Michigan State's defense will have its hands full with tailback Jahvid Best when the Spartans head west for their season opener against California on Aug. 30. Best, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound dynamo, was a California high school state champion in the 100 meters (10.31 seconds) and has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash. His mission this season is to give the Golden Bears a 1,000-yard rusher for the seventh straight season, following Joe Igber (2002), Adimchinobe Echemandu (2003), J.J. Arrington (2004), Marshawn Lynch (2005-06) and Justin Forsett (2007). "I'm just playing a game the only way I know how," Best told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I guess my speed makes it exciting and I guess I do have the ability to break it open at any time, but I feel like a lot of guys have that." OK, so he's humble as well as lightning quick. Best rushed for 221 yards on 29 carries as a freshman last season (7.6-yard average) but suffered a hip injury that forced him to miss three games and spring practice. He also earned All-Pac-10 honors as a special teams player, recording 12 tackles and recovering a fumble as a gunner on Cal's punt coverage team. As the featured back in the Golden Bears' offense in 2008, his days of hunting down punt returners are probably over.
Ready to play
The Golden Bears, like the Spartans, aren't ranked in the top 25, but could get there soon if they live up to their preseason offensive billing by expert Phil Steele. Steele's college football preview magazine ranks Cal's offensive line as the best in the Pac-10, along with Oregon, and predicts the team will top last year's win total of seven. In East Lansing, players like linebacker Greg Jones appear more than ready for the challenge. At this point, motivation isn't a problem, Jones said.
"There's nothing more the coaches can say," said Jones. "As a team, we're very excited to go play." Jones had nine tackles in the Spartans' first scrimmage, and six Saturday in their second scrimmage.
Scrimmage stats
Other players that had strong showings Saturday included quarterback Brian Hoyer, who threw for a combined 408 yards and five touchdowns, and the running back trio of Ashton Leggett, A.J. Jimmerson and Andre Anderson. Leggett, Jimmerson and Anderson, all vying for the No. 2 spot behind Javon Ringer, combined for 68 yards on 28 carries and two scores. The defense won Saturday's scrimmage 67-61 after losing the first scrimmage to the offense 88-71.
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