NCAA Football
Texas Football: The 4 Hottest Seats on the Longhorns' Coaching Staff
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?
UCLA Offers Eighth Grade QB Lindell Stone Football Scholarship
It's never too early to start chasing your dreams.
At least that's the case for 15-year-old quarterback Lindell Stone, who was offered a scholarship by UCLA on Tuesday evening, according to Damon Sayles of ESPN Los Angeles.
Here's what the youngster had to say regarding the offer from the Bruins:
"I'm very grateful right now. 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."
The 6'2", 190-pound Texas native just finished up his eighth grade year at Dawson Middle School in Southlake, TX and already has his future set before stepping foot in high school, as he's slated to enter his first year of college in 2017.
According to Sayles, Stone is a pocket passer who has gained recognition through the Elite 11 regional competition in San Francisco where he turned heads, including that of former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst, Trent Dilfer.
You may think that it's not everyday that an athlete this young gets offered a scholarship way beyond his years, but Sayles makes note of a few special young athletes to also share the honor with Stone.
Fellow class of 2017 and California native Nathan Tilford has been offered a scholarship to USC while Dylan Moses, also class of 2017, has offers from Texas, LSU and Alabama, among others.
Stone's middle school (Southlake) has produced NFL quarterbacks in the past, including Greg McElroy of the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs' QB Chase Daniels (h/t Sayles)
Whether you agree with it or not, it's beginning to become common practice for college programs to pluck young talent from local schools before they hit the main stage. Obviously there's no way to tell how a prospect will develop or to predict injuries, but that seems to be a chance that collegiate programs are willing to take.
Let me leave you with this:
An eighth grader already knows he'll be playing for a premier college football program four years from now. What are you doing with yourself?
Follow me on Twitter: Follow @Pete_Schauer
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UCLA Offers Eighth Grade QB Lindell Stone Football Scholarship
10 Former College Football Stars Who We Want to See in the Announcing Booth
Generally, college football stars go to the NFL, play for a few years (or a couple of decades, if they translate well to the pro level) and either disappear from sight or enter the announcing circuit.
There are a few personalities that fans practically deserve to see in the announcing booths. From larger-than-life figures to men who are simply knowledgeable about the game and have excellent composure, they would provide a great spark to the commentary.
Here are 10 former collegiate stars who we would love to see in the announcing booth, presented in alphabetical order.
Pac-12 Football: Week 1 Predictions for Every Team in 2013
Andrew Luck's departure to the NFL after the 2011 season had many wondering if the balance of power would shift away from Stanford in the Pac-12. It didn't. Now, that question is appropriate again in 2013 as it pertains to Chip Kelly's departure from Oregon. Can Mark Helfrich keep the Ducks on top of the Pac-12 for the foreseeable future?
Just like in recent seasons, Stanford and Oregon are expected to be the class of the Pac-12. Unfortunately for both schools, they play in the North division of the conference and cannot meet in the conference's title game.
A pair of second-year coaches in the South division, UCLA's Jim Mora and Arizona's Rich Rodriguez, each appear to have their respective schools headed in the right direction.
With the first Pac-12 game of the season just 79 days away, here is a look at how each team will fare in their first game.
Pac-12 Football: Week 1 Predictions for Every Team in 2013
Pros and Cons of Each of 5-Star ATH Michiah Quick's Top 8 Schools
Examining ATH Michiah Quick's recruitment via ESPNU, 247Sports and Scout.com, it seems a core of eight schools make up the main group. Quick, who is from Fresno, California, plays for Fresno Central East High School and is one of the best players in California.
With his electric speed, elusiveness and athleticism, Quick could be successful at an array of positions. Receiver appears to be where he will get his first look in college, but don't count out cornerback, running back or safety for Quick.
A tough decision awaits Quick. He has many juggernaut programs after him. He will have to settle on a decision after he weighs the pros and cons of each school in his top eight suitors.
Biggest Big Ten vs. Pac-12 Recruiting Battles in Class of 2014
The Rose Bowl traditionally hosts the top Pac-12 team versus the top Big Ten team each January. The two conferences each have great history and feature several of the top programs in the country.
Although their regions are not geographically close, there are times where programs from both the B1G and Pac-12 compete for recruits. Running back Justin Fargas originally spurned playing close to the Pacific Ocean for Michigan. Michael Thomas, who plays for Ohio State, was plucked from Los Angeles.
With the two conferences competing for elite recruits over the years, the 2014 class has followed suit. A versatile athlete from Southern California is open to the idea of playing in the Big Ten, while a big linebacker has caught the eye of top schools from both the Pac-12 and the B1G.
Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports and ESPNU.
7 College Football Programs That Should Trade in Their Head Coach
When something gets traded in, for example a car, that thing had its best days and needs to get replaced for a newer, more serviceable thing.
The FBS coaches that should get traded in are not performing as well as they should at their respective schools. The amount of money these coaches earn is not translating to success on the field. They have worn out their welcomes.
When compiling this list of seven programs that should trade in their head coach, I considered: salary, years as head coach for the program, and on-field success (with an emphasis on recent on-field success).
I limited the available candidates to two criteria: the candidate has been the program’s head coach since 2009, and the program has played at least one season in its current conference. Programs in the newly-created American Athletic Conference were ineligible, even if they played in the Big East in 2012.
Why these criteria? I think it’s unfair to give up on a head coach after just four years or less, and there are too many unknowns for programs joining new conferences.
I received salary information from http://www.coacheshotseat.com/SalariesContracts.htm
With that, on to the list. Feel free to debate in the comments section below.
Why Linebacker Will Be Most Dominant Position in Big Ten Football in 2013
The Big Ten still has a reputation of being this nasty conference that plays physical and with a chip on its shoulder.
That style of play features the traits a linebacker must have to be successful. Fortunately for the Big Ten, there are plenty of defensive players in the second level who will make 2013-14 the year of the linebacker in this conference.
Many criticize the Big Ten for lack of flashiness and offensive production, but the one thing that has remained consistent is the solid play from the linebackers.
The top 10 tacklers in this conference from a year ago played linebacker and nine of them finished with more than 100 tackles.
With the superb talent that is returning, it's no question linebacker will be the position that leads the way in the Big Ten.
You can begin with Michigan State's Max Bullough, who has been the force in the middle for the Spartans and led them in tackles over the last two seasons. He is a ferocious tackling machine who makes sure you feel his presence.
A man-child on Saturdays, he has pretty much everything you look for in an old-school football player.
Ryan Shazier really turned heads in his sophomore year after leading Ohio State with 114 tackles. He is getting a lot of love from NFL scouts due to his ridiculous athleticism and speed coming off the weak side.
He will be the leader of the Buckeyes defense and will help keep things from completely falling apart after losing so much talent to the NFL draft.
One linebacker who doesn't get enough credit is Iowa's Anthony Hitchens, who led the Big Ten with 124 tackles despite playing in only 11 games. He was only a Big Ten honorable mention last year, but he is an experienced player and was one of the few bright spots for the Hawkeyes.
There are also quality experienced players in James Morris and Christian Kirksey, who combined for 208 tackles.
You simply can't talk about linebacker without mentioning Jake Ryan of Michigan. He was an All-Conference player last season and is a leader for the Wolverines on and off the field. Ryan tore his ACL in the spring, but Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports that the linebacker is expected to make a speedy recovery.
When healthy, Ryan is one of the best players in college football.
Chris Borland is back for a fifth season with Wisconsin after finishing a second straight season of 100-plus tackles. Only this time, the Badger got to the quarterback more frequently, producing four sacks and breaking up six passes.
He will be asked to do even more since Mike Taylor, who led the team in tackles last season, graduated.
A potential star in the making is Northwestern's Chi Chi Ariguzo, who finished his sophomore season with 91 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss.
He flies all over the field making plays in run and pass defense, as he added two interceptions and a fumble recovery. His instincts and pass coverage skills are off the charts.
While those are all names you should already know, there are a few other linebackers out there that you should keep a close eye on this season.
Those include Denicos Allen of Michigan State, who may be the most athletic and fastest linebacker you will find in college football. Michigan Wolverine Desmond Morgan is poised to have a breakout season, as is David Santos of Nebraska.
Another name to remember is Curtis Grant of Ohio State. He was a highly recruited player coming out of high school and will finally be given a real chance to prove himself on this young Buckeyes defense.
A few of these guys have already drawn attention from the next level and many are expected to follow suit.
This will be the year of the linebacker in the Big Ten.
All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted.
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Da'Shawn Hand Is Smart to Focus on Education During College Selection Process
Da'Shawn Hand is one of the best high school players in the country, but he is doing something that few prospects in his position do: focus on education.
The 6'5" defensive end is certain to be a huge impact player at the next level. He is rated by 247 Sports as the No. 1 overall player in the 2014 class, and No. 2 according to the composite rankings behind running back Leonard Fournette.
With strength, quickness and athleticism, Hand is able to penetrate into the backfield and consistently disrupt the opposing offense. No matter where he goes to school, he will rack up tons of sacks and tackles for loss to become one of the best defensive players in the nation.
Unsurprisingly, this has made him very sought after in the recruiting process. He has racked up dozens of offers and could legitimately play for almost whatever school he wanted. Fortunately, he is taking this process very seriously.
Kevin Scarbinsky of Smashmouth Radio recently interviewed the big-time recruit, and Hand was very forthcoming about where he was in the process. The Virginia native narrowed his school list to three on the air:
He also gave some reasoning as to why he eliminated South Carolina and Virginia Tech from his list:
On the other hand, Michigan appears to move closer to the top based on this statement:
These statements are surprising and actually refreshing coming from a top football recruit like this. It seems that these days, young players are much more concerned with other factors bringing them to a school.
Many top players want to choose a school that will get them to the NFL. Others simply like the way the uniforms look.
However, Hand appears to be deciding on a college based on the classes that he will take. He is looking for an education that will take him far in life if football does not work out.
We have seen plenty of times in recent history that even the best recruits do not always become professional superstars. Rhett Bomar is a great example of this, as seen in his recent interview with Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee.
The best thing that you can do is focus on education while you have that opportunity. Hand not only wants to graduate, but he cares about his major and the types of professors that will eventually be teaching him.
Even the top players in the country will be in school for three years, although it seems like education is overlooked in the recruiting process. Hopefully, Hand will be a leader in this regard as a kid who is truly focused on his future.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest updates in sports.
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4-Star OT Quenton Nelson Talks Notre Dame Commitment, Impact of Alabama Blowout
Many thought Notre Dame's blowout loss to Alabama in the national championship game would have a negative impact on the Fighting Irish's ability to recruit.
However, that was not the case with 4-star offensive tackle Quenton Nelson.
He committed to Notre Dame in early May and is one of the Fighting Irish's marquee 2014 commitments. According to the 247Sports Composite, Nelson is the No. 12 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 3 player from the state of New Jersey.
In a recent phone interview, Bleacher Report talked to Nelson about his commitment and more. Here's how it went down:
Bleacher Report: Why did you choose to commit to Notre Dame?
Quenton Nelson: It was a pretty easy decision. There's nothing not to like about Notre Dame. They gave me the best combination of academics, football and a Catholic education.
BR: Did you consider any other schools before committing to Notre Dame?
QN: I was considering Ohio State, Boston College, Penn State, Northwestern and Rutgers.
BR: Was it a close call in your opinion?
QN: After weighing everything, all the pros and cons about each school, Notre Dame really didn't have any cons to it. It was pretty easy to see that Notre Dame was the best choice and fit for me.
BR: What are you bringing to the table for the Fighting Irish?
QN: Just a kid that will represent the school well, academically and on the field. Work very hard, give it everything he has in practice and in the weight room.
BR: What do you look forward to in regard to being coached by Coach [Brian] Kelly?
QN: He has a lot of experience. He's been at a lot of places and has done very well. I'm just looking forward to becoming part of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish family.
BR: If Coach Kelly went to the NFL, would that have changed your decision to commit?
QN: No. As long as I still have my position coach, Coach [Harry] Hiestand. He's great and a big reason why I committed to Notre Dame, along with what a prestigious school Notre Dame is. The people there all love football and live it, and the academics are great.
Nelson was asked if he watched the national championship game last season, which Notre Dame lost to Alabama, 42-14. He responded yes, and it led to this question:
BR: As a Notre Dame recruit, did last year's national championship game impact your decision process whatsoever?
QN: Absolutely not. It didn't impact me at all. The facts remain the same. Notre Dame gives me the best opportunity academically, football wise and everything I said before.
BR: Why do you think Notre Dame lost?
QN: Clearly because Alabama was better. With 2013's recruiting class and the recruiting class we have going now though, I think things are going to change soon.
BR: What do you think would happen if ND and Alabama met up today with those recruiting classes?
QN: Notre Dame will win.
BR: Notre Dame has a very loyal fanbase. Have you had much interaction with Fighting Irish fans? What are they like?
QN: They definitely are the best. On Twitter, a bunch of them will tweet at me, direct message me if I follow them. They're truly the best fans out there.
BR: What's your favorite food?
QN: That's a hard one, the hardest question you've asked so far. Probably chicken parmesan—my mom's.
BR: Who's your favorite musician?
QN: I like all types of music, but my favorite artist is Luke Bryan. I just started to like country a lot.
BR: What are you looking forward to about your senior season?
QN: Hopefully winning a state championship. I just can't wait for football again.
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How Bill O'Brien Is Getting the Nation's Best QBs to Come to Penn State
Hackenberg was the top-ranked pro-style passer in the class of 2013. He had reported offers from Alabama, Florida, Miami, South Carolina, Stanford and Tennessee. Ferguson transferred from College of the Sequoias (Visalia, Calif.), where he threw for 2,614 yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games. With those additions, Penn State's QB situation improved. But over the weekend, it became better still.
On Saturday, Michael O'Connor committed to Penn State. The 4-star quarterback from the class of 2014 had reported offers from Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Rutgers and Vanderbilt. How is O'Brien keeping quarterbacks from committing to Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier and Mark Dantonio?
At some point, O'Brien's pitch to prospects may need to be accompanied by a sad trombone. The school's scholarship reduction includes 10 initial and 20 total scholarships through 2016, according to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. The team will only have 65 players on scholarship until 2017. There are no bowl possibilities for the next three years.
Yet the elite quarterbacks continue to be sold on O'Brien, mainly because he has extensive NFL experience. He served as the New England Patriots' quarterback coach from 2007 to 2011 and served as offensive coordinator in 2011, coaching quarterback Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLVI before moving on to Penn State in 2012. More from GoPSUSports: Under O'Brien's tutelage, Brady has thrown for 5,235 yards (No. 2 in NFL) and 39 touchdowns this season, as the Patriots won their final eight games. Under O'Brien's direction, Brady became the first unanimous Associated Press MVP in 2010 in leading the Patriots to an NFL-best 14-2 mark.
For a quarterback who wants to play in the NFL, O'Brien has all the qualifications of a great mentor. Penn State started out 0-2 last year and things looked bleak. But the team won eight of its next 10 games, including a 24-21 overtime win against Wisconsin, the eventual Big Ten champion.
O'Brien has already proven he can win under trying circumstances. His ability to tap into a quarterback's potential and unleash it is now being realized.
In 2011, quarterback Matt McGloin played in all 12 games, starting the final five. He finished with 1,571 passing yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Under O'Brien's guidance the following year, McGloin passed for 3,271 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions.
O'Brien accomplished that with a former walk-on quarterback. The Nittany Lions still need to add one more quarterback. With scholarship restrictions now in play, O'Brien is going to have to make do with what he has. He will probably exceed our expectations again this fall. Anyone want to bet against him? O'Brien is college football's Quarterback Whisperer.
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2014 College Football Recruits Destined to Redshirt
All recruits want to play and they want to play right away. However, some of them are not physically or mentally ready to make the direct jump from high school ball to the college game.
In other instances, some recruits pick schools who have a logjam at their position on the depth chart. Perhaps the school just signed a hot-shot recruit last year who happens to play the same position as the current year's prospect or a redshirt year will be good to adjust to the scheme.
Several quarterbacks are on this list, as the talented signal-callers will all face uphill climbs for early playing time at their respective schools. A running back headed to an SEC school has all the skills needed to play as a true freshman, but it appears he won't be needed in 2014.
A pair of offensive linemen will be starters one day, but won't be next season.
Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports & ESPNU.
Every Top 25 College Football Team's Bread-and-Butter Play on Offense
Most teams have that one play that they can turn to to bail them out of any situation. Everybody in the stadium knows it is coming, but the defense can't figure out a way to stop it. The opposing head coach throws his headset on the ground and wants to wring somebody's neck for not being in the correct position.
Oh, these bread-and-butter plays can be frustrating.
Like how basketball teams know who is going to take the last shot and baseball teams know who is going to pitch in Game 7, football offenses have that one play they can count on in times of need. Whether it's the Oregon running game or the Oklahoma State passing attack, these plays not only save games but help to form their teams' identities.
Note: These top 25 rankings were provided by Adam Kramer of Bleacher Report.
Do Returning Starting Quarterbacks Necessarily Mean SEC Football Success?
How many starters does your team return from last season, and most importantly, is one of them the quarterback?
That question is a staple of virtually every preseason team preview, prevalent in every summer magazine and a topic of conversation on radio stations across the country.
But does a returning starter at quarterback really matter?
Between 2007-11, four of the five BCS National Championships won by SEC teams were won by first-year starting quarterbacks (LSU's Matt Flynn in 2007, Alabama's Greg McElroy in 2009, Auburn's Cam Newton in 2010 and Alabama's AJ McCarron in 2011).
A returning starter at quarterback clearly isn't a prerequisite for hoisting the crystal football, but what about overall success in the SEC?
It isn't just the titles that have elevated the SEC to the unquestioned top spot in the conference pecking order, it's the plethora of teams finishing the season in the top 10.
Since 2006—when the string of SEC BCS National Championships began—eight different SEC teams have finished in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll a total of 21 times. That's a whopping 30 percent of the final AP poll over the seven-year stretch.
Of those 21 teams, only eight of them boasted first-year starters at quarterback. Five of them (McCarron, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, Florida's Jeff Driskel and Arkansas' Tyler Wilson) have been in the last two seasons, and the other three have national title rings on their fingers.
So, does returning a starting quarterback make a difference? For the top flight teams that are littered with talent, not as much. That's a big reason why Alabama (twice), LSU and Florida comprise half of the SEC teams that have finished in the top 10 with newbies taking the majority of the snaps.
The remaining four players are Newton, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, South Carolina's Connor Shaw and Arkansas' Tyler Wilson.
So what made those four players successful enough to land their teams in the top 10?
The dual-threat capabilities of Newton, Manziel and Shaw helped them tremendously. The other, Wilson, was playing under one of the game's greatest play-callers—Bobby Petrino—when he led the Hogs.
Simply put, the title-winning quarterbacks were the exceptions who were aided by the teammates and schemes around them. It's not so much the statistic of having a starting quarterback that matters as much as it is the situation.
So what does that mean for the 2013 season? The obvious answer is that Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, LSU and South Carolina—all of which will likely land in the preseason top 15—have good chances of finishing in the top 10.
But we already knew that.
It also bodes well for Ole Miss, a team that returns a starting quarterback in Bo Wallace and a massive supporting cast that is only going to get better with more work in head coach Hugh Freeze's system, which tasted much more success in Year 1 than anybody expected.
Having a returning starter at quarterback matters in terms of success within the SEC. The degree in which it matters varies depending on team and situation, and the path to the crystal football isn't necessarily paved with experience.
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Pac-12 Football: Toughest 1st-Year Coaching Debut Is Not Who You Think
Three new Pac-12 head coaches will be debuting this year. Cal's Sonny Dykes, Colorado's Mike MacIntyre and Oregon's Mark Helfrich are all coaching for the first time at BCS schools.
Helfrich may have the toughest debut.
The Oregon Ducks have appeared in four consecutive BCS Bowls. With the return of quarterback Marcus Mariota and running back De'Anthony Thomas taking on a more featured role, anything less than a Rose Bowl berth will be disappointing.
Former head coach Chip Kelly amassed a 46-7 record in his four years in Eugene. If Helfrich loses two or more games with a cupboard left stocked with talent, the criticism will begin.
The spotlight is on Helfrich to continue where Kelly left off—competing for the Rose Bowl game or BCS Championship. Anything less may be considered a failure. More from USA Today:
"You could take a job where they were 0-12 last year and if you come in and win six, they build a statue," Helfrich says. "This is a tremendous elite program. That's part of the challenge of it, too, is to keep advancing, to keep advancing the culture, keep this thing going on the right vector of what has been and what hopefully is to come for a long time."
Dykes and MacIntyre do not have that problem. Cal went 3-9 last year while Colorado went 1-11. A .500 season by either team would be considered progress, more so for Colorado.
The last time the Buffaloes had a winning season was in 2005 when then-head coach Gary Barnett's team posted a 7-5 record. Since then, they have gone 21-40 under head coaches Dan Hawkins, Brian Cabral (interim) and Jon Embree. For a program that has seen four head coaches in four years, stability is the first priority.
Improvement on the offense and defense are also in order. Colorado's defense yielded an average 488.5 yards per game while the offense only mustered up 302.3 yards per contest.
MacIntyre has a huge rebuilding project ahead of him, but he has been in this position before. His resume includes a remarkable turnaround at San Jose State. MacIntyre inherited a 2-10 team and after three years posted a 10-2 record and a final BCS ranking, the school's first.
Dykes will also be under tempered expectations, but mostly due to only having 13 starters returning to the team. Only Utah returns less starters among Pac-12 teams.
Dykes is also stepping into some big shoes left behind.
Jeff Tedford was dismissed from Cal after 11 years as its head coach despite revitalizing the football program. He had two 10-win seasons and a 5-3 bowl record.
With two programs aiming for bowl-eligible seasons and one aiming for a date at the Rose Bowl either on January 1 or January 6, the bar has been set higher for Helfrich.
Will the high-flying Duck offense look the same? Will the no-huddle, spread offense continue to confuse and tire its opponents? Will Oregon be the team to beat from the Pac-12?
If Helfrich answers all of those questions with "yes" at the end of the season, then expectations will have been met.
The criteria for a successful Duck season is ambitious. Helfrich said that the Ducks would look "99.2 percent" like Kelly's teams at a news conference announcing him as the new head coach. Kelly's model has had proven success. If Helfrich does not have the same success with a winning formula, then accusing fingers will point at him for the reason why.
That makes Helfrich's debut the toughest in the Pac-12.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Pac-12 Football: Toughest 1st-Year Coaching Debut Is Not Who You Think
Ohio State Football: Biggest Problems for Urban Meyer to Sort out This Summer
After a fantastic 2012 campaign, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State football team have under 12 weeks to prepare for the new season.
But, not all's well in Buckeye nation as the team has many questions still unanswered from spring football.
With 80 days and counting down, here's Urban Meyer's biggest problems to sort out as he heads into the heat of the Ohio summer.
Who will start at right tackle?
Returning four of five offensive linemen from an undefeated season sounds good on paper, but not good enough for Meyer.
The spring game left Meyer questioning who will take over the right tackle position.
"You can’t play with four linemen. One of those young players has got to step up and they haven’t this spring." Meyer said after the spring game. "To be the best offense in the Big Ten, you have to have five guys up front, which we had last year."
Meyer also went on to say that the guards were not All-Big Ten and need to mechanically get better.
Meyer will need one of his sophomores to step up this summer: Taylor Decker or Chase Farris.
Can the defensive line gel?
In 2012, the Buckeyes finished 14th in the nation at stopping the run. Credit, Super Bowl champion and defensive line coach Mike Vrabel. However, six of the front seven are not returning, including all four defensive lineman.
Luckily, Meyer has already appointed a new front. Highly touted sophomore defensive ends Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington and untested, veteran interior defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Joel Hale are all set to take over.
But, this line will need to find a leader and an anchor this summer to prepare them for any adversity in the fall.
Can Braxton Miller continue to develop into a passing quarterback?
Can Braxton Miller win games with his arm? Last season, they were ranked No. 105 in passing yards per game with Miller under center. Miller bailed out the Buckeyes in several games with his legs.
But, teams in 2013 will better game plan knowing how deadly Miller is on the ground. Big 10 teams could bait Miller into throwing. This summer, with Miller's legs firmly under him, he can develop into the passing quarterback that Heisman trophy winners are sought out to be, a la Troy Smith.
Smith rushed for 11 touchdowns the year before he threw for 30.
How will the freshmen fit in?
This summer, the Buckeyes will be faced with the task of molding together a diverse group of freshmen. Much like every year, recruits hail from all over the country.
With the No. 2 recruiting class joining a previously undefeated squad, it will be interesting to see what roles these talented stars will mesh into. Meyer will be tasked with deciding who will redshirt, who will play on special teams, who will contribute, and who will make the biggest impact come fall.
The 2013 Season
The Buckeyes will need to figure out the right tackle position fast. Urban Meyer doesn't want to stay up all night over summer.
Hopefully, competition between sophomores Taylor Decker and Chase Farris will result in the best tackle option.
Then, as the Buckeyes head into the first game of the season with all the questions answered, expect Braxton Miller to use the pocket to his advantage. When the Buckeyes open up against the Buffalo Bulls on August 31, Miller will sky-rocket himself into the head of the Heisman discussion, using nothing but his arm.
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Mark Richt vs. Will Mushcamp: Whose Recruiting Style Is Most Effective?
Georgia football head coach Mark Richt is a man who believes in doing things the right way. Florida football head coach Will Muschamp believes in toughness and physicality.
Which coach has the most effective recruiting philosophy, though?
By the numbers, Muschamp has been the most successful, at least in the shortest amount of time. Since taking over in 2011, Muschamp has led Florida to two top-five recruiting classes in three cycles.
The Gators' class was ranked No. 11 in 2011, No. 4 in 2012 and No. 3 last cycle, finishing behind only Ohio State and Alabama, all according to the 247Sports Composite team rankings for each year.
Muschamp's classes have improved each year, and he's made a huge splash very quickly.
Richt on the other hand, has been doing this for a lot longer, so he's had a lot more time to succeed and/or fail.
Going back to 2002, the first full cycle of the 247Sports' team rankings, Georgia has finished ranked 15th, 12th, ninth, eighth, third, 26th (2007), second, fifth, 12th, fifth, eighth and 11th.
To average that out, over the past 12 recruiting cycles, Richt has finished with an average class ranking of 9.6.
Factoring in Richt's longevity and Muschamp's explosion out of the gate, let's call it a wash as far as class rankings are concerned.
That brings it right back to philosophy.
So, just who is Mark Richt, the recruiter?
In 2012 Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports put together a great feature on Richt that really highlighted his philosophy as a coach:
Everything with Richt runs through his faith. And through his faith comes perspective and patience.
"Do I want to win a national championship?" Richt said. "Sure I do. I want to win. Everybody who has ever won a national championship wanted to win the national championship. Everybody wants to win it.
"But it is about a process. Doing things right, fundamentally, schematically and football-wise. But hopefully [it's also about doing it] morally, within the rules of the game, educating young men, educating them academically, educating them about life, helping them understand right and wrong, how to be a good husband, how to be a good father, how to function in this society properly.
"I'm in the business of doing that. And you do that well for long enough, maybe you have a chance to win a national championship.
"I want to win," he reiterated, "but it's all important to me."
Richt wants to win, but he wants to do so the right way. That plays into recruiting in just about every level. Richt goes on to talk about his decision-making process with players, and that can be directly tied to recruiting as well:
"If you're making your decisions for the short-term...then it might work in the short-term, for that game or a season, but in the long run you're going to have problems," Richt said. "They are going to quit on you. They are going to think you are a fraud. If you are as fair as you can possibly be and you try to stay as consistent as you can be, at least everybody knows what to expect and they can trust you. They may not like everything you do, but they can trust you.
"But what happens in the short-term is people might say, 'Well, they've got a bunch of these guys, a bunch of bad guys.' And some of our dirty laundry is going to become public because I'm going to take playing time away from a guy because I think that is a more severe punishment than running up and down the stadium steps a few times.
"So some people might say, ‘He's losing control of the program because all these guys are suspended.' And I'm saying, 'No, it's 100 percent the opposite.' We maintain control of the program by disciplining our players.
"Our drug testing policy is tougher than anybody in the league and most people in the country. Well, we don't want our guys to smoke pot. So I might have a guy suspended for something that someone else might have had to have it happen four times to lose any playing time. It's the first time here."
Richt doesn't recruit perfect players, and it would be unrealistic to expect said players to be perfect. From the outside looking in, though, he holds his players and program to an extremely high standard, and he doesn't waiver from that standard.
One has to assume that he's straightforward with that on the recruiting trail, and for many, especially parents, that's a huge draw for Georgia.
He's a man of faith and he's very open about that.
Coach Richt has even gone to church (and jail) with a recruit, which is ironic because Muschamp had reportedly gone to church as well to recruit that very same player, according to Michael Carvell of ajc.com—2012 5-star linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemsons.
That's a perfect transition into Muschamp, who values one thing above all else on the recruiting trail, according to a 2012 article by Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel:
And here's all you need to know about that style and philosophy: On the sheet, the No. 1 factor at every offensive position is "toughness" and the No. 1 factor at every defensive position is "tackling"—followed closely by "toughness."
"Toughness is a talent," Muschamp says. "You either got it or you don't."
Considering the size, skill and power of most SEC players nowadays, Muschamp is certainly searching for the correct attributes in recruits.
Football in general is becoming more physical by the year, but that physicality is also combined with insane speed and athleticism. SEC football is the golden standard of that in regard to college football. Muschamp said as much, via Bianchi's report:
"The physicality in this league is different," says Muschamp, who was the defensive coordinator for Nick Saban's national title team at LSU. "Every week, you've got to strap it up. We needed to get more girth and we needed to get more physical. You don't pay money to see the featherweights. You pay to see the heavyweights."
With a mindset like that, it's easy to predict that Muschamp will continue to have success on the recruiting trail. That success will be aided if Florida goes out in 2013 and competes for the SEC title, and considering the past few recruiting classes, there's a good chance it will.
For the record, at the moment of this writing, Florida's 2014 class is ranked No. 14 in the nation by the 247Sports Composite team rankings. Georgia is ranked No. 20. Both programs project to move up those rankings as the cycle progresses.
There's no arguing that Muschamp has the right philosophy for SEC recruiting, and he's proven himself to be an excellent recruiter. That said, the way that Richt goes about running his program is admirable, to say the least, and he has a successful recruiting track record as well.
The philosophies are different, yet they are both effective. Both Richt and Muschamp have found recruiting success their own way.
The winner of this recruiting philosophy argument should actually be determined by who wins on the football field. Because in the end, that's what recruiting is all about.
Since becoming head coach of the Gators, Muschamp is yet to beat Georgia.
Advantage Richt. For now.
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