NCAA Football News

Elite recruits receive many scholarship offers, as some boast more than 30 or 40. With every major college football program calling, emailing, writing and Facebooking them, things can get hectic for elite recruits.

Although it is tough to tell a coach he will not be attending their school, a recruit has to narrow his list at some point. Several highly ranked recruits are on the verge of trimming down their list of suitors.

An athletic pass rusher is close whittling down his offer sheet and a physical linebacker has his eye on a small group of schools. The nation's best defensive tackle is zeroing in on a September decision, so he also is getting close to trimming down his list. 

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

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As if it isn't the case every season in the SEC, running backs will shine in this conference more than any other position. This conference has built a strong reputation of running the ball heavily on offense and playing ferocious football defensively. That formula has helped produce seven straight national titles.

But while you think of pounding the ball between the tackles and wearing defenses down, there were only four SEC teams (Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Florida) that finished in the top 50 last season in rushing yards per game. There also weren't many highly successful individual runners in this conference, as majority of the work is done as a collective unit.

This season you should see a lot more success from individual runners, many of whom are flashy and have the potential to break the long one.

We can start with Todd Gurley of Georgia, who was the leading rusher in the SEC as far as running backs are concerned. Despite splitting carries with Keith Marshall, Gurley still rushed for 1,385 yards, scored 17 touchdowns and had 15 runs of more than 15 yards. He has the perfect combination of speed and power and could make a solid case as the best running back in the entire country.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

T.J. Yeldon cleared the century mark and averaged more than six yards per carry as a true freshman. Now that Eddie Lacy is in the NFL, Yeldon should see an increase in production, as he should have no problem topping last year's 175 carries. He has star power written all over him after picking up 48 first downs and displaying a great deal of speed. 

While we are on the subject of first-year runners who were terrific last season, this conference also has a couple of guys fresh out of high school who will provide an immediate impact.

Alex Collins of Arkansas will see the field immediately and provide a spark to a Razorbacks offense that will love to run under new head coach Bret Bielema. Florida is absolutely desperate for playmakers and Kelvin Taylor is just what the doctor ordered with his elusiveness and great field vision.

We also can't forget Derrick Henry of Alabama, who is a Mack truck at 6'3", 240 pounds and set the college football all-time high school rushing record. All three of those young runners should thrive their freshman years and create similar buzz as Gurley and Yeldon did last season.

The status of LSU running back Jeremy Hill remains a question mark at this point, but assuming he can get his life back on track after the off-the-field incident, he could provide the Tigers with their first legit starting running back. LSU has been a running back by committee over the years, but Hill really took the bull by the horns, rushing for 755 yards and 12 touchdowns, despite receiving two carries or less in five games.

Mississippi State still has its underrated running back in LaDarius Perkins, who quietly rushed for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. His 45 first downs on 205 rushing attempts was impressive, and he should see similar production as the Bulldogs' workhorse running back.  

Even Johnny Manziel should see less carries thanks to a deep Texas A&M backfield. Sure, he was last year's leading rusher in the SEC (1,410 yards), but the Aggies have other players they can count on this time. Ben Malena averaged close to six yards a carry in limited action and Trey Williams is that home run threat who will be a treat to watch.

As Barrett Sallee of Bleacher Report mentioned, it would be a crime if Manziel was the leading rusher for the second straight season.

If you want a few potential players who could breakout this season, look no further than Henry Josey of Missouri and Tre Mason of Auburn.

Josey missed all of last season with a knee injury, but looked healthy in the spring and will be the X-factor to the Tigers success. He rushed for 1,168 yards and averaged more than eight yards a carry in 2011. Mason is one of the more versatile playmakers in this conference and is in a better position to succeed with Gus Malzahn now calling the shots.

Mike Davis looks like a solid replacement for Marcus Lattimore after averaging five yards a carry in limited playing time, while a combination of Rajion Neal and Marlin Lane helped Tennessee improve drastically running the ball.

Mississippi finished just outside the top 50 in rushing yards thanks in large part to running back Jeff Scott. The senior back is a dynamic player at 5'7" and has improved each season in Oxford. Considering he rushed for 850 yards last season, reaching the 1,000-yard mark shouldn't be considered a stretch.

There were nine SEC runners who cleared the century mark last season, which was the most of any other conference. With the great deal of talent arriving and the elite runners who have already made a name for themselves, the SEC will once again dominate college football at the running back position.

 

Note: All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes have found a kicker for their 2014 recruiting class.

Sean Nuernberger, a kicker/punter out of Buckner, Ky. who was born in Germany, announced on Twitter Tuesday afternoon that he has committed to Ohio State:

It's done! Officially committed to play football for THE Ohio State University! #BUCKEYENATION

— Sean Nuernberger (@SeanSeanThinks) June 11, 2013

Nuernberger committed following his performance at Ohio State's three-day kicking camp (247Sports.com subscription required), becoming the 10th member of the Buckeyes' recruiting class.

According to LandGrantHolyLand.com, the talented kicker was also showing interest in Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame and Purdue, but he couldn't pass up a chance to play for Meyer and the Buckeyes.

Nuernberger spoke with Jeremy Birmingham of ElevenWarriors.com about how his commitment went down:

I was there yesterday and they asked me to stay another night and kicked again this morning one final time and was called up the football complex this afternoon. We had a meeting for about an hour and Coach Meyer extended the offer himself and I accepted it on the spot to kick there next year.

Nuernberger's immediate commitment shows how eager he is to play for Ohio State. This is good news for the Buckeyes, who desperately need depth at the position.

Meyer was sent scrambling when one-time Ohio State pledge Johnny Townsend, a 2-star punter according to 247Sports.com, wavered on his commitment on national signing day last February. Townsend, who was expected to step in and replace former punter Ben Buchanan, committed to Florida the next day.

With few options and a sizable hole on his depth chart, Meyer handed over the punting duties to place kicker Drew Basil this spring.

Meyer's fortunes changed last week, though, when Australian punter Cameron Johnston accepted a scholarship offer from Ohio State. Johnston, who has a huge leg but has never played American football, will likely take over the starting punting position if he transitions smoothly.

With Nuernberger's commitment, Ohio State now has depth at a position that was a huge question mark just last week. His versatility as a kicker and punter also gives Meyer a viable replacement for Basil, who graduates after this season.

Highlights of Nuernberger's junior season can be seen below:

 

David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412. 

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The Texas A&M track program is the best in the nation. That success in track and field will help the Aggies sign 5-star defensive back recruit Tony Brown in February. 

The Texas A&M Men's Track team has won four out of the last five outdoor national titles, including the 2013 national championship. Aggie track head coach Pat Henry has molded the program into the best in the nation. 

Texas A&M wins 7th NCAA Championship in track and field over a five year span, 34th team title for Aggie head coach Pat Henry.

— aggietrk (@aggietrk) June 8, 2013

The success in track has to catch the eye of Beaumont (TX) Ozen cornerback Tony Brown. The 6'0", 190-pound athlete is rated as a 5-star recruit by 247.com. 

He is ranked as the No. 14 player overall in the nation and the No. 2 player in Texas. Brown also excels in track, where he is one of the top hurdlers in the nation.

The junior from Beaumont finished second in the 100-meter sprint at the Texas State Track Meet with a time of 10.53 seconds. He was first in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.40 seconds.  

Earlier in the year at the prestigious Texas Relays meet, Brown posted the fastest time in the nation when he ran the 110 hurdles in 13.38 seconds. He also ran the fastest time in the nation in the 60-meter hurdles during the indoor season. Not bad for a junior in high school. 

Brown is an extremely rare combination of size and speed. He is athletically gifted enough to eventually play in the NFL and compete in the Olympics in the hurdles. 

On the gridiron, he had 46 tackles with one interception as a junior. He has been a starter on varsity at Ozen since he was a freshman, and has five interceptions in his career. 

Brown is being recruited by all of the top programs in the nation. He is considering Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Texas and Florida State. 

Since one of his goals is to make the 2016 Olympic Team, he has gone on record as stating that the quality of the school's track program will be a major factor in his recruitment. 

Brown's older sister, Bealoved Brown, is one of the top female sprinters in the nation and signed to run track in college at LSU. Some people believe that his sister attending LSU will give the Tigers a leg up in his recruitment.

The Tigers finished seventh overall at the NCAA meet and were never considered a threat to win the title. Texas A&M produced the winner in the 110 hurdles at the event.  

Henry was the track coach at LSU before he came to A&M. He produced Olympic-level athletes in track who still starred on the football field like former Tiger Trindon Holliday. 

Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin can sell Brown on the ability to compete on the football field with a Top Five-caliber team, while running track for the top track team in the nation. That is a combination that no other school who is recruiting him can offer. 

Brown is one of the top athletes to come out of the state of Texas in recent memory. Texas A&M's ability to excel on the gridiron and on the track should give the Aggies the upper-hand when it comes time for him to sign his letter of intent. 

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DeShone Kizer is the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback in the 2014 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and he's commitment No. 11 for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

During a time of uncertainty regarding the future of the quarterback position, Kizer's commitment is an important one for the Fighting Irish.

John Garcia Jr. of FoxSportsNEXT.com reports on Kizer's commitment via Twitter:

4-star QB DeShone Kizer announces his commitment to #NotreDame

— John Garcia Jr. (@JohnGarcia_Jr) June 11, 2013

Greg Ostendorf of ESPN also reports on the commitment, adding in a bit of information that may make some Notre Dame fans smile, considering the result of last season's championship game:

Dual-threat QB DeShone Kizer has committed to Notre Dame. He was expected to visit #Bama this week. Another QB target off the board.

— Greg Ostendorf (@GregO_ESPN) June 11, 2013

Kizer was an important recruit for Brian Kelly and his staff to land, especially now that Gunner Kiel has transferred to Cincinnati and Everett Golson had to leave school to due academic issues. 

Golson may not come back—though he is reportedly planning to in 2014—so for all intents and purposes Malik Zaire, who enrolled early this past winter, will be the future of the quarterback position for Notre Dame.

Zaire has the talent to be "the guy" for Notre Dame, but no quarterback's starting gig is 100 percent locked up with coach Kelly—even during the season.

That makes the backup job behind Zaire extremely important, and Kizer should eventually be able to fill the role admirably.

He has great size and length at 6'5'', 207 pounds. His height is ideal, and it will allow him to see over the line of scrimmage and read the defense. He has a natural throwing motion with a high release, and he throws a great deep ball with good touch and arc.

Kizer doesn't have the arm to zip short to intermediate throws into small windows on a line, but he has the natural throwing fundamentals to get to that point, especially with college coaching. He needs to work on his footwork in the pocket, because he can get choppy, but he does have the ability to plant on his back foot, transfer his weight forward and release a good pass.

Potential is the key word for Kizer as a passer.

He's a natural, smooth runner with long strides and good elusiveness. He's not exceptionally fast, but he has enough speed to turn the corner and pick up yards in the open field. He has quick feet and a great cut move, and he displays great vision.

Kizer fits what Notre Dame is looking for at the quarterback position perfectly. He's not yet ready to come in and take the college football world by storm, but very few recruits are at this stage.

He'll benefit from a his senior season in high school, and once he gets to Notre Dame he'll have the raw intangibles to be coached up to the level the Fighting Irish need him to be at.

 

Note: Star rankings courtesy of the 247Sports Composite rankings. All scouting and analysis of Kizer done by writer, via tape study of film provided on his 247Sports profile page.

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The 2013 version of the men of Troy will head into the upcoming season with a bevy of questions following the disappointment of a 7-6 2012 campaign that saw USC fall well short of lofty expectations.

Among these is the conversion to new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast's 5-2 scheme from the standard 4-3 that USC has been running for years.

In addition, the Trojans will be replacing several key players—including four-year quarterback Matt Barkley—and will look to elevate the play of several key units, both on defense as well as offense.

It is on offense that this slideshow will look at several concerns that will weigh heavily on Passing Game Coordinator Clay Helton and Head Coach Lane Kiffin.

Though it is uncertain whether or not Helton will be charged with calling plays—a role filled in the past by Kiffin—there are still worries that surround this offense in 2013.

For USC to be successful this year, they will have to be effective with ball in their hands. Here are questions that will have to answered in order for that to be the case.

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Football is a team sport. Nevertheless, graduating Denard Robinson, one of the most beloved players in Michigan football history, deals a blow to Michigan’s psyche.

Despite this loss and other offseason hurdles, Team 133’s outlook is far from bleak. Here are some updates on how this 2013 offseason is progressing for the Maize and Blue.

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Most of the talk surrounding the Tennessee vs. Alabama rivalry over the last few months has centered around its future in potential SEC scheduling formats.

But while its long-term future beyond 2015 looks a bit cloudy, it's still alive and well in the Volunteer State.

According to the Associated Press, Alabama head coach Nick Saban will make an appearance in front of an estimated 1,500 people at the Athens (Tenn.) Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night. The presence of college football's most imposing figure in the state of Tennessee has some Vol fans upset. Chamber of Commerce president Rob Preston responded to the criticism in the report:

We've gotten emails. We've gotten phone calls. Most of the phone calls happen at 2 o'clock in the morning or when we're not here. They leave it on the machine.

We certainly did not do this to get people upset. Some people say this is a combined effort to help Alabama's recruiting. I know to you that sounds ridiculous - and it is very ridiculous - but (some) people think that's what this is about.

Coaches make appearances on the rubber chicken circuit all the time, so it's hardly a big deal. Conspiracy theories aside, Tennessee fans shouldn't worry about Saban crossing the border for an appearance. Tennessee needs to worry about being Tennessee, not beating Alabama.

After all, things are looking good for the program.

The Vols currently have the nation's second-ranked recruiting class in 2014 according to Rivals.com, and fourth-best according to the 247Sports.com composite. This coming off a five-year span that has seen the program go through three coaching searches, compile a less-than-stellar 28-34 overall record and a 12-28 conference record.

Not a bad turnaround without playing a single game under first-year head coach Butch Jones.

Granted, team rankings don't mean squat until the talent arrives on campus and begins to be developed by the staff, but so far, so good.

But this is Tennessee we're talking about. While Alabama has the hot hand recently winning three of the last four BCS National Championships, the Volunteers shouldn't worry about the rather large Crimson Tide shadow. Not so long ago, they were the ones casting the shadow, winning three of four over the Crimson Tide from 2003-06.

Despite the $200 million debt that the athletic department faces (according to the Sports Business Journal), the program has the resources to compete at a high level and is pouring more in.

The $50 million Brenda Lawson Athletic Center rivals any football facility in the country, pro or college. Tennessee's new staff will earn a combined $3 million according to the Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel, which is a 44 percent increase from the salaries Derek Dooley's final staff on Rocky Top last season.

Tennessee is in the process of turning it around, and worrying about what Saban is doing and using the Alabama program as a barometer is only going to hinder progress.

There are different ways to skin a cat, and worrying too much about one of your biggest rivals—which just so happens to be in the midst of a college football dynasty—is unnecessary and unrealistic. For Tennessee to truly be back, Saban's appearance an hour south of Knoxville wouldn't be a threat, it'd be an afterthought.

That seems a little crazy considering the present circumstances, but everything Jones and his staff have done so far has worked.

Let them continue to do so, and the Vols will be fine.

 

Follow @BarrettSallee

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Penn State has a weight room you couldn't imagine in your wildest dreams. One of the first things strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald did when he arrived at State College was demand that the weight room see a drastic improvement. He began putting together a design that was unveiled last season to Nittany Lion players.

If you have yet to see it, you are in for a treat. Fitzgerald takes us on a five minute tour that covers all of the bases, via State College.  

The room is a spacious 13,000 square feet, enough where even the biggest offensive linemen can have plenty of elbow room. The power racks are customized and every bar ball you can imagine comes with a safety catcher that will prevent any freak accidents. Oh, and you better believe that every weight in the building is labeled "We Are Penn State." Anything else would be uncivilized.

It also features surround sound to help pump the guys up to some of the latest jams. There are computer monitors plastered on the wall that let everybody know what the coaches want each day as far as certain exercises and reps are concerned.

This is truly an NFL style weight room and one of the main reasons many players decided to return to Penn State rather than leave when the sanctions hit, as wide receiver Allen Robinson told State College.

We've really bonded with the coaching staff and like what they’re doing, Robinson said. We like (strength and conditioning coach) Craig Fitzgerald and what he’s doing, I'll call him up and he'll come in early in the morning and workout with me. We have a great staff here and there aren't too many places where you can go and find a better staff. I think this is good place to be.

The weight room is a great recruiting draw and will help make sure those Nittany Lions are prepared for all 60 minutes.

 

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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LSU continues to set itself up for greatness on the 2014 recruiting trail, as D.J. Chark, 3-star wide receiver, becomes the next recruit to commit to Les Miles' class.

ESPN.com's Sam Khan Jr. reports on LSU's latest commitment, who hails from Alexandria, La.:

LSU was a dream school for Alexandria (La.) Senior High School receiver D.J. Chark growing up. 

So when the 2014 prospect got the opportunity to become a Tiger while on an unofficial visit to campus on Monday, he took advantage and gave LSU his verbal pledge. 

"It's great," Chark said. "I feel really good." 

Chark will be a valuable for LSU because of his speed. He's only 6'0.5'', 170 pounds, but he runs a 4.55 40, according to 247Sports.

He's a true vertical threat who will break a defenders cushion because of his speed alone. That said, he has quick feet and can change direction and stop on a dime, so his route-running ability is impeccable. He takes sharp angles and has very subtle movements as a route-runner. Chark is athletic and can go up and get the ball, and he displays great vision, concentration and soft hands. 

He'll be effective after the catch because of his speed and elusiveness. He projects well as a slot receiver at the college level.

Chark will be able to take short passes in the seams and make defenders miss, picking up valuable yards after the catch in the process.

With the addition of Chark, LSU's class now features 10 commitments and is ranked No. 10 in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite team rankings.

Miles and his staff have done an excellent job so far, but really it's the future of this class that should have LSU fans excited.

The Tigers are high on the interest lists of star recruits like 5-star safety's Tony Brown (leader) and Laurence Jones (leader), 5-star wide receiver Malachi Dupre (leader), 5-star offensive tackle Cameron Robinson (top two), and of course, 5-star running back and No. 1 overall recruit, according to the 247Sports Composite, Leonard Fournette (top two).

LSU is looking great now, but imagine what it could end up looking like come February. If Miles and Co. can bring in even half of those players, LSU will finish with an elite class.

 

Note: All star rankings and interest lists courtesy of the 247Sports Composite rankings. Scouting and analysis of Chark done by writer, via tape study of film provided on his 247Sports profile page.

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It is never too early to begin breaking down college football point spreads in hopes of finding an advantage. Sometimes you can find a few gems where the oddsmakers made a mistake, while other times you can find the games that you should avoid at all costs.

College football has released the odds for most games, which means you are falling behind if you haven't already given them a peek. Sportsbook Golden Nugget released early point spreads for the top 250 college football games of the year. While some are accurate, there are others that are quite surprising and make you wonder what these guys are thinking.

A lot of these surprising spreads will be found in marquee games where the spreads are close, but there are also a few underrated matchups where the oddsmakers threw out an incorrect line.

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According to Tyler James, the Notre Dame recruiting writer for the South Bend Tribune, the finalists have been named for the 2013 Elite 11 Finals. Scheduled to take place towards the end of this month, the Elite 11 camp is the most prestigious off-season event for high school quarterbacks.

More than 700 high school signal-callers competed at various locations across the country to earn a "golden ticket" invite to the finals at Nike headquarters. In recent years, 24 have been invited back, but only 18 made the cut this year.

While there were several notable snubs left off the final list, the 2013 line up features the best of the best in the country. A big strong-armed quarterback from Oklahoma, an athletic passer from Georgia and perhaps even Johnny Manziel's future replacement all will be competing at the Elite 11 Finals.

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

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If we were keeping score of the class of 2014 recruiting battle between Texas and Texas A&M, it would be Texas A&M 7 Texas 2, early in the second quarter.

Texas and Texas A&M have battled for nine prospects' commitments and the Aggies received verbal commitments from seven of them. That is not good news for Texas fans. 

3-star offensive lineman Koda Martin committed to Texas A&M. The 6' 6", 250-pound Martin can play at tackle, tight end and defensive end. He had received an offer from Texas in March.

5-star linebacker Hoza Scott, 4-star quarterback Kyle Allen, 4-star cornerback Nick Harvey, 4-star safety Dylan Sumner-Gardner, 4-star linebacker Josh Walker and 4-star defensive tackle DeShawn Washington all reported offers from Texas but committed to Texas A&M. 

The two prospects that Texas A&M lost to Texas were 4-star defensive end Derick Roberson and 4-star linebacker Otaro Alaka. 

3-star linebacker Cameron Hampton had named Texas A&M as his leader after he took an unofficial visit to College Station, Tex. on December 7, 2012. But Texas A&M declined to take his commitment, according to YouPlus Dallas.com. Hampton committed to Texas on February 10. 

What is going on here?

It is early in the recruiting season. The dog-and-pony show known as signing day will certainly be rife with prospects flipping on their commitments. But bragging rights are worth noting, especially in Texas.

Texas A&M is currently sitting at No. 1 in college football's class of 2014 recruiting rankings. Texas has dropped to No. 3. It is a tight race. But Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin is beating Longhorn coach Mack Brown when it comes to landing prospects who have been offered by both schools. 

Texas was recruiting LaPorte, Tex. native Scott and offered him on August 2. But Scott committed to Texas A&M on December 12. Texas ventured out of state to land 3-star linebacker Andrew Beck from Tampa, Fla. Beck committed to Texas on April 9. 

The top uncommitted prospect in Texas is 5-star defensive end Myles Garrett. Texas offered Garrett on August 2, but he is reportedly leaning toward Texas A&M according to an ESPN report. His profile on 247 Sports doesn't indicate Texas as a school of interest. 

The Longhorns still have a great-looking class. 4-star safety Jamal Adams, 4-star cornerback Arrion Springs and 4-star receiver Armanti Foreman are expected to commit to Texas, that same report notes. More: 

Adams has about eight to ten teams right now that he is legitimately interested in, but we get the sense that Texas will be where he ends up for a couple reasons: One, the Longhorns can offer him the early playing time he covets. Two, he is really good friends with current UT commitments and star cornerback Quandre Diggs.

[Springs] was saying all spring that Oregon was his No. 1 school, but Texas has closed the gap. He has taken several unofficial visits to Austin and still has never been to Oregon. He'll camp with the Ducks, but UT being an hour from home is a factor.

Foreman and his twin brother, 2014 running back D'Onta Foreman, haven't been shy about stating their intentions to play together. Now that D'Onta's stock is rising and his offers are piling up, the chances of them being able to do so increase. Armanti's open but clearly likes Oklahoma (the school he was formerly committed to), Texas and Texas A&M. The closest of those three to offering D'Onta? Looks like Texas after he shined at their June 9 camp.

If Texas lands all three of these prospects then we can tap the brakes on Longhorn recruiting concerns. The Longhorns should land a top 10 class. The program has been the state's big boy of football for what seems like forever.

But it is impossible to ignore that elephant—or in this case, that SEC logo—in the room.

Texas A&M is beating Texas in the recruiting game. With three more quarters to go, Brown may need to open up his playbook.  

 

 

Note- all star ratings are 247 Sports' composite rankiings

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Everybody has an opinion on Tim Tebow, and "Johnny Football" is no exception.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies dropped in on the set of ESPN's First Take on Monday while they were on-location in San Antonio for the NBA Finals and talked about Tebow signing with the New England Patriots.

The topic wasn't shocking, but Manziel's response was.

When asked by Skip Bayless if he's a better passer than Tebow, Manziel was quite candid.

"I would hope I'm a better passer than Tim Tebow," Manziel says at the 2:45 mark of the video below. "Hopefully I wouldn't have to go into an offseason and work on mechanics, because as a freshman and as a redshirt freshman, I tried to work on that before I even got into position to be questioned about that."

From a mechanics standpoint, Manziel has a point.

Tebow's mechanics—and his slow delivery in particular—are a reason he has bounced around in the NFL. That's something that can be fixed early in college and something that Tebow probably should have done.

While Tebow did make efforts to fix his mechanics in college—specifically before his senior season—it wasn't really needed for the Gators. In fact, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida coaches took him into a digital laboratory early in his career to configure a throwing motion specifically to alleviate shoulder pain.

His primary goal in Gainesville was to win games. He did that at a high level, so why mess with success at that time?

Manziel chose to fix things early. He made the world tour this offseason, but one of his trips took him to San Diego to visit with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr., with the goal of becoming a better pocket passer in mind. 

But when it comes to statistics, using Tebow's 47.9 percent completion percentage in the NFL as a jumping-off point is useless.

If you compare their career college numbers, the two are actually very similar.

Manziel completed 68 percent of his passes with a passing efficiency of 155.32 during his redshirt freshman season in College Station, which are remarkably similar to Tebow's career 66.4 percent completion percentage and passing efficiency of 170.8.

A better passer? Statistically, it's up for debate. 

But that wasn't Manziel's point. He was talking about the specific styles and career progression of the two while in college.

Florida fans probably don't care, because they got two BCS National Championships out of the deal. But Florida ran a system that fit Tebow's strengths and hid his weaknesses, which is a big reason why he finds himself in the journeyman position he's currently in at the next level.

So was Manziel taking a shot at Tebow?

Not really.

It seems like everyone has an opinion on Tebow, so why should Manziel be an exception?

Manziel wasn't saying he's better than Tebow; he was saying that Tebow hurt himself by not focusing on his future as much as he probably should have when he was in Gainesville.

That's the truth.

Good for Manziel for being honest when asked a question that is, quite honestly, impossible to answer. Statistically, the two players are similar as college quarterbacks but different in terms of the way they approached the early portions of their college careers.

 

Follow @BarrettSallee

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We are only in June, yet the start time for all of Michigan's October games have already been announced.

We knew for a while that the Minnesota and Penn State games would kick off at 3:30 and 5:00, respectively, but the third and final game in October was also recently announced.

The Indiana game in Ann Arbor on Oct. 19 will also feature a 3:30 kickoff time.

A 5:00 start time for the game in Happy Valley seems like an appropriate decision, as that will certainly be a huge game with a raucous environment.

However, 3:30 kicks for both the Minnesota and Indiana games seem a little odd. Needless to say, neither of those are likely to be big games, as Michigan should be a heavy favorite in each. In fact, both are ideal for a noon kickoff.

Instead, Michigan will not be playing a noon game for a second straight October. Heck, it actually didn't play a noon game in September last year either, but that's bound to change this year.

The home contest with Akron on September 14 has "noon start" written all over it; the Connecticut and Central Michigan games could also be noon contests.

Brady Hoke has said countless times since he's been at Michigan that he prefers noon kicks, but it's no secret that those are a dying breed.

So seldom do we see huge noon matchups anymore, as the TV ratings and a lack of early attendance are the main reasons why.

As recently as 2011, eight of Michigan's twelve regular season games featured noon kickoffs. That number dropped all the way to four last season.

It looks like it'll be right around four once again here in 2013.

It's a shame that these start times have dropped so much in popularity; when some of the old timers reminisce about old school Michigan football, those early noon kicks always seem to be a key ingredient.

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The quarterback recruits that make up the Elite 11 are without a doubt the best signal-callers in the nation on a yearly basis.

This is quarterback competition at the highest level. Many entered, and through the process of camps, the experts whittled the field down to 18.

Only 11 will last to the end, though. Only 11 will be able to call themselves elite.

Under the tutelage of Trent Dilfer and others, these 18 quarterbacks will work and train themselves to be named among the best of the best.

Bleacher Report will have the whole thing covered, right here.

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With the BCS format set to become a thing of the past after the 2014 season, and with tweaks being made to the playoff system, new bowls and locations are being discussed.

Brett McMurphy of ESPN reports:

As many as nine locations are under consideration to begin bowl games in 2014, according to sources: Miami, Orlando, Little Rock, Ark.; Boca Raton, Fla.; Montgomery, Ala.; Los Angeles; Ireland; Dubai and either Toronto or Nassau, Bahamas.

The Bahamas? Dubai? Ireland? Miami? Forget participating in the playoffs and playing in the same boring locations, sign me up for a trip to paradise. A week in the Bahamas sure beats playing in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, where last year's game was covered in snow. That's not exactly a reward for regular-season accomplishments.

Per the report, these new bowl possibilities would be for teams in leagues outside the power conferences. Those are the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt. Watch out Boise State, you may finally be rewarded for being everybody's favorite underdog.

A source told McMurphy that these ongoing discussions are taking place because of the way the system is being built to keep the little guy out of the big game. Per the source:

The smaller 'Group of Five' conferences are exploring adding bowl games because they are being locked out by the big boys. They're looking to create bowl games so their teams will have bowls for their bowl-eligible teams.

This year's bowl lineup consists of 35  games, with 16 of those spots being occupied by power conferences (Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12, Big 12, ACC), giving non-BCS programs little chance to appear on the big stage. Per the report, that number could top 19 next season when the playoff format is installed.

Yikes.

While adding more bowls makes sense if you are a fan of non-BCS schools, the problem lies in how many teams would actually be bowl eligible (minimum of six victories). The last two seasons have only produced 72 bowl-eligible teams for 70 spots, which is cutting things dangerously close. Adding more bowls could force requirements to be tweaked, which then opens up another can of worms.

Either way, this would be a nice consolation prize if some of these locations stick.

 

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Jim Delany is sticking around for a little while longer.

Adam Rittenberg reports that ESPN has confirmed with the Big Ten that the longtime commissioner had his contract extended in 2011, which will carry through June 30, 2018. Way to keep things quiet for so long in this media-crazed world we live in.

According to the report, the league's Council of Presidents/Chancellors approved the extension, but the conference decided not to make a public announcement.

His contract was scheduled to come to an end on June 30 of this year.

This is huge news for the Big Ten.

Delany has been the commissioner of the conference since 1989 and has played a key role in the success of the Big Ten since then. He helped create the Big Ten Network, which reportedly is largely responsible for each team receiving more than $25 million in one years' worth of revenue.

He also helped implement college football's first replay system and is one of the most influential members of the BCS system, which will come to an end after this season.

But even with all of the success, his days ahead will be the most challenging.

Delany will now have the task of negotiating a new contract for the Big Ten Network, which has proven to be very profitable for the conference. It is set to expire after the 2016-17 athletics season, per the report. He will also be around when the new playoff format kicks off in 2014, which is a big year for the conference with the additions of Maryland and Rutgers.Rand

Sticking with familiarity is a smart move for the Big Ten, especially with Mike Slive's future as SEC commissioner up in the air.

Delany is only the fifth commissioner in Big Ten history and has spent the longest time at the position, recently surpassing Major John L. Griffith, who spent 22 years as commissioner.

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The next chapter of the Harvey Updyke saga is now being written.

Updyke, the 64-year-old Alabama fan who served a total of 76 days in jail for poisoning Auburn's iconic Toomer's Corner oaks in December 2010, was released from jail Monday, according to AL.com.

Updyke, who pleaded guilty to unlawful damage of an animal or crop facility in March, will return to Louisiana and serve five years of probation as a result of his plea agreement.

His release turns the page on the saga, but it doesn't close the book.

For Auburn, the story is ongoing.

Tiger fans flooded downtown Auburn following the 2013 A-Day game on April 20 for one last roll of the iconic oaks, which were torn down three days later. In their place, concrete poles and wires will be erected to provide a place for fans to celebrate wins while the soil recovers from the damage done by the heavy dose of Spike 80DF, according to ESPN.com.

The temporary and permanent solutions to replacing the trees are still part of the story. But even when the new oaks are planted and fans flood the corner of College and Magnolia streets like nothing has changed, the Updyke saga will continue to be part of the story.

Adults will remember the times before one crazy fan stepped way over the line and make a concerted effort to instill in their children the same joy and pride those trees gave them.

That's what makes what Updyke did to Toomer's Corner so egregious.

He didn't just poison trees. He robbed families of memories. 

Kids don't care who won or lost the game, even if it's the Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama. Hanging out with friends and family in the street and throwing toilet paper into the trees may seem silly to some, but that doesn't make it OK to rob families of those memories.

But there could be more tangible parts of the saga still to come.

Paul Finebaum—the radio host who was on the other end of the line when "Al from Dadeville" (Updyke) first made his confession in January 2011—visited with Updyke one day before his release, according to AL.com.

Lee County (Ala.) Sheriff Jay Jones allowed Finebaum to meet with Updyke despite a judge reportedly banning him from talking to the media, according to the Associated Press.

"It was just person to person,” Jones told AL.com. “If he had been (representing a media organization), we would not have allowed him to make contact.”

While technically Finebaum isn't a member of the media at the moment, he will become an employee of ESPN and the SEC Network later this summer. Does that technicality fly?

Considering Finebaum will host a syndicated radio show and make television appearances in his new gig, has been a successful columnist and is writing a book chronicling his radio show, the answer is no.

Updyke is out of jail, the trees have been torn down and the wheels are in motion to replace them. But just because they're gone doesn't mean they should be forgotten. 

The Updyke saga is now part of the rivalry. The silver lining is that it should become a cautionary tale about how not to act and serve in that capacity for generations. Rivalries are heated in college football, especially in the SEC. But even if your school throws away a 24-0 lead in the biggest game of the year, it is just a game.

 

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Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly is a made man.

The 22-year-old redshirt junior can no longer hide in obscurity after passing for 3,040 yards, 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. 

He now has 13 starts and a few school records, including a 67.1 passing completion percentage.

Yet despite such a fantastic debut, Kelly seems unfazed.  

"I'm quiet," he said. "I'm not very outgoing."

The studious Kelly does have a wild hair that makes a lot of noise. He drag races in the offseason to "get that adrenaline rush." Last year, Kelly "posted the fourth-fastest time (129.83 mph) in the Sport Compact Qualifiers at a track near his hometown," according to AzCentral.com. 

So much for flying under the radar. 

The Pac-12 Network filmed Kelly racing at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho. Racing red BMWs, Nissans and Toyotas with the Sun Devil logo and his jersey No. 10 on his car, Kelly sticks out. 

"Racing was a little hobby of mine," he says. "Do something new and go fast."

That little hobby did not escape the notice of new Sun Devil head coach, Todd Graham, and offensive coordinator, Mike Norvell, last year. 

"They were like, 'hey man, stop racing,'" Kelly recalled from a coach's text.

"It looks a lot more dangerous than what it really it is," he added. "I'm not doing it too much...I'm only doing once a year now. I'm going to be settling down as my career grows. Once I'm done with football and whatever else, I'm just going to start that hobby back up again."

He is not a daredevil. "I don't like roller coasters," he candidly admitted. "I like having control. Me driving a car, I like. But if I'm in the passenger's seat with someone driving like that, I wouldn't trust him."

Perhaps that is why he is thriving so well at Arizona State, a program that was going in the wrong direction when head coach Dennis Erickson was dismissed before the 2012 season. Kelly likes being in control. He is a field general. But Tempe's army was not running smoothly in 2011.

"Coach Dennis Erickson was a great coach and still is a great coach but he would kind of let a few little details [go] by," Kelly said.

"Coach Graham is on that. Absolutely no drugs in his program...no earrings, no hats in the building. It's just the little things. Wearing the same dress code during lifting...paying more attention to the little things and our guys have adapted to that very quickly and are doing a great job of it."

Not everyone adapted to the change. From the time Graham arrived in Tempe to early May last year, four players were dismissed from the team. The iron fist was laid down on a program in need of more discipline on and off the field. 

Graham explained his stance on drugs to me in a FOXSports interview last year:

It's an ongoing problem, probably more prevalent than people think. I'll give kids a second chance, but I'm not giving them a third. 

We drug test every player in our program every two months. I probably drug test more than anybody else. We choose to do that—I choose to do that.

Graham also chose to tap the potential in the kid from Eagle, Idaho who is an exceptional student-athlete and role model. As an example, he carries a 3.3 GPA.

Kelly rose out of nowhere after spring camp last year. Phil Steele's 2012 preseason magazine listed Kelly behind Michael Eubank and Mike Bercovici on the quarterback depth chart. The 6' 2", 200-pound quarterback had only thrown four passes in his collegiate career. 

"Coming out of spring I was third on the depth chart," Kelly said. He calls the summer of 2012 "the biggest summer of my life." 

"I watched a ton of film, worked on my feet, arm strength, just got to know the guys. Just outwork everybody. It paid off in fall camp and that's when I won the job and just took off from there."

Kelly has always played quarterback, ever since he was nine years old. But getting noticed in a town in Idaho, with a population of around 20,000, is difficult.

"We have a lot of athletes in Idaho, in Boise," he said. "They just don't get the attention, they don't have the resources to get their name out. Coaches aren't going to go there, especially high-profile programs. They would rather waste their time going to California or Florida or Texas."

Kelly has some advice. 

"For the kids who live in small towns like that, go to camps and get your name out. That's what I did. I had coaches who I was fortunate enough to have, who know a few people that got my name out, and I went to camps and did really well. Never stop the dream." 

Kelly is grateful for the mentoring he received from Paul Peterson, his coach at Eagle High School, and Scott Criner, the school's then-offensive coordinator. Criner is now the head coach at Idaho's Rocky Mountain High School.

Kelly may even pay it forward. 

Although he would like to go on to the pros, if that does not work out, he has his life planned out.  

His degree in educational studies offers him the opportunity "to coach later on, work with kids, kind of give back to the community," he explained.

"I'm going to try and get my master's [degree] because I graduate early. I graduate in December. And then I'll have a year and a half left on my scholarship to get my master's—I want to get some business background in it. You only have four years at the college level so you have to make the best of it."

Kelly said the happiest day of his life was when he graduated high school and "got my scholarship to get my education paid for and get the opportunity to play the game I love." 

This year may eclipse that. He and the team's goal is "to get to the Rose Bowl [game] or that national championship," he said firmly.

"We have the schedule to get to the national championship. We have one of the hardest, toughest schedules anyone has this season."

After opening with Sacramento State, Arizona State's next four games are not for the faint of heart: Wisconsin, at Stanford, USC and Notre Dame in Arlington, Texas.  

"I want to lead Arizona State to its first national championship," Kelly said. "Once that happens, that's gonna help this program a lot and will take us to the next step to those elite colleges that are doing that right now."

Pac-12 Network analyst Rick Neuheisel said Kelly has what it takes, according to Pros2Preps.com. 

“I think Taylor Kelly is going to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country,” Neuheisel told Brad Cesmat on a ‘Big Guy on Sports’ radio interview. 

And Arizona State may have another year of Kelly after this season. He used the word "definitely" when asked if he would come back for another year. For a program that seemingly has had an unsettled quarterback situation every spring, that is goods news.  

With mid-4.5 40-yard dash speed, a lively arm and a need for speed, Kelly's message is clear.

Catch me if you can. 

 

 

Kelly's racing videos can be viewed here. 

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