Stealing the limelight in the 2003 Southeastern ConferenceChampionship game for LSU as a true freshman, Justin Vincent rushedfor 201 yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 34-13 winover Georgia.
Now all the talk in Athens concerns another freshman tailback— UGA’s Danny Ware.
Ware rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns before sufferinga contusion to his left lung during the Bulldogs’ 20-16 winover South Carolina.
Vincent said the freshman running back’s success is notastonishing.
“There’s not much difference between a freshmancoming in and playing early I think, especially the guy they haveright now,” Vincent said.
Playing in important SEC games without much experience neverweighed heavily on Vincent’s mind, he said.
“I really didn’t think ‘Oh God, I’m afreshman playing in the SEC — it’s such a bigdeal,'” Vincent said. “I just went out there andplayed ball. The whole team just backed me — even thecoaching staff — 110 percent.”
After sitting out against Marshall and a bye week, Ware isexpected to play against LSU. And Bulldogs’ center RussTanner said he is glad to have Ware back in the huddle.
“He definitely can break open some plays for us,”Tanner said. “He opens up some doors for usoffensively.”
Ware can open those doors in many different ways, LSU coach NickSaban said. With power and agility, Ware has the ability to runover would-be tacklers or make them miss, he said.
“[Ware is] really kind of a guy that’s a little bitall of those things That seems to be a guy that has a real brightfuture,” Saban said.
Even Bulldogs’ coach Mark Richt said he has a tough timedescribing Ware’s running style.
“I can’t really think of anyone to compare him to— no one I can think of that I could place him into a certainmold,” Richt said. “He’s just a big back who hasgreat balance, changes directions well and breaks tackles. Dannylooks good. He’s a very physical runner. He can break tacklesand get some yards after contact.”
Picking up the blitz also will be a major task for Ware againstthe Tigers defense, Richt said.
“They are probably going to try to come at us on the firstplay,” Ware said. “I think we are prepared enough to beable to pick it up. They hustle to the ball and they are physical.It is going to be a hard game.”
Just behind Ware on the depth chart is fellow freshman ThomasBrown.
In Ware’s absence, Brown rushed for 100 yards and atouchdown.
Brown did not see the playing field in the Bulldogs’ firstSEC game, but he said he knows what to expect if he sees actionSaturday.
“I didn’t play in the first game, but you candefinitely tell the game is a different speed — much fasterthan high school,” Brown said.
LSU defensive tackle Kyle Williams said the Tigers’defense will treat UGA’s freshmen tailbacks like any otherveteran.
“They’re on scholarship at Georgia — startingat Georgia, which is a Top 5 school,” Williams said.”They’re very talented. From what I’ve seen ofthem, they run very hard and they hit the holes hard. They’regoing to bring a load to the game. You’ve got to be ready tostop them.”