NCAA Football News

It looks like the official decision process for 4-star running back and current Ohio State commitment Ezekiel Elliott is going to come down to the wire.

Elliott has been committed to Ohio State since April, and he's a big-time recruit for the Buckeyes. He's 6'0'', 212 pounds, so he has great size and can be a strong runner in between the tackles. Elliott also runs a 4.40-second 40-yard dash according to 247Sports, so he has elite speed to go along with his size.

For all intents and purposes, Elliott has star potential, so he's an important recruit for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes to hold on to.

The only problem is, the Missouri Tigers may make the task of holding on to Elliott's commitment very difficult for the Buckeyes.

Elliott just took an official visit to Missouri this past weekend. According to Brad Bournival of ESPN.com, both of his parents were star athletes for the Tigers, and the interesting thing is, he hasn't talked about recruiting or Ohio State since that visit, per Bournival:

On Tuesday night, Elliott tweeted “I will not be doing any interviews until Feb 6th on signing day.” 

He further tweeted, “My signing ceremony is at my school at 3 p.m. [4 p.m. ET]. Everyone come out.” 

Since his visit to Missouri, Elliott has not discussed his commitment to the Buckeyes. 

Is there reason to worry about for Ohio State?

On the surface, the fact that a recruit goes silent about his commitment standing right after an official visit should be somewhat of a cause for concern. That concern level should go up when considering the close family ties that Elliott has with Missouri.

That said, other than the family bond, there's few reasons for Elliott to leave Ohio State's 2013 class.

The pitch from Meyer should be simple. He came in and turned the program all the way around in just one season. In just one short year, the Buckeyes have gone from rebuilding to a contender in the Big Ten.

In fact, many believe Ohio State will be a national-championship contender next season and beyond. With the way Meyer recruits, that's a very real possibility.

As far as Elliott is concerned, the Buckeyes have a lot to offer at the running back position. He's talented enough to be a star for the program eventually, and that would make him one of the more well-known players in college football—if only because of Ohio State's national relevance.

In regards to his freshman year, Elliott will be behind Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall (receiving a medical redshirt year) on the depth chart. His speed and size will make him a very great third option for the Buckeyes as a freshman though, and he could even compete for No. 2 reps. 

Elliott will be in line for the starting gig once Hyde and Hall move on, and that means he could be the starter for a very good Ohio State program.

Frankly, other than the family draw, I don't see a reason why Elliott would end up flipping away from Ohio State.

Based off this recent development, though, it could be a possibility. 

If I was Meyer, I'd hop on the phone quickly to remind the 4-star back about all the great things that could be in store for him with the Buckeyes.

It's a very easy pitch.

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As February 6 draws near and USC's recruiting class becomes crystallized on National Signing Day, this year's class is starting to take it's final shape.

Lending to the class's final form is the recent verbal commitment of defensive end Jason Hatcher from Louisville, KY.

With Hatcher's pledge the Trojans now have 14 players either enrolled or committed to USC for the 2013 class, which leaves three more spots to be filled in their NCAA sanctioned allotment.

With those three spots still available, USC has their sights set on mega recruits Eddie Vanderdoes (defensive tackle), Kylie Fitts (defensive end), Quinton Powell (linebacker) and to a lesser extent, A'Shawn Robinson (defensive tackle) and Matthew Thomas (linebacker).

For Vanderdoes, Fitts and Powell, USC is a major player for their services, and their commitments will come down to a decision on February 6 when signatures are faxed by players to the schools where they will ply their trade.

Certainly, Lane Kiffin and his staff would love nothing more than to see those three players don a Trojan cap and prepare to sport the cardinal and gold for the next few years.

But what if this doesn't happen?

What if any, or all three, spurn the Trojans and decide to go elsewhere?

What should Kiffin do with those left over scholarships?

Kiffin could go ahead and offer scholarships to players like Los Angeles, Salesian High School's Jermaine Kelly (wide receiver/defensive back) or Narbonne (Lomita, CA) High School's Keishawn Bierria (linebacker) but would that be a wise move?

Both Kelly and Bierria are very nice players and could fill a role with the Trojans moving forward.

But is "role filling" something that should be desired for a program that is operating with a very limited amount of scholarships thanks to NCAA mandated sanctions?

Is it wise for USC to fill out their roster with good but perhaps not great players?

Or should Kiffin hold on to those scholarships for 2014 when other players more suited to their needs might become available?

For Kiffin, the answer won't be easy. After all, he is operating in 2013 with a very short leash after the debacle that was 2012 left the Trojans with a very disappointing 7-6 record.

Because of this, he may not have the luxury of looking beyond this year and if that is the case, having a full roster stacked with good (but again, perhaps not great) players may be more important than planning for a future that might not be available for this coaching staff.

It is a quandary to be certain, and it could get worse.

USC also has three players listed as "soft commits" in the form of defensive end Torrodney Prevot (Houston, TX), cornerback Jalen Ramsey (Brentwood, TN) and offensive lineman Nico Falah (Bellflower, CA).

What if—God forbid for Trojan fans—one or more of those guys go back on their pledge and sign elsewhere?

What would Kiffin do if on National Signing Day, he finds himself with five or six leftover scholarships?

Should he offer those precious scholarships to players that he otherwise wouldn't be recruiting, or save them for next year when USC enters the stretch run of their sanctions?

In a "make or break" year for Lane Kiffin, he may have to make a momentous decision five months before the first kickoff.

And how he responds to a nightmare scenario in early February may give us an early glimpse into how he will handle the upcoming season.

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The Pac-12 is a conference that is built on offensive success and big plays in the running game. Last season three teams finished in the Top 25 in rushing yards, and a total of seven teams averaged at least 150 yards on the ground a game. Fireworks on the offensive side of the ball are what fans expect from this group of teams, and it is the key to success in this conference.

If you can't have success running the football, there is a good chance you are not a winning football team. The same thing holds true in the Pac-12.

However, with a total of seven teams in this conference losing their workhorse running back from a year ago, the backfield rankings may look a lot different than you had expected. The teams that were near the top in rushing yards may take a backseat to some of the teams that have more depth and experience at the position.

Let's take a look at the teams that are best suited at the running back position in the Pac-12 for the 2013 college football season.

Note: All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted. Also, rankings are put together based on a combination of experience, depth and past performance.

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Recruiting has become more of a priority for college football teams in recent years, and with national signing day on the horizon, it is time to look at which teams have stock on the rise and those whose stock is falling.

Some of the top commits have yet to make an official decision, so a lot will come down to what happens on February 6, National Signing Day.

For now, we can check in on how the final AP top 25 teams have fared since the season ended. Let's see which squads have stock going up and which teams are falling or standing pat as signing day approaches.

*All rankings are according to 247sports.com

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While Florida's 2012 season was impressive and head coach Will Muschamp's rebuilding effort certainly was ahead of schedule, the passing game behind quarterback Jeff Driskel left a lot to be desired.

The Gator passing offense finished last in the SEC with 146.3 yards per game—10.3 yards per game behind 13th-place Auburn.

Driskel entered the season in a battle with fellow sophomore Jacoby Brissett, but won the job seemingly from the time toe met leather in the Gator opener versus Bowling Green. 

He finished the season completing 63.7 percent of his passes (156-of-245) for 1,646 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The Gators depended on their running game and defense all season long, but when the defense let them down in the Sugar Bowl against a very one-dimensional Louisville team, Driskel and offensive coordinator Brent Pease had no answer.

Luckily for Gator fans, they'll likely still see the team dancing around the Top 10 in most preseason polls, and they have a full offseason to get the passing game turned around.

The first step should be to open up the quarterback competition, although it doesn't appear Muschamp is willing to do that.

"First-year starter, you win 11 games, you've accomplished an awful lot," Muschamp told ESPN.com following the end of the regular season. "Certainly, his growth through the offseason will be critical for our success next season."

Now that Brissett has transferred, Florida doesn't have a quarterback on the roster other than Driskel who has attempted a pass (not counting all-purpose star Trey Burton). It may be lip service to open up the competition, but it needs to be done.

If Driskel is the guy, he needs to be pushed a bit by backups Skyler Mornhinweg and Tyler Murphy, along with class of 2013 commit Max Staver. Even if it's a "battle" only in theory, putting a little pressure on Driskel may provide the sense of urgency Florida needs to resurrect the passing game.

One thing is certain, though, it's absolutely not the time to give up on Driskel. Because his battle with Brissett spilled into the 2012 season, the only time he has spent in a camp setting as the No. 1 quarterback was during bowl practice.

Give him the majority of the No. 1 snaps, but make it known that the job isn't necessarily his. If Muschamp does that, the passing game will turn around.

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No. 1 overall recruit Robert Nkemdiche will sign his national letter of intent early in the morning on national signing day, Feb. 6.

According to a tweet from Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Grayson High School has released an agenda for Nkemdiche's announcement:

This is the moment that most of us in the college football recruiting world have been waiting for. It will be the official end to a recruitment process that has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride to say the least.

Which hats should we expect to see on the table for Nkemdiche on national signing day (assuming he does the hat dance)?

Florida has been a late entrant into the race for the No. 1 overall recruit, and the official visit it landed from him a few weekends ago has certainly made things interesting. Meanwhile, LSU has been on Nkemdiche's interest list (247Sports.com) ever since he decommitted from Clemson.

LSU wasn't able to land an official visit, though, despite conflicting reports. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, the Tigers hat would just be up there to take up space and look good on the table.

Ole Miss appears to be the hands-down favorite for Nkemdiche at this point. The Rebels have been the main team on his interest list ever since he decommitted from Clemson, and for good reason. His brother, Denzel, plays linebacker for Ole Miss, and it seems to be the family preference for the two to play together.

There's also no denying the hype that head coach Hugh Freeze has created around Ole Miss recruiting.

Wherever he chooses to go, Nkemdiche is going to be a star, so this is going to be arguably the biggest signing day moment of the 2013 cycle.

Actually, there's no disputing that fact. This will be the marquee moment of the 2013 recruiting cycle.

We'll find out where the nation's No. 1 overall recruit will play college football early on Wednesday morning (Feb. 6).

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Once recruiting has been completed and prospects have signed on the dotted line, Coach Butch Jones and his staff can set about the job of getting their current Tennessee Volunteers team prepared for the upcoming season. As with any new staff, there is a long list of things that must be accomplished.

But in his favor, Jones has an opportunity to seize upon the excitement being generated by the newness of the situation. Hopefully, players and coaches will come into the spring workouts with a fresh attitude after having suffered through several seasons that have not provided the results folks on Rocky Top are accustomed to.

Spring practice is set to begin on March 9 and will end with the annual Orange and White game on April 20 at Neyland Stadium.

During that time span, there are four things the Volunteers must accomplish.

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As National Signing Day is officially less than a week away, all eyes will soon turn toward the microphones set in front of many top recruits.

Rumors—some true, some ridiculously false—will have been surfacing across the beauty we know as the World Wide Web and seemingly never cease.

But there won't be many schools in a make-or-break situation like the Miami Hurricanes now find themselves in.

From 5-star Matthew Thomas to 4-star Stacy Coley to 3-star Augustus Edwards, head coach Al Golden and his coaching staff are pursuing a variety of talented prospects.

Coach Golden has put together a solid recruiting class in 2013 with the dark cloud of NCAA sanctions lurking overhead, but it's simply decent.

Adam Gorney of Rivals.com is concerned with the small group of Miami commits—and somewhat rightfully so.

But here's the difference.

Back in November, CaneInsider's Jon Bastian noted Golden was planning on somewhere around 15 recruits in the 2013 class, therefore spots have been kept on hold for Miami's top targets (see Thomas, Matthew and Collins, Alex).

Golden has been working with the limited amount of scholarships due to the now-more-confusing-than-ever NCAA investigation, so the Canes currently have only 13 commitments.

It is quite possible that if Golden had not held back spots in preparation for potential scholarship reductions, Miami would have a few more commitments at this point in time.

However, after the NCAA discovered an issue with the NCAA, it seems as if Golden has opened up more spots for recruits.

Based on each respective player's 247sports profile, the Hurricanes are looking to add commitments from Thomas, Collins, Coley, Edwards, Denver Kirkland, Keith Bryant, Jay-nard Bostwick and a group of others.

Sidenote: Here is a list of the announcement times of Miami targets via State of The U.

Hypothetically speaking, say Thomas, Collins, Coley, Kirkland, Bostwick, and Edwards choose the Canes, then Golden accomplished more than anticipated.

If Miami grabs a majority of these top-notch players, the Canes immediately solidify themselves as a National Signing Day winner—maybe even the champion.

But—and I hate to do this—what about the worst case scenario?

Three or more of Thomas, Kirkland, Coley, Bryant and Edwards head to Florida State.

Plus Collins to Arkansas.

And Bostwick to Florida.

If that isn't the definition of "bust," then please help me out on what it is.

Personally, I would likely sit with an oversized spoon shoveling ice cream and cry myself into a slight depression.

This all said, Al Golden must feel good about his chances with many of these players. The school's official website reports ESPN3 will have 90 minutes of live coverage from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET on NSD.

He can't possibly want to have the national attention if he is sitting empty-handed in a conference room after striking out with some of the nation's top prospects, right?

Whether or not these players commit to Miami will be seen soon enough, but I feel like the guy in the white shirt and orange tie is not remotely worried.

National Signing Day will be exciting, to say the least, as Golden is proving himself to be the conductor of a thrilling race to the finish.

Golden could be asking those premier recruits one simple question.

"Are you on board? Because this train will leave without U!"

The train may be preparing to leave the station, but Golden is still looking for a few more passengers.

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It was a common viewpoint of many who saw the Arkansas Razorbacks play in 2012, but it was confirmed by former Arkansas coaches on Wednesday.

Former Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino and former defensive coordinator Paul Haynes went on the record with Sporting News, saying that the Razorbacks quit on the staff last year.

The two coaches placed the majority of the blame on athletic director Jeff Long's decision to hire John L. Smith to a 10-month contract after former head coach Bobby Petrino was fired.

Petrino, now the head coach at Idaho, went so far as to offer his opinion on what Long should have done:

I don’t think an A.D. should ever hire somebody for 10 months. Players know what that means; they understand that. It hurts the power of the head coach and the assistants. 

They should’ve hired (Smith) for two years or hired someone else for two years, or just (expletive)-canned all of us.

Haynes, who took over the Kent State program following the season, added his opinion on the unusual situation:

Even if they had a plan to get rid of us no matter what, which I think they did, you say two years and I think the kids dig in. When you give 10 months, everyone is on eggshells.

Arkansas fans may not like the seemingly unnecessary look back at the tumultuous season, but it's rare to get coaches to go on the record to discuss a tough situation so soon after it ended.

Plus, even though Ohio State went through a slightly similar situation in 2011, these situations are rare and it's interesting to get an inside look at the situation from the people who lived it.

With that said, Petrino and Haynes were right. The Hogs quit. That goes for the players and the coaches.

They lost four of their last five down the stretch, losing by an average margin of just over two touchdowns per game. Sure, they played LSU tough in the finale; but got blown out by a mediocre Mississippi State team, didn't really put up much of a fight versus South Carolina and barely squeaked by Tulsa.

When Tyler Wilson was knocked out of the Louisiana-Monroe game in Week 2 with a concussion, it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Would Arkansas' season have been different if that didn't happen? Probably not, because Alabama would have still come calling the next week, Arkansas would still have issues on defense and the offensive line would have still had difficulty protecting the quarterback.

It's not a knock against Arkansas. It's a statement of fact, and one that is appropriate considering the scandal involving Bobby Petrino—and how Arkansas handled it—was the biggest storyline from last offseason in the SEC.

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The Georgia Bulldogs may have had a game-changing moment in the final days before 5-star defensive tackle Montravius Adams has to make his decision.

Adams' recruitment has been rather wide open for the most part, with Clemson, Georgia, Florida, Auburn and Alabama all in the running at one point or another. Currently, though, his top two consists of Georgia and Clemson, according to his 247Sports interests list.

Clemson was the first program to make him an offer and all indications are that he really likes the Tigers' program. Dabo Swinney and his staff seem to be a major contender for the elite defensive tackle, but all of that could quickly change due to the latest developments on the recruiting trail for Adams.

The 5-star defensive tackle just took an official visit to Georgia and said visit could end up being the defining moment of his recruitment when we look back on it. He's been open about his mother playing a big role in the process for him, and she reportedly enjoyed the visit, according to Jake Rowe of UGASports.com:

Prior to his UGA visit, Adams told UGASports that the main purpose of his trip to Athens was to give his mother a chance to spend time with the people inside Georgia's program.

Adams says that goal was accomplished.

"She liked it," said Adams when asked what his mother thought of the visit to Georgia. "Just getting to meet the people and see how friendly they are and whether they are good people or not."

Adams also had this to say about Georgia, per Rowe's report:

"Really, I went up there to see if I could really see myself there," he said. "I went to hang out with the players because you never know about a coach. He may leave one day. I went to see if I could get a good bond with the players. It went pretty good. I could see myself there."

Rowe did report that Adams could see himself playing at all of the considered schools, but the sentiment is still there for Georgia.

That, plus the fact that his mother liked the visit, has the Bulldogs looking very good in the days leading up to national signing day. It's also worth noting that Adams is from Vienna, Georgia, so the Bulldogs should have a bit of in-state pull with the elite recruit. 

The smallest advantages can be huge on the recruiting trail, and Georgia definitely put itself in a great position to have an advantage for Adams when all is said and done. He will be visiting Auburn this weekend, but for all intents and purposes, the Tigers seems like an outlier—unless Gus Malzahn and his staff can make an A-plus pitch to Adams.

With Georgia and Clemson seemingly having the edge for Adams, this visit and subsequent in-home visit was huge for the Bulldogs. 

Swinney and the Clemson Tigers do have an in-home visit coming up on Friday with Adams (per Rowe), but it could be a case of too little to late for Clemson.

The Georgia Bulldogs made a big push this week, and this is the week that matters. Georgia has definitely shaken up the tone of Adams' recruitment.

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Most recruiting battles are over for the 2013 season, but there are a few that remain for some of the country’s most elite prospects. Carl Lawson is one of the guys still trying to decide where to spend his next four years. 

Just when it seemed like Lawson had settled on a top three, Georgia Tech has now entered the picture, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Recruiting never sleeps. 

His new list of finalists include Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. Looking at all four schools, it’s clear that Lawson’s best fit is Auburn. 

Lawson is ranked as the No. 1 weakside defensive end and the No. 21 overall player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. 

The star defensive end has been committed to the Tigers since May of 2012, but the recent coaching change led him to open up his recruitment. There have been a number of programs that have earned face time with the star defensive end, but only four teams remain.

Interestingly enough, two of the three have new coaching staffs. 

Looking at the options Lawson has laid out, he will sign with Auburn on February 6.

Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech has jumped into the picture late, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lawson and his father took a visit to the campus on January 30, and Lawson’s father had great things to say about the visit.

He told the AJC that “We had a real good visit with the new Georgia Tech defensive line coach, Mike Pelton, over at Georgia Tech today…Georgia Tech is being considered (because of the) great relationship with Pelton.”

Mike Pelton was the Auburn defensive line coach under Gene Chizik—the staff that Lawson first committed to. 

It also doesn’t hurt that Georgia Tech is his father’s former school. There is a lot going on heading into the last few days of Lawson's recruitment, but this late push by Georgia Tech looks to be window dressing. 

Don’t count out the Yellow Jackets, but Auburn’s ACC rival appears to be a long shot at best.

Clemson

Clemson has the highest paid assistants in the country for a reason. The Tigers have put together an excellent staff, and Bren Venables is leading the defense back to the top of the ACC.

Bringing in a player like Lawson would help shore up an already solid defensive end position for the Tigers. There is no shortage of talent on the Clemson sideline at defensive end, but Lawson should be able to work his way into the playing rotation early. 

The Tigers can sell the pros to Lawson as well. There have been five defensive linemen drafted from the Clemson program since 2010. 

Lawson would be a pro prospect and have the chance to play early in a reserve role for the Tigers. He would play alongside a host of rising juniors, giving him solid leadership to learn the college game from. 

His first official visit came went to Clemson, making this team the apparent darkhorse. The distance from home is also a disadvantage. Of all three schools, these Tigers are the longshot.

Tennessee

Tennessee brought in a new coaching staff after the disaster that was the Derek Dooley years, and the hope is that Butch Jones can get things moving in the right direction for the Vols. 

Jones brought over John Jancek from Cincinnati to be his defensive coordinator. Jancek will take the Vols away from the 3-4, and back to the 4-3 defense—a scheme that favors Lawson’s play.

The Tennessee program is looking for playmakers that can bring the winning tradition back to Knoxville. Jones can look at Lawson and honestly say that he can build a defense around his electric play. 

Also keep in mind that former Auburn coaches Tommy Thigpen and Willie Martinez are on the Tennessee staff. Familiarity helps, but it shouldn’t make a major difference. 

A lot of things are favorable to Tennessee, but the Vols are still on the outside looking in. They are the strongest opposition to Auburn, but with Lawson’s visit coming a few weeks before Auburn’s the Vols lose any edge they may have gained with the visit.

Auburn

The Auburn Tigers have held Lawson’s commitment since before last summer. Lawson wasn’t a huge name on the recruiting circuit, but after summer camps and a senior season he is rated as the top weakside defensive end in the country. 

The Tigers changed coaches after last season, and immediately Lawson began to look around. He has been tied to a number of programs, but Auburn has held his commitment. 

One positive for the Tigers is the defensive coordinator hire. Ellis Johnson has put together some of the best defensive fronts in recent memory inside the SEC. Johnson had the nastiest defensive line in the country his last three years at South Carolina. 

Lawson will be walking into a program that is coached by some of the best minds in the college game. He would have the chance to play immediately, and will be a the cornerstone of the Tigers' recruiting class. 

Auburn needs a playmaker to step up along the defensive line. Lawson is that player. Despite the recent ebb and flow that has occurred in his recruitment, the Tigers are his best fit, and they will land this star defender on signing day. 

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It is now down to three schools for 5-star safety Vonn Bell: Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee. After recent visits from all three coaching staffs, the Volunteers should be feared and respected as we are just days away from national signing day.

New Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and his staff visited Bell at his home. The impact he had was good enough to put pressure on both the Crimson Tide and the Buckeyes for one of the top defensive prospects in the country. Bell, who grew up a Tennessee fan, told Kipp Adams of ESPN that he really likes what Jones has brought to the program in just a short period of time.

They are really trying to bring something to Tennessee, and Coach Jones told my family he has a vision for this program. Bell said. It was great getting to know Coach (Willie) Martinez, Coach (Tommy) Thigpen and all of the coaches. I am really comfortable with Coach Jones, and he is coming in confident in what he is going to do there, so it will be really good to just sit back and see the results.

Jones, who was recently hired as the new head coach of the program, has wasted no time putting together a strong recruiting class that includes some impressive recruits. The team is also nowhere near being finished, as many elite players have Tennessee on their radar—including 5-star defensive end Carl Lawson, who is expected to make a decision soon.

So why will Bell pick Tennessee over the other two national powerhouses?

Well, he would have an opportunity for immediate playing time and could have the same impact that a former Tennessee safety had in Knoxville. Being a supporter of the program would allow him to fill out a child hood dream.

It is a real blessing to be able to possibly have an impact like Eric Berry had at Tennessee. Bell said. He is a phenomenal player, and although I think I would make a big difference, it takes more than one person. You have to have an offense, special teams and bring it all to the table. So we will see how they end up and what happens with them over the next week.

Bell also mentioned that he feels comfortable with the coaching staff and knows it is only a matter of time before Tennessee turns around in the win column. A program that hasn't won a bowl game since 2007 seems to be on the right track according to Bell, and that is something any recruit would want to be a part of.

Tennessee is doing really good in recruiting, and Butch Jones is reaching out to these families and selling his program well. Bell said. He is trying hard to get Tennessee back to where they were, and he is bringing a lot of energy that I feel positive about. This staff Tennessee is bringing in, you can feel the positive energy when you walk through the doors.

Considering the positive vibes Bell felt during his visit, the opportunity to see the field quickly and the recent surge of elite talent giving the program a glimpse, Tennessee has more than a puncher's chance in this fight.

Bell is expected to make his decision in the early morning on national signing day, and it wouldn't be the least bit surprising to see him end up a Tennessee Volunteer. The other teams that appeared to be front-runners should be worried as this race is drawing to a close.

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Recruiting during a transition year in the coaching staff is never an easy thing to do. While it's a lot to ask any new staff to land in the top 10 in the national team rankings in its first recruiting season, there needs to be a few stars to build around.

Tennessee got one of those stars on Wednesday evening, when MarQuez North from Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte, N.C. committed to the Vols over the North Carolina Tar Heels.

North announced his intention on Twitter.

I will be going to Tennesse in the fall

The 6'4", 212-pound wide receiver is rated as a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports.com composite index. With 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash, he has the size and speed to be a big-time weapon in the SEC.

North's commitment is huge for first-year head coach Butch Jones, who desperately needs to find playmakers in his retooled offense.

Star wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson left early for the NFL, and the Vols' next two leading receivers—tight end Michal Rivera and wide receiver Zach Rogers—exhausted their eligibility after the 2012 season.

The Vols lost a 69 percent of their receiving production (198 of 285 receptions) from a year ago. In other words, playing time is not only available—it's screaming "come take me" to wide receiver prospects in the class of 2013.

That's not to say that Tennessee doesn't have some talented players already on campus. Alton "Pig" Howard is similar to former South Carolina wide receiver Ace Sanders, and can absolutely step in and be that big-time weapon underneath for the Vols.

Junior Vincent Dallas caught nine passes for 149 yards and a touchdown a year ago after bouncing around between defensive back and wide receiver. He should emerge as a downfield threat in 2013.

But North has a chance to step in and make an immediate impact as a true freshman on Rocky Top. He has the size to be a big-time weapon in the red zone, the speed to separate from opposing defensive backs and a clean slate with the new coaching staff in place.

Jones likes to spread the ball around and get the ball in the hands of his playmakers in space, and North is precisely. Throw North into the mix with a veteran offensive line and an underrated running back corps, he will have plenty of room to roam in 2013.

Is North the top wide receiver in the class of 2013? Probably not. 

But his physical skills coupled with the opportunity that will present itself when he arrives in Knoxville will make him a star in the SEC sooner rather than later.

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Ever since 5-star recruit Eddie Vanderdoes decommitted from USC in December, the nation has been buzzing about where the highly coveted defensive tackle will land.

Most people believe it comes down to Notre Dame and Alabama, with USC and UCLA on the outside looking in.

Andrew Hall of SlapTheSign.com noted on Wednesday that Vanderdoes' official visit with Notre Dame over the weekend went well. It doesn't hurt that Vanderdoes' mother is in favor of the Fighting Irish.

Hall wrote:

Notre Dame definitely made a good impression this weekend. The parents are typically in the corner of the Fighting Irish because of what they can offer off of the field to the potential student athlete. 

Vanderdoes, who possesses the size (6'3", 310 pounds), strength, technique and motor to be a handful in college, is still scheduled to make an official visit to Alabama on Feb. 1. He has been adamant that he will make his decision on national signing day on Feb. 6.

The fact that Vanderdoes hasn't canceled his visit to Alabama shows that he's still interested in the Crimson Tide. It's not exactly a surprise, either, given he wants to make the best decision for him with so many options on the table.

Nick Saban, of course, is a legendary recruiter. He's built the No. 1 recruiting class of 2013 (according to 247Sports.com) and he's had a top-three recruiting class for six years running (per ESPN). His stars this year include running back Derrick Henry, wide receiver Robert Foster and defensive end Jonathan Allen, among others.

On the other hand, Notre Dame's trip to the BCS National Championship Game this past season has boosted the program's credibility. Combined with head coach Brian Kelly's recruiting ability, the Fighting Irish currently have the No. 6 class in the nation, according to 247Sports.com. That includes outside linebacker Jaylon Smith and safety Max Redfield on the defensive side of the ball.

While Notre Dame currently sports Louis Nix III at nose guard in defensive coordinator Bob Diaco's 3-4 scheme, the Fighting Irish will find a way to get Vanderdoes on the field if he signs with the program, most likely as a defensive end (despite Vanderdoes' size, he does have the athleticism to play on the edge).

Imagining Vanderdoes on the same defense as Nix, Smith, Redfield, defensive end Stephon Tuitt and linebacker Prince Shembo gives you goosebumps just thinking about it.

The folks at South Bend are certainly hoping Vanderdoes won't be swayed by Saban in February.

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