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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.

Follow @Dr__Carson

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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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Four-star quarterback Michael O’Connor breaks down his recruiting process and why he will succeed at the collegiate level.  

The 6'4", 223 lb stud is currently attending the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

His size and mobility are two key assets that will contribute to his success at the next level. The uncommitted prospect is being recruited by many schools but seems to be leaning toward Michigan State, Penn State and Vanderbilt.

Watch the video to see O’Connor talk about each coach recruiting him, and his impressive passing ability.

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Marlon Humphrey is in a class of his own when it comes to cornerback recruits in the 2014 class.

The Birmingham native is 6’1” and 175 pounds of pure muscle, with the ability to break a long touchdown at any given time. The uncommitted prospect is still up for grabs, with schools including Alabama, Florida and Florida State fighting for his talent.

Watch the video to see Humphrey make some ridiculous interceptions against his opponents.

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Accuracy is crucial on the collegiate level, and these five quarterbacks are on the top of the list. Here we have our top five most accurate quarterbacks of the 2014 class.

247Sports national recruiting director JC Shurburtt gives us insight on why he thinks these athletes are the best at what they do. 

QB Andrew Ford has impressive throwing ability and touch, which landed him on the list of most accurate passers. Which other quarterbacks made the list? Who deserves to be the most accurate?

Watch the video to see who ranks among the most accurate passers of this elite class.

Highlights Courtesy of 247Sports.com.

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Michigan is coming off an 8-5 campaign and a trip to the Outback Bowl. 

While players such as quarterback Denard Robinson, defensive end Craig Roh and receiver Roy Roundtree are no longer with the team, there are some individuals who showed glimpses of their potential in 2012 who figure to break out in 2013.

Here's a look at my top three breakout candidates for the Wolverines in 2013-14.

 

3. Thomas Gordon, S

In survey of 19 departing seniors conducted by WolverineNation, strong safety Thomas Gordon was one of the names pegged to have a breakout season in 2013-14.

One player said, via Michael Rothstein of WolverineNation:

Thomas Gordon is going to have a really good year next year. He's motivated, understands the system. He gets the defensive system just as well as Jordan Kovacs. He's a great communicator and a guy I expect is going to pretty much take the senior leadership role in the defensive backfield and have some success.

Gordon racked up 81 tackles in 13 starts last season, via CFBStats.com. He was the third-leading tackler on Michigan. He also collected two interceptions, one sack and forced a fumble.

The redshirt senior has already shown he can play with the big boys. In a leadership role, with an extra offseason under his belt, expect him to build on his 2012 campaign and be a high-impact player for the Wolverines.

 

2. Jeremy Gallon, WR

The emergence of quarterback Devin Gardner has also paved the way for a breakout campaign for Jeremy Gallon.

Gallon caught fire with Gardner under center, posting a combined 511 yards and three touchdowns in Gardner's five starts. That included racking up 145 yards and two touchdowns against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

Even before Gallon's run, he had posted 107 yards against eventual national champion Alabama in the first game of the 2012 campaign. He averaged 16.92 yards per catch, 27th in the nation, via CFBStats.com.

 

1. Devin Gardner, QB

After Denard Robinson went down with an injury in October against Nebraska, Devin Gardner was asked to take his spot under center for the Wolverines. He ended up remaining as the starter even when Robinson was cleared to take the field again.

All Gardner did in his first game as a starter was account for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the 35-14 blowout victory over Minnesota. He then accounted for 15 touchdowns in his final four starts (nine passing, six rushing).

Gardner did toss four interceptions in that span, but there's hope that he can take better care of the ball with an offseason to work on his game.

The redshirt junior showed better command with the football in his five starts last season than Robinson did during his career at Michigan. Gardner's composure was particularly impressive, given that he was thrown to the wolves with Robinson going down.

 

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The Kansas State Wildcats have some big holes to fill this summer after losing some of the biggest players from their 2012 team that won the Big 12. 

Perhaps most notably is the departure of two-year starter and Heisman Trophy finalist Collin Klein, who is trying to get signed in the NFL as a QB. 

Other notable players the Wildcats will have to replace this offseason include Chris Harper, Arthur Brown, Braden Wilson and Anthony Cantele. 

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Few people have contributed more heart and soul to Ole Miss than Mr. Jake Gibbs.

Through his unwavering commitment, dedication and love of all things Ole Miss, Gibbs has become a Rebel treasure. 

With the current buzz surrounding the Rebel football program, now is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the career of a man that helped shape Ole Miss athletics for decades.

Recently, I was afforded an opportunity to visit and talk sports with the living legend. It was like sitting down for a history lesson with your grandfather, as the warm, outgoing family man remembered dates, scores and conversations as if everything he recalled happened yesterday.   

At 74 years old, the Grenada, MS native has officially been part of the Ole Miss family since first signing to play football in the late 1950’s. While initially recruited to only play football, he let recruiters know of his desire to play both football and baseball from day one.

Not only did Ole Miss push hard for Gibbs’ services, but so did folks in Starkville. Fortunately for Rebel fans, a home game on November 15, 1952 ultimately helped seal the deal for Ole Miss.

Gibbs recalled, “When I decided to play football in college, it was the 1952 Ole Miss, Maryland game with QB Jimmy Lear that made up my mind. When Ole Miss beat Maryland, it really put Ole Miss on top nationally.”

Thanks to the program-building win in 1952, coach John Vaught landed an eventual Rebel great.

 

Gridiron Greatness

A two-time national champion at Ole Miss (1959 and 1960), Gibbs went a combined 23-3-1 while playing QB in coach Vaught’s motion offense. Gibbs said of playing for Vaught, “I really loved him, and everyone respected him.” The two shared a special relationship which translated into incredible success on the field.

While the Rebs went 9-2 in 1958, including a win over Florida in the Gator Bowl, 1959 would serve as Gibbs’ coming out party. As a junior in 1959, he helped his club earn a share of the national championship with a 21-0 win over LSU in the Sugar Bowl.

During that special season, Gibbs remembered a classic Vaught moment.

He recalled, “We played Arkansas at Crump Stadium in Memphis. He (Vaught) gave one hell of a pre-game motivational speech, and got the locker room shaking. It was one of the best I’ve ever heard.” The riveting pep talk carried over to the field, as Ole Miss topped the Hogs 28-0 that day.

Leading the SEC in both passing and total offense in 1959, Gibbs was a first-team All-SEC selection. Later, he would go on to become part of the 1959 SEC Team of the Decade.

As good as 1959 was for the standout, Gibbs’ senior year would cement his legacy as an Ole Miss great. A co-captain with guard John Warner Alford Jr. in 1960, Gibbs led the Rebels to a 10-0-1 record with a win over Rice in the Sugar Bowl (scoring both Rebel touchdowns in the game). In leading his team to victory, Gibbs received the Miller-Digby Award as the game's most outstanding player.

Not only was the senior named a 1960 All-American and the SEC Back and Player of the Year, but he also finished third place for the Heisman Trophy. However, it was much harder to gain recognition as a potential Heisman candidate during his playing days than it is today.

Along those lines, Gibbs credits former Ole Miss sports information director Billy Gates for truly getting his name on the Heisman ballot by mailing out countless promotional letters. Minus the major media coverage surrounding the Heisman today, Gibbs said he actually discovered his finalist status one day while reading a newspaper.  

Having been a part of countless special games over his career, I asked Gibbs what games stood out as the most memorable (minus the 1959 Halloween night game). With a mind like a steel trap, he quickly recounted three contests. “I had a good game at Mississippi State my junior year. We beat them 42-0. I remember Tennessee my senior year. We won 24-3, and hadn’t won in Knoxville before then for a long, long time. Then we played Arkansas in Little Rock my senior year and won 10-7.”

 

Diamond Dominance

While Gibbs excelled at football, the 1960 and 1961 All-American was equally as impressive on the baseball field. In fact, he became a legend at both in Oxford. 

During his pursuit by then-football recruiting coordinator and baseball coach Tom Swayze, Gibbs remained up front with Vaught and Swayze about his desire to play both sports.

It’s a good thing coaches listened, as Gibbs helped Ole Miss capture its first SEC Baseball Championship in 1959. The very next season, the Rebels won another SEC Championship. To this day, his batting average still hovers near the top of Ole Miss record books.

In 1961, the two-sport star was drafted by the New York Yankees.

As a Yankee, he would enjoy a 10-year career in the big leagues. New York management moved him to catcher, where he would eventually start in between the careers of Yankee catchers Elston Howard and Thurman Munson. 

It wasn't soon after his 1971 retirement that Ole Miss would call him home. He noted, “Ole Miss rubs off on you, and you don’t realize how good you’ve got it until you’re gone. People leave and say 'God I miss that place.'”

Soon after his playing career ended, Gibbs returned to Ole Miss to coach the diamond Rebs after coach Swayze retired. Compiling a career coaching mark of 485-389-8, Gibbs sits only behind Mike Bianco as the all-time winningest Rebel baseball coach.

Due in part to taking his team to the 1972 College World Series (the last time Ole Miss reached the CWS), Gibbs was named 1972 SEC Coach of the Year. A few years later in 1977, he would claim the award for a second time.

Today, more than one Gibbs can be found around Swayze Field in Oxford. Redshirting this season, Gibbs' grandson, Luke Gibbs, hopes to make a splash as an infielder in the not-too-distant future.  

 

Once a Rebel, Always a Rebel

On a visit to Oxford one Yankee offseason, Gibbs decided to watch Vaught’s Rebels practice one afternoon from afar. When the head coach caught a glimpse of his former QB, he quickly motioned for Gibbs to join him down on the field.

Frustrated with his quarterbacks’ inability to get to the outside, Vaught told Gibbs, “Show them how to run 36 Slant.” Not wanting to interrupt the flow of practice, Gibbs kindly told his coach that he’d prefer to just watch.

Gibbs recalled that without hesitation Vaught shouted, “I don’t give a damn, show ‘em how it’s done.” From that day forward, the two-time national champion would help coach Rebel quarterbacks in Oxford when he wasn’t playing baseball.

While he developed a number of Rebel signal-callers, the player he impacted the most was likely 1970 Heisman Trophy finalist Archie Manning. Ironically, Manning went on to finish third for the Heisman (as would son Eli in 2003), just like his coaching mentor in 1960.

Today, Gibbs lives right around the corner from the Eli’s offseason home in Oxford. Who knows, maybe the younger Manning will also help develop Rebel quarterbacks once his playing career ends?

 

Looking Towards the Future

As our conversation neared an end, the topic shifted to the current state of Ole Miss football.  

Reflecting on last season Gibbs said:

"When the season started, I don’t think a lot of people knew what to expect. That staff did one of the best jobs anywhere. I was so proud of them. The kids came in and understood what he (Freeze) was all about, how he was going to run things, to go to class and that they’d be held accountable. He did it in a way where players accepted his whole philosophy. He laid the groundwork and they accepted it, and I think you’re going to see the same thing this year."

As for what advice he would give to the incoming recruiting class, he suggested:

"They (incoming recruits) need to get adjusted to college life as quick as they can, with an understanding they are student-athletes and will be held to standards as a football player and a student. Keep your nose clean. Stay out of trouble and just do your job."

Gibbs certainly did his job in school, and he’ll forever be remembered as one of the greatest Rebels of all-time. In fact, no student-athlete may ever again leave the type of legacy Gibbs did at Ole Miss.

Jake Gibbs remains the essence of what it truly means to be an Ole Miss Rebel.

 

Follow @SephAnderson

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Ka’Deem Carey was able to burst onto the scene last season as a sophomore, leading the nation with over 1,900 rushing yards and totaling 23 touchdowns on the ground.  Now, being a year older and entering his second year in Rich Rodriguez’s spread attack, Carey will look to stay atop the leading rushers in the country and cement himself as a Heisman trophy contender.

At 5’11, 203 pounds, Carey is a nightmare for defenders in the open field.  He has the ability to run through arm tackles and can also take a defender for a ride if tackled up high.  Though his top-end speed isn’t great, Carey’s vision is what separates him.  Once he spots a hole, he’s able to hit it as fast as any running back in the country.

Looking at Rich Rod’s running backs he’s coached in the past, evidence points for an improvement for Carey in 2013.  

At West Virginia in 2001, running back Avon Cobourne rushed for 1,298 yards during his first season.  Fast forward a year and you’ll see his numbers jumped by nearly 500 yards, increasing his total amount to 1,710.  This can be seen for Steve Slaton as well, who jumped from 1,128 yards in 2005, to 1,744 in 2006.  An increase of over 600 yards.

If this trend carries over to Carey, he could be in for a season that sees him eclipse well over 2,000 rushing yards.  If that’s the case, how could you leave him out of the Heisman discussion?  You couldn’t.  Heck, it was a shame there was no mention of him last season in the discussion.

Naturally, teams in general make a noticeable leap when entering a coach’s second season.  Yes, the Cats lost their QB to the NFL, but they have others with a year’s experience under their belts.  The receivers and the offensive line will naturally improve now that they know what to expect with the new coaching staff, and because of this, Carey will benefit greatly.  

The schedule isn’t too daunting, either.  With the first three games consisting of Northern Arizona, UNLV, and UTSA, Carey should be able to rack in huge numbers depending on how much playing time he actually receives.  Arizona also misses Stanford and Oregon State on the schedule, who were two of the top three defensive teams in the conference last season.   

This is shaping up to be another incredible season by Ka’Deem Carey, and the funny thing is, most of the nation still doesn’t know who he his.  If he is able to elevate his game even more than last season, the Tucson native should receive serious Heisman consideration.  No one can predict injuries, but if Carey is able to stay healthy all season, he will, again, be the leading rusher in college football.  

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Ka ’Deem Carey was able to burst onto the scene last season as a sophomore, leading the nation with over 1,900 rushing yards and totaling 23 touchdowns on the ground...

Read the full article on Bleacher Report...

The University of Alabama has been a factory for producing NFL talent since head coach Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, and after the Crimson Tide won their 15th national title in January, that tradition continued in the 2013 NFL draft.

Nine Alabama players were selected in the draft, with several other players either agreeing to free-agent contracts or finding jobs that match their newly acquired degrees. Their absences will be felt in the locker room and on the field next season for Alabama, but the Crimson Tide must rebuild and reload like they have in the past.

Several positions are up for grabs with the departures of the former starters, and it will be up to the remaining and incoming players to fill them. However, Saban and Co. recruited well and have more-than-capable veterans on the 2013-14 roster.

Here we break down the biggest personnel losses that Alabama suffered this offseason and which players will step in to fill those voids.

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It's easy to focus on whether Notre Dame's defense will step up this season in the absence of Manti Te'o, Zeke Motta and Kapron Lewis-Moore, but many are ignoring an offense that has the potential to make up the difference.

To say Notre Dame's success won't be heavily predicated on its defense is silly, but there is reason to believe the Fighting Irish could put more points on the board in 2013-14.

First of all, you can't talk about Notre Dame's offense without talking about evolving quarterback Everett Golson. Golson had a breakout year last season, finishing in the top 10 in Notre Dame history in passing yards for a single season (2,405). More importantly, he took care of the ball, tossing 12 touchdowns to six interceptions (we all know what not taking care of the ball looks like in South Bend). 

That's not all. Golson also rushed for 298 yards and six touchdowns on the season, displaying his dual-threat ability. Keep in mind, this was in his first year starting.

Then you look at the losses Notre Dame took on offense.

Losing tight end Tyler Eifert and running backs Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood hurts, but, then again, the Fighting Irish have some promising breakout candidates.

There is George Atkinson III, who averaged 7.1 yards per carry last season. Atkinson not only added seven pounds this offseason to deal with a bigger workload, coaches have also been impressed with his ability to catch balls in the slot, per Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com.

You also have top recruits Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston, both top-10 running backs in the 2013 class, according to 247Sports. Bryant—a compact, strong, surprisingly elusive back—could be productive right away for the Fighting Irish.

In the receiving corps, T.J. Jones and DaVaris Daniels have the potential to break out in the absence of Eifert. Jones posted 50 catches for 649 yards and four touchdowns last season. Daniels added 31 catches for 490 yards. Both have big-play ability.

It's not out of the question that the Fighting Irish offense surprises in 2013-14. Golson has a season under his belt. With an extra offseason, he should be better. The backfield should be fun to watch. And Jones and Daniels aren't slouches. Coach Brian Kelly said he thought Jones was "an elite player" ready to bust out, via NBCSports.com.

With all the attention placed on Te'o's departure, a promising group of players on the offensive side of the ball is going largely unnoticed. 

It's a promising group of players that could boost the Fighting Irish back to a BCS bowl.

 

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Though the Big Ten has existed since 1896, the conference first used its current name in 1953. Therefore, I will rank what I believe have been the 10 greatest running backs in the Big Ten since 1953.

When coming up with the players for this list, I strongly considered national individual honors, such as Heisman Trophy votes and consensus All-America team selections. These awards allow us to compare the backs not only to their in-conference peers, but also to running backs throughout the country. I considered statistics to a lesser extent, but the numbers do carry a lot of value in this list.

This list includes five players who won the Heisman Trophy a combined six times, as well as the FBS career leaders in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. Eight of the 10 players are members of the College Football Hall of Fame, including a Class of 2013 inductee.

The conference has had some record-setting runners over the past 60 years, so choosing 10 was difficult. Feel free to debate the list, or to add players who you feel I have missed, in the comments section below.

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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.

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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.

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