Perrilloux Steals Spotlight, and Nearly Game Against Florida State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The spirited discussion between recruiting analysts five years ago focused on prep quarterbacks Ryan Perrilloux and Mark Sanchez. Which player would be selected as the recruiting site's No. 1 player in the country? Perrrilloux or Sanchez?

Scout.com selected Sanchez, who has certainly fulfilled expectations, starring at USC and landing fifth overall in April's NFL draft to the New York Jets. The rookie will start the season opener at Houston Sunday.

Perrilloux, meanwhile, has led a crisscross collegiate career through Louisiana and Alabama, surviving suspensions and a dismissal. The senior started for Jacksonville State University against Florida State Saturday. The Florida Panhandle might be a long way from Broadway, but the bright lights always seem to find Perrilloux.

That was the case here at soggy Doak Campbell Stadium, where the talented Perrilloux nearly led the Gamecocks to a stunning upset over the Seminoles. Trailing 9-7, FSU scored a pair of touchdowns in the final 35 seconds to escape with a 19-9 win.

Sitting in a folding chair, with wet blades of green grass stuck to his face, arms and body, a composed Perrilloux didn't make excuses, second-guess or wonder what-if. Bottom line, the Gamecocks, one of 11 schools in the Football Championship Subdivision to face two schools from the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2009, gave the Seminoles all they could handle -- and then some.

"This reminded me a lot of the (2007) SEC championship game against Tennessee, how close it was the whole game, how great the defense played on both sides of the ball," Perrilloux told FanHouse.

"It was a fast, physical football game all night. But it wasn't anything we weren't used to. Our team prepares for games like this. We came close to beating a good football team. Our defense played amazing. I thought we did some good things on offense. We just lost the ballgame. They stayed in it, and they kept competing."

The same could be said for Perrilloux.

Some recruiting experts called him the most dangerous offensive weapon in the nation as a prep senior at East John High School in Reserve, La., noting his strong arm, quick release and pinpoint accuracy. He was named Offensive Player of the Year by USA Today, a Parade All-American and Gatorade Player of the Year.

FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher knows all about Perrilloux the player and Perrilloux the person. At times over the years, both have been an enigma.

Fisher recruited Perrilloux to LSU and when he was the Tigers' offensive coordinator. Fisher coached him for one season, in 2006, before Fisher left for FSU. Perrilloux was jettisoned by head coach Les Miles a year later. Fisher considers Perrilloux a good kid who made mistakes and hopefully has learned from them. Perrilloux even spent a Thanksgiving with the Fisher family in Louisiana.

"He's a tough old boy, he's competitive, very athletic ... makes a lot of plays," Fisher said. "And, I don't mean this in a bad way, he knows he's a good player. And so he has confidence in himself to do the things he's got to do."

Off the field, however, has been a different matter.

There were at least three suspensions during his time at LSU, including the final one that cost him his place on the team and caused him to transfer to Jacksonville State. Following a successful 2008 season at Jacksonville State, Perrilloux was suspended for the Gamecocks' opener against Georgia Tech last week for an undisclosed team rule violation.

"Yeah, I really was [surprised it didn't work out at LSU]. I hate it for him," Fisher said earlier in the week.

"But, you've got to understand -- being there, and [as] the local kid, and there's a lot of pressure on him to do well and everything you do is under a microscope and sometimes you just make a bad decision here or there and it doesn't go well. But he is a good kid. His family's a good family and it's good he's got a second chance."

Perrilloux nearly made it count against the Seminoles, who looked they were still suffering from an emotional hangover from last Monday's 38-34 defeat to rival Miami. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, had fallen 37-17 at Georgia Tech without Perrilloux but played well to end the game. A torrential rainstorm also kept at least a third of the announced crowd of 71,420 away as FSU and Jacksonville State slugged it out on a wet field.

The Gamecocks nearly withstood the flurry.

Ty Jones' 1-yard touchdown run on second down with 35 seconds left put FSU ahead and Kevin McNeil returned a Perrilloux fumble 33 yards for a score 21 seconds later to seal the win.

"First thing they (Seminoles) will have to recognize is we're pretty good," Gamecocks head coach Jack Crowe said. "They weren't playing the Sisters of the Poor; it's better than its brand, I will tell you that. There are some guys out there that can play for anybody. Don't go woe's (me). I think Florida State's going to have a really good football team."

Crowe also gushed over the effort of the 6-foot-3, 233-pound Perrilloux, who completed 12 of 27 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown – 28 yards to Jamal Young in the first quarter to give the Gamecocks an early 6-0 lead. Perrilloux also rushed for 39 yards on 18 carries and survived seven sacks. Nationally-recognized recruiting analyst Tom Lemming has often compared Perrilloux to Donavan McNabb.

"Ryan is a really, really good quarterback," Crowe said. "He's a leader and I think a lot of our ability to sustain the ball ... I think a lot of that was just the ability to make timely plays. I am very proud of Ryan."

The Gamecocks took advantage of three FSU turnovers to keep control of the contest until the final minute. They also nearly came up with two interceptions to thwart the Seminoles in their final drive.

"Knowing that we can play with those guys and just come up short like we did, it hurts," said senior cornerback Cornell Clark.

"Everyone gave it their all. No regrets. Plus, we have a great quarterback and we know he's going to put points on the board. He's one of the greatest athletes I have ever been around. He's a great athlete. With him coming back that's why we really thought we had a chance to win this game."

Perrilloux thought so, too.

The Gamecocks, who open the season with four consecutive road games, now must turn their attention to Alabama A&M -- a far cry from the 2007 SEC Championship game, where Perrilloux made his second career start and led the Tigers to a 21-14 win over Tennessee. Perrilloux completed 20 of 30 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown and helped propel LSU to the BCS national title game against Ohio State.

"We just came up short tonight," said Perrilloux, who threw for passed for 2,318 yards and 19 touchdowns and led the Gamecocks to an eight-win season last year.

"I really can't explain the game. I wasn't watching it, I was playing it. There's nobody to blame on our ballclub. We played hard. Now we just have to go back and correct our mistakes, which we will."

One hopes Perrilloux has been correcting his mistakes on a personal level, too. One can't talk to Perrilloux long without realizing how much he loves the game.

"We are just trying to take advantage of our opportunities and win some football games," he said. "Jacksonville State has been nothing but good for me. It has helped me grow into the man that I want to be in life."