NCAA Football FanHouse

With Early Commitments, Being No. 1 in August Does Mean Something

Jim Henry — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, Recruiting, Prospects

Texas is No. 1.

Or is it Oklahoma? Or does Florida, USC or defending recruiting champion Ohio State have enough juice to finish with a flurry over the next five months and land the nation's top 2010 recruiting class? While questions remain, this much is certain: for many top schools, football coaches are receiving non-binding verbal commitments long before February's national signing day.

Many believe the trend of committing early was a recruiting strategy first implemented by Texas coach Mack Brown.

"Most teams are either pretty much done or halfway done at this point, compared to five years ago when teams were barely getting started commitment-wise by late summer," Jamie Newberg, national recruiting analyst for Rivals. com, told FanHouse.

"I knew it hit us two falls ago when FSU and Miami had a combined 32, 33 commitments before Aug. 1. It's unbelievable. Teams are evaluating earlier, offering earlier, getting kids on campus and to camps. I crunched some numbers for the fun of it and looked at the BCS schools two Junes ago and commitments were up over the same period five years prior by 500 percent.

"It's all because of Mack Brown and Texas. They are basically done by the May evaluation period, so they get a jump on next year. So what happened? The rest of the teams in the Big 12 had to recruit accordingly and it has kind of laterally spread across the country. And now everyone is recruiting like this."

Last week, for example, Oklahoma received a commitment from Scout.com three-star prospect Trey Millard of Columbia, Miss., helping the Sooners overtake the top spot from rival Texas in Scout.com's updated team recruiting rankings.

Oklahoma has 22 commitments for a total of 3,803 points (3.59 average star ranking), according to the site's five-star ranking/point system. The Sooners have received commitments from four of the site's Top 100 players. Texas, meanwhile, has 19 commitments for 3,777 points (3.89 average star ranking). Alabama, LSU and Georgia round out the top five schools in Scout.com's team rankings. Ohio State, which hauled in last year's top class, according to Scout.com, is currently 19th with 11 commitments.

Texas, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama hold the top spots in team rankings by Rivals.com.

Scout.com National Director of Recruiting Scott Kennedy posted that he believes the Sooners are probably off to their fastest recruiting star under coach Bob Stoops. Kennedy believes the rivalry with Texas for recruiting dominance in the Lone Star State has intensified the urgency on the recruiting trail.

"Their main rivals for recruits right now is the team that goes out and gets the recruits the absolute earliest, Texas," Kennedy said.

"So if they are going to try and get some of the players that Texas wants then they need to get out there and start offering and taking commitments even earlier, because as we all know Texas is going to be done with their class in March. OU is one of the few teams if not the only team that can go head-to-head with the University of Texas with that type of success."

Not much has changed atop the individual rankings.

Seantrel Henderson, a 6-foot-7, 310-pound offensive tackle from Saint Paul, Minn., continues to be ranked No. 1 by Rivals.com and Scout. com. Henderson, also an accomplished basketball player, has received more than 50 scholarship offers in football and at least two in basketball.

He has made unofficial trips to Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Florida, USC and Ohio State.

Henderson, a senior at Cretin-Derham Hall, is scheduled to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 9 in San Antonio. Henderson, who plans to announce his school of choice on National Signing Day in February, is scheduled to take official visits to Ohio State in September, Notre Dame in October and USC in November.

Henderson's three favorites have been reported as Florida, Ohio State and USC. In its summer prediction, Scout.com has Henderson becoming a Gator.

Barry Every, a recruiting analyst for Rivals.com who has worked in the recruiting offices of coach Mark Richt at Georgia, Bobby Bowden at Florida State and Brown when he was at North Carolina, offered this written evaluation of Henderson:

"Physically one of the biggest offensive linemen in the country. Henderson will remind some observers of Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams. Upper and lower body structure is in proportion and he has the powerful base to blow anyone off the line of scrimmage. Henderson has offers from almost every college in the country, and once he starts year-round focus on football, he should develop into a first-round draft pick."

Of course, early recruiting has both a good side and a bad side.

Many prospects are taking unofficial visits to campuses and finding that connection with a particular school. The benefit allows players to enjoy their senior seasons and focus on the tasks at hand, rather than concerning themselves with the pressures of being recruited. It also allows them to focus on their academics and ease the transition from high school classes to collegiate academics. It's also a boon to college football programs; they can start the evaluation process earlier for the following year.

There's also a negative side of committing early.

Injuries are a factor, potentially affecting a player's development. There are also evaluation mistakes made earlier in the process. Plus, in some instances, a head coach may leave a school, prompting a player to change his commitment. And, when dealing with teenagers, let's also not forget that players can change their minds for a multitude of reasons, leaving coaches with holes in their recruited class.

"There are tremendous advantages of recruiting early, but there are also great risks," Newberg said.

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In this Aug. 23, 2009 photo, Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez waits for his players to be seated for a team photo, during the school's annual football media day at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Players from the 2008 and 2009 teams told the Detroit Free Press for a story published on the newspaper's Web site on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 that the amount of time they spend on football activities during the season and in the offseason greatly exceeds NCAA limits. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

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Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino speaks to reporters before a luncheon at the Little Rock Touchdown Club in Little Rock, Ark., Monday, Aug. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

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Tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, center, of Denmark, poses with members of the Yale University college football team as she visited their practice in West Haven, Conn. (AP Photo/Bob Child)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug,11, 2009, Ohio State running back Dan Harron (3) runs in a drill during NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, Ohio State running back Jaamal Berry (4) runs in a drill during NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, Ohio State running back Brandon Saine (3) runs in a drill during NCAA college football practice Tuesday, Aug,11, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

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In this photo taken on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (15) throws a pass under the eye of new quarterback coach Scott Loeffler, left, during the NCAA college football practice Gainesville ,Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

Last year, according to Scout.com, Ohio State managed to stay atop of the team rankings from day one. But a number of schools are within striking distance of Oklahoma -- Texas, Alabama, and LSU are all within 300 points of the Sooners.

Newberg also is keeping close tabs on the recruiting efforts of Notre Dame and Miami.

Notre Dame, which needs to make strides this season under coach Charlie Weis -- many believe he is essentially on a one-year contract in 2009 -- has built critical depth through its past three recruiting classes, including players who undoubtedly would play extensively for any team in the country. UM head coach Randy Shannon, in his third season, has two highly-rated recruiting classes on campus and the pressure is turning up on him to bring the Hurricanes back to national prominence.

"I think it's safe to say that both coaches [Weis and Shannon] have to have good seasons," Newberg said.

"With Miami, there is more talent in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties than I have ever seen. You would think that Coach Shannon would pretty much have the pick of the litter, but they are struggling a little bit down there and that shocks me. But it also tells me that teams across the country are hammering these kids that, 'Look, things are not changing at UM.' Every team in the country is recruiting kids down there."

Defending national champion UF, meanwhile, has just 15 commitments, the same as Penn State. The Gators, however, have received commitments from a trio of five-star players, the most of any team listed in the top-25, according to Scout.com's rankings. USC, a notoriously strong finisher, has just 13 commitments.

"When you look around, there are early commitments every where," Newberg said. "But I also have been doing this long enough to know that it's still August and a lot of things can still happen.

"It's recruiting."

With Early Commitments, Being No. 1 in August Does Mean Something originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marshall Reinstates A.J. Graham After Robbery Charges Are Dropped

Jim Henry — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:42:00 EST

Filed under: Marshall, Recruiting, Prospects

There's no doubt about it.

A.J. Graham -- Florida's Mr. Football - will soon be headed to join his new teammates at Marshall University.

Marshall University reinstated the Godby High School (Tallahassee, Fla.,) star's scholarship Thursday after armed robbery charges were dropped against the record-setting quarterback earlier on Thursday morning because Graham's alibi, according to his lawyer, is strong enough to create "reasonable doubt."

""Based on today's development, A.J. will have his scholarship reinstated," Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said. "We look forward to having him join our program and put this unfortunate episode behind him."

Graham, 18, signed with Marshall last Feb. 4 (National Signing Day) after setting school season and career records for pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes.

A month earlier, Graham, who completed 244-of-396 passes for 3,870 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2008, was named Florida's Mr. Football as the state's top player. Previous winners include Tim Tebow, Leon Washington, and Daunte Culpepper.

Graham's dream of playing college football. however, appeared lost when he was arrested and charged with armed robbery May 26 in Tallahassee. Marshall University released Graham from his scholarship.Graham's trial had been set for Oct. 19 and he could have faced 10 years to life in prison had he been convicted.

"They can't prove the charges," Graham's attorney, Tim Jensen, told The Tallahassee Democrat.

According to the court document, three men were robbed about 11:45 p.m. May 23 by two men in a charcoal-colored gray/silver Chevrolet Impala. Court records state the three victims were on their way to a party, which Graham attended earlier in the evening. The investigation found that Graham's grandmother had a gray Impala registered in her name and the car was found in the driveway of Graham's home.

However, court records show the woman testified she drove the car to work the evening of the robbery and didn't return home until 11:35 p.m. A neighbor confirmed the woman's testimony and said the car didn't leave after that time. Court records state additional witnesses testified Graham attended the party with three other people and left around midnight.

Marshall is looking to rebound from last season's 4-8 record. The Thundering Herd open their season Sept. 5 at Southern Illinois.

Marshall Reinstates A.J. Graham After Robbery Charges Are Dropped originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marcus Lattimore's Hype, Not Ego, Grows

Jim Henry — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Recruiting, Prospects

Marcus Lattimore has never bought into the hype about himself.

He might be South Carolina's top college prospect and the No. 1 recruit in the nation, according to The Sporting News. Scout.com lists him as No. 2 nationally and Rivals.com lists him at No 4 for good measure. Lattimore also has received more than 30 scholarship offers and he enters his senior season at powerhouse James F. Byrnes High School as the program's all-time leading rusher.

Impressed? Not Lattimore, no sir.

"Marcus continues to work hard every day and he continues to be the same person," Byrnes head coach Chris Miller told FanHouse Tuesday. "He hasn't changed at all. Actually, he has become a better person. He takes everything in stride and does what he has to do with a smile on his face."

Lattimore and teammates have plenty to smile about, too.

The Rebels depart their hometown of Duncan, S.C., on Wednesday for Nike's 7-on-7 Passing Tournament in Beaverton, Ore. The two-day tourney, which also features teams from California, Texas, Georgia and Florida, is sponsored and paid by the hometown corporate giant.

Closer to home in South Carolina, Lattimore and teammates have enjoyed a productive summer.

Fifty-one of 52 players participating in strength and conditioning drills have met their obligations and will open preseason practice next month with their last names on their jerseys (program tradition), according to Miller. The Rebels will enter the season with incredible expectations. The program has won six of the last seven state titles with seven-year record of 97-5.

Overall, Byrnes has won nine state championships since 1976.

"We feel like we have a great nucleus returning," said Miller, 51, whose team has not lost a home game in seven seasons and opened last year ranked No. 1 nationally by USA Today. "We have all of our skill players returning and even though we have to revamp our offensive line, we have a lot of kids with experience overall."

Lattimore, at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, headlines that experience.

Lattimore has narrowed has collegiate choices to eight: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State and South Carolina. While he doesn't list a favorite, four former prep teammates -- Willy Korn, Chad Diehl, Stanley Hunter and Xavier Dye -- play at Clemson. Lattimore plans to whittle his list to five by summer's end, visiting two teams this fall and three teams at the conclusion of his senior season. Lattimore hopes to make his decision prior to February's National Signing Day.

It's easy to see why Lattimore has developed into one of the nation's top prep players.

In last season's state title game (Class AAAA -Division I, South Carolina's top division) against Sumter at Clemson's Memorial Stadium, Lattimore scooted for 305 yards on 38 carries and rushed for four touchdowns in the 31-21 victory. On the game's second play, he got outside and ran 69 yards for a score. He added touchdown runs of 13, 50 and three yards in the second half as Byrnes finished with a 14-1 record.

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University of Miami football players Travis Benjamin talks to home town kids during a football camp in Belle Glades, Fla. Saturday, July 11, 2009, about staying in school and out of gangs. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

University of Miami football player Randy Phillips (6) works with home town kids at a football camp Saturday, July 11, 2009, in Belle Glades, Fla. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

University of Miami football player Travis Benjamin (3) works with kids during a football camp in Belle Glades, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

University of Miami football players Travis Benjamin (3) and Randy Phillips (6) talks to home town kids during a football camp in Belle Glades, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2009 about staying in school and out of gangs. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

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Babe Parilli, gets a bear hug from Dick Mitchell during a Paul "Bear" Bryant reunion at the Crown Plaza, Campbell House in Lexington, Kentucky, Friday, June 19, 2009. Kentucky football players who played for the famed coach get together every other year. (Pablo Alcala/Lexington Herald-Leader/MCT)

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"It's awesome knowing you have a guy like Marcus and you can keep giving the ball to him and he's going to make plays. It's nice knowing he's there," Byrnes quarterback Chas Dodd told The State (Columbia, S.C.) newspaper following the title game. Dodd, also a returning senior, has played on the same team as Lattimore since the fourth grade and lost only one game since then as starters.

Lattimore, who finished last season with a school-record 2,314 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns, carried the ball 76 times for 573 yards in the Rebels' final two playoff games. Miller says Lattimore, who boasts a nice combination of power and speed, reminds locals of former Clemson running back James Davis, a sixth-round selection of the Cleveland Browns in the 2009 draft.

"He is a do it all back that runs with a lot of power and grace," said Chad Simmons, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com. "He is the number two prospect in the country and he has been on most radars since he was a freshman at Byrnes. Lattimore is ready to run the ball on the college level right now and he could play for a lot of BCS schools this fall if that was an option."

Lattimore credits his mother (Yolanda Smith) and stepfather (Vernon Smith) for helping him during the recruiting process and keeping him grounded. He also points to and thanks his teammates for helping him achieve his lofty recruiting ranking.

Miller, who played football at Newberry College in Newberry, S.C. -- his son is a kicker at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C, while his daughter plays soccer at Byrnes -- says Lattimore also has embraced his role as a team leader.

But that shouldn't come as a surprise to a player known just as much for his humility as his talents.

"Now is the time to improve," Lattimore told The State. "I am working really hard this summer. With workouts and passing camps and stuff, I mean, football is life now, and that's OK because I love it."

Marcus Lattimore's Hype, Not Ego, Grows originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lane Kiffin's Next Trick: Recruiting a Middle Schooler? Uh, Not Really

Mark Hasty — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:16:00 EST

Filed under: Tennessee, Media Watch, Recruiting, Prospects

In case you're wondering, here is the complete list of outrageous things Lane Kiffin has not done since becoming head coach at Tennessee:

1. Paint himself orange and skydive naked into Bryant-Denny Stadium.
2. Ask what Urban Meyer has done that's so great.
3. Consult with the UT astronomy department to see whether the universe would be annihilated if his ego was ever in the same room as Bruce Pearl's.
4. Coach in, and win, a football game.

For a moment, I had to cross off "make an outrageous scholarship offer to a middle schooler" because, well, there were reports that he just did that. Evan Berry, 13-year-old son of former Vol running back James Berry and brother of current Vol Eric Berry, has officially committed to the Vols. Or so said Rivals.com and ESPN, sort of.

Evan Berry's father begs to differ. As does the NCAA, which doesn't allow coaches to contact middle schoolers.

But you know it's coming.

ESPN, which should know better, ran a crawl about the younger Berry committing to the Vols. Sports Illustrated's recruiting expert Andy Staples even called it "a smart gamble." To be fair, it does sound like the kind of thing Lane Kiffin might do, apart from the whole "he didn't actually do it" thing.

How did the mess get started? Evan Berry was asked a question at a track meet by a reporter who found out he was Eric Berry's little brother. Evan said he was "committed" to Tennessee, which he probably is given his family ties. It's just that "commitment" means something different to the Recruiting-Industrial Complex than it does to, say, an eighth grader.

To a normal person, "committed" means "If possible, I am going to play for the Vols." To the Recruiting-Industrial Complex, it means "I have received a scholarship offer from the current coaching staff, and I have accepted that offer." It also means "Hurry up and get this on the internet, because nobody's going to pay $9.95 a month for old news about the potential college choices of teenage athletes." That still doesn't explain why ESPN put the story on their crawl, however.

Still, for a few short hours, it looked like Lane Kiffin had gone and signed himself a kid who hasn't finished middle school yet. Thus, every local of the Lunatic Athletic Boosters Union held an emergency meeting, trying to determine which of their former stars have offerable spawn, then texting their head coaches to ask why Former Great, Jr. hasn't been offered a scholarship yet. And they weren't going to take "he's eight months old and hasn't learned to walk yet" for an answer.

That is where college football is heading. Every time I think things can't get any weirder in this cornball sport, they do.

UPDATE: Evan Berry also committed to Tennessee back when he was in fifth grade. I believe that's what is known as a "solid verbal."

Lane Kiffin's Next Trick: Recruiting a Middle Schooler? Uh, Not Really originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Butch Davis' Tar Heels in Line for Success With Touted Tackle James Hurst

Jim Henry — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:14:00 EST

Filed under: UNC, ACC, Recruiting, Prospects

Scout.com released its updated Scout 300 on Monday, and offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson remains the site's top high school prospect. Two other offensive lineman were rated among the country's top 22 players, including tackle James Hurst of Indiana.

In fact, Hurst just might be the most heavily-recruited offensive lineman ever from the Hoosier state, which should put a smile on the face of North Carolina coach Butch Davis. Hurst is one of three verbal commitments for the Tar Heels.

"I ran out of good things to say about James a long time ago," Brian Woodard, Hurst's high school coach in Plainfield, Ind., outside of Indianapolis, told FanHouse.

"It may sound like a broken record, but it's all true. He's a special young man. James is going to be one heck of a college football player."

Hurst, a 6-foot-5, 271-pounder, will join Davis' emerging program next season, along with his brother, tight end Nelson Hurst, who will transfer from Mississippi State. The brothers have a strong football bloodline -- their father, Tim Hurst, played for Bear Bryant at Alabama in the mid-1970s.

More than 25 programs extended scholarship offers to Hurst, who narrowed his final three choices to UNC, Florida and Georgia. Hurst became the Tar Heels' first verbal commitment in April, pointing to factors that included his connection with UNC offensive line coach Sam Pittman, the team's pro-style offense and the program's reemergence under Davis.

UNC received more good news Monday when Russell Bodine of Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy became the second offensive lineman to verbally commit to the Tar Heels. Linebacker Ty Linton, of Charlotte, N.C., also had previously committed to UNC, which featured a top-10 recruiting class this past year under Davis.

After Mack Brown's departure in 1997, the Tar Heels floundered for the next nine seasons. Carl Torbush (1998-00) and John Bunting (2001-06) went a combined 44-63 before UNC finally found its man in Davis. After a 4-8 season in 2007, Davis had the Tar Heels contending in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division last year. UNC finished 8-5, its best season since 2001.

Davis also knows a little something about rebuilding programs. He took over a Miami Hurricanes program in 1995 that was ravaged with scholarship losses due to violations. By 2000, the Hurricanes were a top-five team nationally.

"I went on a bunch of visits, but the big three for me were North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia," Hurst told Scout.com. "I went to those three schools and we let it settle I guess for a couple weeks. It was easy for me to see where I fit in the best and where I wanted to be.

"I said I wanted to wait until August, but this was the best for me to have it out of the way and everything."

Woodard wasn't surprised by Hurst's decision to pull the trigger early on the Tar Heels. February's National Signing Day is still nine months away, and verbal commitments are non-binding under NCAA rules. Woodard pointed to Hurst's discipline on the field and in the classroom. Hurst has earned academic honors (4.1 grade-point average) and plans to graduate in December and enroll early at UNC.

"James is really a sharp guy, just a neat kid," said Woodard, whose team went 9-3 last season and made the sectional finals.

"He's a very good athlete with incredible speed for his size and frame. He plays low and is physical, but probably his greatest asset is that he's so sharp. He understands concepts and schemes that the average player does not understand. He's as good as anybody out there."

Rivals.com recruiting analyst Greg Ladky agrees.

"James Hurst is just so good at tackle," Ladky said.

"He is great in pass protection, and he will put defenders into the ground run blocking. While Seantrel Henderson has the most upside at tackle, I think Hurst is the surest thing at the offensive tackle spot. Given how important left tackles are, Hurst is Indiana's most valuable prospect."

Added Woodard: "James is one of those kids who, no matter what he does in life, he will be successful because he has that kind of work ethic and discipline."

The top five prospects ranked nationally by Rivals.com are Henderson (Saint Paul, Minn.), running back Lache Seastrunk (Temple, Texas), receiver Darius White (Fort Worth, Texas) running back Marcus Lattimore (Duncan, S.C.) and athlete Matt Elam (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.). Hurst is ranked seventh.

Scout.com's top five are Henderson, Lattimore, linebacker Justin McCay (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), linebacker Jeff Luc (Treasure Coast, Fla.) and offensive lineman Andrew Norwell (Cincinnati). Hurst is ranked 22nd.

Elam (Florida) and Norwell (Ohio State) are the lone players among the top-five on each site that have committed to schools.

Butch Davis' Tar Heels in Line for Success With Touted Tackle James Hurst originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Goodman Arrested as Trouble Mounts for Florida State Receivers

Jim Henry — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State, Marshall, ACC, Police Blotter, Prospects

Florida State's list of available receivers continues to dwindle.

Richard Goodman, a senior receiver for the Seminoles, was arrested by Florida State University police Tuesday night and charged with aggravated battery, a felony. He was released on $1,000 bond. The charge, according to a sheriff's office spokesman, stems from an on-campus fight in November 2008 between members of the football team and members of a fraternity.

Goodman was suspended indefinitely from the team on Wednesday by FSU coach Bobby Bowden.

Trouble also has filtered into the local high school ranks, where star quarterback A.J. Graham, the state's Mr. Football Award winner who signed with Marshall University last February, was arrested on Tuesday by Tallahassee police on a robbery with firearm charge.

The Seminoles are down to one senior receiver in Louis Givens following Goodman's arrest. The charge stems from the on-campus fight Nov. 12, 2008 between football players and the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, then Goodman, 22, becomes the third FSU player to face criminal charges as part of that investigation. Fellow receivers Bert Reed and Cameron Wade faced misdemeanor battery charges from their alleged involvement in that fight.

According to FSU Police Department documents, police believe Goodman is the individual who swung a chair that struck a female in the face during the on-campus fight last November. Goodman's charge is aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing great bodily harm. That's a second degree felony.

The FSU Police Department had been investigating the fight for six months, trying to establish the identity of the individual who used a chair to assault a female. The case received its break on April 2 when, according to police department documents, a female witness identified Goodman as the one who swung the chair. The witness picked Goodman out of a photographic lineup that included three FSU football players and nine other students.

Up until then, according to the affidavit, a positive identification had never been made. Since Goodman is charged with a felony, he will be suspended indefinitely, according to FSU's athletic department policy.

FSU receivers have been involved in their share of headlines.

Preston Parker, the 2007 team MVP, was kicked off the team after a DUI arrest in January. Corey Surrency's career officially ended this week when the NCAA denied the player's final appeal granting him another year of eligibility. Senior Rod Owens has been suspended indefinitely after he was arrested on DUI charges in April. Taiwan Easterling ruptured an Achilles in spring drills. Reed, Wade and Goodman also were suspended during the season last year for their reported involvement in a campus fight.

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In this undated photo released by the University of Kentucky, Jeremy Jarmon is shown. Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon has been ruled ineligible for his senior season by the NCAA because of a failed drug test. He said at a news conference Saturday, May 23, 2009, he had inadvertently taken a banned substance that turned up positive during a random NCAA test in February. An appeal was denied, in effect ending his college football career. (AP Photo/University of Kentucky)

In this Dec. 27, 2008, photo, Florida State's Corey Surrency signs autographs following the Champs Sports Bowl college football game in Orlando, Fla., against Wisconsin. The NCAA has denied Surrency's final appeal to play another year. The decision Tuesday, May 19, 2009, upheld an April ruling. It means the senior, who played just one year at Florida State, has used up his eligibility. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

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Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, speaks to the media in Arlington, Va. on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno speaks to reporters in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, speaks to the media in Arlington, Va. on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Taylor Stokes wears his letter jacket on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2009. Stokes was the first black scholarship football player at Vanderbilt, and has returned 40 years later to finish his degree. He will graduate on May 8. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Taylor Stokes wears his letter jacket on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 1, 2009, in front of a statue of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the founder of the university. Stokes was the first black scholarship football player at Vanderbilt, and has returned 40 years later to finish his degree. He will graduate on May 8. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner and Bowl Championship Series coordinator John Swofford, left, and West Mountain Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson, right, are sworn in before giving their testimony before the House Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing on the football Bowl Championship Series on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

In an interview with FanHouse last week, FSU quarterback Christian Ponder said he's determined to help the Seminoles improve their bruised image.

"I am trying to shine a new light on FSU and trying to change that negative image into a positive image, as well as trying to get this team back to being a successful team," Ponder said. "A lot of that depends on getting rid of these off-the-field issues and getting people to focus more on successes on and off the field, and forgetting about the things that don't matter and get us in trouble."

Graham, meanwhile, spent his high school graduation night in a cell at the Leon County Jail, according to The Tallahassee Democrat. The standout quarterback from Godby High was arrested at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, less than two hours before the school's graduation ceremony.

Graham became the first Tallahasseean to earn Mr. Football honors for the state of Florida. He was also named the Tallahassee Democrat's Big Bend Player of the Year after leading the Cougars to the Class 3A state title game, where they fell 7-6 in overtime to Cocoa.

Graham, who selected Marshall over Clemson, Illinois and Kansas State, accounted for 4,434 total yards and 48 touchdowns last season. He threw for 3,870 yards and 38 touchdowns and ran for 564 yards and 10 scores. Graham ended his Godby career with single-season records and career records in pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes.

On Wednesday, Marshall head coach Mark Snyder released Graham from his scholarship.

Richard Goodman Arrested as Trouble Mounts for Florida State Receivers originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 11:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marve Might Walk on With Vols, but How Much Will He Matter?

Clay Travis — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona State, University of Miami, Nebraska, Purdue, Tennessee, ACC, SEC, Prospects

As a high school senior in Tampa, Fla., in 2007, Robert Marve passed for 48 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards. The final pass of his prep career was a touchdown with 17 seconds remaining in the state title game. With big numbers and clutch performances, Marve was one of the top quarterback recruits in the country, fielding scholarship offers from Alabama, Purdue, Miami and Michigan State and a host of others. Initially Marve committed to the Crimson Tide, but after Mike Shula's firing, he reopened his recruitment and ended up signing with Miami.

Less than six months later, Marve was a passenger in a car driven by one of his Miami teammates. The car slammed into a guardrail on I-95 after the driver fell asleep, and Marve's left hand was badly injured, leading him to redshirt his freshman season. This past season, Marve returned to start 11 games for the Hurricanes, throwing for nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions. But in December he decided to transfer. Which leads to an interesting question, how often have college football quarterbacks transferred and actually been successful at their new destination?

Initially, Miami announced that Marve would not be granted his release to transfer to any SEC, ACC, or Florida colleges. After a hearing, those restrictions were amended to include, from the SEC, only LSU, Tennessee, and Florida, schools that Miami believed improperly tampered with their player. Marve withdrew from school for the spring semester in order to make a decision, now the Tampa Tribune is reporting that Marve plans to walk on at Tennessee. Why walk on? Because unless Miami releases him he can't accept a scholarship to Tennessee.

While paying tuition at Tennessee rather than accepting a scholarship from Purdue, South Florida, Nebraska, or Arizona State (the other schools Marve visited) might not make financial sense, it makes an awful lot of football sense. The quarterback depth chart at Tennessee features just two scholarship quarterbacks, senior Jonathan Crompton and junior Nick Stephens. Having three years between quarterbacks is virtually unheard of at a major college program, and Lane Kiffin has hit the recruiting trail attempting to turn this lack of depth into a major selling point for potential signal callers.

If Marve were to enroll at Tennessee, he'd be eligible beginning with the 2010 season (with an additional year after that) and would find himself competing with only Stephens, whichever freshmen Tennessee might sign in the class of 2010, and former pro baseball player Mike Rozier for the starting job. As far as major programs go, those odds are pretty golden. Not surprisingly, when reached for comment by FanHouse Tennessee officials were mum on the potential transfer, but it appears that Marve's decision has come down to Purdue and the Vols.

Will Marve turn down a scholarship at a Big Ten school to pay to play at an SEC school? The decision could come as soon as Friday. In the meantime, it's important to keep in mind that the Marve family isn't exactly struggling for cash. His father, Eugene Marve, played 12 years in the NFL. And, in a key move, Marve has already spent a semester out of school since leaving Miami. So the Marve family would actually only have to pay for one semester of tuition, the fall of 2009, before the one-year scholarship limitation runs out that is keeping Marve from transferring to any school of his choice.

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Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, speaks to the media in Arlington, Va. on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno speaks to reporters in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, speaks to the media in Arlington, Va. on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner and Bowl Championship Series coordinator John Swofford, left, testifies before the House Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing on the football Bowl Championship Series on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, May 1, 2009. Also testifying on the panel are, from left, West Mountain Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson, President and CEO of Valero Alamo Bowl Derrick Fox and Boise State Athletic Director Gene Bleymaier. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Boise State Athletic Director Gene Bleymaier, right, testifies before the House Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing on the football Bowl Championship Series on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, May 1, 2009. Also testifying on the panel are, from left, Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner and Bowl Championship Series coordinator John Swofford, West Mountain Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson, and President and CEO of Valero Alamo Bowl Derrick Fox. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner and Bowl Championship Series coordinator John Swofford testifies testifies before the House Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing on the football Bowl Championship Series on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

I can think of a couple of other examples of players who have transferred to schools they weren't released to and gamed the system like this. Brent Schaeffer, who started for the Vols as a freshman in 2004, did it. Tennessee refused to grant him a release to transfer in conference, as is typical, but Schaeffer played for a year in junior college and then enrolled at Ole Miss with two years of eligibility remaining.

Marve could have also done what Luke Recker did, and transfered out of the conference for a semester only to transfer back in, though the circumstances of Recker's return might've had more to do with personal circumstances than gaming the system. Still, Recker left Indiana, transferred to Arizona for a semester, and then transferred from there to Iowa without playing a game for the Wildcats.

The point is that Marve and his family will probably only have to pay for one semester of tuition at Tennessee, which isn't the huge barrier that some have made it out to be given the relatively limited cost of attending Tennessee and his family's financial status.

But here's the real question. For all the attention paid to Marve's transfer, how many quarterbacks transferred from one big school to another big school and won a conference championship? Troy Aikman led UCLA to a share of the Pac-10 title in 1987 after transferring from Oklahoma and Colt Brennan left Colorado to lead Hawaii all the way to the Sugar Bowl in 2007-08, though Hawaii isn't a BCS-level school. Surely there are others, but my point is a quarterback leaving and finding success in different college football pastures is pretty rare.

But maybe all the Marve transfer frenzy isn't so much about winning the SEC as much as it is a sign of how desperate every single one of us is for college football season to return. In the meantime, Marve is on the clock.

Marve Might Walk on With Vols, but How Much Will He Matter? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 14 May 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star-Crossed Top Recruits of 2005 More Likely to Be Arrested Than Drafted

Clay Travis — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:47:00 EST

Filed under: Maryland, Police Blotter, Recruiting, Prospects, Heisman

In 2005, Rivals.com ranked 28 men as five-star football recruits. The players were the cream of the crop, the top football players in America. They signed to play for top teams across the country, from USC to Miami, Penn State to Oklahoma.

There was just one problem: Turns out they were more likely to be arrested than drafted by the NFL.

In the 2009 draft, seven of these 28 men were drafted. Four more left early and were drafted in the 2008 draft. That means there have been 11 draft picks from the 2005 five-stars. Amazingly, that's less than the number of men who have been arrested, 14. If you ever doubted whether being obsessed with college football recruiting was fool's gold, keep this stat in mind: In 2005, five-star recruits were more than twice as likely to be arrested (14) as drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2008 or 2009 (six). There haven't been this many wasted hours on the Internet since first year lawyering.
But it's time for a confession: I'm guilty of being obsessed with college football recruiting. As soon as a recruit commits to my team, I immediately watch all the videos and debate the accuracy of Rivals' vaunted star ranking system. Rivals is always right when it comes to analyzing my teams' recruits. Come February, we all sit in front of our computers and wait for the signing day faxes to arrive. Depending on how many two-star, three-star, four-star, or the glorious five-stars our teams sign, we then assess our recruiting class and dream championship dreams.

Or curse our fan fate.

But no one really ever asks a key question, how accurate is the Rivals star system when it comes to future NFL draft success? The answer? Not that accurate. Eight of the first round picks in 2009 were two-stars, guys who, if your team offered them scholarships, you'd kick the dirt and wonder whether your team would ever compete for championships. See for yourself. If the NFL draft is an inexact science then college football recruiting is akin to treating cancer with leaches.

In all, seven five-stars from the class of 2005 were drafted out of the 255 picks in 2009. Combining that with the four taken in 2008's first round, 11 five-star players from the 2005 class have gone on to be drafted. That pales in comparison to the 135 two-stars and 65 three stars. In fact, guys who would barely merit a mention when they sign with your team (nary a four-star or five-star among them) comprised a whopping 78 percent of the NFL draft picks.

Now it's important to note that there are many more two- and three-star recruits in the country than there are four- and five-star recruits. But I'd always believed, mistakenly it turns out, that the size of the NFL D\draft made it fairly likely that just about every five-star recruit, the jewels of every recruiting class, would get drafted. The reality isn't true. Not even close.

In fact, 2005's five star-recruiting list is more valuable for defense attorneys than it is for NFL prospects. Of the 14 players who would go on to be arrested (and it could even be higher, these 14 arrests I found by a diligent search consisting of typing in arrest and the player's name in Google), none is more disturbing than the No. 4 overall recruit in 2005, Melvin Alaeze. Alaeze was a 6-foot-2, 277-pound defensive end who selected Maryland after a spirited recruiting battle. No doubt Terrapin football fans burned things in the streets. In high school, Alaeze ran the 40 in 4.54 seconds and could already bench press 225 pounds 22 times. His final five schools were Maryland, Virginia Tech, USC, Penn State and Miami. Instead of starring in college he received an eight-year prison sentence at the end of 2007.

The Baltimore Examiner reports:

"Circuit Judge John Turnbull sentenced Alaeze to 8 years behind bars after the football standout pleaded guilty to committing a first-degree assault. Alaeze admitted participating in a Dec. 24, 2006, shooting and robbery in Randallstown in which a man was shot and wounded in the head and back."

Alaeze received the most serious penalty of those arrested. So far. He joins his fellow five-stars: Ryan Perrilloux, Tray Blackmon, Jason Gwaltney, Alex Boone, Justin King, Callahan Bright, DeMarcus Granger, Fred Rouse, Rey Maulauga, Demetrice Morley, Ryan Grady, Darren McFadden, and Jerrell Powe as mugshot material. You'll note that a few of these managed the five-star daily double, arrest and first-round draft pick status. That's talent, the five-star cross-over.

In the end, our recruiting obsession is making players stars before they even arrive on campus. And maybe, just maybe, that stardom contributes to their misbehavior once they arrive on campus. When you've been told that you're God's gift to football, begged to attend schools by national championship winning coaches for months, danced with the hottest girls on campus, and had your signing-day decision nationally televised, is it any surprise that you think the regular rules don't apply to you?

You think that because ... they don't.

When you get right down to it, being a five-star Rivals prospect might be the ultimate football kiss of death. At the very least it tells us that we fans are as big of idiots as we already expected we were, the information we use to feed our recruiting obsession is as tasty as rice cakes and water, as filling as empty air.

Last fall, my wife came downstairs at 3 a.m. to find me watching high school highlight videos in the darkness of my office. She thought I was looking at porn. In a way, I was. Rivals recruiting rankings are every bit as fantastical as the finest creations in the Vivid Video stable. We think if we stare long enough at the five-stars we can predict the next two Heisman Trophy winners, the reality is we're more likely to predict the campus police blotter.

Because for the vast majority of Rivals' five-star prospects the moment the rankings are released, the players have reached the pinnacle of their football careers. It's all downhill, and we'll be there to watch the slide. Asking all the while, "How could this have ever happened?"

Star-Crossed Top Recruits of 2005 More Likely to Be Arrested Than Drafted originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 11 May 2009 23:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bryce Brown, Nation's Top Running Back Recruit, Could Turn Pro in Canada

Chris Burke — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:52:00 EST

Filed under: Recruiting, Rumors, Prospects

So you want to know how over-the-top college football recruiting has become, how utterly insane it is these days? Allow me to present the case of Bryce Brown.

Arguably the top prep prospect in the entire country, Brown verbally committed to Miami a year ago, but told The U. that he would still visit his other college options. He did so, putting together a list that included Oregon, Kansas State, Tennessee, USC and Auburn.

Then on signing day, with all those teams holding their breath, Brown signed with ... no one. And here's the kicker: He may not wind up at any of those places, according to his "manager" Brian Butler -- instead opting for a professional contract in the Canadian Football League.

Butler said he planned to have someone explore the possibility of Brown playing in the C.F.L. next season. "If they were talking about any amount of real money, I'd guarantee it," Butler said of Brown potentially playing in the C.F.L. He mentioned a C.F.L. team paying Brown $5 million a year for three years.

He added: "We're not playing around. I can promise you that. I'm not scared at all to do anything, and Bryce isn't either. Hey, he'll hurt your feelings. He's not worried about your feelings. He's worried about what's right and what's wrong."

This is about the time where teams, if they weren't so obsessed with bringing in the best players no matter the risk, would say "Thanks, but no thanks" and walk away.

Seriously, does a school need this? A fresh out of high school kid with (basically) an agent, who threatens to take his client elsewhere if he's not completely satisfied? The bugger of the whole thing -- and the reason that coaches won't turn away -- is that Brown supremely talented. The video below is Brown dominating at the prestigious U.S. Army All-American Game:

So the college football world waits and watches to see where Brown will finally decide to go.

If it's a U.S. college, that team instantly gets a boost in the final recruiting rankings, and probably has a new starting running back.

If it's to the CFL then, well, good riddance.

Bryce Brown, Nation's Top Running Back Recruit, Could Turn Pro in Canada originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Cruises to Senior Bowl Victory

Chris Burke — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 22:38:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Prospects, Bowl Games

I'm not entirely sure how this result will justify the SEC as the nation's best conference, but I am sure someone will argue it: the South team jumped out to a 21-3 lead at the annual Senior Bowl and coasted to a 35-18 win over the North.

Most of the South's offensive success came on the ground -- rising star Rashad Jennings from Liberty carried nine times for 57 yards, part of a 169-yard team rushing effort. Quarterback/whatever he'll play in the NFL Pat White posted the best yards-per-carry average, carrying three times for 31 yards.

White also hit on 4-of-9 passes for 63 yards and a 39-yard third-quarter touchdown to Ole Miss' Mike Wallace. Alabama QB John Parker Wilson, N.C. State running back Andre Brown and LSU fullback Quinn Johnson each scored on the ground for the South, while Wallace's Mississippi teammate Peria Jerry added a late defensive score.

The North let loose with an aerial attack, despite having a couple quarterbacks that struggled throwing the ball. Oregon running back Jeremiah Johnson had the North's longest TD play -- a whopping four-yard touchdown reception from Central Arkansas' Nathan Brown.

Brown had the best statistical day of the North's three QBs, going 9-for-15 for 92 yards and that short scoring pass. Sam Houston State's Rhett Bomar, off a strong week of practice, finished 6-for-12, while Graham Harrell struggled to a 4-for-13 day with an interception. Harrell looked particularly uncomfortable under center -- not surprising given Texas Tech's use of the shotgun, but not good for his NFL chances either.

Navy fullback Eric Kettani punched in from one yard out on his only carry of the day, Johnson added a two-point conversion and Utah's Louie Sakoda booted a field goal to round out the North's scoring.

Oklahoma wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias also added six receptions for 90 yards, with Penn State's Derrick Williams tallying 117 total yards as he showed off his all-around potential.

South Cruises to Senior Bowl Victory originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 22:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Senior Bowl Players to Watch

Chris Burke — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:50:00 EST

Filed under: Big 10, Big 12, SEC, Prospects, Bowl Games

The annual Senior Bowl fires up at 7 PM ET Saturday on the NFL Network. As always, the game itself is the highlight of a week-long display of some of the best seniors in the country. What we've seen so far is that some of the guys expected to shine have struggled a bit, while a few unexpected players have jumped to the forefront with some impressive efforts.

So here's a quick look at a few guys to keep an eye on during tonight's North-South contest.

- Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech: This is an important day for Harrell, since he's been outplayed all week long by Sam Houston State's sleeper prospect Rhett Bomar. Harrell's already been considered a bit of a reach as an NFL quarterback -- a middle-to-late round guy -- and he's done nothing to ease concerns about his arm strength.

- Mitch King, DL, Iowa: Everyone's been blown away this week by defensive tackle B.J. Raji from Boston College, who may have thrust himself into the draft's top-10. But King's an interesting prospect that continues to impress scouts. He's 6'2" and 275 -- not exactly Shaun Rogers material for a defensive tackle, but he made a living in the offensive backfield all week during drills, and could really take a step forward tonight.

- Kory Sheets, RB, Purdue: Sheets only got the official invite to Mobile this week because Michigan State's Javon Ringer bailed with a knee injury -- knocking his own stock down further. The Boilermakers back has taken full advantage, though. Sheets is probably not an every-down back in the NFL, but with his pass-catching ability and elusiveness, he could be a very good third-down back for someone.

- Domonique Johnson, CB, Jackson State: His first name is one letter off from last year's unexpected secondary star -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who blew up in this game and is now in the Super Bowl with the Cardinals -- but he's got similar upside for NFL scouts. Johnson has the frame and athleticism that NFL teams crave in the defensive backfield, and could jump into the second or third round if he performs well.

- Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly: Speaking about guys with prototypical size, Barden has just that. The relatively-unknown receiver stands 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds, and can simply overwhelm defensive backs. Barden may not be able to jump into the first round, but he could be a stellar prospect for the next level.

Stick with FanHouse all day for ongoing Senior Bowl coverage.

Senior Bowl Players to Watch originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pitt's Offense Loses Only Dimension; LeSean McCoy Enters NFL Draft

Chas Rich — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Pittsburgh, Big East, Prospects

It is no secret that Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt prefers his offense to pound the ball with a ground attack. A lot. For the last couple of years, Pitt has had great success with that approach thanks to LeSean McCoy.

The tailback has rushed for over 2,800 yards the last two seasons. Those yards came on close to 600 carries. Given the load he has carried at Pitt, and the tread life on running backs, it was something of a surprise when McCoy announced he was coming back for another year at Pitt. Granted, the announcement came in late November with two games and a bowl game still to be played, so there was some skepticism.

Now, after a favorable report from the NFL Draft advisory board, and nearly a week of angst-ing over the choice, McCoy has decided to go pro.

While McCoy is only a sophomore, he has been out of high school for three years, and is eligible for the NFL Draft. He spent three semesters at a prep school (he left his high school midway through to attend prep school). In his senior season of high school he suffered a major leg fracture that ended his season and had many of the schools recruiting him back off.

The departure of McCoy creates a huge hole in the offense. The backup running back was a senior, so the spot is wide open. It is expected to be a competition between redshirt sophomore Shariff Harris who had 12 carries for 21 yards this past season and highly-regarded redshirt freshman Chris Burns.

Regardless, the Panthers have lost their best player on offense along with the graduation of the best linebacker in the Big East and one of the most reliable kickers.

Pitt's Offense Loses Only Dimension; LeSean McCoy Enters NFL Draft originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Myron Rolle Chooses Oxford Over NFL

Chas Rich — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:44:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State, ACC, Prospects

Florida State safety Myron Rolle was rightfully lauded for earning the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and the chance to spend up to two years studying at Oxford University in England. This is a significant achievement for any student, and even more impressive for a student-athlete competing in a top football program. Rolle hopes to eventually become a neurosurgeon.

Rolle is also one of the top defensive back prospects in the NFL Draft, which led to questions as to whether Rolle would go to Oxford or pursue his NFL career first. On Monday, Rolle quietly made it known in a text message to the New York Times' Pete Thamel, that he would be going to Oxford for a one-year program to get his masters in medical anthropology.

Rolle received a draft evaluation that would suggest he could be drafted in the first two rounds. Rolle intends to enter the NFL Draft in 2010. He is still turning down the opportunity to earn at least hundreds of thousands of dollars this year, for his academic and personal growth.

Not many people would even defer the money for a year. Then again, not many people are capable of earning a Rhodes Scholarship.

Myron Rolle Chooses Oxford Over NFL originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston College Linebacker Mark Herzlich Returns To School, Picks A New Coach?

Ian Cohen — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:34:00 EST

Filed under: Boston College, ACC, Rumors, Prospects

Fact: Mark Herzlich is the best player Boston College currently has on its roster. Provided that nothing shady happens in the next year or so, you can pretty much rest assured he'll be off the board by the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. Really, he could have done the same this April, but much to the Eagles' non-chagrin, Herzlich will anchor the defense in an attempt to garner a third straight bid the ACC Championship Game/disappointing bowl bid once they lose.

And that's all well and good, but is Herzlich moonlighting as AD? He made a pretty adamant statement about who BC needs to tab as the next head coach, despite a coaching search that appears to getting pretty national with it as of late - and it's not so much of a shock that he's a Frank Spaziani guy, what with him being Herzlich's coach and the easiest, if not most appropriate hire.

Tough to say what BC does in this situation; it's conceivable that they could please a guy like Herzlich, because how long do they plan on keeping Spaz as coach anyway if he does get promoted? Is he just a stop gap despite being the candidate most likely to stick around? Because truth be told, Spaz has about two decades on the sort of guys that BC is hot for- Skip Holtz and assorted pickings from the Al Groh coaching tree (Al Golden, Mike London).

Boston College Linebacker Mark Herzlich Returns To School, Picks A New Coach? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sour Times For Josh Portis

Ian Cohen — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:26:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Maryland, ACC, SEC, Prospects, Division II

Because nobody loves him, it's true. Not like his mom does, at least. And hey, a Third joke! As in, he's about to quarterback his third team in five years after bolting from Florida to Maryland to California...of Pennsylvania. Thanks to fellow Fanhouser Bruce Ciskie, I now recognize them as the team that got worked something terrible in the D-II playoffs by Minnesota-Duluth. Before then, I knew it as the very same school that Virginia's own exiled QB, Kevin McCabe, shuffled off to after an unceremonious benching during the 2006 season.

And while McCabe got in Al Groh's doghouse during a rebuilding year for a couple of INT's (resulting in a longer leash down the line for turnover machine Marc Verica in the same situation?), Portis was basically a weapon that the Terps couldn't seem to find a use for, in spite of his rave-worthy athleticism. Even with Ralph Friedgen's rep as an offensive innovator, the steadier, if not somewhat uninspiring Chris Turner's progression led to a diminished need for the potential for Portis gadget plays. Portis attempted three passes all year and ran 36 times. Somewhere down the road, it's not unthinkable that his huge upside could land him in the "sleeper" territory in 2010's mock draft (similar to Rhett Bomar), but as for now, it's somewhat disappointing that a rare talent in quarterbacking didn't pan out in a conference that really needs it.

Sour Times For Josh Portis originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kevin Ogletree Ankles UVA's Spread Offense

Ian Cohen — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:34:00 EST

Filed under: Virginia, ACC, Prospects

Well, the good news for Virginia's long-suffering fanbase is that after years and years of thoroughly unexciting and unproductive offensive schemes under the stewardship of Ron Prince and Mike Groh, deposed Bowling Green coach Mike Brandon is prepared to institute the spread as he takes control in 2009. And yeah, it's likely a good idea considering the ACC is pretty much bereft of that offensive style (perhaps save for the spread option), and it just might be the sort of thing that makes UVA a destination for the kind of speedsters they seemingly miss out on year after year. Awesome!

Now, get prepared for a spread offense ran by an admittedly mobile quarterback with considerable accuracy problems, one year removed from an academic suspension. Or the guy who threw the most interceptions in the ACC despite not even starting all year. Excited yet?!?! Oh, and thanks to leading receiver Kevin Ogletree making an excusable, if not seriously curious leap into the NFL draft, your most accomplished pass catcher hauled in a grand total of 19 balls in 2008, provided inevitable Wes Welker comparison Cary Koch isn't granted a hardship exception.

Ogletree's move is understandable in that he's already graduated, is one season removed from a decimating tendon injury and, I dunno, inspired by the success of Billy McMullen? Ogletree lacks ideal size and gamebreaking speed and is coming off a season nearly identical to that of 2006 (50+ catches, 5-7 record, zero national presence) and could have possibly hooked back up with a QB he has good chemistry with in an offense that's emphasizing the pass more than ever (conceivably). Wish him the best, but let's just hope he made good friends with Eugene Monroe and Clint Sintim.

Kevin Ogletree Ankles UVA's Spread Offense originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris 'Beanie' Wells Decides to Enter NFL Draft, Leave Fast-Paced Big Ten Lifestyle

Will Brinson — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Ohio State, Big 10, Campus, Media Watch, Rumors, Prospects

Chris "Beanie" Wells said recently that he wanted to leave Ohio State as the school's all-time leading rusher. Well, that goal is probably going to have to wait for, well, ever, because he announced today that he is leaving school and entering the 2009 NFL Draft, forgoing his senior season as a Buckeye.

Wells issued a statement Thursday saying the move is in the best interest of his family.

Wells fought nagging injuries much of his career at Ohio State. After missing three full games this past season, he returned to rush for 1,197 yards.

But he saw limited action in the second half of Monday's Fiesta Bowl due to symptoms of a concussion. He finished with 106 yards on 16 carries.

In three seasons at Ohio State, Wells ran for 3,382 yards, fourth best in school history.

So, yeah, he was almost there. But not really. Wells' junior season was certainly less memorable than he would have wanted it to be; he missed the team's biggest game against USC early in the season and, as noted above, was limited in the Fiesta Bowl loss to the Longhorns.

Still, he had a 1,000 yard-plus season, he's reasonably healthy right now, and an injury next year would debilitate any chances of being a first-rounder, something he is most certainly considered right now.

Chris 'Beanie' Wells Decides to Enter NFL Draft, Leave Fast-Paced Big Ten Lifestyle originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FSU's Everette Brown Declares For Draft

Ian Cohen — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:46:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State, ACC, Prospects

Straight from the thoroughbred's mouth:

"I have always tried to take a little bit from the great Florida State pass rushers of the past, such as Andre Wadsworth, Peter Boulware and Kameron Wimbley," [Everette] Brown said. "Those are the guys I learned from."

I suppose we can argue about the sort of bad mojo that can result from namedropping Andre Wadsworth in regards to one's NFL future, but beyond that, it's a pretty obvious move for Florida State defensive end Everette Brown to be the next in the line of incredibly well-paid Seminole pass rushers. And who can blame him when you consider the (possibly) Giants-inspired emphasis on pressuring the quarterback? The Noles' defensive MVP garnered 13 1/2 sacks last season and ranks fourth all-time in school history.

Most have pegged Brown as pretty much a lock for the first round, most likely in the top twenty. And he's got his degree to boot, so you don't have to be particularly cynical when he describes his decision as one of "business."

FSU's Everette Brown Declares For Draft originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maryland Gamebreaker Heyward-Bey Goes Pro

Ian Cohen — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:03:00 EST

Filed under: Maryland, ACC, Prospects

If you're the type of guy who spends the livelong day poring over mock drafts, hoping and praying that your team picks something other than an offensive lineman (the relative "socks for Hannukah" result- useful, but sorta boring), you're familiar with this archetype: freakishly talented wide receiver struggles with quarterbacking upheaval, oh, if only he could put it all together and be consistent! More often than not, you see this guy sliding towards the top of the second round despite first-round talent, and in premature draft grades, the team that obtains him is considered to have gotten a steal (especially if they drafted a QB in the first round).

Sometimes you do indeed get a steal. Sometimes you get Malcolm Kelly. And with that, the announcement of Maryland's exciting, if not always dependable Darrius Heyward-Bey throwing his proverbial hat into the ring. Despite the rep that's stuck with him since he shocked the ~~scant ACC viewership~~ world with a 96-yarder against Miami, Heyward-Bey's stats are still pretty tough to argue with: even as a real-deal receiver in a pro-style offense, Heyward-Bey still managed to be the Terrapin's third-leading rusher, and in just three years, he collected the second most receiving yards and third most receptions in Maryland history. Then again, when Jermaine Lewis holds most of your important receiving records, those tasty crabcakes of info are best taken with a bit of salt.

Maryland Gamebreaker Heyward-Bey Goes Pro originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sam Bradford Will Reportedly Enter the NFL Draft Following the BCS Championship

Will Brinson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Oklahoma, BCS, Big 12, SEC, NCAA FB Gossip, Media Watch, Rumors, Prospects, General CFB Insanity, Bowl Games

Sam Bradford has racked up about every award possible in his sophomore season as Oklahoma Sooners quarterback. And on Thursday night, he'll go up against Florida and Tim Tebow for the national championship. If the Sooners win (or even lose, actually) there's a pretty good chance he'll enter the NFL Draft.

National Football Post is claiming that there's no real "chance" about it though, reporting today that Bradford is as good as gone.

Sources close to the National Football Post have told us that Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, barring an injury in Thursday night's BCS National Championship game against Florida, will declare for the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound sophomore and Heisman Trophy winner threw for 4,464 yards and 48 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions in leading the Sooners to the Big 12 championship and a 12-1 record.

Now, not to knock NFP here, but "sources close to [them] ..." is a touch vague. For instance, examine the following claim: "Sources close to Will Brinson have told him that Stephen Curry will start against Duke tonight."

In case you don't see what I'm getting at: Curry is really good. He is playing Duke. He is very, very likely to start. So, there are a string of facts that lead to a conclusion that seems almost inevitable. Much like Bradford taking his won't-ever-be-higher draft stock and parlaying it into millions and millions of dollars.

Sam Bradford Will Reportedly Enter the NFL Draft Following the BCS Championship originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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