NCAA Football

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

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

Nick Saban.

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

He also makes opposing fans nervous.

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

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

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

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

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

Everyone survived.

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

That's a good thing.

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

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

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

— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) June 12, 2013

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

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

— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) June 11, 2013

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

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

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

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

 

Follow @BarrettSallee 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

In what now seems to be developing into the rule rather than the exception, another standout eighth-grade football player has been offered a scholarship by a major college program...

Read the full article on Bleacher Report...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Stoops

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Matthewses

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

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

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

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

 

The Bowdens

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Mannings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Rebels loss was the Volunteers gain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

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

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

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

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

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It's never too early to start chasing your dreams.

At least that's the case for 15-year-old quarterback Lindell Stone, who was offered a scholarship by UCLA on Tuesday evening, according to Damon Sayles of ESPN Los Angeles.

Here's what the youngster had to say regarding the offer from the Bruins:

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

The 6'2", 190-pound Texas native just finished up his eighth grade year at Dawson Middle School in Southlake, TX and already has his future set before stepping foot in high school, as he's slated to enter his first year of college in 2017.

According to Sayles, Stone is a pocket passer who has gained recognition through the Elite 11 regional competition in San Francisco where he turned heads, including that of former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst, Trent Dilfer.

You may think that it's not everyday that an athlete this young gets offered a scholarship way beyond his years, but Sayles makes note of a few special young athletes to also share the honor with Stone.

Fellow class of 2017 and California native Nathan Tilford has been offered a scholarship to USC while Dylan Moses, also class of 2017, has offers from Texas, LSU and Alabama, among others.

Stone's middle school (Southlake) has produced NFL quarterbacks in the past, including Greg McElroy of the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs' QB Chase Daniels (h/t Sayles)

Whether you agree with it or not, it's beginning to become common practice for college programs to pluck young talent from local schools before they hit the main stage. Obviously there's no way to tell how a prospect will develop or to predict injuries, but that seems to be a chance that collegiate programs are willing to take.

Let me leave you with this: 

An eighth grader already knows he'll be playing for a premier college football program four years from now. What are you doing with yourself?

 

Follow me on Twitter: Follow @Pete_Schauer

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

It's never too early to start chasing your dreams. At least that's the case for 15-year-old quarterback Lindell Stone, who was offered a scholarship by UCLA on Tuesday evening, according to Damon Sayles of ESPN Los Angeles ...

Read the full article on Bleacher Report...

Generally, college football stars go to the NFL, play for a few years (or a couple of decades, if they translate well to the pro level) and either disappear from sight or enter the announcing circuit.

There are a few personalities that fans practically deserve to see in the announcing booths. From larger-than-life figures to men who are simply knowledgeable about the game and have excellent composure, they would provide a great spark to the commentary.

Here are 10 former collegiate stars who we would love to see in the announcing booth, presented in alphabetical order.

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Andrew Luck's departure to the NFL after the 2011 season had many wondering if the balance of power would shift away from Stanford in the Pac-12. It didn't. Now, that question is appropriate again in 2013 as it pertains to Chip Kelly's departure from Oregon. Can Mark Helfrich keep the Ducks on top of the Pac-12 for the foreseeable future?

Just like in recent seasons, Stanford and Oregon are expected to be the class of the Pac-12. Unfortunately for both schools, they play in the North division of the conference and cannot meet in the conference's title game.

A pair of second-year coaches in the South division, UCLA's Jim Mora and Arizona's Rich Rodriguez, each appear to have their respective schools headed in the right direction.

With the first Pac-12 game of the season just 79 days away, here is a look at how each team will fare in their first game.   

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Andrew Luck's departure to the NFL after the 2011 season had many wondering if the balance of power would shift away from Stanford in the Pac-12. It didn't...

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Examining ATH Michiah Quick's recruitment via ESPNU, 247Sports and Scout.com, it seems a core of eight schools make up the main group. Quick, who is from Fresno, California, plays for Fresno Central East High School and is one of the best players in California.

With his electric speed, elusiveness and athleticism, Quick could be successful at an array of positions. Receiver appears to be where he will get his first look in college, but don't count out cornerback, running back or safety for Quick.

A tough decision awaits Quick. He has many juggernaut programs after him. He will have to settle on a decision after he weighs the pros and cons of each school in his top eight suitors.

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The Rose Bowl traditionally hosts the top Pac-12 team versus the top Big Ten team each January. The two conferences each have great history and feature several of the top programs in the country.

Although their regions are not geographically close, there are times where programs from both the B1G and Pac-12 compete for recruits. Running back Justin Fargas originally spurned playing close to the Pacific Ocean for Michigan. Michael Thomas, who plays for Ohio State, was plucked from Los Angeles.

With the two conferences competing for elite recruits over the years, the 2014 class has followed suit. A versatile athlete from Southern California is open to the idea of playing in the Big Ten, while a big linebacker has caught the eye of top schools from both the Pac-12 and the B1G.

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

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When something gets traded in, for example a car, that thing had its best days and needs to get replaced for a newer, more serviceable thing.

The FBS coaches that should get traded in are not performing as well as they should at their respective schools. The amount of money these coaches earn is not translating to success on the field. They have worn out their welcomes.

When compiling this list of seven programs that should trade in their head coach, I considered: salary, years as head coach for the program, and on-field success (with an emphasis on recent on-field success).

I limited the available candidates to two criteria: the candidate has been the program’s head coach since 2009, and the program has played at least one season in its current conference. Programs in the newly-created American Athletic Conference were ineligible, even if they played in the Big East in 2012.

Why these criteria? I think it’s unfair to give up on a head coach after just four years or less, and there are too many unknowns for programs joining new conferences.

I received salary information from http://www.coacheshotseat.com/SalariesContracts.htm

With that, on to the list. Feel free to debate in the comments section below.

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The Big Ten still has a reputation of being this nasty conference that plays physical and with a chip on its shoulder.

That style of play features the traits a linebacker must have to be successful. Fortunately for the Big Ten, there are plenty of defensive players in the second level who will make 2013-14 the year of the linebacker in this conference.

Many criticize the Big Ten for lack of flashiness and offensive production, but the one thing that has remained consistent is the solid play from the linebackers.

The top 10 tacklers in this conference from a year ago played linebacker and nine of them finished with more than 100 tackles.

With the superb talent that is returning, it's no question linebacker will be the position that leads the way in the Big Ten.

You can begin with Michigan State's Max Bullough, who has been the force in the middle for the Spartans and led them in tackles over the last two seasons. He is a ferocious tackling machine who makes sure you feel his presence.

A man-child on Saturdays, he has pretty much everything you look for in an old-school football player. 

Ryan Shazier really turned heads in his sophomore year after leading Ohio State with 114 tackles. He is getting a lot of love from NFL scouts due to his ridiculous athleticism and speed coming off the weak side.

He will be the leader of the Buckeyes defense and will help keep things from completely falling apart after losing so much talent to the NFL draft.

One linebacker who doesn't get enough credit is Iowa's Anthony Hitchens, who led the Big Ten with 124 tackles despite playing in only 11 games. He was only a Big Ten honorable mention last year, but he is an experienced player and was one of the few bright spots for the Hawkeyes.

There are also quality experienced players in James Morris and Christian Kirksey, who combined for 208 tackles.

You simply can't talk about linebacker without mentioning Jake Ryan of Michigan. He was an All-Conference player last season and is a leader for the Wolverines on and off the field. Ryan tore his ACL in the spring, but Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports that the linebacker is expected to make a speedy recovery.

When healthy, Ryan is one of the best players in college football.

Chris Borland is back for a fifth season with Wisconsin after finishing a second straight season of 100-plus tackles. Only this time, the Badger got to the quarterback more frequently, producing four sacks and breaking up six passes.  

He will be asked to do even more since Mike Taylor, who led the team in tackles last season, graduated.

A potential star in the making is Northwestern's Chi Chi Ariguzo, who finished his sophomore season with 91 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss.

He flies all over the field making plays in run and pass defense, as he added two interceptions and a fumble recovery. His instincts and pass coverage skills are off the charts.

While those are all names you should already know, there are a few other linebackers out there that you should keep a close eye on this season.

Those include Denicos Allen of Michigan State, who may be the most athletic and fastest linebacker you will find in college football. Michigan Wolverine Desmond Morgan is poised to have a breakout season, as is David Santos of Nebraska.

Another name to remember is Curtis Grant of Ohio State. He was a highly recruited player coming out of high school and will finally be given a real chance to prove himself on this young Buckeyes defense.

A few of these guys have already drawn attention from the next level and many are expected to follow suit.

This will be the year of the linebacker in the Big Ten.

 

All stats come from cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Da'Shawn Hand is one of the best high school players in the country, but he is doing something that few prospects in his position do: focus on education.

The 6'5" defensive end is certain to be a huge impact player at the next level. He is rated by 247 Sports as the No. 1 overall player in the 2014 class, and No. 2 according to the composite rankings behind running back Leonard Fournette.

With strength, quickness and athleticism, Hand is able to penetrate into the backfield and consistently disrupt the opposing offense. No matter where he goes to school, he will rack up tons of sacks and tackles for loss to become one of the best defensive players in the nation.

Unsurprisingly, this has made him very sought after in the recruiting process. He has racked up dozens of offers and could legitimately play for almost whatever school he wanted. Fortunately, he is taking this process very seriously.

Kevin Scarbinsky of Smashmouth Radio recently interviewed the big-time recruit, and Hand was very forthcoming about where he was in the process. The Virginia native narrowed his school list to three on the air:

He also gave some reasoning as to why he eliminated South Carolina and Virginia Tech from his list:

On the other hand, Michigan appears to move closer to the top based on this statement:

These statements are surprising and actually refreshing coming from a top football recruit like this. It seems that these days, young players are much more concerned with other factors bringing them to a school.

Many top players want to choose a school that will get them to the NFL. Others simply like the way the uniforms look. 

However, Hand appears to be deciding on a college based on the classes that he will take. He is looking for an education that will take him far in life if football does not work out.

We have seen plenty of times in recent history that even the best recruits do not always become professional superstars. Rhett Bomar is a great example of this, as seen in his recent interview with Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee.

The best thing that you can do is focus on education while you have that opportunity. Hand not only wants to graduate, but he cares about his major and the types of professors that will eventually be teaching him.

Even the top players in the country will be in school for three years, although it seems like education is overlooked in the recruiting process. Hopefully, Hand will be a leader in this regard as a kid who is truly focused on his future.

 

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest updates in sports.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

Many thought Notre Dame's blowout loss to Alabama in the national championship game would have a negative impact on the Fighting Irish's ability to recruit.

However, that was not the case with 4-star offensive tackle Quenton Nelson.

He committed to Notre Dame in early May and is one of the Fighting Irish's marquee 2014 commitments. According to the 247Sports Composite, Nelson is the No. 12 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 3 player from the state of New Jersey. 

In a recent phone interview, Bleacher Report talked to Nelson about his commitment and more. Here's how it went down:

 

Bleacher Report: Why did you choose to commit to Notre Dame?

Quenton Nelson: It was a pretty easy decision. There's nothing not to like about Notre Dame. They gave me the best combination of academics, football and a Catholic education.

 

BR: Did you consider any other schools before committing to Notre Dame?

QN: I was considering Ohio State, Boston College, Penn State, Northwestern and Rutgers.
 

 

BR: Was it a close call in your opinion?

QN: After weighing everything, all the pros and cons about each school, Notre Dame really didn't have any cons to it. It was pretty easy to see that Notre Dame was the best choice and fit for me.

 

BR: What are you bringing to the table for the Fighting Irish?

QN: Just a kid that will represent the school well, academically and on the field. Work very hard, give it everything he has in practice and in the weight room. 

BR: What do you look forward to in regard to being coached by Coach [Brian] Kelly?

QN: He has a lot of experience. He's been at a lot of places and has done very well. I'm just looking forward to becoming part of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish family. 

 

BR: If Coach Kelly went to the NFL, would that have changed your decision to commit?

QN: No. As long as I still have my position coach, Coach [Harry] Hiestand. He's great and a big reason why I committed to Notre Dame, along with what a prestigious school Notre Dame is. The people there all love football and live it, and the academics are great.

 

Nelson was asked if he watched the national championship game last season, which Notre Dame lost to Alabama, 42-14. He responded yes, and it led to this question:

 

BR: As a Notre Dame recruit, did last year's national championship game impact your decision process whatsoever?

QN: Absolutely not. It didn't impact me at all. The facts remain the same. Notre Dame gives me the best opportunity academically, football wise and everything I said before.

 

BR: Why do you think Notre Dame lost?

QN: Clearly because Alabama was better. With 2013's recruiting class and the recruiting class we have going now though, I think things are going to change soon.

 

BR: What do you think would happen if ND and Alabama met up today with those recruiting classes?

QN: Notre Dame will win.

 

BR: Notre Dame has a very loyal fanbase. Have you had much interaction with Fighting Irish fans? What are they like?

QN: They definitely are the best. On Twitter, a bunch of them will tweet at me, direct message me if I follow them. They're truly the best fans out there.

 

BR: What's your favorite food? 

QN: That's a hard one, the hardest question you've asked so far. Probably chicken parmesan—my mom's.

 

BR: Who's your favorite musician?

QN: I like all types of music, but my favorite artist is Luke Bryan. I just started to like country a lot. 

 

BR: What are you looking forward to about your senior season?

QN: Hopefully winning a state championship. I just can't wait for football again. 

 

 

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

When Penn State quarterback Steven Bench announced his transfer to South Florida on May 23, the quarterback depth on the Nittany Lions' roster looked emaciated.  Most head coaches in Penn State's situation would have been satisfied to add a few bodies with lively arms to the roster. Keeping your head above water for the next few years would have been a sensible team goal. Not for head coach Bill O'Brien.   After Bench transferred, O'Brien had only two options at quarterback, and neither had thrown a pass at the FBS level.  But then he signed junior college transfer Tyler Ferguson, who enrolled in January, and  5-star Christian Hackenberg.
Hackenberg was the top-ranked pro-style passer in the class of 2013. He had reported offers from Alabama, Florida, Miami, South Carolina, Stanford and Tennessee.   Ferguson transferred from College of the Sequoias (Visalia, Calif.), where he threw for 2,614 yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games.   With those additions, Penn State's QB situation improved. But over the weekend, it became better still. 
On Saturday, Michael O'Connor committed to Penn State. The 4-star quarterback from the class of 2014 had reported offers from Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Rutgers and Vanderbilt.    How is O'Brien keeping quarterbacks from committing to Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier and Mark Dantonio?
At some point, O'Brien's pitch to prospects may need to be accompanied by a sad trombone. The school's scholarship reduction includes 10 initial and 20 total scholarships through 2016, according to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. The team will only have 65 players on scholarship until 2017. There are no bowl possibilities for the next three years. 
Yet the elite quarterbacks continue to be sold on O'Brien, mainly because he has extensive NFL experience. He served as the New England Patriots' quarterback coach from 2007 to 2011 and served as offensive coordinator in 2011, coaching quarterback Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLVI before moving on to Penn State in 2012. More from GoPSUSports:  Under O'Brien's tutelage, Brady has thrown for 5,235 yards (No. 2 in NFL) and 39 touchdowns this season, as the Patriots won their final eight games.  Under O'Brien's direction, Brady became the first unanimous Associated Press MVP in 2010 in leading the Patriots to an NFL-best 14-2 mark.
For a quarterback who wants to play in the NFL, O'Brien has all the qualifications of a great mentor. Penn State started out 0-2 last year and things looked bleak. But the team won eight of its next 10 games, including a 24-21 overtime win against Wisconsin, the eventual Big Ten champion.
O'Brien has already proven he can win under trying circumstances. His ability to tap into a quarterback's potential and unleash it is now being realized.
In 2011, quarterback Matt McGloin played in all 12 games, starting the final five. He finished with 1,571 passing yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Under O'Brien's guidance the following year, McGloin passed for 3,271 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions.
O'Brien accomplished that with a former walk-on quarterback.   The Nittany Lions still need to add one more quarterback. With scholarship restrictions now in play, O'Brien is going to have to make do with what he has. He will probably exceed our expectations again this fall. Anyone want to bet against him? O'Brien is college football's Quarterback Whisperer.

Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com

All recruits want to play and they want to play right away. However, some of them are not physically or mentally ready to make the direct jump from high school ball to the college game.

In other instances, some recruits pick schools who have a logjam at their position on the depth chart. Perhaps the school just signed a hot-shot recruit last year who happens to play the same position as the current year's prospect or a redshirt year will be good to adjust to the scheme.

Several quarterbacks are on this list, as the talented signal-callers will all face uphill climbs for early playing time at their respective schools. A running back headed to an SEC school has all the skills needed to play as a true freshman, but it appears he won't be needed in 2014.

A pair of offensive linemen will be starters one day, but won't be next season.

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

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Most teams have that one play that they can turn to to bail them out of any situation. Everybody in the stadium knows it is coming, but the defense can't figure out a way to stop it. The opposing head coach throws his headset on the ground and wants to wring somebody's neck for not being in the correct position.

Oh, these bread-and-butter plays can be frustrating.

Like how basketball teams know who is going to take the last shot and baseball teams know who is going to pitch in Game 7, football offenses have that one play they can count on in times of need. Whether it's the Oregon running game or the Oklahoma State passing attack, these plays not only save games but help to form their teams' identities.

 

Note: These top 25 rankings were provided by Adam Kramer of Bleacher Report.

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