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Penn State Football: 3 Underclassmen Who Need to Have a Big Year in 2013
As the latest news continues to flow in about which recruits Penn State and Bill O’Brien are getting to commit, we must not forget the players currently in Happy Valley.
More specifically, remember those underclassmen that have chosen to stay with the Nittany Lions despite the harsh sanctions that have been placed on the football program.
These kids are looking past the dark history and into the new and exciting future that O’Brien has been able to create as head coach.
This incoming class of players is full of talent, and there are many sophomores that are on the edge of becoming top contributors on the team.
But with the graduation of many talented seniors, some in key positions, it will be important for O’Brien’s group of rising underclassmen to rise to challenge.
Let’s take a look at the three underclassmen that will need to have the biggest year among the group of youngsters.
The Mellow Men of Michigan: Bo Schembechler's Gridiron Sons
Two houses down from the intersection of Geddes Road and Observatory Road lies a Michigan football landmark. There is no plaque commemorating its historical relevance, but anyone old enough to remember the class of 1968 knows all about it.
This is not just any old house; it is The Den of the Mellow Men.
The seven former tenants of 1354 Geddes Road were once the largest group of African-Americans on scholarship in Michigan history. Although George Jewett became the first African-American to letter in football for the Wolverines in 1890, it took close to 80 years for players of the same dissent to become the faces of the program.
Billy Taylor, Butch Carpenter, Glenn Doughty, Mike Taylor, Mike Oldham, Reggie McKenzie and Tom Darden made up this groundbreaking group. They became affectionately known as The Mellow Men.
Today, just seven African-Americans on a Michigan roster would be an anomaly. However, during the 1960s, college football was not yet fully integrated. Many SEC teams, including Bear Bryant’s mighty Crimson Tide, wouldn’t integrate until the late '60s and early '70s.
“When we came in as freshmen, we realized Michigan traditionally had not had a lot of black players,” Billy Taylor said. “The alumni were not used to seeing a lot of black players out there in those winged helmets.”
Racial tensions were high. The Black Action Movement on campus sparked both controversy and national conversation. All the while, the Vietnam War began causing uproar worldwide.
All this lingered in the minds of The Mellow Men. However, they were preoccupied with winning. The success the 1969-71 teams brought to Ann Arbor created the culture that made Michigan what it is today.
The Mellow Men led the charge, while Bo Schembechler directed the battle.
A New Sheriff in Town
When Schembechler took over as head coach of the Wolverines in 1969, two Mellow Men thought their careers were finished.
The group had all signed up to play for beloved Bump Elliott. Conversely, everyone thought Schembechler was crazy.
“I love Bump Elliott. He was just the perfect gentleman and coach. He was a very likeable guy, well respected and very personable. That’s whom I wanted to play for,” Taylor said as he leaned back in his maize and blue chair. “Tom Darden and I had been recruited by Bo, and we already knew he was crazy, so we didn’t want to play for him.”
Those comments are not surprising considering the 6 a.m. workout Schembechler put Darden and Taylor through during a recruiting visit to Miami (Ohio). Weightlifting, calisthenics and timed 40 and 100-yard dashes were all on the morning agenda.
To top it all off, Darden and Taylor had to play a full-court basketball game against the other Miami players. Needless to say, neither one was fond of Schembechler.
Boy were both of them in for quite a surprise come December 27, 1968. Taylor picked up his local newspaper and saw Schembechler had been hired by Michigan.
“I almost died,” Taylor said. “We came to play for Bump Elliott, not Bo Schembechler…I thought for sure my career was over before it even got started. He never said a word to me or Tom Darden for about a week. Finally, he targeted me. He said, ‘Taylor I want to see you after conditioning.’”
Taylor did as he was told and went to Schembechler’s office. Once inside, Taylor stood and watched Schembechler write and shuffle papers. After 10 minutes of silence, Schembechler just leaned back in his chair, put his hands over his head and finally looked at Taylor.
“Thought you got rid of me didn’t you?” Schembechler said, according to Taylor.
Darden got the same routine from the coach as well. From then on, there were no issues. Despite the tension of the times, race never became an issue on the team. Schembechler would not allow it.
Bo decided his team would be a family. He also said he would treat them equally. This was a breath of fresh air for The Mellow Men.
“I can honestly say race never became an issue in what we were doing on that team. Even during the Black Action Movement, none of the Caucasian guys came out and said anything negative,” Darden recalled. “There was never a blatant racial issue on that team.”
On the practice field, Schembechler worked The Mellow Men and the rest of the Wolverines harder than ever. A bond between the seven of them began to take shape. The grueling practices and time together in the West Quad dormitory made the group inseparable.
“After the 1969 season, we had all established ourselves as Wolverines and were starters. We decided we would get a house together,” Taylor said with a grin. “It was kind of funny how that came about, because Bo was against it.”
The Den
At the time, players were rarely able to use their scholarship money to get a house or apartment. Schembechler’s policy of non-preferential treatment also stood in the way of The Mellow Men acquiring a place of their own.
The Mellow Men were a clever bunch, though. Carpenter and Oldham went through athletic director Don Canham, who approved of them renting the house. Bump Elliott found the house for them and Doughty’s father made a sign for the front porch that read, ‘The Den of The Mellow Men’.
Although Schembechler did not know about the house until later on, the atmosphere in the house was one he would approve of.
“It was an expectation of success, working hard and being champions. Knowing we were always constantly improving ourselves mentally and physically,” Dougthy said. “The atmosphere was always positive.”
Family was also important at The Den. Every home game, the seven families would gather at the house for a post-game feast. Friends of The Mellow Men and coaches were frequent visitors on Saturdays as well.
Over the years, the group has forgotten some stories, but every one of them remembered the dinners. Fried chicken, barbecued ribs, macaroni and cheese and baked beans—the list goes on for days. Nobody went hungry at The Den.
Outside the house, The Mellow Men supported the other Michigan sports teams and went on road trips together. Only on rare occasions would a member of the group be spotted alone, according to Darden.
That’s what I remember more than anything. Just being in their company and walking around campus. We went to all the sporting events together. You always found three or four of us together at all times. I think that was probably due to us getting along so well that we enjoyed each other’s company.
The Revival of Michigan Football
Bo’s arrival in Ann Arbor, combined with the motivation of The Mellow Men to claim a championship together, built a winning formula. And it came to fruition much earlier than anyone expected.
The Wolverines won the Big Ten title in 1969 after a monumental 24-12 upset over the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Taylor and Doughty played major roles in Michigan’s offensive output in the victory. On defense, Darden notched a second-half interception that helped the Maize and Blue seal the game.
That win changed everything for the Wolverines.
Prior to the improbable win over the Buckeyes, attendance was down and the fans had lost interest. Everything changed after the upset. The Big House was packed on Saturdays. Support for the team reached new heights. All of it helped The Mellow Men pile up win after win.
Over the next two seasons, the Wolverines amassed a 20-2 overall record. Visiting opponents were dominated. Michigan won all 17 of its home games from 1970-71 by an average of 33.4 points.
The pinnacle of it all came in 1971 when The Mellow Men were all seniors. Taylor’s touchdown in the closing minutes sealed a 10-7 victory in the season finale against Ohio State. A pair of interceptions from Darden enabled the Wolverines to shut down the Buckeyes’ offense. The win capped an 11-0 regular season and gave Schembechler a second Big Ten title in three years.
Each of The Mellow Men played an important role in the success of those teams.
McKenzie, a starting offensive guard, was one of four Mellow Men to earn All-American honors in 1971. The college football Hall of Famer was also a two-time All-Big Ten performer.
Doughty led the Wolverines in receiving yards as a senior. He was an electrifying kick returner as well and played in the College All-American and All-Star Games.
Fellow offensive standout Billy Taylor was Michigan’s top rusher for three consecutive seasons. In addition to being a three-time All-Big Ten running back and an All-American, Taylor left Michigan as the all-time leading rusher (3,072 yards). Only Mike Hart averaged more rushing yards per game than Taylor (102.3 per game) in school history.
The other two All-Americans were linebacker Mike Taylor, who led the ‘71 team in total tackles, and Darden. Eleven career interceptions has Darden locked in a tie for sixth all-time in the Michigan record book.
Oldham and Carpenter were not as highly touted but made contributions at split end and defensive end, respectively.
Upon the expiration of their eligibility, NFL teams drafted six of the seven Mellow Men. Had Carpenter been completely healthy during draft workouts, it is likely the entire group would have been selected.
Politics
Despite the fact Schembechler wished for his players to stay out of political issues, nothing could stop The Mellow Men from joining the rallies.
“We didn’t stay out of them,” Doughty chuckled. “We were right in the thick of it.”
Not even spring football kept the group from protesting the university’s lack of integration in 1970. The Black Action Movement shut down the school for 18 days before the students won their battle. It even managed to postpone one of Schembechler’s practices.
“Bo was good about it. He recognized it was something we felt strongly about. So, in order for us to participate that Friday he called off practice. In actuality, we had a practice, but he just moved it to another day,” Darden laughed. “I thought it was pretty significant for Bo to do that.”
The controversial Vietnam War was a political movement The Mellow Men were in the middle of, too.
In 1970, Billy Taylor and Doughty were named to the U.S. State Department’s All-American team. The two went on a three week trip to Vietnam in order to increase troop morale. This was no vacation, though. Their safety could not be guaranteed given the situation.
Both found out how dangerous the country was during their first night. A bomb placed at the base of their hotel was eventually disarmed. Had it gone off, half the building would have been decimated.
Another unforgettable memory from the trip came while the two were visiting wounded soldiers. One severely injured soldier recognized Taylor and shared a memory. Taylor was immediately overcome with emotion.
"He managed to smile and said, 'Billy Taylor! I watched you play in the Rose Bowl!' That was moving, and I'd never seen anything like that before."
Those experiences inspired both of them to come back and sign petitions to end the war. Schembechler could not have been prouder.
Schembechler's Lasting Impact
Making an impact off the field was as important to Schembechler as success on the gridiron. None of The Mellow Men have failed in this regard.
After blocking on the Buffalo Bills’ famous offensive line known as “The Electric Company,” McKenzie founded the Reggie McKenzie Foundation. It is approaching its 40th anniversary. Over the years, the organization has helped inner city youth in Detroit build life skills and self-esteem.
Following an All-Pro career with the Cleveland Browns, Darden became a sports agent. He now runs The Darden Group, Inc. Additionally, Darden works with a non-profit organization at his church that helps children build their reading and comprehension skills.
Doughty has arguably been the busiest of the group. Not only is he the CEO of Career Information Training Network, he also founded the Shake & Bake Family Fun Center in inner-city Baltimore. The 72,000 square foot center is in its 31st year of operation.
A series, co-produced by Doughty and the late Steve Sabol of NFL Films, highlighting NFL players’ and owners’ community involvement is set to air in the near future as well.
Mike Taylor works for a security firm in Detroit, while Oldham is employed by a youth counseling center in the same city.
In spite of Carpenter’s sudden death at age 22, his legacy lives on today at Michigan. For the past 35 years, an African-American law school scholarship has been in Carpenter’s name at the university. First-year BLSA students receive the scholarship every year.
Finally, Billy Taylor runs Get Back Up, Inc., a rehabilitation center for addicts in metro-Detroit. The work Taylor does today stems from the experiences he had being incarcerated, homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol on the city streets.
On Aug. 17, 1997, Taylor gave up drugs and alcohol for good. He went on to earn a doctorate degree from UNLV and wrote a book titled “Get Back Up: The Billy Taylor Story,” which details his rehabilitation. A documentary on Taylor’s life and recovery will air on the Big Ten Network in June.
“I think Bo would be proud of the things we’ve been able to do,” Doughty said with confidence.
The Mellow Men admit they do not stay in touch as much as they should, but their bond remains strong.
“We don’t keep in touch probably as often as we should,” Darden said. “But a relationship like that, I’ll go to my grave knowing that if I needed something I could call one of those guys, or if they needed something they could pick up the phone and call me.”
Nothing could ever erode their brotherhood. No group of former Wolverines has made more of an impact both on the football field and in communities across the country.
Follow me on Twitter: @Zach_Dirlam.
All of the quotes used in this article were obtained firsthand through interviews conducted by Zach Dirlam.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Nick Chubb to Geogia: Bulldogs Land 4-Star RB
Nick Chubb, a 4-star running back recruit from Cedartown, Ga., has announced he will attend the University of Georgia, according to ESPN Georgia:
Auburn, Georgia and South Carolina were his three finalists, according to Matt Scalici of AL.com. Chubb had offers from some of the biggest programs in the country, including Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas.
According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Chubb is the eighth-best running back prospect in the 2014 class and the ninth-best overall player in the state of Georgia. And for good reason—he rushed for 2,697 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2012.
He was pretty darn good in 2011 as well, rushing for 1,579 yards and 24 touchdowns. You can check him out in action below:
Standing 5'11" and weighing 216 pounds, Chubb is a physical, compact runner who shows impressive power and the ability to break tackles. While he doesn't boast top-end speed or shiftiness, he is solid in both areas and uses them to hit the hole quickly or create a running lane for himself.
He will fight for the extra yard, and his combination of strength and balance normally means that he'll get it. In addition, he seems just as comfortable running through an arm tackle as he does making a quick lateral cut and avoiding a defender altogether.
A good comparison would be former Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley.
Tom Luginbill and Craig Haubert, ESPN's National Recruiting Analysts (Insider protected), noted the following:
Chubb is a talented and physically well put together back who is well-rounded as well but is not as close to the elite level in as many ways. He can supply some big runs but can contribute more by providing tough yards between the tackles and be a strong blocker.
Chubb may never be a truly elite running back at the next level, but given his hard running style and lack of any major weaknesses, he should be a very productive college player.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Like Father, Like Son: Ray Lewis' Huge Surprise at the U
Ray Lewis has done all there is to do on a football field.
Now, it's time for a new generation to take the field.
We caught up with Lewis recently and talked to him about a surprise he had while dropping his oldest son at the University of Miami. The act of watching a child "leave the nest" is something shared by parents all over the world, and Lewis' emotion while remembering the moment is really incredible.
Hearing Lewis tell the story is both moving and inspirational.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
7 Elite College Football Recruits Who Are Close to Narrowing Down Their Lists
Elite recruits receive many scholarship offers, as some boast more than 30 or 40. With every major college football program calling, emailing, writing and Facebooking them, things can get hectic for elite recruits.
Although it is tough to tell a coach he will not be attending their school, a recruit has to narrow his list at some point. Several highly ranked recruits are on the verge of trimming down their list of suitors.
An athletic pass rusher is close whittling down his offer sheet and a physical linebacker has his eye on a small group of schools. The nation's best defensive tackle is zeroing in on a September decision, so he also is getting close to trimming down his list.
Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports & ESPNU.
Why Running Back Will Dominant SEC Football in 2013
As if it isn't the case every season in the SEC, running backs will shine in this conference more than any other position. This conference has built a strong reputation of running the ball heavily on offense and playing ferocious football defensively. That formula has helped produce seven straight national titles.
But while you think of pounding the ball between the tackles and wearing defenses down, there were only four SEC teams (Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Florida) that finished in the top 50 last season in rushing yards per game. There also weren't many highly successful individual runners in this conference, as majority of the work is done as a collective unit.
This season you should see a lot more success from individual runners, many of whom are flashy and have the potential to break the long one.
We can start with Todd Gurley of Georgia, who was the leading rusher in the SEC as far as running backs are concerned. Despite splitting carries with Keith Marshall, Gurley still rushed for 1,385 yards, scored 17 touchdowns and had 15 runs of more than 15 yards. He has the perfect combination of speed and power and could make a solid case as the best running back in the entire country.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
T.J. Yeldon cleared the century mark and averaged more than six yards per carry as a true freshman. Now that Eddie Lacy is in the NFL, Yeldon should see an increase in production, as he should have no problem topping last year's 175 carries. He has star power written all over him after picking up 48 first downs and displaying a great deal of speed.
While we are on the subject of first-year runners who were terrific last season, this conference also has a couple of guys fresh out of high school who will provide an immediate impact.
Alex Collins of Arkansas will see the field immediately and provide a spark to a Razorbacks offense that will love to run under new head coach Bret Bielema. Florida is absolutely desperate for playmakers and Kelvin Taylor is just what the doctor ordered with his elusiveness and great field vision.
We also can't forget Derrick Henry of Alabama, who is a Mack truck at 6'3", 240 pounds and set the college football all-time high school rushing record. All three of those young runners should thrive their freshman years and create similar buzz as Gurley and Yeldon did last season.
The status of LSU running back Jeremy Hill remains a question mark at this point, but assuming he can get his life back on track after the off-the-field incident, he could provide the Tigers with their first legit starting running back. LSU has been a running back by committee over the years, but Hill really took the bull by the horns, rushing for 755 yards and 12 touchdowns, despite receiving two carries or less in five games.
Mississippi State still has its underrated running back in LaDarius Perkins, who quietly rushed for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. His 45 first downs on 205 rushing attempts was impressive, and he should see similar production as the Bulldogs' workhorse running back.
Even Johnny Manziel should see less carries thanks to a deep Texas A&M backfield. Sure, he was last year's leading rusher in the SEC (1,410 yards), but the Aggies have other players they can count on this time. Ben Malena averaged close to six yards a carry in limited action and Trey Williams is that home run threat who will be a treat to watch.
As Barrett Sallee of Bleacher Report mentioned, it would be a crime if Manziel was the leading rusher for the second straight season.
If you want a few potential players who could breakout this season, look no further than Henry Josey of Missouri and Tre Mason of Auburn.
Josey missed all of last season with a knee injury, but looked healthy in the spring and will be the X-factor to the Tigers success. He rushed for 1,168 yards and averaged more than eight yards a carry in 2011. Mason is one of the more versatile playmakers in this conference and is in a better position to succeed with Gus Malzahn now calling the shots.
Mike Davis looks like a solid replacement for Marcus Lattimore after averaging five yards a carry in limited playing time, while a combination of Rajion Neal and Marlin Lane helped Tennessee improve drastically running the ball.
Mississippi finished just outside the top 50 in rushing yards thanks in large part to running back Jeff Scott. The senior back is a dynamic player at 5'7" and has improved each season in Oxford. Considering he rushed for 850 yards last season, reaching the 1,000-yard mark shouldn't be considered a stretch.
There were nine SEC runners who cleared the century mark last season, which was the most of any other conference. With the great deal of talent arriving and the elite runners who have already made a name for themselves, the SEC will once again dominate college football at the running back position.
Note: All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Ohio State Lands Kicker/Punter Sean Nuernberger for 2014 Recruiting Class
Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes have found a kicker for their 2014 recruiting class.
Sean Nuernberger, a kicker/punter out of Buckner, Ky. who was born in Germany, announced on Twitter Tuesday afternoon that he has committed to Ohio State:
It's done! Officially committed to play football for THE Ohio State University! #BUCKEYENATION
— Sean Nuernberger (@SeanSeanThinks) June 11, 2013Nuernberger committed following his performance at Ohio State's three-day kicking camp (247Sports.com subscription required), becoming the 10th member of the Buckeyes' recruiting class.
According to LandGrantHolyLand.com, the talented kicker was also showing interest in Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame and Purdue, but he couldn't pass up a chance to play for Meyer and the Buckeyes.
Nuernberger spoke with Jeremy Birmingham of ElevenWarriors.com about how his commitment went down:
I was there yesterday and they asked me to stay another night and kicked again this morning one final time and was called up the football complex this afternoon. We had a meeting for about an hour and Coach Meyer extended the offer himself and I accepted it on the spot to kick there next year.
Nuernberger's immediate commitment shows how eager he is to play for Ohio State. This is good news for the Buckeyes, who desperately need depth at the position.
Meyer was sent scrambling when one-time Ohio State pledge Johnny Townsend, a 2-star punter according to 247Sports.com, wavered on his commitment on national signing day last February. Townsend, who was expected to step in and replace former punter Ben Buchanan, committed to Florida the next day.
With few options and a sizable hole on his depth chart, Meyer handed over the punting duties to place kicker Drew Basil this spring.
Meyer's fortunes changed last week, though, when Australian punter Cameron Johnston accepted a scholarship offer from Ohio State. Johnston, who has a huge leg but has never played American football, will likely take over the starting punting position if he transitions smoothly.
With Nuernberger's commitment, Ohio State now has depth at a position that was a huge question mark just last week. His versatility as a kicker and punter also gives Meyer a viable replacement for Basil, who graduates after this season.
Highlights of Nuernberger's junior season can be seen below:
David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Texas A&M Recruiting: Why Track Success Will Help Ags Land 5-Star Tony Brown
The Texas A&M track program is the best in the nation. That success in track and field will help the Aggies sign 5-star defensive back recruit Tony Brown in February.
The Texas A&M Men's Track team has won four out of the last five outdoor national titles, including the 2013 national championship. Aggie track head coach Pat Henry has molded the program into the best in the nation.
Texas A&M wins 7th NCAA Championship in track and field over a five year span, 34th team title for Aggie head coach Pat Henry.
— aggietrk (@aggietrk) June 8, 2013The success in track has to catch the eye of Beaumont (TX) Ozen cornerback Tony Brown. The 6'0", 190-pound athlete is rated as a 5-star recruit by 247.com.
He is ranked as the No. 14 player overall in the nation and the No. 2 player in Texas. Brown also excels in track, where he is one of the top hurdlers in the nation.
The junior from Beaumont finished second in the 100-meter sprint at the Texas State Track Meet with a time of 10.53 seconds. He was first in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.40 seconds.
Earlier in the year at the prestigious Texas Relays meet, Brown posted the fastest time in the nation when he ran the 110 hurdles in 13.38 seconds. He also ran the fastest time in the nation in the 60-meter hurdles during the indoor season. Not bad for a junior in high school.
Brown is an extremely rare combination of size and speed. He is athletically gifted enough to eventually play in the NFL and compete in the Olympics in the hurdles.
On the gridiron, he had 46 tackles with one interception as a junior. He has been a starter on varsity at Ozen since he was a freshman, and has five interceptions in his career.
Brown is being recruited by all of the top programs in the nation. He is considering Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Texas and Florida State.
Since one of his goals is to make the 2016 Olympic Team, he has gone on record as stating that the quality of the school's track program will be a major factor in his recruitment.
Brown's older sister, Bealoved Brown, is one of the top female sprinters in the nation and signed to run track in college at LSU. Some people believe that his sister attending LSU will give the Tigers a leg up in his recruitment.
The Tigers finished seventh overall at the NCAA meet and were never considered a threat to win the title. Texas A&M produced the winner in the 110 hurdles at the event.
Henry was the track coach at LSU before he came to A&M. He produced Olympic-level athletes in track who still starred on the football field like former Tiger Trindon Holliday.
Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin can sell Brown on the ability to compete on the football field with a Top Five-caliber team, while running track for the top track team in the nation. That is a combination that no other school who is recruiting him can offer.
Brown is one of the top athletes to come out of the state of Texas in recent memory. Texas A&M's ability to excel on the gridiron and on the track should give the Aggies the upper-hand when it comes time for him to sign his letter of intent.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
DeShone Kizer Commits To Notre Dame: How 4-star QB Fits into Irish Offense
DeShone Kizer is the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback in the 2014 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and he's commitment No. 11 for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
During a time of uncertainty regarding the future of the quarterback position, Kizer's commitment is an important one for the Fighting Irish.
John Garcia Jr. of FoxSportsNEXT.com reports on Kizer's commitment via Twitter:
4-star QB DeShone Kizer announces his commitment to #NotreDame
— John Garcia Jr. (@JohnGarcia_Jr) June 11, 2013Greg Ostendorf of ESPN also reports on the commitment, adding in a bit of information that may make some Notre Dame fans smile, considering the result of last season's championship game:
Dual-threat QB DeShone Kizer has committed to Notre Dame. He was expected to visit #Bama this week. Another QB target off the board.
— Greg Ostendorf (@GregO_ESPN) June 11, 2013Kizer was an important recruit for Brian Kelly and his staff to land, especially now that Gunner Kiel has transferred to Cincinnati and Everett Golson had to leave school to due academic issues.
Golson may not come back—though he is reportedly planning to in 2014—so for all intents and purposes Malik Zaire, who enrolled early this past winter, will be the future of the quarterback position for Notre Dame.
Zaire has the talent to be "the guy" for Notre Dame, but no quarterback's starting gig is 100 percent locked up with coach Kelly—even during the season.
That makes the backup job behind Zaire extremely important, and Kizer should eventually be able to fill the role admirably.
He has great size and length at 6'5'', 207 pounds. His height is ideal, and it will allow him to see over the line of scrimmage and read the defense. He has a natural throwing motion with a high release, and he throws a great deep ball with good touch and arc.
Kizer doesn't have the arm to zip short to intermediate throws into small windows on a line, but he has the natural throwing fundamentals to get to that point, especially with college coaching. He needs to work on his footwork in the pocket, because he can get choppy, but he does have the ability to plant on his back foot, transfer his weight forward and release a good pass.
Potential is the key word for Kizer as a passer.
He's a natural, smooth runner with long strides and good elusiveness. He's not exceptionally fast, but he has enough speed to turn the corner and pick up yards in the open field. He has quick feet and a great cut move, and he displays great vision.
Kizer fits what Notre Dame is looking for at the quarterback position perfectly. He's not yet ready to come in and take the college football world by storm, but very few recruits are at this stage.
He'll benefit from a his senior season in high school, and once he gets to Notre Dame he'll have the raw intangibles to be coached up to the level the Fighting Irish need him to be at.
Note: Star rankings courtesy of the 247Sports Composite rankings. All scouting and analysis of Kizer done by writer, via tape study of film provided on his 247Sports profile page.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
USC Football: 4 Biggest Challenges for Clay Helton & Lane Kiffin
The 2013 version of the men of Troy will head into the upcoming season with a bevy of questions following the disappointment of a 7-6 2012 campaign that saw USC fall well short of lofty expectations.
Among these is the conversion to new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast's 5-2 scheme from the standard 4-3 that USC has been running for years.
In addition, the Trojans will be replacing several key players—including four-year quarterback Matt Barkley—and will look to elevate the play of several key units, both on defense as well as offense.
It is on offense that this slideshow will look at several concerns that will weigh heavily on Passing Game Coordinator Clay Helton and Head Coach Lane Kiffin.
Though it is uncertain whether or not Helton will be charged with calling plays—a role filled in the past by Kiffin—there are still worries that surround this offense in 2013.
For USC to be successful this year, they will have to be effective with ball in their hands. Here are questions that will have to answered in order for that to be the case.
USC Football: 4 Biggest Challenges for Clay Helton & Lane Kiffin
Michigan Football: The Latest Updates Swirling Around Wolverines' Offseason
Football is a team sport. Nevertheless, graduating Denard Robinson, one of the most beloved players in Michigan football history, deals a blow to Michigan’s psyche.
Despite this loss and other offseason hurdles, Team 133’s outlook is far from bleak. Here are some updates on how this 2013 offseason is progressing for the Maize and Blue.
Tennessee Fans Should Worry About the Vols, Not Nick Saban
Most of the talk surrounding the Tennessee vs. Alabama rivalry over the last few months has centered around its future in potential SEC scheduling formats.
But while its long-term future beyond 2015 looks a bit cloudy, it's still alive and well in the Volunteer State.
According to the Associated Press, Alabama head coach Nick Saban will make an appearance in front of an estimated 1,500 people at the Athens (Tenn.) Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night. The presence of college football's most imposing figure in the state of Tennessee has some Vol fans upset. Chamber of Commerce president Rob Preston responded to the criticism in the report:
We've gotten emails. We've gotten phone calls. Most of the phone calls happen at 2 o'clock in the morning or when we're not here. They leave it on the machine.
We certainly did not do this to get people upset. Some people say this is a combined effort to help Alabama's recruiting. I know to you that sounds ridiculous - and it is very ridiculous - but (some) people think that's what this is about.
Coaches make appearances on the rubber chicken circuit all the time, so it's hardly a big deal. Conspiracy theories aside, Tennessee fans shouldn't worry about Saban crossing the border for an appearance. Tennessee needs to worry about being Tennessee, not beating Alabama.
After all, things are looking good for the program.
The Vols currently have the nation's second-ranked recruiting class in 2014 according to Rivals.com, and fourth-best according to the 247Sports.com composite. This coming off a five-year span that has seen the program go through three coaching searches, compile a less-than-stellar 28-34 overall record and a 12-28 conference record.
Not a bad turnaround without playing a single game under first-year head coach Butch Jones.
Granted, team rankings don't mean squat until the talent arrives on campus and begins to be developed by the staff, but so far, so good.
But this is Tennessee we're talking about. While Alabama has the hot hand recently winning three of the last four BCS National Championships, the Volunteers shouldn't worry about the rather large Crimson Tide shadow. Not so long ago, they were the ones casting the shadow, winning three of four over the Crimson Tide from 2003-06.
Despite the $200 million debt that the athletic department faces (according to the Sports Business Journal), the program has the resources to compete at a high level and is pouring more in.
The $50 million Brenda Lawson Athletic Center rivals any football facility in the country, pro or college. Tennessee's new staff will earn a combined $3 million according to the Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel, which is a 44 percent increase from the salaries Derek Dooley's final staff on Rocky Top last season.
Tennessee is in the process of turning it around, and worrying about what Saban is doing and using the Alabama program as a barometer is only going to hinder progress.
There are different ways to skin a cat, and worrying too much about one of your biggest rivals—which just so happens to be in the midst of a college football dynasty—is unnecessary and unrealistic. For Tennessee to truly be back, Saban's appearance an hour south of Knoxville wouldn't be a threat, it'd be an afterthought.
That seems a little crazy considering the present circumstances, but everything Jones and his staff have done so far has worked.
Let them continue to do so, and the Vols will be fine.
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Penn State Football Releases Video Tour of Massive Weight Room
Penn State has a weight room you couldn't imagine in your wildest dreams. One of the first things strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald did when he arrived at State College was demand that the weight room see a drastic improvement. He began putting together a design that was unveiled last season to Nittany Lion players.
If you have yet to see it, you are in for a treat. Fitzgerald takes us on a five minute tour that covers all of the bases, via State College.
The room is a spacious 13,000 square feet, enough where even the biggest offensive linemen can have plenty of elbow room. The power racks are customized and every bar ball you can imagine comes with a safety catcher that will prevent any freak accidents. Oh, and you better believe that every weight in the building is labeled "We Are Penn State." Anything else would be uncivilized.
It also features surround sound to help pump the guys up to some of the latest jams. There are computer monitors plastered on the wall that let everybody know what the coaches want each day as far as certain exercises and reps are concerned.
This is truly an NFL style weight room and one of the main reasons many players decided to return to Penn State rather than leave when the sanctions hit, as wide receiver Allen Robinson told State College.
We've really bonded with the coaching staff and like what they’re doing, Robinson said. We like (strength and conditioning coach) Craig Fitzgerald and what he’s doing, I'll call him up and he'll come in early in the morning and workout with me. We have a great staff here and there aren't too many places where you can go and find a better staff. I think this is good place to be.
The weight room is a great recruiting draw and will help make sure those Nittany Lions are prepared for all 60 minutes.
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D.J. Chark Commits to LSU: What Stud WR Brings to Tigers
LSU continues to set itself up for greatness on the 2014 recruiting trail, as D.J. Chark, 3-star wide receiver, becomes the next recruit to commit to Les Miles' class.
ESPN.com's Sam Khan Jr. reports on LSU's latest commitment, who hails from Alexandria, La.:
LSU was a dream school for Alexandria (La.) Senior High School receiver D.J. Chark growing up.
So when the 2014 prospect got the opportunity to become a Tiger while on an unofficial visit to campus on Monday, he took advantage and gave LSU his verbal pledge.
"It's great," Chark said. "I feel really good."
Chark will be a valuable for LSU because of his speed. He's only 6'0.5'', 170 pounds, but he runs a 4.55 40, according to 247Sports.
He's a true vertical threat who will break a defenders cushion because of his speed alone. That said, he has quick feet and can change direction and stop on a dime, so his route-running ability is impeccable. He takes sharp angles and has very subtle movements as a route-runner. Chark is athletic and can go up and get the ball, and he displays great vision, concentration and soft hands.
He'll be effective after the catch because of his speed and elusiveness. He projects well as a slot receiver at the college level.
Chark will be able to take short passes in the seams and make defenders miss, picking up valuable yards after the catch in the process.
With the addition of Chark, LSU's class now features 10 commitments and is ranked No. 10 in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite team rankings.
Miles and his staff have done an excellent job so far, but really it's the future of this class that should have LSU fans excited.
The Tigers are high on the interest lists of star recruits like 5-star safety's Tony Brown (leader) and Laurence Jones (leader), 5-star wide receiver Malachi Dupre (leader), 5-star offensive tackle Cameron Robinson (top two), and of course, 5-star running back and No. 1 overall recruit, according to the 247Sports Composite, Leonard Fournette (top two).
LSU is looking great now, but imagine what it could end up looking like come February. If Miles and Co. can bring in even half of those players, LSU will finish with an elite class.
Note: All star rankings and interest lists courtesy of the 247Sports Composite rankings. Scouting and analysis of Chark done by writer, via tape study of film provided on his 247Sports profile page.
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The 15 Most Surprising Point Spreads in Golden Nugget's Early CFB Game Odds
It is never too early to begin breaking down college football point spreads in hopes of finding an advantage. Sometimes you can find a few gems where the oddsmakers made a mistake, while other times you can find the games that you should avoid at all costs.
College football has released the odds for most games, which means you are falling behind if you haven't already given them a peek. Sportsbook Golden Nugget released early point spreads for the top 250 college football games of the year. While some are accurate, there are others that are quite surprising and make you wonder what these guys are thinking.
A lot of these surprising spreads will be found in marquee games where the spreads are close, but there are also a few underrated matchups where the oddsmakers threw out an incorrect line.
Power Ranking 2013 Finalists for Elite 11 QB Competition
According to Tyler James, the Notre Dame recruiting writer for the South Bend Tribune, the finalists have been named for the 2013 Elite 11 Finals. Scheduled to take place towards the end of this month, the Elite 11 camp is the most prestigious off-season event for high school quarterbacks.
More than 700 high school signal-callers competed at various locations across the country to earn a "golden ticket" invite to the finals at Nike headquarters. In recent years, 24 have been invited back, but only 18 made the cut this year.
While there were several notable snubs left off the final list, the 2013 line up features the best of the best in the country. A big strong-armed quarterback from Oklahoma, an athletic passer from Georgia and perhaps even Johnny Manziel's future replacement all will be competing at the Elite 11 Finals.
Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports & ESPNU.
Will Texas A&M Continue to Kick Texas' Butt in 2014 Recruiting?
If we were keeping score of the class of 2014 recruiting battle between Texas and Texas A&M, it would be Texas A&M 7 Texas 2, early in the second quarter.
Texas and Texas A&M have battled for nine prospects' commitments and the Aggies received verbal commitments from seven of them. That is not good news for Texas fans.
3-star offensive lineman Koda Martin committed to Texas A&M. The 6' 6", 250-pound Martin can play at tackle, tight end and defensive end. He had received an offer from Texas in March.
5-star linebacker Hoza Scott, 4-star quarterback Kyle Allen, 4-star cornerback Nick Harvey, 4-star safety Dylan Sumner-Gardner, 4-star linebacker Josh Walker and 4-star defensive tackle DeShawn Washington all reported offers from Texas but committed to Texas A&M.
The two prospects that Texas A&M lost to Texas were 4-star defensive end Derick Roberson and 4-star linebacker Otaro Alaka.
3-star linebacker Cameron Hampton had named Texas A&M as his leader after he took an unofficial visit to College Station, Tex. on December 7, 2012. But Texas A&M declined to take his commitment, according to YouPlus Dallas.com. Hampton committed to Texas on February 10.
What is going on here?
It is early in the recruiting season. The dog-and-pony show known as signing day will certainly be rife with prospects flipping on their commitments. But bragging rights are worth noting, especially in Texas.
Texas A&M is currently sitting at No. 1 in college football's class of 2014 recruiting rankings. Texas has dropped to No. 3. It is a tight race. But Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin is beating Longhorn coach Mack Brown when it comes to landing prospects who have been offered by both schools.
Texas was recruiting LaPorte, Tex. native Scott and offered him on August 2. But Scott committed to Texas A&M on December 12. Texas ventured out of state to land 3-star linebacker Andrew Beck from Tampa, Fla. Beck committed to Texas on April 9.
The top uncommitted prospect in Texas is 5-star defensive end Myles Garrett. Texas offered Garrett on August 2, but he is reportedly leaning toward Texas A&M according to an ESPN report. His profile on 247 Sports doesn't indicate Texas as a school of interest.
The Longhorns still have a great-looking class. 4-star safety Jamal Adams, 4-star cornerback Arrion Springs and 4-star receiver Armanti Foreman are expected to commit to Texas, that same report notes. More:
Adams has about eight to ten teams right now that he is legitimately interested in, but we get the sense that Texas will be where he ends up for a couple reasons: One, the Longhorns can offer him the early playing time he covets. Two, he is really good friends with current UT commitments and star cornerback Quandre Diggs.
[Springs] was saying all spring that Oregon was his No. 1 school, but Texas has closed the gap. He has taken several unofficial visits to Austin and still has never been to Oregon. He'll camp with the Ducks, but UT being an hour from home is a factor.
Foreman and his twin brother, 2014 running back D'Onta Foreman, haven't been shy about stating their intentions to play together. Now that D'Onta's stock is rising and his offers are piling up, the chances of them being able to do so increase. Armanti's open but clearly likes Oklahoma (the school he was formerly committed to), Texas and Texas A&M. The closest of those three to offering D'Onta? Looks like Texas after he shined at their June 9 camp.
If Texas lands all three of these prospects then we can tap the brakes on Longhorn recruiting concerns. The Longhorns should land a top 10 class. The program has been the state's big boy of football for what seems like forever.
But it is impossible to ignore that elephant—or in this case, that SEC logo—in the room.
Texas A&M is beating Texas in the recruiting game. With three more quarters to go, Brown may need to open up his playbook.
Note- all star ratings are 247 Sports' composite rankiings
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Johnny Manziel Hopes He's a Better Passer than Tim Tebow, and He Is
Everybody has an opinion on Tim Tebow, and "Johnny Football" is no exception.
The 2012 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies dropped in on the set of ESPN's First Take on Monday while they were on-location in San Antonio for the NBA Finals and talked about Tebow signing with the New England Patriots.
The topic wasn't shocking, but Manziel's response was.
When asked by Skip Bayless if he's a better passer than Tebow, Manziel was quite candid.
"I would hope I'm a better passer than Tim Tebow," Manziel says at the 2:45 mark of the video below. "Hopefully I wouldn't have to go into an offseason and work on mechanics, because as a freshman and as a redshirt freshman, I tried to work on that before I even got into position to be questioned about that."
From a mechanics standpoint, Manziel has a point.
Tebow's mechanics—and his slow delivery in particular—are a reason he has bounced around in the NFL. That's something that can be fixed early in college and something that Tebow probably should have done.
While Tebow did make efforts to fix his mechanics in college—specifically before his senior season—it wasn't really needed for the Gators. In fact, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida coaches took him into a digital laboratory early in his career to configure a throwing motion specifically to alleviate shoulder pain.
His primary goal in Gainesville was to win games. He did that at a high level, so why mess with success at that time?
Manziel chose to fix things early. He made the world tour this offseason, but one of his trips took him to San Diego to visit with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr., with the goal of becoming a better pocket passer in mind.
But when it comes to statistics, using Tebow's 47.9 percent completion percentage in the NFL as a jumping-off point is useless.
If you compare their career college numbers, the two are actually very similar.
Manziel completed 68 percent of his passes with a passing efficiency of 155.32 during his redshirt freshman season in College Station, which are remarkably similar to Tebow's career 66.4 percent completion percentage and passing efficiency of 170.8.
A better passer? Statistically, it's up for debate.
But that wasn't Manziel's point. He was talking about the specific styles and career progression of the two while in college.
Florida fans probably don't care, because they got two BCS National Championships out of the deal. But Florida ran a system that fit Tebow's strengths and hid his weaknesses, which is a big reason why he finds himself in the journeyman position he's currently in at the next level.
So was Manziel taking a shot at Tebow?
Not really.
It seems like everyone has an opinion on Tebow, so why should Manziel be an exception?
Manziel wasn't saying he's better than Tebow; he was saying that Tebow hurt himself by not focusing on his future as much as he probably should have when he was in Gainesville.
That's the truth.
Good for Manziel for being honest when asked a question that is, quite honestly, impossible to answer. Statistically, the two players are similar as college quarterbacks but different in terms of the way they approached the early portions of their college careers.
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