NCAA Football News

Our Notre Dame pre-spring opponent previews continue with the Air Force Falcons, who appear on the Fighting Irish schedule for the second time in three years.

The Irish and Falcons have staged some memorable battles in recent years, splitting two overtime games in South Bend in 1996 and 2000 and bringing ESPN's College Gameday to Colorado Springs for their 2002 clash of unbeatens.

Air Force suffered its first losing season under head coach Troy Calhoun in 2012, going 6-7, including losing its ownership of the Commander-in-Chief Trophy to Navy. Let's take an early look at the 2013 Falcons, who opened spring drills on Tuesday.

Links to other Notre Dame opponent previews are below:

Stanford

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A year ago at this time, the running back position was a huge question mark for the Ohio State Buckeyes.  After losing playing time to Dan Herron as the season went on, question marks still surrounded Carlos Hyde. 

Would he be able to carry the load for the whole season?  Would he in fact take control of the starting job?  Jordan Hall was an option, along with Rod Smith and Bri'onte Dunn.

However, a foot injury sidelined Jordan Hall—Hyde took the position and never looked back.

Rushing for 970 yards in ten games last season, Carlos Hyde got stronger as the year went on and became an unstoppable force in Big Ten play.  At 6’1", 235 pounds, Hyde is the prototypical Big Ten running back who can wear down defenses throughout the game, and then slam the door in the fourth quarter.  

While averaging over five yards per carry in conference play, there’s no question that Ohio State’s offense relied heavily on what Hyde did with the ball.  In both of the Buckeyes overtime games in 2012, against Purdue and Wisconsin, Hyde carried the ball less than 20 times in each.  Look back at the one-point victory over Michigan State—Carlos only toted the rock 11 times. 

What’s this mean?  When Carlos Hyde doesn’t get his touches, the offense sputters and doesn’t perform at its elite level.

The Buckeyes scored a season-high 63 points against Nebraska—in that game, Carlos Hyde received 28 carries, which was also a season-high for him.  This goes to show just how important Hyde is to the Buckeye offense.  

As the season progressed, we saw Carlos start to run with a chip on his shoulder, a mean streak that couldn’t be matched.  Time and time again, Hyde would get to the second level of the defense, lower his shoulder and keep on his feet for extra yards.  By the end of the year, you could say that, besides Braxton Miller, the most important player in this offense was in fact Carlos Hyde.

Hyde is entering his senior year and will look to add to his accomplishments from 2012.  After being named second-team All-Big Ten last year, Hyde will run with an even bigger chip on his shoulder as he proves to be the best back in the Big Ten. 

Heck, with a fully healthy season, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be considered one of the best running backs in the entire country.  With four offensive line returners and a year of coach Meyer’s system already under his belt, the types of accolades that Carlos Hyde could potentially receive is mind-boggling to think about.

This Ohio State veteran offense should be able to dominate defenses up front the whole year, and Carlos Hyde will be in the middle of it.  He’s a true battering ram that the Buckeyes will be able to lean on each and every game.  Opposing defenses will have their hands full as a huge season awaits Hyde in his last season as a Buckeye. 

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Outside of Rocky Top, most people didn’t know who Cordarrelle Patterson was going into the 2012 college football season. But thanks to the big plays he made week in and week out for the Tennessee Volunteers last fall, Patterson quickly made a name for himself as one of the nation’s best wide receivers and playmakers.

After just one season of major college football at Tennessee, Patterson declared for the 2013 NFL Draft and is the favorite to be the first wide receiver drafted.

Patterson has appeal as more than just a pass-catching target. He is a jack of all trades who scored touchdowns in four different ways for the Vols: five receiving, three rushing, one kickoff return and one punt return.

Patterson is a unique talent whose journey to college football stardom was equally unique. Before we look forward at what makes him a potential NFL star, let’s first take a look at how he got to where he is now.   

The Journey

Cordarrelle Patterson began showing his potential as a high school standout at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, S.C. As a senior, Patterson was named to the 2008 AP All-State team for South Carolina with 75 receptions for 944 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Patterson, however, missed out on the opportunity to sign with a major college program out of high school because he did not qualify academically, according to ESPN.com.

Patterson started out at North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy—a school whose alumni include NFL wide receivers Antonio Brown and Lestar Jean—but did not play football during his time there in 2009, according to Tennessee’s athletics website.

That led Patterson to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College for two years, where he started to become a star. Patterson was a first-team NJCAA All-American in both of his seasons there, and holds more than a dozen school records for his outstanding production as both a wide receiver and returner.

He was one of the nation’s top-ranked junior college prospects in 2012 (No. 1 by 247Sports, No. 4 by Rivals), and ultimately chose Tennessee.

From Unknown to Top Prospect

Cordarrelle Patterson was already making a name for himself nationally after the first quarter of the first game of his one and only season for the Volunteers.

In the first 15 minutes of Tennessee’s season opener versus North Carolina State, Patterson scored two touchdowns. Catching a 41-yard touchdown was a good way to open eyes, but he showed just how special an athlete he is when he followed that up by turning an end-around into a 67-yard touchdown run.

Those big plays turned out to be the start of an outstanding season. With outstanding speed and open-field running ability, Patterson consistently turned catches, runs out of the backfield and kickoff/punt returns into big plays.

Patterson set a Tennessee school record with 1,858 all-purpose yards last season. He had 10 all-purpose plays of 40 or more yards over the course of the season, which tied for eighth-most nationally according to CFBStats.com. He was also the only player in college football last season to score a touchdown four different ways.

Coming off of a stellar season, Patterson made an unsurprising and wise decision to declare for the 2013 draft.

What Makes Patterson a Top Prospect

Patterson is a rare and unique talent who truly wows on tape. While he is not the most polished, proven or experienced receiver in the 2013 draft, he has the most upside.

There are players in every draft who can be game-changing playmakers as runners, receivers and returners. Rarely, however, do those playmakers have measurables that come even close to 6’2” and 216 pounds—the measurables Patterson turned in at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine.

As a downfield, outside receiving target alone, Patterson would be a very promising prospect. He has great downfield speed (4.42-second 40-yard dash) and size, and uses both of those traits very well.

At his best, Patterson is a matchup nightmare for opposing cornerbacks. Patterson has great acceleration and lateral agility, and can combine those two factors to put a double-move on a defender then use his speed to separate downfield.

But even when he is unable to break free from coverage, he still makes catches. Patterson uses his size well to box out defenders and establish position against them relative to the football. He also has terrific body control and has displayed the ability to extend outward from his body to make challenging catches.

That said, it is Patterson’s ability to make plays in so many different ways, which comes as a result of his tremendous open-field running ability, that makes him likely to be the first receiver off the board in April.

Patterson combines tremendous second-gear speed with the ability to subtly and smoothly cut throughout a play to make defenders miss. He has a rare ability to turn a loss of yardage into a massive gain because of his ability to both run by and away from defenders.

This play against Mississippi State was a prime example of Patterson turning a play that should have been a loss into a 34-yard gain:

The team that adds Patterson won’t simply be adding a potential No. 1 wideout. They will be adding a playmaker who can line up all over the field.

Patterson can line up both outside and in the slot as a receiver. He can be used from those spots on the line as a rusher on end-around plays, but also has experience lining up as a tailback at Tennessee to run outside the tackles.

Patterson is also an outstanding returner, and has the potential to be effective in a wildcat package. He has running ability that the defense must account for no matter where he lines up on the field, and he showed he can throw the ball when he completed a 28-yard pass last season against Missouri.
 

Where Patterson Should Be Drafted

While we can rave on and on about the incredible skill set Patterson has, there are flaws in his game.

While Patterson often makes impressive catches, he has some issues with drops. One that really stood out from his season at Tennessee was this drop ,which cost the Vols what otherwise would have been a big play touchdown against Georgia:

Patterson’s production as a receiver was inconsistent at Tennessee, and he has only one year of major college football experience. The positive end of that is that he could only be scratching the surface of how good he can be. The negative, however, is that he remains an unpolished receiver who has some red flags around his effort and work ethic given his past.

Patterson has great promise as a route-runner because of his quickness, but is not quite polished in that department yet. Additionally, while he has shown he can make catches in traffic against man coverage, he needs to become better at using his hands to work off of coverage to get open often at the next level.

What is clear about Patterson’s game, however, is that he is a dynamic playmaker who can make a defense pay on any given play. Under a creative offensive coordinator, his potential can be maximized by using him in a variety of packages to take advantage of his open-field playmaking ability.

He has great size, explosive athleticism and is also a willing run-blocker. If he stays focused on and off the field, becomes a more consistent pass-catcher and sharpens his route running, he could be a superstar in an NFL offense.

As it stands, Patterson will likely be a mid-first-round pick given his potential. Potential landing spots among teams that could use a playmaker at the wide receiver position are the Miami Dolphins’ (No. 12), the St. Louis Rams (No. 16 or 22), the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 17) or the Minnesota Vikings (No. 23).

Dan Hope is an NFL Draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow @Dan_Hope

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In college football, spring practice is the beginning of the next season for everyone. Whether your team had a terrible season in 2012 or finished as national champions, spring is the beginning of whatever is coming in 2013.

From new recruits shocking their teams into the national spotlight to brand-new coaches taking control of teams that were struggling, spring is a time of new life for programs across the nation.

Here are the spring practice schedules, spring game dates and times for all BCS-AQ teams. (Subject to availability.)

*All times are Eastern Standard.
*All "Phil Steele" citations are from his blog of spring practice dates.

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A four year starter for the North Carolina Tarheels, Jonathan Cooper enters this draft as one of the highest ranked offensive linemen in the class. In fact, NFL Draft analyst Mike Mayock has gone so far as to say that Cooper should be a realistic consideration for the Kansas City Chiefs to use the first overall pick on.

While simple position value will probably forbid that from happening, it goes to show how highly Cooper grades out on film as a technician. His lack of elite size and brutish strength likely won't make him a fit at guard for every team, but teams have shown interest in him at center as well.

Overall Strengths

+ Elite quickness and foot speed

+ Explosive out of his stance

+ Excellent at tracking defenders on the second level

Overall Weaknesses

- Undersized

- Will likely only appeal to zone blocking teams

Draft Projection

First Round

Best Team Fits

TEN, CAR, CHI, WAS, HOU, BAL

Tools

Height

Weight

Arm Length

40 Time

6’2”

311 pounds

33”

5.07

An incredible athlete for his position, Cooper has the quickest and lightest feet of any interior offensive lineman in this draft. He also possesses great hip flexibility, rarely allowing defensive linemen to get under him or to out-leverage him.

Though he put up 35 reps up on the bench press at the combine (second amongst all offensive linemen), he’s not a player that overwhelms with strength at the point of attack.

Intangibles/Character/Injury Concerns

Cooper has no known character or injury concerns of note. After redshirting in 2008, he went on to start four straight years at guard.

System

North Carolina had Cooper and the rest of its offensive linemen lose weight to play a more up-tempo, no-huddle scheme in 2012, and he should end up getting bigger and stronger once in an NFL strength and conditioning program.

The Tarheels offense went out of its way to feature Cooper—their best offensive player—as a pulling guard. He has experience playing in both a two- and three-point stance.

Pass Blocking

Being a technically sound offensive lineman with quick feet usually bodes well for pass-blocking, and Cooper is no exception. He displays excellent mirror skills, sliding his feet and staying in front of his man with ease.

When not occupied with a defender, he will look to help out his teammates. He shows the ability to sink his hips and anchor in pass protection, resetting his pad level and rolling his hips through the block.

Run Blocking

His lack of size will probably prevent him from ever being an elite drive blocker, but Cooper shows excellent surge off the ball and constantly works his feet and hips to get position on his man. He also makes an effort to fire off lower and harder on the goal line in order to get vertical movement.

He’s incredibly tenacious from the backside and is very successful at reaching the man across from him on zone runs without even having to cut block. Cooper’s effort in the run game is impressive too; he never ball watches and often looks for a second target after completing his assignment.

Blocking In Space/ Recovery

Cooper’s ability to make blocks on the second level of the defense is second to none in this class. His light feet and great agility allow him to get out in front of runners with ease. Most importantly, though, Cooper is excellent at tracking moving targets. He shows an excellent understanding of angles, adjusting his path on the fly and often beating linebackers to their spot.

Not just limited to blocking in space in the run game, Cooper is also excellent at getting out in the open field for screen passes.

Handfighting/Technique

Cooper has quick, strong hands that he fires immediately off the snap. For a slightly undersized guard, his punch has quite a bit of pop to it, and he’s shown the capability of completely stoning college defensive linemen off the ball. Cooper also works hard to maintain good pad level and to never get out-leveraged.

Future Role/Versatility

Cooper’s combination of elite foot speed and athleticism coupled with his lack of bulk will likely make him most coveted by zone-blocking teams. At the combine, Cooper partook in snapping drills, suggesting that NFL teams are also looking at him to play center.

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Spring football still hasn't started yet, but Sports Illustrated proved that it's not too early to crank up the hype machine by revealing a cover featuring Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller set to go out on newsstands March 4.

Miller was one of the game's biggest breakout stars in 2012 along with Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. His growth helped the Buckeyes go undefeated in 2012 despite not being able to play in a bowl game.

The question that remains now is if Miller can live up to the hype of being on the Sports Illustrated cover.

He has big expectations to live up to after finishing fifth in the Heisman voting this past season. Whether or not he finished that low just because of his late-season struggles or if OSU's postseason ban had anything to do with it may never be known.

What we do know is that Miller is the type of player that Ohio State will rely on to try to win the school's first national championship since the 2002 season.

2013 will be the first time in a few years that the Buckeyes are relevant in the national championship picture, and Miller is the reason why.

He's spent the early portion of the offseason working with famed quarterback coach George Whitfield to try to improve his throwing mechanics.

Despite his record-breaking season running the football, Miller was inconsistent in the passing game, especially in the second half of the season in games against Purdue and Wisconsin.

If he can make a leap in productivity anywhere near the one he made from his freshman year to last season in 2013, he may cement himself as one of the best players in the country. And under Urban Meyer, that growth is certainly possible.

Miller is as dynamic an open-field runner as there is in the game, almost like a human joystick at times with the way he is able to elude defenders in one-on-one situations. He still has to work on taking less hits, but that will come with his continued development.

The runs he made last season were spectacular plays worthy of generating a great deal of buzz.

That buzz has put Miller among the biggest names in college football and thus made him a Sports Illustrated cover man.

Follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim for the latest college football news and updates.

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Brett Maher

What he did: During his workouts, Brett Maher made 14 of his 15 field-goal attempts.  But at a position that demands much less athleticism than any other, he accomplished just as much in his meetings with individual franchises.  Nebraska Radio Network reports that Maher talked to 12 different clubs, most notably the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns. 

What it means: Maher held serve.  Kicking field goals at the NFL combine is not quite the same as lining up opposite 350-pounders with the game on the line, but rest assured there was plenty of pressure on the field in Indianapolis.  And Maher delivered.  He was a top kicking prospect heading into the weekend and will remain one afterward, ensuring that he will get his chance to make an NFL roster.

Rex Burkhead

What he did:

40-Yard Dash: 4.73 seconds (25th out of 33 participating running backs)

Bench Press: 21 repetitions (13th out of 31)

Vertical Jump: 39.0 inches (2nd out of 32)

Broad Jump: 125.0 inches (2nd out of 32)

Three-Cone Drill: 6.85 seconds (4th out of 23)

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.09 seconds (2nd out of 24)

60-Yard Shuttle: 11.51 seconds (5th out of 16)

What it means: Rex Burkhead’s poor performance in the 40-yard dash and bench press certainly is not cause for concern.  Despite being two of the three highest profile measurements, his lack of eye-popping numbers are far from surprising.  No one expected him to beat Kenjon Barner in the 40 or show up Le’Veon Bell in the bench press.

But in every other event, Burkhead came to play, notching five top-five finishes.  And this is not to mention his intangibles, which hold his true value.  Do not look for him to jump off the board in Round 1, but with his performance this weekend, Rex Burkhead has solidified his place in the middle rounds of the upcoming NFL draft.

Daimion Stafford

What he did:

40-Yard Dash: 4.69 seconds (17th out of 20 participating safeties)

Bench Press: 21 repetitions (4th out of 18)

Vertical Jump: 30.5 inches (20th out of 20)

Broad Jump: 111.0 inches (19th out of 19)

Three-Cone Drill: 7.06 seconds (13th out of 14)

What it means: Similar to Burkhead, Daimion Stafford will rely on his intangibles in order to make it at the next level.  His intensity, aggressiveness and physicality are what really set him apart.  And unfortunately, none of those show up in the measurables tallied at the NFL combine.

Unlike Burkhead, however, his performance did anything but help.  Although Stafford was not expected to top the board in every category, he certainly would have hoped for a more impressive showing than he produced.  This may have just become an uphill battle for Stafford at the start of his NFL career.

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At 6’1” and 215 pounds, Dylan Moses already has more than enough size to be an NFL running back. He also sports a 40 that would be more than competitive with the group of gifted ball-carriers who were showcased at the NFL Combine.

The problem, however, is that he won’t graduate until summer. To be slightly more specific, he won’t be graduating eighth grade until this summer.

Despite his age—or specifically, his lack of—Moses is an in-demand commodity. He has now drawn the interest of and offers from two of the country’s most potent football programs. The secret is out; although, this is far from the first time we’ve seen a junior high athlete receive looks from colleges.

It’s not the norm (yet), but it could be soon enough.

With new recruiting legislation and the ever-increasing competitive nature of the game-within-the-game, scouting is going to become more in-depth, more complete, and it will start earlier than before.

If this is what pushes you over the edge when it comes to recruiting, I have to ask…where you been?

In the specific instance of Dylan Moses, the legend began to spread like wildfire when he received a scholarship offer from Nick Saban Alabama’s Junior Day this past Saturday.

He’s considered an elite prospect for the class of 2017, and if that sounds like a long way out, that’s because it is. Still, despite how bizarre this all sounds and seems, it seems slightly less bizarre when you watch Moses on the football field.

This, clearly, is not your average eighth-grader.

Edward Moses Jr., Dylan’s father, spoke to Al.com about the unique experience in Tuscaloosa, while also providing some insight into a long recruiting process that is in its infant stage:

"We got the invitation to come to Alabama's Junior Day a few weeks ago and to be honest we were kind of surprised. When we got there, Coach (Burton) Burns took us around and introduced us to the entire coaching staff and they all seemed very interested in Dylan. They treated him like a five-star recruit."

"We met with Coach Saban after lunch and he talked to Dylan about his future and what he needed to do to achieve his potential as a student and as a football player. When he said he was offering Dylan a scholarship, we asked a lot of questions just to make sure we knew exactly what he meant. Coach Saban said the Alabama staff believes Dylan has a chance to be the best player in the country in the Class of 2017 and they were ready to offer him a scholarship. That's when the fireworks started going off in our heads."

Alabama isn’t alone in its early courting efforts. LSU actually offered Moses as a seventh-grader, getting a jump on getting a jump. Moses will play his high school ball at University Lab High School in Louisiana, which is more or less in LSU’s backyard.

Outside of Moses, USC made headlines when they offered quarterback David Sills—now a premier quarterback prospect for the 2015 class—a scholarship at the age of 13. 

Going back a bit further, quarterback Chris Leak actually committed to Wake Forest before hitting high school to play with his brother. His brother eventually transferred, and Leak later decided to take his magnificent spirals to Florida, where he won a national championship.

Although Chris Leak is far from a dinosaur, the recruiting world has transformed drastically since his departure from the Gators. It’ll likely continue to change, especially now that the NCAA Board of Directors approved Proposal 11-2 earlier this year.

This will allow schools to hire staffs separate from coaches who can be involved in the recruiting process, minus off-campus visits. Other than that, they will become an ultimate resource, especially for those teams with extra money to spare.

Alabama has been at the forefront of this move, and the hiring of Kevin Steele as director of player personnel signifies that this change is already upon us. Others with the cash to do so will soon follow.

These staff additions will greatly increase the activity involved in the recruiting cycle, and it will also start the process earlier on. With the coverage of recruiting also booming, we’ll likely hear more about younger, talented players getting looks from marquee destinations.

Despite the fact that this trend may be getting underway, there simply aren’t many players with the physical gifts of Dylan Moses at such a young age. Although the word on these players will get out quickly, and there will be staffs in place tasked with locating them more efficiently, there will only be so many eighth-graders capable of drawing interest from the major programs.

This is about relationship-building and the beginning of a very long process. None of this is finalized until the very moment that letter of intent is faxed in, and until then it’s all about making an impression.

Alabama and LSU have decided to be the first to make a big impression, in the hopes that it will pay off down the road.

Verbal agreements and scholarship offers—especially for players still far, far away from a college campus—are a show of faith by the school and a tactic to remain relevant. It creates a great headline, but both of these mean very little in the grand scheme. After all, we've seen how much this handshake deal means over the course of a single high school senior season, let alone several.

Recruiting in general seems to be spiraling towards areas unknown, but offering a scholarship to an eighth grader isn’t groundbreaking. With the new rules in place—including unlimited text messages and other forms of contact going forward—the NCAA seems content with embracing this kind of competitive environment.

Hopefully coaches and adults will use discretion, especially with younger players still years away. Age isn’t as much a concern for me as the pressure that is mounting in all areas, for all athletes, high school-seasoned or not.

On the flip side, most college programs don’t have the luxury to center their attention on 2017. And even if they do, much of their time and resources—even with a new, larger staff in place—will look at what’s most directly ahead. Jobs are on the line year-to-year, and just how many members of a team will be there when National Signing Day 2017 finally rolls along?

As for Dylan Moses, we, like every major school in the country, will keep an eye on him going forward. Will he turn out to be the talent many believe? Will he eventually sign with LSU? Alabama? Will Nick Saban be coaching at Alabama if and when he does? 

Speaking of which, I wonder if we’ll still be using fax machines by then.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

As Penn State football looks ahead towards the annual Blue and White game, the quarterback battle in Happy Valley is going to pick up. 

Currently enrolled on scholarship at State College are quarterbacks Steven Bench and Tyler Ferguson.

Ferguson is coming into the program relatively unknown, playing JUCO football at College of the Sequoias during his freshman year.

But don’t underestimate Ferguson, he is the hidden gem of coach Bill O’Brien’s 2013 recruiting class.

Most likely the next thing popping in your head right now is a question asking about top quarterback recruit Christian Hackenberg—and rightfully so.

Hackenberg has the build and skills to flourish in O’Brien’s pro style offense, and has already shown signs of maturity by sticking behind Penn State during the NCAA sanctions.

With Hackenberg coming into Happy Valley during the summer rather than this spring, and the fact that Penn State still has three full years of bowl bans, the likelihood of the young stud taking a redshirt season is more than possible.

If Hackenberg does take his freshman year to immerse himself in the offense and O’Brien’s program, it will give both Bench and Ferguson a 50/50 shot at earning the starting job.

My money is on Ferguson.

Much like the 6’4” 210 pound Hackenberg, Ferguson has a solid build,standing at 6’4” 200 pounds.

According to ESPN’s Recruiting Nation, Ferguson has good arm strength and accuracy in underneath routes and is athletic enough to move around in the pocket. 

Does this sound familiar?

It was only last season that we saw former walk-on Matt McGloin leading the Big Ten, with his strength being the underneath routes.

Ferguson is bigger than McGloin and has a better arm. 

Where Ferguson has struggled is in the mechanics area. The California product doesn’t throw a great deep ball and has other areas mechanically to improve upon. But with O’Brien guiding his quarterbacks, it seems as though there is a high possibility that Ferguson can get better.

After missing out on top JUCO quarterback Jake Waters, Penn State nabbed Ferguson quickly and quietly. This move was so swift that at the time, most people didn’t know that O’Brien just might have picked up his new starting quarterback in 2013 in Ferguson.

In a class with serious top tier talent in Hackenberg and Adam Breneman, the signing of Ferguson and his enrollment in the spring semester may be the biggest offseason move O’Brien has made thus far.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

It's that time of year, college football fans.

The NFL Scouting Combine is officially underway as college football's top players show off their skills to NFL scouts in Indianapolis.

There aren't many teams that are as well represented at the NFL combine as the LSU Tigers are this year.

So, we ask, which former LSU stars have stood out thus far?

Let's go ahead and provide complete NFL combine results for the former LSU Tigers in attendance.

Right here, right now!

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Oklahoma football fans saw six former Sooners participate in the 2013 NFL combine in Indianapolis. 

One Sooner turned in a memorable (but not impressive) 40-yard dash. Another showed blazing speed, and a third player dazzled with his overall display of athleticism.

Sure, some of the four-day spectacle seems trivial. Why, for example, do we care about how high Landry Jones can jump?

But the event can have considerable ramifications for the NFL Draft. A seemingly trivial difference in 40-yard dash times, for example, can have substantial financial implications for top prospects.

For some, a solid performance at the combine is their only chance of getting attention from NFL scouts and coaches. 

Now that the four-day media spectacle is over, let's take a look at how these OU alums fared at the combine. 

(Note: results are taken from NFL.com). 

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The Michigan Wolverines will officially put an underwhelming 2012 season behind them with the start of spring practices in mid-March. The month-long camp will culminate with the annual spring game on Apr. 13.

11 starters are returning from last year's squad, which finished with an 8-5 overall record and were one game behind the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference.

Expectations are going to be high for the Wolverines, though, with more of head coach Brady Hoke's highly-touted recruits playing prominent roles on both sides of the ball.

The spring game does not have an official time or television provider at the moment, but below are all of the details for Michigan's upcoming camp.

Spring Practice Start Date: Thursday, March 16

Spring Game Date: Saturday, April 13

Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich.

TV and Time: TBA

Position Battle to Watch: Offensive Guard

The biggest position of concern for the Wolverines right now is center, however, the depth chart battle Michigan fans should pay attention to during the spring game will be at offensive guard.

Both the left and right guard spots are vacant and could be filled by a number of current Wolverines. The headliner on the left side is former 5-star recruit Kyle Kalis, who redshirted as a true freshman in 2012.  

Redshirt junior Joey Burzynski will be Kalis' main competition and should get plenty of reps in the exhibition contest. Early enrollee Kyle Bosch could also make a push for playing time with a strong performance in the mid-April scrimmage.

On the other half of the offensive line, redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant and redshirt freshman Blake Bars are the top candidates to become the starting right guard. 

The wild card competitor at the position is redshirt freshman Ben Braden. The Michigan coaches are trying to get Braden on the field as soon as possible and with both tackle spots filled by veterans, the 6'6", 308-pounder's best bet to do that is by sliding inside.

Do not be surprised to see Braden log some time next to returning starters Taylor Lewan or Michael Schofield.

Area in Need of Most Improvement: Running Back

The departure of Michigan's leading rusher for the past three seasons, former dual-threat quarterback Denard Robinson, creates a need for significant improvement at running back.  

Last season, the Wolverines only managed to get 946 rushing yards out of their backs. The Maize and Blue will need more production from their backfield if they hope to contend for a Big Ten title in 2013.

Fans will not get to see incoming freshman Derrick Green until Michigan's season-opener at the Big House on Aug. 31. Instead, junior Thomas Rawls and redshirt freshman Drake Johnson will be garnering plenty of attention in the offseason tune-up game.

Fifth-year senior Fitzgerald Toussaint may not be at 100 percent by April, but he is working harder than ever to return from the severe ankle injury he suffered last year.

Fellow returnees Justice Hayes and Dennis Norfleet could also spend some time taking hand offs from the Wolverines' quarterbacks on game day. 

What to Expect in 2013

Expectations for Michigan will never change under head coach Brady Hoke. The Wolverines will be playing to win a Big Ten title in 2013, and the Maize and Blue have enough talent and experience to do exactly that.

The return of All-American left tackle Taylor Lewan should help Michigan's interior offensive line come together quicker than expected. 

Derrick Green is built to play at the college level already and will be a threat to rack up 1,000 yards on the ground if the new linemen perform well.

Rising senior quarterback Devin Gardner is going to carry the load offensively for the Wolverines, but one of Michigan's young wide receivers will need to emerge as a consistent deep threat for this team to reach its full potential.

Defensively, Greg Mattison will have Michigan among the nation's leaders in yards and points allowed for all of the upcoming campaign.

Six starters are returning and plenty of the players who saw time as true freshmen could step in to starting roles without too much of an issue.

Generating a pass rush is the top priority for the Wolverines heading into next season, and sophomore Mario Ojemudia could be the answer Michigan has been looking for on the edge.

The schedule also sets up well for the Wolverines with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Nebraska Cornhuskers and Ohio State Buckeyes all visiting Ann Arbor. Michigan's toughest game away from home will be against the Michigan State Spartans.

All that being said, the Wolverines should be able to finish either 9-3 or 10-2 this season. Michigan will likely need to beat Nebraska and Michigan State to win the Legends Division.

Fans should expect the Wolverines to win their half of the league and make a trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game, but national title contention is still a year or two away. 

Follow me on Twitter: @Zach_Dirlam

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Former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis should be feeling vindicated after this past week. 

Eight members of his 2009 recruiting class received invitations to the NFL Scouting Combine over the weekend, allowing each an opportunity to enhance his draft stock. 

The event included a variety of workouts—the 40-yard dash and the 225-pound bench press among them—as well as meetings with the management group of prospective teams. 

How did the eight former Notre Dame stars fare?

All prospects were graded on a scale of 1-100, which breaks down like this: 

• 96-100: Future Hall of Famer
• 85-95: Immediate Starter
• 70-84: Eventual Starter
• 50-69: Draftable Player
• 20-49: Free Agent

Results from NFL.com.

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There are few honors greater than being named a team captain.

A team captain is entrusted by the coaching staff to be the leader that the coaching staff can’t be; the leader outside of practice, the leader in the locker room, the leader who motivates and leads the team when needed.

As we get closer and closer to spring practices, you can expect the Oregon coaching staff to name team captains in the near future.

Predicting who will be Oregon’s team captains this season is a bit tricky, because to make the list doesn’t always mean you’re the best player on the team.

In 2010, Bryson Littlejohn, an extremely hard worker in practice, rarely saw the field in situations outside of special teams, yet he was still named a team captain.

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Nebraska football fans, your turkey leftover eating plans are secure. According to Omaha.com, the Big Ten has approved the request from both Nebraska and Iowa to play on the day after Thanksgiving, at least for 2013 and 2014. Gary Barda, Iowa’s athletic director, had suggested that the Hawkeyes might not want to continue the Friday games, citing difficulties for fans to attend.

Thankfully, wiser minds have prevailed, and the Friday contests will continue. Nebraska has played on the day after Thanksgiving every year since 1990, and it would be a huge loss to the Children of the Corn if those Friday games went away.

The creation of the Big 12 chipped away at some of Nebraska’s history, with NU’s series against Oklahoma moving from an annual affair to twice every four years. With Nebraska’s departure to the Big Ten, many of Nebraska’s historical ties were severed.

Gone were the games against Oklahoma, against Texas (no more need be said), against Missouri (a nascent rivalry nipped in the bud), against Colorado (not a rivalry according to Nebraska fans, but a series with amazing history) and against Kansas (breaking a streak of consecutive games played that was the longest in the nation).

But one piece of that tradition remained—the day after Thanksgiving, where the entire nation could wake up from a tryptophan-induced coma and watch Nebraska, calling forth memories of Johnny Rodgers, Buster Rhymes and Chris Brown.

So it’s clear why Nebraska would want to retain the day-after-Thanksgiving slot. But what’s in it for Iowa?

Well, for starters, television exposure. Playing on the day after Thanksgiving, Nebraska and Iowa will both be guaranteed a spot on ABC with no competition. The entire college football world will be watching the Hawkeyes, something that can’t be a bad thing for recruiting.

The unfortunate fact is, Iowa is 19-19 over the last three years. Absent a quick turnaround, the Hawkeyes are not likely to get the kind of national exposure that the Friday series against Nebraska should provide. To avoid having the No. 55 recruiting class nationally, 10th in the Big Ten (according to 247Sports.com), Iowa needs all the national attention it can get.

But there’s more to it than just the recruiting angle. The Nebraska-Iowa series has the chance to be something really special, a point made by one particularly smart and handsome analyst. Yes, there’s already a shiny Heroes Game trophy to exchange, and that’s a great start. But Nebraska is already starting to develop some natural rivalries within the conference.

The Nebraska-Wisconsin series is already building some venom and could pick up steam if the Badgers are moved into the same conference as NU. The Nebraska-Michigan State and Nebraska-Northwestern series are also becoming interesting.

If Nebraska-Iowa were moved to a Saturday, quite honestly, it would become just another conference game on the schedule. I would hate for the series, which has so much rivalry potential, to be reduced to that level.

But if the importance of the game on the field isn’t at that fever-pitch intensity level—which, based on Iowa’s recent struggles, it is not—then putting the game on the day after Thanksgiving keeps the chance of a rivalry alive until the Hawkeyes get back on their feet.

If you’d like to contact Patrick to schedule an interview, provide feedback or get advice on which type of chocolate goes best with fresh fruit (spoiler alert: dark), send an email to patrickrunge@gmail.com.

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