Miles puts faith in Chavis' defense

HOOVER, Ala. - LSU coach Les Miles said new coordinator John Chavis will have a big impact on the defense. He expects the offense to improve with quarterbacks Jordan Jefferson - the front-runner to start - and Jarrett Lee both having some more experience.

As result, Miles is expecting much better results than last season's 3-5 SEC record - and he knows Tiger fans are, too.

"Eight victories and a bowl win was not enough," Miles said. "Our football team's a little more wanting, a little more ambitious. I think that's spilled into the preparation in the offseason."

Linebacker Jacob Cutrera said Chavis, a longtime Tennessee defensive coordinator, has brought more intensity to a defense that had uncharacteristic struggles last season. Wanting to erase last year has helped, too.

"In my four years here, we haven't had a spring like we had this spring," Cutrera said. "Every practice was so juiced up, so amped up. I think we'll carry over that into the fall."

At quarterback, Jefferson is listed atop the depth chart after directing the bowl win.

"He's bigger and stronger than he has been," Miles said. "In my opinion, the experience that he had in his true freshman year will benefit him tremendously."

Spurrier Gets Tough: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says three players will miss games because of suspensions.

Spurrier told The State that defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye, offensive lineman Kyle Nunn and cornerback C.C. Whitlock would be penalized.

Ajiboye was arrested in February on marijuana possession and suspended from spring practice. He received a conditional discharge this spring. Ajiboye declined to speak to a reporter during an appearance at a Columbia library with several other Gamecock players.

Whitlock was suspended twice this offseason. He was recently cleared of a Fairfield County trespassing charge and reinstated.

Spurrier did not detail why Nunn faced suspension and said he would release more details soon.

Auburn Quarterbacks: Auburn coach Gene Chizik said the quarterback battle is wide open going into preseason camp.

"It's muddied right now, but obviously the guys who are going to have an advantage are guys who had (practice) reps in the spring," Chizik said.

That likely means juniors Kodi Burns and Neil Caudle, who had emerged ahead of redshirt freshman Barrett Trotter before Trotter tore a knee ligament in practice. Chris Todd could re-enter the picture if the nagging shoulder problems that sidelined him during the spring are sufficiently improved.

Chizik said the status of Trotter - along with other injured players Mike McNeil and Aairon Savage - is still uncertain. He also shed little light on receiver Tim Hawthorne, who hurt an ankle during the summer.

Chizik said receiver Montez Billings will definitely play in the fall, but that they are still working out some issues. Billings missed the spring due to academics, though he graduated in May.