Bell has all the respect for KJ and Rocket; so does Rutledge

KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders command the respect of Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell. And Laura Rutledge had some nice things to say about them as well.

Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell knows what’s in store for his Catamounts on Saturday afternoon in Little Rock.

A heavy dose of quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders, to be exact.

“Can we get him (KJ) on the ground when he makes those runs? Can we cage him in the pocket and make sure we make him a pocket passer?” Bell said. “And don’t give him those explosive runs out of the pocket. And then also the same thing with Rocket, can we get him on the ground? They’re going to get their yards, but let’s don’t give them the easy 60-yard runs that are easy touchdowns.

“Let’s make them earn it. And if we can do that and tackle well like I said earlier, I’ll be very pleased, and I think we’ll be in the game.”

SEC Network and NFL Live host Laura Rutledge, who is a Florida alum just like Bell is a former Gator quarterback, was also highly complimentary of the Jefferson-Sanders combination during her Monday speaking engagement at the Little Rock Touchdown Club.

Rutledge, who had been off the air for the last three plus months on maternity leave, returned to her NFL Live hosting duties on Tuesday.