USC, SEC Dominate The NFL Draft

Every Monday during college football's endless offseason, The FanHouse Walk will put last week's stories to bed and deliver the essentials to bridge that agonizing space between now and September.

The Obvious -- The 2009 NFL Draft is now in the books and what's emerged from countless hours of coverage is a recurring theme of late: USC and SEC dominance. The Trojans had 11 players chosen in this year's draft, including a kicker and eight total defensive players from one of the better collegiate defenses of this era.

Meanwhile, 37 SEC players were chosen, topping last year's 35 and besting the second-place ACC's 33. USC also tied a draft record with four linebackers selected in a single draft. Their 11 overall selections bested last year's 10-player performance and again paced all colleges in the draft.

The great Get The Picture directed his draft attention to the prospects of NFL teams grudgingly accommodating the growth of spread offense athletes heading into the draft.

Because if this experiment - and that's pretty much what it is at this stage - succeeds and Pat White, or someone with a similar skills package, becomes part of the status quo at the next level, that's going to make it easier for a college coach to sell himself and the kids he's looking at for his program that the spread attack isn't merely a way to win on the college level, but something that his players can immerse themselves in without giving up their dreams of playing on Sundays.

More Spring Football -- Ohio State's spring game set a college football record with nearly 96,000 fans. Alabama fans aren't going to take that sitting down. Too bad we'll have to wait until next year to see their response.

Meanwhile, defense dominated at USC's scrimmage before significantly less fans. Quarterback Aaron Corp reminds us why we don't have to cry for the Trojans, saying 'Ohio State doesn't have the beach'. In yet another dagger at those fine Midwest folk, Notre Dame legend Joe Montana made a cameo appearance.

Make Some Noise Out There Rocky Top -- The "Lane Kiffin Show" returns this week with special guest Ed Orgeron. Once again coach Kiffin needs some clothes. Language NSFW.



Overtime, Ball On The 25

-- Texas Tech coach Mike Leach breaks protocol and tears into Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini over his alleged criticism of receiver Michael Crabtree as a 'diva'. More FanHouse coverage here.

-- Where have we seen this movie before? Kansas State and Auburn are both trying to duck out of having to play big bad UCLA.

-- North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates managed to sprain his thumb playing ultimate frisbee. He's out for six weeks.

-- USF player Trent Pupello is in some serious trouble after allegedly pistol-whipping three people April 12th.