ERST LESEN! » tter is a joint high in the Championship

Jabrill Peppers unquestionably is one of the most athletic college football players in the nation.The Michigan sophomore also is inserting himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation.Peppers all-around talents will be on display again when the No. 4 Wolverines (3-0) open Big Ten play by hosting Penn State (2-1) on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).Once again, Peppers is expected to line up all over the field in the same fashion as last Saturdays victory over Colorado when he recorded a career-high nine tackles and totaled 204 all-purpose yards -- including a 54-yard punt-return touchdown.Peppers was a strong safety on defense last season before Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown elected to move him to strong-side linebacker. The switch is allowing Peppers to roam freely around the back end and even creep into the box. The Wolverines are also incorporating him into the offense just as they did last season.I cant think of another player like Jabrill -- I know theres not another player that Ive coached like him, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said at a press conference. The unique thing is all the positions he can play.You start counting them: It would be safety, corner, nickel, outside linebacker. It would be slot receiver, wildcat quarterback, running back, kick returner, punt returner, gunner, hold-up.Thats 11 right there, and I know theres others he could do. But those are all the things hes done already here for us. And hes done them all well. Hes a special type of athlete and special football player.Peppers hears those types of compliments all the time and just takes them in stride.But finding out his all-purpose yardage was over 200 yards? Now that is the type of production that impresses him.That was me? Peppers asked, pointing a finger at himself. Wow ... really? Two hundred and four yards, wow. Wow! Thats crazy. I didnt even think about it like that. I just tried to do whatever I could, man.We were down, and when you are one of the playmakers, one of the guys who makes the team go, youve got to take it upon yourself to just try to make something happen.The Wolverines are averaging 53 points per game as they entertain a Penn State squad that has allowed an average of 34.5 over the past two games.The Nittany Lions posted a 34-27 victory over Temple last week after losing a 42-39 shootout to Pittsburgh the previous weekend.Penn State lost one of its better defenders in the win over Temple when senior linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White sustained a season-ending knee injury. It marks the second straight season in which Wartman-White, who has a team-high 3 1/2 tackles for losses, experienced an early-season injury.Feel terrible for Nyeem Wartman-White, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said at a press conference. He will be out for the season, which is obviously significant. I feel for Nyeem because hes had two years in a row now where hes missed the season and has worked really, really hard and has had an unbelievable attitude from a leadership standpoint as well.The unit will attempt to move forward behind junior safety Marcus Allen, who leads the squad with 21 tackles.Offensively, sophomore running back Saquon Barkley has rushed for 258 yards and six touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley has shown promise by passing for 828 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions as the replacement for NFL second-round pick Christian Hackenberg.The Nittany Lions are aware they are viewed as huge underdogs as they head into Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines hold a 12-7 edge in the series and are 6-3 in the venerable facility.Ive gone to some away games that were pretty hostile, junior linebacker Brandon Smith said at a press conference. I think it just gets the guys even more excited sometimes when people are jeering you and mocking you and all sorts of things. You know, you can either get distracted by it or it can increase your intensity and your focus.Michigan is hoping to have standout senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis on the field for the first time this season. Lewis has been sidelined by back, hamstring and quadriceps injuries.Wolverines sophomore quarterback Wilton Speight has put together three straight strong outings and has passed for 686 yards and eight touchdowns against one interception. Senior receiver Amara Darboh is averaging 20.4 yards with four of his 10 catches going for touchdowns.Morten Andersen Youth Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Sheldon Rankins Womens Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. http://www.shoptheofficialsaints.com/Elite-Archie-Manning-Saints-Jersey/ . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Marshon Lattimore Saints Jersey . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. Michael Thomas Youth Jersey .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers.Newcastle are top of the Sky Bet Championship but just how good are Rafael Benitezs side? Whoscored.com dig into the stats ahead of Sundays clash with Leeds United live on Sky Sports...The return of the Championship is bookended by the two biggest matches of the weekend, with the Sky cameras pitching up at the Amex Stadium for Brightons clash with Aston Villa on Friday night before Newcastles clash with Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday.High-flying Brighton are unbeaten in 10 games and host a resurgent Villa side who are yet to lose under new boss Steve Bruce. Its not an easy game, but it represents a chance for Chris Hughtons charges to move level on points with the team to beat at the top of the table. In the summer the bookies priced up Newcastle as the strongest favourites ever to win the Championship, such was the support behind a club that invested heavily in the transfer market and, crucially, kept hold of a manager whose CV is unrivalled at this level.Rafael Benitezs decision to stay on at St. James Park despite last seasons relegation from the Premier League was arguably the biggest factor behind the Magpies early billing as the second tiers best ever side. Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez was the Sky Bet EFL Manager of the Month for October Optimism was dampened after they lost their opening two matches to Fulham and Huddersfield at the start of the campaign, but having acclimatised to their new surroundings and bedded in a large number of summer arrivals, they are once again being touted as overwhelming favourites, despite Brightons close proximity in the table.A look at WhoScored.coms statistical team ratings actually suggests the Seagulls have been the stronger side over the course of the season. Their score of 7.02 is the highest in the league ahead of Newcastles 6.98, though both figures rank highly in relation to previous promoted sides. Leeds vs Newcastle November 20, 2016, 1:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass In fact, the only two teams to have gone up in the last two seasons with a higher rating than either of this seasons top two are Leicester (7.00), in their title-winning 2013/14 campaign, and Bournemouth (7.04), when they won the league the following season. The subsequent success of both of those sides in the top-flight certainly suggests that both Newcastle and Brighton are well-equipped to make the step up.Moreover, if you were to exclude Newcastles ratings from their first two games of the season, the Magpies WhoScored.com rating would be 7.07. Its a figure that will surely rise further if they continue in their current vein of form, demonstrating that few teams in the Championships history can match the current leaders strength.One of the key factors behind the success of Benitezs side thus far has undoubtedly been their effective movements in the summer transfer window. Whiile Dwight Gayle steals the spotlight in that regard, leading the scoring charts in Englands second tier with 11 goals for a rating of 7.dddddddddddd34, the impact of a number of less heralded recruits has been just as decisive. Whoscored.coms top rated Newcastle players this season Of their first team regulars this season, four of Newcastles top six rated players are new arrivals.Top of the list is Ciaran Clark (7.42), who few would have expected to become such a key member of the side. Indeed, when Newcastle announced the capture of the defender from touted promotion rivals Aston Villa, it seemed a slightly odd move at the time. Benitez had already signed Grant Hanley to bolster his defensive ranks, had named Jamaal Lascelles as his captain and could also call upon Chancel Mbemba.In fact, Clarks addition was tipped in the local media to provide competition at left-back as much as centre-half, perhaps reading too much into the fact that the Ireland international had made a handful of appearances in that position at Villa. Ciaran Clark has impressed for Newcastle since his arrival from Aston Villa Make no mistake, though, Clark is central defender, and hes proving to be a very good one at this level. He has scored twice and is offering both the most interceptions (2.1) and clearances (8.1) per game for the club, while Newcastles record with the 27-year old at the back is exceptional.Ironically, the only game in 11 that Clark has not been on the winning side this season was a 1-1 draw back at Villa Park, with the Magpies losing three of five without him in the XI. Rafa not thinking of promotion Rafael Benitez insists hes not thinking about promotion yet. Meanwhile, alongside the impressive Jonjo Shelvey in the middle of the park, Isaac Hayden has also played an important role in ensuring Newcastles defence has been much improved. The Magpies were exposed to counter-attacks last season, but Hayden has provided the necessary protection. His average of 2.6 tackles per game is a team high, with 1.9 interceptions bettered only by Clark, helping him to a rating of 7.25.Along with Gayle, Matt Ritchie was the other real marquee signing and while the winger took a little time to adjust, he has also proven an astute acquisition. With two goals and five assists to his name in the league - the latter is a joint high in the Championship - he is beginning to have the sort of effect Benitez would have hoped in the final third. Matt Ritchie has made a strong start to life at St James Park Ritchie, after all, is a player that has excelled in a title-winning campaign, ranking among the top ten players in the second tier as Bournemouth were promoted, with a rating of 7.44 courtesy of superb figures of 15 goals and 17 assists.Its clear then, that while Newcastles enviable firepower in the form of Gayle, Mitrovic and Perez is seen as their greatest asset, Benitez has built a team that warrants its billing as outright favourites.Their credentials will be tested against an improving Leeds side on Sunday in a fixture steeped in top-flight tradition. While both will certainly be aiming to be back in the big time before long, its the Magpies who are flying right now. They are justifying the hype to make an immediate return appear a near certainty.Also See:Newcastle videoNewcastle fixturesNewcastle statsGet a ￡10 free bet! ' ' '