NCAA Football News

This time last season, Texas A&M quarterback Jameill Showers was the front-runner to replace Ryan Tannehill as the starting quarterback for the Aggies in their first season in the SEC.

One year later, he's looking for a new team.

According to Billy Liucci of TexAgs.com, Showers will transfer from the Texas A&M football program in the hopes of finding more playing time elsewhere.

Backup quarterback Jameill Showers confirmed to me this afternoon that he has been granted his release and will transfer from A&M

Can you blame him?

Showers was blocked at A&M behind superstar quarterback Johnny Manziel. In case you missed it, Manziel became the first redshirt freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012 and set the SEC single-season total offense record (5,116 yards).

Showers wasn't a big-time prospect when he signed with Texas A&M out of Killeen, Texas in the class of 2013. He was a 3-star prospect in the 247Sports.com composite index, and the 475th-ranked prospect in the country.

But his ability to make big throws and make an impact on the ground made him the likely successor to Tannehill as the Aggies exited spring practice in 2012.

If he's good enough to push Manziel, and lead him for a significant period of time, he's good enough to start somewhere—especially a program that employs a similar offense to Texas A&M's.

Players want to find their way to the NFL, and if you're good enough the NFL will find you.

Just look at the two NFL quarterbacks still playing football this season. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick starred at Nevada, while Baltimore Ravens signal-caller Joe Flacco backed up Tyler Palko at Pitt before transferring to the University of Delaware.

At some point, players have to look out for themselves. While the possibility of possibly playing for a national championship at Texas A&M is a big draw, Showers is doing the right thing by moving on.

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Le'Veon Bell, running back from the Michigan State Spartans, put forth an absolutely amazing junior season this past fall. Bell piled up the yards all season and helped lead the Spartans to an exciting comeback win over TCU in the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Though he was among the nation's best running backs, Bell still seems to be underrated.

Earlier this month Bell, tight end Dion Sims and defensive end William Gholston all decided to forgo their senior seasons at Michigan State to enter the 2013 NFL Draft. In his three seasons with the Spartans, Bell collected 3,346 yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground. Despite his strong numbers, Bell is considered to be a fourth round draft pick and the No. 10 running back in this year's class according to CBS Sports.

Bell has many characteristics to be a successful NFL running back. He has size, strength and quickness. Bell has a good motor and is a very physical runner. NFL teams may want to take a good look at this tough running back come draft time, as he has the tools to be a great NFL player.

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Michigan is on its way to yet another ranked season under head coach Brady Hoke after 5-star running back Derrick Green committed to the program on Monday.

According to ESPN, Hoke was brought to tears upon the news. As well he should be.

I wrote earlier this month about how important the commitment of Green would be for Michigan's football program. With redshirt senior Fitzgerald Toussaint, junior Thomas Rawls, redshirt sophomore Justice Hayes, redshirt freshman Drake Johnson and freshman Deveon Smith at running back for 2013, there wasn't a standout player in the backfield before Green made his decision (especially with Denard Robinson moving on to the NFL), but the Wolverines must be brimming with joy now.

Green is just the kind of physical, downhill runner that Michigan has been dying for since Hoke took over in 2011. He's also the kind of running back who figures to mesh well with Michigan's five 4-star offensive linemen this year.

While starting quarterback Devin Gardner possesses pocket mobility, he's more dangerous as a pocket passer, as evidenced by his play last season. He averaged 9.7 yards per pass attempt last season, which would have ranked second among all signal-callers if he had thrown enough balls to qualify, per CFBStats.com. He also tossed a respectable 11 touchdowns to five interceptions in five games taking over for Robinson.

Gardner's pocket passing, combined with Green's talent in the backfield, could make for an eye-opening combo down the line for Michigan as early as 2013. The Wolverines have been working to play SEC-style football since Hoke arrived, and Green has the talent to complete the picture.

Don't look now, but Michigan is neck-and-neck with Ohio State for the Big Ten's best recruiting class this year. Green figures to be the Wolverines' most important recruit of 2013.

What are your thoughts?

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You only have to look at Notre Dame's starting tight ends the past two years, Tyler Eifert and Kyle Rudolph, to know that the Fighting Irish are no strangers to standout players at the position.

That's why it wasn't a surprise that Notre Dame pursued 4-star tight end Durham Smythe this year, despite having three juniors and two other 2013 recruits at the position.

Now that the Fighting Irish have landed Smythe, it's only going to make them better moving forward.

Notre Dame not only has juniors Troy Niklas, Ben Koyack and Alex Welch at tight end, it also landed 4-star recruit Mike Heuerman and 3-star recruit Jacob Matuska in 2013. But while it may seem the Fighting Irish are overloaded at tight end, this only makes the team deeper and more talented at the position.

Niklas and Koyack, 4-star recruits in 2011, both spent the most time with Notre Dame's second team in 2012 while Eifert locked down the starting spot. Alex Welch, a 4-star recruit in 2010, suffered a torn ACL and missed the 2012 campaign, but could legitimately enter the mix in 2013.

Combined with Heuerman and Matuska, there will be plenty of players trying to show they are capable of succeeding Eifert.

There's nothing like a little competition to motivate players to work their tails off in the offseason. On top of that, incorporating these players into multiple tight-end sets will give starting quarterback Everett Golson more options in the passing game and only aid his development under center.

Notre Dame may not have another Tyler Eifert or Kyle Randolph in 2013, but the depth at the position figures to be an asset for the football team. The hardest part will be determining who gets the most reps and finding a way to blend the talented tight ends into the mix.

If anything, the Fighting Irish have some youngsters to develop until it's their time to shine, whether it be in 2013 or down the road.

What are your thoughts?

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