NCAA Football News

Recruiting deregulation is already one of the hot-button topics of the offseason, and battle lines have already been drawn.

Programs like Auburn and Alabama have already begun hiring high-profile college and high-school coaches into "front office" positions. The intention is to hit the ground running when the new rules take effect in the summer, which will allow unlimited contact for coaches and support staff.

Meanwhile, the Big Ten has taken exception along with several other coaches and athletic directors, including Georgia's Greg McGarity.

Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen lands somewhere in the middle in the fight over recruiting deregulation, and has his own thoughts on how to limit the impact.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mullen thinks that adding a four-week "dead period" in the summer with no contact would be a good way to minimize the impact of the unlimited contact rule. 

I don’t want to want to sound like a non-worker, but everybody worries about these new rules, and how you will be working 24 hours per day. They want to know where is your down time? If they want a time for where coaches have to shut it down, then you designate four weeks in the summer where you’re completely off. You can do no recruiting during those four weeks, and you’ve eliminated the problem for all coaches.

Mullen went on to add some specifics to his proposal, which would allow teams to designate which four weeks they'd use as their "dead period."

Currently, we have eight weeks where we’re not allowed to do anything with our (current) players. You can do that for coaches with recruiting, too. You would let the schools pick their four weeks because schools get out earlier in the South than they do up North. Schools up North, they would need later recruiting times to do camps and summer visits. You can pick your four weeks, and move from there. So for four weeks, you can’t do anything during the summer. 

Four weeks is a long time, especially in the summer, when players are attending camps across the country. The length of time may need to be tweaked, but Mullen's goal is something that I can absolutely hop on board with.

The new recruiting rules will certainly separate the "haves" from the "have nots," not only from across the country, but within each individual conference—including the SEC.

In theory, allowing for unlimited contact will go a long way towards paring down the NCAA's rule book. However, it also runs the risk of creating a "wild, wild west" atmosphere, which is something that can't be sustained.

That's what makes Mullen's idea so intriguing.

He says that he loves the unlimited contact rule, but cutting down on the time periods in which it is allowed would limit that atmosphere and make the gap between the programs with differing recruiting budgets.

It's also clear that he's concerned about the perception that comes along with opposing the new legislation.

I love how NCAA deregulated recruiting. College coaches complaining are scared of getting outworked or out-spent

Mullen doesn't fall into that category.

Sure, Mississippi State isn't going to be able to compete with the big boys in the SEC on the bottom line; but Mullen's idea suggests that he's interested in tweaking the rules to make them better, and not concerned about being outworked.

I like that.

The idea could use a little adjustment, because four weeks may be two too many. However, while the NCAA is interested in deregulating its recruiting rules, some structure needs to remain in place.

A summer "dead period" for unlimited contact may be an interesting method to provide that structure.

Follow @BarrettSallee

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The Miami Hurricanes are starting off the 2014 recruiting cycle in a big way, with 5-star running back Joseph Yearby flipping his commitment from Florida State to UM.

Getting him to flip is huge for Miami, and the Hurricanes can give credit to new offensive coordinator James Coley in this situation. According to Kynon Codrington of Rivals.com, Coley was a big reason why Yearby flipped:

Miami (Fla.) Central running back Joseph Yearby has switched his commitment from Florida State to Miami, thanks in large part to new Hurricanes offensive coordinator James Coley.

"Coach Coley is a great guy," Yearby told Rivals.com. "He was very happy when I committed. Once he took the job, I started looking at Miami harder. Plus it's a better situation for my family."

This is a marquee recruiting win for Al Golden and the Hurricanes for numerous reasons. The first and most obvious reason is the fact that Yearby is an extremely talented recruit.

He's ranked as the No. 5 running back in the 2014 class and he's the No. 4 ranked player from the state of Florida, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings. 

Landing in-state recruits is an integral part of the success of any college football program. On that principle alone, Yearby is a major recruit for the Hurricanes. It's also worth noting that he goes to Miami Central High School, which is just about a half hour away from Coral Gables.

Recruiting success in-state is integral, but that statement is intensified when considering the competition within the state of Florida.

Regional in-state recruiting wins are just as important, so the fact that Miami was able to keep Yearby in the area is huge. Consider the fact the Hurricanes were able to steal Yearby away from Florida State, and you really get the full picture as to why this is such a monumental flip for Miami.

If the Hurricanes want to make it back to the top of the college football world, it's going to start with recruiting. That itself must start within the state of Florida. Miami didn't have much in-state success with the 2013 class, but the 2014 cycle brings new opportunities and momentum on the recruiting trail can change on a dime.

This flip could signify the beginning of a great recruiting cycle for the Hurricanes. The final factor to consider here is that talent begets talent. Now that one elite recruit has chosen Miami, other elite recruits around the area and even nationally will take notice.

The impact Yearby's commitment can have on the 2014 cycle is overwhelmingly positive for Miami, so this is a very notable recruiting win for the Hurricanes. 

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When you order the latest copy of NCAA 14, you will either see Ryan Swope or Denard Robinson on the cover. EA Sports has been running a contest over the last several weeks where you, the fan, can vote for your favorite baller or school and help put them on the cover of the popular video game.

Texas A&M and Michigan either have an overwhelming fan base that has computers, or you guys just didn't like the rest of the choices available. Both Swope and Robinson have beaten out guys such as Kenjon Barner of the Oregon Ducks, Eddie Lacy of the Alabama Crimson Tide and EJ Manuel of Florida State, just to name a few.

So who ends up on the cover? Well, that's up to you. You can make your voice heard by visiting the EA Sports Facebook page and voting for who you think deserves it most. You can also check out the updates on the EA Sports Twitter page to see how your favorite player is doing in the polls. Voting ends March 8, so this isn't something you can put off any longer.

Let's now take a look at the two athletes who are going head-to-head for the cover vote, and throw out a prediction for who will walk away victorious.

Making a Case for Denard Robinson

When I think of sport video games, I think of the guys who were unstoppable. The players you wouldn't want to compete against, no matter what.

If somebody was going to use Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl, there was absolutely no hope for you. You would call folks a "cheater" if they played with the Atlanta Falcons in Madden 2004 because of what Michael Vick could do to your defense. Even Jeremy Roenick could do everything in NHL 1994, likely creating a little bit of distance between you and your friends.

Those guys instantly remind you of Robinson and what he did for the Michigan Wolverines. There is no quarterback in college football history that has more rushing yards. He is also the first player who has rushed for at least 1,500 yards and thrown for at least 1,500 in a single season. (Jordan Lynch is the only other player to do so)

Robinson has broken numerous school, NCAA and Big Ten records throughout his career, often putting his team on his back and leading it to victory. There is the game against the Connecticut Huskies when Robinson racked up 383 total yards and scored two touchdowns. There was also this incredible run against the Irish that ended up being the longest run in Notre Dame Stadium history.

Robinson was pretty much a video game player out there on the field with all of the things he was able to do.

It's only right that he graces the cover.

Making a Case for Ryan Swope

Chances are, unless you are a Texas A&M fan, or just a religious college football fanatic, you haven't heard of Swope until recently. This is somebody who didn't receive a lot of media attention. He wasn't thrown down your throat after a big game on Saturday, and he certainly wasn't somebody who was going to let the world know he just caught yet another football.

Swope handled his business in College Station for four years and let his numbers do the talking.

Not the flashiest player in the world, but one of the more productive and underrated players over the last several seasons. He hauled in at least 72 passes in each of the last three years, racked up more than 3,000 receiving yards in his career and finished with 24 touchdown receptions. Keep in mind, all of this was done against defenses that knew he was the go-to guy within the Aggies offense.

Last season many questioned how Swope would fair against SEC competition. He shut those critics up quickly, as he averaged nearly 13 yards a reception, scored eight touchdowns and finished fifth in the conference in receptions. With 72 catches under his belt his senior season, 36 of them picked up first downs and 12 of them went for 25 yards or more. Easily the most productive receiver in school history.

Swope doesn't have an interesting story to tell. He wasn't a household name for much of his career and he wasn't in any Heisman discussions at any time. However, if you want to reward production and a class act on and off the field, this former Texas A&M Aggie is your guy.

Who Is Going to Grace the Cover? 

As you can see, you can make a solid argument for both of these players. They both had tremendous college football careers and got the job done week in and week out. But video games are all about being flashy and hip to today's market. You are never going to see a kicker on the cover of Madden no matter how many game-winning field goals he makes. People want the big name and the guy that provides the swagger to appear on the cover.

This is why Robinson is going to have his face plastered on NCAA 14.

Pretty much a video game character already, Robinson was an in-your-face type of player and was by far more known than many of the other candidates for this award. He fits the mold perfectly for this type of game and falls in line with many of the other terrific players who have received this honor.

Texas A&M has a remarkable fan base and will keep it close, but due to overall popularity and the household name, Robinson should have enough to put himself on the cover of NCAA 14.

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The NFL Scouting Combine wrapped up with the defensive backs a day ago and the NFL masses left Indianapolis with more data, medical reports and personal takes than you can usually get in one place. The biggest job fair in sports came to a close and now we've got about two months of rumors, posturing and guessing games.

For draftniks the combine is great. NFL fans look at their possible targets and get giddy during the event. Fans of individual college teams all root for their guys.

Now, for a guy like me, who has been watching all of these kids work for their collegiate teams on Saturdays; the combine is a real treat because it means watching them go out and try to ball hard on the biggest individual stage they're going to get.

Whether you're a first-round-caliber guy, or a mid- to late-round pick, the combine is a chance to help increase the likelihood of an NFL GM, coach, scout and the like, falling in love with what you bring to the table. It's a chance to confirm what they have seen on film, prove that you belong on their board and, hopefully, make a couple extra bucks by showing what you can do.

The combine is not, by any means, the end all be all when it comes to draft stock. Granted, "draft stock" is not a thing that I truly deal in because the NFL is 32 individual teams with a myriad of opinions within their own draft rooms. But, that doesn't mean the combine is, as so many under-educated fans try to tell us, meaningless.

Hard numbers on drills are great to have. They give you a baseline. But what is more important, at least to a guy like myself, is actually watching the drills themselves. It's a chance to see how these kids move. Are they smooth, fluid athletes that get into and out of breaks with no wasted motion and relative ease? Or, are they straining in the face, off-balance and flailing arms, instead?

It's about watching guys play on the balls of their feet and maintaining a good body lean. Sinking their hips and not bending at the waist. Yes, in the 40 and jumps you're looking for explosive power. However, once the position groups hit the field, you want to see those raw numbers translated to movement.

If you're a college guy, like myself, you've been watching these kids play ball every week. You've seen them over the last few years and you have a good idea of what they are. Seeing them tested is merely an opportunity to watch how the film matches up with their numbers.

When you invest as much time and gain as much enjoyment out of football at the collegiate level as I do, it's hard not to root for the kids. And I don't just mean a specific team. Rather, I'm talking about all the players. They get after it and bust their behinds on a daily basis to make college football work. This combine is sort of a coming-out party, a chance for them to build on their college performances and earn a solid payday.

Some guys will get drafted high, others will be selected in the back half of the draft. Still, other players will not be drafted at all. Some guys will flourish, others will take time to succeed. Some will, for lack of a better term, fail at the NFL level. It's a hard business and while player performance matters tremendously, so too does getting selected by a team that fits what you do best.

Regardless of it all, as a college football guy, I love the combine because I'm rooting for these guys too succeed. Getting to watch them succeed makes it that much better.

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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.

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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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