NCAA Football

There is no doubt the Georgia Bulldogs will have to start fast this season because the first three of four opponents they face are contenders for the BCS National Championship.

So the start of the Bulldogs' schedule leaves no room for error, which is why there are some media experts saying that they could potentially not win the SEC East title.

But after the first four games of the season, many could argue the Bulldogs' schedule is not that daunting. They do have to face Florida at the beginning of November, but the rest of the teams the Bulldogs face don’t impose as much of a challenge as teams like Clemson or LSU.

Here is a power ranking of the Bulldogs' 2013 schedule from easiest to toughest. 

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Urban Meyer and Ohio State's 2014 recruiting class suffered a blow Sunday night when Derek Kief, a 4-star wide receiver and one of the Buckeyes' top targets, verbally committed to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Kief tweeted a link to his website, which had this video of his commitment:

Kief, a tall, speedy receiver out of Cincinnati, has piled up over 20 scholarship offers from schools such as Arkansas, Louisville, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Wisconsin. In the end, it was a three-horse race between Alabama, Kentucky and Ohio State, but the talented wideout couldn't pass on the opportunity to play for a team that has won three of the last four national championships.

A recent visit to Alabama changed the momentum of Kief's recruitment.

According to 247Sports.com's "Crystal Ball Predictions," many recruiting gurus expected Kief to land at Ohio State before the Tide blew him away on his visit last week. Saban, who battles Meyer for many of the same recruits, notched the latest victory by stealing one of Ohio's top high school prospects.

Kief is a very physical receiver who isn't afraid to go over the middle and catch the ball in traffic. At 6'5", his size makes him a matchup nightmare in the red zone. Kief hauled in 65 receptions for 907 yards and nine touchdowns during his junior season. He ended the 2011 and 2012 seasons averaging 14 yards per reception, a mark of the consistency he brings to the field.

The Buckeyes already have one wide receiver commit in Parris Campbell, a 4-star prospect out of Akron, Ohio. Campbell plays a hybrid role at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, lining up in the backfield at times and splitting wide at others. When he reaches Columbus, Campbell will be a candidate to fill the pivot role that Percy Harvin played at Florida.

With Kief headed to Alabama, the Buckeyes will have to move on to their other receiver targets. Meyer is still recruiting 4-star prospects Saeed Blacknall, Mark Andrews, Trevion Thompson, Jalen Brown and Austin Roberts.

Even though the Buckeyes still have a lot of very talented receivers left on the board, missing out on Kief was a pretty big loss.

 

All stats and recruit rankings per 247Sports.com.

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

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Returning as the Big 12's most experienced quarterback, junior David Ash is poised for a signature season with the Texas Longhorns. That is, if he can improve in the red zone.

The leap Ash took from his average-at-best freshman season to his sophomore season was stellar. His accuracy jumped over 10 percentage points, he threw for 15 touchdowns, and he led a couple of game-winning drives in taking command of Texas' quarterback position.

Now Ash, along with the rest of his team, is expected to take another step forward in 2013. With the talent surrounding him, a conference title has become the standard for his much-anticipated junior season.

To do that, Ash must correct these issues with his game, starting with his woes in the red zone.

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Many quarterback recruiting dominoes have fallen recently, as several Elite 11 Finalists have made up their minds the past several days. Jacob Park chose to commit to Georgia, DeShone Kizer picked Notre Dame, David Cornwell made it official with Alabama and Andrew Ford committed to Virginia Tech today, says 247Sports.

Luke Rubenzer selected California, and David Blough elected to commit to Purdue.

With those six quarterbacks now locked into commitments, just three Elite 11 Finalists remain uncommitted. The camp is set to take place in a few weeks and will feature 18 of the best passers in the country. College coaches will begin increase their pursuit of the remaining three uncommitted prospects, and they could end up anywhere.

California's top passer could end up in the Pac-12 or head to play for his uncle. A smooth quarterback from Florida has several options to mull over, and a raw Georgia field general should see an increase in his recruitment.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports & ESPNU.

 

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The Texas A&M football team is poised for a historic season in 2013. The Aggies have a schedule that is ideal for a making a run to a national championship. 

The 2013 version of the Aggies will be ranked in the top five of the polls when the season begins. They are in a great position to end up in the BCS title game in January of 2014. 

The Aggies play only four road games in 2013. They played six games on the road in 2012, including a three-game stretch of Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama that helped define the season. With eight home games in 2013, including a September 14 matchup with defending national champion Alabama, they should have plenty of opportunities to attract the interest of the pollsters. 

The 2013 schedule is a challenging one, but it is manageable because of the large number of home games. If the Ags can take care of their business at home, they have a very real chance of winning their first national championship since 1939.

This is a ranking of Texas A&M's 2013 schedule from the easiest games to the hardest games.  

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It’s no secret—the SEC is the king of college football.

Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Florida are perennial BCS title contenders, and each of them finished within the top eight of the 2012 standings. Alabama won it all in 2013 after it stomped Notre Dame.

The SEC may be the unquestioned heavyweight in the game—an SEC team has won the BCS title each year since 2006—but there are a handful of other non-Southern programs vying for a shot at a championship in the coming years.

Michigan is one of them.

But in order for Brady Hoke’s Wolverines to truly compete for a national championship, they need a solid Plan B at quarterback. The top SEC teams seem to have that issue under control, and that will only help propel them to national prominence.

Michigan is behind the curve at the moment.

 

Michigan QBs vs. SEC QBs

Earlier in the offseason, Michigan looked for a transfer quarterback to spell starter Devin Gardner, who enters his first full season as the No. 1 man under center. So far, walk-ons Brian Cleary and Alex Swieca are the only horses in the stable with a smidgen of playing time to speak of.

Both of them played in the spring game.  

And then there’s freshman Shane Morris, the No. 4 pro-styler of 2013, who may not see the field until next season.

If the Wolverines have a weakness on offense, it’s their lack of depth and experience at quarterback—Alabama doesn’t have that problem.

The Tide’s No. 1 is AJ McCarron, a senior who’s been one of the nation’s top arms during the past two years. He passed on the 2013 NFL draft and looks to be primed for another spectacular fall. With his services, Alabama is a clear favorite to capture yet another BCS championship.

Blake Sims, Alabama’s No. 2, didn’t see much action this past fall—the Tide buried just about every opponent, so Sims’ only shot at accumulating stats was during mop-up duty. Although he attempted just 10 passes, his three years in Tuscaloosa gives him a leg up over most backups.

He’s one play away from being the starter.

Georgia has another gunslinger in Aaron Murray, a surefire 2013 Heisman candidate. In the event that Murray is sidelined, Georgia has junior Parker Welch and sophomore Christian LeMay waiting to take the reins.

Together, Welch and LeMay completed 4-of-9 passes in 2012—hardly adequate “experience" but more than what the Wolverines have.

Senior Jeff Driskel is in command of Florida’s offense. If the Gators lose Driskel, they can rely on junior Jacoby Brissett and senior Tyler Murphy.

Brissett completed 23-of-35 attempts in 2012 and has an overall resume that’s much more impressive than any Michigan second-stringer.

SEC newcomer Texas A&M has Johnny Football, 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, starring at quarterback. The No. 2 position didn’t look to be a problem before February—that was when junior Jameill Showers decided to transfer to UTEP.

Sophomore Matt Joeckel must now shoulder the load in Manziel’s absence. Joeckel completed 5-of-11 attempts in 2012.

LSU is the odd man out when it comes to experience at quarterback.

Senior Zach Mettenberger has proven that he’s worthy of the No. 1 role. But after him, the Tigers’ well is rather dry. No other LSU signal-caller handled an in-game snap in 2012, according to ESPN.

If Mettenberger misses time, coach Les Miles has freshmen Hayden Rettig and Anthony Jennings, along with sophomore Stephen Rivers, as relievers.

Despite all of that, LSU has 18-1 odds of claiming a national title, according to OddsShark.com, compared to Michigan’s 28-1 odds.

Michigan is at a disadvantage when it comes to other title contenders. The lack of a reliable No. 2 is the reason why. The Wolverines have to prep Morris, the next in line, this season. If successful, their odds of claiming a national championship in 2015 will surely increase.

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

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In 2009, Tajh Boyd was a late addition to Dabo Swinney's first recruiting class, the recruiting class widely known as Dabo's "Dandy Dozen."

Since he first started in 2011, he has helped Swinney change the culture of Clemson football back to that of a prominent power in both the ACC and college football. 

In two years as the starter, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd has taken the helm of the Clemson offense and has made it into arguably the best offense in college football.

He helped guide the Tigers to an ACC Championship in 2011 and a huge win over a major football program, defeating LSU in the 2013 Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

He exhibited the kind of mental toughness during the LSU game, which Clemson has lacked in its last few quarterbacks. His performance put him into the national spotlight and put him on the map among the best quarterbacks in college football.

In his Clemson career, Boyd has thrown for 8,053 yards, 73 touchdowns and 28 interceptions while rushing for 765 yards and 16 touchdowns. In 2012, Boyd was named ACC Player of The Year, First Team-All ACC, Chick-Fil-A Bowl MVP, and even made headlines after being named a First-Team All-American thanks to the American Football Coaches Association. 

All of Boyd's accomplishments his first two seasons beg the following question: Is Boyd the greatest quarterback in Clemson history?

He certainly ranks among the best quarterbacks Clemson has had in the modern era.

But does this place him past the likes of past Tiger quarterbacks like Steve Fuller, Homer Jordan, Woodrow Dantzler, and Charlie Whitehurst, who all made their mark on the field during their time at Clemson?

 One thing Boyd does have that most of these Clemson quarterbacks don't is an ACC Championship.

He has rewritten the record books in his first two years, and has the chance to completely set a different standard for future Clemson quarterbacks.

Going into his senior season, he holds 39 school records with the chance to break even more. He is second in Tiger history in passing attempts, behind only Whitehurst, and needs only 379 more completions to place himself atop the list.

Boyd also requires only 1,612 yards to break Whitehurst's other record, passing yards.

But what has placed Boyd into the greatest quarterback conversation has not been only his numbers; it has been his toughness both physically and mentally.

While quarterbacks like Cullen Harper and Kyle Parker showed promise early in their perspective careers, in the end they failed to show up in big games. Boyd has become the unquestioned leader of the offense and the team as a whole.

His composure and maturity both on and off the field only bolster his impressive credentials. 

In terms of his skill set, Boyd has emerged as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in college football. Despite his running ability, he has shown the ability to stand his ground in the pocket in the face of consistent pressure. While he doesn't quite have the arm of a Charlie Whitehurst (few do or ever will), he still has the arm strength to make throws from anywhere on the field.

What's more, Boyd's ability to run the zone read offense and operate out of the pistol formation has only accelerated the quarterback's growth and made him into an even more dynamic weapon in an ever evolving game.

Boyd has accomplished more than most and will no doubt be destined for the Clemson Hall of Fame sometime down the road.

The biggest thing missing off of Boyd's resume will be a BCS bowl win, National Championship or otherwise.

BCS Bowl win or not, Boyd will remain one of the best to ever play the quarterback position in Death Valley. The debate will continue to be whether he is indeed "The Best" to play the position at Clemson.

So far the signs point to the fact that he can indeed be the greatest quarterback in the history of Clemson football.

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In order to return to prominence in college football, success in 2013 is absolutely crucial for the men of Troy.

Coming off of a disastrous 2012 campaign which saw the Trojans stumble to a 7-6 season when many felt they would contend for the national championship, head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff will attempt to turn his team around in a year where his job will likely depend on it.

To do so, USC will have to overcome a schedule that provides some challenges but overall is set up nicely to provide the Trojans with some fairly easy notches on the win column.

This slideshow will look at the upcoming slate of games that the Cardinal and Gold have in front of them and power rank the individual teams in terms of the challenge they provide, from easiest to most difficult.

USC simply can't afford to stumble often this year. In their pursuit of a return to prominence, here is what they have to face in 2013.

Note:

Teams are ranked based on strength of conference, 2012 season results, venue of play and strength of team returning, among other considerations.

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In order to return to prominence in college football, success in 2013 is absolutely crucial for the men of Troy...

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Johnny Manziel's foot, meet Johnny Football's mouth. 

Something frustrated the Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner on early Sunday morning, as he tweeted the following before deleting it (h/t Josh Sanchez of Fansided): 

Oh boy. That is certainly not what Aggies fans want to see. 

Realizing how his tweet was going to be received after it hit the Internet this morning, Manziel responded with the following:

Hey, at least he owned his comments and didn't go with the classic "But I got hacked, you guys!" story. Still, we're left with plenty of questions about why he can't wait to leave Texas A&M. 

Manziel was phenomenal in 2012, accumulating over 5,000 yards from scrimmage and accounting for 47 total touchdowns. He was the first freshman in history to win the Heisman Trophy and became a star with his exciting, run-oriented style and catchy nickname, Johnny Football.   

He also made headlines last summer when he was arrested after being involved in a fight and possessing a fake ID. And he made plenty of headlines this offseason after pictures surfaced of him on TMZ partying in a Texas club with what looked to be a bottle of Dom Perignon. 

Manziel is only 20, of course. 

Look, Manziel is a young guy, and he is far from the first underage college kid to go out partying. But you also get the sense he is having a hard time reconciling his desire to be a normal college kid with the spotlight that follows him and publicizes his every move. 

Like it or not, once you become a star, your personal life becomes public domain. It may not be fair, but that's how it is. 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Playing a football game on a football field just isn't good enough anymore. We're seeing hockey being played outside, basketball games being played on aircraft carriers and football has now slowly made the switch to the baseball diamond.

Whatever it takes to keep the fans satisfied.

Are you not entertained?

College football is always looking for ways to think outside of the box. Patching up the dirt of a baseball field and twisting the dimensions to fit 100 yards of gridiron is just that. Some parks have already tried the experiment, and it went over well. Now, it's time for others to hop on board while some find a way to do it again.

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For longtime, long-suffering Kentucky football fans, you know exactly what I mean by the title of this article.

Down through the years, there have been brief snippets of positive moments.

I wasn't born when Bear Bryant called Lexington home. I was too young to remember the Derrick Ramsey and Art Still era in the 1970s that won UK's last SEC football title.

It was fun watching fellow Eastern Kentuckians Tim Couch and George Massey do good things in the 1990s.

Who can forget the three consecutive bowl wins during the Rich Brooks era? Joker Phillips won at Auburn and Georgia and snapped the Cats' ridiculous losing steak to Tennessee.

All of these things are something to be proud of. That's all most UK football fans want, a team that can consistently make them feel proud.

Mark Stoops and his staff are doing their best to do just that. Although they have yet to coach a game, the roll these guys are on with recruiting is something that has never been seen at Kentucky.

The way they jumped in, rolled up their sleeves and went to work on the 2013 class was definitely an impressive start.

They have picked up where they left off and then some when it comes to the 2014 class.

Now, to be honest, the staff offering a scholarship to seventh grade defensive back Jairus Brents is actually silly. But with all of the positive momentum going on right now, the staff gets a pass for that.

Rank School Total 5-starCommits 4-starCommits 3-starCommits Avg Points #1 Texas A&M 14 0 8 5 3.5 1659 #2 Texas 18 0 5 12 3.29 1613 #3 Kentucky 17 0 5 11 3.31 1601 #4 Tennessee 15 0 6 9 3.4 1570 #5 Notre Dame 11 2 6 3 3.91 1433 #6 Michigan 11 1 4 6 3.55 1366 #7 Florida State 15 0 5 8 3.38 1350 #7 Alabama 11 0 7 3 3.55 1350 #9 Clemson 11 1 5 4 3.7 1290 #10 Baylor 19 0 3 7 2.68 1249

 

It is still very early in the game and a long way until National Signing Day in February.

That said, your eyes are not deceiving you. That is Kentucky that you see in the top three in the nation in football recruiting.

It's been a total team effort among the coaches and players. Drew Barker, the top QB in the state, committed to UK over South Carolina and has been like another recruiter ever since. Barker is also enlightening everyone about what's going on with him through his diary.

 

I told you all this would be the best class in UK history! We are turning dreams into REALITY!!! #UK2014 #TurnUp

— Drew Barker (@D_Barker7), June 13, 2013

 

Coach Stoops is, of course, leading the charge and setting the tone.

 

Yahtzee !!! BBN. Can I get a Yahtzee

— Mark Stoops (@UKCoachStoops), June 13, 2013

 

The "Yahtzees"—the catchphrase that's uttered or tweeted with each new commitment—have been flowing freely for some time now.

The biggest surprise thus far came when Stanley "Boom" Williams, the No. 1 all-purpose back in the nation, made up his mind and said UK was the place for him.

 

#BBN #Yahtzee!!!

— Stanley Williams (@boom_that_guy), June 13, 2013

 

WR Tyre Brady didn't hold back on letting us know how he felt once he committed either.

 

I cried tears of joy today after telling my mom I committed to the university of Kentucky. #ProudCommit #BBN #StoopsTroops

— Tyre Brady (@Tyre_Brady), June 14, 2013

 

Lastly, DL Adrian Middleton chose Kentucky over Louisville just like fellow commit LB Nico Firios did.

 

Just COMMITTED to UK #BBN Time to start liking a new color.

— Adrian Middleton (@59OnMyChest), June 15, 2013

 

The newness of all of this and the excitement it has created is what's overwhelming. Watching all of these 4-star players commit is just silly—silly in a good way.

We hadn't even mentioned Darius West, Denzel Ware, Thaddeus Snodgrass or any of the rest of the talented members of this 2014 class.

Kentucky is always tops in the nation in basketball much the same way Texas and Alabama are in football.

I'm not saying excitement about recruiting is lacking for those programs. Consistent high-level recruiting never gets old.

However, the schoolgirl giddiness for football that has swept through the Commonwealth and beyond is something no one will soon forget.

If Coach Stoops keeps this up, there will be a time when the giddiness subsides and everyone is just coolly excited about each incoming recruiting class. 

Until then, Yahtzee!

Follow @VinnyHardy

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A critical part of the University of Miami’s 2012 season was the play of then-freshman Duke Johnson.

The Miami, FL native and former 5-star recruit ran for 957 yards and 10 touchdowns during his freshman campaign, en route to earning Rookie of the Year in the ACC honors and making All-ACC and All-Freshman teams.

Though the Hurricanes are not getting any 5-stars in what Rivals.com ranked the No. 20 recruiting class of 2013, they do have a number of incoming freshman who could make positive contributions to the team come September.

None will light up the college landscape like Johnson did a year ago, but here are four young Hurricanes who will attempt to keep the ACC Rookie of the Year award in Miami and not with any other team in the talented Atlantic Coast Conference.

 

Derrick Griffin

A late addition to the Hurricanes 2013 class, Derrick Griffin is an imposing force that should terrorize ACC Corners. 

At 6’7’’, the 4-star recruit from Rosenberg, Texas was ranked the No. 3 wideout by Rivals.com and the fifth-best player from the state of Texas, a state that typically produces a great deal of college football talent. 

His monstrous size for the position allowed him to shine in the Army All-American Bowl, where he scored the West team’s only TD.

While Miami has some size at the WR position in 6’3’’ Allen Hurns and 6’2’’ Rashawn Scott, neither poses the instant mismatch that Griffin does.

Considering Senior QB Stephen Morris’ talent for throwing the deep ball, look for Derrick Griffin to get involved down the field and in other aspects of the Hurricane’s passing attack.

Griffin's high school highlights show a knack for making plays downfield. Of all the members of Miami’s incoming freshman class, expect Griffin to see the most time on the field, via SB Nation’s State of the U.

 

Artie Burns

With world-class speed and a physical style of play, The 6'1'' Burns will make an early impact at either corner or safety for the Hurricanes.

Like Griffin, Burns was a star in two sports in high school, and was also recruited to run track for the University of Miami.

Burns has also been noted for his maturity. Some family adversity in 2006 forced him to become the man of the house earlier than he may have wanted.

An Under Armour All-American who was sought after by Alabama, LSU, USC, and others, Burns chose Miami most likely to remain closer to home.

The local product should contribute early in his ‘Canes career, as the Hurricanes are weak at corner after the graduation of Brandon McGee, their best cornerback a year ago.

If he can adjust to the speed of the game and utilize his talents, Artie Burns will be a fixture in the Hurricane secondary from the very beginning of what looks to be a promising four-year career.

 

Alquadin Muhammad

The No. 1 player from the state of New Jersey according to Rivals.com, Muhammad possesses an explosive first step that will make him an effective college pass-rusher.

While Miami has one defensive end slot filled in by junior Anthony Chickillo, there is some uncertainty along the rest of the defensive line.

Shayon Green led the team in tackles with 67 as a freshman, but failed to record a sack. Defensive Tackle is also an area of concern for the Hurricanes, as the revolving door of Olsen Pierre, Luther Robinson, Corey King, and others produced limited results.

This lack of productivity should pave the way for Muhammad to at least see time as a situational pass-rusher or on third downs during his freshman campaign.

The Miami defense as a whole is not the strength of the team, so it should open up opportunities for younger players to gain some early experience.   

Muhammad has the talent to get after opposing quarterbacks, and with a little weight added to his 6'4'', 225-pound frame, he could become the best player in this recruiting class.

 

Cornelius 'Corn' Elder

While the Miami backfield is crowded, the departure of Mike James leaves some room for others to emerge. 

James led the team in carries a year ago, and accumulated 621 rush yards and 344 rec yards. The productive back and former team captain also reached the end-zone nine times.

While Duke Johnson will get the lion’s share of the carries during his attempt to make a Heisman run, someone will need to spell the busy star-back between his running back and kick return duties.

Eduardo Clements remains the favorite to act as the second running back. Clements scored twice a year ago and was a 4-star recruit in 2010, via Rivals.com. 

Cornelius Elder, however, was a highly productive high school running back who could see some time as a freshman. Rivals’ No. 5 player from the state of Tennessee, Elder surpassed 2,000 yards rushing his junior year and nearly repeated the effort in his senior season.

That kind of productivity usually finds its way onto the field one way or another. Though Elder is currently listed as an Athlete, expect him to be in the mix at running back for Miami come the beginning of the 2013-14 season.

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What if Notre Dame could convince a team with two quarterbacks to send one its way? What could USC get in return if Marqise Lee was put on the trading block? What is a hefty check worth if a team wanted to try to shop for a certain player?

Of course, none of this will ever happen, but college football would be much better off if trades were involved. The concept is quite simple: It must benefit both programs, and both players must agree to the terms.

After all, these are still students we're talking about. If everything is a go, you hit the send button and make it happen.

Some players are stuck in horrible situations, playing for a lousy coach they didn't sign up for or stuck on the bench. Some programs are top heavy at one position but need help in others. Trades could help fix all of these issues and make the world a much better place.

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David Cornwell is an impressive quarterback prospect, and he has finally reached a decision on where he is going to take his talents and play college football. The highly sought after young man will be attending Alabama and should soon line up under center for the Crimson Tide, as he appears to be the heir to A.J. McCarron.

Cornwell announced the news via Twitter:

Officially committed to the University of Alabama! Roll Tide! 🐘

— DC5 (@DavidCornwell5) June 14, 2013

This is a huge signing for Nick Saban, as he bolsters his already decorated 2014 recruiting class by adding an elite signal-caller in Cornwell.

The pro-style thrower looks ready to immediately contribute, and it’s no surprise that 247 Sports’ composite rankings grade him out as 4-star prospect and the No. 3 overall player at his position. In fact, Cornwell is so well regarded that he’s listed as the No. 40 overall recruit in 2014.

Alabama was fortunate to get a letter of intent from Cornwell, as a number of other prestigious programs around the country had him in their sights, including—but not limited to—the Miami Hurricanes, Virginia Tech Hokies and UCLA Bruins.

At 6’5”, 230 pounds, the Norman North High School star from Oklahoma has the physical tools to play the position at any level of organized football, even if he’s a late-bloomer. According to Scout.com, the youngster helped his team to an 11-3 record while throwing for 2,700 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his first year starting at the QB1 position.

Cornwell has a knack for picking things up quick, as evidenced by the consensus that he was the top performer at the US Army Combine in San Antonio this past January.

There’s plenty to like about this recruit, although his throwing motion is a bit unorthodox. He possesses better than expected athleticism and looks a bit like Landry Jones coming out of high school.

If Cornwell continues to develop and hones his mechanics, the sky is the limit for this promising young quarterback. It’s only a matter of time before he’s starring in Tuscaloosa and making plays to wow the crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

In fact, due to his upside, potential and raw talent, it isn’t a stretch to say we may just see Cornwell playing on Sundays in the near future.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Remember when Baylor football was, well...Baylor football?

The Bears were almost viewed as a bye week for most Big 12 teams. In 2007, then-Big 12 member Colorado beat Baylor 43-23. Baylor posted a 3-9 record, and Colorado went bowling that year. Colorado lost to Alabama in the Independence Bowl, 30-24.

That is how much college football has changed since 2007. Alabama has won three BCS Championships, Baylor won two bowls and celebrated its first-ever Heisman winner and Colorado posted a 17-44 record.

Baylor's success is due to head coach Art Briles.

After his hiring in 2008, Baylor endured two consecutive 4-8 seasons. Since then, the Bears have posted three consecutive winning records of 7-6, 10-3 and 8-5.

Baylor is still circled on most teams' schedules, but now it is viewed as an 'uh-oh' game. This year is especially true, because Baylor has another Heisman contender in running back Lache Seastrunk.

The Oregon-transfer sat out 2011, but last year he showed why he is such a threat by finishing the season strong. In his last four games, Seastrunk rushed for 637 yards.

Briles is bringing in top-notch talent. The class of 2013 was No. 27 in 247Sports' composite team rankings. Baylor's ranking was higher than Oklahoma State, West Virginia, TCU, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

The Bears' biggest catch was 5-star receiver Robbie Rhodes, who enrolled on June 2. Quarterback Bryce Petty will have a lot of new toys to play with. But the defense should also improve with some new faces from the same class.

Four-star linebacker Brian Nance and 4-star defensive tackle Andrew Billings are also enrolled. Nance received offers from Oklahoma, Oregon and Notre Dame, while Billings received offers from Texas and Oklahoma.

Briles would be hard pressed to back up that outstanding class of 2013, but get out the irons. Baylor's class of 2014 is currently ranked No. 8 by 247Sports. 

Two of Baylor's top three commits are defensive players. That in itself is a little shocking for a team known primarily for its prolific offense.

But there is more to this story. 

Briles has won over one of Alabama head coach Nick Saban's targets. Four-star safety Davion Hall received offers from Alabama, LSU and Texas.

Four-star linebacker T'Kevian Rockwell spurned offers from Michigan and Nebraska. Rockwell ran a 10.58 in the 100m at the Plano Ron McNeil Invitational, according to 247Sports. 

Four-star running back Terence Williams received offers from Texas A&M and TCU. 

The assistants on Briles' staff are doing an incredible job, but one wonders, what is their secret?

Most assistant coaches are responsible for recruiting in a specific geographical area both in and out of state. The head coach or recruiting coordinator assigns a state or area to an assistant due to his ties to that area.

For example, Notre Dame landed commitments from 4-star defensive end Andrew Trumbetti and 4-star offensive tackle Quenton Nelson. They were recruited by Bob Diaco, the Irish's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Diaco is from New Jersey, as is Trumbetti and Nelson. Unless these prospects change positions, neither will have been recruited by their future position coach.  

Prospects like to develop relationships with their position coaches starting from that first recruiting pitch. Because Indiana isn't a fertile college football recruiting state like Texas, the Irish have to recruit from Hawaii to Florida.

The recruiting budgets for schools vary, but the most cost-efficient way for Notre Dame to recruit is to have one coach responsible for a state and have him sweep the area on a trip. Sending position coaches all over the country is not cost efficient.

Baylor is in Waco, Texas, the state with the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country. Briles' staff has the luxury of recruiting a local prospect with his future position coach. The relationship is developed at first contact.   

Hall was recruited by receivers coach Kendal Briles, Rockwell was recruited by linebackers coach Jim Gush and Williams was recruited by running backs coach Jeff Lebby. Each prospect has an established relationship with his position coach. 

That recruiting method is paying off for Baylor. Its recruiting staff can stay in-state and pluck up elite talent without ever having to set foot on a plane. Every prospect committed to Baylor is from Texas. 

The Bears are keeping their talent in their own backyard. And away from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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We've seen all the props these recruits could ever dream of coming up with.

Picking from a hat on the table, bringing live animals to the podium or shaving the team's logo of choice in the back of their heads. It's becoming as predictable as the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

We have Elijah Staley to thank for breathing life back into the recruiting process. He decided to announce his commitment by using a...well, we'll just let him make the announcement with his creative self.

What's the bigger news here?

Is it that he decided to pick Mississippi State over schools such as Vanderbilt, Boston College and Virginia or that he created a trend that is soon to take over the 2014 recruiting class?

We are going to see recruits decommit left and right just so they can remake their announcement by using the social networking site.

A Vine! Genius!

Staley is a 3-star dual-threat quarterback according to 247Sports.com and a big addition to this Mississippi State class. Not only is he exciting to watch, but he adds depth to a position where the Bulldogs haven't had great success at over the years.

His athleticism will also lead to him playing basketball.

Staley has terrific size at 6'6", 205 pounds and is a strong, tough runner. He isn't the most polished quarterback of the class, but you can't help but love the potential.

He struggles with accuracy at times and can be a little quick to run before going through his progressions. Still, his size and athleticism could lead to positive results for the Bulldogs.

247Sports has Staley as Mississippi State's ninth commitment of the 2014 class and the first quarterback.

If Staley can help set the bar the way he did with his announcement, he will be off to a successful career.

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What does your grandfather do these days? He probably sits around, watches a little television and goes to bed before the sun goes down.

That isn't anything close to what Vince Dooley did for charity.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the former Georgia head coach and athletic director went skydiving to raise money for a group called ESP: Extra Special People that works with people who have disabilities.

There isn't a video of this, why?

Dooley's grandson, Matthew, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, also made the jump and was able to convince his father and grandfather to join him. Per the report, the trio raised $47,000 for the charity.

If that's all it takes, sign me up.

Dooley first skydived in 1992, but doing it now was a whole different ballgame at the tender age of 80. Matthew made the jump four times previously, and it didn't take much to convince his grandfather to take the leap, per the report.

"It kinds of pulls at your heart because he makes the statement that when he’s in the air, he said 'I’m just like everybody else,'" Dooley said. “So, you can’t say no.”

Skydiving generally isn't exactly high on the list for an elderly person, but Dooley isn't your ordinary guy. He coached 25 years for the Bulldogs and won six SEC championships. He mustered a 201–77–10 combined record and won a national title in 1980. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. Dooley then became the athletic director from 1979 to 2004.

Although he will probably live a much calmer life from now on, Dooley did leave the door open for another jump, according to the report.

“I told him I wasn’t going to jump again until I was 90,” he said.

Next time, make sure you bring a video camera.

 

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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Homecoming is special for fans. The alumni and students mingle during tailgates and regale in stories of campus life. It is a time for boosters to open up their checkbooks and show their undying support for their alma mater. They have come home, if only for five or six hours. 

It is also a time when a win is expected. Schedule a patsy and all is okie dokie. Schedule a BCS contender and everything is inky stinky. This year three Pac-12 teams threw out common sense and scheduled on a whimsy. 

Oregon State, USC and Utah all have Stanford scheduled for their homecoming games. Guys, you are doing it all wrong. No fan base wants to watch the Tree (pictured above) dancing around the field while Stanford's nutty band members insult their team and/or school on Homecoming—even if they do play great music. 

Some Pac-12 teams are doing it right. 

Oregon plays Washington State . So does Cal. Washington State plays Idaho and Washington plays Cal. These are examples of perfect homecoming slates and deserve atta-boys.

Three Pac-12 teams selected some puzzling homecoming opponents. 

Stanford plays UCLA. The Cardinal may regret that despite beating the Bruins in back-to-back weeks last year. In the Pac-12 Championship, Stanford beat UCLA 27-24 after beating the Bruins in the preceding week 35-17. Third time's the charm? 

Arizona plays UCLA as well. Last year UCLA spanked the Wildcats 66-10. Washington State would have been a better choice than UCLA. 

Arizona State plays Washington. Strangely, the Sun Devils passed over everyone's favorite homecoming opponent, Colorado. 

Speaking of the Buffaloes, they play the Arizona Wildcats. To be fair, Colorado does not have a chalk on its schedule except for Central Arkansas on September 7. Even then, an FCS team is not a guaranteed win. Last year Colorado lost 30-28 to Sacramento State. The Buffs get a hall pass on scheduling for the next few years until head coach Mike MacIntyre can right the sinking ship. 

Oregon State, USC and Utah may all be underdogs hosting Stanford. Labeled 'underdog' at your own Homecoming Game is almost blasphemous for the most ardent college football fans. 

The last time Oregon State beat Stanford was in 2009. For USC it was in 2008. Utah is in its third year as a Pac-12 member and has played Stanford five times since 1902. The Utes are 2-3 against the Cardinal with their last win in 1996. Stanford is a lot better than that 7-5 team.

All of that minutia aside, Utah hosts Colorado on November 30. Late November is cold in Salt Lake City. But Utah only returns 12 starters this year. With Colorado available, there should not have been any debate over whether or not nippy weather could take the fun out of putting six touchdowns on the scoreboard. 

Happy alumni walking away from a homecoming game is important to a school. Not all alumni have the luxury of attending every home game, much less watching the games on television. Homecoming is usually a priority for alumni wishing to reconnect with former classmates. They expect a win after traveling to the games, spending money on spirit wear and clinking glasses with their fraternity brothers. 

It is the perfect time for athletic departments to solicit donations. 

For Oregon State, USC and Utah, that may be a tough sell. But, if they win... 

Ka-ching. 

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Homecoming is special for fans. The alumni and students mingle during tailgates and regale in stories of campus life. It is a time for boosters to open up their checkbooks and show their undying support for their alma mater...

Read the full article on Bleacher Report...