NCAA Football News
LSU Football: Les Miles' 5 Biggest Weaknesses
Sometimes Les is more. Other times, Les can be, well, less than what LSU fans bargained for.
The curious case of Les Miles is an intriguing story. One minute LSU fans want to give him the key to the city and the next they want to kick him out the door in Baton Rouge.
It's because of what he's accomplished. In eight seasons, Miles has accumulated 85 wins with the Tigers, but he's lost some winnable games with bonehead moves along the way.
That leads up to this telling slideshow. Take a gander inside and see exactly why Miles can give LSU fans a few headaches over the course of a season.
Texas Football: Everything You Need to Know About the Linebackers in 2013
Though Kenny Vaccaro's departure has left questions at safety, the Texas Longhorns' most crucial defensive position in 2013 will be at linebacker. Thanks to a couple super sophomores, this group looks ready to turn things around this season.
The linebacking corps was simply awful in 2012. Due in equal parts to two starters to the NFL and its lone returnee Jordan Hicks to injury, this group was run over for the 4.64 yards per carry that made last season's the worst defense in school history. And teaching linebackers was supposed to be Manny Diaz's specialty.
This year, Diaz's linebackers have a shot at redemption. They return everyone that played last season, including Hicks, and bring up two of the most talented sophomores in the country. Will it be enough?
Penn State Football: Can Rutgers or Maryland Make Up for Loss of Nebraska Game?
Penn State's brief annual series with Nebraska was destined for greatness, but starting in 2014, the Nittany Lions will have to hope that incoming Big Ten rivals will be able to resurrect old regional rivalries.
When Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011, the conference split into two divisions and set up protected crossover matchups as part of the new conference schedule. Penn State and Nebraska, the two Big Ten members farthest apart from each other, actually made for one of the more high-profile conference matchups in the new Big Ten.
Though both games played so far have been competitive, Nebraska has taken the 2-0 edge in Big Ten play and will look to make it 3-0 when the Cornhuskers travel to State College this fall.
Starting in 2014, the Big Ten will reshuffle its divisions, renaming them in the process. Penn State will be joined by new members Rutgers and Maryland along with Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Indiana.
As a result of the new division lineup and total conference membership, the Big Ten will expand its conference schedule to nine games and remove all but one protected crossover (Indiana and Purdue will be the conference's only protected crossover). That means no more annual matchups between Penn State and Nebraska in regular-season play.
The new division alignment should make for attractive annual games for Penn State with Ohio State and Michigan and the revival of the Land Grant Trophy series with Michigan State. While these matchups will add to Penn State's schedule every year, the loss of Nebraska will have to be made up with the additions of Rutgers and Maryland.
Getting back to historical rivalries should be welcomed by Penn State, a program that essentially cut ties with a number of traditional rivals when it joined the Big Ten in 1993. How much you could consider these to be rivalries is up for debate, of course.
Penn State has dominated the individual series with Rutgers (22-2) and Maryland (35-1-1). Sharing the same basic recruiting grounds, though, with the same conference pitch should lead to some fascinating, if not heated, recruiting rivalries in the future. With Penn State still due to serve two more seasons of sanctions once Maryland and Rutgers join the Big Ten, the tension could escalate in a hurry on the recruiting trails.
Will Rutgers or Maryland be able to build up their programs to a point where they can legitimately make a run at Penn State in the Big Ten East pecking order? Both programs have potential but also have a lot of work to do. Rutgers has developed some good, quality talent in recent years and is farther along than the Terps. Maryland essentially is working from the ground up in many respects. Neither would be considered on par with Nebraska.
So how do fans view the new conference lineup as it relates to Penn State? Does losing Nebraska but gaining annual games against Michigan, Rutgers and Maryland make up for the loss of the Huskers and Wisconsin?
Kevin McGuire is the host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast and an analyst for Bleacher Report. Follow McGuire on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook.
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BYU Football: What Taysom Hill Must Do to Prove Doubters Wrong
Taysom Hill has seized BYU football's starting role as quarterback, and Bronco Mendenhall has complete confidence in the sophomore.
Unfortunately, some Cougar fans do not feel the same way.
After the quarterback frenzy BYU has been through the past few years, you can't blame them. Hill is inexperienced and isn't the pocket-passer that most Cougar legends are, but there are several things to like about him.
He will prove his doubters wrong, and this is how.
Wisconsin Football: Breaking Down the Impact of the Badgers' 3 JUCO Recruits
Gary Andersen has made it loud and clear that he isn't afraid to recruit junior college athletes to the University of Wisconsin.
This concept is new to Badger fans, as bringing in JUCO recruits never even entered the thought process of Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. Madison has high academic standards, and the perception is that kids are at a junior college because of poor grades, or better yet, poor performance.
But Andersen was a JUCO player himself before moving onto Utah, and that has likely played a key role in his signing of three JUCOs in his first recruiting class at Wisconsin.
Granted, these signings have been based off positional needs, so let's analyze these three commits and break down what we can expect from them after they join the team this summer.
Michigan Football: Analyzing Where the Wolverines Stand in Terms of Recruiting
College football recruiting is big business, and the Michigan Wolverines are major players when it comes to securing commitments from the top prep athletes in the country.
Wolverines coach Brady Hoke has strung together three stellar classes since 2012, and his 2014 group of incoming talent could end up being his best because of the heavyweights he has scouring the land for elite talent.
It takes a deeper look into the inner workings of the recruiting world to fully understand just how Hoke’s staff has become so successful. Of course, the SEC claims the best of the best most of the time, but Michigan has coaches and coordinators who work round the clock to make sure the Maize and Blue isn’t too far behind the pack.
Offensive coordinator Al Borges is known for his way with prep stars. The same is true for running backs coach Fred Jackson Sr. and tight end coach/special teams coordinator Dan Ferrigno.
Nowadays, everything is ranked: top programs, best mascots, stadiums and, yes, even top recruiters.
A list comprised by 247Sports.com (2014), a leading recruiting source, shows just how competitive the landscape of college-talent finders really is.
Let’s dive in and see who’s putting in the most work to keep Michigan running toward championship seasons.
The Past Two Years Have Been Great for UM
In 2013, offensive line coach Darrel Funk was among the top campus salesman; he was ranked as the No. 12 recruiter by 247Sports due to his strong work ethic and top-notch skill when it comes to convincing high schoolers to say yes to Michigan.
Funk reeled in five players with a 4-star rating or better—not too shabby. As defensive coordinator Greg Mattison’s colleague, it’s Funk’s job to fill voids in the secondary, too. On April 30, he visited Jordan Whitehead, a standout cornerback of the 2015 class that hails from Central Valley High in Monaca, Penn.
It’s a job that’s never done—recruiting wars are won and lost in the offseason. Funk, apparently, loves his job and is bound and determined to strengthen the Wolverines program any way possible.
Jackson, at No. 26 overall, wasn’t too far behind Funk a year ago. The seasoned Wolverines running backs coach secured the ultra-talented Derrick Green—which obviously helped his stock—along with six other players with a 3-star rating or better, according to 247Sports’ standards.
Mattison, another particularly effective ambassador of Michigan football, was ranked No. 28 on the list. He landed six 4-star recruits—a job well done. Mattison earns nothing short of a king’s ransom for his role within the program, raking in an astonishing and gaudy six-figure income of $758,900, according to 247Sports.
Funk and Jackson’s salaries weren’t reported by 247, but they most certainly enjoy the fruits of a six-figure yearly paycheck—just about every top recruiter in the country does, matter of fact.
It’s still a bit early to really get a feel of just how impressive Michigan’s 2014 class will be. So far, the likes of 4-star receiver Drake Harris, 4-star linebacker Michael Ferns and 4-star offensive tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty already pledged to the Wolverines’ 2014 crop of youth.
Where Michigan Stands vs. Other Big Ten Recruiters (2014)
The Wolverines are collecting 2014 recruits, it seems, just about every week or so. The festivities have just begun, as the Michigan coaching staff is out on the prowl for the next big thing—guys like Jabrill Peppers and Malik McDowell are of high priority.
The addition of that pair would skyrocket the Wolverines’ upcoming class, which is ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 7 nationally by 247Sports.
At this stage of the game, Iowa’s Reese Morgan is tops in the Big Ten; he’s ranked No. 13, five spots ahead of Ohio State’s former-coach-turned-coordinator and coach Luke Fickell, who sits at No. 19.
Penn State’s Ron Vanderlin is perched at No. 29, up 28 notches since 247Sports’ latest update.
Ohio State’s Kerry Coombs is down six spots at No. 31. Michigan State’s Mark Staten is the only other B1G recruiter mentioned in the top 50 of the rankings; he’s No. 40.
It’s not until going further down the list until a Michigan Man is found—Borges is ranked at No. 65. He’s paid over $650,000 annually by Michigan. Expect him to hop to it soon—he certainly has more work to accomplish.
Ferrigno, Wolverines tight end coach, is No. 92 and has added one 4-star player to Michigan’s 2014 class thus far.
Other Michigan associates like Curt Mallory and Jeff Hecklinski also appear on 247Sports’ star-studded talent-luring list. Mallory is No. 138 overall, while Hecklinski is three spots behind at No. 141.
What Does All of This Mean?
In the grand scheme of things, recruiter rankings mean nothing if the prospects fail to pan out and contribute to the program.
Funk, Jackson, Mallory and the rest could snag 5-star stud after 5-star stud, but it wouldn’t make a bit of difference if the Wolverines fall flat. On the other hand, Wolverines staff members who don’t carry a high ranking for their work could actually be more effective than the upper-level recruiters like Texas A&M’s David Beaty, who sits in the top spot as 2014’s No. 1 recruiter.
Beaty could discover the next Johnny Football while Mallory finds Johnny Nobody Wants. Depending on the success of that player, Beaty could catch egg on his face wile Mallory pats himself on the back for digging up a hidden gem—that’s just how these things work.
Of course, the purpose of rankings, for the most part, is to entertain those looking for something to do while they count the days until their favorite college team takes the field. At this point, it doesn’t really make much of a difference where the Wolverines staff ranks at the national level—Michigan is, without a doubt, entering a new era of proud football under Hoke.
But the rankings are certainly worth a look, just for the sake of soaking in all things pertaining to the Wolverines gridiron.
Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81
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Jeff Greene, Former Leading Receiver at Georgia Tech, Transferring to Ohio State
Following Ohio State's undefeated 2012 campaign, one of Urban Meyer's biggest offseason priorities was to upgrade the Buckeyes' wide receiver corps.
Meyer did just that after signing Ohio State's 2013 recruiting class. That group included four 4-star wide receiver/athlete recruits in Jalin Marshall, JUCO prospect Corey Smith, Dontre Wilson and James Clark.
Those assuming Meyer was done, though, were incorrect.
According to a report from ElevenWarriors.com, former Georgia Tech wide receiver Jeff Greene will be transferring to Ohio State.
Former Georgia Tech wide receiver Jeff Greene to walk on at Ohio State. 11w.rs/13GlEL1
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 9, 2013Greene, a former 3-star recruit, committed to play for Paul Johnson in Georgia Tech's option/run-heavy offense in 2011. Greene hauled in a team-high 18 receptions for 284 yards and two touchdowns in 2012, with a long of 82 yards. At 6'4", Greene has good size and decent speed to create mismatches at the second level.
Georgia Tech parted ways with the talented receiver because the coaching staff grew frustrated with his "poor effort and attitude," according to AJC.com.
Cincinnati and Arkansas were the schools Greene initially explored, but after visiting Columbus this week, he settled on Ohio State to turn things around for himself.
According to his former high school coach Chad Phillips, Greene just wants another chance.
“We’re trying to help him get re-directed and get off the mat, find a place for him to go and proceed,” Phillips told AJC.com.
Greene will have to sit out the 2013 season per NCAA transfer rules, but when he's eligible in 2014, he'll have two years to play with the Buckeyes. As of now, Greene is not on scholarship and will have to pay his way through school this year as a walk-on. Meyer and the Buckeyes could, of course, award Greene a scholarship further down the road.
The Buckeyes certainly won't be desperate for his services this year. Ohio State returns its top two receivers from 2012 in Corey Brown and Devin Smith. Brown and Smith combined for 90 receptions, 1,276 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches last year. Both are expected to thrive operating Meyer's spread offense for the second consecutive year.
With Greene on the roster now, Ohio State has a little more depth at the position in 2014 and beyond.
All recruit rankings per 247Sports.com.
David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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Why Georgia's Todd Gurley Will Be the Best RB in the SEC in 2013
Last year produced a number of breakout stars in the SEC, with Todd Gurley being one of the most notable names that rose from the freshman ranks.
Heading into 2013, he is the best running back the conference has to offer.
Gurley signed with Georgia expecting playing time, and by the first game, he was seeing the field. Despite being coupled with fellow freshman Keith Marshall all season, Gurley finished as one of the leading backs in the conference.
He stepped away from his freshman year with 1,385 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. He also added 117 receiving yards to his stat line. Gurley had nine games with 100 or more yards rushing.
By the end of the season, he was the workhorse back and Marshall had taken a change-of-pace role inside the Bulldogs offense. Gurley received the lion’s share of the carries and that will continue this year.
Why Gurley?
The roster at Georgia is loaded with championship-level talent.
The program has the luxury of returning one of the best quarterbacks in the country next year with Aaron Murray at the helm. He has thrown for 3,000-plus yards in each season as a starter. That air attack will open up the ground game for Gurley again this fall.
The offensive line for the Bulldogs returns every starter from a year ago, but issues still lingered this spring for the experienced unit (via The Macon Telegraph). It’s still good to return that much-experienced talent, whether it is gelling in spring or not.
With Murray tossing touchdowns and an experienced line plowing rushing lanes, Gurley will be able to surpass his freshman totals with ease.
There are a lot of other talented backs, but only one comes close to challenging Gurley for the top spot.
Gurley vs. Yeldon
T.J. Yeldon is Alabama’s rising sophomore stud at running back. Last year, he burst onto the scene as a reserve to Eddie Lacy and rushed for 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 131 yards.
Both Gurley and Yeldon were breakout freshman stars that stole the national spotlight by the end of the season. A showdown in the SEC title game ended in a draw, with both players having huge performances.
Their stats were relatively even last fall as well. Here is a look at the totals:
The major difference is touchdowns. Gurley finished with five more scores and also added a few yards in the return game. Still, there isn’t a ton of separation.
The one point that does stick out is yards per game. Clearly, Gurley was the primary back for Georgia last year.
This is a look at total plays from 2012:
This is a major difference. Gurley was a part of 52 more plays than Yeldon last fall. That is a difference of almost five plays per game. By the end of the season, that is a substantial amount of opportunities lost by Yeldon.
Gurley is the more experienced back and has already held the primary role for his offense. Yeldon is facing that challenge for the first time this fall.
The separation is thin, but Gurley is the leader out of the SEC this year.
It Wasn’t Just a Fluke
This spring was good to Gurley. He is up six pounds to 234 and is healthy. He is expecting to have a huge sophomore year.
His quarterback expects the same. Murray had this to say about the young running back (via the Athens Banner-Herald):
I think he’s ready to take on a bigger load for all he did last year. He’s a hard working kid. He’s done a great job in practice so far. He’s not a kid that’s saying, ‘Oh, I had a great freshman year, I’m done.’ He’s out there to show everyone that it wasn’t just a fluke that he’s ready to have a great next two years because I doubt he’ll stay a third.
The Georgia offense needs for Gurley to have a great sophomore campaign. At this rate, it will happen and he will exit the year just as he entered it—as the top back in the SEC.
Statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com.
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Ole Miss Football: 3 Areas of Focus After Spring Drills
2013 is shaping up to be a great year for the Ole Miss Rebels.
While there's good reason to believe the reigning Compass Bowl champions should have a solid sophomore campaign under Hugh Freeze, the Rebels do have a few areas to think about ahead of summer.
The difference between winning and losing can be razor-thin in college football, so every weakness needs to be shored up as efficiently as possible before opening kickoff.
That being said, let's take a look at three areas of focus for the Rebels after spring drills.
Is College Football Suffering an Identity Crisis?
When you think of Alabama football, you think of great defense and a balanced offense with emphasis on the run. Alabama football is well defined. It has an identity.
But Alabama is one of the few in college football that has one.
Washington State and Oklahoma State pass the ball. Oregon runs the ball with the zone read option. Kansas State has a balanced offense and unforgiving defense. They are who we thought they are. They have a distinctive style.
But what about Michigan? Nebraska? Oklahoma? USC?
All are elite teams with a well respected and rich history in college football. They still are, but the personality is gone. They have no identity.
Nebraska football had been associated with the I formation under then-head coach Tom Osborne. Nebraska football in the 1970s was all about the I and a stout defense.
But for the past few years Nebraska football has been running the spread option. There is nothing wrong with that if it works. And it has worked. Up to a point.
Nebraska led the Big Ten in rushing offense last year with quarterback Taylor Martinez the team's second-leading rusher.
Martinez has a quirky delivery but he can pick apart a defense with his arm and his legs. Unfortunately, the Cornhuskers' defense allowed other offenses to score bunches of points very quickly.
Last year Nebraska lost to Ohio State 63-38 and to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship 70-31. For life-long Nebraska fans, those scores are unfathomable. The Blackshirts were bloodied.
Nebraska football hasn't been Nebraska football for nearly 12 years.
Michigan too is a team without identity. Is it a passing team? Or a running team?
The Wolverines were ranked fifth among Big Ten rushing offenses last year. That's acceptable until you realize the Northwestern Wildcats are ranked ahead of them.
Michigan's passing offense was ranked sixth in the league and that is somewhat surprising. Wasn't quarterback Denard Robinson always cocking his arm, ready to unload the ball? Perhaps the low pass offense ranking was due to Robinson only completing 53.3 percent of his passes.
Michigan football is heart-stopping. It's exciting. But that's due to Robinson, in both a good way—his running skills—and a bad way—his passing skills. Aren't all teams exciting when they have skilled players who play inconsistently?
USC was once known as Tailback U. Where art thou?
The Trojan rushing offense was ranked 72nd last year. In 2011 it was 52nd. The year before 25th.
The NCAA sanctions have undoubtedly hurt the Trojans since they are restricted to 15 scholarshipped players per class. But those restrictions are only in place from 2012-14. Tailback U has been in a tailspin since 2006.
Remember Oklahoma's wishbone offense? It was a sight to behold. And it defined the Sooners.
Alabama and Texas also ran it with success. Alabama is still a power running team but Oklahoma and Texas' offenses have ebbed and flowed.
Last year Oklahoma's rushing offense was ranked seventh in the Big 12. Texas' was ranked fifth. Neither team mustered up a 200 rushing yards-per-game average last season. The Sooner passing offense was the league's third-best and the Longhorns' was sixth.
The empirical data suggests Oklahoma is a passing team but its back field is loaded with elite running backs. The Sooners are equipped to run the ball more but they can't. They're in flux.
Oklahoma threw for more than 500 yards against West Virginia and Oklahoma State, two prolific passing teams. Instead of running the ball and keeping the Mountaineers' Geno Smith & Co. off the field, Landry Jones attempted 51 passes. Against Oklahoma State, he attempted 73 passes.
That's so unSooner-like.
Thirty-four years ago Oklahoma running back Billy Sims won the 1978 Heisman.
Two Sooners have won the Heisman since Sims but both were won by quarterbacks. Jason White won it in 2003 and Sam Bradford won it in 2008. This points to a strong passing game and a program used to success.
Oklahoma did win the 2000 BCS title. But it also got hammered 55-19 by USC in the title game, now vacated, four years later. Head coach Bob Stoops has a 3-5 BCS bowl record.
Most Sooner fans would likely associate Oklahoma football with power running and stingy defense. It is neither, but hope springs eternal.
Teams with strong identities conjure up specific images in our minds.
Oregon football is this:
Alabama football is this:
Kansas State football is this:
All three teams share a common trait. Their head coaches have been at the program a long time or a recent hire has not changed his predecessor's offensive scheme.
Mark Helfrich is in his first year at Oregon but said that the offense will be "99.2" percent identical to what Chip Kelly ran when he was the Ducks' head coach. Why mess with success?
Nick Saban has been coaching at Alabama for six years. Bill Syder has coached at Kansas State for 21 years. Both emphasize strong running, stout defense and discipline. Both continually recruit specific players to fit their offensive style. They have given their respective teams an identity.
Schools lose their identities when head coaches leave after three or four years. The new head coach comes in, overhauls the staff and changes the schemes. Players who were recruited to play in a pro set are asked to play in a spread. It's a difficult transition. It causes attrition.
And the team inherits a multiple-personality disorder. We no longer know who they are.
There are some coaches who can come in and drastically change a team's offense with minimal collateral damage. Urban Meyer, take a bow. But he's an exception.
The lure of big money has caused head coaches to not honor their contracts and follow the money trail to bigger jackpots.
This season 31 teams will see new head coaches. That amounts to 25 percent of all FBS teams with a new head coach. Head coaching changes have increased over the previous year's every year since 2008.
Colorado hired its third coach in a 25-month span. Buffalo football is unrecognizable. And unwatchable.
It's not hard to draw the conclusion that college football's big money has predicated a team's need to win now. If Plan A doesn't work, there's no time to let it grow roots and thrive. Go to Plan B.
If that doesn't work, change everything up again and go to Plan C.
And we wonder why college football is in the midst of an identity crisis.
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Is Marqise Lee or Sammy Watkins Best WR Threat to Win 2013 Heisman?
If a wide receiver is going to win the 2013 Heisman Trophy, it will likely be Marqise Lee or Sammy Watkins. Both terrific players and offensive game-changers, they put up the eye-popping numbers and should be even better as they enter their junior seasons.
Now the question is: Who is the best bet to win the award?
The answer is Lee without hesitation. The engine that makes that USC offense go, Lee was the reason the Trojans season wasn't a complete failure and the team at least qualified for a bowl game. Although Watkins is fun to watch and great in his own right, Lee is a completely different animal.
Lee Is Cut from a Different Cloth
Before you can begin talking about these receivers as a Heisman candidate, it is important to know just how great Lee actually is. Leading the country last year with 118 receptions, finishing second with 1,405 yards and tied for third with 14 touchdowns, Lee is one of the best receivers this sport has seen in the last 10 years.
Stanford head coach David Shaw said Lee is the best receiver he has seen since Randy Moss. While it is too soon to start building statues and throwing him into the Hall of Fame, Lee does have that type of potential. This is why Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN considers him the third best player on his 2014 NFL draft big board.
Some would say Watkins is the best big-play receiver and is the most dangerous in the open field. Think again.
While Lee plays bigger and has more leaping ability to make those tougher catches downfield, he has also shown he is just as dangerous after the catch and can outrun defenders. He isn't as elusive as Watkins is, but he has more than enough speed to go the distance and is just as a threat to score anytime the ball is in his hands.
Watkins is a little more one-dimensional than Lee, and that will play a huge factor in why the USC receiver is a better Heisman candidate.
Sammy Watkins Must Prove Himself Again
No, this isn't questioning Watkins ability on the field. He has established himself as one of the top players at his position in two short seasons. The problem that he does have is building that much needed momentum to enter serious Heisman discussions.
Watkins had a disappointing season that started with him getting suspended for the first two games. He then missed the contest against Boston College due to a virus and left the bowl game early after suffering a leg injury. Besides missing four games, Watkins also finished three games with only four receptions. In 13 games last season, the Clemson star only had three games with four or fewer receptions.
For the first time in his young career, Watkins will be expected to be the No. 1 option in this offense. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is no longer on the team to take away the double-coverage and the running back threat of Andre Ellington has been removed. The coverage will now shift over towards Watkins and his life will get a lot more difficult.
Lee topped Robert Woods last season and quickly became the guy defenses had nightmares about. Showing him different looks and putting multiple guys in his area, Lee still had a season for the ages, and there hasn't been a coverage tried yet that has slowed him down.
The USC receiver has proven he can hold his own as the No. 1 option and has momentum carrying him into the new season. Unfortunately, we can't say the same for Watkins.
Tajh Boyd Factor
The Heisman has become an award for the quarterbacks. No matter what a wide receiver, running back or defensive player does, chances are the award is going to one of the pretty boys.
Don't believe me?
But let's assume one of these two players actually has a chance. It would certainly be Lee. Clemson has a legitimate Heisman candidate at quarterback in Tajh Boyd. Topping more than 3,800 yards in each of the last two seasons and throwing 73 touchdowns in his career, Boyd has solidified himself as one of college football's best.
No matter what Watkins does, much of his production will come off the hand of his quarterback. Whatever numbers he puts up, Boyd is benefiting as well. He is in a lose-lose situation as far as this award is concerned.
As for Lee, well, nobody can even name the USC starting quarterback, and once he's announced, most of the college football world won't know much about him. Lee is in a rare situation, as he doesn't have a legitimate quarterback at the moment, and there certainly aren't any with a big name.
Unless a USC quarterback has a Johnny Manziel-type season, there is no chance at a Heisman, which plays into Lee's favor. Without any type of buzz entering the season, this award is a mountain to climb.
Watkins will benefit greatly having a quarterback he is comfortable with, but statistics show that Boyd has a better chance of going to New York than a wide receiver. Lee can take advantage of not having a star quarterback and earn serious consideration for the award.
Note: All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted. Graphs were made using onlinecharttool.com.
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Michigan Football: How Brandon Mitchell's Transfer Could Impact Wolverines
The Michigan football program has not been in the news a whole lot through the first four months of the college football offseason, but quarterback Brandon Mitchell has helped the Wolverines grab some headlines.
Mitchell and three of his teammates are transferring from Arkansas. On Thursday, he announced that he is considering five schools to play out his final year of eligibility. Michigan, N.C. State, UAB, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State all made the cut (via ESPN).
If the Wolverines wind up landing Mitchell, it will give them some much needed depth at quarterback. Rising redshirt sophomore Russell Bellomy was expected to be the No. 2 signal-caller this season before he suffered a torn ACL in April. This has forced Michigan to hold a summer competition between walk-on Brian Cleary and incoming freshman Shane Morris for the backup role.
Basically, there would be a major drop-off in talent at the position if Gardner had to miss any time, which would all but ruin the Wolverines' Big Ten Conference title aspirations. Bringing Mitchell to Ann Arbor could bridge the gap.
This is not the first time Michigan has recruited Mitchell either. Back in 2009, former head coach Rich Rodriguez offered Mitchell a scholarship. Just a few days after pondering a visit to campus, however, Mitchell committed to Arkansas.
The 6'4", 239-pounder has great speed (4.5 second 40-yard dash) and has been a relatively accurate passer in limited action with the Razorbacks. In 21 appearances, Mitchell completed 25-of-43 pass attempts for 332 yards and two touchdowns. Mitchell has also caught 17 passes for 272 yards and rushed for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
While it is unlikely Mitchell would see a whole lot of time at quarterback, his athleticism would allow Michigan to incorporate a wildcat package, or add another deep-threat to its receiving corps.
Unfortunately, this is not the kind of role the Amite, La. native wants to play at this stage of his career. The main reason why Mitchell is transferring is because sophomore Brandon Allen took the top spot on Arkansas' depth chart this spring. Mitchell wants to be a starting quarterback.
Unless Mitchell is willing to be a utility man in Michigan's offense, it is highly unlikely he winds up donning the winged helmet.
There is a numbers issue for the Wolverines as well. Kaleb Ringer's decision to leave the program has left Michigan with 85 scholarship players, which is all the NCAA allows a team to have. Adding Mitchell would force someone else to depart.
It never hurts to bring in a talented athlete like Mitchell, but the timing is not right for either party. Expect Mitchell to wind up at N.C. State, where he is visiting this weekend, or UAB since he has a past relationship with head coach Garrick McGee.
Wolverine fans will simply have to hope Gardner remains healthy for the entire 2013 campaign. Mitchell could have solved Michigan's depth issues, but it appears the Wolverines will have to press on without him.
Follow me on Twitter: @Zach_Dirlam.
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SEC Football Q&A: Which Recruiting Bust Will Have a Big Year in 2013?
Every Thursday on The SEC Blog, we will feature questions from the Bleacher Report inbox, Twitter and email at bsallee@bleacherreport.com. Q&A was pushed back to Friday this week due to NFL draft and BCS meetings coverage.
You have SEC questions, and I have SEC answers. Thank you, everybody, for your questions this week. If I didn't get to them, they will be saved and used in the future.
And we're off:
@barrettsallee What player that would be classified as a disappointment so far in his career is due to respond with a big year?
— DOTS (@BDohertyCFB) May 9, 2013I'm going to go with Auburn wide receiver Trovon Reed.
Reed saw two snaps before redshirting in 2010, and was banged up quite a bit in 2011—Gus Malzhan's last season as Auburn's offensive coordinator. Now that Malzahn is back as head coach, Reed may see plenty of chances to make an impact for the 2013 Tigers in a variety of ways.
He sits atop the depth chart at one of three starting wide receiver spots exiting spring practice, and has the talent to become a star if he can stay healthy.
The 6'0", 190-pounder was a former 5-star prospect in the 247Sports.com composite, has the speed to be a deep threat and the quickness to be incredibly dangerous in space.
Reed will be pushed by Ricardo Louis, but if he stays healthy, he could make a major impact on Auburn's offense as a wide receiver and as a punt returner.
@barrettsallee How much of a point do you think Bob Stoops was making about the awfulness of the SEC's bottom half?
— Alex Ferguson (@viewfromamerica) May 9, 2013I don't think he has a point at all.
I mentioned in my column that the back end of the Big 12, a conference in which 40 percent of its teams had seven or fewer wins, isn't much different than the back end of the SEC which had 43 percent of its teams win seven or fewer games.
Looking around the rest of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), and you get more of the same. The ACC had 75 percent of its teams finish the season with seven or fewer wins, while the Big East had 50 percent, Big Ten had 50 percent and the Pac-12 had 42 percent.
I'd be curious to know exactly what Stoops expects from the back end of the SEC.
If your back end is comparable to other conference and your top end is remarkably heavy, you're a really good football conference.
Stoops' comments have to be put in proper context, because they were made at an alumni event. But that works both ways. He should know that they'll get out thanks to the wonders of the Internet, and will be analyzed—especially if they're inflammatory.
Within the SEC 8 vs. 9 gm and perm cross-rival discussions,is divisional realignment on or off the table?"@barrettsalleeSEC Q&A...
— TG (@tngstreet) May 2, 2013I don't think it's completely off the table, but certainly is less likely now that the expansion bonanza has been put on hold due to the ACC's grant of rights agreement.
If and when (and I believe it is "when" due to the fact that the SEC is now heavily in the programming business with the SEC Network) the conference goes to a nine-game schedule, a lot of concessions will be made from a scheduling standpoint.
Cross-division rivals are one of those discussions that will be had, but I don't think that divisional realignment is one. Sure, the divisions are not geographically correct, but they weren't before. Vanderbilt has always been farther west than Auburn. As things currently stand, there's a nice diagonal line dividing the conference, which is good enough in my mind.
Now if expansion was a legitimate possibility in the future, I think divisional realignment would be a realistic possibility, especially if Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee could be placed in the same division. That would remove the cross-division rivalry tag from Alabama/Tennessee and Auburn/Georgia, and effectively putting that debate to rest.
Do you have a question for next week's Q&A? Send it to SEC lead writer Barrett Sallee via the B/R inbox, on Twitter @BarrettSallee or at bsallee@bleacherreport.com.
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10 Best Heisman Winners of the BCS Era
The BCS era is finally coming to an end. Next year the playoffs will begin and the shift from the much hated and debated bowl system will be complete.
While the BCS era has provided a lot of headaches, it has also produced some of the best Heisman winners in history.
This group is quarterback heavy, but a handful of running backs make the cut. This is a look at the 10 best from the last 15 years.
LSU Football: Top 5 Players on Les Miles' 2014 Recruiting Wish List
Les Miles and the LSU Tigers coaching staff have done an exceptional job in recruiting since Miles arrived in Baton Rouge back in 2005.
Every year it seems like the Tigers are able to pull in one of the nation's top classes, which has certainly paid great dividends out on the football field.
However, next year's 2014 class could very well be the best of them all in terms of the talent that could be headed to Baton Rouge.
According to the 2014 Rivals100 rankings, four Louisiana in-state prospects are ranked among the top 50 players in the nation next season.
Looking even further into Rivals.com's rankings, there are a total of eight in-state prospects ranked among the top 110 players in the nation, and all of them are either verbally committed or considering LSU as their future home.
With that said, here are the top five in-state players on Les Miles' wish list at this point.
1. Leonard Fournette
Fournette is on the top of just about every team's wish list, including the LSU Tigers.
He has been considered by many to be the top running back prospect in the nation since Adrian Peterson, and he even draws comparisons to Peterson's build and style of game.
Standing at 6'1", 225 pounds, Fournette is an intimidating back with an extremely bright future.
Les Miles can only hope that future is in the LSU Purple and Gold.
2. Cameron Robinson
Outside of the quarterback position, there may not be a more important spot in all of college football than left tackle.
Having a dominant left tackle keeps quarterbacks upright and allows for a successful offensive attack both in the passing and run game.
That's where Robinson comes into play. He's the No. 1-ranked offensive tackle prospect in the nation in 2014 according to rivals.com.
In addition to LSU, Alabama, Michigan and Texas are also heavily pursuing Robinson.
Landing this mega-recruit would certainly put a huge smile on the face of Les Miles.
3. Laurence Jones
LSU has been known for producing some of the top defensive backs in college football year in and year out.
From Patrick Peterson to Morris Claiborne to Eric Reid, the list goes on and on when it comes to top-level DBs who played at LSU.
Les Miles is hoping that Laurence Jones is the next one to join that list.
Jones is the No. 2-ranked safety prospect in the nation and the No. 25 overall player according to rivals.com's rankings.
He is a high 4-star prospect right now, but don't be surprised to see him jump into that 5-star range before national signing day rolls around.
Yes, he is that good.
4. Gerald Willis III
When it comes to strong-side defensive ends, there aren't many better ones in the country than Willis.
Standing at 6'4", 250 pounds, Willis has ideal size for a pass-rushing end, and other schools have certainly taken notice of his skill. In addition to LSU, he also holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Miami (Fl.), Texas and USC.
That's some stiff competition, but Miles has a knack for reeling in top in-state recruits, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
I'd be shocked if Willis didn't end up in the LSU Purple and Gold next season.
5. Malachi Dupre
Dupre is another guy who has a monster list of recruiting suitors, but playing just over an hour away from Baton Rouge should help Les Miles and the Tigers land this talented wide receiver prospect.
That list includes Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame and UCLA, among many others.
Dupre has exceptional size at 6'4", 175 pounds, giving him the ability to stretch the field and be a big-time home run threat for this LSU passing attack.
Rivals.com ranks him as the No. 8 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 83 prospect in the 2014 Rivals100 rankings.
Landing Dupre would give LSU another big-play option, following in the footsteps of guys like Terrence Toliver, Rueben Randle and Jarvis Landry.
Go get em' Les!
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Ex-Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell Reportedly Considering Transfer to Michigan
Brandon Mitchell was one of four Arkansas players who decided to leave the program. He is now considering Michigan as a possible new home, as Joe Schad of ESPN reported.
The former Arkansas player was quite upset once new head coach Bret Bielema even considered playing him at a different position. This makes a possible Michigan landing spot that much more interesting.
Current Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner played a role of receiver and running back before finally getting his chance this season as a full-time starter. Gardner has two years of eligibility remaining after begin granted a fifth-year once he received a redshirt for his freshman season.
Where would Mitchell fit on this Michigan roster with Gardner leading the team?
Well, he would probably be used in a similar role Bielema was considering at Arkansas. He could line up at receiver and take snaps out of the backfield. Mitchell caught 17 passes last season for 272 yards and does have 23 rushing attempts in his career. However, he would provide the Wolverines with a valuable insurance policy due to the dual-threat style Grander plays with, which does increase the risk of injuries.
According the report, other schools Mitchell has interest in include North Carolina State, UAB, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State.
A senior, Mitchell would be eligible to play this season and provide the Wolverines with another offensive weapon. Although it likely wouldn't be as a full-time quarterback, which makes this possible transfer a little bizarre considering that is what he wanted at Arkansas.
If Mitchell is willing to cooperate and accept his role as versatile playmaker, Michigan would likely accept him with open arms. It would then also prove that there was more than one reason for why he wanted to leave Arkansas.
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SEC Football Post-Spring Defensive Unit Rankings
Offensive players from the SEC have taken home four of the last six Heisman Trophies, but the foundation for success in America's toughest football conference is still defense.
Alabama has shown this with its title teams in three of the last four seasons, but it isn't just the Crimson Tide whose identity is "D."
Four SEC team finished in the top 11 in total defense last season, and four of the top five defenses in 2011 hailed from the SEC.
How do the defensive units stack up after spring practice? Our post-spring rankings are in this slideshow.
Is Fear Driving Jim Delany's Leadership of the Big Ten?
When Jim Delany’s head hits the pillow at night, the Big Ten Conference commissioner dreams of his own college football utopia. Delany’s Shangri-La is a dark realm devoid of what makes the sport truly great—but to the Big Ten boss, it is perfect.
In Delanyville, none of his precious “legends” or “leaders” are subject to humiliating losses and the football is as close to the NFL as possible—without the players being paid, of course.
However, every once in a while, Delany has nightmares, vivid flashbacks to September 1, 2007: the day that changed college football.
You remember it too, when FCS Appalachian State marched into the Big House and pulled the biggest upset in NCAA history—a shocking and embarrassing defeat of No. 5 Michigan on opening weekend.
In early 2013, Delany woke up in a cold sweat, to the image of the UM’s final field-goal attempt being blocked by the Mountaineers in the waning seconds of that monumental upset.
From that moment on, Delany wanted to make sure that nightmare would never haunt him again.
In February, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez announced on a radio show that the Big Ten would no longer include FCS opponents on its schedule (Via Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel).
On the other side of the coin, there are a few legitimate reasons why the Big Ten seems justified in nixing FCS foes.
The 2012 season brought two well-publicized FCS-FBS matchups that ended in embarrassment for the little guy. In consecutive weeks to open the season, FBS powers Oklahoma State and Florida State pummeled FCS bottom-dweller Savannah State by a combined score of 139-0.
However, with all due respect to the Tigers, they had no business playing successful Big 12 and ACC programs. SSU notched just one win in 2012—a 42-35 victory over Edward Waters College, a little NAIA school with an enrollment of 847 (Via CollegeAtlas.org).
At the same time, the Savannah State example also brings up Exhibit B in the case against scheduling FCS foes—strength of schedule.
With the College Football Playoff starting in 2014, SOS will become increasingly important, as numerous schools will likely finish the season with similar records near the top of the rankings.
When that happens, Delany doesn’t want to be on the outside looking in at a Big Ten-free playoff because his teams scheduled FCS cupcakes in their nonconference slates.
However, Delany may not have quite the grasp on SOS as he thinks he does.
Because when his teams start to replace FCS powers like North Dakota State and Appalachian State with FBS also-rans like Akron and Idaho, they’ll actually be taking a step back in SOS.
In the final Jeff Sagarin ratings of 2012 (via USA Today), FCS champion North Dakota State was ranked No. 35 in the nation, right next to one of the Big Ten’s best teams, Michigan State at No. 34. The Bison actually came in ahead of five current Big Ten teams and seven including future members Rutgers and Maryland.
NDSU won its only step-up game in 2012—a sound 22-7 beating of Colorado State on the road. And the Bison aren’t the only team worthy of making the occasional jump up in competition.
Just last season, FCS Northern Iowa nearly knocked off eventual Big Ten champion Wisconsin in Madison, as the Badgers had to hold off a late rally to eke out a 26-21 win.
So how do we decide which squads are capable of making the jump? Well, luckily, the FCS has a handy system for determining its best teams called a tournament, in which the best 16—and starting next year, best 24—teams in the country playoff to determine a champion.
Why can’t the best FCS programs play up, earn a handsome paycheck and have their shot at pulling off a monumental upset?
Oh, right—Jim Delany’s nightmares.
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Florida Gators Head Coach Will Muschamp Jabs at Bob Stoops' SEC Comments
Bob Stoops says the SEC isn’t the best conference in college football (h/t Tulsa World).
Will Muschamp disagrees (h/t Palm Beach Post).
At a recent Sooner Caravan event in Tulsa (h/t Tulsa World), Stoops told all within an ear’s shot that while the SEC has “had the best team in college football, they haven't had the whole conference because, again, half of 'em haven't done much at all. I'm just asking you. You tell me."
Muschamp heard the quote Wednesday and told the media (h/t Palm Beach Post), “I’d be saying the same thing if I were in the Big 12. I said it for three years.”
After serving as the defensive coordinator for Texas, Muschamp knows the Big 12 well. Muschamp's response was said with a chuckle and in good fun, but you still have to wonder where Stoops was coming from.
Who doesn’t love the college football offseason? Just when it seemed like things were getting slow after spring, two coaches from two top conferences have started to fire-off in each other’s direction—in the name of the conference of course.
Stoops’ claim is that the bottom of the SEC is not as talented as the media and others may put on. Conferences like the Big 12 are much stronger from top to bottom. At least that is the assumption that one draws from his statement.
Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee breaks down why Stoops was off base here.
When it comes down to game day, anyone would take Auburn, Missouri or Kentucky over Kansas.
Why Stoops decided to step out and take a shot at the SEC is still up for debate. Maybe he is still irritated over the embarrassing 41-13 loss to Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, or it could be he wanted his Sooners to jump to the SEC during expansion.
Maybe someone should get Les Miles on the phone and see what he thinks. He is a former Big 12 coach and likely has some quotable material to drop on us.
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Comparing Everett Golson to Other Notre Dame QBs of the BCS Era
Notre Dame has had more than its fair share of great quarterbacks, including some above-average ones during the BCS era. There may not be another position in college football that is more glorified than the Irish signal-caller, which is why everybody has an opinion when it comes to Everett Golson.
Where does he stack up when it comes to other Notre Dame quarterbacks since 1998?
With Golson, it is truly all about potential. That "P" word can drive coaches and fans crazy because sometimes players are never able to reach it and you are left wondering what could have been. Then there are the players who eventually blossom, but the space between being on the fence and finally clearing the hurdle can be frustrating for everybody involved.
After being removed from games on a consistent basis and displaying inconsistent play, Golson remains on the fence. He could easily become the best Irish quarterback of the BCS era, or he could become another forgotten name and be placed with the rest of the mediocre passers.
While everyone waits for that to be answered, here are some comparisons to other Notre Dame signal-callers who recently led the Irish.
Most Athletic by Far
One thing everybody should be able to agree on is the fact Golson is the most athletic quarterback Notre Dame has had during the BCS era. In fact, it may not be crazy to say that he is the most athletic this program has ever had. If you don't believe that to be true, Tony Rice came out and said Golson's skill set is better than his ever was. That is the same guy who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and finished fourth in the 1989 Heisman voting.
The only quarterback who comes close to matching Golson in this department is Jarious Jackson, who played for the Irish from 1996 to '99. He spent his last two seasons racking up more than 900 total rushing yards and making plays like you see above. He was a shifty runner with terrific field vision, but he didn't have that explosiveness and burst that Golson has.
Finding rushing highlights from Golson was quite difficult considering he ran the ball less than 100 times and only totaled 298 yards. However, even a simple run against Oklahoma shows his explosion and the potential of his athletic ability.
In a designed run, Golson takes the snap and immediately hits the hole. Before the defensive end can get his hands on the left tackle, Golson is already in motion and making progress toward picking up the first down. He explodes through the hole, moves the chains with ease and would have scored if he wasn't tripped up by the safety.
Because of this explosive athletic ability and being capable of covering a lot of ground in a hurry, Golson was labeled an athlete coming out of high school by ESPN. Some believed he was fast enough to play wide receiver, while others thought he could see some time at safety. Either way, Golson is easily the most athletic quarterback Notre Dame has had in quite some time.
As a Passer
The most successful Notre Dame quarterbacks during the BCS era were Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen. They are the two biggest names, most known and had the most success because they were able to lead the team through the air. No matter how successful you are as a runner, a quarterback must have confidence in his arm and get the job done throwing the ball.
Quinn finished in the top five in the Heisman voting in both 2005 and 2006, while throwing for 11,762 career yards. Clausen played three seasons for the Irish and threw for 8,148 yards and 60 touchdowns.
Quinn had terrific field vision. He went through his progressions quickly, found the open receiver and delivered the ball where it needed to be. Clausen also saw the field well but possessed a stronger arm and was accurate with his throws. Both were considered the cream of the crop at the college level and were a lot more polished than Golson is at this point in his career.
But this is where the potential comes into play.
Seeing the field and making quicker decisions is not Golson's strength. However, Golson is patient in the pocket and can deliver a beautiful football when he isn't rattled.
A perfect example was against Miami on a third-down attempt. You can see the pressure is starting to get to him, but Golson has already had time to lock onto his target and is ready to deliver the football. The pressure and the fact the pocket is beginning to collapse isn't a big deal at this point.
Although there was tight coverage, Golson throws the ball up for an athletic Tyler Eifert. The ball is in perfect position for him to come down with it, and the defender couldn't have made a play even if he tried. It was a perfect strike, moved the chains for the Irish and showed just what this young quarterback is capable of when he has time and his mind is made up.
As for the questionable decision-making and struggling with his progressions, those are all things that can be ironed out with experience. The more time he spends in the pocket, the more comfortable he will be, and seeing the field will then be a lot easier. Once he sees the field better, Irish fans will have less gray hairs because the decisions will improve.
Golson has all of the tools to be as great as the other Irish quarterbacks who came before him. He just needs to get over the hump and finally fulfill that darn "P" word.
Note: All screenshots were pulled from YouTube video uploaded by user NDFanatic2012. All stats come from cfbstats.com and sports-reference.com/cfb unless otherwise noted.
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