NCAA Football News

As expected, Penn State will have plenty of questions to answer once fall camp arrives in August. The main position battle everybody is looking forward to is at quarterback. The Nittany Lions have no answer at the position, according to the latest depth chart provided by Go PSU Sports.

You can check out the full depth chart by clicking here.

The starting quarterback lists Tyler Ferguson OR Christian Hackenberg. This clearly means that there is a true quarterback duel set to take place in Happy Valley. It also means that the coaching staff thinks highly of the two new recruits.

Ferguson was one of the five early enrollees, and that time preparing has certainly paid off as head coach Bill O'Brien told Audrey Snyder of Penn Live back in May.

“We have one quarterback here on campus right now in Tyler Ferguson,” O’Brien said. “That's the guy that definitely has the lead going into training camp because he's been here for 15 practices and a lot of meetings.”

Ferguson also has college experience leaning his favor considering he is a JUCO transfer who spent time at the College of the Sequoias. But he will have his hands full with Hackenberg.

The 5-star quarterback (247Sports) obviously has his work cut out for him due to missing valuable reps by not enrolling early like his competition. However, he has the look of a traditional quarterback at 6'4", possesses tremendous arm strength, is athletic and has a nice, smooth delivery. Although Nittany Lions fans haven't seen him in person, he has generated some buzz off of his potential.

On film he looks like the total package and the coaching staff obviously believes the same. After all, it is quite rare that a true-freshman has the potential to earn the starting job from day one. Even being listed on the depth chart before he starts classes is saying something.

This will be mighty interesting once fall ball kicks off.

A few other nuggets that should earn your attention is seeing defensive tackle Austin Johnson behind Kyle Baublitz. Johnson is an athletic player who spent a lot of time on the basketball court. He had a solid spring practice but is still somewhat of an unknown due to lack of playing time.

Offensively, it is a little bizarre to see Alex Kenney behind Matt Zanellato at wide receiver. Kenney finished last season with 17 receptions for 172 yards and was consistent in limited action, while Zanellato only caught two passes for 19 yards.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Being the best player on your team is one thing, but being the most indispensable is another. 

Great players are often backed up by a stable of quality players behind them, which is where Georgia finds itself at running back and Florida's secondary currently stands.

But what about those positions that aren't so deep?

Where can one injury change the fate of an entire team's season? 

Keeping up with what's becoming a June tradition for the SEC Blog, we take a look at the SEC East's most indispensable players in this slideshow.

Begin Slideshow

Dorian Leonard, 3-star wide receiver from Longview, Texas, has chosen to commit to the University of Texas, picking the Longhorns over Oklahoma in the process.

That's always good news for Texas fans. Don't be naive enough to think the Red River Rivalry doesn't overflow into recruiting.

It does.

Max Olson of ESPN.com reported the commitment via Twitter:

Olson goes on to explain one of the reasons why Leonard picked Texas over Oklahoma, per Twitter:

Texas Tech was another school that did not make the cut for Leonard, which is worth noting because he just attended camp there, per his 247Sports timeline.

Six of six experts in the 247Sports Crystal Ball predicted that Leonard would commit to Oklahoma, but those predictions turned out to be wrong, for now. 

If there's a program out there that understands the fragile nature of commitments, it would be Texas, so holding on to Leonard's commitment will be just as important as receiving it for Mack Brown and his staff.

Leonard has tremendous height at 6'4'' and great size at 200 pounds. He runs a 4.6 40, according to Rivals, so purely just by looking at his intangibles, he has great potential as a receiver.

On tape (Hudl), he has just as much potential. He has great length and extends his hands to make the catch, displaying soft hands and concentration. He can make defenders miss after the catch and he's a strong runner with long strides.

Leonard will be a deep vertical threat because of his size and speed, but he also runs crisp shorter routes, so he'll be a possession receiver as well.

The potential to be great is there, so he's a good commitment for Texas to land.

Note: All scouting and analysis of Leonard done by writer, via tape study of film provided on his 247Sports profile page.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Clemson revealed to the world Wednesday that Howard's Rock had been vandalized, including a piece of the rock being broken off as the vandals broke the surrounding casing. The centerpiece of one of college football's most visible traditions has been damaged.

Here is where you're supposed to say it is a shame. That you hate that this happened. That this radical fan does not represent the vast majority of fair-minded supporters of college athletics..

And that is all probably true. But it doesn't hide this fact. A real problem exists and the problem is fans. Although we do not know just who vandalized Howard's Rock, now is as good a time as any to point out that fans are a problem in and of themselves.

It is not the spoiled athlete or the coach who makes too much money that is ruining the game. It is the entitled, self-important fan who takes it upon himself to become a part of the story. It's the fan who injects himself into the mix because just reading and watching the game is not enough.

It's understandable. You get pumped up on the Internet anonymity fuel and all of a sudden your voice matters as much as anyone else's. You get to be ugly because, well, because why not?

Of course, Harvey Updyke and the Alabama "teabagger" are the extreme. They act on the things that so many fans just say behind the safety of the Internet. They poison trees. They do the unspeakable to the opposing teams fans. They do it. It is those guys.

Yet, in the grand scheme of things, they are speaking from the same place as ranting YouTube guy, drive-by Twitter angry lady and malicious-talking Internet poster. A place of hate. A place where sports, in this case college football, become about more than teams competing for a win.

A place that is rooted in hatred.

Being labeled a "big sports fan" has become something some folks want to avoid. Not because the majority of sports fans are lunatics, but because the lunatics have tainted the term. By berating athletes on Twitter and Facebook or going to the extremes like Updyke, they have wrestled control away from the masses.

If you're a sports fan, the time has passed for merely saying this is sad. Stand up. Take sports back from the hands of the lunatic fringe. Grab control of the wheel. Make sure people know that being a lunatic is not acceptable. That is it not cute or funny. That it certainly does not mean they love that sport or that team more than anyone else.

Look, if you revel in hating a player or a team more than you enjoy the game itself, that's a problem. If you take more pleasure in someone else's team losing than in your team's winning, then perhaps sports aren't for you.

As for Howard's Rock, here's to hoping it was not an angry fan.

Sports are supposed to be an escape, but a lot of times the crazed fans just make us want to escape from sports.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

UCLA has offered an athletic scholarship to quarterback Lindell Stone (Dawson Middle School, Southlake, Texas), according to an ESPN report. 

The 6' 2", 190-pound 15-year-old just finished eighth grade. "We're really not focused on recruiting right now," Stone told ESPN.

"We're more focused on getting on the field at high school and helping a team win a championship, but this is big. It's finally showing how hard I've worked."

UCLA is not the first school to offer a scholarship to a kid before he stepped foot into high school. In 2010, USC offered quarterback David Sills (Red Lion Academy, Bear, Del.) at the ripe of age 13. Sills has committed to USC. 

For some adults, the thought of grown men fawning over and recruiting a youngster is repulsive. Others are trying to wrap their heads around this alarming recruiting trend.

Bill Redell coached quarterback Jimmy Clausen at Oaks Christian Academy in Westlake Village, Calif. Clausen played at the University of Notre Dame and was selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. Redell expressed shock when USC head coach Lane Kiffin offered Sills.

"To be honest with you, I think the whole thing's out of whack," Redell told ESPN's Mark Saxon in 2010.

"I don't mean to say the staffs at USC and UCLA are going to Pop Warner games, but they're getting wind of guys way early."

Technology has made identifying potential recruiting targets much simpler, as coaches can now just watch a prospect's highlight reel on YouTube. They can also follow the prospect's daily routine via social media. A personal in-home visit is not required. 

But offering a boy who probably thinks going out with a girl for three weeks constitutes a long-term relationship makes most adults a little squeamish. It sounds a little predatory.

The NCAA has no rules against offering scholarships to players in middle school. It is game on. And there is a method to all of this madness.

UCLA is on a roll. The Bruins are two-time Pac-12 South champions. UCLA's class of 2013 was ranked No. 7 by 247Sports. Football programs that are trending up need to keep their names in the news. In the recruiting world, publicity is tantamount to success.

Stone is entering high school in a state that is the holy grail of recruiting. Building a pipeline into Texas is high on any head coach's list of priorities, especially a high-profile school in Texas. 

Southlake's Carroll High School has won eight state titles in football. It has produced elite talent, including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chase Daniels and New York Jets quarterback Greg McElroy. The school now has an incoming freshman who will be associated with UCLA.

Football players talk to each other about recruiting, especially regarding which schools they are interested in and which schools have offered them. Freshman usually do not have a lot to offer in those conversations—except for Stone. 

He may never commit to UCLA. Or he may remember the school that first offered him a scholarship and sign with the Bruins. He may recruit his teammates to sign with UCLA if they are being recruited by the Bruins. He will talk about UCLA on the Longhorn Network. That type of recruiting advantage is priceless. 

In the dog-eat-dog world of recruiting, any advantage seized outweighs the criticism that follows. 

The Bruins have one-upped the state's two flagship universities—the University of Texas and Texas A&M—by offering Stone right under their noses. 

In 2017, we will find out if Stone is wearing powder blue, burnt orange or maroon under center. In the meantime, the madness will continue. 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

It's best not to listen to head coach Brian Kelly when he names a starting quarterback. He has spent his Notre Dame days changing quarterbacks more than your local gas station changes its prices. If you are a quarterback on the depth chart and Kelly is the coach, there is a great chance you are going to see playing time at some point.

So when Tommy Rees was named the starter, it's best to stick your fingers in your ear and scream at the top of your lungs. We can't hear you, Coach Kelly.

Sure, it's pretty obvious Rees will be the starter with Everett Golson suspended, but when will Kelly pull him out? When will panic begin to set in? When will Kelly get frustrated after a poor throw and put in Andrew Hendrix? 

You know it's bound to happen sooner or later.

The good news is that all of that talk can be pushed to the side for at least a week. Notre Dame begins the season with one of its easier games when Temple will make its way to South Bend. The Owls only won four games in their first season in the Big East and had a dreadful defense that couldn't prevent a faucet from leaking.

Temple had the worst defense in the Big East, allowing 436 total yards to Big East opponents, with 199 of them being allowed on the ground. Notre Dame won't need a month of practice to figure out a game plan. These numbers play right into what Rees is good at, and it should result in an easy victory for the home team.

Rees isn't a quarterback who you want throwing the ball around 30-plus times. He isn't going to put up the sexy numbers or win any Heisman Trophies. Even against a subpar team such as South Florida can result in a loss, as the Bulls went into Notre Dame Stadium in 2011 and left with a win after Rees threw two costly interceptions.

The new starting quarterback is more of a game-manager for the Irish. As long as he plays within his limits and doesn't try to do too much, he will be just fine. Rees came in on backup duty throughout last year's undefeated regular season and thrived in a limited role.

He saw action in nine games and only had one performance of more than 15 pass attempts. His completion percentage of 57.6 and 436 passing yards aren't spectacular, but he made the key plays when needed to in order to help the Irish win games. Managing the game is what Rees will be asked to do, and it will be the formula to a victory against Temple.

The Irish have a handful of solid running backs that can be counted on to perform at a high level. Those guys should be licking their chops going up against a team that was ranked 102nd in the country in rushing defense. The Owls allowed 301 rushing yards to Villanova and 534 rushing yards to Army, which included nine rushing touchdowns. The Irish should run the ball 40 times and call it a day.

Even though Kelly has a short fuse with quarterbacks, it would take a colossal mistake for Rees to mess this up. This isn't a game against Michigan or USC; it's Temple, a squad that has low expectations under first-year head coach Matt Rhule. It is Week 2 where we will see what Rees is really made of, when the Irish travel to Michigan Stadium to play the Wolverines.

Until then, Rees will remain the starter once Week 1 is in the books.

 

Note: All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

It is Thursday and that means the mailbag, people. We've only got three questions today, not because of a lack of submissions, but because I shut it down to get to this good long emailed question that we got. So, here we go!

Should you be cautiously optimistic about the Hokies? Absolutely.

Last year, especially on defense, the Hokies were uncharacteristically bad. I think this year they get back to, as my buddy The Key Play terms it, a real Bud Foster defense. That is a great base to build off of from a ball-stopping, get-off-the-field-and-give-your-offense-chances standpoint.

On offense, the staff shakeup is going to help. People are worried about new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, but I think we'll see a lot more of what he did at Temple than what he had to be at Auburn. Virginia Tech has some traditional role-fillers and given that slate, I think Loeffler can get good production out of them.

The Coastal Division is 100 percent up-for-grabs this year. Depending on who you read, or believe, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina and Virginia Tech are all going to win the title. The only teams no one is giving a shot to are Duke, Pitt and Virginia. In other words, the bulk of the division is in the hunt, and that means it will boil down to close games in a tight race.

If the Hokies can get back to playing more mistake-free football, those close games could go their way and boom, they are right back in Charlotte after missing out in 2012.

Can they? Yes sir.

The issue is will they. The good thing is that Clemson's team is set up to exploit the currently existing weaknesses of the South Carolina team. The bad thing is the Gamecocks have a year to work out those weaknesses, most notably in the secondary.

Clemson versus South Carolina is not a big talent-gap rivalry. It is a who-is-better-prepared and who-goes-out-and-gets-it type of game. This is not the current Alabama-Tennessee gulf or the Stanford-Cal fjord that currently exists. This is a game that approach and execution decide, and right now Steve Spurrier is flat out whipping Dabo Swinney's behind.

The Gamecocks have won four in a row and are getting ready to go to five, and at some point, someone on that Tigers roster has to say they have had enough.

Does that happen this year? We'll see.

Got this email from my guy @MajewskiTony

Curious on your take of the B1G's current state. I'm up in Minneapolis so I consider the Gopher's my #2 team due to family allegiances. Unfortunately, the local everything dogs on this squad nonstop for it's decades of failing to reach the top half of the B1G. Which brings me to my question ... With the top 2 in the B1G looking locked in with OSU and Mich, who do you see making a move to join them in the top 3/4 of the conference over the next 4 years. Is it going to be the usual suspects in Mich St & Wisconsin or does anyone else have a shot? Do you see any of the bottom half teams making a move for consistent success?
Personally, I think that now is the time to shift the perceived B1G rankings if you're a team like Minnesota or Indiana in the bottom half to try to make that jump to that 8-9 win range consistently. If you're a team like Northwestern, you can try to get yourself in the top 3 consistently.
-Tony

Good question, right? That's what I said when I read it.

I think leaving Penn State out of the top four is a mistake. I know about the sanctions, but I also realize everything else you're saying and totally agree that the league is in such flux that anyone can jump into the top quarter of the conference. Including the Nittany Lions.

Personally, I think Michigan State and Wisconsin will be the next two teams, behind Ohio State and Michigan. Unless, of course, Gary Andersen flames out and Mark Dantonio gets a new job. 

I don't think the bottom-half teams make a move, BUT that is 100 percent because I have no confidence in them in any regard. I don't trust their recruiting. I don't trust their coaching. I don't trust them to win the games that matter. I just have a hard time trusting them to walk through that door that we both see is hanging wide open for them.

Nebraska, in my opinion, should be the obvious choice to join the Buckeyes and the Wolverines, but after Taylor Martinez, I'm not sure what happens to the Cornhuskers. Martinez put up big numbers last season and has developed as a quarterback, and once he leaves, they will be back in the "find a quarterback" mode that can sink a season.

Out of the teams you mentioned, Minnesota, Indiana and Northwestern, I think it is obvious Northwestern is the leader. The Wildcats are already a top-half team and have the ability, through their stability, to push closer to the top. This is their window, with transition in Madison and bad offense for Spartans, to steal some wins and get better.

Although you did not mention it, I'll also toss in the newcomers: Rutgers and Maryland. I think both of them are in better positions than Minnesota or Indiana in the long run. Save for the Rutgers scandal, both Maryland and New Jersey produce some quality talent that, thanks to the Big Ten, both schools will have a better shot at keeping in state.

As for Minnesota specifically, it doesn't look good. Not because the Gophers aren't going to try, I truly think they will put in the effort to be good. More because they lack the most important natural resource in college football, local talent.

If they can turn this roster into some mean jokers who like to fight in a phone booth, they have a shot. That means redshirting guys and using strength and conditioning to close the talent gap. It won't make them the best team in the Big Ten, but as Wisconsin has shown us, it can help you win some tough battles.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Georgia has picked up another marquee in-state recruit, 4-star cornerback Malkom Parrish.

Parrish is a great commitment for Georgia, especially considering the competition. Georgia Tech and Florida were both listed as "warm" options on his 247Sports interest list before the commitment, but of the two, only the Yellow Jackets made him an offer.

Beating an in-state rival for a commitment is always a big deal—especially when it's the commitment of a major recruit.

Parrish is the No. 6 recruit from the state of Georgia, according to the 247Composite ratings.

Ed Hooper of The Valdosta Daily Times, reported the commitment via Twitter:

Jake Rowe of Rivals.com reports on why Parrish chose Georgia over Georgia Tech:

So what was it that made the four-star prospect commit to the Bulldogs over the Yellow Jackets?

"(It was) the coaching staff," he said. "The coaching staff let me know that I can't go wrong with Georgia. They send many people to the NFL and they also have a great education. I think that is the place for me."

Parrish is ranked as the No. 10 cornerback in the nation, per the 247Composite ratings. Interestingly enough though, according to Radi Nabulsi of ESPN on Twitter, he's never even played cornerback:

That said, Parrish is obviously an extremely talented recruit. Check out his stats from last season, per Nabulsi on Twitter:

With his addition, Georgia's 2014 class now has nine commitments, and Richt and his staff are starting to build momentum.

The Bulldogs just recently landed the commitment of 4-star running back Nick Chubb—another big in-state recruit—and six of Georgia's nine commitments are in-state recruits.

For those hoping to see better in-state recruiting from the Bulldogs in 2014, that's a good stat to hold on to. 

Still, of the top 15 recruits from the state, according to the 247Composite ratings, six have committed to out-of-state programs. Three of those recruits have committed to Clemson, and only two so far have picked Georgia.

The Bulldogs have definitely stepped up their game, but there's still much work to be done.

The good news is that momentum is one of the key factors in recruiting, and right now, Georgia has plenty of it.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Kentucky recruiting well is nothing new.

After all John Calipari routinely signs top classes filled with players who exploit the NBA's one-and-done rule, leaving a quick but lasting mark on the football program.

Wait, what? Kentucky is in the top 10 in the 247Sports.com composite for the class of 2014 in football too?

FOOTBALL?

As Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops—and brother of Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops—would say, "hello!"

The program currently ranks seventh in the current composite index and has been on fire lately. Six of the Wildcats' 15 commitments in the class have come in the month of June. 

Before we get into the specifics, you did read that correctly. Mark Stoops has received commitments from six prospects in 12 days.

Stew on that for a moment.

The group of recent commitments is headlined by 6'3", 220-pound defensive end Denzel Ware.

The 4-star prospect from Crestview, Fla., re-committed to the Wildcats over offers from several big-time schools, including Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Florida, Georgia and others. The nation's 91st-ranked player was initially a Seminole commitment but flipped to Kentucky when Stoops took the helm before taking a step back to evaluate.

Safety Darius West also made the pledge to join Big Blue Nation this month. The 6'0", 195-pounder from Lima, Ohio is a 4-star prospect who chose the Wildcats over a plethora of major offers—including Notre Dame and Louisville.

Eight of Kentucky's commitments in the class of 2014 hail from the state of Ohio, which has been a primary focus for Stoops' staff. Those efforts in Ohio have paid off due in large part to tight ends coach Vince Marrow, who's listed as the primary recruiter for all eight of those players. 

See a pattern?

Kentucky is playing with the big boys on the recruiting trail. That doesn't always translate to success on the gridiron, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

Not only is it recruiting well—it's pouring the appropriate amount of resources into the football program to be competitive.

The athletics department is budgeting $12,587,627 into the football program this season, a 33 percent increase from last year according to Kentucky.com. That number includes an increase of $2.4 million in the budget for salaries for the football staff. For perspective, the coaching staff earned a total of $5,642,909 last season according to the USA Today coaching database. 

That's a step in the right direction, but it's not enough to compete just yet.

According to Forbes, LSU spent $59 million over a three-year span between 2009-11, for an average of $19.6 million per year. Arkansas' was $24.5 million in 2011 and Auburn's was $39.5 million, according to USA Today.

This comes on the heels of major renovation projects to Commonwealth Stadium including a room specifically dedicated to recruiting.

Kentucky is recruiting with the big boys and clearly making an effort from a resources standpoint to eat at the big boy table. 

It takes time to build a program, and everything Kentucky has done since Stoops took the job in December 2012 indicates that he intends to make Kentucky more than just a basketball school.

Can he do it? We shall see. But so far, so good.

 

Follow @BarrettSallee

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

"Assignment perfect."

Two simple words, but ones that reflect a new mindset for the Trojans in 2013.

After 2012 brought a boatload of disappointment in the form of a 7-6 record, the coaching staff and the players themselves realized that if things were to change for the better this year, it would have to come about as a result of a new philosophy—one that eliminated the mistakes that haunted the Trojans last year.

It was with this in mind that Lane Kiffin and his staff looked within, and in doing so, may have found the key to success for USC in 2013.

You see, if one was to review the problems that manifested in last year's debacle, there were three primary issues that could be blamed. In no particular order, turnovers, penalties and injuries were the primary culprits for last year's face plant.

Which brings us back to those two words: "assignment perfect."

This is the new rallying cry for the staff and players, and it boils down to coaching and executing. While this may not help with injuries, having players perform their assignments correctly will certainly help with the turnovers and penalties.

The notion here is that if the players take care of their responsibilities each and every play, USC will be just fine this year.

And the players are certainly buying in as well.

Tight end Randall Telfer was interviewed by Scout.com's Kristen Rodgers (paid link) about the new coaching philosophy, and she quotes Telfer saying the team is focusing on being assignment perfect, a reoccurring motif that the coaches are instilling in the Trojans.

"That's a term (assignment perfect) we throw around a lot," said Telfer. "Our special teams coach preaches that a lot, being a technician and a master of our craft."

But the term carries meaning for more than Telfer.

True freshman Kenny Bigelow is also preaching this new mantra.

In another article by Rodgers (paid link), the big defensive tackle had this to say about the emphasis on getting the job done individually each and every play:

"Right now everybody wants to be assignment perfect," he said . "That's something we preach in our special teams meetings and something we talk about in our individual team meetings all the time. We want to be assignment perfect all the times, so we just drill ourselves."

It sounds like the coaching staff is working hard to eliminate the mistakes that ruined USC's season last year.

And while "assignment perfect" may not have a catchy ring to it, it sure as hell beats the slogan USC fans were singing after 2012:

"Wait until next year."

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Kyle Van Noy has been the superstar of the BYU defense for several seasons, and his senior year as a Cougar could be better than any other. The extreme prize a college football player can earn is the Heisman Trophy, and Van Noy could be in a position in 2013 to contend for it. 

I'm not saying that the Reno, Nev. native will be the winner of the famed award, but his performance throughout the year could help him compete.

The odds will be, without a doubt, stacked against Van Noy, but here are three reasons why he will be in the running for the Heisman.

Begin Slideshow

Usually, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is the one doing the talking in the SEC. Georgia's Mark Richt has finally had enough and decided to send a few shots right back.

According to David Ching of ESPN, Richt made mention of the Bulldogs' tougher schedule this year, even going as far as to mention the rival coach.

“We’ve got a tremendous schedule this year, we know,” Richt said. “I don’t hear Coach Spurrier complaining about it this year.”

Let the games begin.

It's no secret Spurrier is one of the more talkative coaches college football has to offer. He rarely bites his tongue when asked a question and has had Georgia on his mind a lot lately.

At last year's media day, Spurrier admitted that he would have flipped-flopped a few conference opponents if he made the schedule, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“You think I make the schedule? If I made the schedule Georgia would be playing LSU and we’d be playing Ole Miss,” he said.

Per the ESPN report, Georgia did have the 27th most difficult schedule in the country last season, but it was ranked 12th among 14 SEC teams. The Bulldogs cruised to a 12-2 record and won seven of the eight conference games, reaching the SEC Championship Game for the second straight season.

This season not much complaining can be done with Georgia playing Clemson, South Carolina and LSU in three of the first four games. This doesn't even include playing Florida near the end of the season in the annual rivalry.

If you are wondering what Spurrier has had to say, he told Go Gamecocks back in April that he likes the matchups for the Bulldogs a lot more than he did a year ago.

“I don’t think ours is all that much easier. The good part is, Georgia’s is harder,” he said with a laugh. “Theirs is tougher. It’s a lot tougher.”

However, you just know another slick comment is going to be made once Richt's words reach South Carolina.

Georgia and South Carolina will play the second week of the season in Sanford Stadium. The Gamecocks won last year's meeting by a score of 35-7, and have also won the last three in a row.

 

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Brian Kelly, speaking to the Associated Press at Lost Dunes Golf Club, revealed how easy both the Everett Golson and Eddie Vanderdoes decisions were for him. Via USA Today, Kelly talks about both players having standards to uphold and criteria to live up to:

I really look at this as fairly clear-cut scenarios. Everett Golson didn't live up to the standards and he's held accountable. Eddie Vanderdoes had a standard to live up to and he was held accountable. So those aren't that hard. I don't have to spend much time thinking about it, Kelly said Wednesday.

The coach is right. Golson's poor judgement created an easy decision for Kelly and Notre Dame. Vanderdoes' situation, even as it played out in public, had a path that was already laid out for Kelly and the Irish. 

Brian Kelly is a coach who understands both sides of the coin, and, if fans are paying attention, can help others understand it as well.

The Vanderdoes situation was not about teaching a kid a lesson. It was not about an overarching fear of "breaking the system" or setting a precedent. It was merely about using the rules as they exist. Brian Kelly was not trying to strong arm the kid into attending Notre Dame or teach him a lesson; he was just working through the process.

In the same space, Kelly admits that different circumstances likely would have granted Vanderdoes a free release.

Coaches go through it, too. Kelly, who flirted with the NFL this offseason, battled critics and people who spoke about honoring his commitment. That's what contracts are written for, and why buyouts exist. When, or if, Kelly leaves for the next level, it will be about him living up to the standard to which he agreed to.

The same goes for Golson and his academics as well as with Vanderdoes and the NLI.

Now, I am admittedly one who does not like the terms of some of these agreements—most notably the one-year sit-out on transfers or the ridiculous restrictions on transferring. However, those are reasons to fight the NCAA and the conferences, not the individual coaches.

Certainly, Kelly could have been the nice guy, like Butch Davis who released four-star tackle Delvon Simmons in 2011, but he did not. He went by the book, and that is quite alright. Vanderdoes gets to be where he wants, even though he cannot play this season. Kelly will pay the same penalty, albeit in cash, when he decides to leave for another job.

Brian Kelly spells it out pretty clear, without the anger and hurt feelings that other coaches and media members use when discussing the topics. He does not talk about an epidemic of transfers or kids trying to force a release. He explains it by sticking to the point, and for the fans—many of whom do not understand—that is a plus.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Jordan Davis has decommitted from Florida State, which is bad news for the Seminoles. FSU's misfortunes may end up being great news for Texas A&M, though, as it looks like the Aggies very well may be the new favorite for the 2015 4-star tight end.

According to Sam Khan Jr. of ESPN.com, Davis will be at College Station on Thursday, the day after he decommitted from Florida State:

On Wednesday night, the 6-foot-4, 247-pound prospect officially decommitted from the Seminoles, he confirmed via text message. 

The news is likely a good sign for Texas A&M, the latest school to offer Davis. He attended the Aggies' one-day camp on Sunday and confirmed on Wednesday that he will be back in College Station, Texas on Thursday to see the campus. 

That all points to good things for Kevin Sumlin and his program. They just made him an offer on June 9, according to 247Sports. A few days later, he's uncommitted and back in College Station.

It would appear as if the interest is there for Davis, and that may be putting it lightly. That's why this recent update from Taylor Hamm of 247Sports shouldn't be surprising:

Jordan Davis de-committed from FSU last night. Today, he will be on an unofficial visit to Texas A&M, where he's expected to become A&M's first commitment of 2015.

It's important to note that nothing is official yet—such is the world of college football recruiting—but it would seem as if it's just a matter of time before Texas A&M goes from a favorite for Davis to the program that he commits to.

All signs point to Texas A&M being the favorite, though, at the very least.

Davis goes to Clear Lake High School in Houston, Texas, and he's the No. 7 tight end in the 2015 class, according to the 247Sports composite. 

It's worth noting that 10 of 10 predictions in the 247Sports Crystal Ball have him committing to Texas A&M. 

 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

One of the most iconic pieces of college football history has been vandalized.

According to the Clemson Tigers website (h/t College Football Talk), Howard's Rock was vandalized sometime June 2 or June 3. Per the report, a small piece of rock was broken off after vandals had broken the casing that protects the piece of history.

According to the school's news release, Clemson's Director of Athletics, Dan Radakovich, indicated that the police are already involved:

"We take vandalism, especially of such an important part of our history, very seriously," said Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich. "Police are investigating."

The pedestal itself is not damaged and there is now a new case that covers the rock, according to USA Today.

College Football Talk and Twitter account @trentacker provided what's believed to be photographic evidence of the damage to the rock:

The rock was first placed on top of the east end zone hill in 1966 when it became kind of a good luck charm after the Tigers knocked off rival Virginia. Since 1967, Clemson players have made sure to touch the rock before running down the hill and taking the field. It is named after legendary Clemson coach and College Football Hall of Famer Frank Howard.

This damage comes on the heels after the historic Auburn oak trees were removed after being poisoned. The trees were more than 130 years old and helped make up Toomer's Corner, which is a gathering place for Auburn fans and the community.

For those who aren't familiar with Howard's Rock or one of the best entrances in college football, we leave you with this experience:

 

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Some, like Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin, call him "Nicky Satan." Others, like Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis, call him "the Devil himself."

If you're an Alabama fan, he probably carries a more complimentary nickname—"national champion."

Nick Saban.

The seventh-year head coach of the Crimson Tide has been at the helm leading the Tide into its current status as the first modern-day dynasty of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) era.

He also makes opposing fans nervous.

Saban spoke at an event hosted at the Athens (Tenn.) Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday in front of an estimated crowd of 1,500, some of whom weren't happy that Saban was so close to the University of Tennessee campus, according to the Associated Press.

Emails, voice mails and calls flooded the event, one of which bordered on a death threat, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

"It was filled with cuss words," chamber president Rob Preston said. "It said, 'Whoever is responsible for this should be dead'."

Guess what? It wasn't the first sign of the apocalypse.

Every high school prospect in Tennessee didn't immediately commit to play in Tuscaloosa. The Tennessee program didn't evaporate into thin air.

Everyone survived.

This wasn't a Crimson Caravan event, it was a benefit dinner at Tennessee Wesleyan College in which Saban primarily discussed charities and leadership, according to AL.com.

That's a good thing.

Sure, when the floor opened up and questions were allowed from the crowd, it turned into a massive version of Saban's wildly entertaining Hey Coach radio program. That's a good thing (especially if you were following along on Twitter).

Here's an example, courtesy of Andrew Gribble of AL.com:

A teenage fan just asked Saban if he could have a scholarship.

— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) June 12, 2013

Saban was also clearly on his game when it comes to deflection, answering the easiest questions in the most "Saban-esque" fashion.

First question from fan: How many national titles do you want to win? Saban: "Just (focused on) the next one."

— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) June 11, 2013

The bottom line is, this wasn't a big deal. In fact, it's a good thing.

It gave Alabama fans in the area a chance to hear Saban speak at a rubber chicken event in the offseason. That happens everywhere. Yes, sometimes these events are scheduled in locations that are beneficial to the location of a specific recruit or recruits. 

Right now, though, both Alabama and Tennessee are recruiting at an elite level. One appearance isn't going to make an impact on the momentum for either school, especially considering both schools are headed in the right direction in a hurry.

Saban didn't apologize for invading enemy territory, nor should he. Now if he steals Jalen Hurd, Todd Kelly and some of the other Tennessee commits, then it'd be time to worry. But as of now; no harm, no foul.

 

Follow @BarrettSallee 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

In what now seems to be developing into the rule rather than the exception, another standout eighth-grade football player has been offered a scholarship by a major college program. Quarterback Lindell Stone is officially a target of UCLA, but the youngster shouldn't be so quick to make a decision.

According to Damon Sayles of ESPN Recruiting Nation, UCLA extended the offer on Tuesday to the 6'2", 190-pound signal-caller who most recently played for Dawson Middle School in South Lake, Texas. Stone didn't indicate whether or not he intended to accept, but he is honored by the recognition.

I'm very grateful right now, Stone said Wednesday. We're really not focused on recruiting right now. We're more focused on getting on the field at high school and helping a team win a championship, but this is big. It's finally showing how hard I've worked.

This offer comes on the heels of rival USC offering Upland, Calif. wide receiver Nathan Tilford a scholarship before his first high school game as well, according to Blair Angulo of WeAreSC.com.

USC's offer inevitably prompted some UCLA supporters to joke about the Trojans' recruiting tactics, but Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles pointed out that those in glass houses should not throw stones.

As funny as it may seem for major college programs to roll the dice by offering players scholarships four years before they're ready to make the jump, it's not a bad strategy. Recruiting is incredibly competitive, so locking up a prospect before he fully develops could give teams a huge advantage.

UCLA is banking on that when it comes to Stone, but he needs to see what else is out there first. Top-level quarterbacks are at a premium, so it is entirely possible that every team in the nation could be knocking at his door in a year or two. He'll probably have his pick of the litter and there isn't much point in denying himself the opportunity to make an informed choice among many different candidates.

With that said, Stone has already expressed interest in UCLA and has called it one of his top college choices, according to Sayles.

It's a very academically prestigious school, which is what I'm looking for in a college, he said. It's also got a great football program. To have one of my top schools offer me so early, it's an honor. It's great to see all my hard work paying off in them giving me an opportunity.

If academics are truly important to Stone then there is no doubt that UCLA would be a great school for him. UCLA also has a nationally-ranked football program, but it isn't considered to be among the elite. Maybe that doesn't matter much to Stone, but it stands to reason that the likes of Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame and countless others will come calling in due time.

The possibility of flaming out always exists with players who are highly touted at such a young age, but Stone seems to have a great head on his shoulders. As long as he is confident in his ability to get better over the next four years, he doesn't need to limit himself by committing immediately.

Stone already seems to have most of the physical tools necessary to be a big-time quarterback and he's only going to get bigger and stronger in the coming years. UCLA is essentially trying to buy low with Stone as his value is likely to skyrocket after a couple seasons in high school.

Even if Stone decides to turn the Bruins down, this isn't the last that college football fans have heard from him as he promises to be one of the hottest recruits in the country in the very near future.

 

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

With the Big 12 being the epitome of a passer's league, having a quality offensive line is imperative to a team's success. 

Last year, two of the three best offensive lines in the Big 12 won the conference. Kansas State's group ranked 15th nationally in sacks allowed with just 15, while the Oklahoma Sooners were 18th in that category with 15 allowed. 

The big guys up front in 2013 will be especially important with eight schools starting a different quarterback on Week 1 than they did a season ago. 

With that, here are the power rankings for the Big 12's offensive lines.

Begin Slideshow

There's some names that everyone who even just casually follows football knows. Even those who hate the sport have heard of the Mannings.

College football already brings together families from all across the country. But how much more special must it be when your family not only watches the sport?

These families are not just participants. They're stars.

So, who are college football's most legendary families? Read on.

 

The Stoops

The Stoops have more in common than just their last name and the fact that they're college football coaches.  Bob, Mark and Mike were all defensive backs at Iowa. In fact, all three also got their first coaching jobs at Iowa. 

Of course, most associate Bob Stoops with Oklahoma where he's won at least a share of the Big 12 championship eight of the 14 years he's been in Norman. He's also the only Stoops so far to have a national championship ring.

However, these brothers aren't too proud to work together. After all Mike Stoops is also at Oklahoma as defensive coordinator after getting fired after eight seasons as head coach at Arizona. However, there's no doubt that Mike will get another chance as a head coach.

In addition, Mark Stoops worked under Mike while the latter was still at Arizona. Now he's got the difficult job of trying to build Kentucky into more than just a basketball school. 

Any family that has three brothers who have been head coaches at the FBS level have earned a spot on this list.

 

The Matthewses

Here's a family that's been contributing to college football for three generations.

Clay Matthews, Sr. played offensive tackle for Georgia Tech all the way back in the 1940s. His own career wasn't quite something to be remembered through the ages, but the accomplishments of his sons and grandsons are.

All the rest of his family went to USC. Sons Clay, Jr. and Bruce both were first-round draft picks and had long storied careers in the NFL. Grandsons Clay III and Kevin have both made it to the NFL, with Jake Matthews currently playing at Texas A&M as an All-American tackle. He'll likely be a first-round NFL draft pick too.

While none of the Matthewses have done anything to really change the game of college football, the fact that this family has been part of the game for more than 60 years is nothing to sneer at.

 

The Bowdens

While none of Bobby Bowden's sons have been able to quite live up to their famous father's coaching legacy, Tommy and Terry do share a fantastic achievement with their dad.

All three have at least one perfect season under their belt. 

Tommy led Tulane to a perfect season in 1998 before taking the head coaching job at Clemson. However, Tommy never won more than nine games for the Tigers and resigned midseason after a disappointing 3-3 start.

Terry went 11-0 in 1993, but Auburn was under a bowl ban at the time and was ineligible to win the SEC title. He too resigned midseason after a horrendous 1-5 start in 1998. He did a decent job at North Alabama, but his 1-11 record last season at Akron wasn't encouraging.

It looks like none of Bobby Bowden's sons will pick up anywhere close to the 377 wins the patriarch recorded, and they'll be hard pressed to match his two national championships. Still, how many fathers can say that they've had two sons who both ran the table as head coaches?

 

The Mannings

No other family tree has produced such a fine trio of quarterbacks as the Mannings.

Archie Manning accomplished legendary feats while at Ole Miss. On October 4, 1969 Manning made history in more ways than one against the Alabama. He set an SEC record for total yards in a single game as he lit up the Tide for 436 yards passing and 104 more rushing for a total of 540.

That record would stand until Johnny Manziel broke it last season.

Furthermore, Manning's amazing game was the first to find its way to prime time network TV. It certainly wouldn't be the last time a Manning would dazzle football fans around the country on a live broadcast.

Ole Miss' respect for Manning is unparalleled in college football. His No. 18 is the only jersey to ever be retired by the Rebels, but the school went above and beyond just that.

The speed limit on campus is 18 miles per hour. No other school has honored a player in this fashion.

However, the Manning legacy was just getting started. Peyton Manning didn't follow his famous father to Ole Miss and decided to attend Tennessee instead.

The Rebels loss was the Volunteers gain.

Peyton's arm tore through SEC defenses as he passed for 11,201 career yards and 89 touchdowns. He went 39-6 as a starter, although for some reason he never was able to lead the Vols to victory over Florida.

While Peyton fell just short in the Heisman race, he did manage to win the Maxwell, Johnny Unitas and Davey O'Brien Awards. Tennessee has retired Peyton Manning's No. 16, but as of yet, they haven't changed the speed limit on campus to 16 miles per hour.

So that's something that father Manning has over his son.

Eli Manning, on the other hand, did follow Papa Manning to Ole Miss. His award case is just as packed as his brother's, as he too won the Maxwell and Johnny Unitas Awards. He almost matched Peyton in passing yards with 10,119. 

All three Mannings went either first or second overall in the NFL draft. 

Football just wouldn't be the same without the mark the Mannings left on it throughout the years.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Just as the players in college football present a carousel of talent, the coaches have their own circus rides that can create waves throughout the sport.

The Texas Longhorns enter year No. 3 of a rebuild that started following their 5-7 disaster in 2010. As one of the most experienced teams in the country, a near 180-degree switch from a season ago, Texas is on the brink of a true resurgence.

But just as success—in the form of a conference title and beyond—will re-establish the 'Horns as a top program, anything close to mediocrity or stagnation could signal the end for a number of coaches.

Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is definitely in a make-or-break season for his job, for reasons well endured. Who else is on the hot seat?

Begin Slideshow