NCAA Football News

Aaron Murray did not want to end his career in Athens wondering if he could have led the Bulldogs to a national title if he had stayed his senior season.

After missing the big game by five yards, Murray made the decision shortly after the Bulldogs' season ended to play his senior season and see if he can do something that hasn't been done in over 30 years.

But winning a title is not the only thing Murray can achieve in 2013. Based on the way he has played the last three seasons, Murray will be on the watch list for the Heisman Trophy.

In fact, not only will he be on the watch list, but he will also be making his way to New York for the trophy presentation in December, as he will be one of the finalists.

Here's why.

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The 2012 Texas A&M Football team featured the top offensive line in the country. How the Aggies respond to the loss of two members of that line will define how successful their 2013 season is.

Luke Joeckel was the starting left tackle on the Aggies' offensive line in 2012, and he declared early for the NFL draft. Joeckel is expected to be one of the top five selections in the draft.

Patrick Lewis started on the offensive line all four years he was at A&M. He spent the last two seasons as the Aggies' center. He is projected to go anywhere from the fifth round of the draft to signing as an undrafted free agent. 

The Aggies lost two very talented offensive linemen who were also leaders of the team. This would be a major blow to most programs, but the Ags have a lot of depth at the position and an offense that is versatile enough to cover up for weaknesses on the line.

 

Matthews' Return Solidifies Line

The prospects for the 2013 offensive line received a huge boost when Jake Matthews announced he was going to return to A&M for his senior season. Matthews was named All-SEC and All-American for his play at right tackle in 2012.

Jake Matthews to Return to Aggieland aggi.es/2ubXRE

— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) January 10, 2013

Matthews will move over to left tackle to protect rising sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel's blind side. Most mock drafts had Matthews being selected in the first round along with Joeckel. By returning for his senior season and playing left tackle, Matthews will get the opportunity to improve his draft stock into a top-10 selection.

With the move of Matthews to left tackle, there will be a hole at right tackle. Cedric Ogbuehi should move over from right guard to right tackle. Ogbuehi is built like an NFL left tackle and will likely take over at left tackle in 2014 when Matthews moves on to the professional ranks.

Mike Matthews is Jake Matthews' younger brother and was the backup center in 2012. He will take over Lewis' starting spot in 2013. The younger Matthews got extensive experience in the Aggies' multiple blowout wins in 2012. He should be a solid center for A&M for the next three years.

Jarvis Harrison returns at left guard for in 2013. He got better as the season went along in 2012. Harrison should be expected to compete for All-SEC honors in 2013 as a junior.

The move of Ogbuehi to right tackle leaves a hole at right guard. Redshirt freshman guard Kimo Tipoti should compete with a slew of others for the starting spot at right guard.

Do not be surprised if incoming freshman offensive guard Joas Aguilar gets a serious look at that right guard spot. Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin has shown that he will play true freshmen on the lines in the SEC.

At 6'5", 295 lbs, Aguilar has the size and strength to play in the trenches in the SEC in 2013. It will be a question of how far along his technique is and how well Tipoti plays during spring practice.

 

Versatile Offense Can Conceal Weaknesses

The 2013 offensive line should be very good and has a chance to be outstanding. If the line does struggle, the Aggies' offense is versatile enough where the coaches should be able to conceal those weaknesses.

In 2012 the Ags had one of the top offenses in the country averaging 558 yards per game. The Aggies averaged 316 yards passing and 242 yards rushing per game. If a team stacked the box to stop the run, the Ags could throw over the top.

If a defense dropped into a nickel or dime defense to stop the pass, then the Aggies rushed the ball with Ben Malena and Johnny Manziel. They could hurt defenses in multiple ways.

The beauty of Sumlin's spread offense is in the diversity. There is an answer in it for every question that a defense presents it with. The offense can feature five wide receivers on the field on one play, and three running backs in the backfield on the next.

If the offensive line struggles in pass protection, you can run one and three-step drops and pass the ball inside of three seconds. If the line is weak up the middle, you can run out of a double-wing formation or run some speed option.

The Ags will feature four running backs on the roster in 2013 who could start for most other teams in the nation. Brandon Williams, Trey Williams, Ben Malena and Tra Carson give the Aggies the deepest backfield in the nation this side of Tuscaloosa. 

The Aggies will be able to pound most SEC defenses with Manziel and those running backs in the coming season. If Mike Matthews and the new right guard cannot get the job done, they can put two tight ends in the backfield and run wide with the double-win all day long.

If the interior offensive line is strong but Jake Matthews and Ogbuehi are struggling, then Manziel and his band of running backs can run zone-read all day long.

If the offensive line struggles in run blocking, then you spread the field out with four and five wide receiver sets and pass the ball the majority of the time.With receivers Mike Evans, Malcome Kennedy and Derel Walker returning, the Ags will be a tough task to cover by any secondary.

The Ags are bringing in JaQuay Williams, Kyrion Parker, Laquvionte Gonzalez, Ricky Seals-Jones, Jeremy Tabuyo and Sebastian Larue at receiver in the 2013 class. Edward Pope is a 6'4" receiver who redshirted during the 2012 season. No secondary in the country will be able to match up with the height of Evans, Williams, Pope, Parker and Seals-Jones.

The Ags should be able to find a nice rotation of seven receivers out of the returning players at the position and the incoming freshmen. Manziel has the elusiveness and the speed to buy time to get the ball to his receivers. 

Malena and Trey Williams caught 30 passes combined in 2012. They will be a threat in the passing game out of the backfield.

 

The Clear Factor

Cameron Clear signed with A&M during the early signing period for junior college players, without much media attention. The tight end recruit from Arizona Western Community College is one of the lesser-known players in the Ags 2013 recruiting class.

He may end up being the most important. At 6'6" and 275 lbs, Clear is an imposing blocker who will give the Ags a dominating presence on the edge of the line.

If either Jake Matthews or Ogbuehi struggle at their respective positions, the coaches can line up Clear next to them to help out. He has the size and strength to project as a blocking tight end in the NFL. Clear will remind most Aggie fans or former A&M tight end and current New York Giant Martellus Bennett.

In 2012 when the Ags got into the red zone, they would often insert Joseph Cheek at left tackle and move Joeckel to right tackle and Jake Matthews to tight end on the right side to get better blocking on the edge. With Clear on the field, they can simply line him up at right tackle and have a viable receiving target from that position in the red zone.

Clear may end up being most valuable out of the double-wing formation. Most Aggie fans will remember this formation from the Louisiana Tech game where both the A&M and Tech offenses lined up in it against each other.

In 2012 the Ags used Michael Lamothe and Nehemiah Hicks as the wing backs in this formation. They lined the two tight ends up closer to the quarterback so long with the running back, it appeared that the Ags had a diamond formation in the backfield.

The point of the double-wing formation is to outnumber the defenders on the edge. With five offensive linemen and two wing backs they should be a minimum of seven blockers on every play. With a quarterback like Manziel carrying the ball, you could have eight blockers in the game. 

Clear would offer the Ags a devastating blocker on the edge out of this formation. He would also give them the option of a 6'6" receiving target out of this formation. If the Ags put Carson in as the running back in this formation, they could have 275-lb Clear and 230-lb Carson on the edge blocking for Manziel.

 

Diversity Is The Key

Sumlin and the Aggie coaching staff have recruited enough skill talent to A&M in the past two years that their options on offense are unlimited. They can be equally effective running the ball or passing the ball.

The offensive line is key to the success of any offense. However, the fact that Sumlin keeps such an open mind about his offense and is not afraid to experiment with new formations means that they scheme around any offensive weakness.

Sumlin has recruited the personnel and already employed the schemes and plays needed to overcome any weakness on the offensive line.

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The Penn State Nittany Lions will have several holes to fill in 2013 on both sides of the ball—most notably, replacing quarterback Matt McGloin, who led the Nittany Lions last season and made them the No. 2 passing offense in the Big Ten.

There will no doubt be an adjustment period on offense, that means that the defense, especially early on, is going to have to step up and lead in 2013.

Though there will be several starters returning on offense, one has to think that the team could struggle early on with an inexperienced signal-caller.  This year's team will take the field with a new leader at quarterback. Top recruit Christian Hackenberg, junior college transfer Tyler Ferguson and 2012 backup Steven Bench will all be vying to be named the starter.

Whoever gets the job, there are sure to be growing pains as the offense evolves throughout the season.  Bench is the only one with Division I experience, though he threw just eight passes in 2012. It takes time to learn the speed of the college game, develop a relationship with the receivers and to gain a knack for reading defenses.

The production that Penn State can expect from the quarterback position in 2013 is unknown and hard to predict. The Nittany Lions will likely rely heavily on the running game in order to take pressure off the passing attack.

The running game struggled in 2012, meaning that the play of McGloin was even more important to the success of the team. Even with the emergence of running back Zack Zwinak last season, the Nittany Lions ranked ninth in the Big Ten, averaging just 144.3 rushing yards per game.

Defenses will key on the backs, making the Nittany Lions beat them through the air.

While it may take a few games for the offense to gel in 2013, the defense is going to have to take a lead role. A solid defensive performance can keep any team in a game, regardless of any offensive struggles. 

Although the unit will have to make up for the losses of Jordan Hill, Sean Stanley, Stephon Morris, Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges, it will still be solid. Despite the key losses, Penn State still returns seven guys who started last year, including Big Ten Freshman of the Year, defensive end Deion Barnes.

The secondary, which will return three regular starters, should be the strongest piece of the defense. Adrian Amos, Malcolm Willis and Stephen Obeng-Agyapong all bring valuable experience that will be relied on heavily in 2013.

Barnes and Da'Quan Jones, who both started last year, will anchor the defensive line. Starting middle linebacker Glenn Carson and the talented Mike Hull will be the core of the linebackers.

Fans should not expect to see the same Penn State offense as last season right away. Yes, a lot of the faces will be the same, but it's going to take time for the new quarterback to get everything clicking.

While the offense will be in a learning mode, the defense will be the backbone of the 2013 Penn State Nittany Lions.

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After a few days to let the recruiting dust settle and amidst much speculation, the final destination for Trinity High School (Lousiville, KY) defensive end Jason Hatcher remains as murky as ever.

Hatcher, who decommitted from USC last week, was set to visit Florida and hometown Louisville as he attempted to ascertain where he would spend his college career.

However, those plans changed for Hatcher after Ethan Moore of Louisville Sports Live Radio reported that Hatcher's mother said that he wouldn't be taking anymore visits.

Except that might not be the whole story.

According to Nick Coffey, who writes for "The Cardinal Connect," Hatcher's mother told Steve Jones of the Courier-Journal that a Louisville visit might still be in the cards for Hatcher but not this weekend.

Confused yet? Wait, it gets better.

On January 24, Gerard Martinez of USCFootball.com tweeted that, "A source close to four-star defensive end Jason Hatcher says he has re-committed to #USC. Other sources say it will be a NSD decision."

Well, that clears that up doesn't it?

While the recruiting status of Hatcher remains unclear, one thing that has cleared up is USC's desire to hold on to the big defensive end.

Initially, after Hatcher's decommittment from the Trojans, speculation centered on USC possibly having rescinded its scholarship offer for whatever reason.

We now know that isn't the case.

Upon learning of the decommitment, USC sent recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron—who would also be his position coach—to have a sit down at Hatcher's home.

This visit preceded the cancelled visits to Louisville and Florida by Hatcher and likely motivated the speculation that Hatcher had once again pledged to the Trojans.

So while young Jason's commitment remains unsettled, what is clear is that USC still wants him, which makes sense.

Beyond his ability, there is a possibility that when all is said and done, he could be the only defensive end in this class for the Trojans.

Former Trojan pledge Kylie Fitts has re-opened his recruitment after USC rescinded its offer to have Fitts enroll early and instead asked him to wait until fall.

USC's other defensive end pledge, Torrodney Prevot—a very quick but undersized player who will likely need a redshirt to gain weight—is listed as a "soft commit," and continues to take visits to other programs including one to Texas A&M last weekend.

No wonder Orgeron made the cross-country flight to Kentucky.

So where does this odd story wind up?

For USC's beleaguered coaching staff, which has received far more bad news than good of late, it hopes there is only one destination.

Back to USC, right where it began.

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With just over a week to go until national signing day, college football fans across the country are impatiently waiting to find out whether or not their favorite programs will secure one of the remaining high-end recruits.

Though the majority of the top-ranked available recruits (via 247 Sports) are defensive players, for teams on the market for offensive game-breakers, there are still a handful of offensive studs that remain unsigned.

As we close in on decision day, here's a look at the best offensive prospects that are still up for grabs. 

 

Alex Collins—South Plantation, Florida

At No. 17 on 247 Sports' big board, Alex Collins is a versatile option in the backfield. He is being hotly pursued by a number of storied programs, such as Florida, Florida State, Wisconsin, Miami and Arkansas, but hasn't given a clear indication with regards to where he's headed in the fall.

After rushing for more than 3,200 yards in the last two seasons, the 4-star recruit will be a difference-maker immediately at the college level, so he won't be looking to head to a team that features a logjam at running back. 

As such, it's no surprise that Collins is reportedly leaning slightly towards Miami and Arkansas, as Arkansas is losing its top back in Dennis Johnson, while Miami will be without one of its two leading rushers from 2012.

With Collins' explosiveness and size, there's no reason to believe that he won't make an impact if given an opportunity to do so as a freshman. 

 

Stacy Coley—Northeast, Florida

Virtually all of the top wide receivers are off the market, so for teams still searching for elite talent to bolster their receiving corps, Stacy Coley is the best remaining option. 

Ranked No. 4 among all receivers, Coley has largely been considering schools strictly from his home state of Florida (via 247 Sports).

At this stage, after having made recent visits to both South Florida, Miami and Florida State, Coley's search would appear to narrowed down to three, but of the three, Florida State would appear to offer a level of stability that the other two programs don't.

Coley isn't quite a sure bet to put up big numbers at the next level, but only because, at 175 lbs, he may not be physically ready to be a threat offensively just yet. 

 

Durham Smythe—Belton, Texas

At 6'5", 233 lbs, Durham Smythe has the frame and raw athleticism to be an effective tight end at the college level. But in order to do so, he'll need to put on some muscle between now and this fall.

Smythe, who had previously committed to Texas before reneging on his decision in December, has an impressive collection of schools in the running to land him. And, according to 247 Sports, he's made official visits this month to Michigan, Stanford and Notre Dame.

He might be more of a project than an immediate difference-maker, but he's been productive at Belton, and he has all the tools to make his mark wherever he goes next.

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The 2013 Senior Bowl has come and gone, but a number of prospects have drastically shaken up their draft stock in the process.

While no player truly dominated in the Mobile, Ala. All-Star event, there were certainly some youngsters that boosted themselves up in the eyes of fans, scouts, coaches and GMs.

Let’s take a look at these players that stepped up and created a buzz in the latest Senior Bowl.

 

E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State

In the short time Manuel was in the game, he certainly made an impact.

The Seminoles star completed 7-of-10 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, although he did throw a pick. Manuel also showed off a glimpse of his running ability, carrying four times for 10 yards and a score.

Considering most of the other quarterbacks in the game didn’t live up to expectations, Manuel’s outing was relatively impressive. It shows the young man is a quick learner and able to adapt to new situations and offenses on the fly.

Don’t think that teams will forget that come late April.

 

Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

Ansah led the South in tackles (7 total, 3.5 for a loss) and sacks (1.5), while also forcing a fumble and breaking up a pass.

That’s an extremely productive performance considering his limited snaps, and you can be positive that scouts took notice.

Prior to the Senior Bowl, this young man was widely considered a project going into the draft. Now he looks to have a real shot to go in the top half of the first round.

 

Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA

No other player on the North was able to rack up yards on the ground like the UCLA standout.

Franklin finished with 41 yards and a touchdown on five carries, including a 20-yard gain that proved this LA native isn’t someone to be ignored on the big boards.

It wasn’t easy to find space against the South standout defenders, but Franklin managed to carve up the D and improve his draft stock in the process.

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This isn't Wall Street, but the stocks have been rising and falling all week in Mobile, Ala. at the 2013 Senior Bowl. 

While we've seen multiple players' stocks fall—including Denard Robinson and Robert Lester—there are a handful of guys who are easily first-round draft picks in the 2013 NFL draft.

Let's take a look.

 

Tyler Wilson, QB

In a relatively shallow quarterback pool this season, Tyler Wilson is sure to be a first-round pick.

CBS Sports ranks Wilson as the third-best QB in the draft, with Geno Smith and Matt Barkley ahead of him.

According to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, Wilson looked good during his time in Mobile:

Dave Richard of CBS Sports also touches on Wilson's time at the Senior Bowl:

Wilson has been the most consistent and has the smoothest mechanics, so if I had to pick one of the quarterbacks to start a game for my team, he would be the guy... It feels like he's a bit more of a playmaker with experience in a pro offense and that's enough to make him the best passer here.

With the analysts raving over Wilson and a multitude of NFL teams seeking quarterbacks, Wilson is an immediate first-rounder.

Wilson put up NFL-type numbers during his final season at Arkansas, tossing 21 touchdowns to 13 interceptions and totaling 3,387 yards through the air.

At 6'3", he's got great height and doesn't have to be concerned with a lot of his passes being batted down at the line of scrimmage.

 

Ezekiel Ansah, DE

Ansah has been linked to multiple NFL teams in mock drafts this offseason and is undoubtedly a first-round pick in the NFL draft.

He's an athletic pass rusher who's already drawing comparisons to Jason Pierre-Paul, according to CBS Sports' Matt Rybaltowski.

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper pins Ansah as a first-rounder, as he has the Pittsburgh Steelers taking the defender with their 17th pick (Insider access required).

Anytime you draw comparisons to one of the best defensive ends in the NFL, you will likely be a high pick in the draft.

Ansah recorded 4.5 sacks at BYU during his senior season and showcased his hands with an interception in the Poinsettia Bowl against San Diego State.

At 6'6", 270 pounds, the defensive end has both great size and speed to make it in the NFL.

 

Eric Fisher, OT

CBS Sports ranks Fisher as the second-best offensive tackle in the draft while Mel Kiper predicts the San Diego Chargers will take him with their No. 11 pick.

Multiple reports have surfaced from those covering the Senior Bowl down in Alabama regarding Fisher's excellent week in Mobile, including ESPN's Kevin Seifert.

Fisher also had a good day [Tuesday]. He's put together well, with 34-inch arms and a long frame that allows him to carry his weight well. His balance was impressive, and the matchups against [Alex] Okafor and [Datone] Jones were the only times he lost his balance. 

Offensive tackles should be a hit in the draft, with a lot of NFL teams looking for help in the running and pass protection game.

With great reports coming from the writers and analysts in Alabama, there's no doubting the first-round capabilities of these senior players.

It's hard to gauge offensive lineman since there are no real statistics for them, but at 6'8", 305 pounds, Fisher sure seems more than ready for the league based on his size.

 

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Running back Derrick Green's commitment to Michigan Saturday (via RichmondTimesDispatch.com) does wonders for head coach Brady Hoke's reputation as a great recruiter.

Green joining the Wolverines practically guarantees Michigan's second straight top-five recruiting class.

Landing Green gives Michigan Scout.com's No. 1 running back, No. 1 offensive guard, No. 2 fullback and No. 3 offensive tackle.

Hoke's immediate success at Michigan—he was hired in 2011— confirms he won't take a back seat to Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, regardless of how aggressive Meyer's recruiting practices are said to be. 

When Meyer took over the Ohio State head coaching job just over a year ago, he brought a strategy that some other Big Ten coaches didn't like.

Meyer had no problem pursuing other teams' commits, but a few Big Ten coaches complained that he was violating a "gentlemen's agreement" which "prohibited" the practice. 

"...I would say it's pretty unethical..." Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio told the Detroit News.

But Hoke doesn't subscribe to the so-called gentlemen's agreement. "As far as I’ve known, it’s always been fair game until they sign," Hoke told an Ohio TV station. "I don’t have as much a problem with that and, hopefully, we don’t get too many of those that go away from you."

In fact, Hoke has been extremely effective "poaching" recruits since he arrived at Michigan. Last season, Hoke flipped outstanding offensive lineman Kyle Kalis away from the Buckeyes, and this year he's landed four prospects previously committed to other schools.

CB Ross Douglas, WR D'Mario Jones, OL Dan Samuelson and CB Reon Dawson had committed elsewhere. 

Why such incredible success for a coach who only held head jobs at second-tier schools Ball State and San Diego State?

For one, Hoke devised a strategy to recruit more heavily in the Midwest, unlike his predecessors, who recruited across the nation.

 

He also retained running back coach Fred Jackson, who has been recruiting for Michigan for more than 22 seasons. 

And third, he brought in former Baltimore Ravens DC Greg Mattison—who Ohio State's Meyer believes is college football's top recruiter.

Who can argue that the strategy hasn't worked to perfection? Hoke has dominated Dantonio in Michigan over the last two seasons and has fought Meyer to a near-standoff in Ohio. 

Jackson, who recruited incoming quarterback Shane Morris, also played a part in Green's recruitment.  

Mattison, who's always around to close a deal, has been doing his thing on the national level. It hasn't hurt that many of the players he coached at Baltimore will be playing in Super Bowl XLVII.

While Michigan is delighted with the recruitment of Green, there's more work to be done before National Signing Day, Feb. 6. 

The Wolverines are also in line for TE Durham Smythe of Belton, TX,  OG Cameron Hunt of Corona, CA and perhaps a few more surprises. 

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Derrick Green is heading to Michigan. The highly regarded running back out of Richmond, Va. had plenty of options, but the elite recruit ultimately decided to become a member of the Wolverines, according to Evan Woodbery of the Knoxville News Sentinel:

We could list all the programs Michigan beat out to land Green, but that would probably take just as long as the young star's recruiting process. According to 247Sports, Green had 33 official offers from top programs all across the nation, and coaches from just about every major conference checked in on him.

It's really no surprise.

Green is listed as a 5-star recruit for 247Sports, and the website's composite rankings have him as the fourth-best running back prospect and the No. 26 overall player in the 2013 class. 

The thing that immediately stands out about Green is his combination of power and speed. He can run over the first defender by dropping his shoulder and then run past a safety, something you don't see often from an incoming freshman.

Furthermore, the initial hit rarely knocks him down. At 6'0" and 220 pounds, it usually takes multiple defensive reinforcements to finally get him to the ground. He won't run through college defenses in the same way, of course, but he has the strength to succeed.

If given the opportunity, Green should have no problem making an impact right away. It takes a special back to break the rotation as a freshman, but he definitely falls into that category. It probably won't be long before he gets his chance to shine.

The Wolverines have senior Fitz Toussaint, junior Thomas Rawls, sophomore Justice Hayes as well as fellow commit Deveon Smith to compete with Green for carries out of the backfield.

The only concern is how the Hermitage High School sensation will handle the pressure. Any time a player garners as much hype as he did during the recruiting process, the expectations start getting out of control.

Assuming he doesn't let that affect him, there's no reason he can't become one of the best running backs in college football within a couple years.

He has the natural talent. Now, it just comes down to learning the finer points of the position and gaining experience at the next level.

 

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We've just had another big domino fall on the recruiting trail, as stud RB Derrick Green has committed to Michigan, per the Richmond Times Dispatch. Big Blue always sat pretty with the Virginia native, and now he's officially a Wolverine.

This is great news for Brady Hoke, as it solidifies a top-10 class is coming to Ann Arbor for the second consecutive year. Green gives Michigan a big back at 6'0" and nearly 230 pounds who also has great straight-line speed.

Of course, with a commitment of this magnitude, rankings will see some movement. I'm here to give you an update of the Big Ten recruiting rankings board now that Michigan has landed Derrick Green.

Does Green give the Wolverines enough ammo to fend off their rivals, Ohio State? Or do the Buckeyes have the better and top class in the B1G? Let's find out right now!

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Auburn missed out on landing one of the top RBs in the country on Saturday afternoon when RB Derrick Green announced his college plans to attend Michigan. 

Green is a powerful back with speed that would have fit perfectly into head coach Gus Malzahn's high-octane offense. 

All is not lost for Auburn, though. Missing on Green stings a little, but it won't cripple Auburn at the RB position. As things currently stand, Auburn has depth, that is mostly unproven, at the RB position. 

Top JUCO RB Cameron Artis-Payne committed to Auburn and has already enrolled in classes. He will take part in Auburn's spring practice in just a couple of months. Along with Artis-Payne, the Tigers still have RBs Tre Mason, Mike Blakely and Corey Grant. 

Artis-Payne will likely be used as more of a power back in Malzahn's offense, much like Ben Tate and Mike Dyer were in 2009 and 2010, respectively. 

Mason was thrust into the role of Auburn's featured back in 2012 and responded by having a 1,000-yard rushing season. Mason proved the doubters who said his size would not allow him to run between the tackles wrong. 

Blakely showed tremendous potential in 2012. He was Auburn's leading rusher in Week 2 against Mississippi State. Blakely spent a lot of time in former head coach Gene Chizik's doghouse after a costly fumble against Louisiana-Monroe in Week 3. 

Alabama transfer and Opelika, AL native Corey Grant gave Auburn fans high hopes after his performance in last year's spring game. When the regular season rolled around, Grant did not see any meaningful snaps at the RB position. 

Just because Auburn whiffed on signing Derrick Green and has depth, it does not mean that the Tigers are done recruiting at the RB position. Ideally, Auburn will sign two more RBs in the 2013 class, in addition to Artis-Payne. 

Auburn lost the commitment of 4-star RB Jordan Wilkins in what was more of a mutual break-up. 

The Auburn coaching staff is after a pair of Notre Dame RB commits, Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant. Folston took an official visit to Auburn on the weekend of Jan. 19. Auburn coaches are working to secure a visit from Bryant. 

Another player at the RB position to keep an eye on is Ole Miss commit Peyton Barber. Barber has an Auburn offer and took an unofficial visit on Jan. 5. 

Auburn may try to put some pressure on Alabama commitment, 4-star Alltee Tenpenny. He is an Arkansas native and Auburn TE coach Tim Horton was his lead recruiter for the Razorbacks when Horton was on staff in Fayetteville.

Another Alabama commitment that Auburn may pursue is RB Tyren Jones. Jones holds an Auburn offer and was recruited by Rodney Gardner to UGA when Gardner was recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs. 

Although Auburn would have loved to have gained the commitment of Green, the swing-and-miss is not crippling to the RB position. It should be fun to watch how Auburn responds leading up to national signing day with as many options as it has. 

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Five-star running back Derrick Green is heading to Ann Arbor and will have an instant impact on Brady Hoke's offense. 

The 6'0", 220-pounder has tremendous speed. His commitment is a huge deal for the Michigan Wolverines. Expect to see him on the field this fall.  

According to 247Sports compositie ranking, Green is the No. 3 recruit in Virginia, the No. 4 RB and the No. 26 recruit in the country. 

Full Ride is Bleacher Report's weekly college football recruiting show that pulls back the curtain to give you the hottest news, analysis, interviews and highlights.

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Highlight video courtesy of 247Sports.com.

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The weeks and months of speculation are finally over, and Michigan Wolverines fans can now rejoice, breathe a little easier and shift their focus to the fall of 2013 because 5-star running back Derrick Green will wear the Maize and Blue winged helmet during his collegiate football career. 

Green—the No. 1-ranked running back of the 2013 class—chose Michigan over SEC programs Auburn and Tennessee, announcing his decision during today's 4 p.m. press conference at Hermitage High (Va.). 

Thoughts of what Green is capable of doing to Big Ten linebackers are plenty. Thoughts of just how he will benefit an ailing Wolverines rushing attack are ever present. 

The powerful 6'0," 220-pounder tallied nine rushing touchdowns during his senior year before earning a laundry list of All-Everything accolades. Green averaged nearly 13 yards per carry and 160 per game this past season for the Panthers (10-1). 

He's incredibly difficult to tackle, and he'll undoubtedly prove himself this fall when he faces Big Ten linebackers for the first time.

Yes, even as a true freshman, Green will receive his fair share of totes in Wolverines offensive coordinator Al Borges' scheme. 

The Power-I formation, the ground-and-pound, the Bo-style of owning the field is perfect for Green, a one-time Ohio State target. Given the Wolverines' struggles while running in 2012, Green will surely inject a new level of excitement into Michigan's backfield. 

 

First Year? No Problem

There aren't many true freshmen who get a chance to shine in the Big Ten. The level of talent is among the best in the land, but Green's game is undeniable; he's something special, and it doesn't make sense to shelve him for any reason. 

The Wolverines averaged 183 yards on the ground per game in 2012. Of course, the bulk of that load was carried by quarterback Denard Robinson. Now that "Shoelace" has completed his term in Ann Arbor, Michigan needs another reliable horse to run, run, run. 

Robinson became a Michigan legend during his time with the Wolverines. His athleticism is off the charts. But the Wolverines tailored their scheme—as much as possible, anyway—to cater to Robinson's strength. 

Unfortunately for Michigan, that meant running more of a spread style filled with option-reads and misdirection plays. That works elsewhere, but it's not what works for Michigan. 

Getting back to "Michigan football" has been coach Brady Hoke's mantra the past three years. Now that Hoke has Green, he'll no longer have to worry about his quarterback getting smashed each time the Wolverines take to the ground.

He won't have to cover his eyes and hope for the best when Green carries the ball. Well, he may cover his eyes while Green bulldozes Buckeyes and Spartans linebackers, but that's another story. 

 

Move Over Thomas Rawls and Fitz Toussaint

Sophomore Thomas Rawls definitely made strides this past year. The Flint native has been compared to former Alabama star Mark Ingram, also of Flint, and appeared to be on the fast track to the spotlight in Michigan's backfield. 

Michigan couldn't decide which back to use, so Rawls was shuffled in and out of the lineup while struggling junior Fitz Toussaint took on the lion's share of rushing duties. Toussaint was ineffective before his gruesome season-ending injury suffered against Iowa. 

Here's a look at Rawls' and Toussaint's numbers: Rawls (57 carries, 242 yards, four touchdowns), Toussaint (130 carries, 514 yards, five touchdowns). 

Opinions vary, but there were a lot of Wolverines fans who felt Rawls should have been placed into the No. 1 role as early as Week 3 or 4. Unfortunately for Rawls, he may never get a real shot at showing off his Ingram-like skills. 

Green's arrival will spark a fiery competition. Get ready for that one. 

Now that Michigan has its man in Green, the Wolverines have three solid options to start at running back. Don't forget about De'Veon Smith; he's another big-bodied wrecking ball that fits Borges' and Hoke's system. 

However, it's hard not to speculate about Green. It's incredibly difficult to think that he won't have an immediate impact in Ann Arbor. Now that he's safely secure with Michigan, the rest of the Big Ten will have no other choice but to fear the Wolverines' talent-saturated backfield. 

 

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

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