Feed aggregator

Bronco Mendenhall has plenty of talent in his 2013 roster—a good quarterback, an experienced offense and a solid defense.

But in other areas, he sure has his work cut out for him.

BYU lost standout defenders Ziggy Ansah, Brandon Ogletree, Romney Fuga and Uona Kaveinga to the NFL and won't bring back punter Riley Stephenson, along with many other players. Mendenhall will need to adjust the holes left by these athletes, along with weaknesses in many units.

He has summer and the beginning of fall to fix these issues, but here are a few challenges that will be tough to work around.

 

Repairing the Kicking Game

One of the most stressful, and beneficial, aspects of last year's BYU football team was the kicking game. Every Cougar fan watching a game held his or her breath during a field goal or extra point at some time last season, if not nearly every time. 

You can't necessarily blame Justin Sorensen for the inconsistency at place-kicker; he was recovering from a back surgery and wasn't quite 100 percent healthy. Heck, I had listed him as one of the best kickers in BYU history before the season began.

He will have to step up his game for a good season from the special teams unit.

But place-kicking isn't the only concern. Last year's punting unit was outstanding. Unfortunately, All-American punter Riley Stephenson and walk-on long snapper Reed Hornung have hung up the cleats, and junior Scott Arellano and senior Kevin O'Mary will replace them. We haven't seen much of the latter duo at BYU, and hopefully they'll do a great job at stepping up to the plate.

 

Strengthening the Offensive and Defensive Lines

If there is any unit more worrisome this year than the kicking game, it has to be the lines. Both the offensive and defensive lines took huge blows with seniors leaving and underperforming returners.

On the defensive side, the biggest hole to fill will be that of Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah. We've all heard the story of the 6'6" Ghanaian who was taken fifth overall in the NFL draft, but the void that he will leave at BYU can't be ignored. Sure, he only started for about half of a season, but he did an extraordinary job of making plays and, when not blowing up offenses, creating opportunities for the linebacker corps.

The starting line should be pretty strong, though. Bronson Kaufusi and Remington Peck will anchor the ends, and Eathyn Manumaleuna will play nose tackle. The backup positions are a bit of a concern, with inexperience looming in a JC transfer, a converted tight end and two underclassmen.

The offensive line is a huge spot to be worried about. If the performance of last year's unit had to be put into words, it would be, well, bad.

Michael Yeck, Ryker Mathews and Solomone Kafu will bring experience to the projected starting lineup, but Manaaki Vaitai and Brock Stringham both failed to impress in spring drills. The pair yielded their starting spots to Terrance Alletto and Kyle Johnson, a redshirt freshman and a returned LDS missionary.

 

Preparing for the Tough Schedule

One of the definite perks of independence for BYU has been getting games against quality opponents on the schedule consistently. 

The downside to that is, well, having to play really good teams.

The Cougars travel to Notre Dame and Wisconsin in November, along with early-season games at Utah State and Virginia. They welcome Texas, Utah and Boise State to LaVell Edwards Stadium and only have a few games that can be marked as definite wins.

The late-season matchups in South Bend and Madison will be difficult, but the one game that stands out to me is the season opener at UVA. It's easy to recognize that Virginia Tech is the dominant in-state team, but aside from the Hokie-Cavalier rivalry game, the opener for both teams is the biggest game if the year. I will be surprised if Scott Stadium isn't rocking, and it's a tough destination for visiting teams.

Only time will tell if this year's Cougar team is good enough to blow through its tough schedule and surprise the nation, and I hope that Coach Mendenhall and BYU are up to the challenge.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Early college football rankings are great hype material and provide good discussion points, but are they worth the consequences?

Computers can't see everything that's happening on the field, so there is a valid place for human opinion in the process that determines the best teams in the country. However, computers are completely unbiased, so they also have earned their seat at the table.

Ultimately, there are issues with the human polls, and most of the issues occur before the season ever kicks off. Here are the reasons that college football rankings should come out no sooner than Week 4.

Enjoy, and feel free to add some reasons of your own (or completely disagree) in the comments.

Begin Slideshow

The Big Ten has been widely viewed as a "down and out" conference for the past several seasons. With the College Football Playoff taking the place of the BCS after this season, 2013 will be the Big Ten's last opportunity to win some much-needed street cred before an as yet undisclosed selection committee process takes the place of the current "win and you're in" BCS system.

We all know what the conference has to do: win early-season nonconference matchups and postseason bowl games. But what about each individual program?

Where does each team stand, and what's the best fans can hope for in 2013? What about the other side of the coin—what's the worst we can expect?

We'll help you out with an early guide to the best- and worst-case scenarios for every team in the Big Ten heading into 2013.

Begin Slideshow

Ohio State's football program, which isn't known as a great quarterback producer, has had a string of solid quarterbacks recently. Since Craig Krenzel led the Buckeyes to the 2003 National Championship, quarterback play in Columbus has been at worst exciting and at best electrifying.

OK, the handful of starts from Justin Zwick and the three starts for Joe Bauserman provided more moments Ohio State fans want to forget than remember. But even the year and a half of Todd Boeckman brought a Big Ten Championship and a trip to the BCS National Championship Game.

Terrelle Pryor had a heck of a run for three seasons in this stretch as well. But in the coming years when "Ohio State" and "quarterback" are mentioned in the same sentence two names will come to mind: Troy Smith and Braxton Miller.

 

Different Paths to Stardom

Miller was a household name, at least in the state of Ohio, before he ever signed to play at Ohio State. Smith wasn’t a low-rated recruit by any stretch of the imagination, but he wasn’t the 5-star recruit that Miller was.

However, both made their way to stardom for the Buckeyes.

Smith was the last member of the 2002 recruiting class. He went to the Elite 11 QB Camp but was brought into Ohio State as an athlete. That was largely because Zwick was in the same class and it was Zwick, not Smith, who was touted as the next great Buckeyes quarterback.

In his first season in Columbus, Smith redshirted while the Buckeyes went 14-0 and beat Miami in the BCS title game. In year two Smith was used to return kicks (five returns for 83 yards) and ran some in garbage time (three carries for 14 yards). 

Then in 2004, in the midst of a three-game losing streak Smith replaced Zwick as the starter. With Smith sparking the offense the Buckeyes won four of their last five regular season games including an upset of No. 7 Michigan.

In Smith's 27 starts the Buckeyes went 25-3. Smith also became the first Big Ten quarterback to ever win the Heisman Trophy.

Miller was supposed to come in and learn from the sidelines as the Buckeyes won a National Championship with Pryor at the helm. But those plans failed. Pryor and others got suspended, Tressel resigned and Miller was thrust into a starting role in Week 4 of his freshman season. The team struggled to a 6-7 finish.

But in his sophomore year Miller led the team to a 12-0 record and was a top-five finisher in the Heisman voting.

 

Comparing Miller to Smith: Passing

This is a tough comparison because Miller has had two years of college, while Smith was in his fifth when he threw his way to a Heisman Trophy.

By the time Smith took over as Ohio State's quarterback his mechanics were solid. However, Miller was forced into action immediately and the time to focus on his mechanics hasn't come until this offseason. I expect improvements and Miller to close the gap on these stats, but maybe not catch Smith.

Smith was clearly a more accurate passer than Miller has been. Smith completed 62.7 percent of his passes while Miller has completed 56.7 percent of his thus far.

It should also be noted that in Smith's three seasons he was throwing to three future first-round picks in the NFL draft. Miller has some talent around him, but not to the level of Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzalez and Santonio Holmes. 

Those three bolstered Smith's 8.5 yards per attempt, especially in the 2005 season when Smith had all three and averaged 9.6 yards per attempt. Miller is averaging 7.8 yards per attempt, but with the weapons coming to help him, that number should increase.

Smith's extra time to learn and grow is likely a reason his 4.15 touchdown/interception ratio is better than Miller's 2.8 ratio.

As evidenced by his Heisman Trophy and 25-3 record, Smith was a great college quarterback. While I expect Miller to improve I do not expect him to surpass Smith as a passer at Ohio State.

 

Comparing Miller to Smith: Runner

Miller may not be the most talented or polished passer, but he also doesn't have many peers as a runner. Smith was a good runner, especially in his sophomore and junior seasons. But Smith's running ability isn't on the same level as Miller's. 

Smith's running ability was almost his secret weapon. Smith was a pocket passer that could run if forced to or if given a wide open opportunity. But he preferred to throw the ball, especially as his career wore on. In his junior season, Smith carried the ball 136 times for 611 yards and 11 touchdowns. But in his senior season he only ran 72 times for 204 yards and one touchdown. 

Those numbers are decent for a runner. But it was Smith's ability to scramble to find a receiver that made his feet special. That skill was on display in 2005 against Michigan when he escaped Michigan's pass rush countless times to extend Ohio State's drives.

Miller has shown the ability to extend plays and find receivers downfield, but it's when he takes off that he is special. In two seasons Miller has compiled 386 carries for 1,986 yards and 20 touchdowns. All of those numbers dwarf those of Smith's. Despite being the Buckeyes' main runner in 2012, Miller was able to average 5.6 yards a carry.

That includes the 28 sacks he took, too.

 

Comparing Miller to Smith: The Michigan Game

There isn't a more important game in Ohio State football than the annual showdown with Michigan. Smith always rose to the occasion of facing the Buckeyes' hated rival. 

In 2004 against the No. 7 Wolverines, Smith threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns. He added 145 yards and another touchdown on the ground. His 386 yards of total offense output is fourth all-time in Ohio State history.

The next season Smith ran up 337 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in another win. In his senior season in the legendary game between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan, Smith piled up 328 yards and four touchdowns.

All together in Smith’s three games versus Michigan, Smith had 1,051 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns.

Despite losing his first game against Michigan, Miller was able to compile 335 yards and three touchdowns in 2011. He didn't put up huge numbers in 2012, but his 246 yards and two touchdowns were enough to grab the victory over the Wolverines.

 

Miller Still has Time

Miller has obviously shown he is a great talent. Right now he isn't on the same level as Smith, Rex Kern and Art Schlichter as Ohio State's most legendary quarterbacks. But that's to be expected.

Miller still has two years to add to what he has already accomplished. Not many players have become top-five Heisman finishers, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and their school's all-time single-single total offense record holder.

Ohio State's record books will likely be rearranged a few more times before Miller leaves Columbus. And he just might leave the school as its best quarterback ever, but as for now Smith still deserves that title.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

It's lonely at the top.

Alabama coach Nick Saban—fresh off three national championships in four years—is currently experiencing the ugly side of being a winner.

It started when Vanderbilt coach James Franklin called Saban "Nicky Satan." Franklin later said it was a joke (h/t Yahoo! Sports), but it certainly wasn't a very pleasant one if it was.

Of course, Saban didn't take it that way.

Saban's former assistant coach Tim Davis, now the offensive line coach for Florida, recently called Saban "the devil himself" while comparing him to Gators coach Will Muschamp, according to ESPN.com.

Saban responded, via the report:

Twice. On two occasions. It's just disappointing. If somebody has a problem with me, I'd appreciate it if they'd tell me. If I'm doing something to offend somebody, I'd certainly like to do whatever I have to do to fix it. It's not our intention. It's not what we try to do.

We're in a tough business. It's very competitive. Sometimes you've got to demand that people do things that maybe they don't want to do, but it's not personal.

Jealousy. It tends to turn folks against one another.

This is simply the result of coaches either licking their wounds or trying to steal Saban's thunder. It's disgraceful, and if Davis didn't enjoy coaching under Saban's wing for three years, he should have never been there in the first place.

Saban may not be the most genial character in the world (media members know this more than anyone), but you can't deny that what he's doing is working. I don't doubt it's difficult to work for him, whether you are an assistant coach or a player, but winning three national titles in four years isn't supposed to be easy, either.

I admire Saban for taking the high road and not firing back at his detractors. They don't deserve his attention anyway. Heck, he even made sure to say he didn't connect the Gators coach's words to Muschamp, "because I'm close enough to Will to know that," per the ESPN.com report.

Saban has never rubbed his success in the face of anyone, despite being hailed as one of the greatest (if not the greatest) coaches in the history of college football. He wins with class.

Unfortunately, some individuals don't have the ability to lose with class.

 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The coaches on this list are some of the best in the nation, with excellent coaching track records and performance to back it up.

They also know how to handle themselves both on and off the field.

"Swag" is a word that is overused in our society, but it has a meaning that can be applied to every coach on this list.

The word is a derivative of "swagger" and is usually used in reference to how a person carries themselves or presents themselves.

When it comes to swag, the coaches on this list have it figured out.

Begin Slideshow

Jim Mora and his staff haven't been shy about heading outside of California in order to lure top talent to UCLA. 

In 2013, the Bruins signed 25 prospects from seven different states. Not only did UCLA sign prospects from Western states such as Hawaii, Arizona and Washington, but it also was able to ink players from as far as Tennessee and Florida. 

In this current recruiting cycle, Mora is yet again hitting the trails hard, going to all depths of the country in order to sign another stellar recruiting class.

Here are some out-of-state prospects that UCLA is heavily pursuing. 

Begin Slideshow

Jim Mora and his staff haven't been shy about heading outside of California in order to lure top talent to UCLA. In 2013, the Bruins signed 25 prospects from seven different states...

Begin Slideshow

Less than a month after being given a release from the University of Arkansas, quarterback Brandon Mitchell has decided that he will enroll at North Carolina State for his senior season. 

The news comes from ESPN's Joe Schad:

Mitchell, a former 3-star recruit out of Amite, La., appeared in 21 games during his three years with the Razorbacks. 

He completed 58.1 percent of his throws for 332 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for a solid QB rating of 141.4. In 2012, he showed potential as a receiver, pulling in 17 catches for 272 yards. 

Once he was officially beaten out by sophomore Brandon Allen for the right to fill Tyler Wilson's large shoes in 2013, Mitchell decided it was time for new scenery.   

Arkansas' loss is NC State's gain. 

The Wolfpack finished 7-6 last season after losing to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl, but with the hiring of former Northern Illinois miracle-worker Dave Doeren, expectations for 2013 were still high. 

With the departure of Mike Glennon to the NFL, however, the Wolfpack were left with quite a bit of inexperience under center.

Colorado State transfer Pete Thomas and sophomore Manny Stocker were the only incumbents expected to compete for snaps. 

But now Mitchell, who has the experience and versatility to serve as an intriguing fit in Doeren's up-tempo offense, will likely step in as the starter. Because he graduated from Arkansas, he is eligible to play immediately. 

There are still plenty of question marks surrounding Doeren's squad in his first season as head coach, but the addition of Mitchell has the Wolfpack suddenly looking like a much more intriguing pick in the ACC this year.  

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Now that spring practices are over, college coaches should have a good idea of where their roster is at for the 2013 season. Positions of strength have been identified where talent and depth is good. However, there are those positions that lack both qualities and are weaknesses for the roster.

That is where college coaches let their eyes wander to the 2014 recruiting board and think "what if" about committed prospects being able to help right now. This piece features Quin Blanding, who Mike London would kill to have in Charlottesville now. Plus players like Tennessee commit Jalen Hurd, Arizona commit Cameron Denson and even an Iowa State commitment.

Here are some committed recruits with teams wanting them to come help in 2013, not 2014. 

Begin Slideshow

High school coaches are lucky to have just one college prospect on their team in a season. Those with two or more bona fide college prospects probably should play the Lotto. This year, schools like Mansfield Timberview in Arlington and Miami Central feature multiple college prospects.

However, Edward Paris and Brandon Simmons are not going to continue their unity in college. Dalvin Cook and Joseph Yearby also will embark on separate college paths. However, Yearby and fellow Miami Central teammate OT Trevor Darling will both play at Miami.

For this read, the focus will be on those prospects who are high school teammates now and may choose to continue playing together in college. Teammates like Michiah Quick and Tashon Smallwood, Speedy Noil and Gerald Willis, plus Erick Smith and Marshon Lattimore are just a few who could be on this list.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports & ESPNU.

Begin Slideshow

Will Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny "Football" Manziel repeat his 2012 college football performance? Or will he suffer the dreaded sophomore slump? 

That's the question on everyone's mind with 100 days left until the first FBS college football game kicks off on August 29. The odds of Manziel winning the Heisman this year are astronomically high because there has only been one back-to-back Heisman winner: Ohio State running back Archie Griffin, who accomplished that feat in 1974-75.

Not many Heisman winners get to challenge for more than one Heisman. They either won it in their last year of NCAA eligibility or declared early for the NFL draft the following year.

In the past 20 years, only four Heisman winners played another year of college football following their Heisman-winning season: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, USC quarterback Matt Leinart and Oklahoma quarterback Jason White. 

All failed to win another Heisman.

Sam Bradford, quarterback, Oklahoma

Bradford won the 2008 Heisman as a redshirt sophomore. He had the option to declare for the 2009 NFL Draft but instead decided to return for his fourth year. Bradford hurt his shoulder in the first game of the season against BYU and missed three games as a result. Bradford returned to play against Baylor but re-injured his shoulder in the following game against Texas and underwent season-ending surgery. 

Tim Tebow, quarterback, Florida

Tebow won the 2007 Heisman Trophy in his sophomore year. The following year the Florida Gators beat the Oklahoma Sooners in the BCS Championship game. Despite receiving the most first-place votes, Tebow finished third behind Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Heisman-winner Sam Bradford. 

What happened? Tebow's passer rating of 172.5 in 2007 was almost identical to his 172.4 in 2008. But his outspoken religious views and awkward throwing motion made him a polarizing figure. 

Matt Leinart, quarterback, USC

Leinart won the 2004 Heisman as a junior. The following year someone else on his team would steal the spotlight—running back Reggie Bush. Although Bush did win the 2005 Heisman, he returned it to the Heisman Trust after an NCAA investigation determined he had received impermissible benefits and was an ineligible student-athlete.

Jason White, quarterback, Oklahoma

White won the Heisman in 2003 after rehabbing two knees from ACL surgery the previous two seasons. He received a medical hardship waiver and was granted an extra year of NCAA eligibility. His grit and determination impressed Heisman voters but his stats in 2004—3,205 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions—didn't match his numbers in 2003—3,846 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and eight interceptions. 

Manziel is now on the clock. Last year he threw for 3,706 yards, 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions. If he can repeat those numbers and propel his Aggies into the SEC Championship, he should be a Heisman finalist. 

Can he win it? As long as Manziel doesn't do anything to hurt his reputation—and that is certainly not a given—he's the front-runner. Playing in a high-profile conference with nearly 350,000 twitter followers means all eyes are on him. 

It'll be fun watching him try for a repeat. 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Louis Nix became a household name last fall by helping to anchor the Notre Dame defensive effort that led to a national title game berth.

Heading into his senior season, he is Mel Kiper’s No. 1 DT (subscription required) in the 2014 draft and there are a few keys to his game that make him the best college has to offer this season along the line.

His first step is his biggest asset, especially considering his 340-pound frame. He is patient in the pile and trusts his instincts. Nix’s most elite quality is his hustle, never quitting on plays and always ending up near the pile.

 

Penetration

As a nose tackle, Nix is intent on plugging the center for the defense and getting penetration through the center of the line.

How Nix is able to accomplish this is with his explosive first step. For a guy that plays in the 340-pound range, beating a center and guard combo off of the football is impressive. He was able to get past the best last year’s schedule had to offer, including national champion Alabama.

In this clip, you will see him pushing through the talented Alabama front line:

He finished the national title game with a season-high five solo tackles and played his best game on the biggest of stages.

His penetration and explosive first step are what made it possible.

This is one more look at Nix deep in the Tide backfield:

 

Instinctual Player

At nose tackle, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle when a pile forms close to the line.

Nix is only 6’3”, but he is able to use his body and eyes to maneuver successfully through large piles up front.

Finding the right pursuit angle on a running back is the difference between a touchdown and two-yard loss. Nix is very good at pushing through traffic and picking the proper approach on the ball-carrier.

There will be times when Nix gets lost with lack of speed, but he always finishes plays and ends up around the football.

 

Hustle and Finish

The unique part of Nix’s game is his hustle. For a big man, he runs out every single play and at times makes back-side stops.

Plays can be drawn out when a player is looking for extra yards, but rarely do defensive linemen travel the length of the field and kill the ball-carrier. Nix is one of the few players capable of that.

This is a clip of Nix against the Tide where he finishes the play 10 yards downfield:

The original line of scrimmage was the 25, and after forcing A.J. McCarron out of the pocket, Nix finishes the play.

Here is another look at Nix ending up 15 yards downfield in pursuit of a receiver who has caught a screen pass:

When you have a talent like Nix who possesses a never-give-up attitude, championship teams are built. He will be a leader for the Irish defense this fall, but he will also carry the national spotlight at his position. 

 

Follow @ShugJordanPkwy

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The expectations for Texas A&M have skyrocketed since last season. With a Heisman winner at quarterback and 11 victories in year one, many are quick to hop on the bandwagon and pick this team to win the SEC this year.

Let's not jump the gun just yet.

Texas A&M has a great team returning and a head coach in Kevin Sumlin who will keep his squad motivated. However, every team needs to have reasonable goals. Even the best and most talented teams in the country don't always produce as expected.

Here are the reasonable goals for the 2013 Aggies.

 

Top 25 in Points Per Game

There is a good chance the offense could finish in the top 10 like it did last season, but now is not the time to put pressure on the returning group. The object is to plan reasonable goals and there is no reason a top 25 finish in points per game shouldn't happen. Judging by last season's statistics, anything at 35 points or more should get the job done.  

This should be no problem with Johnny Manziel returning for a second season. The quarterback that no defense has been able to figure out yet is good for at least half those points with his dual-threat abilities. Responsible for 21 rushing and 26 passing touchdowns, Manziel is an elite playmaker who will continue to find the end zone.

But this offense is much more than the reigning Heisman winner. Mike Evans has proven to be one of the best receivers in the SEC, while a backfield of Ben Malena, Brandon Williams and Tra Carson is scary. Expect to see more touches for the running backs and less pressure on Manziel to do it all.

There are also elite wide receiver prospects in JaQuay Williams and Ricky Seals-Jones, who will add even more weapons for Manziel. This offense has the potential to be better than it was last season, which should result in a lot of points.

 

An Improved Defense

The defense remains the huge question mark with this team. After finishing last season ranked ninth in the SEC and losing key guys like Damontre Moore and Sean Porter, there is plenty of room for concern with this unit.

Don't worry Aggies fans, there will be improvement made from last season.

The defensive line is lacking in experience, especially with 2013 recruits expected to play significant roles, but there is plenty of speed and athleticism up front. This should help in the sack department and keep the pass rush consistent like it was last season.

The secondary does feature one of the better cornerback tandems in the SEC in De'Vante Harris and Deshazor Everett, while the linebacker corps has a lot of youth to be excited about. Linebacker is the biggest area of concern with this unit, but recruits Tommy Sanders and Brett Wade have looked sharp and should be able to slide in and make an immediate impact.

Expecting a top five defense in the SEC may be asking for a bit much, but the defense will take steps forward from what we witnessed last year.

 

10 Victories

Regardless of how potent the offense may be or how much the defense improves, the bottom line is that this team still plays in the toughest division in college football. The Aggies will likely be the underdogs when Alabama comes to town and a trip to Death Valley is another game that could result in a loss. Remember, the Tigers defense did a relentless job of harassing Manziel last year. 

Although both of those games could result in victories, it wouldn't be surprising at all to see Texas A&M fall short in both. LSU and Alabama are two proven SEC powerhouse programs and will be eager to show that life isn't as sweet in this conference as it appeared to be last season. The honey moon is over and this will be the year for the Aggies to prove that they are legitimate contenders.

Texas A&M shouldn't have a problem with the rest of the schedule on paper, but those two games against LSU and Alabama could cause trouble.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

It's never too early to start picking Week 1 games, and luckily for us, the good folks at Beyond The Bets pointed out over the weekend that BetOnline.com has point spreads for 44 Week 1 games.

With a lineup filled with stellar out-of-conference matchups and one SEC game on the docket, there's plenty of intrigue in these point spreads for fans of SEC schools.

Who's overvalued, who's undervalued and what games could move between now and the time toe meets leather? Let's take a look at each of the games listed in this slideshow.

Begin Slideshow

The Georgia Bulldogs have a roster loaded with talent, as star players like quarterback Aaron Murray and running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall come back, but some key contributors fly under the radar. These players are important to the success of the team, but some fans may not even know their names.

Here are five Georgia Bulldogs who deserve more appreciation.

Begin Slideshow

There's nothing that stings more (aside from a big de-commitment) than to see your rivals enjoying a significantly better recruiting year than you. This year, there are several cases of just that and some top programs are feeling stung.

From a few SEC teams being envious of several others to two Bluegrass State programs going neck and neck, envy is live and well in college football recruiting. There's even a 3-way tussle between Notre Dame, USC and UCLA. Also, in regards to the Red River Rivalry, come inside to see which of these two rivals is playing catch up to the other on the 2014 recruiting trail.

Here are some college football programs who's rivals are dominating 2014 recruiting.

Begin Slideshow

For the first time in a while, Todd Graham is staying put. He’s not moving his family across the country to a new city for a new job, with  another batch of angry fans trailing the plane with pitchforks and torches. Instead, he's remaining at Arizona State, where the future is brighter than it has looked in some time.

In the case of the 2013 season, things could be very bright. Other teams in the Pac-12 will garner headlines and preseason praise, just like they always do. But  there’s a quiet optimism surrounding a Sun Devils team that will return many key pieces.

Arizona State’s 2012 started on a promising note, thanks in large part to a gift from the scheduling gods, although as the competition increased—especially during a monthlong stretch during the heart of the schedule—the losses began to mount. Still, Graham’s test drive, which culminated in a blowout victory over Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, was a success given the circumstances.

The term “sleeper” has been beaten to death, although it applies in this case. If Arizona State can stay afloat during a brutal early stretch of its schedule, a breakout season could be on the horizon.

 

Breakout Potential: More of the Same, Which Is Welcomed

For as much as Graham is heralded for his high-powered, up-tempo offense, the Arizona State defense—particularly defending the pass—was fabulous the moment he got off the plane. It helps to inherit this kind of talent, too.

The Sun Devils allowed just 167.9 passing yards per game, which was third nationally. Much of this success came because of consistent pressure, as ASU also tallied 51 sacks and 188 tackles for loss. Both numbers also ranked top-three nationwide.

Six members of the front seven will return, including Will Sutton, ASU’s All-American defensive tackle who surprised everyone by announcing he was returning for his senior season. He will be joined by linebacker Carl Bradford—who totaled double-digit sacks in 2013—giving ASU a potent two-headed attack.

If Arizona State can replace talent on the back end of its defense, this unit could prove to be one of the most disruptive in the country. Regardless, this is not a team opposing quarterbacks will be thrilled about playing.

On the other side of the ball, another year of digestion in Graham’s system should pay off for the offense, which has shown flashes of brilliance in its short lifespan. The team averaged 38 points a game, which was behind only Oregon (surprise, surprise) in the Pac-12.

Taylor Kelly returns as the team’s quarterback, and he should improve after surprising as a sophomore. If he can build upon the 30 touchdowns from a year ago and limit the mistakes, the outlook could be even brighter.

Running back, however, with Marion Grice and D.J. Foster returning, is where there could be a dramatic increase in production.

Grice finishes 2012 by running for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns in the team’s final two games, and Foster logged meaningful carries as a true freshman and should only improve. More importantly for this offense, the two combined for 79 catches for nearly 1,000 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns.

 

On the Other Hand: Areas of Improvement

There’s no question that Arizona State has the firepower to take that next step. Unlike most teams not named Alabama, however, there are areas of concerns. There are always areas of concern.

For ASU, however, these concerns boil down to a few items. First and foremost, it has to stop the run.

As good as this group was against the pass, it allowed more than 180 yards per game on the ground. Given the aggressive nature of the defense, it’s not necessarily a surprise. Sacrificing some of the incredible pressure generated for a more complete group could translate into more “controlled pressure” and less yards overall. There’s enough talent up front to make this possible.

And if stopping the run isn’t keeping Graham up at night, then perhaps it’s the depth at receiver. Chris Coyle returns as one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the Pac-12, although experience catching passes is lacking.

With Rashad Ross and Jamal Miles graduating, Richard Smith is the player many believe will step up. Help will also come this fall from a few intriguing recruits and junior college transfers.

After hauling in 67 catches for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns at Pierce Community College, Jaelen Strong is a name to keep an eye on. This is a dramatic step up in class, although at 6’4”, Strong has the size and speed Graham desperately needs.

Having a talented tight end and running backs to catch passes is a tremendous asset, but ASU needs both speed and consistency—something it lacked last season—on the outside. If it can find it, this offense will be incredibly difficult to slow down.

 

Season Synopsis: The Timing Is Right, and a Fast Start Will Be Integral

The Pac-12 South is ripe for the taking.

USC is still not its former self, and while UCLA and Arizona provide significant challenges, neither is a sure thing. The conference has undergone significant talent departures (with both players and coaches), which is good news for a team returning 17 starters.

The schedule wouldn’t be classified as favorable, and the potential of this team will be realized—one way or another—during a four-week stretch starting on Sept. 14. In that time ASU will take on Wisconsin (at home), head to Stanford, welcome USC and take on Notre Dame in Cowboys Stadium.

In the middle of November, the Sun Devils will match up with Oregon State and go to UCLA and Arizona in consecutive weeks. Again, there aren’t many “gimmes” on paper, although it might not matter.

Graham has one of the most complete teams in the country, one that seemingly no one's talking about. No, you won’t mistake the defense for Stanford’s, and the offense isn’t up to speed with Oregon’s relentless attack, but both units should improve upon an already impressive foundation.

If that’s the case, the eight wins from a year ago could resemble a good first step. And a run at roses might not be far off.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

For the first time in a while, Todd Graham is staying put. He’s not moving his family across the country to a new city for a new job, with another batch of angry fans trailing the plane with pitchforks and torches...

Read the full article on Bleacher Report...

Few players have more to prove this season than Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas. Once considered a first-round talent, the Hokies signal-caller dropped a stink bomb last season and now has to show he is truly worth the hype.

But Virginia Tech fans aren't concerned about the NFL. They want Thomas to drastically improve so the team can have a realistic shot of winning the ACC. After all, we have seen in the past what an elite quarterback can mean for a program.

Thomas has everything you look for from the position and has a ton of upside to become the quarterback scouts see in the future. While last season may indicate different, there really isn't much he needs to fix in order to take that next step.

It all just comes down to the basics.

Here is what Thomas needs to fix to improve this season.

 

Decision Making

The most obvious part of his game that needs to improve is his decision making. As a senior quarterback, Thomas needs to be the leader of the team and stop making so many careless decisions with the ball. He has thrown 26 combined interceptions the last two seasons, including 16 last year.  There were 12 ACC quarterbacks who threw fewer passes to the other team, and this is part of his game that must turn around if anything.

Although interceptions can sometimes be blamed on dropped passes and receivers not doing their job, this wasn't the case for Thomas. He had six games of at least two interceptions, which includes three turnovers against Pittsburgh, which was arguably the worst game of the season for Thomas.

Here you see a ball extremely overthrown directly to the Pittsburgh safety for an interception. Even if the pass wasn't thrown over three receivers' heads, there wasn't anybody open to begin with. This pass had no business being thrown, regardless. Thomas should have just taken the sack and lived to see another play.

In the same game against Pittsburgh, he didn't see the safety coming over, which resulted in an easy pass deflection and nearly another interception. Although this pass was underthrown, the safety was still going to make an impact on the play. There were better options available, and Thomas should have taken advantage of them.

On that play, the running back was available for an easy first down, as he had plenty of green grass ahead of him. It was fourth down and the game was out of reach, but avoiding the urge to hit the home run and take what the defense gives you is part of playing the position.

If Thomas is able to cut his interception total from last year in half, Virginia Tech will win a lot more games than it did a year ago.

 

Accuracy

Along with the interceptions, Thomas struggled mightily with accuracy issues. When you are a starting quarterback who is completing only 51.3 percent of your passes, there's a problem. This percentage must improve at least 10 percent for Thomas to be considered an elite quarterback, earn respect from NFL scouts and help the Hokies achieve team goals.

How can this percentage get to where it needs to be?

Well, Thomas needs to fix his footwork. When throwing an accurate football, you should step forward with the opposite foot of your throwing arm in front. That foot should be pointing toward your throwing target, while your hips, chest and shoulders all move in a fluid motion when releasing the ball.

Here you see poor footwork from Thomas, as his feet are nearly parallel to one another, and his body is all out of whack.

Usually the ball ends up sailing on you when this happens, and that is exactly what happened to Thomas. He had an open receiver down field for at least a 15-yard gain, but instead it was an incomplete pass.

This happened all of last season, as Thomas would struggle with proper footwork. Sometimes he wouldn't set his feet, throw off his back foot or he would just wing it like you saw above. All are examples of poor quarterback play, result in inaccurate throws and can play a role in a high interception total.

Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler has been working on this issue with Thomas during the offseason. Hopefully for his sake all the hard work will pay off and Thomas will finally blossom into the signal-caller many expected him to become.

Note: All screenshots were pulled from YouTube video uploaded by user ESPN. All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com