked Trojans' 2-0 start. "They may not be the plays that you see all the time on the highlights or anything like that," Grimble said, "but we definitely play our role. " Grimble, 6 feet 5 and 255 pounds, received attention after last week's performance against Syracuse.

Their final dress rehearsal over, USC players and coaches said after Saturday's mock game that they couldn't wait to turn their attention to the opener against Hawaii. "It's about time," said quarterback Matt Barkley , who announced last December that he was returning for his senior season. "I really can't wait. " Said Coach Lane Kiffin : "It's time to go. This is real ball now. " The mock game, which featured no tackling, went off as planned with Barkley, running backs Curtis McNeal and Silas Redd and receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee showing that their timing was back.

At 6 feet 4 and 255 pounds, with 40-yard speed faster than some running backs, Marcus Baugh of Riverside North High is no lumbering giant. Seeing him race down the sideline after making a catch makes him look like a 17-year-old who's indestructible. He's a tight end extraordinaire, having caught 30 passes for 528 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior when he weighed 215 pounds. After an off-season of lifting weights and consuming protein supplements, he has put on 40 pounds.

Marcus Baugh, Riverside North, 6-4, 235, Sr. Ohio State commit is fast, athletic, tough Blake Braun, Redlands East Valley, 6-2, 215, Sr. Had 27 receptions, three TDs Mat Boesen, West Torrance, 6-4, 220, Sr. Committed to Boise State Bryson Bowman, Granada Hills, 6-3, 215, Jr. Proved as a sophomore he can catch Pat Clifford, Chaparral, 6-3, 243, Sr. Makes tough catches Darrell Cloy, St. Paul, 6-3, 225, Jr. Has lots of catching ability...

Having lived most of his life in a housing project in Watts, 16-year-old Marquis Ware of L.A. Salesian has encountered experiences he wishes never happened. The sounds of gunshots at night. The sight of black water flowing into a tub. The stress of deciding which is the safest path to walk. It's a peek into what motivates Ware each time he steps onto the football field or opens a book in a classroom. He's a 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior defensive end who had 14 sacks and 79 tackles as a sophomore.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison underwent left knee surgery on Wednesday, clouding his chances of returning in time for the start of the regular season. Coach Mike Tomlin called the procedure minor but wouldn't put a timetable on when Harrison will be ready. The four-time Pro Bowl selection and 2008 NFL defensive player of the year will remain on the physically unable to perform list indefinitely. The knee limited Harrison during organized team activities in May, but Tomlin dismissed the idea that Harrison could have undergone the surgery during the spring and simply put it off. "We address things as they arise," Tomlin said.

Let's dive right in: Is Stanford a program or a period piece? The team's remarkable success in recent years could be attributable to two men: Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck. Harbaugh arrived unannounced in 2007 after the Walt Harris/Buddy Teevens coaching fiascoes and stuck it in thePac-10 Conference's ear hole. Stanford took on Harbaugh's square-jawed combativeness, and the Cardinal turned into something it had never before been: feared. Harbaugh's first year yielded an all-time haymaker when, as a 41-point underdog, Stanford shocked USC at the Coliseum - with somebody named Tavita Pritchard at quarterback.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis has purchased a condo at the Residences at W Hollywood for about $1.2 million. The unit has two bedrooms, 21/2 bathrooms, nearly 2,100 square feet of interior living space and a deck off the master bedroom. The open floor plan encompasses the living room, dining room and kitchen with a center island. Lewis, 28, played in college for UCLA. He has been with the Jaguars since he was drafted in 2006. The 2010 Pro Bowl player was attracted to the building's location near restaurants, night life and shopping as well as its amenities, which include 24-hour concierge service and a rooftop pool.