NCAA Football News
Breaking Down New 5-Star Recruits in 2014 Rivals100
Rivals.com has updated its Rivals100 rankings, and along with the update comes four new 5-star recruits.
Offensive tackles Damian Prince and Quenton Nelson, running back Joe Mixon and inside linebacker Raekwon McMillan have all received an elite 5-star ranking now that Rivals has finished the spring evaluation period.
In other news at the top of the list, 5-star defensive end Da'Shawn Hand is still ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit, which is a stark contrast to the ESPN 150 rankings, where Hand is the No. 4 overall prospect.
ESPN's No. 1 recruit, Leonard Fournette, is ranked No. 2 overall by Rivals.
The new 5-stars are the big news of the day, though, so let's break these players down to see why Rivals promoted them to 5-star recruits.
Note: All scouting and analysis done via tape study of film provided on recruit's 247Sports and Rivals.com profile pages.
Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy Hurting Reputation Over Wes Lunt Transfer
Quarterback Wes Lunt wants to transfer from Oklahoma State. Head coach Mike Gundy is allowing it, but he has reportedly put severe restrictions in place.
Gundy is taking a lot of heat. Does he deserve it?
In order for another school to offer Lunt a scholarship, he must first be released by Oklahoma State. But rather than grant Lunt a full release, Gundy has made it contingent on Lunt not transferring to several schools, according to the Tulsa World:
Sources close to the situation said the list includes schools from the Big 12, Southeastern Conference and Pac-12, as well as Southern Mississippi and Central Michigan (a future OSU opponent).
Lunt still can attend any school of his choosing, but he would have to pay his own way for a year if he was not granted a release. If Lunt does not want to pay his own way, then that means three schools on his wish list (Vanderbilt, Southern Miss and Tennessee) no longer are possibilities.
The NCAA slaps a one-year, sit-out penalty on a student-athlete transferring from one FBS school to another. If Lunt were to transfer to an FCS school, he could play this fall.
Perhaps the SEC and Pac-12 were restricted because those conferences have bowl contracts to play Big 12 teams. But the Big 12 also has contracts with the Buffalo Wild Wings, Heart of Dallas and Meineke Car Care Bowls, which feature Big 12 vs. Big Ten teams. Why wasn't the Big Ten included in the restrictions?
It is also possible that Oklahoma State encountered interference from Pac-12 and SEC schools. Did any schools contact Lunt regarding his potential destination? If that's the case, Oklahoma State has a valid reason to restrict his transfer.
Unfortunately, we won't hear any statements from other schools regarding Lunt because he is now technically a recruit. The NCAA forbids schools from publicly commenting on a recruit's status until after he signs with a school.
Maybe Gundy doesn't want Lunt to transfer to Southern Miss because its new head coach is Todd Monken, Oklahoma State's former offensive coordinator. If he allows Lunt to transfer there, he could be setting a precedent that condones players following their former coaches or recruiters.
But don't coaches encourage their former players or recruits to follow them when they leave a school?
Former Tennessee assistant coach Ed Orgeron reportedly did just that the night he decided to follow Lane Kiffin from Tennessee to USC. If it is within the rules for coaches to encourage players to follow them to a new school, why should players be punished if they agree to go?
These reported restrictions make Gundy look petty. A head coach making millions is throwing up roadblocks for a kid relying on financial aid to play somewhere else. Is Gundy afraid Lunt will light it up at another school?
It's possible. But there is another reason why Gundy is taking heavy criticism from the court of public opinion.
This is the head coach who want on a tear ripping The Oklahoman's Jenni Carlson for writing a controversial column about then-quarterback Bobby Reid. His rant went viral on YouTube.
Back then, Gundy appeared to be a coach who would go to no end to defend his players. He was a coach who appeared to be consistently looking after his players' best interests.
Gundy may still be that coach.
But his reputation has taken a hit.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Former Miami Assistant Claims SEC Violations Are Worse Than the Hurricanes'
The finger pointing has begun.
The Miami Hurricanes are set to appear in front of the NCAA Committee on Infractions in the middle of June in hopes of finally settling the scandal involving former booster Nevin Shapiro.
But before that takes place, one former Miami coach wants you to know all of the things accused of Miami is nothing compared to what the SEC does.
One former UM coach accused of wrongdoings complained privately that what the ex-UM coaches allegedly did paled in comparison to unreported violations committed in the SEC. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported. (h/t CBS Sports)
The childish behavior continues. This is the type of stuff that you do when you are eight-years-old. You get caught doing something wrong and immediately begin looking for somebody else to blame. Yeah, I know my hand was caught digging in the cookie jar before dinner, but look at Billy, he ate cookies and a piece of the apple pie. He is truly the one you want to punish.
Does any of this really matter at the end of the day? Better question, is any of this really new to the college football world? Much like baseball is dealing with performance enhancing drugs, college sports has been dealing with scandals and cheating for quite some time now.
Barrett Sallee of Bleacher Report recently wrote an article on cheating in recruiting. In a poll question, 76.4 percent of nearly 2,000 people believe that everybody cheats in one way or another to gain an advantage. He also pointed out in the piece that the Wall Street Journal reported in 2011 that only 17 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs have never been found guilty of a major violation.
So what is the bickering about?
According to the Yahoo Sports report that surfaced in 2011, Miami players allegedly accepted everything under the sun from money, trips on yachts, jewelry, and even a case of paying for an abortion.
Is it possible that crazier things happen behind closed doors? You would be naive to think differently. Nevertheless, a major violation is still a major violation. Pointing fingers and throwing others under the bus isn't the right way in handling things. It also won't help get Miami out of this big mess.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
South Carolina Football: Hard to Fathom, but Gamecocks' D Is More Than Clowney
The hype is building around South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, and that will only intensify as we enter the "summer of Clowney."
The rising junior from Rock Hill, S.C., finished sixth in the 2012 Heisman Trophy voting and stayed in the public eye for the majority of the winter as his hit on Michigan's Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl remained ESPN's "Best of the Best" highlight on SportsCenter into early April.
Clowney will get the hype, but don't be tricked into thinking that South Carolina's defense is a one-man show, because it's not.
The Gamecocks have finished with a top-15 defense in four of the last five seasons, and with the crew coming back to Columbia this season, a repeat performance could be in store.
With Clowney in the mix, it's all going to start up front for defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward's crew. Junior defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles had 38 tackles and eight tackles for loss last season and will benefit from the extra attention paid to Clowney. The 6'4", 293-pounder's ability to clog the middle helps Clowney at times, but that can work both ways. Quarles is solid against the run and is agile enough to make life difficult on opposing interior linemen.
With Clowney stealing headlines, don't be surprised to see fellow defensive end Chaz Sutton finish off his Gamecock career with a solid senior season. Sutton came to the program as a Rivals.com 4-star prospect from prep school in January 2009 and made an impact in 2012 with 25 tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks.
Sutton is excited about the added attention given to Clowney on the other side of the line.
"[It] opens up a lot for me, because I think a lot of teams are going to try to slide to his side, and they might leave me one-on-one with a (running) back or a tight end," he told the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier in April.
Sutton is so highly regarded that ESPN.com's Chris Low ranked him as one of the SEC's top-20 draft-eligible prospects earlier in May.
In the secondary, the Gamecocks are loaded.
Jimmy Legree and Victor Hampton will man the cornerback spots, and both have proven that they have what it takes to be shutdown corners.
Legree led the Gamecocks with three interceptions last season, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He started eight games at corner after moving back from safety prior to the season and has evolved into one of the more reliable cornerbacks in the SEC.
Hampton has seen plenty of action over the last two seasons and finished last season with 40 tackles, one interception and tied Legree with a team-high six pass breakups. The 5'10", 202-pounder is solid in coverage and plays with a physical style that works well in Ward's system.
The duo will continue to get a major boost from Clowney and the Gamecocks' pass rush. Clowney and Co. make life difficult on opposing quarterbacks, which means that the entire secondary will benefit from the mistakes forced up front.
The only issue with South Carolina's defense is its lack of proven depth at linebacker. The entire two-deep is gone from last year's squad, but that shouldn't cause you to write off the entire defense.
Junior Sharrod Golightly nailed down a starting spot as at the hybrid "spur" spot this spring, leaving Kaiwan Lewis and T.J. Holloman battling for time at the "Mike" linebacker spot.
Cedrick Cooper will likely land in the "Will" spot after missing spring practice due to a knee injury. If he thrives, he might be the piece that rounds off the Gamecocks' defense and keeps them at an elite level.
Clowney gets the publicity, and with good reason. But don't look past the rest of the unit.
South Carolina's defense has the talent to lead the Gamecocks back to the Georgia Dome for a chance to play for the SEC Championship in 2013.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
2014 Recruits Michigan and Ohio State Will Go Head-to-Head For
It's almost a forgone conclusion that Ohio State and Michigan will boast two of the best recruiting classes in the 2014 cycle, but arguing about which program will come away with the better class is really the topic that both fanbases want to discuss.
The two major Big Ten programs usually compete for many of the same recruits, and the program that has the better overall class in regard to quality and/or ranking normally comes down to which program wins these head-to-head recruiting battles.
Everything in this rivalry is a competition, and that includes recruiting.
With that in mind, here are three recruits who Michigan and Ohio State will be fighting for this recruiting cycle:
Chase Winovich, 3-star OLB, Thomas Jefferson High School (Pa.)
Pittsburgh could end up becoming a player in this race, but for all intents and purposes Winovich seems to be debating between Michigan and Ohio State. He has offers from both programs, and he's made visits to both schools.
Winovich has taken three visits to Michigan and was last in Ann Arbor on May 10 according to his 247Sports timeline. He's only taken two visits to Ohio State, the last was in late April.
According to the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Winovich, six experts predict he will go to Ohio State, while just two predicted MIchigan.
Either way, look for this race to come down to the two powerhouses, with a potential outlier in Pitt.
Predicted Winner: Michigan
Jamarco Jones, 4-star OT, De La Salle Institute (Ill.)
Jamarco Jones is ranked as the No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2014 class according to the 247Sports Composite. He has great size at 6'5'', 290 pounds and currently has Ohio State on top of his 247Sports interest list.
Michigan is in Jones' top four though, and it's easy to see this recruiting race coming down to both the Buckeyes and Wolverines, especially if Notre Dame can't sneak into the running. Jones did take an unofficial visit to Michigan early in April.
Jones may find a bit more opportunity at Ohio State considering Michigan's impressive offensive line hauls as of late, but a good year in the Big Ten for Michigan could really even things in this race.
Eventually, it's tough to see Urban Meyer missing out on a recruit who he has an edge for, but considering Brady Hoke's abilities on the recruiting trails, this should be an interesting finish.
Predicted Winner: Ohio State
Damon Webb, 4-star CB, Cass Technical High School (Mich.) *Ohio State Commitment
Don't be naive enough to believe that Michigan won't stop recruiting Webb just because he's committed to Ohio State. That actually may increase Michigan's aggressiveness with him on the recruiting trail. Webb is the No. 7 cornerback in the 2014 class, and he's the No. 3 player from the state of Michigan, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
He's a huge in-state recruit for Michigan, but he also goes to Cass Tech, which is a known Michigan pipeline
Ohio State seems to be in good standing right now, but if Michigan can land a few of its big targets (See: Jabrill Peppers and Malik McDowell), the Wolverines' momentum could make them an interesting option. Michigan has the "home-state advantage," and Hoke and his staff shouldn't let their Cass Tech connections go to waste here.
At the very least, Michigan will try to make this interesting. Still, look for Meyer to close the door come crunch time.
Predicted Winner: Ohio State
(Note: All recruit-star rankings according to 247Sports.)
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Is Big Ten or Pac-12 Most Likely to Dethrone the SEC in 2013?
Ask 10 people in a room who will win the national championship in 2013, and most likely eight or nine are going pick a team from the SEC. When you win seven straight titles and finish with five teams in the Top 10 of the final AP Poll, you begin to build a reputation of being the big boys on campus.
But even with that said, there are teams that have a shot to dethrone the kings of college football. Will the conqueror come from the Pac-12 or Big Ten? Well, if you had to pick between those two conferences to produce a national championship winner, your best bet would be to roll the dice with the conference out west.
The Pac-12 has more contenders in that conference by far than the Big Ten does. This debate really should be Pac-12 versus Ohio State. Seriously, can you pick any team in the Big Ten besides the Buckeyes that has a legitimate shot to win the national championship this season?
Even making the big game would seem a little far-fetched. Beating an Alabama, Texas A&M or Georgia? Forget about it.
The Buckeyes were the only Big Ten team that finished in the Top 15 of last year's AP Poll. Northwestern was a respectable team at No. 17, but don't confuse progress with being a contender coming off a 10-win season. The other two Big Ten squads that finished the season ranked were Michigan and Nebraska. Two teams that finished with a combined nine losses were only included because they were less subpar than the rest of the pack.
Nebraska finished the final two games allowing a combined 1,229 total yards on defense. Michigan would be a respectable contender but has a lot of questions entering the new season. Will the offense truly take a step forward with Devin Gardner? How will the defense respond without Jake Ryan? Where in the world is the pass rush?
In order to dethrone the SEC, you are going to need an elite football team. A squad that limps across the finish line will not cut it. Right now, the only team that has a real chance to knockoff an SEC powerhouse in the big dance would be Ohio State, but even head coach Urban Meyer said his team has a ways to go, according to Sports Illustrated.
"For me to say we have to get there next year, that's like me talking about we have to go fly to the moon," he said. "We're nowhere near even having that conversation."
Then what are we talking about? Of course that is coach talk, but the Buckeyes did have plenty of close calls against mediocre teams. Let's also not forget that the entire defensive line needs to be replaced, as well as most of the secondary.
As for the Pac-12, teams such as Stanford and Oregon are almost guaranteed to begin the season ranked in the top 10 of all major polls. This doesn't include an Oregon State team that returns seven starters on defense, a rising UCLA program and USC will always receive love from the voters, regardless. In order to even have a shot, you have to begin the season in a nice position poll-wise. There aren't many teams that are going to pull off what Notre Dame did last year and climb out of the cellar to the top.
Oregon nearly knocked off Auburn in the 2010 national championship. Although there was a coaching change, when you have an offense that can score at the speed of light and have elite quickness on both sides of the ball, you have a chance. The Ducks have been in national title conversations the last three years and that won't change with 15 starters coming back.
Stanford finished last season ranked 20th in total defense and has seven of those starters returning. Really an elite club defensively, the Cardinal was only a bounce or two away from finishing the season undefeated and giving an SEC team a run for its money. The offense should also drastically improve with dual-threat quarterback Kevin Hogan now taking over.
While those are the two Pac-12 teams that will remain in the conversation until proven otherwise, you would be foolish to count out a loaded roster such as USC. There is also a defensive-minded team in Oregon State that forced 31 turnovers.
The Big Ten was brutal last season and while improvement should be made, it is hard to find a team that is truly capable of knocking down a giant besides Ohio State. It would be a daunting task even for a Pac-12 program, but there are a handful of teams you could realistically see playing for a national title. In order to even give yourself a chance, you have to at least make the big game.
The Pac-12 has the momentum and depth in its favor, while the Big Ten has some work to do before even thinking about hoisting a crystal football.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Wes Lunt Fiasco Proves College Football Needs Standardized Transfer Rules
Regardless of your thoughts on the Wes Lunt situation, the controversy surrounding the quarterback's transfer speaks to the pressing need for a standardized means of handling transfer scenarios.
Friday, news broke that former 4-star quarterback Wes Lunt would see his transfer efforts greatly hindered by Oklahoma State. The Tulsa World reported that Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy is barring the rising sophomore, who was asked to redshirt this season, from transferring to any school in the SEC, Pac-12 and Southern Mississippi. That is, of course, in addition to the standard blocking of in-conference schools and teams on future schedules.
Hence, Central Michigan showing up on the list of places the Pokes will not release Lunt.
Gundy's actions certainly set the criticism world ablaze. ESPN's David Ubben commented on the specifics of the story. Yahoo!'s Frank Schwab also had thoughts on the petty nature of the decision by Gundy. As did Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel.
Personally, as a guy who is largely pro player in most situations, this stinks to high heavens for me. However, the real issue here, regardless of where you fall in the spectrum of opinions, is that if everyone knew the rules coming into things, everyone would be playing the same game.
In the last few seasons, just on the football side of the collegiate landscape, we have seen several coaches put the squeeze on transferring athletes. Randy Shannon at Miami with quarterback Robert Marve. Randy Edsall at Maryland with quarterback Danny O'Brien. Derrick Dooley with wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett.
Sometimes the coaches fumble early and then grant the normal release late. Other times the coaches maintain their tough approach and the player ends up buckling to the terms.
Instead of this dance of hurt feelings, spite and paranoia, what the sport needs is a clear rule on transferring that makes it less painful for all the parties involved. Less pain for the player having to jump through hoops because a coach is upset that he's leaving. Less pain for the coaches who get raked over the coals for outlandish restrictions.
The standard? The exact same policy that most schools already use, just written on the books so that all parties, coaches, players and parents, know the exact terms. No release to schools in the same conference or programs on future schedules during the player's career span.
Pretty simple.
Regardless of how a coach feels about a player, he understands where that guy can or cannot go. Players understand where they have access to, as well. No more barring a kid from going to a school in the same state that your program does not even play. No more blocking a player from big schools near his home because you worry he might star for a better program.
If a guy is willing to sit out a year to head to another conference, have at it. If a guy wants to play for the coach who recruited him and then got a head coaching gig, and he's willing to take that year off to do it, then let him go.
For a system that has pages upon pages of codified rules to manage mundane minutiae, here is where a rule that could help the system. Mark Emmert's talked about trying to cut through the red tape and streamline things on the NCAA's end; a standardized transfer release policy would certainly aid in that process.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
What New Florida State Commit 4-Star WR Markell Pack Brings to Seminoles
Markell Pack, a 4-star wide receiver, is a speedy wideout with great potential, and he's the latest recruit to commit to Florida State.
Pack is ranked as the No. 4 player from the state of Mississippi, and he's the No. 25 wideout in the 2014 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He's commitment No. 10 for Florida State and the Seminoles' third wide receiver commitment.
He joins 3-star wide receiver C.J. Worton and 4-star "soft commit" J.C. Jackson. Athlete recruit Jojo Robinson, a 4-star, could also play receiver.
Corey Dowlar of ESPN.com reported on the commitment:
Markell Pack (Purvis, Miss./Purvis) has been high on the Seminoles board for quite a while. So when he committed to Florida State late Saturday night, it was not a surprise that the Florida State coaches were a happy group.
New assistant coach Tim Brewster was the first to get the news Sunday morning.
"I decided to do it last night and when we talked this morning, they were pretty fired up," Pack said.
Pack is 6'2'', 180 pounds, so he has ideal height, but he also runs a 4.43 40, according to 247Sports. With his combination of size and speed, he projects to be a pure deep threat who can stretch the zone with his speed and go up and get the ball because of his height.
With that said, Pack will be comfortable all over the field.
He's adept at taking short routes and making something happen after the catch. He has quick feet, great vision, a good cut move and he's a strong runner. He can be physical because of his size, and he's also elusive.
Pack can also run a deep route though and beat a defender vertically, and he displays good vision when the ball is in the air and instincts to adjust to the throw and make a play on it—even in a crowd. He has good hands and displays good concentration, so he'll be a reliable receiver.
For Florida State, he's a big out-of-state commitment who also projects to be extremely talented. In fact, Pack could end up being a star wide receiver for the Seminoles, in time.
Note: All scouting and analysis of Pack done via tape study of the film provided on is 247Sports profile page.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Curtis Samuel Highlights: Freak Athlete Wants to Be the Next Percy Harvin
It’s time to meet one of Brooklyn’s finest, 4-Star athlete Curtis Samuel. Samuel is one of the top athletes in the class of 2014 and has over a dozen offers from some of the top programs in the nation.
Bleacher Report traveled to Samuel’s high school (Erasmus Hall) to get a better look at the top prospect. Samuel rushed for 1,047 yards and 13 touchdowns in his junior season, while registering 33 tackles and one interception on defense.
Watch the video to meet a great kid off the field and learn what programs are on his radar at the next level.
Highlights courtesy of Prepforce.com
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Full Ride: Top 5 Beast-Mode Running Backs in the 2014 Class
It’s time to check out the top five beast-mode running backs of the 2014 class. All of these backs have amazing skills out of the backfield and are able to break a run on any given carry.
247Sports national recruiting director JC Shurburtt breaks down these prospects and what it takes to be part of this selective group.
Jalen Hurd, a 5-star recruit, has impressive size at 6’3”, 230 pounds. His exceptional ability to break tackles led to 43 touchdowns during the 2012 season. Where will he land on the list?
Who's the No.1 beast-mode running back in the 2014 class? Watch the video to see who tops the 2014 class.
Highlights courtesy of 247Sports.com and Prepforce.com
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Latest 2014 Recruiting Roundup: Michigan, Notre Dame Make Big Headlines
Michigan has the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, according to ESPN, Nick Saban has sent a lot of players to the NFL and Missouri was the standout recruiting program this past week in the SEC.
Welcome to this week's edition of the weekly recruiting roundup, now released on Monday morning to help you get through that terrible "case of the Mondays."
This is your one-stop shop for everything that has happened in the recruiting world during the past week. We'll touch on the biggest news, provide you with all of the latest commitments and even watch a highlight clip or two.
If you're a recruiting fan, this is the only place you want to be on a Monday morning. If it happened between 12:01 a.m. last Monday and midnight Sunday night, we'll have it covered.
Even during a relatively slow week, news in the recruiting world is abundant and exciting.
Let's take a look.
Note: Information in this roundup is courtesy of 247Sports.com and the 247Sports Composite Rankings. "Recruit of the Week" scouting report done via tape study and analysis of film provided on recruit's 247Sports profile page.
Alabama Football: $105,000 for a Shattered BCS Trophy? Seriously?
As the old saying goes, "Football is a religion in the SEC."
While that may not be entirely accurate, SEC fans routinely make Internet waves with creative tattoos, wedding cakes and even music videos—most of which fail miserably (looking at you, Missouri)—that demonstrate their obsession with the sport.
But Alabama fans have taken it to the next level.
According to Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News, the broken coaches' trophy Alabama won in January 2012 signifying the 2011 national championship netted quite the haul at the Alabama Celebrity Golf Tournament on Sunday.
Alabama auctions off the broken 2011 BCS Champonship Trophy at its UA Celebrity Golf Tournament on Sunday. It brought a reported $105,000.
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) May 20, 2013Think about that for a second. That's $105,000 for broken pieces of crystal. What on Earth can you do with broken pieces of crystal?
Practice walking on it in an effort to become a street performer? Toughen up your grip by squeezing it? Please don't say "glue it back together."
Oh, wait. Scratch that. Please DO glue it back together. The Internet needs pictures.
If you recall, the trophy was shattered in April 2011 by the father of former Crimson Tide long snapper Carson Tinker. According to ESPN.com, the eight-pound Waterford crystal football is valued at around $30,000—$75,000 less than it was auctioned off for on Sunday.
Adam Kramer at Your Best 11 wrote an ode to the trophy when it met its demise last season.
It's all in good fun.
Fans take pride in a variety of different things, and that's what makes college football great. But now that's it's brought in $105,000, whether it's for charity or not, the future of the shattered coaches' trophy is now more intriguing than its past.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
5-Star Georgia Commit Sony Michel Says Football First, Rap Second
Michigan State recruit Jay Harris recently ate up the headlines when he announced that he will turn down a scholarship for the slim chance of becoming a successful rapper. Georgia commit Sony Michel may have similar goals, but those will follow after school and a chance to make something of himself on the football field.
The 5-star running back, who committed to the Bulldogs in April, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that football comes first and his music is second.
“Football is my first love, and then music is right after it,” Michel told the AJC. “I will finish out football before I think about that (a music career).”
This seems like a wise decision considering Michel is an extremely talented football player and has a possible future at the next level. As for a rapper, well, there is one on every street corner and you can count on one hand how many actually make it. Get in line if you want a music career.
But this is still a serious hobby for Michel, who goes by the stage name "2Stackz," which ironically came from a goal he plans to accomplish with football.
“That name actually came from football. ‘2Stackz’ means 2,000. My goal is to rush for 2,000 yards in a year.”
Michel made people look silly on the football field, blowing past defenders with his speed and making guys miss in the open field.
While he has a bright future in the sport, he has also included 10 songs on his Youtube page. You can hear one of the songs below. Warning: lyrics are NSFW material.
According the report, Michel says that he writes the majority of his songs and has been working with a producer. He has also made appearances at a party and his high school, which has drawn positive feedback.
Actually, I have a good friend who is a producer, said Michel. (My friend) makes beats. I let him listen to my stuff. He makes beats for professional artists. He is actually trying to help me understand the business more before I jump into it. I’m just leaning right now before I get into it.
If Michel does everything right and fulfills exceptions on the gridiron, that music career could be on hold for quite some time.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Ohio State Football: Carlos Hyde Found a Big Role in Urban Meyer's Offense
When Urban Meyer was hired as head coach in November of 2011, Ohio State fans everywhere were excited to see the spread offense the Buckeyes would be implementing in 2012.
Carlos Hyde, Ohio State's 6'0", 240-pound running back, was concerned.
The Buckeyes' bruising running back had watched film of the offense Meyer orchestrated at Florida and didn't see too many players with his build lining up in the backfield. At least, he didn't see any big guys at running back.
"I was like, I don't see no big dude running around, except for Tim Tebow, and he's the quarterback," Hyde said, according to BuckeyeGrove.com. "I don't play quarterback."
In the end, Hyde's concerns would prove unnecessary as he finished Meyer's first year in Columbus with 1,021 total yards and 17 touchdowns (16 rushing, one receiving).
He was the workhorse of the Ohio State offense down the stretch, averaging over 21 carries per game over the Buckeyes' last seven games. Those seven games included some of the most physical matchups on the Ohio State schedule, and it's no coincidence that Meyer turned to his most physical runner to produce the tough yards.
As Hyde's production increased, so did his draft stock. After Ohio State capped its perfect season with a 26-21 win over Michigan last November, Hyde was one of the few underclassmen who had a decision to ponder.
A number of NFL teams could have used Hyde's services and selected him in the later rounds, but Ohio State's soon-to-be senior running back opted to stay in school for his final year.
In Hyde's mind, there was one major aspect of his game he wanted to work on before going pro.
The big, physical running back wants to make more big plays in 2013.
Hyde didn't notch a single rush of more than 30 yards last year, a surprising stat for a back who totaled 970 rushing yards in nine-and-a-half games. Hyde suffered an early-season MCL sprain in Week 2, and when he returned three weeks later, the coaching staff wanted him to avoid dancing around defenders to prevent further injury.
Ohio State running backs coach Stan Drayton just wanted Hyde to hit the holes his offensive line created for him.
"We had to really enhance the skill of attacking defenders, getting north-south yards, and not really putting as much strain on that knee considering how it was at that time," Drayton said, according to TheOzone.net.
Because of that, Hyde didn't break away too many times when he hit the second level last year. Instead, he would lower his shoulder and get as many yards as he could when he reached the secondary. That should change next year.
"I want to be better at making the safety miss," Hyde said.
If Ohio State's bruising running back can add that element to his game, the Buckeyes' offense will be much harder to stop in 2013.
David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Jalyn Holmes Highlights: Watch the Beast Defensive End Terrorize Offenses
Virginia native Jalyn Holmes is a terror on the defensive line and is one of the best defensive ends in the 2014 class.
The 6'5", 225-pound defensive end is uncommitted at the moment but is considering Florida State, Clemson, Florida, Maryland and many more. Holmes was selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and can bring some serious talent to the next level.
Watch the video to see Holmes' great technique, athleticism and speed on the line.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Clifton Garrett Highlights: Watch the 5-Star Linebacker Crush Players
Clifton Garrett, a 5-star linebacker, is one of the most anticipated players coming out of the 2014 class.
The Illinois native has many schools still on his radar including LSU, Alabama, Florida and Ohio State. The 6'2", 228-pound beast will be a great addition to any of these programs in the coming years.
Watch the video to see Garrett attack ball-carriers and shut down offenses.
Highlights courtesy of 247Sports.com.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Laurence Jones Highlights: Watch the Hard Hitting Safety Light Up the Field
Four-star safety Laurence Jones is a force to be reckoned with out of Monroe, Louisiana.
The 6'2", 200 lb beast is definitely a player you stay away from on the field. Still uncommitted, he has many schools on his radar, including LSU, Alabama and Ohio State.
Watch the video to see why Jones makes receivers quiver and is among the best safeties in the country.
Highlights courtesy of 247Sports.com
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Bo Scarbrough Highlights: Watch the 5-Star Athlete Speed Past Defenses
Bo Scarbrough, a 5-star athlete, has all the attributes to become a big-time weapon at the next level.
The Tuscaloosa native has been committed to Alabama since the beginning of his junior season. At 6'2", 225 pounds, his size accompanying a 4.59 40-yard time puts him in a very elite group of athletes in the 2014 class.
Watch the video to see Scarbrough's explosive speed burn defenders on his way to the end zone.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Nebraska Football: Power Ranking the 20 Most Memorable Plays in Huskers' History
The Nebraska Cornhuskers have provided more than a few unforgettable plays over the years.
There have been long touchdowns that have brought the crowd to their feet, unthinkable mistakes that haunt the memory of even the most optimistic fans and one-of-a-kind plays that no one could have predicted.
No matter whether the memory induces a cringe or a reminiscent grin, here are the 20 plays that were so unique and extraordinary that they will not soon be forgotten.
Coach Chris Petersen's 3 Biggest Challenges for the Boise State Broncos in 2013
Boise State is heading into the 2013 college football season with some momentum, several key returning starters and, as usual, high expectations.
The 2013 season looks to be a good one for the Broncos, and it could be another BCS year. However, before the Broncos can go bowling they are going to have to overcome a few obstacles in their path.
Let's look at three big challenges that head coach Chris Petersen will have to lead his team through in 2013.
