NCAA Football News

Every Thursday on The SEC Blog, we will feature questions from the Bleacher Report inbox, Twitter and email at bsallee@bleacherreport.com. Q and A was pushed back to Friday this week due to NFL draft and BCS meetings coverage.

You have SEC questions, and I have SEC answers. Thank you, everybody for your questions this week. If I didn't get to them, they will be saved and used in the future.

And we're off:

 

@barrettsallee Could you put the current SEC teams into tiers? Contenders...competitive...doormats.

— Paul Pabst (@PaulPabst) May 16, 2013

If you ask Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, he'd probably say it's Alabama and everybody else. That's not true though. Here's how I'd rank them right now.

Contenders: Alabama, Texas A&M, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina

I mentioned these five teams in my column from earlier this week on championship-worthy SEC teams not named Alabama.

All five of those teams either answered their most-pressing needs this spring, or don't have many holes to fill to begin with. The SEC has cannibalized itself over the last two years, only to find the luck around the country to get Alabama to the BCS National Championship Game.

These five teams all are elite, and would be in my preseason top 15 if we were forced to vote today.

Competitive: Florida, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee

In the column linked above on championship-worthy teams, Florida brought up the rear. That was on purpose. Florida has elite talent and can certainly contend for the division, conference and national titles, but didn't solve its biggest issue this spring. 

I want to buy the Gators, but until they develop some sort of downfield passing game, I'm hesitant to put them back in the BCS National Championship picture right now. Once they hit the field though, it won't take long to change that.

Ole Miss and Vanderbilt will be in every ball game, and if they catch a break or two, could jump up a category and seriously contend. But a talent gap exists between those two programs and the top-tier teams. Because of that, I expect some inconsistency.

Mississippi State is destined for, at best, a lower-tier bowl but will be a tough out. Auburn, Tennessee and Arkansas are all going to be improved (because, let's be honest, getting worse would be quite a feat); with Auburn being the most likely of the three to find immediate success under a first year head coach due to the talent on the roster and the fact that Tennessee and Arkansas both have brutal schedules.

Doormats: Kentucky, Missouri

I like where Kentucky is headed with Mark Stoops, but the talent just isn't there...yet. Kentucky was bad last season, but injuries played a big part in the inconsistency. Stoops was wise to bring in Neal Brown to run his air-raid offense and the return of Avery Williamson at linebacker and a stout defensive line will help the defense, but it's more than just a one-year rebuilding process.

Missouri had a hard time adjusting to life in the SEC, and that trend will continue in 2013. Head coach Gary Pinkel says that James Franklin is his leader at quarterback (via: CollegeFootballTalk.com), but new offensive coordinator Josh Henson says that he wants his quarterback to take fewer hits (via: Terez Paylor).

So a dual-threat quarterback is not going to use one of his threats? It could be a long year in Columbia for Pinkel.

 

@barrettsallee Georgia's defense is young and inexperienced. Won't that be their downfall this year?

— Brody (@BrodyFLA15) May 9, 2013

No. In fact, I think it's going to be one of Georgia's primary strengths in 2013 and will be a big reason why Georgia will contend for the BCS National Championship.

Don't be fooled by Georgia's lack of star power on the defensive side of the ball. Outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins played very well (31 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks) as a part-time starter last season. Can he be Jarvis Jones? Of course not, but he plays downhill and can certainly fix Georgia's issue of stopping the run.

At the back end of the secondary, Damian Swann played well at cornerback—especially late last season. Plus, safeties Josh Harvey-Clemons and Tray Matthews could be All-SEC players this season. They're that good.

Georgia's defense is going to be legit. If the Bulldogs have a downfall, it's that those new pieces are going to be tested early. Games at Clemson, vs. South Carolina and vs. LSU before Oct. 1 is a far more serious issue than the defense.

 

@barrettsallee What are some of the true freshman in the SEC you see making a huge impact on their respective teams?

— Look at Steele (@thisisdecaf490) May 7, 2013

As evidenced by the above response, I really like Matthews. He enrolled early and participated in spring practice in Athens, which will be a major benefit for him and the team. I'd be shocked if he wasn't the starter in Week 1.

Alabama running back Derrick Henry also enrolled early, but missed the back end of spring practice with a broken leg. The 6'3" and 238-pounder is going to be a superstar down the road once T.J. Yeldon leaves. But for the time being, he'll have to settle for being the best goal-line and short-yardage back in the SEC.

Then, of course, there's Robert Nkemdiche. The No. 1 overall prospect will immediately be part of a defensive end rotation with C.J. Johnson and Channing Ward, Carlos Thompson and Cameron Whigham. In passing situations, Ward may even drop down and play tackle which would create matchup nightmares for opposing offensive lines.

Other true freshmen that could make a huge impact are: Alabama WR Robert Foster, Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves III, Auburn QB Jeremy Johnson, Auburn DE Carl Lawson, Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi State DE Chris Jones and Texas A&M WR Ricky Seals-Jones

 

Do you have a question for next week's Q&A? Send it to SEC lead writer Barrett Sallee via the B/R inbox, on Twitter @BarrettSallee or at bsallee@bleacherreport.com.

 

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Although the 2013 college football season is still more than three months away, schedule makers are still keeping themselves busy by mapping out the conference slates for 2014.

On Monday afternoon, the Big Ten announced the league schedules for the 2014 football season.

After opening up the season with a non-conference slate of Navy, Kent State, Virginia Tech and Cincinnati, the Ohio State Buckeyes will open their eight-game conference schedule on the road against Big Ten newcomers Maryland. Ohio State's next game will be played in Ohio Stadium against the league's other new member, Rutgers, following a midseason bye week.

Here's Ohio State's full 2014 football schedule:

 

Non-Conference Schedule

8/30 – vs. Navy (at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md.)
9/6  – Bye week
9/13 – vs. Kent State
9/20 – vs. Virginia Tech
9/27 – vs. Cincinnati

 

Conference Schedule

10/4 – at Maryland
10/11 – Bye week
10/18 – vs. Rutgers
10/25 – at Penn State
11/1 –  vs. Illinois
11/8 – at Michigan State
11/15 – at Minnesota
11/22 – vs. Indiana
11/29 – vs Michigan

12/6 – Big Ten Championship Game

Ohio State will make two trips to the Baltimore area—once to open the season against Navy and five weeks later to open the conference slate against Maryland.

Ohio State's marquee non-conference matchup against Virginia Tech will be hosted inside the perilous confines of the 'Shoe, with a return trip to Blacksburg scheduled for 2015.

The Buckeyes will host seven games in all during the 2014 season, with the conference home games including Rutgers, Illinois, Indiana and the season finale against Michigan.

Ohio State was spared having to play any of the elite teams from the soon-to-be "West Division." The Buckeyes will not play Wisconsin, Nebraska or Northwestern during the 2014 regular season, but the possibility of meeting those teams in the Big Ten title game does exist.

Purdue, a team that has made a habit of giving Ohio State all it can handle in recent years, is also not on the schedule.

At first glance, the Buckeyes' 2014 non-conference lineup looks much more challenging than this year's lineup of Buffalo, San Diego State, Cal and Florida A&M, but the conference schedule looks much more navigable. 

The Buckeyes will be entering the 2014 season replacing at least six senior starters on offense (not to mention any early-draft entrees), but the defense should be loaded for head coach Urban Meyer's third year in Columbus.

View every Big Ten team's conference schedule here.

 

David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.

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Pulling out old photos of my second grade field trip to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans brings back awesome memories. If only the teacher would have taken us a few miles to the north and let us tour Death Valley.

Now that would’ve been a memory.

Jerry Hinnen with CBSSports.com filled us in on a recent trip that a group of first-graders took to LSU’s Tiger Stadium.

No offense to my former teachers, but this class of first graders has just finished the best field trip a young football fan could ask for. 

LSU associate athletics director Herb Vincent posted pictures of the trip on his Twitter page May 15.

The group was able to tour the locker room and the inside of the stadium. This photo shows the group standing in front of a row of NFL helmets assumed to represent the Tigers that have played in the league, or players that were drafted.

This is a shot of the kids on tour through the halls of the stadium:

Talk about a memory that will last a lifetime. More importantly, it will last at least 12 more years for those future football stars that may be in the ranks.

While this was not a dedicated recruiting effort for peewee leaguers, it will certainly solidify these kids as Tigers fans. Every little edge counts.

More athletic departments should pull off these types of events for the surrounding community. If you live in SEC country there is nothing cooler than the local favorite football team.

Touring their facilities and running on the field would be priceless. 

 

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The two programs that squared off in last year's SEC title game may have to gear up for another epic showdown, but this time it's for the commitment of one of the best defensive tackle recruits in the nation: Elisha Shaw.

Shaw is the No. 2-ranked defensive tackle in the 2014 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and he's recently stated that he has two leaders for his eventual commitment, per Michael Carvell of ajc.com:

UGA has caught up with Alabama and is now a co-leader for Elisha Shaw, the state’s No. 1 prospect at defensive tackle.

“Alabama and Georgia are like the same,” the Tucker High School star told the AJC on Wednesday. “That’s why they are my top two. Both of them are equal for me right now. I’m just going to keep riding it out until I find the difference in them.”

This is good news for Georgia, specifically because Shaw had named Alabama his leader just about a month ago after he visited the Crimson Tide for their spring game (Matt Scalici/AL.com, h/t Carvell).

Carvell also reports that Shaw will take an unofficial visit to Georgia this weekend, and that he's expected to get some quality time in with Georgia head coach Mark Richt—so the good news keeps on rolling for UGA fans. 

Shaw would be a major recruit for Richt and the Bulldogs to land, especially when considering how important in-state recruiting is and will be for Georgia. Some of the best recruits in the nation hail from the great state of Georgia on a yearly basis, and Richt has had somewhat of a hard time landing those elite recruits as of late.

That said, Georgia already has the commitment of the No. 5 player from the state (247Sports), 4-star defensive tackle Dontavius Russell, and it looks like the Bulldogs can make some major strides with Shaw this weekend.

Out-recruiting Nick Saban and Alabama is no easy task, but Georgia is arguably one of the hotter programs in the 2014 cycle right now. The Bulldogs' two biggest commitments, 5-star running back Sony Michel and 4-star tight end Jeb Blazevich, are both marquee recruits, and UGA is at or near the top of several other highly ranked recruit's 247Sports interest lists, including 5-star defensive end Kentavius Street (leader) and 4-star defensive tackle Lamont Gaillard (leader).

It's tough to give many programs a chance when it comes to beating Saban and his staff for an elite defender, but Georgia is riding a wave of momentum right now, and the Bulldogs appear to be poised to do great things this recruiting cycle.

A Top Five recruiting class is not out of the question, and perhaps Shaw will be a part of that class. That's still up in the air, but at the very least Georgia now knows that it's back on top of Shaw's interest list—albeit tied with Alabama.

 

Who has the advantage in this recruiting race? Let us know what you think in the comments. 

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While you are probably still trying to take in the upcoming football schedule and marking off which games you see as a victory, the Big Ten has decided to give you even more information.

The conference schedules for the 2014 season have officially been released, according to the Big Ten website. 

So, who is your team going to play more than a year from now?

Well, you can click here to check out the entire schedule for all 14 teams.

What makes this schedule so interesting is that it includes the new divisions and teams. Starting in 2014, the conference will have expanded to 14 teams with the addition of Maryland and Rutgers. It will also get rid of the awful Legends and Leaders division names and go with the more traditional names in East and West.

The East division will include Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers. The West division involves the remaining teams with Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin.

As for how the scheduling will work out, each school will play all six teams in its own division and will play two teams from the other division beginning next year and in 2015. Starting in 2016, schools will then play three schools from the other division—once the conference officially begins its nine-game conference schedule.

Glancing over it quickly, Minnesota wasn't given many favors, and Northwestern will have a tough road in the beginning of the season. Also, Ohio State was given a favorable home schedule that should help the Buckeyes remain the favorites in the conference.

Although we have no idea who will be on the rosters a year from now, let the debating begin on who will win the Big Ten in 2014.

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After last year's mass defection of defensive line prospects when it came time to sign their letters of intent for USC, the coaching staff has made that unit a primary focus for this year's effort in recruiting.

To that end, recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron and his department have extended scholarship offers to 13 prospects according to Scout.com, including 10 defensive ends that fit into defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast's 5-2 scheme as hybrid linebackers.

This slide show will look at some of these high-profile recruits as USC attempts to re-stock a unit in desperate need of replenishing.

It is also worth noting that Orgeron also coaches this unit and his hand in the offers extended should serve as an illustration of exactly who he would like to coach in the years ahead.

Begin Slideshow

The next big administrative battle on the college football front is the composition of the playoff selection committee, which will decide the participants of the four-team playoff starting after the 2014 season.

My colleague Michael Felder over at Your Best 11 speculated on some potential candidates earlier this month, and Tony Barnhart over at CBSSports.com did the same this week.

The ACC's head football coaches want a say as well, in the form of one vote per coach in the USA Today Coaches' Poll, according to ESPN.com.

Duke head coach David Cutcliffe is the coaches' chair, and spoke on the matter on Wednesday:

The biggest item for us is the criteria of selecting those four teams. We want our coaches' poll to matter. In another sense, all the coaches have a vote on the committee, and we think that's good for the game for the coaches to be good stewards of who's in that national championship picture.

Okay, that makes sense. If we're going to use the coaches' poll as a factor, as the Bowl Championship Series does now, it only makes sense to give every coach a vote. Homerism will exist, of course, but the hope is that homerism will cancel itself out as much as possible, despite uneven conference membership.

Here's where Cutcliffe loses me, and should lose you and the rest of college football:

All of us having a vote, the vote becoming transparent and the vote being conscientiously done. We think we're qualified. We're not watching every game on the East Coast, on the West Coast, but no one else is, either. We see a lot of film of a lot of people. We know who's good, and who's best—maybe moreso than anybody else is looking at the game.

Say what?

I'm all for the transparency part, and have been advocating that members of the selection committee—whether they're former administrators, former media members or (GASP!) former coaches—should be contractually required to be as transparent as possible through mandatory blog posts, and radio and television appearances.

Even when they know votes will be made public at the end of the season, the coaches' poll is good for a surprise or 11.

Cutcliffe specifically stated what's wrong with not only the coaches' poll, but with all polls.

Ignorance.

Sure, current college coaches know the game of college football better than anybody. But it's more important for the selection committee to know about the current landscape of college football than it is the game itself, although a balance between the two would be ideal.

Voters don't watch all of the games now, and that's exactly what needs to change.

Including the coaches' poll (which should be known as the "SID poll" if we want to be truly transparent) would politicize a committee which, at its very foundation, should be as neutral as possible. It would be a front. Coaches don't have the time—nor is it part of their job description—to decide on national championship participants. 

The job is to get their team in that discussion.

The coaches' poll shouldn't be a part of the mix to begin with. Since it's part of the BCS standings now, coaches have personal, professional and financial interests in its results.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban will make $200,000 for making the four-team playoff, $300,000 for making the championship game and $400,000 for winning the national title under the new format, although he's only eligible for one of those bonuses.

Should he have a say on whether those bonuses are available to him? Of course not. His job is to produce a resume for the playoff, not decide on its participants.

We have already churned up the foundation of college football as it is with the four-team playoff. If we're going to reform the system, let's actually reform the system.

If Cutcliffe is talking about having copies of the coaches' poll in the room while members of the selection committee make their decisions, that's fine. It's a nice resource and certainly provides insight into the game. But it sounds more like he and the ACC's head coaches are advocating it to be part of the screening process itself, which simply can't happen.

The coaches' poll will exist whether it's part of the BCS equation, playoff selection committee process or as a stand-alone poll—as is the case with the AP poll.

But if it's used as anything more than a minor point of reference chosen by the individuals comprising the committee, we will be doing this wrong.

 

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After a heartbreaking loss to Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the following string of NFL declarations by numerous players on both sides of the ball, it is natural for there to be a mild sense of pessimism surrounding LSU’s 2013 season.

Barkevious Mingo, Kevin Minter and Sam Montgomery were only a few of LSU’s defensive stars who chose to forgo their senior seasons and head to the NFL in 2013.

The truth, however, is that LSU fans have plenty to be excited about. The Tigers are currently building up a deep group of young linebackers that could prove to be one of the best in the country over the next two or three seasons. 

Defensive coordinator John Chavis has made a habit of seeking out lean, fast players. One needs to look no further than Mingo, a defensive end who weighs only 240 pounds and runs a 4.5 40-yard dash, to understand this tendency. 

“It seems to me luck follows speed,” said Chavis according to Jim Kleinpeter of The Times Picayune.

Chavis has proven that his defensive model works, as LSU has finished each of the last three seasons among the national leaders in total defense.  

It appears as though the Tigers have recruited the right players to continue this defensive success. LSU’s 2012 freshman class contained six talented linebackers including Kwon Alexander, Deion Jones, Ronnie Feist and Lamar Louis.

Not one of those six linebackers weighs more than 230 pounds, and four of them run the 40-yard dash in under 4.6 seconds, fitting the bill for Chavis’ lean, fast ideal.

Speed as a unit also requires depth. No matter how fast these young linebackers are, they most likely cannot sustain that speed for an entire game.

That is where the depth comes into play. Chavis runs a base 4-3 defense, meaning that there are normally only going to be three linebackers on the field at one time. With these six young, athletic linebackers—not to mention veterans Lamin Barrow and Tahj Jones—LSU should be able to have fresh legs on the field at all times to maintain that elite speed. 

Louis and Jones already saw significant playing time in 2012, as did Alexander, before he broke his ankle against Florida. With increased experience and another offseason, LSU’s young corps of linebackers should develop into one of the nation’s best, easing the pain of the significant defensive losses from 2012. 

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Scheduling has been one of the hot-button issues during the offseason lately, especially during the age of re-alignment.

Will there be a nine-game SEC schedule? Will Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) games be eliminated from the schedule?

Those questions remain unanswered, but Georgia is apparently ready for whatever scheduling curveball comes its way.

News broke from the ACC spring meetings about a potential 2016 neutral-site game between the Bulldogs and the Florida State Seminoles according to Coley Harvey of the Orlando Sentinel.

My colleague Ian Berg hit on the holdup of an official announcement, which is the uncertainty surrounding the SEC's future scheduling format.

Whether the SEC stays at eight games and the Florida State/Georgia game happens, or the potential neutral-site game falls victim to a nine-game schedule, Georgia's 2016 schedule will be very attractive to the playoff selection committee.

The Bulldogs already have their traditional intra-state rivalry with Georgia Tech on the slate for 2016, as well as a game with Georgia Southern, according to FBSchedules.com. Toss in a neutral-site game against Florida State and an eight-game conference schedule, and Georgia will earn the benefit of the doubt no matter what cross-division games come their way.

If the SEC chooses to add a ninth conference game, Georgia's potential matchup with Florida State will go away and it will stick with Georgia Tech.

Either way, those are some rocky waters to navigate. Sure, Georgia Tech is by no means a powerhouse these days, but you never know where the program will be four years from now.

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity should be applauded for being proactive on his future scheduling and having options, despite not knowing exactly what the future holds. College football was a beauty contest before, and it's only going to be more heated now that access to the playoff will be doubled starting after the 2014 season.

Unfortunately, though, Georgia's flirtation with Florida State does speak to a problem with nine-game conference scheduling.

Where would the Florida State game happen? Florida State athletics director Randy Spetman suggested that it would be played at the Georgia Dome, which means it could be part of the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff. That event, which started in 2008, has featured five SEC vs. ACC matchups so far and will pit Alabama versus Virginia Tech in the 2013 edition.

The nine-game conference schedule will make it harder for these kickoff games to get quality matchups involving programs with traditional out-of-conference rivalry games. That's a shame, because the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff and the Cowboys Classic have established themselves as can't-miss events in recent years.

One solution could be to move traditional out-of-conference rivalry games to Week 1 neutral-site kickoff games every now and then, in order to get teams that suffer from logistical scheduling headaches into the rotation.

 

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What, exactly, is the head coaching job forecast in Austin?

Fair for the next four months, with a cold front forming if Texas has another ho-hum season. 

Head coach Mack Brown's contract with the University of Texas runs through 2020. Brown's salary is currently $5.3 million with $100,000 incremental raises every year. 

That means in 2020, Brown will be 69 years old and earning $6 million. With those kind of numbers, the school would appear to be on the hook with Brown—his buyout has to be huge, right?

It's peanuts, according to an October 2012 Dallas News report:

ABC's Darren Rovell tweeted out the figures Monday, which call for Brown to earn a $2.75 million buyout if he's fired on or before Dec. 31 of 2014. But the buyout number drops to $2.25 million on the first day of 2015.

If Brown were to be dismissed at the end of the 2013 season, Texas would have to make four payments of $687,500 to him.   

To put those numbers in perspective, Notre Dame is still paying the buyout portion of former head coach Charlie Weis' contract. The school has paid over $8.7 million and "payments expected through the end of 2015 could bring the total to approximately $19 million," according to a USA Today report.

If Notre Dame was willing to pay $19 million to unload Weis, Texas certainly won't balk at putting Brown out to pasture for $2.75 million if things don't go well. 

Brown is the first Texas coach to win 200 games. He's also only had two seasons that failed to reach the nine-win mark at Texas. Unfortunately, those two 5-7 and 8-5 seasons occurred in the last three years. Instead of reloading after its last title game appearance, Texas has had to rebuild.

That can't be sitting well with fans.

One month after Texas lost to Alabama in the 2010 BCS Championship game, the Longhorns reeled in the nation's second-best recruiting class. Things were looking good. 

Later that fall, Mack Brown saw his team drop two straight games at home to Iowa State and Baylor. Suddenly, things stunk. Brown said "it's not about talent level" and that his coaches "aren't stupid, they do know what they're doing." He also said, "I'll fix it."

Fix it he did. Brown apparently had second thoughts about his 2010 coaching staff and rebuilt it, according to this ESPN report:

After that 5-7 season, Brown changed his staff, bringing in two young coordinators (Bryan Harsin on offense and Manny Diaz on defense) and new coaches on both sides of the line (Bo Davis on defense and Stacy Searels on offense). Darrell Wyatt came on as the wide receivers coach, and Bennie Wylie became the strength and conditioning coach.

Flash forward two years and two spankings by Oklahoma later.

"The head coach is responsible," Brown said in that same ESPN report. "I have my energy. I'm moving forward, and we are darn sure going to get this thing fixed." 

Two years prior to the Oklahoma loss last season, Texas continued to haul in elite talent when Brown first pledged to fix the problems. The Longhorns' class of 2011 was ranked No. 4 and the class of 2012 was No. 2.

The problems didn't get fixed. Two back-to-back blowout losses to Oklahoma. Two back-to-back seasons with less than 10 wins. Two back-to-back seasons without a BCS Bowl berth.

This year there is a new twist. Texas' class of 2013 was ranked No. 17.

This was expected due to the small number of scholarships available. But Alabama head coach Nick Saban seems to have overcome the recruiting numbers game. Saban's worst recruiting class in Tuscaloosa was in 2010—Alabama was ranked No. 5.  

This year, the Longhorn's roster is littered with 4 and 5-star upperclassmen. It would be hard to explain away an eight or nine-win season with so much talent. That is why Brown needs to do a better job of developing his players and enforcing the game's physical and mental disciplines.

Brown knows this, and he's made valiant attempts to fix things. 

But when a head coach rebuilds his staff, gets blown out by his biggest rival and loses five elite prospects in his last class, dark clouds are on the horizon. 

When an athletic director is looking at $2.75 million to buy out his head coach—that's loose change at Texas—this is probably Brown's last hurrah.

As much as Brown has done for college football, and as treasured as he is in Austin, sentimental whimsy has no place in college football. The College Football Playoff is coming.  

This December, the familiar sight of UPS trucks zipping through the streets of Austin delivering holiday packages may force Texas fans to finally have a come-to-Jesus moment. They'll have to ask each other one question.

What can Brown do for you? 

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If you’re a regular at recruiting websites, a few trends have become apparent in recent years.

There’s been a sudden surplus of 6’5'', 250-pound 17-year-olds capable of running a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. The athleticism—especially near the pinnacle of these rankings—is consistently astounding but almost assumed at this point. Physical freaks are no longer a rarity, but we still marvel at their presence.

And while size and speed are at a premium with both defensive and offensive linemen now consuming most of the elite prospect levels, the blue-chip quarterback has seemingly disappeared. They exist, although not like they once did.

In the recruiting world, the most important position isn’t grabbing the 5-star, “can’t miss” headliners. In fact, despite being the position fans flock toward and schools market around, the same one which has come home with the Heisman in 11 of the past 12 years, scouting of the quarterback still remains an inexact science.

Recruiting and evaluating this position remains a struggle, same as it ever was. And with a new offensive era now pushing the way the game is played, the blue-chip quarterback has become endangered. 

 

Blue-Chippers By the Numbers

Former USC quarterback Matt Barkley is most recently known for being the No. 1 pick in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft—after a well-documented tumble—but he was a more notable No. 1 in 2009.

Barkley was the No. 1 high school player according to 247Sports’ Composite Ranking, a magnificent tool that takes into account all the major recruiting outlets’ rankings. Since Barkley, however, there hasn’t been a quarterback rated No. 1 in any class. Taking it one step further, a QB hasn’t cracked the top 10 of the final composite rankings.

In recent years, scouting has improved immensely thanks in large part to a significant increase in staff and allocated resources. Yet, as scouting has boomed as an industry, the quarterbacks have taken a backseat to other positions: not necessarily in terms of need—which will never change—but rather presence near the top of the rankings.

In the past four recruiting classes, there have been seven “blue-chip” quarterbacks in the top 50 overall. By comparison, there were seven QBs in the top 50 in 2004 alone. 

The trend is clear, especially when compared to an ascending position like defensive end. Whether this trend proves to be a blip on the radar or something more will be seen soon enough, but the change is real.

 

Is QB Play Changing, or are We?

To understand the current state of the blue-chip QB, one must first understand where this label comes from. For recruiting sites like 247Sports, ranking prospects boils down to both positional value and development.

If a 5-star player is a high pick in the NFL draft, even if he turns out to be an average NFL player, the scouts succeeded in their evaluation. This is more or less the development lifespan for a recruit, despite the possibility of incredible boom or bust at the next level.

“Our philosophy is a long-term projection,” said JC Shurburtt, a National College Football Recruiting Analyst at 247Sports. “Our point where we can say if a guy was a good or bad call is the NFL draft. We’re not projecting Pro Bowlers.”

Shurbutt has been in the recruiting industry for more than a decade, and he’s followed closely for much longer. In this time, the scouting process (and coverage) has changed drastically. The basic fundamentals have remained constant, but it’s grown at an exponential rate as the interest has increased and coverage has expanded. While the scouting has improved, one constant has remained.

Projecting quarterbacks is still incredibly difficult.

“The quarterback, next to offensive line, is the toughest to project,” Shurbutt said. “And lately there’s been a lot of bad QB play.”

In terms of importance and position value, nothing rivals that of the quarterback. Stability and skill at the position can turn a bad team into a good team and a good team into a juggernaut. That’s Football 101.

Yet, in a time when the NFL is absolutely jam-packed with talented, young QBs, the stream of talent at the high school level isn't setting the recruiting world on fire.

The batch of 6’5”, 245-pound defensive linemen capable of running that 4.5 have a more established track record of panning out. These are no-brainers for scouts, a much safer projection, and this type of size and speed translates at almost every level if a player is used appropriately in the right defensive scheme.

It’s not as simple as being really big, really fast and really strong, although it’s not far off, either.

Quarterbacks, of course, don’t have that luxury. An incredible arm or elite size and speed can only take you so far. These requirements and the formula for success continues to evolve, and the scouts opinions of these traits remain behind.

 

The Manziel-Mariota Effect

Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota have followed a similar path. Both are among the brightest young quarterbacks college football, and both were far from being a blue-chip quarterback. In fact, these two were seemingly skipped over by scouts.

Manziel was ranked the No. 393 player by the 247Sports’ Composite Ranking in the 2011 class. He was a 3-star talent who came in as the No. 63 player in the state of Texas. After one full season of play at A&M, it’s safe to say this projection was, well, off.

Even further down the list, Mariota was ranked No. 517 in the same recruiting class, and was the No. 19 dual-threat QB of the class. He was also just the No. 3 player in his home state of Hawaii, a state not necessarily known for its football talent.

Yes, 18 dual-threat quarterbacks ranked above him.

Given a taste of their unbelievable potential, just how did these two get overlooked?

For Manziel, it comes down to size and style. His high school recruiting tape resembles that of his college play: unpredictable, incredibly athletic, yet difficult to translate. This is the same conversation NFL scouts will be have throughout the 2014 season while trying to assess his potential at the next level.

For Mariota, his rankings tumble was all about exposure, or more specifically, a lack thereof. His playing style, which can mirror Manziel's in terms of creating something out of nothing, also likely contributed.

Playing in Hawaii, he didn’t have the same presence at recruiting camps as some of the others in his class. His style is also unique, albeit incredibly productive in Oregon’s up-tempo system.

He simply slipped through the cracks.

But Manziel and Mariota signify a change in offensive style, and their recruitment (or rather the lack of) will undoubtedly help change how the position is evaluated in the future. 

 

The Future of the Blue-Chip QB

The blue-chip quarterback isn’t dead, nor will he be on life-support anytime soon.

Ohio State’s Braxton Miller was the No. 20 player on 247Sports in 2011; a ranking that has proved to be more than warranted. In 2012, Jameis Winston was ranked as the No. 26 player overall. Although the book is still out on what kind of college player Winston will become, his football future is bright.

But, at a time when the traditional “drop back” passer has company and more creative offenses are being used at all levels, scouting the most difficult position in all of sports has become that much more difficult.

Whether it’s the Pistol, up-tempo, option, or some sort of all-encompassing spread attack, these offenses are changing the way quarterback talent—especially those tasked with making them run—is evaluated. This is reflective in the scouting process, as defenses aren’t the only ones simply trying to keep up.

In addition, recent history has shown that the rank of a quarterback bears little correlation to his actual development. If anything, that 5-star label could serve as a detriment. It’s a marker you can’t run from, and if a quarterback doesn’t start as a freshman or a sophomore in college the assumption is that something has gone wrong.

Clearly this isn’t the case—at least not always—but the lack of quarterback talent at the top of the recruiting rankings identifies something that has been evident for some time.

Evaluating the position at every level remains a challenge, even for the brightest football minds, and the blueprint for the perfect QB is even harder to understand.

 

*Adam Kramer is the Lead Football Writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

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The Florida Gators coaching staff continues to try and sharpen those Photoshop skills.

In other words, Gators wide receiver coach Joker Phillips is at it again. He still wants recruits to come play for the Joker, but he has decided to make his latest design in the form of a rock band.

If you have been following along, this is nothing new for these guys. A couple of months ago Phillips wanted recruits to come play for the Joker, literally. He then decided to take an Air Force theme with his next tweet to kind of tone things down.

Offensive coordinator Brent Pease also decided to get in on the action with a cheesy Harry Potter picture to try and motivate his quarterbacks. No word on if this is working or not, but after finishing 118th in passing yards, anything is worth a shot to get things off the ground.

As for a rock band of wide receivers, it would seem to be too much.

A band usually consists of a lead vocalist, guitar player, somebody in the back playing the drums and then anything else you want to throw in there. You could add a bass player, someone on the keyboard and so on and so on. That is asking for a lot.

With the lack of offensive weapons the Gators had last season, this team would just take one or two good wide receivers at this point. An entire rock band isn't necessary. Just give Florida a couple of playmakers capable of spreading the field, making life easier on the quarterback and call it a day.

Once the offense improves, then this program can start getting picky and asking for a plethora of star receivers. Heck, you could even call it a rock band.

At this point Phillips should be looking for an OutKast at the receiver position. Just two great guys capable of putting in work. It would likely go over a little better to this generation of players than a rock band would anyway.

Spending a little more time working on these things may eventually pay off for Florida. Guys such as 5-star Ermon Lane and 4-star Artavis Scott are some of the Gators top targets, according to 247Sports.

You can't help but wonder what those guys are thinking.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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The SEC's BCS National Championship streak began with Urban Meyer coaching against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2007 title game.

Since then, college football's best conference has rolled off seven straight titles.

As the nation learned in 2012, Ohio State is back for good after finishing 12-0 in Meyer's first season. The coach also brought in an excellent recruiting class, as the Bucks ranked No. 1 on Scout.com and No. 2 on Rivals.com.

Factor in a potential Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Braxton Miller and Ohio State will definitely be in the national title discussion. The Buckeyes also have set expectations as well.

In an article by Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated, Ohio State certainly has displayed confidence:

"I hear about it all the time from my cousin -- SEC this, SEC that," said [Ryan] Shazier. "There's one reason I came to Ohio State -- to beat up on the SEC."

"The SEC has won, what, seven [BCS titles] in a row?" said [Brad] Roby. "What better than for Ohio State to be the team that ends it? That's what we're looking to do this year."

Speaking of Ryan Shazier and Brad Roby, each are among the best defenders at not only their respective positions in the land, but overall.

Shazier is a versatile linebacker capable of making plays all around the line of scrimmage. With 17 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and 12 defended passes last season, Shazier offers the talent to blitz, fill gaps against the run and shell consistently in coverage.

His general field awareness is what will keep Ohio State's front seven orchestrated.

As for Roby, he defended 19 passes last season and recorded 63 tackles. Given Shazier's impact in the box, Roby's talent will continue locking down half the field and making plays on the ball.

Mesh the skill set of Miller to lead a balanced offense with Meyer's defense and the Buckeyes feature star players to challenge anyone. Unsurprisingly, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports predicted on May 7 that Ohio State will square off against Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide for the Coaches' Trophy.

Another Meyer-Saban showdown?

Not only is that great for college football, but it's the most realistic game for the upcoming season. Plus, what better way to potentially end the SEC's run with the man who started it.

Put all the elements together of Meyer, his quarterback, the defense, recruiting and a favorable schedule with the irony of it all, and it is Ohio State's 2013-14 destiny.

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Is Joe Martarano trading green for The Blue?

Well, according to an article by Jared Crews of BroncoCountry.com, he is. The article reports that Fruitland Idaho High School multiple-sport standout Joe Martarano is choosing to be a linebacker for the Broncos instead of a career in professional baseball.

This is quite remarkable, considering the Idaho Statesman has reported that Martarano is rated as the No. 86 overall high school prospect in the United States by a top baseball recruiting site. This means he would no doubt be drafted in a decent position in the 2013 MLB draft.

That means that choosing to play football at Boise State also means turning down a healthy paycheck.

But, Martarano seems to be true to his word. In a 2012 ESPN article, Martarano is quoted as saying he would probably choose football over baseball anyway.

In that article, he said:

I have a lot of people in my ear asking me which sport I am going to choose when I leave high school, I love both sports. But right now I would probably pick football

Martarano's high school football coach Bruce Schlaich seemed to confirm what the player was saying. The coach added his comments in the same article:

His dream is to play football for Boise State, and I think that is probably the direction he will stay on

Martarano is one of the most complete athletes to come out of the state of Idaho in a very long time. At 6'3" and 228 pounds, he also has the size.

While he has an impressive presence on the baseball diamond, Martarano is even more impressive on the grid iron.

According to BroncoSports.com, the Fruitland High School star is a four-year letter winner who helped his team to achieve an appearance in four straight state title games.

He was also named honorable mention Parade All-American, Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year, Snake Valley Player of the Year on both offense and defense and earned Idaho's 3A State Player of the Year after his senior season.

On the defensive side of the ball, he was a monster in high school, racking up 147 tackles, four interceptions and two sacks. On offense, all he did was throw for over 1,300 yards, rushed for over 600 and accounted for 24 total touchdowns in his senior season alone.

The crazy thing is, Martarano was also a four-year letter winner in baseball and earned a letter three years in basketball. He helped his basketball team to back-to-back state championships in 2011 and 2012 and was named Idaho's top baseball player by MaxPeps.

If Martarano sticks by his comments to BroncoCountry.com—and there is no reason to doubt him—then Boise State is going to get a very special player this fall.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Having a tough schedule is key for punching your ticket to a BCS bowl or even the national championship game. However, these teams push the limits of how difficult you can go.

They say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but shouldn't there be some sort of limit of how far you can push your team against brutal opponents? This is particularly true in a rough and tumble sport like college football.

Still, what glory is there in beating up a bunch of weak opponents?

So, what teams have the roughest schedules coming into 2013? Read on.

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Boise State football is all about progress—and not just on the field.

It seems every year, another upgrade or potential upgrade is proposed to Bronco Stadium or the surrounding complex.

In 2006, it was the Caven Williams Sports Complex and Indoor Practice Facility. With its impressive 78,000 square feet, full-sized field turf football field and 70' high ceiling, it has a massive presence along side Bronco Stadium.

Towering over the stadium on the west side is the beautiful Stueckle Sky Center. Built in 2008, it is fully equipped with luxury suites, club seating, loge boxes, offices, banquet rooms, and, of course, the Double R Ranch Club.

In 2012, additional seating was added, and additional video monitors were placed strategically around the stadium. The track was also removed. It gave the entire place a much more intimate feel.

This year's upgrade, however, has to be the one the players and coaches are most excited about.

Slated to open in July 2013, the new Boise State football complex will be a 70,000 square foot site to see.

It will be the home of coaches' offices, meeting rooms, a player lounge, recruiting lounge, training facility with weight room, an academic and computer lab, and, of course, a brand new locker room for the Broncos.

You can see the progress of the football complex and updated pictures at KTVB.com. 

With the football complex now nearing completion, it is only appropriate that a program bent on progress would announce another step in raising the bar.

 

A New Upgrade Is in the Works

According to Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman, Boise State has received approval from the State Board of Education to go forward with a plan to purchase a $2 million video board.

The video board would be roughly 60 feet wide and 33 feet tall, according to the article. It would also have sound baskets and advertising areas, according to Cripe.

The only downside for fans, in regards to this news, is that there is no official time line for adding the screen to the stadium. However, in reading Boise State Athletic Director Mark Coyle's statement, it sounds like the screen is one of the next things on the checklist.

Part of Coyle's statement reads:

A new video board is a priority for us, and one of the first steps in moving in that direction is gaining approval from the State Board of Education.

Coyle also mentioned that they are "constantly and aggressively looking for ways to enhance the fan experience at Bronco Stadium."

Another Announcement 

It was also announced on Wednesday by Sven Berg of the Idaho Statesman that city officials are looking at a preliminary proposal that would allow a much larger tailgating area to exist around Bronco Stadium.

It's not that those tailgating areas don't already exist, but the new proposal would allow fans to legally tailgate in those areas. Which would include allowing alcohol to be consumed inside the designated area within four hours of kickoff. 

The article quotes city spokesman Adam Park as saying:

Everyone knows that there's drinking on tailgates. And this would allow that to go on in a safe fashion, but also a legal fashion

Currently, drinking alcohol is banned inside of Bronco Stadium, and the university did not request this change according to the article.

The proposed area would be from Brady Street down to Myrtle Street up and over to Broadway, down Beacon to Lincoln and back over to Brady. It is a very large area and should encompass nearly all tailgaters.

You can see a map of the area as part of the Idaho Statesman article.

A New Logo on the Field, but What About a New Sound System?

In the article previously mentioned, written by Cripe, it was noted that the Broncos are also in the process of replacing the logo on the center of The Blue in Bronco Stadium.

It will be the new primary logo, and there is a picture with the article.

However, you have to wonder, with a new video board, football complex and logo, will they also upgrade the sound system?

With all the work the university is doing to upgrade the fan experience, it seems like piling on. But, the one complaint heard the most during game time has to be the current sound system.

In an April 28 Idaho Statesman article, athletic director Mark Coyle said, "A new video board and sound system are priorities for us." However, he went on to say, "It's possible the Bronco Stadium video board could be replaced for this season." He was, of course, speaking of 2013. 

He did not say that the sound system would be ready in 2013, which would be unfortunate. But, with a school working on a budget that is a fraction of what many others have, one step at a time seems to be working fine for the Broncos.

New sound system or not in 2013, Boise State continues to move forward. The new football complex, video board and even the logo are signs that the Broncos are a program still on the rise.

It helps the program continue momentum, and it makes the fan experience even better in Bronco Stadium.

 

Follow @Gamedayreporter

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It’s been a long ride, but we’re finally to the end of the road. This is the last spring preview for the 2013 Boise State Broncos football team.

In this section, we’ll take a look at one of the groups that is largely undervalued, but is extremely crucial to any team looking to have a successful season: the special teams unit.

Because it is difficult to even somewhat accurately speculate on the coverage team units, we will be omitting those squads from the preview. Thus, the preview will cover the kickoff and punt return men as well as the kicking game.

In case you have missed any of the other spring previews, be sure to click on the links below to check them out.

Tight Ends

Running Backs

Defensive Backs

Wide Receivers

Linebackers

Offensive Line

Defensive Line

To reiterate one final time, this preview will take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the special teams unit, as well as highlight any potential position battles that may take place leading up to the season opener.

Let’s take a look at the 2013 Boise State Broncos special teams unit.

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Kyle Van Noy is heading into this season as one of the most-hyped Cougars in recent memory, coming off a transcendent performance in the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl. The All-American linebacker filled stat sheets with 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, an interception, a blocked punt and two touchdowns.

If that's not impressive enough, he scored both of his touchdowns and made most of his biggest plays in the fourth quarter.

The bowl against San Diego State wasn't the only time he tore up an offense. Although there wasn't another game as dominant as that one, he was making big plays all year. Van Noy was tied for second in the nation in solo sacks and forced fumbles, and is the only player in college football to record at least one stat in every major statistical category for the last two seasons.

But what makes the Reno, Nevada native such a threatening player?

Van Noy's posture has a lot to do with it. Stats may look flashy on paper, but you can't overemphasize how important it is to have good form. A linebacker should always have his shoulders squared to his target, with his head up and feet moving. Van Noy does this well, and his forced fumble in the Poinsettia Bowl displayed it perfectly.

On the snap, he lunged forward with his shoulders squared and head up. Despite contact with the lineman, he kept his posture.

To get through the line, Van Noy used a swim move and excelled past the lineman.

At that point, it was only a matter of speed and coordination to get to the quarterback for the strip.

His posture isn't the only thing that makes Van Noy a threat; his speed and athleticism are also worth noting. He ran a 4.67 40-yard dash, and was a track athlete at McQueen High School. One of the most outstanding aspects of his game is his ability to use his athleticism to come off of the outside on a pass rush.

But the final weapon in Van Noy's arsenal that is most intimidating is his knowledge of the game. He is a linebacker that can read quarterbacks like a cornerback. In addition to his athleticism, his ability to read offensive sets gives Van Noy a huge advantage over his peers.

Van Noy has the size and speed to take receivers or tight ends in man coverage, as he did in the Notre Dame game. In the second quarter, Van Noy lined up against Irish tight end Tyler Eifert.

As soon as he looked up and saw quarterback Tommy Rees dropping back to pass, he slid into pass coverage.

He stepped up when the ball was passed, and, after it was tipped into the air, Van Noy had the position to catch it and gain minimal yardage.

Van Noy is a nightmare for any offense that opposes him, and although he will lose Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah on the line and Brandon Ogletree as a fellow linebacker, the BYU defense should still be strong this year. 

He has the tools to be a first-round draft pick, and if he continues to impress people across the country with a big season in 2013, a bright future could be ahead for Van Noy.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Entering year two of the Bill O'Brien era, it could be difficult to keep the Nittany Lions motivated, as the team is still ineligible for any postseason play. However, last year's team, which went 8-4 amidst scrutiny and controversy, set the bar high and gave future teams something to live up to.

Motivation was easy last year, as seniors like Matt McGloin and Michael Mauti carried themselves professionally and helped to restore pride in Penn State. The players performed on the field and didn't complain about the hand they were unfairly dealt.

Last year's team was thrust into a media firestorm and watched as some teammates decided to jump ship to teams that would present easier situations. Despite negative publicity, the 2012 Nittany Lions wanted to show that they were still winners, no matter what outsiders thought.

Entering the 2013 season, as the team heads further from the emotion of the Sandusky scandal, what will O'Brien use for motivation this time?

For starters, pride alone will keep the 2013 Nittany Lions motivated to perform. Watching last year's team be successful in the face of adversity set the standard moving forward. If that team was able to win eight games, the current team will want to better that.

Another motivation for the 2013 Nittany Lions is the fact that there is a lot of talent returning, and expectations are high. If this were a young, inexperienced team, that would be a different story. However, there are several starters returning who will mix with talented freshmen to make Penn State a dangerous team.

The Nittany Lions, who have a great chance at another solid record this season, have been predicted to finish 9-3. The high expectations, added to the pressure to build on what has already been done in Happy Valley, will give fuel to this year's team.

Aside from just playing for pride and for the school, perhaps one of the biggest motivators in college football is the chance to make it to the next level.

Although Penn State won't be going bowling at the end of the season, that doesn't minimize the fact that playing for the Nittany Lions is still big-time college football. The players get a chance to play in front of a packed stadium and face top competition in a major conference that receives a lot of national attention, including that of NFL scouts.

Three Nittany Lions were taken during the 2013 NFL draft, while six others were invited to rookie mini-camps this spring.  

Current players such as Allen Robinson, John Urschel and Adrian Amos could all have professional careers in their future, and having a strong 2013 season would help to solidify that.

While it could be easy to feel that the 2013 season is pointless because there's no postseason or championships that can come out of it, that's just not the case. The upcoming season holds much more meaning that just competing for a bowl game berth or a conference title.

Pride in oneself, the chance at playing professionally and the love and support of the 100,000 blue- and white-clad fans who fill Beaver Stadium on Saturdays make the season worth playing for.

The 2013 Nittany Lions will look to build a legacy that will live on in Penn State history.

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Taking over a college football program is a tricky endeavor whether you are a veteran coach or new coach.

There are a number of tasks that fall on the list of basics for a first year coach, but they never have easy solutions.

Coaches have to win over their rosters, finish a recruiting class in limited time and develop a personal style that will make its mark on the program.

The first year is always the hardest but succeed at these five and the job gets a lot easier. 

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