NCAA Football News

Assistant coaches at major college football programs don’t receive nearly the same amount of publicity and fame as their head-coaching counterparts do. However, the job still has plenty of perks.

Most of the top coordinators in the country get paid a six-figure salary to live and breathe football all year long. Nonetheless, it’s no easy job. An assistant coach has to be able to recruit, game-plan, scout opponents and most importantly, he has to lead a unit that produces.

If he does all of that well, he’ll quickly become a coveted head-coaching candidate. If he doesn’t, he’ll quickly become unemployed.

We know who many of the top college coordinators were this past season, because many of them are now head coaches. But what about the top coordinators to watch for next season?

Here’s a look at college football’s top 20 assistant coaches for 2013.

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In the game of football, speed can be the great equalizer or it can be a tremendous advantage.

It's something that, for the most part, you can't teach, and it has the potential to completely change the feel of any given game.

Speed neutralizes strength and size, it creates big plays and it separates the good from the great.

Especially in college football today, where the spread offense and read-option is prevalent, having speed out on the field can oftentimes be the difference between winning and losing.

With all of that in mind, here are the 10 fastest recruits in the 2013 class.

Note: All 40 times via Rivals.com

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Grab your aspirin and handkerchiefs for National Signing Day on February 6—there are going to be a lot of unhappy people the way things are shaking out in the Big 12. 

That "soft verbal" commit is going to take you on a roller coaster ride and you know it. So get in, sit down, strap up and hang on as we peruse the Big 12 commits by school and highlight the ones who, you know, might make you cry on signing day. 

Texas

Defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson is a 5-star defensive tackle and a soft verbal to Texas. Robinson reportedly visited Alabama and therein lies the problem—who is a better closer on signing day, Mack Brown or Nick Saban?

Maybe neither—Robinson has been a USC fan since childhood.

Oklahoma 

I don't see any red flags in this class so far.

Oklahoma State

No red flags here either. 

Baylor

Robbie Rhodes is a 5-star receiver (ranked No. 2 by position) and has been solid with Baylor. But Texas lost No. 1 ranked receiver Ricky Seals-Jones to Texas A&M, who, according to this report, also gave no indication he wanted to decommit. If you can't keep the No. 1 receiver, why not chase down No. 2? 

Dionte Savage may also be a flip. According to Dallasnews.com, the Oklahoma Sooners made an offer to the 2-star JUCO offensive guard. Savage also took a trip to Texas Tech last week. Savage committed to Baylor less than two weeks ago, but he may be weighing his options since 4-star offensive guard Andrew Billings is also considering Baylor, according to this report.

Texas Tech

So far, this class lacks red flags. 

TCU

The Horned Frogs' class of 2013 improved greatly when Texas-commit Kyle Hicks flipped to TCU in early December. I doubt he wavers again, but you have to think Texas will be still be trying to reel him back in since their 2013 class lacks a running back. 

Kansas

JUCO safety Isaiah Johnson gave his verbal commitment to Kansas on December 11, but he has since picked up an offer from Texas Tech. Wisconsin may also be in the mix, according to this report. 

Kansas State

There a couple of red flags here. JUCO 3-star linebacker De'Vondre Campbell committed to Tennessee and then Texas before giving a soft verbal to Kansas State in mid-January. Campbell decommitted from Tennessee after Derek Dooley was dismissed as its head coach, which sounds logical. But another decommit from Texas and a soft verbal to Kansas State makes Campbell appear a tad emotional and unsure of his desire, in my opinion.

Melvinson Hartfield is also a soft verbal, and he is in Arkansas this weekend, according to this report. The 3-star cornerback's profile page also has Texas Tech labeled as "medium interest."

Iowa State

No real red flags here, but 4-star offensive tackle Jake Campos was a Missouri commit before flipping to Iowa State. Campos is from West Des Moines—maybe he wanted to stay close to home.

An SEC school losing a commit to Iowa State? Although I expect Mizzou to make a final pitch at the one-time, long-time commit (May 2012), it sounds like he's sold on the engineering academics at Iowa State.

West Virginia

No red flags for this class. 

So there you have it. May your team have a wonderful signing day with nothing but positive surprises. 

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Montravius Adams is one of the few remaining uncommitted top prospects in the 2013 recruiting class. 

He is the No. 3 defensive tackle in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is down to four schools heading into signing day with Georgia, Florida, Auburn and Clemson all being considered for his signature. 

His final visit of the recruiting season will come February 1 to Auburn. 

Adams is being pursued by the best teams in the country for a reason. He is a stud and brings three dynamic skills to the field that separate him from the rest of the class at the position. He has the size and athleticism to play in the 4-3 or 3-4 scheme comfortably. 

Here is a look at the three keys to this top lineman’s game.

Space Filler

One of the big positives that Adams brings to the game is his ability to fill space on rushing downs. He can take on multiple blockers, and disrupts any offense's attempt to earn ground yards through the middle of the line. 

He is athletic enough to break free of blocks and also make the tackle in the middle. Adams is raw, but his size makes him field ready for any college program as a freshman. 

He would be able to come in and assist in run support next season. This is a player that understands his body and leverage, and uses that to his advantage in the trenches. 

Initial Burst

Checking in at 6’3”, 310, it is tough to miss Adams when he takes the field. What really catches your eye is when a guy his size moves as well as he does. 

Once the ball is snapped he has the initial burst to make it past opposing linemen before they have the chance to engage. If Adams reads pass, he has the speed to make it into the backfield and create a major breakdown on the quarterback from centerfield. 

His burst off the ball will remind SEC fans of Nick Fairley—a recent Auburn Tigers defensive lineman that blasted through the competition and won every major award for the position. 

Adams may not achieve that level of success in his career, but he has the talent to do it. 

Overall Strength 

When it comes down to winning battles in the trenches, strength is a major factor. Adams has a naturally large body, but he also works hard at expanding his body for a high school level athlete. 

He will enter college game ready, and will have enough strength to challenge even the most veteran offensive linemen. 

Watching Adams progress over the next four years will be a treat for those who love defensive dominance. He will be an elite defender from day one, and will finish as one of the best linemen in the game if he can continue to develop these three key skills in his game. 

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Eddie Vanderdoes is one of the many top 2013 recruits that are still trying to decide where he will play his college ball. With teams such as Alabama, USC and Notre Dame still heavily in the mix, it will be a race toward the finish line that will take place on national signing day.

Until then, all we can do is wait and see what his final decision will be. So as we wait patiently to find out where Vanderdoes will actually end up, let's take a look at some of the things that has made him such an attractive prospect to begin with.

Guys with his size and athleticism aren't found growing on trees, and they only come around once in a blue moon. There are many things that you can point out when breaking down this 5-star recruit, but here are the three that stand out the most.

Country-Boy Strong

There are some defensive linemen that rely purely on speed and can't break free once an offensive lineman gets set and puts his hands on him. There are other guys who allow their overwhelming size to work in their favor and try to bully the lineman in front of them.

Then there are the players who are just from another planet, strength-wise, and can manhandle their way through the line.

Vanderdoes is that strong player on the line who shows on every play that he has spent many long nights lifting weights and drinking protein shakes.

You have to give some of the credit to good genes. However, the rest of his upper body he worked hard for, and it has paid off in a big way. Sometimes you wonder if he is actually going to pick the lineman up and kindly place him to the side so he can get to the quarterback.

This kid is a beast when it comes to strength, and he has abused many high school kids because of it. It will really be fascinating to see how he matches up with guys around his size and if this translates well at the college level.

Quickness off the Ball

One wouldn't think that a guy 6'2", 310 pounds isn't quick off the ball. Heck, as soon as you mention the words defensive tackle, you immediately picture a big guy in the middle of the line that is going to just be a run-stuffer on defense.

However, Vanderdoes isn't your ordinary defensive tackle prospect. After all, there is a reason he is a 5-star player. Despite his tremendous size, he gets off the snap extremely well and actually makes more plays in the backfield than you would expect to see. He uses his hands well, and while his main objective is to clog running lanes, he can become a force at rushing the passer and stopping running  behind the line of scrimmage.

It isn't too often when you see a kid as big as Vanderdoes that is able to move as well as he does. Whichever team picks him up will be getting a complete defensive tackle that is more than a big guy that is only used to take up space.

Different Combinations to Break Free

If a combination of size, strength and speed wasn't enough for you to like Vanderdoes as a prospect, he also has an arsenal of weapons to beat offensive linemen.

You can watch that video over and over again and be amazed at what you are seeing. Can anybody block this kid? Not hardly. His swim move is well-developed and shouldn't even be allowed from somebody who is as big as he is. His spin move seems to be his favorite, and it works to perfection. He also does a good job of splitting the double-team and flies into the backfield practically untouched.

So not only is he a gigantic defensive lineman who is strong and athletic, but he has more than one move he can show the guy trying to block him. This will always keep the opposing offensive lineman on his toes and make him an even better pass-rusher than most expect.

With this speed and polished moves he has added to his toolbox, Vanderdoes gives a team options to either leave him at defensive tackle or line him up at strong-side defensive end. You really can't go wrong with versatility.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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On Thursday, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the man behind former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend Lennay Kekua, told Dr. Phil McGraw the intricate details behind his years-long scheme.

Friday was a day for explanation. The public came to Dr. Phil's program looking for answers, and Tuiasosopo provided throughout the second half of the interview. He delved into the reasoning behind his deception, with an emotional candor on display throughout. 

Though much of interview was sympathetic in nature, Dr. Phil finally got around to answering most skeptics' biggest question. Was Tuiasosopo the voice behind Lennay Kekua? And if he wasn't, who was his co-conspirator. 

Well, with voice recognition experts on staff to help Dr. Phil out, Tuiasosopo finally answered those questions once and for all on Friday. 

Why did Tuiasosopo feel the need to deceive Te'o, and was he truly the voice behind Kekua? Here is a complete breakdown of the biggest takeaways from the conclusion of Dr. Phil's interview with Tuiasosopo.

"Lennay Kekua" Was Escape For Tuiasosopo After Being Molested 

The second day of Dr. Phil's interview with Tuiasosopo started with the question on just about everyone's mind: Why would he create this world and deceive Te'o for so long?

According to Tuiasosopo, the persona of Lennay Kekua was created to escape the reality of his existence after being molested as an adolescent. Here is the exact way Tuiasosopo phrased his way of thinking, per the Miami Herald:

I felt that I couldn't do things, accomplish things, pursue things, live out as Ronaiah. And I felt the need to create this. It has everything to do with what I went through as a child.

As the interview progressed, Tuiasosopo went into deep detail with Dr. Phil about the nature of his molestation. He said that he was repeatedly assaulted, almost to the point he was unable to walk, but was too afraid to tell anyone. According to Huffington Post Sports, the abuse started when Tuiasosopo was just 12 years old:

Tuiasosopo also mentioned that his relationship with his father was a factor in him not telling anyone about the abuse. Titus Tuiasosopo was a youth pastor, and the man who molested Ronaiah was heavily involved in the church.

Tuiasosopo Hears Parents' Thoughts, Says He's Sorry

After speaking with Tuiasosopo and getting ultimate reasoning behind him creating the Lennay Kekua persona, Dr. Phil brought in both parents to get their take. Both his mother and father denied having any involvement or knowledge of the scam while it was happening. 

Perhaps the interview's emotional apex happened when Dr. Phil asked Tuiasosopo's father, Titus, about his feeling when hearing of the sexual abuse. Here is what Titus Tuiasosopo said, per the Miami Herald:

When he told me the location, the time, I could go back and vividly remember those trips, the times that these guys came over. That part, right there, was kind of gut wrenching for me.

Titus went on to say that hearing about his son being molested to himself helped him understand why Ronaiah would mastermind the scam against Te'o. Continually supportive during their sit-down with Dr. Phil, Titus Tuiasosopo also said the family would support Ronaiah if he was gay. 

It was then where the true emotional apex of Friday's interview happened. Upon hearing his parents' support, Tuiasosopo emotionally and profusely apologized to Te'o, his family and plenty of others. Prior to the show, Dr. Phil sent out a tweet with a partial quote of Tuiasosopo's tearful words:

Tuiasosopo Does Lennay Kekua's Voice

While it was teased on Thursday, Dr. Phil did not actually air Tuiasosopo performing Lennay Kekua's voice until the last segment of the program. Prior to the portion of the interview on Friday, three different analysts said that Tuiasosopo could not have been the voice of Lennay Kekua. 

When presented with this evidence, Tuiasosopo performed the voice for Dr. Phil behind a veiled curtain. 

Like the initial results, those came back as inconclusive at best. With a 60 percent voice match needed for experts to feel comfortable, Tuiasosopo performed the voice once again. This time, Dr. Phil put him in his own element, away from the pressures of a camera.

Here is a look at the shocking results:

With his voice being almost a perfect match, it's hard to dispute Tuiasosopo's claims that he was the voice behind Kekua. As for the rest of his story, whether or not that is to believed will be very much up to the court of public opinion. 

Follow @tylerconway22

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National signing day takes place on Feb. 6, but there are still several of the country's premier prospects that haven't officially decided on which school they will attend.

This big decision comes under a lot of media scrutiny, with pressure to side with the hometown school always imminent. The fact that young teenagers can create the kind of buzz they do speaks to their eye-popping athleticism and ability to handle playing for a big-time college program.

Here is an analysis of four of the top players in the country that have yet to put on a college hat.

Note: Prospect rankings are based on 247Sports.com's composite rankings.

Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Grayson High School (Loganville, Ga.)

Nkemdiche is the No. 1 overall prospect in the country.  At 6'4" and 285 pounds with 4.65 speed in the 40-yard dash, it's easy to see why.

On Friday, Nkemdiche took an official visit to LSU, which confirmed what he had tweeted the night before:

Prior to that trip, Ole Miss was the clear top choice on his list. Nkemdiche has the kind of ability to swing the balance of power in the SEC. The Rebels are coming off of a 7-6 season that featured several conference thrillers, and badly need a player of Nkemdiche's caliber to join the fold.

Meanwhile, if the Tigers somehow snatch up Nkemdiche at the last minute, it would be critical to absorbing the loss of future NFL players Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery.

With the physical strength to already match up favorably with SEC competition, there is little doubt that Nkemdiche will have immediate success wherever he goes. He is a stout run defender, a nightmare to handle as a pass-rusher and will be the main attraction this coming Wednesday.

Laremy Tunsil, OT, Columbia High School (Lake City, Fla.)

Tunsil is the fourth-ranked prospect overall and the premier offensive tackle of the 2013 class. He has the opportunity to be the next, massive phenom at the University of Alabama, but also has Georgia and Ole Miss on his radar.

From a professional football playing standpoint, it's hard to beat going to play for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. That said, there is not clear favorite in the Tunsil sweepstakes as of yet.

Possessing a great wingspan and standing at a towering 6'6" and 295 pounds, Tunsil also has exceptional athleticism to be a program cornerstone at left tackle, even as a true freshman.

His biggest strength is pass-blocking, which bodes well for the increasingly spread-oriented college game. According to his 247Sports.com profile, Tunsil is warmest to the Rebels, since that was his most recent visit back on Jan. 25. He shared his thoughts with ESPN's Derek Tyson (subscription required) on his trip to Oxford:

I mean Ole Miss has been near the top, too...But after I went down there, it made them go up a little bit. They are even with Georgia and Alabama. I like their tempo on offense. They think I could fit in with their tempo and I think I could, too.

If Ole Miss somehow lands both Nkemdiche and Tunsil, it would be a stunning achievement and possibly vault the Rebels into SEC contention within a year or two at most.

Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, Placer High School (Auburn, Calif.)

Here's to changing gears and deviating a bit from the Southeastern Conference. Vanderdoes was originally committed to Southern Cal, but then spurned them after having his doubts when visiting archrival Notre Dame.

That's a big blow to the Trojans, who struggled mightily on the defensive side of the ball in 2012 and could have used the top-ranked defensive tackle as a vital building block for the future.

USC isn't officially out of the running, but the Fighting Irish have emerged as prohibitive favorites to snag Vanderdoes, who is a physical specimen at just over 300 pounds with outstanding upside.

In addition to being stout against the run, Vanderdoes has the ability to collapse the pocket from the interior and disrupt the rhythm of the passing game.

But wait: Vanderdoes actually did visit Alabama on Friday in a last-minute courtship, which could ultimately sway him to the SEC anyway.  Wherever he goes, he figures to see the field very early on thanks to a strong motor and prototypical frame.

Reuben Foster, ILB, Auburn High School (Auburn, Ala.)

Being from Auburn, it makes sense that Foster is a hot commodity for the hometown Tigers and other rival SEC schools. With the dire straits that the Auburn program is in right now, it may be difficult to sway Foster to stay.

Helping the cause, though, is that Foster made an official visit on Friday, giving his local team the last chance at leaving an impression.

As reported by Matt Scalici of AL.com, Foster decommitted from Auburn back in December, but the fact that he went back for one more trip gives Tiger fans some hope.

Foster is the seventh-ranked prospect and top inside linebacker. He has the speed to chase down ball-carriers on the sidelines but also the thickness to immediately contribute against the physical, punishing running backs he'll face in conference play.

Although he is a slight liability in coverage, there is plenty of raw talent to build upon, and Foster will simply need to study up on schematics and route concepts.

Should that expected development occur, there's no reason to think that Foster won't be a player to watch for in the 2013 season.

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Reuben Foster is the No. 1 rated inside linebacker in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He has a number of things that make him an elite prospect, but five stick out when watching his film. 

He is a very talented linebacker who will be able to walk in and play for whichever program he commits to. Expect Foster to be a starter by the end of the 2013 season in most programs. 

Heading into signing day, a number of top programs are fighting for his signature. These are the five reasons that Foster is among the nation’s elite, and why any program will thrilled to land his letter of intent on signing day. 

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Robert Nkemdiche has a big decision to make soon with National Signing Day quickly approaching Wednesday. But his journey during the recruiting process could really drive you nuts if you are a fan of one of the schools in the thick of the race for Nkemdiche. So, instead of trying to keep up with it all, let's look at some of the things that have made him the top overall prospect in the first place.

With so much talent in the 2013 recruiting class, what are some of the things that Nkemdiche does that separate him from the pack in this year's talented crop? Why are all of these schools willing to chase a high school kid who hasn't even proven himself at the collegiate level?

Relax and take a break from all of the recruiting hoopla. Let's remind you all of why Nkemdiche is considered the best prospect of the 2013 recruiting class.

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Everyone loves national signing day. Every one except the football fan who will recoil in horror as he witnesses his team's highly-coveted commit flip to another school—or even worse, his team's rival.

Like all signing days, February 6 will have the usual drama of announcements including live animals and playing the shell game with hats. But who has the likelihood of flipping to another school?

USC

Offensive tackle Nico Falah is a soft verbal but don't be shocked if he flips to Washington. The Huskies are on a roll.

One of the top defensive backs in the country, 5-star Jalen Ramsey, is also a soft verbal but he's expecting visits from Florida head coach Will Muschamp, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher and USC head coach Lane Kiffin, according to one report. Ramsey hails from SEC country's Brentwood, Tn. so a flip should be expected.

Finally, although 5-star defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes decommitted from USC in December, if he signed with UCLA—which is a very good possibility—that would be considered a flip in Trojan fans' eyes. And yes, if you're asking me, it's he's 50-50 for UCLA. 

UCLA

Cameron Judge, a 4-star linebacker, is a soft verbal to UCLA but he visited Arizona State a few weeks ago. According to Scout, Judge indicated his decision was down to two schools prior to his visit to Temple. 

Arizona State

Joshua Dobbs is a 4-star quarterback from Georgia and it's hard to fathom that he wants to leave SEC country. Mississippi State, Tennessee and Clemson (ACC) are reportedly recruiting him hard so I wouldn't be shocked if he flips on signing day. 

Arizona

The Wildcats don't appear to have any prospects getting cold feet or heavily weighing other options.

Utah

Marcellus Pippins is a soft verbal to Utah but the 3-star cornerback recently took an official to Washington State. According to Scout, "he said his trip to Pullman now makes his final decision even more difficult."

Colorado

New head coach Mike MacIntyre appears to being doing a great job at keeping this class together.

Cal

Cameron Hunt, a 4-star offensive guard and soft verbal to Cal, took an official visit to Eugene, Or. on January 18 and reportedly raved about it. Granted, prospects almost always "rave" about an official visit but this looks like a flip to me. 

Stanford

Everything looks like status quo for the Cardinal in this very small class but I do expect Stanford to get another school's commit to flip at the last minute.

Oregon

Like USC, Oregon could have a bad day in terms of flips. Linebacker Tyrell Robinson and receiver Tyree Robinson look very shaky as Oregon Ducks. If one goes, the other will probably go since they are twins and very close. USC and Washington are the two schools in the Robinson sweepstakes, according to their profile pages.

Dontre Wilson is also a question mark. The 4-star running back from Texas recently took a visit to Ohio State and according to his father, Wilson is "50-50" on Ohio State. For what it's worth, Ohio State is done with its postseason ban while Oregon's sanctions from the NCAA, if any, haven't been announced.

Also, don't count Texas out of the mix—the Longhorns may get the last shot at a personal visit with Wilson.

Oregon State

This class looks strong with no wavering prospects. 

Washington

Defensive end Daeshon Hall is a soft verbal to Washington but the Lancaster, Tx. athlete also has offers from TCU and Texas A&M. Assistant coach Tosh Lupoi is a heck of a recruiter but he's going to be hard-pressed in keeping Hall away from the scorching hot Aggies.

Washington State 

Everything looks hunky-dory in the Palouse. 

Washington, USC and Oregon look like the three teams with the highest potential for a flip(s). Signing day will be especially gut-wrenching for USC and Oregon because I do expect some gymnastic stunts to be pulled.

As well as live animals, of course.

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With less than a week before national signing day on Feb. 6, this is when the rubber hits the road on the recruiting trail.

Programs from around the SEC are making their last-minute pitches to prospects from around the country, hoping to lure them to campus and fill specific needs. 

What does each SEC team need as the big day approaches? Our picks are in this slideshow.

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Another day, another verbal commitment for Matt Rhule and his staff. This time it’s Richmond linebacker Sharif Finch who will be taking his talents to North Broad Street.

The 6’4″, 210 pound prospect out of Henrico High School is listed as a 2-star recruit by Rivals.com. His final three schools were Temple, Penn State and FCS Old Dominion. Finch received scholarship offers from Western Michigan, East Carolina, James Madison, Richmond, Hampton, Norfolk State, Elon and William & Mary, as well as some interest from Miami.

According to ESPN Insider Josh Moyer, Finch was informed by the PSU coaching staff that they would not be extending him a scholarship offer, and that was enough to send him to North Broad Street.

“Temple loved his film, and they really put the hard push on him because they wanted him,” Henrico coach Roger Brookes said. “And Sharif really liked what they had to offer with their facilities and everything.”

“He just loved that visit, and he loved the city,” Brookes said. “He’s originally from New York, and he really did love hearing what they were going to do academically.”

The Owls are up to 23 commitments for 2013, six of whom have already enrolled at the University in time to participate in Spring practices. National Signing Day is February 6.

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Several marquee recruits remain up in the air for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as National Signing Day approaches. But 5-star outside linebacker Jaylon Smith of Bishop Luers High School in Fort Wayne (Ind.) is already in the fold—and that alone is enough for the Irish faithful to be ecstatic about.

It is for good reason that Smith is the top prospect at his position in the nation, according to 247Sports.com's composite rankings. He is simply a playmaking machine with sideline-to-sideline range and a physical skill set that many coaches would love to have at their disposal.

Smith weighs 218 pounds and stands at 6'3", giving him plenty of room to add weight. What makes him special is his ability to diagnose plays and attack the football, which makes him particularly effective against the run.

With a blazing 40-yard dash speed of 4.4, there won't be many backs or skills players who will be able to get to the edge against Smith, even at the collegiate level.

Indiana may be a state known more for its high school hoops than gridiron gaudiness, but the tale of the tape on Smith shows that he simply manhandles his competition.

As can be seen in the video above, Smith is already being compared to Luke Kuechly, a top-10 pick in last year's NFL draft and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year (h/t FOX Sports Ohio).

Such praise doesn't come undeservedly, as Smith is simply one of the more special linebacker prospects to come along in a long time.

Not only will he translate well to Notre Dame's 3-4 scheme as a tackling machine, but he will also utilize his explosive first step and uncanny quickness to become a pass-rushing nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

To cap off his unique package of traits, it is clear that Smith is outstanding in coverage. That will be especially important in 2013 for Notre Dame, as the departure of Manti Te'o creates a massive void.

What made Te'o so special was his penchant for snagging interceptions, as he ranked second nationally with eight last season. The exciting thing about Smith is that he's the superior athlete and has the similar inherent football instincts that made Te'o such a great player.

Something that also makes Smith stand out is his work ethic. He works 15 hours per week at Burger King in addition to balancing the pressure of being a top football recruit and completing his schoolwork. Smith's coach, Steve Keefer, did nothing to slow the hype down about his star player (h/t Detroit Free Press):

As an athlete, he's right at the top of the list of the best we've ever had, and we've had guys like (Dallas Cowboys linebacker) Anthony Spencer. But the heart and intelligence and all those things really set Jaylon apart.

It's intriguing to think about how the Irish defense will look, even without considering Eddie Vanderdoes and Kylie Fitts joining the defensive line on Feb. 6, as well as standout LB Deon Hollins.

But even if the Irish don't get any of those players, they have their next star linebacker locked and loaded. Smith will be ready to take the field very soon as a starter and be the new focal point of another outstanding Notre Dame defensive unit.

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The 2013 season will be loaded with expectations for a number of teams that witnessed surprising success in the past year. It will also bring ultimatums for a few coaches at schools with expectations that have yet to be met. 

There are 10 coaches in particular who will be driving the national conversation. New coaches no longer take a backseat to title expectations, as second-year head coaches have taken home the crystal often in the past decade. 

With each passing year, the pressure on coaches gets a little worse, but there are always going to be a select few that carry the burden of the job for the entire season. It could be higher than achievable expectations or the knowledge that a losing season means a lost job. 

Here is a look at the coaches with the toughest roads to travel in 2013. 

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In today's college football world, it seems like head coaches get all of the credit and the assistants get buried in all of the hoopla.

In all actuality, it is the assistants that do much of the behind-the-scenes work and make sure the players are prepared for game day. In other words, without the assistants doing their job, the head coaches wouldn't be able to succeed the way they do.

Folks like Nick Saban, Mark Richt and Les Miles are the ones who make the big bucks and get all of the television time. The assistants get a pat on the back and are lucky if even half of the fan base of the program can recognize them in a photo lineup.

All of that is about to change as we are paying respects to the best assistant coaching staffs in the SEC.

Here goes.

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Which defensive players in the Pac-12 will have a breakout year?

There are actually several schools that could have more than one defensive breakout player this season—both USC and UCLA have some real potential stars who started to make some noise mid-season last year.

Organizing by school, we've highlighted some defensive players to keep your eyes on. If they're underclassmen, they may have such an outstanding season that they're potential early defectors for the 2014 NFL draft.

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