NCAA Football

The BCS has been in place for the past 15 years, and in that time, Oregon Duck fans have had the pleasure of seeing some spectacular football...

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Heading into the 2010 BCS National Championship Game, Mack Brown and the Texas Longhorns were on top of the world.

Texas was coming off of a perfect 13-0 season, a season in which they scored 34 or more points in 11 games and won the Big 12 conference.

Nine plays into the game, the Longhorns' fortunes took a turn for the worse.

Quarterback Colt McCoy was tackled by Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus on a designed quarterback run play, which resulted in a pinched nerve in his throwing shoulder and left him ineffective for the rest of the game.

Alabama went on to win, 37-21, as Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert struggled, throwing four interceptions and making pivotal mistakes in a game that was close until the fourth quarter.

It was the first time that Texas lost a game to Alabama, as they fell to a record of 7-1-1 in nine attempts against the Tide.

That was also McCoy's final game, and since the loss, the Longhorns have not been back to a BCS game, after playing in four in their previous five seasons.

The next season was a disaster, as the Longhorns struggled to 5-7 and missed a bowl game for the first time since Mack Brown's arrival 12 years before.

2011 and 2012 were better, as the Longhorns improved to 8-5 and 9-4 respectively, and won both bowl games in which they appeared.

Still, a combined 22-16 record over three seasons is unheard of at Texas over the first decade of this century, and Brown has never had a worse stretch since he arrived in Austin.

While the Longhorns seem primed for another double-digit win season in 2013 with the right breaks, it feels like an eternity since the team has even come close to sniffing a BCS game, after being a staple of the BCS for four out of five seasons.

So what went wrong?

Rather than try and pin the problems on one specific issue, there is a list that has to be taken into consideration, including the myth of the Will Muschamp effect, failure to develop talent, no star quarterback and a lack of flexibility.

Mack Brown and his staff have done an excellent job recruiting, bringing in a top five class from 2009-2012.

While that kind of recruiting success has translated to championships and undefeated seasons in places like Ohio State, Alabama and LSU, the 'Horns have been squandering that talent away.

College football, in spite of what some would argue, has much to do with the level of talent on the field, but truly elite coaching staffs take that talent, polish it, shape it and mold it into a team that produces.

Teams like Oregon, Alabama, Notre Dame and LSU are pulling in excellent recruiting classes, some better than the Longhorns, but the thing that sets them apart is the player development.

The second piece to this fall from grace is a lack of flexibility, especially when implementing a system on offense.

When Ricky Williams was punishing defenders, Brown and his staff relied heavily on a power run game. When Vince Young was dominating Rose Bowls, the offense relied heavily on zone read. Under Colt McCoy's leadership, the spread option led to tremendous success.

In recent seasons, lacking the quarterback to lead a specific offense, the Longhorns have struggled, which brings us to our next issue—Mack Brown's need to have excellent quarterback play to succeed.

While Vince Young was under center for Mack Brown's offense as the sole starter in 2004 and 2005, the Longhorns were an incredible 24-1. Young's ability to run the offense was incredible, and run it he did. He led a revamped Texas offense incredibly well en route to consecutive BCS game victories.

Upon Young's departure, Colt McCoy took the reins of the offense, and tied a then freshman record 29 touchdown passes thrown in his first season.

Three years and 45 wins later, McCoy was an icon of Texas football, a gunslinger who ran and threw the ball better than any college quarterback in the nation, and whose very name seemed to fit like a glove for a Texas quarterback.

Since McCoy's departure, a combination of Case McCoy, David Ash and Garrett Gilbert has not been the answer. It remains to be seen whether Ash can reverse that trend in 2013.

And then there is the curious case of defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.

Muschamp was anointed Coach Brown's successor in November of 2008, with the university making an announcement that he would take over the program upon Brown's departure.

That was shortlived, as Muschamp bolted for Florida following the Longhorns' disastrous 5-7 season.

But please don't look at Muschamp's departure as a major cause for the Longhorns' disastrous free-fall in 2010 and the ensuing mediocre seasons.

Even during the 2010 season, Muschamp's defense was ranked sixth in the nation in total defense, so it's impossible to lay the blame there.

However, in 2011, while Muschamp was in his first season at Florida, the defense finished 11th in the nation in total defense.

Then for some inexplicable reason beyond poor tackling and technique, the Longhorns, with seven starters returning to the defense, found a way to plummet to 68th in the same category last season.

The defense was atrocious last season, but let's not pretend that the loss of Muschamp was responsible for the sudden decline in production and execution.

Even one of these several issues could cause severe problems for an elite program, and four years ago, Texas was that. All of them together have been near crippling.

But the future is bright. Brown and his staff again return loads of talent, the Big 12 is as wide open as it has ever been and the Longhorns are changing up the offense to suit the talent.

In just a few months, we will see if Mack Brown and his staff are still in hot water, or if the new found flexibility coupled with emphasis on the fundamentals can help return the Longhorns to a BCS game for one final rodeo.

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Going into the 2012 college football season, Dana Holgorsen and the West Virginia football team thought they were up to the challenge of moving from the Big East to the Big 12 Conference. 

It looked like the Mountaineers were going to be a major player in the conference title race early on, but their young, undersized defense eventually collapsed and they fizzled out over the brunt of the in-conference slate.

Now in 2013, Holgorsen and his squad will face a whole new set of challenges.

This time around they'll be without three of the best players in school history, as Tavon Austin, Geno Smith and Stedman Bailey each departed for the NFL. As a result, this year's squad will have to depend on improvement on the other side of the ball.

Today we'll take a look at those two tall tasks and what else WVU will have to overcome this season.

Challenges are rated on how difficult the task is and how much impact the outcome will have on the team's success in 2013. 

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When Aaron Murray finishes his career in Athens, he will go down as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in SEC history.

Murray has a shot at finishing first in the SEC in all-time pass completions, touchdowns and yards. The most interesting thing about this is if he does become the all-time SEC passing leader in yards (which is likely going to happen because he only about 600 yards shy of the record), he will surpass another UGA great, David Greene.

Both Murray and Greene had great careers at UGA and fans will always be grateful for what they did on the field.

But if Murray does finally win an SEC title and give the Bulldogs a shot at the national championship, is he better than Greene?

Let’s take a look at how Murray is similar and different to the current SEC all-time passing leader.  

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With all the talk, hype and hoopla surrounding the Michigan Wolverines’ 2014 class and 2015 efforts, it’s important not to let the 2013 class be shoved aside.

It’s easy to let Hoke’s second group of recruits get filed away and reopened for discussion come late summer and fall. But don’t forget that it was ranked No. 5 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten by 247Sports.com.

When analyzing what went wrong with Michigan in 2012, a simple look at the 2013 class and its potential early stars could answer a few questions pertaining to how issues will be corrected this fall.

 

Lacking in the Running Game

Fitz Toussaint just wasn’t it for the Wolverines in 2012. Forget about his 1,000-yard sophomore season, because the will-be senior certainly has something to prove this year. Toussaint was in the midst of what probably would have been his best game of the season before he suffered a gruesome ACL injury Nov. 17 against Iowa.

Thirty-one yards on three carries—and then it was all over. He averaged 5.6 yards per tote in 2011, but struggled to string together 4-yard-a-carry efforts during his junior year.

Thomas Rawls and Justice Hayes were adequate relievers in a sense, but Michigan’s running game never reached an apex—and Toussaint was supposed to get the Wolverines there.

Enter Derrick Green, a unanimously tabbed top-caliber running back of the 2013 class.  At one time, he was ranked as high as the No. 1 running back, but 247Sports.com has him as the No. 4 guy at this point. Rivals.com has him as the “leader and best” among tailbacks entering college this fall.

A true Michigan-type, Green is 6’1” and 220 pounds of ouch for linebackers to handle. Rawls was often lauded for his hardnosed approach to smothering would-be tacklers, but Green has similar tank-like instincts too.

Green brings an SEC-feel to Ann Arbor—a big, fast and powerful bulldozing prospect, maybe something like former Auburn star Ronnie Brown. Capable of putting a Band-Aid on the 2012 running game blemishes, Green could immediately impact and rejuvenate Michigan’s ground attack within just a few weeks.

DeVeon Smith, a 4-star prepster, is another Rawls-like back. At 6’1” and 210 pounds, Smith could add a hint of Borges’ backfield at Auburn: Brown and Cadillac Williams. Put Rawls in that group, too.

Michigan stands to have an elite backfield in 2013.

 

Backup QB Still a Question

When and if Denard Robinson went down in 2012, the Wolverines had a game plan for the No. 2 starter role: Devin Gardner, a quarterback who dabbled at wide receiver prior to Robinson’s injury ulnar-nerve injury versus Nebraska.

Gardner didn’t fumble his chance when given the reins of the offense. Russell Bellomy, did, however.

Robinson is gone, and Gardner is the standalone first option under center for offensive coordinator Al Borges’ set.

Shane Morris, a 2013 recruit who once had a 5-star billing, can’t be redshirted, although Michigan would probably love to do so. The former Warren De La Salle High top gun has to get meaningful reps in the event that Gardner is placed on the sideline by the injury bug.

Brian Cleary, a redshirt sophomore-to-be, emerged as the No. 2 starter behind Gardner during spring scrimmages. Had Bellomy not suffered an ACL injury in spring, he’d be the guy—and Michigan would still have an issue.

Morris may not be the cure-all, but he’s certainly a viable option for second-fiddle status. The backup quarterback position is one that can be filled via 2013 recruiting, thus making it important not to look too far ahead at 2014 and 2015 just yet.

Some may choose to wait until Wilton Speight’s arrival to worry about this, though. 

 

Secondary is Primary

 Under Rich Rodriguez, Michigan had a comically tragic set of defensive backs working the depths of the field. Not to say that they weren’t talented, but the way Michigan was torched through the air for three years made it incredibly difficult to see any of the athlete’s upsides.

That being said, there was almost immediate turnaround under defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, who took a lowly unit and made it one of the Big Ten’s best; the Wolverines were No. 2 in the league in total defense (320 yards) and pass defense (169.5) in 2012.

With 4-star safety Dymonte Thomas headed to Ann Arbor, the Wolverines have a bonafide, 6’1”, 190-pound bruiser in center field. Receivers may want to think twice about going deep and down the middle with Thomas on call.

Ross Douglas, Jourdan Lewis and Delano Hill are each 4-star rated recruits and signify a changing of the guard in Michigan’s secondary. Add in Channing Stribling, and the Wolverines have yet another option to give Courtney Avery, Blake Countess and Jarrod Wilson a little help if needed.

The 2013 defensive backs, like they’re supposed to do, provide a few extra names on the depth chart—and that’s never a bad thing for a coach. 

 

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

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One of the great sidebars in sports is nicknames, and when you start talking college football and monikers, something magical is bound to happen.

Yes, while it’s one thing to give tennis players or golfers the perfect nickname, it’s another thing entirely to rename a guy who lines up as a menacing defensive end, elusive receiver or fearless quarterback.

And with inspiration from the college game’s rich history which includes such gems as RGIII, the Tyler Rose, Honey Badger, the Kansas Comet, the Grey Ghost, the Boz, Rocket, the Comet, the Elmira Express, Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside and Prime Time, it’s difficult to not want to give it a whirl.

The following slideshow does just that and assigns new nicknames for eight of college football’s top stars coming into 2013.

Even though these bold attempts to label this season’s stars might seem to fall short on the surface, who knows, maybe fate will intervene and declare that one of these humble tags is the stuff that legends is made of.

And, then again, maybe not so much.

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Throughout the history of the Auburn football program, there have been many classic games that helped shape the rich and proud tradition of the Auburn Tigers. 

At least once a year, there is a game that becomes one of those instant classics. You know the ones, the types of games that are hard to ever forget. The 1993 and 1994 Florida games and the 2004 Georgia game are some of the great Auburn classic games.

Some classics are so good that they become ingrained into the Auburn history books.

There's "17-16," "Bo Over The Top," "The Barn Burner" and of course, "28-27." Even in the horrible 2012 campaign there was a classic game that Auburn fans will remember. Auburn nearly upset LSU, who was ranked No. 2 in the country at the time. 

What does 2013 have in store for Auburn fans? Approximately 100 days away from the start of the college football season, one game that is primed to be an instant classic for Auburn fans in 2013 is the matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs in "The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry." The Bulldogs travel to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the second consecutive year on November 16.

These classic games involving Auburn usually have a few of the same ingredients—they occur against one of Auburn's natural rivals, it's a game where the Tigers are an underdog and there is usually a lot at stake. 

The Georgia game in 2013 has all of those ingredients and then some. 

The Bulldogs have dominated the rivalry since 2006. Auburn's only win since that season came in 2010. Georgia has pulled even in the record books over the last few years and the overall series record is 54-54-8.

The rivalry between Georgia and Auburn is one of the best in college football. Except for three years that saw World War I and World War II interrupt the series, the Bulldogs and Tigers have clashed on an annual basis since 1892. 

It's a rivalry where many fans of the two institutions work closely among each other daily. Auburn's campus is only 28 miles from the Georgia state line.

The pain of losing to the other team is almost greater than the joy of winning. It's a true rivalry. 

Auburn will definitely be a heavy underdog in November. 

The 2012 SEC championship game was a game that saw time run out on Georgia's bid to upset Alabama and make an appearance in the national championship game. The Bulldogs return a lot of talent from the 2012 team on the offensive side of the ball, including QB Aaron Murray—who has torched the Tigers in his time wearing the red and black of Georgia. 

ESPN's Mark Schlabach has the Bulldogs ranked No. 7 in his very early 2013 preseason poll. 

Given that the annual meeting between the Bulldogs and Tigers is always played in November, there is also always a lot at stake. 

In 2010, Auburn clinched a spot in the SEC championship game when it defeated Georgia. The Bulldogs did the same when it defeated Auburn last fall inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. There is a good chance Georgia could be trying to do the same thing in November when it returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium. 

So, the ingredients for a classic game or even a classic upset are there for the Tigers. Why Georgia?

A few things stand out here to make me think this game will be closer than it should be and give Auburn a chance to make this game one of the best in recent memory.

As much talent as Georgia has on its roster, the defense took a big hit to graduation and the NFL draft. According to Dave Miller of The National Football Post, 12 players that started two or more games on defense for Georgia have departed. 

Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee liked what he saw from the revamped defense of the 'Dawgs in their spring game. Still, for a defense that was ranked No. 77 in rushing defense in 2012 along with losing a lot of veteran starters, that is a stock that needs to be held and not bought quite yet. 

That young defense will have all the game experience under their belt by the time the Auburn game rolls around in November. However, other than the matchup against Clemson in Week 1, the Bulldogs do not see an offense that is paced and run-oriented quite like Auburn will run in 2013. 

Speaking of Auburn's offense, when Malzahn's offense was unbridled in 2009 and 2010, it had plenty of success against Georgia's defense (to be fair, Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was not the defensive coordinator in 2009). In 2010, Auburn treated Grantham's defense like it did every other defense in the league. It racked up 49 points and 484 yards (336 rushing, 148 passing).

In 2011, Georgia dominated Auburn from start to finish, although it should be noted that the tempo aspect of Auburn's offense had been long gone at that point. 

If the improved Auburn defense can get a few stops, chances are that Auburn's offense will likely be able to keep up with Georgia.

Lastly, this rivalry has been known to turn out instant classics and its share of upsets. Georgia fans remember the 2006 game fondly. Auburn was ranked No. 5 in the country and a young QB named Matthew Stafford led the Bulldogs to a 37-15 upset.

Who can forget the SEC's first overtime game in 1996 between these two teams? Or in 2005 when Auburn's John Vaughn kicked the game-winning field goal against No. 9 Georgia in Athens?

It's way too early to say that Auburn will pull off a big upset against Georgia in November. However, with the game nearly five months away, it's easy to say this game more than any other on the schedule is one that you won't want to miss. 

Follow @TrueBlueAU

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It's time for Les Miles to earn that $3.75 million annual salary, not that he hasn't already.

In order for the Tigers to win an SEC Championship and win another national championship in 2013, Miles must produce one of his greatest coaching jobs to date.

His job begins internally. Here again, aren't we Tigers fans? Oh the headaches these players induce with their troublemaking.

 

Overcoming departures/suspensions

Before we get into all that, first things first—fill the gaps. This is what Miles is best at.

Miles can recruit with the best of them, and because of this, he has plenty of talented players to choose from. So when Tigers fans worry about filling the gaps on the defensive side of the ball, I simply say, rest easy—The Mad Hatter has plenty of tools in his toolbox.

The defensive line is depleted, but Anthony Johnson returns, along with many flashy 4-star newcomers such as Frank Herron, Tashawn Bower, Kendell Beckwith, Maquedius Bain and Greg Gilmore.

Will they be as effective as M&M (Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo) and Bennie Logan? Eh, that's not likely, but they'll be talented nonetheless.

As for the linebacker position, this is where LSU's fantastic 2012 recruiting class comes in handy. You know, the one LSU fans moaned about. The Tigers recruited three linebackers in the ESPN 150 that year.

That's all good news...Are you ready for the bad news? The Tigers may have to play this season without Jeremy Hill at running back. "Big deal, this happens every year. Somebody new will step up," a Tigers fan will usually say.

Normally that's the case, but this year is different. The Tigers no longer have Spencer Ware and Michael Ford, and who knows if Alfred Blue will return to form after injuring his knee last season? That puts a heavy load on Kenny Hilliard. Meanwhile, Terrence Magee will have to step up and be a regular contributor.

Behind a strong offensive line, Blue, Hilliard and Magee can carry the load for the Tigers, but that means they must all remain healthy. Here's to hoping Hill's legal troubles don't sideline him too long. To go along with that, here's to hoping LSU players stay out of the bars this offseason. 

 

Overcoming a daunting schedule

SEC scheduling rant commence. Just who is booking these SEC schedules nowadays?

Is it a coincidence that Texas A&M and Alabama have the easiest schedules in the conference? There's no sense in sugarcoating it. This is the toughest schedule LSU has inherited in the past decade, and meanwhile, the Aggies and Crimson Tide benefit from much easier schedules.

Via ESPN Video, Miles has already set the pace for this schedule with his comments about it a few weeks ago: "We like to think there's only one school in the country that can go through it."

Taking it one game at a time will be a must for the Tigers. Besides UAB, Kent State and Furman, LSU will face two of the top three teams from the SEC East, SEC West and TCU.

To quote, via the Sporting News, the always quotable Les Miles, "Strap it up," boys. 

 

Putting the offense in the hands of Cam Cameron

Change can be good.

Miles has to realize this after the Tigers had a meltdown in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl against Clemson. It's time to hand the offense over to somebody who knows what he's doing. 

Cam Cameron is that man.

Cameron has done nothing but impress since he's accepted the offensive coordinator position. Sure, the Tigers have yet to play their first game, but hurrying up the offense, utilizing more spread formations and giving Zach Mettenberger more options (spreading running backs wide) in the spring are a great start.

It might be somewhat delusional to expect Cameron to come in and contribute greatly in his first year, but then again, isn't that what LSU is all about? Just like Miles successfully inserts freshmen into the offense and defense, Cameron will impressively fine-tune the offense, 2007 Gary Crowton style (when his play-calling was innovative).

Yes, the deck is stacked heavily against the Tigers this year, but we've seen crazier things happen with Miles serving as the Tigers head coach. Missouri and West Virginia getting upset to allow a two-loss LSU team to advance to the national championship game in 2007 ring any bells?

Stay optimistic, Tigers fans.

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Even though the start of the college football season is still over three months away, it is never too early to project the records in 2013 for the BCS teams.

While the usual suspects and powerhouse programs are certain to have excellent seasons once again, what teams are set to surprise some folks in 2013. Also, what teams might be disappointments and not live up to expectations. 

Here is a final record projection of all the BCS schools for the 2013 college football season.

*Notre Dame and BYU are included with the BCS schools

*Final records are regular season only and not indicative of conference championships or bowl games

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From the great to the not-so-good, the history of the Miami Hurricanes football program has had many memorable plays.

Between Florida State's missed field goals, fantastic plays by the 'Canes and blown calls by the referees, being a Miami fan has certainly been a wild ride.

Not everything must be a great memory, so feel free to cry along at times during a recap of 15 of the most memorable plays in Miami football history.

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A key catalyst of the current renaissance period Notre Dame undeniably finds itself in has been the development of a nationally renowned defensive line, though that attribute may receive a damaging body blow in the coming days. 

It appears as if Eddie Vanderdoes, a 5-star defensive tackle who signed with the Irish on national signing day, may not be enrolling at Notre Dame.

The outlook of the situation is grim if you're a Notre Dame supporter, as neither the university nor the Vanderdoes family have given any official statements to either confirm or deny the rumors.

However, Sacramento Bee reporter Joe Davidson—the closest source to the Vanderdoes family—provided some meaningful insight on Monday evening.

I did get this from Vanderdoes family: grades, eligibility or conduct/character "is not and has never been an issue."

— Joe Davidson (@SacBee_JoeD) May 21, 2013

If indeed those areas of concern are not hangups in Vanderdoes' ability to enroll at Notre Dame, then the writing is on the wall: Vanderdoes has likely experienced a change of heart surrounding his collegiate destination.

Should that be the case, "surprise" shouldn't be a term that comes to mind.

On the morning of national signing day, Vanderdoes' parents informed Notre Dame of their son's decision but instructed officials to keep quiet on the matter, as to allow Vanderdoes the opportunity to enjoy his signing ceremony, which transpired in the evening hours.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame officials botched that request, as Vanderdoes was listed on the commitment list that afternoon during a media session on campus.

While that snafu surely was received unfavorably in the Vanderdoes household, it's unlikely that it was the singular reason for Vanderdoes' apparent change of heart. Yet it appears as if the rocky start to Vanderdoes' official relationship with Notre Dame may have been simply the beginning of what appears to be a rather complex situation.

Because the 6'2", 310-pound defensive lineman signed a letter of intent, he would need to be granted a release by Notre Dame to enroll at another school of his choice, and that's where the situation becomes murky.

There's no telling what decision the university would make in that regard, though if it were to deny Vanderdoes a release, Notre Dame would be viewed in a negative light in recruiting circles. And if that's the case, the Irish's recruiting abilities would likely suffer as a consequence.

The consequences wouldn't be limited to just recruiting, though.

On the field, the Irish would be significantly undermanned along the defensive line in 2014 without Vanderdoes.

It is widely expected that both nose guard Louis Nix and defensive end Stephon Tuitt will enter the 2014 NFL draft despite each having one more season of eligibility remaining following the 2013 season.

In fact, the guys over at WalterFootball.com have Tuitt (10th overall) and Nix (22nd overall) pegged as first-round selections.

That would leave the Irish with defensive ends Sheldon Day, Tony Springmann, Jarron Jones, Isaac Rochell and Jacob Matuska as the only available defensive linemen currently on the roster. Thus, the Irish coaching staff would be hard at work to add pieces along the defensive line in the 2014 class, which already includes end Andrew Trumbetti and tackle Jay Hayes.

What's even more alarming is the nose guard position.

Reserves Kona Schwenke and Tyler Stockton will each see their eligibility clocks expire after the 2013 season, leaving the cupboard bare assuming Nix enters the NFL draft. Because Vanderdoes was widely expected to assume the vacancy left behind by Nix, questions abound as to who will fill that role.

Clearly, the Vanderdoes situation has initiated a tidal wave of concerns to which answers are simply far and few between.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Alabama football produces top NFL draft picks year in and year out—some of which go on to have stellar careers at the next level. 

Three members of last year's national championship team were selected in Round 1 of this past draft—Dee Milliner, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker. They went No. 9, No. 10 and No. 11, respectively, and all three will be asked to play big roles for their new teams as rookies.

This year's team features a handful players who certainly have first-round talent. Here are the players from the 2013 Alabama football program who have the best chance to be selected in Round 1 of the 2014 NFL draft.

 

Cyrus Kouandjio, Offensive Tackle

I know what you're all thinking.

Alabama producing first-round offensive linemen? Surely you jest!

In all seriousness, however, Kouandjio may end up becoming a better professional offensive lineman than Fluker and Warmack.

Blessed with prototypical size, the 6'6", 311-pound Kouandjio was phenomenal as a sophomore last season as Alabama's starting left tackle. He allowed only 3.5 sacks in 2012 (h/t rolltide.com) and is still developing his technique.

NFL Network's Albert Breer listed him as one of his top players to watch this upcoming season:

It'll be interesting to see if Kouandjio ends up becoming the first offensive tackle to be taken off the board in 2014. He'll likely be contending with Jake Matthews out of Texas A&M and Taylor Lewan out of Michigan.

 

C.J. Mosley, Outside Linebacker

Mosley will be a highly coveted linebacker heading into the 2014 NFL draft. 

His ability to play in any scheme makes him extremely valuable, as more and more NFL teams have been moving to what they call "multiple" schemes on the defensive side of the ball. 

A strong pass-rusher off the edge, Mosley is already a skilled 3-4 outside linebacker adept at dropping back into coverage—a rarity for prospects heading into the NFL. 

Bleacher Report NFL draft Featured Columnist Wes Stueve was impressed when he took a closer look at Mosley's tape recently:

All his natural talent combined with the intelligence Stueve mentioned will surely earn him a first-round selection in the 2014 NFL draft.

 

Adrian Hubbard, Outside Linebacker

Hubbard has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two seasons at Alabama, and he'll really have a chance to shine this year as a featured player for Nick Saban's defense.

At 6'6" and 248 pounds, Hubbard possesses more of a prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker frame than Mosley.

He showed the speed and power last year to get to the quarterback, registering seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. 

NFL teams will fall in love with Hubbard's strength at the point of attack. He's not just a flashy edge-rusher who will run himself out of plays upfield. Instead, given proper coaching, Hubbard has the ability to turn into an elite pass-rusher in the NFL.

 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

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The Stanford Cardinal are coming off a third consecutive BCS bowl game appearance and their first conference title since 1999.

Coach David Shaw has proven to be the perfect successor to Jim Harbaugh. Plus, Stanford didn't miss a step last season even though Andrew Luck was gone.

As for the 2013 campaign, Shaw brings in the No. 57 (Scout.com) and No. 63 (Rivals.com) ranked recruiting class. Even though that's not on par with conference foes Oregon, USC and UCLA, don't expect Stanford to just slide back this season.

To that end, let's check out how Shaw's crew can repeat as Pac-12 champs.

Note: Full view of Stanford's depth chart courtesy of GoStanford.com.

 

Rely on a dynamic ground game

With Stepfan Taylor out of the equation, Stanford has to keep its rushing attack moving.

Anthony Wilkerson must take the reins and simply attack the line of scrimmage. After averaging 4.5 yards per rush in 2012, Wilkerson briefly brought back the potential displayed in 2010. The Cardinal will need him to consistently produce as the season unfolds.

Elsewhere, Tyler Gaffney is back.

According to Kyle Kensing of SaturdayBlitz.com via Sports Illustrated, Gaffney was playing minor league baseball in 2012. Nevertheless, the guy accounted for 704 rushing yards and 11 scores between 2010 and 2011.

Feeding a sound mixture of Wilkerson and Gaffney allows the Cardinal to run a variety of plays geared toward controlling the trenches.

Defense...and more defense

There are three guys coach Shaw and Co. can always count on heading into the 2013 campaign.

First is linebacker Shayne Skov.

He logged 146 tackles through his first two college seasons, but then missed most of 2011 due to injury. Fortunately Skov returned nicely in 2012, recording 81 tackles, and Kevin Gemmell of ESPN.com believes he is Stanford's most important player:

There is no debate, however, about what Skov means to this team. Before his season-ending knee injury at Arizona in 2011, he was slotted as a potential first-round draft pick. He returned in 2012 and was very good. But not quite back to where he was pre-injury. 

He is now. And that bodes very well for one of the top defensive units in the country.

The next guy that must keep producing is Ben Gardner.

Between 2011 and 2012 Gardner racked up 24.5 tackles for loss, 12 of which were sacks, and defended seven passes. His knack for disrupting the backfield is a great complement to Skov in the front seven.

Finally, there is safety Ed Reynolds, whose ability to change the field position on turnovers creates a huge competitive advantage.

Reynolds picked off six passes last season and returned them for 301 yards and three touchdowns. This ability to swing the momentum and instantly change any game gives Stanford a chance regardless of the second-half situation.

Turnover Minimization

Winning the turnover battle is one primary aspect that allowed Stanford to take the Pac-12 title.

Finishing the year at plus-nine, the Cardinal ranked No. 26 in turnover margin. Quarterback Kevin Hogan only tossed three picks the six games where he contributed the most, not to mention putting up a 71.7 completion percentage.

Provided Hogan continues to develop and set up the play-action, Stanford gains a favorable edge by establishing balance.

The pass rush will get pressure to force fumbles, and the coverage will make plays on the ball for interceptions. As a result, Hogan and Co. must capitalize accordingly or simply reduce turnovers to play the field-position game.

Regardless, sticking to a physical philosophy on each side of the line of scrimmage will propel Stanford ahead of its conference competition.

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The Stanford Cardinal are coming off a third consecutive BCS bowl game appearance and their first conference title since 1999. Coach David Shaw has proven to be the perfect successor to Jim Harbaugh...

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Penn State football has a rich tradition that stretches through past years and generations.

Fathers, sons, grandfathers and all different families that flock to Beaver Stadium can agree on at least one thing: Penn State.

Over the years the football program has seen many memorable moments, plays and milestones.

Even with the dark cloud still hovering near Happy Valley as the dust settles from the Sandusky scandal that stunned the nation, those memorable plays and moments on the field still remain.

So as the college football world sits in limbo between spring practices and summer minicamps, let’s take a look into the past.

Here is a list of the most memorable plays in Penn State football history, ranked by impact and significance.

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The SEC is loaded with rising stars throughout the freshman ranks with 20 of last year’s Top 50 signing with conference schools.

The No. 1 player Robert Nkemdiche is preparing to build a masterful career at Ole Miss, and O.J. Howard is expected to change the way that the Alabama offense pushes the football down the field.

The next few years will bring a lot of quality football with these five freshmen lining up on Saturdays.

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Despite what you may hear through the grapevine, there are elite recruits that decide to take their talents to the Big Ten. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer made it known he isn't impressed with the recruiting classes overall, but there are top recruits that have turned down offers from the SEC to play in this conference.

A lot of these guys are from the 2013 recruiting class who will have a chance to make an impact as early as this season. Whether it is a star running back, hard-nosed defensive player or a future star quarterback, the Big Ten is a conference you want to pay attention to for the next couple of years.

Here are the Big Ten freshmen who have the brightest future.

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The eyes of the college football world will be on ESPNU Sunday afternoon when Paramus, New Jersey 5-star cornerback Jabrill Peppers announces his college destination.

Not only is Peppers looked at as a 5-star by every major recruiting site, but also as one of the two or three best players in the country regardless of position.

Simply put, Peppers is one of those freakish athletes that comes along only once every few years, versatile enough to play a number of positions in college and excel.

His 6'1", 210-pound body frame allows perfectly for that versatility; he plays both running back and corner at Paramus Catholic. He definitely projects as primarily a cornerback in college, though.

So which school will he announce to play for Sunday afternoon? Nobody knows for sure, but there's no question who the front-runner is: the Michigan Wolverines.

Michigan has been in front for about a month now, ever since Peppers canceled his Stanford trip and took a visit to Ohio State that he wasn't exactly thrilled about.

In fact, for a while the Bucks were considered to be Peppers' leader, and not only did they fall from that perch after the visit, but out of his top five altogether. Sorry, Urban, but not every recruit is going to fall for your sweet-talking antics.

That's about the time when Stanford looked to be Michigan's biggest competitor, but the canceled visit looks to have dropped the Cardinal out of the equation.

Then, as recently as two weeks ago, it was announced that Peppers planned to take a trip to Happy Valley to visit Penn State.

While some believe he may have legit interest in the Nittany Lions, others think he is only taking the trip out of courtesy to his high school coach and to garner some interest for his teammates. I'm going with the latter on this one.

Then there was even talk of a surprise visit in the coming days, likely to home state Rutgers. While there may be actual interest in newcomers Penn State and Rutgers, most people agree that these schools have only been thrown into the equation to create excitement and suspense for Sunday's announcement. Again, I'm going with the latter.

I think Michigan is the clear cut favorite here and would be downright shocked if he picked anybody else. Recruiting experts on the major outlets seem to agree.

Just as so many elite athletes do, Peppers simply fell in love with the university when he visited, also forming a close connection with this amazing coaching staff. While some expected that excitement to fade, it never did.

The fact that he wants to get the recruiting process over with so he can focus on his senior year of high school shows what kind of kid he really is—this is not about him. Academics also are very important to him, evidenced by his flirtations with Stanford.

Should he choose Michigan on Sunday, there's no doubt he'll fit right in. In fact, comparisons have already began popping up comparing him to Charles Woodson. That may be a bit premature, but it does go to show you the kind of potential this kid has.

There's no doubt Sunday afternoon will be filled with plenty of suspense and excitement, but hopefully it will be well worth it in the end.

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South Carolina has picked up a major 2015 commitment, as weak-side defensive end Shameik Blackshear from Bluffton, S.C. has committed to the Gamecocks.

Kipp Adams of ESPN.com reports on the commitment:

The Gameccks picked up their second commitment for the 2015 class Tuesday and it comes from one of the most coveted prospects in the Palmetto State. 

"I have verbally committed to South Carolina," Shameik Blackshear said. 

Blackshear goes on to explain why he chose the Gamecocks, per Adams:

"I chose South Carolina because I know I can guide and lead the program when it is my turn," Blackshear said. "South Carolina is a great place to be and I am LOVED all over Columbia." 

Blackshear is 6'4'', 235 pounds and he's only a rising junior. Those measurables alone are enough to see great potential in him, but check out this tweet from Tony Morrell of TheBigSpur.com that sets the bar quite high for the 2015 recruit:

He has already garnered offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Clemson and Tennessee amongst others, so it's quite obvious that other programs can see the immense potential that Blackshear possesses as well.

Comparing anybody to Jadeveon Clowney is high praise, let alone a recruit who has yet to play his junior season in high school. Even if Blackshear was to become half as good as Clowney though, the Gamecocks would still have a great player on their hands. There should be plenty of excitement amongst South Carolina fans about this commitment. 

Blackshear joins Dexter Neal as the second commitment to South Carolina's 2015 class.

 

Is Blackshear "the next Clowney" for South Carolina? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

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You can't coach experience, and the SEC will have plenty of experience at the most important position on the field in 2013—quarterback.

Eleven of the 14 SEC teams return a quarterback or quarterbacks who started the majority of the 2012 season.

That group is headlined by reigning Heisman Trophy-winner Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, Georgia signal-caller Aaron Murray and two-time BCS National Champion AJ McCarron at Alabama.

Manziel has the sizzle. He was a permanent fixture on highlight reels last season thanks to his 1,410 rushing yards; but he was marvelously efficient, completing 68 percent of his passes for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns. 

Murray set the single-season Georgia record with 35 touchdowns passes in 2011, and then broke his own record with 36 last season. Not only has he performed like an All-SEC player in each of the last two seasons, he has virtually his entire supporting cast back in 2013 on offense. Not only can he draw on his own experience, but he can draw on his own experience with the same pieces.

That familiarity is invaluable.

McCarron is the most decorated but quite possibly the least appreciated of the trio of SEC superstar quarterbacks. The offensive MVP of the 2012 BCS National Championship Game following the 2011 season led the nation with a 175.28 passer rating a year ago, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 2,933 yards, 30 touchdowns and only three picks.

All three of those players have proven during their respective careers that they have what it takes to be successful as individuals and lead a team to prosperity.

But it isn't just the stars in the SEC.

Bo Wallace was solid for Ole Miss as first-year head coach Hugh Freeze resurrected the program last season, Connor Shaw is in a battle at South Carolina but is a stud when healthy and Tyler Russell set Mississippi State single-season school records for passing yards (2,897) and touchdown passes (24) last season.

That's strong.

Even some teams with major quarterback questions this offseason, like Auburn, Kentucky and Missouri, have players who have started multiple games in the mix to win starting jobs.

That experience—even if it's largely negative—is important. 

Sure, there have been exceptions to the rule.

First-year starting quarterbacks won four of the SEC's five BCS National Championships between 2007-11. But having a quarterback who knows what to do, and—perhaps more importantly—what not to do, allows the rest of the pieces of the offense to fall into place.

In 2006, former Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford was wildly inconsistent, completing 52.7 percent of his passes (135-for-256) for 1,749 yards, seven touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The very next season—his first as the unquestioned starter—his completion percentage improved slightly (55.7 percent), but he was more reliable, throwing for 2,523 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

That Georgia team was perhaps the hottest team in America when the season ended, but was on the outside looking in as LSU went to and won the BCS National Championship Game over Ohio State.

Another somewhat recent example of a player succeeding after being written off is Jason Campbell at Auburn. He was remarkably average for the Tigers between 2001-03, but flourished in his first season under then-offensive coordinator Al Borges, completing 69.6 percent of his passes (188-of-270) for 2,700 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions en route to being named SEC Player of the Year by the Associated Press.

Sometimes quarterbacks get written off quicker than players at other positions. Just because players like Florida's Jeff Driskel and Auburn's Kiehl Frazier haven't lived up to the hype yet doesn't mean they will stay down forever. In fact, since they weren't successful right off the bat, it likely means the valleys won't be as deep if and when they do succeed.

The SEC is absolutely loaded with talent at quarterback this season.

When Missouri's James Franklin—a guy who two seasons ago was on the brink of a 3,000-yard passing/1,000-yard rushing season—is ranked eighth in our conference quarterback rankings and quite possibly could be ranked too HIGH by yours truly, it speaks to the depth of talent in the conference (as well as the fickle nature in which we evaluate players).

Positional strength goes in waves.

The SEC was top-heavy with running backs in 2010 and 2012, with eight running backs topping the 1,000-yard mark a year ago. With four of those players gone and so many talented quarterbacks returning, 2013 looks to be a year driven by veteran quarterbacks.

If you're looking for a reason why the SEC will continue to dominate in 2013, look no further than the quarterbacks. There's a solid group of signal-callers coming through this season with many potential stars still flying under the radar.

 

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