NCAA Football News

It's hard to believe that National Signing Day is now only about a week away. It seems only yesterday that we still had months to go before reaching it.

The recruiting process has slowed down mightily for Michigan over the past few months, but that's not a surprise when considering the hot start they got off to. In fact, it was about a year ago at this time when the 2013 recruits started committing at a historic rate.

With the class basically all but wrapped up, what will Michigan's top goals be on Signing Day?

All information found at thewolverine.com.

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Trey Johnson isn’t the most highly-touted recruit to commit to the Ohio State Buckeyes. He’s just the most important.

Urban Meyer has, per usual, assembled a stellar recruiting class down in Columbus. And Trey Johnson was the biggest commit of them all.

There are commits ranked above him but, in terms of importance, no one else compares. Urban Meyer needed Johnson.

Ohio State has a tradition of linebacking excellence. There have been guys like A.J. Hawk, James Laurinaitis and, most recently, Ryan Shazier locking down the position for the Buckeyes. Those are some pretty big names.

But that strength has the potential to become a major weakness, both this season and beyond it. Shazier is the only returning starter at the position, and the team desperately needs to find players who can give him some support

It’s not like the Buckeyes don’t have any options when it comes to filling the gaps at linebacker—they do. In fact, the Buckeyes have some really talented guys who could step up and fight for the spot.

The problem is that, to this point, none of those options have proven to be anything other than unreliable at best.

There’s a lot of names and a lot of potential. Curtis Grant, Josh Perry, Jamal Marcus, Camren Williams, David Perkins—they will all be competing for spots. But none of them are proven.

On the surface, Grant and Perry appear the most ready to step in and fill the void, but both have some big question marks.

Grant (ESPN’s No. 3 inside linebacker in 2011) is about as talented as they come at the position, but there are major concerns about his ability to adapt to the Buckeyes’ complex system. And while Perry got some burn last season, he’s still essentially completely untested.

Johnson is (obviously) as unproven as the rest of them, but he’s a superb athlete and gives Meyer what he needs most—insurance.

Even if Johnson doesn’t play this season, he’s the most highly-touted linebacker that the Buckeyes have landed in years—since Grant, in fact. Once Shazier graduates or heads to the pros, Meyer is going to need someone to build around defensively, and Johnson can be that guy.

Unless one of Ohio State’s reserves makes an astonishing leap forward, Johnson is the only recruit, or linebacker on the roster, that you would feel confident saying that about. By all accounts he’s the real deal, and he’ll give the Buckeyes defense some punch in the future.

He has a shot at seeing the field early, but even if he doesn’t, Trey Johnson is the Buckeyes' biggest recruiting get this season.

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The Auburn Tigers are in a hard transition point as the Gus Malzahn regime takes hold over the Plains. Auburn was on a roll recruiting under Gene Chizik, and Malzahn is hoping to continue that trend with the 2013 class. 

There was a drop off that occurred with the coaching change, but Malzahn has plenty of selling points to pull from to help get top talent back in the fold for the Tigers in the future. 

Right now, playing time will be abundantly available at specific positions, there is a Heisman-winning tradition and the Tigers have been national title winners within the past five years. Auburn is a place that can return to dominance with the right players and coaches. 

Here is a look at the tools this staff will use to bring elite talent to the Plains. 

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The South Carolina Gamecocks have one true priority for National Signing Day. 

They need linebacker help in the worst way. 

Given the idea that all committed players stick to their commitments, the Gamecocks look to be in pretty good shape with this class.  It isn't the greatest of all the Steve Spurrier South Carolina classes, but it will rank in the top 20. 

While I've already compiled a wish list of recruits that would really help bolster the program, there are two names that come to the top of the list and rank as the biggest priorities. 

Those names belong to 4-star linebackers Skai Moore and Yannick Ngakoue. 

Skai Moore is a 6'2" 210 pound wrecking ball at outside linebacker from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  He's a player with the type of frame SEC coaches drool over.  He's also got plenty of speed and range and could immediately contribute at linebacker for the Gamecocks. 

According to ESPN, he runs a 4.69 forty and some of his key traits are his ability to diagnose plays, his outside run support and his excellent tackling and coverage skills. 

This would be a huge grab for the Gamecocks. 

Yannick Ngakou would be an even bigger grab. 

At 6'3" and 240 pounds, Ngakou has elite size.  He's also athletic and is ranked as the fourth best linebacker in the country.  He could start for the Gamecocks in 2013. 

If these two players commit elsewhere, I'd consider the recruiting class of 2013 a minor disappointment.  If they become Gamecocks, this is another home-run class that meets many of the team's needs. 

These two are must-haves. 

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Another day equals another twist and turn in the saga known as Robert Nkemdiche's recruiting process.

Yesterday, a report came out via Kipp Adams of ESPN.com where Nkemdiche stated that he was setting up an official visit to LSU this weekend. Soon thereafter, a conflicting report surfaced that sourced Nkemdiche's father, Dr. Sunday Nkemdiche, who said that Robert would not take any more official visits.

Neal McCready of RebelGrove.com reports the bad news for LSU:

Nkemdiche said he did not expect his son to take any more official visits, adding that there would not be a trip to LSU this weekend. Nkemdiche said Robert's announcement plays are undecided, adding it will come "likely on signing day" Feb. 6.

If Nkemdiche does indeed not visit LSU, the Tigers can basically count themselves out of the running for his commitment.

Les Miles and the Tigers had a good pitch for the No. 1 overall recruit (early playing time, great football atmosphere, national relevance and competitiveness in the SEC), so this has to go down as a major recruiting loss. The Tigers may have been an outlier in the recruiting process, but they still had a chance. 

That's more than most elite programs were able to say in regards to Nkemdiche, and at the very least LSU was able to make it interesting.

Ole Miss is considered to be the popular leader and the Rebels appear to have a pretty good chance to land Nkemdiche's commitment considering his family ties to the program, and there's also no doubting the hype and anticipation surrounding Hugh Freeze's program this recruiting cycle.

The other program that is still in the running is Florida, who landed a surprise official visit from Nkedmcie on January 18, and the Gators have a lot to offer the elite recruit from a defensive standpoint.

LSU can't afford to not receive a visit, and while it looked like the Tigers may have had a chance yesterday, McCready's report basically renders LSU null and void.

It's worth noting that this was Nkemdiche's father who said there wont be a visit, but considering how up-and-down the No. 1 recruit's process has been, I wouldn't count out a change of heart just yet in regards to a visit to LSU. He's surprised us before, and he can do it again.

For now though, LSU looks to be out of this race.

With just few days left before national signing day, Miles and his staff don't have time to waste on the recruiting trail. Losing out on Nkemdiche is a notable recruiting loss, but the Tigers still have work to do.

The most notable recruit with high interest in the Tigers is junior college receiver Courtney Garner. He's 6'3'', 215 pounds and runs a 4.40 40-yard dash according to 247Sports, so he'd be a huge pickup for LSU. Thankfully for the Tigers, they are listed as the favorite according to his 247Sports interest list. 

Another top recruit that has LSU listed as his favorite (according to 247Sports) is 4-star tight end Josh McNeil. He's a former Alabama commitment and is ranked as the No. 10 overall tight end according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He would represent a major recruiting win for LSU, especially considering the fact that he used to be an Alabama recruit.

With literally days left before national signing day, all coach Miles and his staff can do is move on from Nkemdiche.

Unless something drastic happens (which is always a possibility, mind you), LSU looks to be on the outside looking in for his commitment. 

The Tigers would be setting themselves up very nicely on the offensive side of things though by landing either Garner or McNeil, and if LSU can get both—that should make up for losing out on Nkemdiche.

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National Signing Day is next Wednesday, February 6, and it is always full of the most crazy, bizarre and wildest memories of the recruiting year. We have witnessed some downright odd moments on NSD, and this year likely won't be any different.

So, how about we take a stroll down memory lane—National Signing Day style—and look at the craziest stunts pulled over the years. This read will have you laughing, scratching your head, shaking your head, reminiscing and even feeling a little miffed—all at once.

Crazy stunts and National Signing Day go together like piranhas and peanut butter...exactly.

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Many people throughout the college football world are giving Notre Dame a shot to return to the National Championship because of the defense. With eight starters returning from a unit that ranked seventh last year in total yards allowed, the Irish are in good position to win a lot of games in 2013.

Although, with spring ball ready to take place soon, two key players from that defense will miss all of the practices and the spring game that kicks off in the middle of April. According to Tony Krausz of the The Journal Gazette, those two guys will be cornerback Bennett Jackson and linebacker Dan Fox. (H/t College Football Talk)

Most would consider this terrible news, as you never want to see key players go down with an injury. Practices in the spring are extremely valuable and injuries just mean that both players will be behind once fall camp rolls around. You only have so many practices available during the offseason and every one of them counts big time when it comes to being in game shape for the regular season.

However, this isn't a torn ACL we are talking about here. It is shoulder surgery for both players, an injury that both should be well recovered from once fall camp arrives. Irish fans should also be fortunate that it happened to two players who already have experience under their belts and know the ropes. Jackson finished last season third on the team in tackles with 65 and Fox was right behind him with 63 on the year.

If anything, this may be a blessing in disguise. Behind Fox at the linebacker position is a battle between several guys that will be competing for playing time. The list includes Joe Schmidt, who saw limited playing time last year; Carlo Calabrese should be in on the action as a fifth-year player, as well as 2013 recruit Michael Deeb, who will enroll later in the year. This also gives us more time to watch Jarrett Grace, who is expected to replace Manti Te'o at middle linebacker.

There is no question Fox will remain the starter because he has been the most improved player from year to year for the Irish, but without him taking reps in the spring, it gives other guys a chance to make an impact. With the backup linebacker spot behind Fox in question, we may have this position filled by the time spring is over with. On the other hand, with Fox on the field, it could have been a question that lingered up to the opening week.

The secondary was an area for concern with the Irish last season due to injuries and inexperience. If this team could have afforded an injury to a member of the defensive backfield, it would have been to Jackson, who is entering his senior year. Much how the backup linebackers will gain valuable experience due to Fox going down, the corners will benefit with the injury to Jackson.

This is a chance for cornerback Jalen Brown to make an impression with the coaching staff. A solid recruit back in 2011, Brown had a disappointing season in his first year on the field. Playing in only seven games and finishing with three tackles, this gives Brown a chance to get reps with the starters and prove that he deserves increased playing time next season.

The secondary should be improved next year with KeiVarae Russell making an effortless transition from wide receiver to corner and Max Redfield likely filling in one of the vacant safety spots. However, the depth in the secondary remains an issue and should benefit with one of the surefire starters not around to steal a lot of the reps in the spring.

Spring practice is all about finding out what you have to work with and who some of the younger guys are who will be able to step up during the season. Everybody knows that Fox and Bennett are going to contribute on defense. The questions that remain are located in the depth department.

These aren't injuries that are going to cripple the Irish during the regular season. They may answer as many question as they have posed once spring arrives.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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