COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS AND NOTES

Tennessee QB Erik Ainge, a top prospect for the 2007 draft, has a broken little finger on his throwing hand, but is still expected to play Saturday when the Volunteers open the season at California in the big game of college football’s first weekend.....While Oregon State WR Sammie Stroughter, one of the most productive senior receivers in the country, has been practicing with the team this weekend, head coach Mike Riley is saying publicly that he remains doubtful whether Stroughter will actually play this season. Riley ruled out Stroughter from the Beavers’ season-opener tonight against Utah. Stroughter, who caught 74 passes for almost 1,300 yards in 2006, returned to practice last weekend from an 18-day hiatus to deal with the grief of losing several people close to him in the past year. Stroughter has a redshirt year and could sit out the season and return in 2008. Meanwhile, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk, another top prospect for the 2007 draft, has undergone a second arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Monk was injured in practice on early in August had the first surgery four days later. Monk will almost assuredly miss the Hogs season opener on Saturday and could also be questionable for Arkansas’ game with Alabama at Alabama on Septeber 15th.....Florida LT Phil Trautwein will miss at least Saturday's season opener against Western Kentucky because of a stress fracture in his right foot that could require season-ending surgery. Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge has a broken pinkie on his throwing hand, but is expected to play Saturday at No. 12 California.... It appears that Mississippi DT Jerrel Powe could miss a third straight year of football as the NCAA has declared that Powe will not be academically eligible this season. Powe was a highly-regarded recruit back in 2005, but was academically ineligible for his first two years of college. Powe has been granted admission to Ole Miss and had been given a window to practice with the team until the NCAA came to its final ruling; in fact, Powe had been working with the Rebels’ 1st unit defense in practice. Mississippi reportedly is considering appealing the ruling while the family is reportedly considering legal action if Powe is indeed not allowed to play this fall.