NCAA Football News

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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While South Carolina will return a significant amount of players from its elite defense in 2013, the Gamecocks have a glaring hole at linebacker after losing five seniors at that position. 

With Shaq Wilson, DeVonte Holloman, Reginald Bowens, Quin Smith and Damario Jeffery all having used up their eligibility at South Carolina, the Gamecocks need their young linebackers to step up. 

Though they do have several young studs, such as Kaiwan Lewis and Mason Harris, already waiting in the wings in Columbia, one incoming freshman in Steve Spurrier's 2013 recruiting class stands out as a potential immediate impact player. 

Larenz Bryant, 4-star linebacker who is the nation's fourth-ranked inside linebacker by Rivals, has the talent and athleticism to see significant playing time upon his arrival on campus. 

Byrant only weighs 210 pounds, but he makes up for it with his 4.58 speed and impressive range. Those assets translate well onto the field, as the young linebacker has outstanding closing speed and can catch opponents from anywhere on the field. 

Due to his slight frame, Bryant will likely spend most of his time on the outside at South Carolina, perhaps in place of the departing weak-side linebacker Wilson, a long-time veteran who only weighs 224 pounds himself. 

The North Carolina native demonstrates excellent blitzing ability as well, often getting into the backfield before his opponents know what hit them. This asset will be a key addition to Lorenzo Ward's aggressive defense in 2013. 

Back in 2012, Ward told Willie T. Smith III of GreenvilleOnline.com:

"When we saw what we had when we used the rabbit package on third downs (playing four defensive ends up front), we feel like we didn’t have to bring pressure all the time," Ward said. "We probably would have to bring more if we didn’t come up with that particular package, but we really didn’t have to blitz as much."

With the loss of athletic defensive end Devin Taylor, whose long strides and 6'8" frame were some of the biggest reasons for the success of the "rabbit package," Ward will likely have to bring more heat from his young, athletic linebacker corps in 2013.

Bryant is definitely capable of contributing to Ward's aggressive game plan. However, he does have some areas where he would need to improve.

According to ESPN's Chris Low, Spurrier complimented his defensive coordinator by explaining that he's "coaching a very sound, fundamental scheme."

If Bryant wants to make an early impact, he'll have to improve on just that—the fundamentals. The incoming freshman was able to get by in high school with his physicality and athleticism, often tackling high with his arms instead of getting low and running through the tackle with his body. 

In the SEC, Bryant will have to improve on wrapping up and lowering his body to take down the likes of Todd Gurley and T.J. Yeldon if he wants to succeed. 

Nonetheless, Bryant's talent, potential and athleticism will provide the Gamecocks, at the very least, some much-needed depth and upside in an inexperienced corps of linebackers. 

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Recruiting is the most inexact science in sports. 

An easy way to get lost in the recruiting shuffle is to glare at star ratings and statistics. Star ratings are the least accurate of the two deciphering points, but stats can be equally deceiving.

There are five stats that really get overhyped often, and this is a breakdown of what they are and how they can mislead a casual recruiting follower. 

How recruits will develop over four years is tough to judge, but there are signs that coaches look for to choose who they believe will develop into star talent once they arrive at the next level. Here is why you don’t need to get lost in the stats shuffle. 

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Having Shane Morris ride the pine for a season would benefit the Michigan Wolverines.

247Sports' composite rankings have the De La Salle Collegiate High School senior at No. 71.

Morris committed to Michigan way back in May of 2011 (h/t AnnArbor.com). He was invited to the Under Armour All-American Game this year, but had a very poor showing, finishing 2-of-10 for the game with an interception. Kyle Meinke of MLive.com did a good job of chronicling his difficulties in the buildup to the All-American Game.

Those who saw Morris came away largely unimpressed.

It was the culmination of a rather poor run for Morris, as reported by Meinke. Morris fell in Rivals' rankings and lost a star from his status, thus becoming a 4-star quarterback.

As a result, some of the gloss on Morris' arrival has worn off.

Michigan might normally be concerned if it didn't already have a steady QB situation for 2013. Devin Gardner did a very good job after replacing Denard Robinson in 2012. He passed for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns to only five interceptions. Gardner also rushed for another 101 yards.

The Wolverines will be a very good football team with him at the helm. He is largely unproven, but he's likely at least as good of a passer as Robinson was.

With all of the momentum having been almost completely drained from Morris coming into Ann Arbor next season, the timing is perfect for him to take a step back in regard to his Wolverine career. Having him sit out his freshman year will help his development greatly.

It's not as if all of a sudden he's a poor quarterback because he dropped in recruiting rankings. He has the tools to succeed. Now it's up to the Michigan coaching staff to hone his skills.

If anything, the poor run just helped to ground fans' expectations, which is only going to help Morris.

The Wolverines don't need a quarterback to come in and throw for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. They need a QB who will be able to manage the game and help move the ball down the field.

Michigan won a split of the 1997 national title with Brian Griese and then the 2000 Orange Bowl with Tom Brady. Neither of those guys lit up the field.

Morris can take a year off and learn the Wolverines' playbook while adjusting a little more to college football. By the time Gardner is done, Morris can take over.

He's going to be the quarterback of the future. At this point, it's important that he has plenty of time to settle in and find his groove. Redshirting his freshman season will pay huge dividends for both player and school.

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