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Pac -12 commissioner Larry Scott earned more than $3 million last year, making him the highest-paid "sitting college commissioner," according to the Wall Street Journal . Scott earned every cent of that paycheck...

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Every college football fan spends time looking at the upcoming fall schedule and dreams up a perfect scenario that has his or her team celebrating a national championship. For many fans in the SEC, this is not quite as much of a dream scenario as it is a realistic goal.

When the SEC has won seven straight BCS championships, you might say the odds are in your favor if you root for an SEC team. The conference could just be a little top-heavy but if you run down the best-case scenarios throughout the conference, there are six schools that could make a run for a BCS title and four legitimate Heisman Trophy contenders to watch throughout the season.

We ran through the entire conference and came up with a realistic best-case and worst-case scenario for each school. These best-case scenarios may not translate to an undefeated season for everybody, but we also avoid the talk of significant injuries derailing a season from the start as well.

Take a look to see how your favorite SEC team stacks up under both situations, and then share your thoughts on any team with your own best- and worst-case scenarios in the comments.

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Over the past 40 years, the Golic name has become synonymous with Notre Dame football. That era is now coming to an end as Cincinnati.com reports that Mike Golic’s son Jake will transfer for 2013 (h/t CFB Talk).

Jake was never able to crack the starting lineup at tight end for the Irish, playing behind Tyler Eifert and Kyle Rudolph. He is immediately eligible at Cincinnati and should have a shot at relevance.

He will look to help the Bearcats fill the void left at tight end by third-round draft pick Travis Kelce. His competition for the starting job will be Blake Annen, who only has three career receptions for 35 yards.

Mike Golic is a well-known alumnus thanks to his ESPN radio show “Mike and Mike” and his eight seasons in the NFL. Mike’s brother Bob was also a Notre Dame defensive tackle and former pro, and his eldest son Mike Jr. just departed the Irish program.

Mike Jr. recently signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after five years at Notre Dame.

The Golic Notre Dame legacy is as legendary as any in college football, but it has now come to a screeching halt with the news of the transfer.

Golic marks the second former Irish player to transfer to Cincinnati this offseason. Quarterback Gunner Kiel announced his departure for the Bearcats in May.

The two former Irish players will not hit the field together as Kiel must sit out due to transfer rules, but having them both land in Cincinnati is a unique storyline in its own right.

While Golic may have been unable to make a mark on the Irish program, he has a new start and an open door with the Bearcats.

 

Follow @ShugJordanPkwy

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The Florida Gators have suffered two decommitments in five days, the latest coming from 4-star wide receiver Ryeshene Bronson. 

The loss of Bronson's commitment comes just days after 4-star outside linebacker Christian Miller decommited from Florida as well (Kipp Adams/ESPN).

It goes without saying that it has been a rough few days for the Gators.

Luke Stampini of 247Sports reports on Bronson's decision to leave Florida's 2014 class:

Fort Myers (Fla.) Dunbar wide receiver Ryeshene Bronson committed to Florida last June following a summer camp session with the Gators coaching staff. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound prospect was the first member in Florida’s 2014 class at the time.

247Sports’ has confirmed through sources at his school that the four-star prospect backed off that pledge Tuesday, joining Columbia (S.C.) Spring Valley outside linebacker Christian Miller as the second prospect to decommit from the Gators in the past week.

Bronson is 6'3'', 180 pounds and runs a 4.65 40, according to 247Sports. The 247Sports Composite rankings also list him as the No. 24 wideout in the nation and the No. 26 recruit from the state of Florida.

Considering how important in-state recruiting is, especially in the state of Florida, this is definitely a loss for the Gators.

Moving on though, Florida still has plenty of options.

Ermon Lane, a 5-star receiver, has Florida in his top three (247Sports), and he's undoubtedly become the must-have recruit for the Gators at this moment. Lane is ranked as the No. 1 wideout in the 2014 class according to the 247Sports Composite, so he was a big target anyhow. Now that Bronson is out, out-recruiting Miami and Alabama for Lane becomes even more important. 

Sticking with the wideout position, Florida is in the top eight for 4-star wideout Artavis Scott, out of Tarpon Springs, Fla., and in the top four for 4-star Johnnie Dixon from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Staying in state would be beneficial for Will Muschamp and his staff, because maintaining a huge recruiting presence in the state of Florida is a must. 

It's a win-win situation for Florida, but only if it can bring in at least one of those three. Lane would be the preferred target, but neither Scott or Dixon would be disappointing pickups. Landing two-of-three would be the best case scenario, as a clean sweep seems unrealistic. 

Losing out on Bronson's commitment should be a disappointment, but the real damage here will be from a PR perspective. Two decommitments in five days looks horrible on the recruiting trail, and negative momentum is a very real thing. 

Florida needs to get back on track and Landing Lane would be the best way to do so—but keep an eye on Scott and Dixon as well. 

Either way, Florida has plenty of options.

All player ratings courtesy of 247 sports.

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Only 102 days remain until the kickoff of the 2013 Fighting Illini football season, and Fighting Illini fans can anticipate another interesting season of Illinois football.

The Fighting Illini begin 2013 with an in-state matchup against the Southern Illinois Salukis (cough cough, my alma mater).  Fans have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming season including the "Chicago Homecoming" game at Soldier Field as well as their first trip to Lincoln to face the Cornhuskers since 1985.

Second-year coach Tim Beckman has many obstacles facing him and the team in 2013, including a very tough schedule.  Here we look at Tim Beckman's biggest challenges for 2013.

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Alabama and Georgia are the early leaders for 5-star defensive end Lorenzo Carter's commitment, but keep an eye on LSU—as the Tigers appear to be making a push.

William Weathers of TigerBait.com is reporting that LSU is stepping up its game on the recruiting trail for Carter:

It wasn't until last month some time when LSU threw its hat into the ring and the Tigers have ramped up their efforts for Carter of Norcross, Ga.

"LSU has come on as of late," Carter said. "I talked to coach Les Miles and we've started talking a lot after that."

That said, Weathers also reports that Georgia and Alabama have stood out the most with Carter so far:

Carter explained that multiple visits to Alabama and Georgia with his parents have given those two schools an edge at this point.

"I think those two will make the top five," Carter said. "I want to get my parents to as many schools as possible. How comfortable we are with the school will really affect whether that school makes our list."

Carter is ranked as the No. 1 player from Georgia and he's also the No. 1 weak-side defensive end in the 2014 class, both according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. It would make sense why Georgia is high on his leaderboard, and Alabama's presence on top is self-explanatory.

At both schools, he would fit in best as a 3-4 outside linebacker, checking in at 6'5'', 232 pounds. 247Sports has him running a 4.60 40, so he projects perfectly as an edge rush player in a two-point stance—either on the line or over-hanged. 

In LSU's 4-3 scheme, Carter would be best as a pure weak-side defensive end. Though he hasn't taken a visit yet, according to Weathers' report, he wants to do so:

"I have to get up there some time," Carter said. "Growing up, LSU's always been in the running for a national championship and Coach Miles is an enthusiastic coach to say the least. They look like a place where I can go and develop and be ready to go to the next level."

Les Miles is one of the best coaches in college football, and LSU does have a history of creating great defensive ends and sending them to the NFL. Defensive end Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, Lavar Edwards, Lazarius Levingston and Tyson Jackson are all recent examples of LSU defensive ends that were drafted into the NFL (DraftHistory.com). 

LSU is also known to field an ultra-aggressive defense, and Carter would fit great with that mentality.

He has the speed and agility to be a pure pass rusher and cause some havoc in the backfield. The Tigers are behind in the running for Carter right now, but it's still early in the process, and LSU is a known powerhouse in the world of college football recruiting.

Any other program may not have a good chance when entering a race like this, especially considering what both Georgia and Alabama bring to the table for Carter. LSU seems to be coming on strong, though, and the Tigers are a strong recruiting force.

It shouldn't be surprising if LSU eventually joins Alabama and Georgia on top of Carter's interest list.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Records are made to be broken.

This fall there are a number of them that will be on the chopping block as players like Johnny Manziel attempt to leave their mark on history.

Some records will be tough to tackle, but there are a few on this list that should fall with ease. Rushing yards by a quarterback is one that may be reset again this year and the record for career touchdowns on interception returns is close to being matched.

The books are waiting to be rewritten and these are the records that will need adjustments after 2013. 

 

Note: All stats confirmed with CFBStats.com; All records confirmed with NCAA.org.

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Every season in the SEC, players like T.J. Yeldon, Todd Gurley and Amari Cooper emerge as legitimate threats. In 2012, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel took it to the next level, becoming the first red-shirt freshman to take home the Heisman Trophy.

With seven SEC teams in the Top 13 of the final 247Sports.com composite rankings, and many more potential studs taking red-shirts last season, 2013 should see many new faces emerge as SEC stars.

Who are the top five impact freshmen in the SEC in 2013? SEC lead writer Barrett Sallee breaks it down in this edition of "Full Ride."

Highlights courtesy of Prepforce.com

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Through the dark days of the Kiffin era—and that certainly includes the disappointment of 2012—there was always one thing USC's head coach could hang his hat on: he was a helluva recruiter.

Even last year's class, with its multitude of last minute defections from players who had given USC their verbal commitments, still featured five Scout.com 5-star recruits among the abundance of 4-star athletes which comprised that class.

Indeed, even avowed Kiffin apologists (yes, that would include me), when faced with the barbs and insults hurled by naysayers regarding him, could point to the fact that year in and year out he delivered incredible recruiting classes.

But could that be changing? Is it possible that even the one thing Kiffin could be counted on for doing—bringing in great recruits—is something that he is no longer capable of producing?

Evidence of such a claim comes in two forms.

One, USC's verbal commitments for the 2014 class consists of five players and the "star ratings" for those players include three 4-stars, one 3-star and one player that is not rated at all.

Certainly not typical of the kind of class USC normally puts together.

Perhaps even more troubling is a recently released list of predictions of where the top 85 players will sign as prognosticated by 247sports.com analyst Shannon Terry.

In that list, Terry has projected exactly one player—cornerback Adoree Jackson—to give the Trojans his "John Hancock" in February when players can sign their letters of intent.

Yes, you read that right. One.

Now it should be noted that this is very early in process and things don't get more fluid than it does when trying to predict where an 18-year-old celebrated athlete plays his college ball.

As a matter of fact, when it comes to trying to figure out where these impressionable kids wind up, there is an old axiom:

"The only thing for sure is that nothing is for sure."

And to be perfectly honest about this, it should be noted that predicting the destinations for these players in May is truly an exercise in futility.

Nonetheless, it may reveal a national perception that the luster of USC may be waning and this may be reflected in the fact that the Trojans are now struggling to get athletes that once flocked to them.

However, there is a simple remedy to overcome this new hurdle in recruiting for Kiffin, and that is to win in 2013.

A good record this year suddenly makes USC relevant again in college football and that, along with the fact that the program offers so much, will translate into a flock of high profile recruits once again scurrying to sign with the Trojans.

Of course, that is easier said than done and with USC not well regarded this year, it remains to be seen just how successful they will be.

So in the final analysis, the question remains:

Is Lane Kiffin losing his touch when it comes to recruiting?

Maybe, maybe not.

I'll let you know for sure in February.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Through the dark days of the Kiffin era—and that certainly includes the disappointment of 2012—there was always one thing USC's head coach could hang his hat on: he was a helluva recruiter...

Read the full article on Bleacher Report...

Georgia is trying to move into the running for 5-star offensive tackle David Sharpe, and in an effort to stand out amongst some of the best programs in the nation, the Bulldogs are offering the offensive tackle the chance to play basketball as well as football.

At 6'6'', 288 pounds, one can only imagine what Sharpe would be capable of in the post, but that image is eclipsed by the potential he possesses as an offensive lineman.

Sharpe is ranked as the No. 11 offensive tackle in the 2014 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. According to 247Sports alone, he's the No. 2 player at the position. 

Kipp Adams of ESPN.com reports that Sharpe recently took a few visits, visiting Clemson and Georgia this past weekend. According to Adams' report, Mark Richt and the Bulldogs are pitching Sharpe on the possibility of early playing time:

“Mark Richt said he loved what I can do on the field and that I could come in and play as a true freshman if I worked hard,” Sharpe said. “The staff is very down to earth; they do not hold back the truth and they genuinely seemed excited about me. They think I would be a great fit at Georgia.” 

Adams also reports that Georgia is trying to win over Sharpe by pitching hoops as well:

Last year Georgia piqued the interest of 2013 ESPN 300 athlete Brendan Langley when it approached him with the possibility of helping out the Bulldogs’ basketball team as well. Sharpe is an impressive player on the hard court as well, leading his team to the Florida Class 3A state championship earlier this year. He got some big news during his visit to Georgia. 

"Not only was it great to know I could possibly play early at Georgia, but it is also great to know they said I could play basketball there as well, which is a big interest for me,” Sharpe said. “What Georgia did during my visit was not put all their eggs in one basket. They knew my desire to play basketball existed, too, and they showed me that aspect of their program, which really caught my attention.” 

According to Sharpe's 247Sports interest list, Florida and Florida State are currently the top teams, with Alabama and Ohio State falling in behind them. He's a big in-state recruit for both the Seminoles and Gators, so it makes sense that they would have the early edge, and Ohio State and Alabama's respective draws don't need much explaining at the moment.

Those are four great choices for the offensive tackle recruit and it would be hard for any program to break into that group, even a program as good as Georgia.

Success on the recruiting trail often requires being able to stand out in a recruit's mind, and that entails providing him with an opportunity or scenario that other programs will not or cannot. In this case, it looks like Georgia really caught Sharpe's attention by letting him know that he could play basketball as well as football, and that could be just what the Bulldogs need to move up into that group of leaders.

At the very least, it could help Richt and his staff position themselves to make a run at the offensive tackle recruit during the summer, and that can be built on during the fall—especially if Georgia has another great year.

In fact, here's what Sharpe had to say about Georgia after the visit, per Adams:

“My favorite part about Georgia was seeing the facilities, meeting the coaching staff, learning about how they have a great history of players being successful in life after they leave Georgia,” Sharpe said. “My opinion on Georgia definitely improved because I know what I am going into now and where I would be down the road in that atmosphere.” 

Despite what his 247Sports interest list says, Sharpe did admit, per Adams, that he does not have any top schools yet, but he will start that process during his senior year.

Next up  for Georgia will be trying to secure an official visit once Sharpe is able to do so. Whether or not that will actually happen is anyone's guess right now, but Georgia has to feel good about the progress it made with Sharpe and how it went about doing it.

Kudos to Richt and his staff for going out of the box and using basketball to really make an impact during Sharpe's visit.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

With six early entrants to the NFL draft gone from last year's defense, there's a lot of pressure on LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger and first-year offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.

While they will soak up most of the preseason spotlight, LSU's success or failure this season may be riding on the shoulders of the Tigers' wide receivers

Despite finishing 11th in the SEC in passing offense last season with 200.5 yards per game, the team's talented and experienced wide receiving corps—highlighted by Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and Kadron Boone—has the ability to kick-start the offense and prevent the Tigers from having a true rebuilding season.

While Mettenberger takes a lot of grief for LSU's passing woes, it's not all on him. His wide receivers have room for improvement.

We saw some of that this spring.

Timing is key, and Mettenberger certainly looked like he was on the same page with his wide receivers during the Tigers' 2013 spring game in April.

In the screenshot below, Mettenberger's primary target is Odell Beckham Jr. at the top of the screen. Mettenberger has already set his feet and is in the process of throwing the football as Beckham makes his break on a 10-yard hitch.

The timing wasn't always there last season.

In the screenshot below, which is essentially the same play, Mettenberger is almost done with the throw when Beckham starts his break. This pass fell incomplete and led to a turnover on downs in the second quarter of the Arkansas game.

Sure, timing was disrupted a bit by a blitzing cornerback off the edge, but Beckham could have broken off his route a bit early and this play would have resulted in a first down.

Beckham is the leader of the group and will likely have a decision to make at the end of the season. After all, he is ranked in the top 50 of CBSSports.com's draft-eligible players for the 2014 NFL draft.

But it isn't a one-man show in Baton Rouge.

Landry showed that he has what it takes to become a superstar last season with 56 catches for 573 yards and five scores, leading the Tigers in receptions and touchdowns.

During his first two years in Baton Rouge, Landry has proven that he has the ability to make the highlight-reel catch, including a spectacular one-handed grab in the final game of the regular season against Arkansas.

The 6'1", 195-pounder will be counted on this year to be a big-play receiver and someone who can go over the middle and take the punishment. According to ESPN.com, Landry looked the part of a superstar this spring. 

Timing was an issue with all of LSU's wide receivers last spring, but Landry showed that he and Mettenberger were on the same page during the spring game, as he caught six passes for 132 yards—including this tough catch over a safety on a corner route.

If Boone takes the next step, this wide receiving corps could be one of the best in the SEC.

The 6'0", 207-pound senior caught 26 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns last season. He has the big body and plays physical, but needs to be more consistent with his route running and getting separation from defensive backs.

He only caught one pass in the spring game, but it was nice 35-yard reception in which Zach Mettenberger hit him in stride down in tight coverage. 

Don't fall into the trap and write this LSU team offense off because it sputtered at times last season.

The experience and depth at wide receiver is going to be a huge benefit to Mettenberger, especially now that Cameron is calling the shots on offense. The trio of Beckham, Landry and Boone has a ton of talent and will be pushed by James Wright and several incoming freshmen this summer.

LSU's wide receivers could be one of the SEC's most pleasant surprises this season. They have the talent, and now that they've had time to become even more familiar with Mettenberger, it could be all LSU needs to re-energize the offense.

 

Follow @BarrettSallee

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Ford Field has decided to kick out the little guys and add a little more excitement to the bowl season. Once the proud host of the Little Caesar Pizza Bowl, Ford Field will likely play host to a matchup between BCS conference teams beginning in 2014.

Brett McMurphy of ESPN reported the news:

Say goodbye to another cheesy bowl name.

The Little Caesar Pizza Bowl, which has gone by many different names, has been played at Ford Field since 1997. Usually a matchup between teams from the Big Ten, MAC and Sun Belt, it isn't quite one of those bowls that is high on the college football radar. However, seven of the last eight games have been decided by a touchdown or less.

Even with the reputation of a game that comes down to the wire, attendance dipped drastically last season, according to USA Today.

A possible meeting between Michigan and Florida State does sound a lot more appealing than being forced to watch Florida International and Toledo.

A chance to host the Wolverines at Ford Field would also fill the seats and bring in big numbers for everybody involved. The only thing these bowl sites can hope for is a packed house.

The loser in all of this would be the fans of the MAC, who didn't have to travel across the country to see their favorite teams play. The winner is Ford Field, which will see a spike in interest due to a more competitive and sexier bowl matchup.

 

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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According to the rumors, Eddie Vanderdoes, 2013 5-star defensive tackle, may not play football at Notre Dame. If these rumors are true, this will impact the Fighting Irish in a big way, both on the field and on the recruiting trail.

Joe Davidson of sacbee.com has been close to Vanderdoes throughout the process of his recruitment. Davidson reports that the 5-star defensive tackle may not end up in South Bend, despite singing a letter of intent back in February:

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Placer High School senior defensive end signed a national letter of intent in February with Notre Dame, ending a whirlwind recruiting run, but there was rampant speculation on the Internet from media outlets, recruiting services and chat boards professing to be in the know on Monday night that the All-American may not head to South Bend.

Speculation about Vanderdoes ranged from character concerns to an academic fall out. Vanderdoes' coaches continued to rave about his upstanding character on Monday, and his father Eddie Vanderdoes on Monday night texted of his son, "One thing I can tell you is grades or eligibility is not and has never been an issue."

He added in the text, "let people speculate, but you will be the first to know, as always, when it's time to let people know."

The most important thing to take out of this is that the rumors are indeed just that—rumors. Davidson's report wasn't able to confirm nor deny the rumors of Vanderdoes potentially not playing for Notre Dame, but it does debunk the rumors character or academic concerns, though, so take that how you will. 

Still, where there's smoke there's usually some sort of fire, so one would be remiss not to at least examine the possibility of life without Vanderdoes for the Fighting Irish.

At 6'2'', 310 pounds Vanderdoes could play nose tackle in Notre Dame's 3-4 scheme, which would be perfect because star nose tackle Louis Nix III is a senior this year and the NFL is calling. That said, Vanderdoes also has the quickness and technique to play defensive end in the 3-4, and that's huge for Notre Dame considering that junior Stephon Tuitt could very well bolt for the NFL after next season as well.

Fellow 2013 signees Isaac Rochell or Jacob Matuska have potential, but Rochell still needs to put on mass at just 6'5'', 260 pounds and Matuska seems to be more of a situational player at 6'5'', 240 pounds, running a 4.70 40, according to 247Sports. Even if they exceeded expectations, neither player projects to have the dominant presence that Vanderdoes would have for Notre Dame. 

Looking at the current depth chart, Sophomore Sheldon Day doesn't have the size to play the nose—thus he projects as an end—and Jarron Jones (6'5'', 299 pounds) is still somewhat of an unknown after a redshirt season. Jones may also be better suited  on the edges of the defensive line because of his height.

If Vanderdoes was to exit the picture for Notre Dame, there would be some major concerns and uncertainties, specifically at defensive tackle, in 2014. The Fighting Irish could get away with potentially losing Vanderdoes in 2013, but that loss could cause some serious trouble for the defensive line rotation in 2014 and beyond.

Switching gears to the 2014 recruiting class, losing Vanderdoes would make the commitments of 4-star defensive end Andrew Trumbetti (6'5'', 250 pounds) and 4-star defensive tackle Jay Hayes (6'5'', 260 pounds) that much more important. Still, much like 2014 commits Rochell and Matuska, both 2014 commitments will need to bulk up to play in the 3-4.

That's also assuming that they stay committed until singing day, which is never a guarantee.

That would also increase the need to go after elite defensive linemen recruits like 4-star defensive tackles Khari Clark and Josh Frazier, but Notre Dame will have major competition. The Fighting Irish are in the top six on Clark's 247Sports interest list, but Miami is the top team. Notre Dame is in Josh Frazier's top five (247Sports), but so is Alabama, Arkansas, Texas A&M and USC. 

If Notre Dame was to lose Vanderdoes it would create pressure to land a star defensive tackle recruit in 2014, but frankly, even Clark and Frazier aren't anywhere near Vanderdoes' level just yet.

All of this said, let's refocus on the fact that, for now, this is just a rumor. Also, if the rumor is proven true, Notre Dame would have the power to say no to Vanderdoes leaving. 

Still, that would become a rough situation especially from a PR standpoint, and does a coach really want a player on his roster that isn't invested in being there?

Most coaches would say no to that question.

Notre Dame's 2013 class appeared to be dominant and the future of the program looked bright. While losing one player wouldn't completely derail the class or its potential, the possibility of losing Vanderdoes is certainly one that should be worrisome for Notre Dame.

Right now it's just a rumor, and hopefully for Notre Dame, that's all it will ever be.

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The watch list for the 2013 Rimington Trophy has been released, and it includes 44 players in all. The award will be handed out to the most outstanding center in college football at the end of the season.

Center is often a position that is overlooked in today's game. With most focused solely on the skill position players, a lot of the stars wouldn't be as well-known if it wasn't for a productive and aggressive offensive line. The award was first introduced in 2000, and it's good to see this position receive some credit for the job these guys do.

The SEC leads the list with nine candidates, while the Pac-12 and MWC is second with five nominees.

Here are the five best contenders for the Rimington Trophy.

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College football fans, and by extension fans of recruiting, eagerly await moments like this to break up the long and grueling offseason.

Rivals.com released its updated "Rivals100" Monday afternoon, a compilation of the top football recruits in the country, and four high school prospects earned their fifth stars in the latest ranking.

Three of those four new 5-star recruits are being heavily recruited by the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Linebacker Raekwon McMillan, offensive tackle Damian Prince and running back Joe Mixon joined the group that now includes 18 recruits who are rated 5-star prospects by Rivals.

McMillan, who has nearly 30 offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas and many others, lists Ohio State as his leader at the moment. The 6'2", 240-pound linebacker out of Hinesville, Ga. piled up an incredible 152 tackles during his junior season, 22 of which were made behind the line of scrimmage.

Ohio State's biggest recruiting need in the 2014 cycle is offensive line, and there are few better prospects in the country than Prince. The 6'6", 300-pound offensive tackle has tremendous speed and footwork for his size, which is exactly what Urban Meyer looks for in his offensive linemen.

Mixon is one of the most sought-after running backs in the country, holding over 40 offers from some of the top programs in the nation. The Buckeyes will have an uphill battle pulling this California prospect to the East Coast, though, as he currently favors USC, Cal, Oklahoma and Texas.

Watch analysis on the three targets listed above here.

Only one of Ohio State's eight current commits appears in the updated Rivals100 (4-star cornerback Damon Webb at No. 35). Three of Ohio State's eight commits are 4-star prospects (Webb, Kyle Trout and Kyle Berger), while the other five (Marcelys Jones, Parris Campbell, Sam Hubbard, Lonnie Johnson and Dylan Thompson) have been rated 3-star recruits by Rivals.

It's still very early, though, and Ohio State is heavily in the mix for a number of prospects who made Rivals' cut, including:

• Defensive end Lorenzo Carter (No. 5)
• Cornerback Tony Brown (No. 14) 
• Offensive tackle Braden Smith (No. 22)
• Quarterback Kyle Allen (No. 27)
• Cornerback Marshon Lattimore (No. 45) 
• Defensive end Jalyn Holmes (No. 48)
• Linebacker Clifton Garrett (No. 55)
• Wide receiver Demarre Kitt (No. 68)
• Wide receiver Mark Andrews (No. 71)
• Offensive guard Demetrius Knox (No. 87)
• Offensive tackle Jamarco Jones (No. 97)

Ohio State won't land all of these prospects, of course, but considering where the Buckeyes stand for many of the recruits listed above, it should be another fantastic recruiting haul for Meyer in 2014.

 

David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412. 

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Finite Math supplement books are now selling better than booze at the University of Minnesota.

Yes, somehow, some way, an institute of higher education managed to come up in the red after an entire football season of selling beer to young adults who truly want nothing else in the world on a fall Saturday afternoon or night (via Deadspin).

After signing a deal with national concessionaire Aramark, the university began selling beer at Golden Gophers home games in TCF Bank Stadium, and the end result was a $16,000 net loss for the school. 

"I think it was a surprise we lost money,” said David Benedict, the school’s executive associate athletic director. "We were not happy when we realized the fact that we had not shown a net profit." 

How does that happen? I’m no thermodynamics expert, but I know we have rules in this world, and this is one of them:

(Drunk college students) plus (alcohol vendors) equals (student loan money thrown at you)

This isn’t going to code. There’s a glitch in the matrix here and it’s probably the fact that buying stadium beer is a lot like getting a divorce. Both deal with a hefty sum of money changing hands that neither party believes the other deserves, and it generally only occurs after all other possibilities have been exhausted.

There’s also the crying. Don’t forget about the crying. 

So yes, the likely problem here is the cost of the beer, which Minnesota was selling at $7.25 a pop. It’s not a $12 cup of Wrigley Field regret, but it’s a heady price for any college kids looking to staunch their cash hemorrhaging and spending their indebted money wisely. 

Who’s to blame in this scenario? The university, obviously, for multiple reasons. 

First off, there’s something to be said about an institution that charges college students money for an education and then double-pumps them for tickets and beer at games. That’s a winning racket.

With that being said, the real problem here is the university’s overestimation of its stadium security. If you went to college, you’ll know this—college kids possess a wily, low cunning that’s almost impossible to hinder. They have a will to drink cheaply and they’ll find a way to pilfer their own goods into the stadium.

Alas, beer will continue to be sold at TCF Bank Stadium, as Minnesota has renegotiated a deal with Aramark that reimburses the university $37,000 for its own failure to sell beer.

The beer price is too damn high.

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Five-star wide receiver Ermon Lane has receiver coaches on their toes for his potential commit. 

The 6'3", 193 lb. Sunshine State native is uncommitted and has offers from Alabama, Florida and Miami. Lane's great route running and speed make him a solid target at the collegiate level

Watch this video to see Ermon Lane bully defenders in the open field. 

 

Highlights courtesy of Prepforce.com.

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Five-star running back Joseph Yearby is one of two sensational running backs out of Miami Central High this year.

Yearby has decided to stay in his hometown and play for the Miami Hurricanes. At 5'9", 190lbs, his quickness and cutting ability sets him apart from most in the 2014 class.

Take a look at the video showing off Yearby's raw talent and power.

 

Highlights courtesy of Prepforce.com.

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Every year there seems to be a few teams that come out of nowhere and either contend for the division title or become competitive when nobody thought they would. 

In 2012, we saw Texas A&M shed the label of a soft team in favor of a more appropriate one—"SEC contender." The Ole Miss Rebels went from doormat to competitive in Year 1 under head coach Hugh Freeze, finishing 7-6 with close losses to Texas A&M, LSU and Vanderbilt.

Which teams flew under the radar this spring and are set to make a splash in 2013?

SEC lead writer Barrett Sallee examines in this edition of "The Program."

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