NCAA Football News

Alabama is closing in on another No.1 rated recruiting class for the 2013 recruiting year. The Tide have landed fixes for every need heading into the new year. 

While the 2013 class is strong, the attention will soon shift to the 2014 recruiting year. The Crimson Tide have a number of top prospects already eyeing the program. Owning the state of Alabama is always the No.1 goal for the Crimson Tide staff, but reaching out to other top talents is also a part of the Saban process. For next year to be as dominant on the recruiting trail as this one, Nick Saban must zero in on these eight targets early. 

If the Tide can finish the 2014 class with half of these names, they will challenge for the top spot in recruiting yet again. 

Begin Slideshow

After hearing Manti Te'o's side of the Lennay Kekua story, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, who has admitted to being the one behind the scandal, is going to get his moment in the spotlight in an appearance on Dr. Phil's nationally syndicated show. 

Like Oprah Winfrey's interview with Lance Armstrong two weeks ago, Dr. Phil's chat with Tuiasosopo will take place over the course of two episodes. According to Brett McMurphy of ESPN, the interview will air this Thursday and Friday.

Here is all the information you need to know to get set for Tuiasosopo's interview with Dr. Phil, as well as a few other items to keep an eye on. 

When: Thursday, Jan. 31, and Friday, Feb. 1

Watch: NBC at 4 p.m. ET (Check local listings for start times in your area by clicking here.)

Who is Ronaiah Tuiasosopo?

That should be one of the questions at the center of this Dr. Phil interview, though we don't yet know what exactly was asked when it was taped last week. 

Instead, all we can do is go off what we already know through various reports released over the last week or so. 

According to a report from Nancy Dillon and Larry McShane of the New York Daily News, Tuiasosopo has received vocal and dramatic training leading to speculation that he was the one on the other end of the phone calls left on Te'o's cell phone. 

Lawyer Milton Grimes, who represents Tuiasosopo, is quoted in the Daily News as saying that his client was the voice of Lennay Kekua. 

However, Emily Smith, M.L. Nestel and Jeane Macintosh of the New York Post reported that the voice actually belonged to Tuiasosopo's cousin Tino. 

When you get down to the core of this story, that's why it is so fascinating. We know so much about Te'o now, based on interviews and transcripts that have been released over the last two weeks, but we know nothing about Tuiasosopo. 

Is Tuiasosopo a crazed fan? Is he obsessed with Te'o? Does he have social and/or psychological issues? What made him create this hoax in the first place, and then continue to perpetuate the whole thing?

There are so many questions that need answers, yet no one really knows how forthcoming Tuiasosopo will be. It is entirely possible this whole thing was just a way for him to get his name in headlines and try to ruin someone else's life. 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The SEC is home to seven straight national titles, and one of the primary reasons the SEC has been so successful is the fact that the elite teams in the conference consistently produce top-tier talent with no major drop-offs from year to year.

Having stars consistently step up into leadership roles when their time is called is one of the most important factors in determining quality programs and coaches.

Which teams have the best core of returning starters in 2013? Our rankings are in this slide show.

*Phil Steele's index of returning starters used as a base for the rankings.

Begin Slideshow

Yesterday we took a look at the new NCAA Recruiting rules and gave you five coaches who have the most to gain from the new recruiting changes. Today, we're going switch lanes and look at things from the recruit's perspective.

If you haven't familiarized yourself with the new recruiting rules, I highly suggest you do. The several changes that the NCAA has approved are going to make things that much more intense and interesting in an already crazy world of recruiting.

Which recruits are going to be most affected by these rule changes? Well, for that answer, you should come inside and see.

Begin Slideshow

Coaching staffs from around the country are getting ready for National Signing Day. They are making sure there won't be any unexpected surprises from prospects on the commit list and keying in on a few more targets to round out the class.

Although many of the biggest names available in the 2013 class have already chosen where they will play college football, there are still a couple elite recruits weighing their options. Their decisions can shift the balance of power in the overall rankings.

Let's take a look at some of the most coveted stars that are still undeclared and predict where they will end up once the dust settles.

Robert Nkemdiche

Few players attracted more attention during the recruiting process than Nkemdiche. It's no surprise, given this tremendous combination of size (6'4'', 285 lbs.) and athleticism makes him a prototypical defensive end. And he's not even officially a freshman yet.

The 5-star Georgia native is deciding between Ole Miss, Florida and LSU, according to 247 Sports. He made visits to the Rebels and Gators in the past couple weeks. No doubt both programs put on the full-court press during those stays.

Although a sudden change of course from Nkemdiche would make the the next week a lot more exciting, it still seems like Ole Miss holds the clear edge. His brother is already on the team, which makes it harder to imagine a late change.

Prediction: Ole Miss

Laremy Tunsil

Top offensive tackles like Tunsil get a lot of attention twice during their career. First, during the college recruiting process. Second, during the NFL Draft process. Aside from that they do the dirty work of making sure star quarterbacks stay healthy.

After attracting attention from every corner of the country, the race to land the 5-star tackle has been twiddled down to a handful of teams. 247 Sports reports Georgia and Alabama currently have the edge, leading to another SEC battle.

This is one situation where Alabama's reign of dominance can play to its advantage. Any time a player is on the fence between two schools, being able to play the national title trump card is big. The Crimson Tide will probably do that with Tunsil.

Prediction: Alabama

Eddie Vanderdoes

Now this is where it gets interesting. While most top recruits are like Nkemdiche and Tunsil and have narrowed down their lists, Vanderdoes is still keeping his options wide open. And the group of programs chasing him is impressive.

Both national title combatants, Alabama and Notre Dame, are involved. They are joined by several other teams that probably like their chances of landing the defensive tackles, who's also rated as a 5-star prospect by 247 Sports.

While it wouldn't be a surprise if Nick Saban and Co. pull off another marquee addition, USC is bringing in a terrific class of its own and Vanderdoes would be the perfect way to cap it off. Look for the Trojans to make a strong late push.

Prediction: USC

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Looking ahead to this season, many Big 12 teams lost some star power to graduation or the NFL draft. Some teams won't see a huge drop off—but frankly, there aren't a lot of those teams in the Big 12—while others will be under major reconstruction for the next seven months. 

We've gone ahead and figured out the core returning starters for each team and ranked them from the team with the least amount of returning starters to the team with the best core of returning starters.

If your team is ranked low, don't hit the panic button yet—national signing day is coming up and an influx of help could be on its way. And who knows, an emerging star could turn your head at spring practices.

Begin Slideshow

The 2013 Senior Bowl had one lone representative from the University of Nevada—defensive back Duke Williams. Williams did not miss this opportunity to shine. He had the second best performance among all defensive backs on the North squad, with six tackles—five of which were solo.

Williams' performance comes as no surprise to Wolf Pack fans. He earned All-Conference Honors in the Mountain West Conference in 2012.

In his 38 games for Nevada, Williams racked up 189 total tackles, 132 of which were solo. He also had two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three interceptions for 42 yards. 

Williams was heavily recruited by several programs including: USC, Washington, Boise State, UNLV and Fresno State, but he chose to play at Nevada.

A former high school track athlete, Williams was once ranked among the top ten triple jumpers in the nation.

But stats aside, having watched every one of his games, what stands out for me about Williams is his enthusiasm and competitive drive. Williams also has a penchant for laying on some really big hits. 

Williams is highly likely to be drafted. With his performance in the Senior Bowl, I think he moves up the board considerably. Keep your eye on this kid—he can play,

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Ole Miss Basketball, Football and Rebel fans alike are eagerly awaiting a very special week.

Under the leadership of Ole Miss Director of Athletics (AD), Ross Bjork, the entire Rebel athletics program is on the fast track to a level of success unparalleled in recent memory.

The State of Ole Miss Football

Coach Hugh Freeze, after only his initial year at the helm in Oxford, is currently putting together a recruiting class that could end up being ranked as high as Top Five nationally for an upstart team, retaining nearly all of its weapons (minus athlete Randall Mackey). In his first year as the Rebel head coach, Freeze completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the country as he went 7-6 with a team that had gone 2-10 and 4-10 respectively the previous two seasons. If the Ole Miss coaching staff lands the 2013 recruiting class that many expect with the starters already returning in 2013, fellow Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams should consider themselves warned. The Ole Miss Rebels will quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the SEC.

The State of Ole Miss Basketball

As for the No. 16 Rebels basketball squad, there may not be a hotter team in the country right now. Head Coach Andy Kennedy was able to bring in the missing puzzle piece this season that had plagued his team for the past six years, holding them back from ever advancing to the NCAA Tournament. However, they are currently at 17-2 (6-0 SEC), and if floor leaders Marshall Henderson and Murphy Holloway can continue to lead the Rebels in the right direction down the conference stretch, Kennedy should find himself a participant in March Madness with a real chance at making some noise.

What's got Rebel fans so excited about what lies ahead in coming days?

A Date with the Florida Gators (Saturday, February 2)

On Saturday, February 2nd (6 p.m. CT on ESPNU), Kennedy's No. 16 Rebels will get their one real chance of the regular season to show the nation what they're all about as they travel to Gainesville, FL for a date with the No. 4 Gators. The SEC isn't as strong from top to bottom as it has been in recent years, so a defining win on the road against the Gators would be a golden star on the Rebels' tournament resume come March. While Ole Miss did knock off a then Top 10 Missouri Tigers club earlier this year, the Missouri win doesn't carry the weight it once did, as the Tigers have fallen in rank.

Super Bowl XLVII: Patrick Willis vs. Michael Oher (Sunday, February 3)

While not involving any current Ole Miss athlete, the Rebel faithful will certainly have a vested interest in Super Bowl XLVII, as former Ole Miss greats Patrick Willis and Michael Oher will line up on opposite sides of the ball. Super Bowl XLVII will mark the second consecutive Super Bowl a former Rebel will leave the game a champion, as QB Eli Manning led the Giants to a victory in Super Bowl XLVI in 2012 against the New England Patriots. For Rebel fans, it's a win-win situation.

National Signing Day (Wednesday, February 6)

There is sure to be a party in Oxford on February 6, as many expect Ole Miss to land their most highly rated football recruiting class of all time. Currently sporting a No. 12  recruiting ranking by Rivals.com, Ole Miss remains in the hunt for a handful of the nation's top remaining uncommitted recruits. Even if one or two more top recruits decide to don the red and blue for their college careers, the Rebels should easily end up ranked with a Top 10 national recruiting class for 2013. One thing is for sure, Rebel fans will be keeping a close eye on National Signing Day coverage as each letter of intent is signed.

Signing Day Nightcap: Basketball Hosts Mississippi State (Wednesday, February 6)

As if folks in Oxford won't be hyped enough by Wednesday evening after seeing how things shake out with their recruiting class earlier in the day, Mississippi State comes to town that same night to take on the round ball Rebs at 6 p.m. CT on CSS. Bulldog fans may want to bring their earplugs, because the Tad Pad should be rocking with a jubilant crowd by tip-off. Depending on the two prior outcomes against Kentucky and Florida, Ole Miss could potentially come into the game with a 19-2 (8-0 SEC) record, sure to have them ranked in the Top 10 nationally. The atmosphere should provide Marshall Henderson with all the energy he needs to perform well against the rival Bulldogs.

A Trip to Columbia, Missouri, With a Chance to Sweep (Saturday, February 9)

Earlier in the year on January 12, Ole Miss knocked off a then No. 12 ranked Missouri Tiger basketball team in Oxford. While Missouri doesn't currently look to be as strong of a team as they once were, a victorious trip to Columbia would hand the Rebels a season sweep of the SEC newcomer in 2013. Playing a weaker SEC schedule than usual, a season sweep of Missouri (currently 15-4, 4-2 SEC), would only help Ole Miss as they try and build upon their tournament resume the rest of the season.

All of this being said, it's easy to see why the first week in February could be a monumental one for Ole Miss Athletics both for immediate and long terms returns. AD Ross Bjork has to like where his program is heading in still his first full year as the Rebel AD. Come Sunday February 10, it's really quite possible he could have a Top 10 football recruiting class and a men's basketball team (assuming they fall to either Kentucky or Florida) also ranked near the Top 10. However, only time will tell.

Regardless of how the the days ahead shake out for Ole Miss, it's a good time to be a Rebel.

Follow me @SephTheRebel for Ole Miss news from an Ole Miss guy ...

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Notre Dame is putting together a magnificent 2013 recruiting class and it has the ability to improve greatly over the next couple of weeks. With national signing day quickly approaching, recruits are putting the finishing touches on the recruiting process and eliminating all of the schools they are no longer interested in.

We are entering the home stretch and these are the moments that could either make or break an overall class.

Already near the top of most recruiting websites, Notre Dame could be in danger of not finishing with a Top Five recruiting class when it is all said and done.

Here’s why.

Where Notre Dame Ranks at the Moment

Even if the Irish don't end up with a single recruit from here on out, the current recruiting class is one of the best in the country. With 23 commitments, most top recruiting sites have this team as a Top Five recruiting class already. Scout considers this class to be No. 2 in the country, Rivals is in the same boat, ESPN has Notre Dame at No. 3 and 247Sports has the Irish the lowest with a No. 6 spot.

Regardless of which one you believe to be the most accurate, there is no arguing that this is already a solid group of players. Jaylon Smith is the prized recruit from this class and will be an impact player immediately on the defensive side of the ball with his athleticism. Running back Greg Bryant has the potential to be the starter from day one when he steps on campus. And safety Max Redfield fills an area of need for the Irish in a secondary that is still fairly young.

With plenty of top recruits and guys that can make an impact right away, Notre Dame is in great position regardless of what happens come national signing day. However, the class can always improve, and there are still some big fish out there that head coach Brian Kelly and his staff are trying to reel in.

What Notre Dame Can Do to Improve

Notre Dame just had a bunch of top recruits visit the campus and the commitments of those kids will determine the outcome of the final ranking. The top uncommitted player that the Irish are putting all of their chips on the table for is defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes. With his ability to play anywhere on the line and the overwhelming need for dominant defensive linemen, it would be a big splash if the Irish can add him to the mix.

Notre Dame is also trying to take advantage of USC losing a few of its recruits. Already losing out on Sebastian LaRue, who committed to Texas A&M, Notre Dame is still in the running for Kylie Fitts, who also recently checked out the campus.

Other players who seem to have at least a minor interest in suiting up for the Irish are Deon Hollins. He is another versatile defensive player who is committed to UCLA, but was absolutely blown away by his recent visit to South Bend.

And while all of those recruits are still up in the air, Notre Dame has already landed one of the recruits that visited during the weekend, in 4-star tight end Durham Smythe. If that is a sign of things to come, this class could in fact drastically improve and we could be talking about a No. 1 overall class.

However, the likelihood of all of those commits coming to Notre Dame seems likely unlikely at the moment. 

Where the Irish Will End Up

Well, Irish fans can probably write Vanderdoes off the list. Not only does he have a visit lined up with Alabama later this week, but he is a West Coast kid that will likely commit to a school such as USC or UCLA. He is a former Trojans commit and will probably remain in the area when he makes his final decision on national signing day. It is nice to think Notre Dame could pull off the upset, but his heart seems to remain with USC and that probably isn't going to change.

As for Fitts, he says Notre Dame has grown on him since his visit to South Bend, but according to his page on 247Sports, USC remains the favorite there as well. The visit made a huge impact on Hollins, but it is tough to imagine him leaving UCLA this late in the process. If so, it would be a gigantic victory for the Irish down the stretch.

Overall, it appears that Notre Dame has made all of its major moves before national signing day. This is why I have the team in danger of falling out of the Top Five when it comes to the 213 recruiting rankings. However, regardless of what happens in the next couple of weeks, this is a class that every Irish fan should be proud of.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Arizona State Football has done a good job in recruiting this offseason. Coach Todd Graham and company have made a marked improvement over past years, but it's still nothing to write home about.

Here is where their class ranks on the three major recruiting sites:

Scout.com—No. 7 in the Pac-12, No. 29 in the nation.

Rivals.com—No. 6 in the Pac-12, No. 29 in the nation. 

247Sports.com—No. 6 in the Pac-12, No. 35 in the nation.

The Devils have bulked up considerably on the defensive side of the ball and are only one of two schools in the Pac-12 with more defensive recruits than offensive. They also have the second-most junior college players in the Top 50 schools according to Scout.com with nine. The University of Kansas is first with 16.

When Arizona State began the 2012 season, they were thin at the wide receiver position after losing three of their top receiving targets in Gerrell Robinson, Aaron Pflugrad and Mike Willie. The 2012 season saw the top three leaders in receptions were not wide receivers. To add insult to injury, the top wide receivers on the team graduated after the 2012 season.

This was a glaring hole to fill for Coach Graham and he went out and received commitments from four 3-star receivers and two additional tight ends including the No. 14 ranked player in Arizona—Grant Martinez.

Priority filled. 

Another concern for the Devils after the 2012 season was in the secondary and at the linebacker position since three excellent starters finished their careers at Arizona State. Looking to replace linebacker Brandon Magee will be tough, but Coach Graham went all out and received commitments from two 4-star linebackers including the No. 3 ranked recruit in Arizona—Chans Cox.

Priority filled. 

Filling out the secondary was also a priority with Keelan Johnson and Deveron Carr leaving, but once again, the Sun Devils went out and received four 3-star commits including two safeties and two corners. Will Earley is the No. 55 cornerback in the country while Jayme Otomewo is the No. 56 safety.

Priority filled. 

The defensive line for Arizona State is the strongest that it has ever been with Will Sutton returning for his senior season. Jaxon Hood, Davon Coleman and Junior Onyeali are also studs on the defensive line. It was amazing to see that such great talent committed to the Sun Devils even though that is the area that is the deepest. It's great to see 4-star Junior College transfer Marcus Hardison as well as two other 3-star recruits.  

Priority exceeded.

Lastly, the one area that needed help was the offensive line. With the graduation of starters Andrew Sampson and Brice Schwab, the right side of the line is open. A couple of early signees in Nick Kelly and Josh Tremblay made it seem like the offensive line would be fine.

Add into the mix that Christian Westerman, the No.1 recruit in the state of Arizona in 2011, has returned home to play for Arizona State. Westerman left for Auburn to play for Gene Chizik but left amidst the controversy involving possible NCAA sanctions and the departure of Chizik. If Auburn is levied with sanctions, Westerman could be in the clear to start in 2013 for the Devils.

Recently, Tremblay decommitted from Arizona State and Coach Graham went out and recruited 3-star defensive end Jack Powers to come over to the offensive side of the ball. If Westerman is cleared to play for the Devils, the offensive line recruiting class could be considered filled, but as it stands right now, the only new recruits brought in are Powers and Kelly, with Kelly playing center.

What is perhaps more troubling is that the Devils aren't in the hunt for any additional help on the line, so it looks as if they are putting their hopes on Westerman playing or they feel that veterans Vi Teofilo and Sil Ajawara will be immediate plugs on the right side of the line.

Priority pending. 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

After the Senior Bowl and his performance at the wide receiver position, Denard Robinson is still a mystery at the next level. The former Michigan Wolverine flashed and showed some potential, but ultimately did little to prove that he can be a wide receiver in the NFL.

As Matt Miller of Bleacher Report said:

The real question is not so much "where" Robinson is going to play. Rather, it's how much patience an NFL team—and Robinson himself—have with what looks to be a very difficult process.

Playing in the NFL is hard, and that's for guys who have spent their entire life training to play just one position. The transition both physically and mentally is a tremendous step. The game is faster, the players are stronger and they are professionals in every sense of the word. It is their job to be better than their opponent, and they take that quite seriously. 

Coaches expect more out of players at the next level. They are not there to teach you how to play football; they are paid to harness the skills players have and maximize production. In the league, they coach little things. They tweak. All of the major work is supposed to be done, and the coaches are there to put the finishing touches on a top-shelf athlete.

Denard Robinson is certainly a top-shelf athlete. Odds are, he will prove that at the combine in February. However, the speedy quarterback-turned-wide-receiver is a guy with more than just "little tweaks" to be made to his game. This is not a guy who needs some paint—he's a full-blown renovation project. 

So, for Robinson, it all boils down to finding a coach and general manager willing to give him the time to grow. That means don't expect the project player to end up somewhere that has a coach and/or general manager on the proverbial hot seat. For those rooting for Robinson to succeed, the best bet will be a place with stability and a track record of being patient.

Next up for Denard is the combine, where he will try to show that he's progressed in his route-running and catching abilities. He's a wide receiver now, and posting good numbers in the 40, the cone drills and the shuttles will go a long way toward making coaches get comfortable taking on the risk.

Where is Robinson going to play? He'll be a wide receiver for a GM and a coach who fall in love with his potential. The beauty of the NFL is that it only takes one guy to like you for a player to get a shot at their dream. Thanks to the raw skills Robinson brings to the table, someone is going to pick him.

The transition won't be an easy one. If Armanti Edwards has taught us anything, it is that changing competition levels and positions is no small task. The odds are stacked against Denard Robinson, but we'll see if he can make the leap.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The traditional powers are always on the top of the recruiting scene. However, there are always a couple schools that manage to surprise college football nation by stealing a few of the top prospects. Let's look at two of those schools with the best odds to have a top class this year:

Ole Miss

The Rebels already have a great new batch of recruits on the way, but there are two more available for them that would make their class amongst the best in the nation.

The consensus No. one overall prospect, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche, is deciding between Ole Miss, LSU and Florida. However, his mother wants him to play with his brother Denzel at Ole Miss. It’s difficult to see Nkemdiche going against the wishes of his family, which is why Ole Miss is the favorite to land him.

The Rebels also hope to land safety Antonio Conner. Conner, according to ESPN recruiting rankings, is the second-best safety prospect in the nation. Nearly all of the SEC schools have interest in him, but it seems like the race is down to Alabama and Ole Miss.

However, it looks like the Rebels may have the upper hand. That’s because his friend, running back Kailo Moore, has stated that he and Conner will be attending the same school. Moore has already committed to Ole Miss, and it seems like Conner will follow shortly.

Additionally, Ole Miss can guarantee Conner more playing time early on, which has to be intriguing considering Conner definitely has the talent to play right away.

UCLA

Even though USC is making more noise (in more ways than one) with their recruiting on the other side of town, the Bruins may be able to steal a couple of prospects on signing day. Coach Jim Mora has shown that he is a strong recruiter, and that UCLA is trending upwards.

Former USC commit Kylie Fitts, a defensive end from California, is now eying the Bruins. Fitts apparently doesn’t trust the USC coaching staff, especially after giving his early enrollment spot to Leon McQuay III.

Fitts would be a better fit in UCLA’s 3-4 defensive scheme because of his constant ability to pressure the quarterback with his quickness. Fitts also has a sibling that attends UCLA, so the family factor could be the icing on the cake.

UCLA is also in a race with Texas A&M for linebacker Isaac Savaiinaea. The middle linebacker has great size and is an imposing tackler. The reason why I think UCLA will sign him is because Texas A&M already has six middle linebacker commits. If Savaiinaea wants the opportunity to separate himself on the depth chart, he’ll choose the Bruins.

Finally, the best prospect UCLA has their sights on is defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes. Although it’s unlikely that the former USC commit will return to Los Angeles, Vanderdoes has shown interest in becoming a Bruin. He’s made a visit to the campus and he likes the staff.

If Vanderdoes shocks the recruiting world by choosing UCLA over Alabama, that would be the biggest piece in their class.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Michigan's 2013 recruiting class got its crown jewel on Saturday when 5-star tailback Derrick Green verbally committed to the Wolverines. With national signing day just days away, it's extremely unlikely that Green will renege on his commitment; he had also been considering Tennessee and Auburn.

So, now the question becomes what Green's addition to the 2013 Wolverines does to the offense as a whole. Sure, he might redshirt. He also might start. The talent's there. 

Assuming Green makes it onto campus and on the field without incident, he's going to be in the mix at running back, and that is not a very crowded scene.

Vincent Smith is gone to graduation, and Fitz Toussaint's future for 2013 is still in doubt. Past that, there's just Thomas Rawls and Justice Hayes in terms of running backs who saw any action in 2013, while Drake Johnson redshirted in 2012. DeVeon Smith is another tailback recruit in this class; Johnson and Smith both earned only three stars, per Rivals.

Michigan struggled mightily at tailback in 2012. The Wolverine rushing attack was 41st in the nation in yardage, but without Denard Robinson and all his non-traditional running friends, the backfield was a mess. All in all, Michigan's running backs accounted for only 933 yards rushing in 2012, with a meager 3.84 yards per carry to show for it.

And again, Fitz Toussaint may not be ready for action come September. So there's some serious potential for immediate playing time for Green.

Green is a big body at tailback—he's currently listed as 6'0" and 220 pounds—but the kid is fast, even if it's not immediately noticeable on film.

He has a straightforward running style that practically invites contact within the first 10 yards, making that speed less of a factor, but pay special attention to the runs at 1:10, 2:00 and 7:15 in the following video. You'll see some bad pursuit angles. Those are functions of Green's speed taking tacklers out of position in space; if his speed were average for someone his size, those angles wouldn't be so bad.

If there's a good corollary for Green's skill set, it's current Philadelphia Eagles tailback Bryce Brown. Their measurables are nearly identical, as are their rushing styles. Like Green, Brown is an upright, one-cut back who can pound it between the tackles and get to the corner with surprising ease. Here's a look at Brown from the 2012 preseason:

Now, one can't really talk about Bryce Brown without all the dopiness surrounding his collegiate career. But all of that was independent of his rushing ability, and there's little reason to suggest that Green would be a cause of similar headaches. Moreover, Brown's at least fulfilling his potential now, and that's a level of potential that Green can match.

It's worth mentioning that Green's rushing style may not match Michigan's strengths on the offensive line. Yes, he's capable of getting to that corner with surprising speed, but he's a "get it and go" type of guy first and foremost. And with Michigan having to replace its three inner offensive lineman (a unit that struggled mightily at times last year), Green may have a rough go of it trying to get his inside rushing game going.

Still, it's obvious that Green adds a dynamic dimension to an offense that desperately needed it in 2012. If he stays healthy and keeps his head on straight, there's no reason why Green can't be a major factor in the backfield for an offense in dire need of exactly that.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

The strange, bizarre and confounding case of Manti Te'o and his fictional girlfriend took to Katie Couric's show last week. If that particular scene wasn't odd enough, there is now an auto-tuned version. 

The nation is still dizzy from a peculiar story that continues to unfold. The gut reaction is to make light of what we don't know.

If there is one thing we can take away from this story of a dead girlfriend who never lived, it's that we hardly know the entire tale. So it only makes sense that memes, viral videos and parodies would surface.

Well, here is one of the best in the form of a Couric and Te'o duet. 

All of the hits from that particular interview are here, including Te'o's "far from it." Then there are moments you might not recall, like Te'o's father breaking it all down with a smooth rap, followed by an Al Roker admission. 

It will leave you exclaiming just what Couric and Te'o do at the end of this music video: It just doesn't make any sense. 

Hit me up on Twitter for more insanity. 

Follow @gabezal

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com