NCAA Football

With National Signing Day less than a week away, college programs across the country are wrapping up their recruiting classes with the hopes of landing some difference makers in the final hours.

For a program that appeared to be on the ropes a few seasons ago, the Texas Longhorns cannot afford to be missing their targets.

The Horns' 2013 class is on the small side, but the hope of delivering quality over quantity aligns with the sheer number of players returning to Austin next season. With Texas sitting at 15 commitments, it will look to add at least one or two more before NSD on Wednesday.

But while a name like Andrew Billings or Dontre Wilson may end up stealing the show with a pledge to the Longhorns, the main attraction could be A'Shawn Robinson.

If the Horns can close on Billings and Wilson, while solidifying Robinson's commitment, they will have finished their class with quite a bang considering the circumstances and talent the three bring to the table.

Texas' top priority is closing.

 

Dontre Wilson's War

The Dontre Wilson Saga has seen the Longhorns come into the race and fall out, only to re-establish some position late in the game.

The speedy running back out of DeSoto, Texas, originally committed to Oregon, but after Chip Kelly bounced to the NFL, Wilson opened up his search.

Oregon and Ohio State appear to be the front-runners, but after cancelling a visit to Oklahoma State in favor of Texas, the Longhorns will need to hit a home run to get back into the hunt for his signature.

 

Two for the Money

Andrew Billings and A'Shawn Robinson could become a pair of defensive tackles that solidify the back-end of the current group on campus.

Adding the two to an already formidable and young core of tackles means favorable challenges ahead if the talents progress accordingly, but everyone knows of that uncertainty.

Nevertheless, Billings and Robinson are a couple of 300-pound tackles that bring plenty of size, strength and athleticism, thematic of the group already assembled in Austin.

The key to the equation is Robinson, who is the top-ranked player in the Lone Star State according to Rivals.com. Whether or not the Longhorns land Billings, keeping Robinson bound for Austin is the most critical move next Wednesday.

 

The Bottom Line

National Signing Day is a special time for players and college programs alike, as each entity becomes the other's short-term future.

Mack Brown's Longhorns, a program in a critical third year of a rebuild, has to get almost everything right in order to launch itself back to the top. Evaluation and development is key, but finding the talent and getting their signatures every February is even more paramount.

Success begins on NSD.

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Those Auburn Tigers sure had it made when running backs Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and Ronnie Brown were on the prowl. 

Both first-round picks of the 2005 NFL Draft, Williams and Brown electrified SEC competition by way of a potent, 1-2 punch that put linebackers on their heels and threw cornerbacks and safeties out of their comfort zone. 

Tackling tanks like Williams and speedsters like Brown was no easy task for sub-6'0," 200-pound defensive backs. 

Who was behind the magic for the Tigers?

It was none other than Al Borges, who engineered a spectacular Auburn backfield in 2004 before taking on offensive coordinator duties at Michigan in 2011. 

Now that Borges has a few SEC-like backs of his own to manipulate, the Wolverines' stable of rushing talent could be similar to what the Tigers had just a handful of years ago. Borges could have an Auburn 2.0 on his hands with incoming freshmen Derrick Green and Deveon Smith, along with soon-to-be junior Thomas Rawls. 

 

Comparing Brown and Cadillac to What Michigan Has Today

 

Prior to earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2005 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cadillac Williams was a bruiser in the SEC, the nation's premier college football conference. 

Williams, the fifth pick of the 2005 draft, rushed for 1,165 yards and 12 touchdowns during his senior year at Auburn. He was already a 1,000-yard rusher prior to Al Borges' arrival, but it took the emergence of Ronnie Brown in 2004 to really complete the puzzle. 

Brown, the second pick of the 2005 draft, rushed for 913 yards and eight touchdowns during his senior year, running side-by-side with Cadillac as the larger bulldozer. 

In college, both were about 6'0" and 220 pounds, very similar in size to what Al Borges has at Michigan with Thomas Rawls (5'10", 218 pounds), Derrick Green (6'0", 230 pounds) and Deveon Smith (5'11", 220). 

Like Auburn and other SEC programs today, Michigan was once revered for hard-nosed running backs that carried out a physical running style. With persistence, Wolverines coach Brady Hoke will revive that tradition by creating an SEC-like program (or an old-school Michigan program) one class at a time. 

Rawls has been compared to Mark Ingram, another Flint native with a solid frame. As a sophomore, Rawls showed the Maize and Blue faithful that he could run over—literally run over—just about any linebacker in the Big Ten. 

When the Wolverines were forced to face the music on third down, Rawls came through more times than not, rushing for 89 yards on 11 carries, including a 63-yard touchdown. 

Expectations are high for Rawls entering this fall. 

Green committed to Michigan a week ago as the nation's No. 1 running back, according to Rivals.com. Other recruiting sites have him listed from No. 1 to No. 3 or 4. Either way, the Hermitage High (Va.) 5-star standout has the aptitude and ability to deliver the goods. 

Smith could be the complementing addition to either a Rawls or Green-led Wolverines ground force. Either that, or he could don the red shirt, sit back, learn and be primed for action in 2014. 

Comparing Borges' current package of ball-carriers to Brown and Williams isn't a stretch. However, keep in mind that the pair formed one of the most dynamic 1-2 combinations in SEC history. Expecting that much from Rawls, Green (and possibly Smith) may seem like wishful thinking. 

But it's not impossible, given the development of Michigan's offensive line and incoming recruits that are sure to dominate the trenches in the next couple of years. 

Replicating the same type of wondrous pair will be a task for Borges, but he has the necessary tools at his disposal to, at the very least, piece together something like he had at Auburn during his glory years as an offensive guru.  

 

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

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The month started with several SEC teams playing bowl games, and it will come to a close with deer antler spray dominating headlines.

Talk about a roller coaster of storylines.

In between the discussion of actual football and not-so-typical offseason storylines, we've seen several SEC players, coaches and programs have ups and downs. 

Who were the winners and losers of the month of January? Our picks are in this slideshow.

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The Associated Press is reporting that Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder has signed a new contract worth $14.75 million over the next five years.

According to the report, Snyder's currently salary will be increased to $2.75 million with $100,000 increases every year through 2017.

Snyder, who will be 74 years old this October, is responsible for spearheading one of the greatest turnarounds in college football when he took over an 0-11 team from 1988 under then-head coach Stan Parrish and posted a 7-4 record three years later. 

Snyder's accomplishments resulted in Kansas State's football stadium being renamed Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium after he retired in 2005. But when his successor, Ron Prince, was dismissed after posting a three-year record of 17-20, Snyder came out of retirement and has been Kansas State's head coach for the last four seasons.

Snyder is a great coach and a remarkable mentor to young adults, but he's also going to be coaching at Kansas State until he's 78 years old, and his advancing age begs some questions.

Will Snyder still be as mentally sharp five years from now as he appears to be now? At 73 years old, Snyder is closer to being in his 60s than in his 80s, but at 78 years old, he's closer to being in his 80s.

What if he can't keep up with the game?

Bobby Bowden, Florida State's former head coach, was a coaching legend, but he was "pushed out" by the school after 34 years. I talked to Bowden personally and I can tell you his mind is sharp, but even he admits that coaching nowadays is much more pressure-filled. And that's a concern for coaches who are classified as senior citizens.

Bowden was a polarizing figure for Florida State fans toward the end of his tenure—they had so much respect for what he had done for the program, yet they felt tremendous guilt over wanting a change. It's difficult to boot out someone you love, yet the longer you hang on, the more uncomfortable it gets.

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. 

Former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno was in similar circumstances—the fans loved his dedication to the school, yet there appeared to be a need for a change. Unfortunately, Penn State hung on too long with Paterno—while he was dismissed before his former assistant, Jerry Sandusky, was found guilty of 45 counts stemming from a child-sex-abuse scandal, Paterno's legacy and the school's athletic department's reputation were tarnished.

Snyder is a football legend and should be rewarded for all of his dedication and success. And for all we know, Snyder could remain sharp as a fiddle for the next five years—we're hoping for that.

But if Snyder loses a few steps—and that is perfectly natural as part of the aging process—the school could be placed in a situation where it has to force out a man who rebuilt Kansas State football and whose name graces the stadium where Kansas State football is played.  

You gave him five years, Kansas State. Just make sure you don't become another Florida State if things go south in Manhattan. 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Alabama has announced that the spring game this year will take place on April 20 and will even be televised by ESPN2. But before the game and the celebrations arrive, there are spring practices and it provides a chance for every player to prove himself to the coaching staff.

With the roster changing and positions opening up, backups from a season ago feel that their time has finally arrived for them to become starters. Even a few players who were on the first team last season could be in jeopardy of losing playing time due to a younger player stepping his game up. The spring is a chance for anybody and everybody to make an impact, and the outcome will play a factor in how the final depth chart looks in September.

As we slowly begin to enter the spring and everything that comes with it, here are a few Alabama players who need to shine when the practices and spring game takes place.

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The Big Ten is full of positives heading into the offseason. The conference will see Ohio State make a second run at an undefeated season, and Michigan is back on the rise. Nebraska has a senior quarterback and rising star in the backfield. 

Despite the obvious strengths, some major weaknesses have to be confronted by each team before the new year. 

This conference took a dive in 2012 and to get back on top it has to focus on eliminating the extreme negatives that swirl around these teams. Each squad will face adversity in the coming year, but some will face tougher roads than others. 

If these teams can overcome these issues next season, the Big Ten will be back among college football’s elite. 

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In 2012, the Georgia Bulldogs defense had some beautiful moments. Yes, they underwhelmed viewers at times following their monumental 2011 season, but the Dawgs made the big plays when they needed to.

In creating this list, I was looking for the biggest plays that either decided a game or completely shifted the momentum in the Dawgs favor. Throughout the year, there were any number of big hits and key open-field tackles made by stellar Bulldog defenders, but my selections all have something in common: they either had either the game on the line or resulted in a major turn of the tide in favor of Georgia.

If you are interested in the top plays on the offensive side of the ball, feel free to take a look at my Top Offensive Plays for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2012.

And now...drum roll please...the defensive top 10 plays of 2012:

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The odds are high that 4-star Oregon running back commitment Dontre Wilson flips to either Texas or Ohio State.

Of the two programs, Ohio State seems to have the best chance of convincing the talented running back to flip.

Wilson has been committed to Oregon since May of 2012, but a lot has changed since then. Now that former head coach Chip Kelly has taken a job in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, the window of opportunity has opened for other programs to poach Oregon commitments.

One of those programs is Ohio State, and it was reported that Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes made a strong push for Wilson. Ohio State was able to land an official visit with the 4-star back, and they look to be in prime position to get a flip.

That said, an in-state school is also making a strong final run at the recruit from DeSoto, Texas.

The Texas Longhorns have secured the last official visit for Wilson, and he plans on making his final decision soon thereafter, according to William Wilkerson and Damon Sayles of ESPN Horns Nation:

Not only will Wilson visit Texas, but he will decide among Oregon, Ohio State and Texas on Sunday following his stay in Austin, according to Don Wilson. 

"He said he wants to announce on Sunday," Don Wilson said. "You're dealing with an 18-year-old here, but that's what he told me [Tuesday] morning. I don't know if he's going to announce it publicly, but he said he'll have his mind made up." 

Texas will put themselves in a good position to get a flip, but they do have one glaring downside. Texas' depth chart is very deep at running back, so playing time would be hard to come by for Wilson, at least early on.

He'd be behind Johnathan Gray, Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron and Daje Johnson on the depth chart at Texas.

At Ohio State, he would have a better chance to see the field early on. Once Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall move on, Wilson could find himself in a competition for the starting job. That possibility becomes even more realistic if 4-star running back and OSU commitment Ezekiel Elliott flips his commitment to Missouri, which seems possible. 

Of course, there's always the distinct possibility that Mark Helfrich and the Ducks are able to keep Wilson committed, where he'll eventually be a great backup to 5-star running back Thomas Tyner—but it seems more and more like he's considering other options.

We'll end up finding out when he announces on Sunday, but for now, the odds seem to favor him flipping away from Oregon.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

It's Thursday, Thursday, gotta get down on Thursday!

Of course, by get down, we mean do the mailbag and answering questions from you, the reader. Dear readers, these are your questions and I hope that I give you some dope answers because that is the goal.

 

@inthebleachers Do you foresee any consequences from Bama's crippling deer antler epidemic? #YB11

— Broderick Morgan (@bdmorgan87) January 31, 2013

 

No. Basically if they don't test positive for a banned substance, then the NCAA really does not have much in the way of grounds to take action. Sort of like if someone said, "Hey, I saw Quinton Dial smoking weed," plus a quote from Dial about how awesome smoking weed is. Looks bad, but if he keeps passing drug tests, then what are you really going to do about it?

Nothing. The answer there is nothing.

 

@inthebleachers #YB11 Think there will be any issues with Oregon flying cross country to play UVa this year instead of Reno to play Nevada?

— Todd Steak Jones (@infectioussteak) January 31, 2013

 

Considering how not really good Virginia is? No, not really. Plus, all signs will point to this game being a later kickoff than the noon or 1 p.m. affair that a cupcake game would be for the Wahoos. Oregon will enter as a top ten team, given the lack of huge matchups on the slate, at worst, this game will be a 3:30 appetizer for the ESPN nightcap. That is plenty of time for Mark Helfrich's team to wake up and get ready for a little football.

 

@inthebleachers 4th pick in 10 man league, who's your January early LOCK OF THE FANTASY DRAFT

— jmnpb (@jmnpb) January 31, 2013

 

Because I don't know anything about fantasy sports, I don't play them, and I honestly don't like them from a general standpoint, I'm going to just make my best guess. I am assuming this is a college baseball fantasy draft and I'm going to say that, with that pick, Carlos Rodon, Colin Moran, Kent Emanuel or Trae Turner will probably be on the board. Pick one of them. Power pitchers who are so dope, a power-hitting RBI machine at third base or guy who will fill up your stat sheet with stolen bases and extra-base hits.

First pitch is in 15 days for my Tar Heels. UNC Baseball: Catch The Fever.

 

@inthebleachers Do you see James Franklin as another CPJ or Leach blog bros crush early successes not much substance over time

— Big Grey(@rsl52) January 31, 2013

 

Man, I hope not, because I think James Franklin is a hell of a coach, and I think those other two dudes are not very good. Franklin, unlike Leach and Johnson, has shown the ability to adapt, which goes a long way in college football. He's a very creative offensive mind. Oh, and unlike Johnson and Leach, he can recruit his behind off.

So, goodness no. Please don't put a guy who was tutored by one of the greatest play-callers we've seen in the last few decades on the same level as two guys who have a tired, played-out act.

 

@inthebleachers do you think the Vols will be able to keep the momentum from the North commit for the next week, and how do they finish?

— Jon Anderson (@JonAnderson01) January 31, 2013

 

Actually, yes I do. I know they are still in the running for Vonn Bell, and that would be a huge get for Butch Jones. The man has built a staff that is working for him, I think the addition of Tommy Thigpen to his staff was a brilliant play. Thig can flat-out recruit; believe me, because I've seen him at work and he is a master.

Butch Jones is finding out, like Brian Kelly to Notre Dame, that the Power-T can get you into homes that you'd have been laughed out of from Cincinnati, and he is capitalizing on it. The biggest thing will be laying the foundation for next year. If they can make good inroads in NC, GA and FL they will be in good shape.

 

@inthebleachers Are you a true backpedal or T-step man to go with pattern-match coverage? #YB11

— Rich Fann II (@Fanntastic81) January 31, 2013

 

A couple different things. One, I love talking defensive back techniques, and so this is one of my favorite questions ever. Two, T-step, at least in my mind, normally is the alternative to the quickstep; not to the back pedal. Backpedal and shuffle steps normally go together.

So, a T-step is a way to get out of a backpedal or a shuffle and get downhill in a hurry. The other method is the quickstep. In a T-step you turn your break foot perpendicular to the direction your breaking and then push from there. Easier to get out of a break that way, because you get better drive.

With a quickstep you don't turn feet, rather, you tap the balls of your feet to get your body moving from forward to backward. If you are a really good footwork guy, this is a method that is tough to beat because you never actually stop. Unfortunately for most people they are not really good at this aspect and so they take an extra two or three steps, and that wastes time.

I'd say go with T-step transitions whenever possible.

As for backpedal versus shuffling, I'm a shuffle guy, especially when you are a corner or a safety who is closer to the line. The shuffles buy you the time to let the route develop and the quarterback take his drop, and then you can match to the route the receiver is running.

Obviously, it also helps to understand that in any given alignment a receiver can only run a handful of routes, and that helps you know, pre-snap, what you will likely be doing. In other words, a guy outside of the numbers is not running an out-route and a guy with a cut-split is not going to have much success on a quick slant. Maybe a drag, or a dig, but not a quick slant.

I am also a tuff technique guy: The flat foot read, collision receiver and then cover them from there. I prefer that to shuffling when you are in a position where a receiver has a two-way go.

Honestly, backpedaling is really only good when you have time and use it in your weave. Weaving is the biggest benefit a backpedal can give you, especially in the deep-half or deep-thirds coverages. However, that's really less for pattern reading, to be fair.

For the record, I was slow as molasses, but I was a dope quickstepper and somehow could cover people out of a tuff. Probably because I never got going fast enough for the quickstep to waste steps, and flat-footed reads meant I didn't get to fake myself out by trying to match the receiver before he got to me.

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One month down, six more months to go until college football kicks off its new season. A lot has happened in the last month, and we'll try to encapsulate everything here.

Recruiting is down to the wire. Some schools have absolutely killed it, while others have had a lot of decommits.

There's also the usual newsworthy tidbits that have popped up over the last 30 days—some gave the schools a good look, but others...not so much.

The Big 12 has plenty of winners, but the month of January also produced some losers. 

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It looks like the official decision process for 4-star running back and current Ohio State commitment Ezekiel Elliott is going to come down to the wire.

Elliott has been committed to Ohio State since April, and he's a big-time recruit for the Buckeyes. He's 6'0'', 212 pounds, so he has great size and can be a strong runner in between the tackles. Elliott also runs a 4.40-second 40-yard dash according to 247Sports, so he has elite speed to go along with his size.

For all intents and purposes, Elliott has star potential, so he's an important recruit for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes to hold on to.

The only problem is, the Missouri Tigers may make the task of holding on to Elliott's commitment very difficult for the Buckeyes.

Elliott just took an official visit to Missouri this past weekend. According to Brad Bournival of ESPN.com, both of his parents were star athletes for the Tigers, and the interesting thing is, he hasn't talked about recruiting or Ohio State since that visit, per Bournival:

On Tuesday night, Elliott tweeted “I will not be doing any interviews until Feb 6th on signing day.” 

He further tweeted, “My signing ceremony is at my school at 3 p.m. [4 p.m. ET]. Everyone come out.” 

Since his visit to Missouri, Elliott has not discussed his commitment to the Buckeyes. 

Is there reason to worry about for Ohio State?

On the surface, the fact that a recruit goes silent about his commitment standing right after an official visit should be somewhat of a cause for concern. That concern level should go up when considering the close family ties that Elliott has with Missouri.

That said, other than the family bond, there's few reasons for Elliott to leave Ohio State's 2013 class.

The pitch from Meyer should be simple. He came in and turned the program all the way around in just one season. In just one short year, the Buckeyes have gone from rebuilding to a contender in the Big Ten.

In fact, many believe Ohio State will be a national-championship contender next season and beyond. With the way Meyer recruits, that's a very real possibility.

As far as Elliott is concerned, the Buckeyes have a lot to offer at the running back position. He's talented enough to be a star for the program eventually, and that would make him one of the more well-known players in college football—if only because of Ohio State's national relevance.

In regards to his freshman year, Elliott will be behind Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall (receiving a medical redshirt year) on the depth chart. His speed and size will make him a very great third option for the Buckeyes as a freshman though, and he could even compete for No. 2 reps. 

Elliott will be in line for the starting gig once Hyde and Hall move on, and that means he could be the starter for a very good Ohio State program.

Frankly, other than the family draw, I don't see a reason why Elliott would end up flipping away from Ohio State.

Based off this recent development, though, it could be a possibility. 

If I was Meyer, I'd hop on the phone quickly to remind the 4-star back about all the great things that could be in store for him with the Buckeyes.

It's a very easy pitch.

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As February 6 draws near and USC's recruiting class becomes crystallized on National Signing Day, this year's class is starting to take it's final shape.

Lending to the class's final form is the recent verbal commitment of defensive end Jason Hatcher from Louisville, KY.

With Hatcher's pledge the Trojans now have 14 players either enrolled or committed to USC for the 2013 class, which leaves three more spots to be filled in their NCAA sanctioned allotment.

With those three spots still available, USC has their sights set on mega recruits Eddie Vanderdoes (defensive tackle), Kylie Fitts (defensive end), Quinton Powell (linebacker) and to a lesser extent, A'Shawn Robinson (defensive tackle) and Matthew Thomas (linebacker).

For Vanderdoes, Fitts and Powell, USC is a major player for their services, and their commitments will come down to a decision on February 6 when signatures are faxed by players to the schools where they will ply their trade.

Certainly, Lane Kiffin and his staff would love nothing more than to see those three players don a Trojan cap and prepare to sport the cardinal and gold for the next few years.

But what if this doesn't happen?

What if any, or all three, spurn the Trojans and decide to go elsewhere?

What should Kiffin do with those left over scholarships?

Kiffin could go ahead and offer scholarships to players like Los Angeles, Salesian High School's Jermaine Kelly (wide receiver/defensive back) or Narbonne (Lomita, CA) High School's Keishawn Bierria (linebacker) but would that be a wise move?

Both Kelly and Bierria are very nice players and could fill a role with the Trojans moving forward.

But is "role filling" something that should be desired for a program that is operating with a very limited amount of scholarships thanks to NCAA mandated sanctions?

Is it wise for USC to fill out their roster with good but perhaps not great players?

Or should Kiffin hold on to those scholarships for 2014 when other players more suited to their needs might become available?

For Kiffin, the answer won't be easy. After all, he is operating in 2013 with a very short leash after the debacle that was 2012 left the Trojans with a very disappointing 7-6 record.

Because of this, he may not have the luxury of looking beyond this year and if that is the case, having a full roster stacked with good (but again, perhaps not great) players may be more important than planning for a future that might not be available for this coaching staff.

It is a quandary to be certain, and it could get worse.

USC also has three players listed as "soft commits" in the form of defensive end Torrodney Prevot (Houston, TX), cornerback Jalen Ramsey (Brentwood, TN) and offensive lineman Nico Falah (Bellflower, CA).

What if—God forbid for Trojan fans—one or more of those guys go back on their pledge and sign elsewhere?

What would Kiffin do if on National Signing Day, he finds himself with five or six leftover scholarships?

Should he offer those precious scholarships to players that he otherwise wouldn't be recruiting, or save them for next year when USC enters the stretch run of their sanctions?

In a "make or break" year for Lane Kiffin, he may have to make a momentous decision five months before the first kickoff.

And how he responds to a nightmare scenario in early February may give us an early glimpse into how he will handle the upcoming season.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

As February 6 draws near and USC's recruiting class becomes crystallized on National Signing Day, this year's class is starting to take it's final shape...

Read the full article on Bleacher Report...

The Pac-12 is a conference that is built on offensive success and big plays in the running game. Last season three teams finished in the Top 25 in rushing yards, and a total of seven teams averaged at least 150 yards on the ground a game. Fireworks on the offensive side of the ball are what fans expect from this group of teams, and it is the key to success in this conference.

If you can't have success running the football, there is a good chance you are not a winning football team. The same thing holds true in the Pac-12.

However, with a total of seven teams in this conference losing their workhorse running back from a year ago, the backfield rankings may look a lot different than you had expected. The teams that were near the top in rushing yards may take a backseat to some of the teams that have more depth and experience at the position.

Let's take a look at the teams that are best suited at the running back position in the Pac-12 for the 2013 college football season.

Note: All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted. Also, rankings are put together based on a combination of experience, depth and past performance.

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The Pac -12 is a conference that is built on offensive success and big plays in the running game. Last season three teams finished in the Top 25 in rushing yards, and a total of seven teams averaged at least 150 yards on the ground a game...

Begin Slideshow

Recruiting has become more of a priority for college football teams in recent years, and with national signing day on the horizon, it is time to look at which teams have stock on the rise and those whose stock is falling.

Some of the top commits have yet to make an official decision, so a lot will come down to what happens on February 6, National Signing Day.

For now, we can check in on how the final AP top 25 teams have fared since the season ended. Let's see which squads have stock going up and which teams are falling or standing pat as signing day approaches.

*All rankings are according to 247sports.com

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While Florida's 2012 season was impressive and head coach Will Muschamp's rebuilding effort certainly was ahead of schedule, the passing game behind quarterback Jeff Driskel left a lot to be desired.

The Gator passing offense finished last in the SEC with 146.3 yards per game—10.3 yards per game behind 13th-place Auburn.

Driskel entered the season in a battle with fellow sophomore Jacoby Brissett, but won the job seemingly from the time toe met leather in the Gator opener versus Bowling Green. 

He finished the season completing 63.7 percent of his passes (156-of-245) for 1,646 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The Gators depended on their running game and defense all season long, but when the defense let them down in the Sugar Bowl against a very one-dimensional Louisville team, Driskel and offensive coordinator Brent Pease had no answer.

Luckily for Gator fans, they'll likely still see the team dancing around the Top 10 in most preseason polls, and they have a full offseason to get the passing game turned around.

The first step should be to open up the quarterback competition, although it doesn't appear Muschamp is willing to do that.

"First-year starter, you win 11 games, you've accomplished an awful lot," Muschamp told ESPN.com following the end of the regular season. "Certainly, his growth through the offseason will be critical for our success next season."

Now that Brissett has transferred, Florida doesn't have a quarterback on the roster other than Driskel who has attempted a pass (not counting all-purpose star Trey Burton). It may be lip service to open up the competition, but it needs to be done.

If Driskel is the guy, he needs to be pushed a bit by backups Skyler Mornhinweg and Tyler Murphy, along with class of 2013 commit Max Staver. Even if it's a "battle" only in theory, putting a little pressure on Driskel may provide the sense of urgency Florida needs to resurrect the passing game.

One thing is certain, though, it's absolutely not the time to give up on Driskel. Because his battle with Brissett spilled into the 2012 season, the only time he has spent in a camp setting as the No. 1 quarterback was during bowl practice.

Give him the majority of the No. 1 snaps, but make it known that the job isn't necessarily his. If Muschamp does that, the passing game will turn around.

 

Follow @BarrettSallee

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No. 1 overall recruit Robert Nkemdiche will sign his national letter of intent early in the morning on national signing day, Feb. 6.

According to a tweet from Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Grayson High School has released an agenda for Nkemdiche's announcement:

This is the moment that most of us in the college football recruiting world have been waiting for. It will be the official end to a recruitment process that has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride to say the least.

Which hats should we expect to see on the table for Nkemdiche on national signing day (assuming he does the hat dance)?

Florida has been a late entrant into the race for the No. 1 overall recruit, and the official visit it landed from him a few weekends ago has certainly made things interesting. Meanwhile, LSU has been on Nkemdiche's interest list (247Sports.com) ever since he decommitted from Clemson.

LSU wasn't able to land an official visit, though, despite conflicting reports. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, the Tigers hat would just be up there to take up space and look good on the table.

Ole Miss appears to be the hands-down favorite for Nkemdiche at this point. The Rebels have been the main team on his interest list ever since he decommitted from Clemson, and for good reason. His brother, Denzel, plays linebacker for Ole Miss, and it seems to be the family preference for the two to play together.

There's also no denying the hype that head coach Hugh Freeze has created around Ole Miss recruiting.

Wherever he chooses to go, Nkemdiche is going to be a star, so this is going to be arguably the biggest signing day moment of the 2013 cycle.

Actually, there's no disputing that fact. This will be the marquee moment of the 2013 recruiting cycle.

We'll find out where the nation's No. 1 overall recruit will play college football early on Wednesday morning (Feb. 6).

 

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Once recruiting has been completed and prospects have signed on the dotted line, Coach Butch Jones and his staff can set about the job of getting their current Tennessee Volunteers team prepared for the upcoming season. As with any new staff, there is a long list of things that must be accomplished.

But in his favor, Jones has an opportunity to seize upon the excitement being generated by the newness of the situation. Hopefully, players and coaches will come into the spring workouts with a fresh attitude after having suffered through several seasons that have not provided the results folks on Rocky Top are accustomed to.

Spring practice is set to begin on March 9 and will end with the annual Orange and White game on April 20 at Neyland Stadium.

During that time span, there are four things the Volunteers must accomplish.

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