College football notes: Key FSU defensive back won't play at Louisville

Florida State has its hands full going up against Louisville dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson, and that was before the second-ranked Seminoles lost one of their most versatile defensive players.

Coach Jimbo Fisher said Monday that defensive back Derwin James was having surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. The injury occurred during the second half of Saturday's victory over Charleston Southern.

The 6-3, 211-pound sophomore has emerged as one of the nation's top defensive players due to his versatility. Besides playing safety, James can be a corner in nickel packages and an edge rusher in certain passing situations.

Fisher said there was no structural damage to James' knee but the timetable for his return is anywhere from 4-10 weeks. The absence leaves a huge void as the 2-0 Seminoles hit the road to face the No. 10 Cardinals (2-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference).

James has been effective against mobile quarterbacks. He led the defense with eight tackles and an interception in the Sept. 5 win against then-No. 11 Mississippi.

"I think on the field they'll miss him with his physical abilities and leadership," Fisher said. "But I think his presence on the sideline he'll have those guys mentally ready to play too."

Jackson enters Saturday game leading the nation in total offense, averaging 507 yards per game. In Friday's win at Syracuse, the sophomore became the first player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to pass for over 400 yards and rush for over 175 in a game. His 610 yards from scrimmage set a conference single-game record.

LSU coach Les Miles said he might not announce a starting quarterback in advance of the 20th-ranked Tigers' Southeastern Conference opener against Mississippi State.

When Miles spoke Monday, he said he had not had a chance to discuss his plans for the quarterback position with his players, and therefore was not ready to discuss it publicly.

Danny Etling, a junior transfer from Purdue who relieved Brandon Harris two series into Saturday night's game against Jacksonville State, put himself in the mix by leading four touchdown drives.

He did so without the benefit of having star running back Leonard Fournette in the backfield. Fournette was given the night off to rest his bruised left ankle, and Derrius Guice was elevated to starter. But Miles said he expects Fournette to be available against the Bulldogs on Saturday night.

TCU quarterback Kenny Hill's celebration gesture in the end zone was part of his religious belief, coach Gary Patterson said, and something he would have liked to have known about before the game.

Hill made a gesture with his right hand, bringing it from his left shoulder near his throat and down across his chest, after scoring to put TCU ahead late in Saturday's against Arkansas. The celebration drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, assessed on the kickoff, and Arkansas used the short field to tie the score and then win in two overtimes, 41-38.