Keep an eye on JaMarcus Russell

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Always tough to really see improvement at most positions, but easier at QB and RB so my vote for this year's most improved player in college ball is JaMarcus Russel of LSU.

Last year the kid was erratic, could not handle the ball, couldn't read defenses and locked on to a receiver and used his arm strength to force throws to well covered receivers. My labrador could make a better play fake. He looked like another great athletic talent that had never been coached to be a real QB and would be better of switching to another position.

In seeing him this year, he is a completely different player. He is seeing all of his receiving options. He is handling the ball well and has developed great patience. He no longer loses it when a receiver drops a pass. He stays with the play that is called rather than take off running at the first whiff of trouble. Some coach has really been able to get through to this kid.

He is not eligible to come out in 2006, but he could become part of a great QB class in 2007. At 6'5", 250 pounds, mobile and a very strong arm, he is worth watching