NCAA Football News

Following an exciting and slightly surprising 12-0 season, expectations in Columbus couldn't be any bigger heading into next season. Urban Meyer and his staff have implemented a winning culture into this program, and with tenacious work on the recruiting trail, they were able to ensure that this success would be sustained. In fact, the 2013 team will most likely be ranked within the preaseason top-five this summer.

Braxton Miller will have a real shot at winning a Heisman Trophy, and players like Bradley Roby could play their way into being a first-round draft pick in 2014. Experts are already mentioning the Buckeyes as legitimate title contenders, and Buckeye Nation will excitedly watch their talented team embark on a possibly historical season come this fall.

However, the first step in this team's journey will be getting though spring practice, and there are plenty of things to observe from afar. The Urban Meyer-led Buckeyes will look to further perfect their new offensive system and fill some major holes on defense during the spring period. Also, due to the departure of a few key starters from last season, this year's spring practices will feature intense position battles and give us a better understanding of how Meyer plans on utilizing his personnel.

Here are the top six storylines for the Buckeyes as they get set to begin spring practice.

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After posting an unspectacular 8-5 record last season, Michigan is looking for more success in 2013.

While the team is losing a lot of talent due to graduation on both sides of the ball, there is plenty of reason to be excited about the upcoming year. All-American tackle Taylor Lewan will anchor the offensive line, while Devin Gardner showed last season that he could succeed at quarterback.

Still, there will be plenty of teams trying to prevent the Wolverines from putting together a good season.

These will be the toughest matchups for Michigan on the 2013 schedule.

5. Nov. 2 at Michigan State

Traveling to East Lansing is never easy. Even though Michigan State lost its best offensive weapon in Le'Veon Bell, the defense will remain one of the best in the country.

The good news is that the game comes later in the year as the young offense starts to come together. Once Gardner starts to hit his stride, plus the addition of freshman Derrick Green at running back, the offense should be clicking.

Without a tough offense to stop, the Wolverines should be able to survive this game.

4. Oct. 12 at Penn State

After a poor start to the year, Penn State regained its momentum and ended up winning eight of its last 10 games.

It was all for nothing as the team was ineligible for the postseason and remains that way for a few years.

However, Bill O'Brien showed that his team still has a lot of talent and is willing to fight all season long. This will make things difficult for Michigan in the trip to Happy Valley.

3. Nov. 9 vs. Nebraska

Now a rising senior, quarterback Taylor Martinez has the potential to be one of the biggest playmakers in the country.

The dual-threat QB runs the option to perfection and will have Ameer Abdullah beside him as one of the best running backs in the Big Ten.

While the Wolverines have talent on defense, the linebackers will be put to the test as they try to stay with this lightning fast offense.

2. Sept. 7 vs. Notre Dame

Notre Dame lost Manti Te'o and a few other leaders, but this is still one of the top teams in the country.

Everett Golson will be improved in his second year running the offense, and the defense has just as much talent as it did a year ago behind defensive tackle Louis Nix III.

It will be a stretch to think that Notre Dame can return to the national title game. However, this game on the second week of the year is certain to be a challenge.

1. Nov. 30 vs. Ohio State

Once again, the game that Michigan players and fans should circle on the calendar is Nov. 30 against Ohio State.

Quarterback Braxton Miller is certain to be a Heisman candidate as the Buckeyes look to repeat their 12-0 mark from last season. Although the team was ineligible for the postseason last year, the squad is ready to play for a conference and national championship this season.

Even if the Wolverines struggle throughout the season, they are certain to come to play in this one in an effort to prevent good things from happening to their rivals. 

Hopefully, Michigan has what it takes to win this high-profile battle at home.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

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After winning three of the last four BCS National Championships, the expectations for Alabama in 2013 are clear: Anything less than another title will be a disappointment.

While the first round of the upcoming NFL draft will showcase several former Crimson Tide players, key performers from last year’s team will be back in Tuscaloosa.

Nick Saban’s defense always finds a way to turn in impressive performances, but the coach will rely on three of his returners to ensure that the offense puts up points.

Here are the expectations for Alabama’s three biggest offensive stars.

A.J. McCarron, Quarterback 

Last season, McCarron continued to improve upon his work as a sophomore. He showed leadership and poise late in games and rarely made mistakes.

His signature moment came when he led a game-winning drive to beat LSU in Death Valley, and that will be a memory he will never forget. 

Statistically, he was extremely impressive. He completed 67.2 percent of his throws while racking up 2,933 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

In 2013, fans will be expecting more of the same. He will once again have to avoid turning the ball over while making big plays late in games.

Expected 2013 Stats: 68.0 completion percentage, 3,300 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, 4 interceptions

T.J. Yeldon, Running Back

As a freshman, Yeldon provided the lightning, while Eddie Lacy contributed the thunder in Alabama’s backfield. 

This role helped Yeldon record 1,108 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. 

But Yeldon is much more than a change-of-pace back, and at 6’2” and 216 pounds, he certainly has the build to carry a full load. 

The Crimson Tide will likely use multiple backs in 2013, but Yeldon will be the focal point of the team’s running game. Due to this, his numbers should go up.

Expected 2013 Stats: 1,350 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns, 6.5 yards per carry average

Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver 

Alabama has traditionally taken a conservative approach on offense and focused mainly on moving the ball on the ground. But with the amount of talent the team will have at wide receiver, there will be fireworks in 2013.

Cooper is the star of the receiver corps after a stellar freshman season. In 2012, he pulled in 59 catches for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Several offensive players had standout performances in the National Championship Game against Notre Dame (including Yeldon and McCarron), and Cooper was incredible with six catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

He is a rising star, and he will be expected to stay on that trajectory when the new season starts.

Expected 2013 Stats: 70 catches, 1,150 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns

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Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller must ignore his own hype and work harder than ever before in 2013 if the Buckeyes are to have any chance of winning the BCS championship this upcoming season. 

The team would have been in the BCS title game last year if not for the sanctions against the program, and the pressure is on to equal those accomplishments this fall.

Expectations couldn't be higher, and the only way this young team will meet them is if Urban Meyer can somehow get his young quarterback to focus on improving each and every day instead of getting caught up in what's being said on television and what's being said about him on the radio.

Miller has already been thrust into the national spotlight after his recent Sports Illustrated cover, and we haven't even hit the month of March. The talent is certainly present on the roster for Ohio State to make a legitimate run at the title, but it won't do so without a fully focused and humble leader. 

Miller's athleticism and speed are a major weapon, and he's going to get plenty of yards rushing. However, if the team's offense has any hope of exceeding what it accomplished last year, he needs to become a more accomplished pocket passer. 

Last season, Miller only completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 2,039 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Buckeyes scored over 37 points per game despite this. If Miller can improve, the offense will be nearly unstoppable. 

So far, it seems as if Miller is doing what it takes to improve. He's been working out with noted quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. (via Tim May of BuckeyeXtra), and if anyone can help him improve, it's this man. 

The "Quarterback Whisperer" has worked with many players you've heard about over the years, including Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, Ben Roethlisberger, Johnny Manziel and Tajh Boyd.

Miller will likely be much improved this year as a passer, but that won't be enough.

He must lead by example, and the most important thing he must do to lead his team to a national championship is stay humble and forget about the hype surrounding his name.

If he becomes enamored by his fame, Ohio State's chances at winning the BCS title in 2013 are doomed.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78 

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Syracuse strong safety Shamarko Thomas' 2013 NFL combine performance may be forever remembered for his epic face plant. The fact of the matter is, Thomas left scouts with much more to think about rather than how well he eats dirt.

Let's break down how Thomas actually fared at the combine.

With blazing speed, overpowering strength and limitless leaping ability, Thomas put on a show for the scouts, general managers and coaches in attendance. He did so by ranking in the top five by position in four of the five drills he performed.

That includes the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump and broad jump.

So let's go down to it.

How did Thomas fare in each individual event? Furthermore, how much has he improved his draft stock as a result of his execution?

Most importantly, where might he go?

40-Yard Dash: 4.42 Seconds

Thomas obliterated the field of safeties, completing his 40-yard dash in a time of 4.42 seconds. That was the fastest time posted by any safety at the combine.

This was a display of what Thomas is all about on the football field.

The former Syracuse Orange standout attacks the ball at blazing speeds and collides with receivers and running backs with reckless abandon. This is what makes Thomas such an intriguing prospect.

With his burning speed proven at the combine, we could see this strong safety move up many draft boards. Fortunately for Thomas, speed isn't all he has to offer.

It's far from it.

Bench Press: 28 Reps

After leading all safeties in the 40-yard dash, Thomas was at it again with the bench press. He performed 28 reps and fell just four short of the position's all time record.

More importantly, Thomas led all safeties—again.

This is what scouts needed to see from Thomas, as he proved that he is much more than just a fast runner. Thomas is a powerful player that possesses a rare combination of brute force and open field speed.

Once again, Thomas wasn't finished.

Vertical Jump: 40.5 Inches

You may think I'm making this up, but I'm not. During the vertical jump, Thomas again topped his position.

Thomas and LSU's Eric Reid tied for first at their position with respective 40.5-inch verticals.

This offers hope for scouts in attendance that they have found a capable defender when facing the pass. With speed, strength and vertical leaping ability, Thomas has proven that he can handle anything thrown his way from a physical perspective.

If you still don't believe it, check the final workout.

Broad Jump: 133.0 inches

For once, Thomas did not finish first at his position during a combine drill. Instead, he finished in second.

Thomas's 11'1" broad jump was right behind Eric Reid of LSU and Earl Wolff of North Carolina State. Reid and Wolff tied for first at 11'2"—just one inch further than Thomas.

In case you aren't getting the picture, Thomas proved to be one of the most physically gifted players in this draft class. While he may not have established himself as the best player at his position, Thomas went a long way towards defining his upside.

Scouts, general managers and coaches have taken notice of Thomas—and not because of a face plant.

All statistics and information provided by NFL.com.

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Last season, Johnny Manziel amassed 3,706 yards through the air while compiling another 1,410 yards on the ground. Even the best SEC defenses had trouble containing the eventual Heisman winner.

Now armed with a year of game film on the dual-threat quarterback, will SEC defenses have better luck containing or even shutting down Manziel in 2013?

Better yet, which teams are equipped to try and stop Johnny Football this season?

Let's take a look at five teams that have the best shot.

Follow @SephTalksSEC

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While old pros like Nick Saban and Urban Meyer sit at the top of the recruiting game, there are several coaches on the rise in the recruiting game. And, as any Alabama fan will tell you, top-notch recruiting is vital for capturing the national championship.

These young coaches are overcoming challenges and have already risen up higher than where we thought they might be. Some of these coaches have had to deal with NCAA sanctions or the threat thereof, while still trying to get kids to come to their programs.

So, what coaches are the best recruiting rising stars? Read on.

Note: All recruiting data and class rankings listed here come from Rivals.com.

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The recent news of the home-and-home series Boise State signed with the University of Virgina seems to have been well received by many Broncos fans.

As most of those fans know, it is hard to get BCS conference teams to travel to Boise to play on The Blue. So, to land an ACC squad like the Cavaliers has to be exciting for the school and the fanbase. 

Teams like Oregon, Washington, Oregon State and Washington State have or will visit Bronco Stadium soon for nonconference games, and while the fans love those matchups, those schools are in close proximity to Boise. In turn, regional games don't effectively spread the orange and blue brand across the land.

The Virginia games will serve as a way to get some expanded exposure, and bring some excitement to Bronco Stadium. But you have to wonder if there are other teams that could bring the same kind of benefit for the Boise State program. 

There are, of course, the unrealistic choices such as Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame or even USC. But Broncos fans understand these kind of games will probably never happen. Stadium size, payouts, travel and the fact that those schools would have little to gain by visiting Boise are all factors.

However, there are some schools out there that might be possibilities, and they are games that Boise State fans would probably enjoy seeing.

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The NFL Scouting Combine serves as the unofficial moment in the college football offseason where we hit the reset button. It’s at this moment—somewhere between the first and final 40 completed in Indy—that we realize the talented group currently under the scouting microscope is gone from college football for good.

Excuse me while I pour out a can of warm Busch Light leftover from the tailgate season in their honor.

Although we’re quite familiar with this yearly ritual now, it doesn’t make it any easier to accept. The players we’ve marveled over for the past three to four seasons are gone, off to get paid for their efforts, leaving us with another batch of faces to become familiar with before and during the fall.

There are plenty of known commodities still around in college football—be sure to enjoy Jadeveon Clowney while you can—although there’s no question we’re losing quite a bit in 2013.

They're not exactly disappearing, of course, but it just won’t be the same.

From the known talents who have been doing it for a few seasons to the freakishly gifted specimens who never quite showcased their full potential playing on Saturdays, here’s who I’ll miss the most as we bid them farewell and good luck.

Tavon Austin

You know that wide receiver you created in NCAA 13 with the preposterous 99-speed? The pixelated freak who could never, ever exist in real life, but you don’t care.

Well, West Virginia wide receiver/running back/highlight generator Tavon Austin is the special exception to this rule and the closest thing to a cheat code on offense. His 4.34 40 at the combine was ridiculous, sure, but that doesn’t do his talents justice. 

Austin’s 2012 game against Oklahoma is one I’ll remember for quite some time. He finished with 344 rushing yards—yeah, he did plenty of that, too—along with 82 receiving yards and two scores...and his team lost. 

For him, it’s not about stats, though. And those were certainly there in 2012.

It’s that rare “he could score here” moment you have every time he touches the football regardless of where he is on the field. Being a senior, however, there wasn’t any eligibility left, but I really wish there were.

Please, future NFL destination, give him the damn ball. We demand to see more.

Knile Davis

About a year ago, I wrote this column on the overwhelming potential of the Arkansas running back when healthy. We didn’t see that potential in the 2012 season, but saw plenty of it at the NFL combine.

At 227 pounds, Davis ran a ridiculous 4.37 in the 40. He also did 31 reps on the bench press, and we’re already aware that he can squat a family of four—well, maybe five, 'cause he moves 600 pounds rather easily.

He’s a physical freak, a specimen that showcased his talents during his sophomore season when he ran for 1,322 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

So why did he only run for 377 yards in 2012? Was it his health? His offensive line? Was it the team, which was more or less in disarray? I would say a healthy combo of each factored here, although I was disappointed he didn’t come back for his senior season.

We got a glimpse of the off-the-charts talent, and now we’ll see if the measureables can amount to NFL success.

My intelligent, professional scouting take: Tackling him would really, really suck, so maybe.

Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah

Let’s stay with the “potential” theme, although the path for BYU defensive end Ziggy Ansah is very different from Knile Davis. Ansah’s path is only just beginning.

When he first came over from Ghana and started playing football in 2010, he didn’t know how to put on pads. Even at times last season, it seemed that Ansah was lost on the football field, unsure of where to be or why to be there.

On those same plays where confusion seemed obvious, however, he ended up destroying an entire offense almost unknowingly. He’s a ridiculous athlete becoming a football player—still miles away from what he’ll become—and he showcased his ability in Indy on the biggest stage. 

At 6’5” and 271 pounds, Ansah ran a 4.63 40. He’ll be a top-15 pick in the NFL draft, although I would have loved to see one more season at BYU.

He’s just figuring it out, and this kind of rapid, incomplete development only leaves you wanting more. We’ll get to see it in the NFL—where he’ll be a star eventually—but I enjoyed his ability to stumble into demolition so, so much in 2012. 

Le’Veon Bell

In Michigan State’s opening tussle against Boise State last season, Le’Veon Bell carried the ball 44 times and also had six catches. It was exhausting just watching him, and he single-handedly lifted Sparty to victory. 

Bell decided to go pro a year early, and as much as I loved watching him run through Big Ten defenders, I can’t blame him for leaving. A running back only has so many carries, and after 382 in one season and six games with at least 30 carries, it was time to move on.

What I really enjoyed about his game was the variety in the embarrassment he dished out. He pummeled tacklers if he wanted to, but he also has the shiftiness to make a coiled linebacker look foolish with a half-hearted tackle attempt. 

And then there’s his famous hurdle, which I will miss the most.

Bell helped himself a great deal at the combine, running a 4.6 40 at more than 230 pounds. He will be a player in the NFL, and while I’m disappointed that a giant man with hurdling potential will be leaving our Saturday lineup, I will hope this translates at the next level.

Marcus Lattimore

We are all Marcus Lattimore fans; it’s that simple.

After suffering season-ending knee injuries in back-to-back seasons—including the horrific dislocation that will stay with me for a while—it was time for him to move on. Get paid to get healthy with some of the best doctors in the world, and that’s exactly what Lattimore will do.

And while I agree with his decision, we were deprived of his greatness. We didn’t get to see the best running back in college football fully healthy for as long as we wanted, which is a damn shame. He leaves South Carolina as the all-time leader in touchdowns, a record he could have shattered had he stayed healthy for three seasons. 

Although Lattimore didn’t work out at the combine, he did show up and is running once again. His attitude through it all has been tremendous, and I doubt we’ll wait very long to hear his name called over draft weekend.

Good luck, Marcus. And good luck to those tasked with tackling him once he’s full strength.

All combine results courtesy of NFL.com.

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Last week, we covered Boise State’s offensive line, giving a pre-spring practice preview by breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of the unit, as well as key position battles.

Moving right along, this week we’ll take a look at the linebacker corps for the Broncos, previewing the positions in the same way as the previous two similar-type articles.

For those of you that missed out, below are links to the previous position breakdowns.

Defensive Line

Offensive Line

Linebacker should be an area of focus for the coaching staff during spring practices, due to the fact that the Broncos will be replacing both starters for 2013. However, the prospects look good that Boise State will be strong at the position this coming season.

To clarify, this article will break down the strengths, weaknesses and key position battles for the linebacker positions.

Let’s take a look at the 2013 Boise State Broncos linebacker corps.

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On March 10, the West Virginia football team will officially begin its 2013 spring practice. With spring ball rapidly approaching, it's time to take a quick peek at which position battles will be hashed out on the practice field over the coming months.

The most glaring of all will be at the quarterback position, where the Mountaineers will look to find the successor to Geno Smith—a three-year starter under center. 

WVU will also have plenty of openings at wide receiver and linebacker, and it might be tabbing a new starting running back as well.

So before we spoil too much, let's dive right in and check out our position-by-position preview for West Virginia's upcoming spring practice session.

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We are all a little crazy.

It's just part of life. And it seems that people who are involved with football just naturally have another level of crazy, which they tend to display on the field.

This list is about those who sometimes just seem to flat lose it.

The guys who have done something, or continually do things that make us wonder what in the world just happened.

Most of them are coaches, because it takes a special kind of crazy to coach a football team—the kind that is dedicated, loyal and not afraid to let lose with the emotions for the sake of the team.

Of course, there are a few guys on this list who really don't have any idea what reality is, and even a mascot, who seems to have some issues of his own.

Whatever the reason, they are all gathered here on this list of the biggest headcases in college football.

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While fans eagerly await preseason rankings, players and coaches are focused more on the early competition that the 2013 college football season will offer. Every year, there are some early shockers, and next season won't be any different.

The first official preseason polls won't be released until August, but that doesn't mean we can't start predicting some upsets now, does it? With a heaping helping of monster showdowns in early September, there's room for a big shakeup in the rankings—even before those rankings really mean much in the race for the BCS title.

We'll give all of the amateur college football soothsayers out there a helping hand with our early edition of upset projections for the first part of the 2013 season.

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