Spring Football...news and notes

[BigdaddyQH]

Pitt loses RT Jaryd Jones-Smith for the season with a blown knee.

Utah CB Dominique Hartfield may be the dumbest of the dumb players that infect college football. This dumb s**t advertises that he has an "X box" for sale, meets a prospective buyer, and robs him at gun point. The buyer has his wife call and sets up a meeting with Hartfield for the very next day at the very same spot as the first robbery. This time the buyer is not there, but the Salt Lake City Police were. Another example of a dumb stupid minority player given special priveleges so he can play football. This has to end.

 

[rolltide]

not expecting this to post well but here is athlon's all freshman pre-season team

[h=4]College Football's 2015 All-Freshman Team[/h]

	First-Team Offense	Second-Team Offense	Third-Team Offense
QB	Josh Rosen UCLA	Seth Collins Oregon State	Will Grier Florida
RB	Jacques Patrick Florida State	Ronald Jones USC	Dalvin Warmack Kansas State
RB	LJ Scott/M. London Michigan State	Markell Jones Purdue	Aeris Williams Mississippi State
AP	Donte Jackson LSU	Jeff Jones Minnesota	Nyheim Hines NC State
WR	Calvin Ridley Alabama	George Campbell Florida State	Tre'Quan Smith UCF
WR	Christian Kirk Texas A&M	Deebo Samuel South Carolina	Terry Godwin Georgia
TE	Mark Andrews Oklahoma	Deon Cain Clemson	DaMarkus Lodge Ole Miss
OL	Mitch Hyatt Clemson	Derwin Gray Maryland	Jacob Bragg Kansas
OL	Martez Ivey Florida	Michael Dieter Wisconsin	Sam Jones Arizona State
OL	Dalton Risner Kansas State	Will Clapp LSU	Tyler Jones NC State
OL	Damian Prince Maryland	Connor Williams Texas	Dennis Edwards WKU
OL	Ross Pierschbacher Alabama	Quenton Nelson Notre Dame	Javon Patterson Ole Miss

	First-Team Defense	Second-Team Defense	Third-Team Defense
DL	Kahlil McKenzie Tennessee	Daylon Mack Texas A&M	Terry Beckner Missouri
DL	Trent Thompson Georgia	CeCe Jefferson Florida	Breiden Fehoko Texas Tech
DL	Byron Cowart Auburn	Neville Gallimore Oklahoma	Christian Wilkins Clemson
DL	Solomon Thomas Stanford	Dexter Wideman South Carolina	Victor Evans Ole Miss
LB	Malik Jefferson Texas	Mike Freeze TCU	Canton Kaumatule (DL) Oregon
LB	Gerri Green Miss. State	Edwin Freeman Texas	Arden Key (DL) LSU
LB	Dillon Bates Tennessee	Jeff Holland Auburn	I. Murphy-Richardson Arizona State
DB	Jabrill Peppers Michigan	Iman Marshall USC	C.J. Stalker (LB) Virginia
DB	Derwin James Florida State	Ronnie Harrison Alabama	T.J. Edwards (LB) Wisconsin
DB	Jamal Peters Miss. State	Marlon Humphrey Alabama	Cornelius Sturghill Louisville
DB	Kevin Toliver II LSU	Holton Hill Texas	Vayante Copeland Michigan State

	First-Team Specialists	Second-Team Specialists	Third-Team Specialists
K	Justin Yoon Notre Dame	Austin Seibert Oklahoma	Andrew David Michigan
P	Alex Kinney Colorado	Jake Hartbarger Michigan State	Ian Shannon Auburn

- See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-foo...s-all-freshman-team-2015#sthash.qr2g8d1T.dpuf

 

[rolltide]

yeah that posted pretty poorly popcorn-eatinggif

anyway gives an idea of where they think freshman can make an impact. I see Ridley on first team and he is certainly the wild card at WR. With Stewart and Ro Foster almost certainly starting Ridley will have a shot to make a big splash as 3rd and 4th WR.

Harrison looked good at A-day and will be first choice backup so will get plenty of action but I don't see marlon humphrey hitting the field enough to make an all-freshman team. kid has insane speed though...was on record-setting 4x400 relay team this spring


personally i think the list is too SEC heavy with 12 of 22 on first team. Just not that easy to dominate as a freshman in that conference

 

[cloverleaf]

RT, you know this as well as I do. If you START as a true freshman at Alabama...well, stamp special player next to his name. If you play a lot at Alabama as a true freshman...label him pretty damn special.
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Men, I and a bunch of ole timers want to wish all of you guys here at the RX CFB Forum a happy/fun/safe fourth of July. Enjoy your family and honor your country.
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Still plan (JOH willing) to have our $500 Invitational CFB contest. Only 20 will be invited and most are already in concrete. Going to be tough with some late arrivers but we'll go back to February and look at the threads and posts for the final guys invited. Sponsoring the contest with a specific purpose...challenge/reward/bragging rights for guys who keep the CFB forum the best on the net during the OFF SEASON.
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Remember guys, theRX sponsors a buy in CFB contest that is as good as you will find. It is professionally run by JOH and the winner last year won well over $6 thousand bucks. Well worth the $150 or $200 buy in. Moderator BOS offers the contest to all who want to enter.
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[CoachCB]

Happy 4th CL. What are you guys doing? I'll be heading out to the cabin for the weekend. Looking forward to some whiskey drinkin and fireworks!

 

[cloverleaf]

Louisville

Bobby Petrino has a 50-13 overall record at Louisville. As he enters his second return season with the Cardinals, he faces some major problems with his offense. Settling on a quarterback for one, replacing the top 3 receivers and finding replacements for three offensive linemen are others. The Cards ranked 69th last year in total offense and have only three starters back for 2015. Last year Louisville won 9 games because of a strong defense that ranked 6th nationally. For any hope of a successful season, the defense will have to carry the team again. With only 4 starters returning on defense, the front-seven is still very sound. The linebacker core has two starters back who could be standouts in 2015. Seniors James Burgess (71 tackles, 10 for loss) and Keith Kelsey (87 tackles, 6 sacks) will anchor the stoppers up front. The weak link in the defensive armor could be a very inexperienced secondary. Winning 9 games again this season seems like a huge stretch to me, but if Petrino can rebuild along the offensive line and mature quickly in the defensive secondary, the Cardinals could overachieve to eight wins. With the worst offensive line in the ACC, six wins is also possible. Petrino is known as a good offensive mind...he'll need all the brain cells available improving this offensive bunch.

vs. Auburn.....Houston.....Clemson.....Samford.....@North Carolina St.....@Florida State.....Boston College.....@Wake Forest.....Syracuse.....Virginia.....@Pittsburgh.....@Kentucky

 

[cloverleaf]

SEC JUCO Players

Most SEC schools recruit junior college players to fill an immediate need and have an instant impact on the program. As a rule, JUCO players don't receive a lot of media attention during the recruiting process, but chances are good that numerous JC transfers in this recruiting cycle will make a lot of news during the 2015 season. As for this year's top JUCO transfers, here's a look at players joining SEC teams with their national rating. These players were taken from the JUCO Top 50 list.

1. Jovon Robinson, RB, Auburn
2. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
3. Marquavius Lewis, DE, South Carolina
4. D.J. Jones, DT, Ole Miss
7. Tony Bridges, CB, Ole Miss
8. Donald Gray, WR, Mississippi State
9. Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State
10. Jason Smith, ATH, Auburn
11. Justin Martin, CB, Tennessee
16. Dante Sawyer, DE, South Carolina
18. Jeremiah Ledbetter, DT, Arkansas
20. Chase Abbington, RB, Missouri
25. Jeremy Cutrer, S, LSU
27. Tyler Howell, OT, Missouri
28. Courtney Miggins, DT, Kentucky
29. Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M
30. Traver Jung, LB, Mississippi State
31. DeVondre Seymour, OT, Georgia
32. Marcell Frazier, DE, Missouri
35. Jonathan Taylor, DT, Alabama
37. Chat Kelley, QB, Ole Miss
48. Damion Ratley, WR, Texas A&M
50. Johnathan Calvin, DE, Mississippi State

Twenty four of the top 50 junior college players signed with the SEC this year. Some have already earned starting positions and most of the others will be on respective team's two-deep roster.

 

[cloverleaf]

Army

The Black Knights have a manageable schedule in 2015, which could make a bowl game a realistic goal. However, inexperience at the skill positions (5 of 6 top rushers gone) on offense and question marks in the trenches on both sides of the ball, this could be a rebuilding year for the team in West Point. Projection: 3-4 wins.
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Navy

The Midshipmen will undertake a new challenge this season, as they become part of the AAC, which will increase the difficulty of their schedule and could cause them to take a step back. Navy also has key players to replace on both sides of the ball, and if they don't find ways to fill those holes, a fourth straight bowl won't be a certainty for 2015. Projection: 7-8 wins.
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Air Force

Another ten win season like 2014 will be doubtful to make a reality again. The Falcons should have a potent offensive attack even having to replace last year's quarterback. Replacing seven starters on a defense that ranked 60th last year is cause for some concern. The youthful, inexperienced defense will need to grow up in a hurry. Road games at Michigan State, Navy and Boise State will be a test. Projection: 6-7 wins.

 

[CoachCB]

SEC JUCO Players

Most SEC schools recruit junior college players to fill an immediate need and have an instant impact on the program. As a rule, JUCO players don't receive a lot of media attention during the recruiting process, but chances are good that numerous JC transfers in this recruiting cycle will make a lot of news during the 2015 season. As for this year's top JUCO transfers, here's a look at players joining SEC teams with their national rating. These players were taken from the JUCO Top 50 list.

1. Jovon Robinson, RB, Auburn
2. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
3. Marquavius Lewis, DE, South Carolina
4. D.J. Jones, DT, Ole Miss
7. Tony Bridges, CB, Ole Miss
8. Donald Gray, WR, Mississippi State
9. Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State
10. Jason Smith, ATH, Auburn
11. Justin Martin, CB, Tennessee
16. Dante Sawyer, DE, South Carolina
18. Jeremiah Ledbetter, DT, Arkansas
20. Chase Abbington, RB, Missouri
25. Jeremy Cutrer, S, LSU
27. Tyler Howell, OT, Missouri
28. Courtney Miggins, DT, Kentucky
29. Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M
30. Traver Jung, LB, Mississippi State
31. DeVondre Seymour, OT, Georgia
32. Marcell Frazier, DE, Missouri
35. Jonathan Taylor, DT, Alabama
37. Chat Kelley, QB, Ole Miss
48. Damion Ratley, WR, Texas A&M
50. Johnathan Calvin, DE, Mississippi State

Twenty four of the top 50 junior college players signed with the SEC this year. Some have already earned starting positions and most of the others will be on respective team's two-deep roster.

There's a lot of value in JUCO's. I'm surprised we don't see more of it in the upper-echelon schools. It's certainly become more common over the last 10 years (it was quite uncommon in the SEC pre-2000.....maybe a few per year).

 

[rolltide]

There's a lot of value in JUCO's. I'm surprised we don't see more of it in the upper-echelon schools. It's certainly become more common over the last 10 years (it was quite uncommon in the SEC pre-2000.....maybe a few per year).

here are the raw #'s.... I met the East Miss coach on a flight from ATL to BHM a couple years ago and he told me that even with the very high level of players he gets that it is really tough to get SEC schools interested other than the two in-state. I believe he had two kids visiting Ttown last year though. one was a kid that got booted from clemson and I can't remember the other....

Bama has had mixed success with JUCO. certainly both nose tackles, Mount Cody and Jesse Williams, would be their big successes


Overall, Ole Miss leads the SEC by a mile when it comes to utilizing JUCO talent, taking 28 from 2010 through the current 2015 class. Mississippi State is second with 20–showing that the Mississippi JUCO league produces quite a bit of SEC level talent. Vanderbilt was last by a mile, taking on 2 in the same span.
Here’s a look at who took what:

SEC SCHOOL	JUCOs SINCE ‘10
Ole Miss	28
Miss. State	20
Auburn	18
Tennessee	18
Arkansas	16
Kentucky	15
Texas A&M	15
Georgia	14
Alabama	11
LSU	10
South Carolina	10
Mizzou	6
Florida	5
Vandy	2

 

[CoachCB]

RT,

Good info. I hate seeing UF not taking the kids. They've got some kind of admissions issue w/ JUCOs....and since the JUCO's are all out of state, they don't offer the same admissions that a JUCO in the state of Florida would offer (which would make it easier to get them into school). Florida lost out on Jarren Reed (DT that ended up at Bama) a couple of years ago (he signed w/ UF but didn't get into school...went back to JUCO and ended up at Bama).

JUCO's fill needs and if utilized properly can be very valuable. Building your roster off of JUCOs however becomes a problem.

 

[cloverleaf]

RT,



JUCO's fill needs and if utilized properly can be very valuable. Building your roster off of JUCOs however becomes a problem.

Don't tell that old coach at Kansas State that. He's made a living off coaching up junior college players.

 

[CoachCB]

Don't tell that old coach at Kansas State that. He's made a living off coaching up junior college players.

The exception....not the rule.

 

[RunLeeRun]

Don't tell that old coach at Kansas State that. He's made a living off coaching up junior college players.

Kansas State doesn't even land top Jucos, but they have long established relationships with the coaches of those programs, so I guess you could say they have a better scouting of those players. Dline has been good to them through the Juco ranks and that is a good area to target because physical maturity is a big reason why high school kids can't come in and compete. Give a big ugly two years to eat and lift, now you have something. So I disagree that it can't be a decent cog in your recruiting mechanism.

Nebraska hasn't taken it to the same level, but they've landed some stars for their defensive side of the ball. Dejon Gomes (nfl drifter), Stanley Jean-Baptiste (possible starter in N.O.), Levonte David (top 5 NFL LB), Randy Gregory (2nd round pick).

To me Juco is a growing factor in recruiting.

 

[sendacash]

CoachCB, Have you heard anything on the QB situation down in Gainesville? Although he did not recruit Garret Grayson to CSU, McElwain did gain a reputation as a developer of QBs during his short stay in Ft. Collins and I see he has a PS#3 to work with in redshirt frosh Grier. It looks like that o-line might we somewhat inexperienced as well, will they be able to protect the young QB assuming he wins the job?

 

[rolltide]

Kansas State doesn't even land top Jucos, but they have long established relationships with the coaches of those programs, so I guess you could say they have a better scouting of those players. Dline has been good to them through the Juco ranks and that is a good area to target because physical maturity is a big reason why high school kids can't come in and compete. Give a big ugly two years to eat and lift, now you have something. So I disagree that it can't be a decent cog in your recruiting mechanism.

Nebraska hasn't taken it to the same level, but they've landed some stars for their defensive side of the ball. Dejon Gomes (nfl drifter), Stanley Jean-Baptiste (possible starter in N.O.), Levonte David (top 5 NFL LB), Randy Gregory (2nd round pick).

To me Juco is a growing factor in recruiting.

well, let's not overstate Kansas State's position in the world of college football. When Snyder leaves they will go back to being the K State you and I grew up with. This is not a program going up....terrible facilities, terrible recruiting, no real roots being grown for the future. I'd argue that no other program in the nation is so reliant on their coach and his system than K State with Snyder. I might even argue you don't need to work as hard at recruiting when you pretty much wait for your regional JUCO teams to kick you some kids for 2 years. Obviously after 2 years of college football, weightlifting, and classes you are getting a kid a bit more used to being away from home and certainly closer to maxing their potential in both size and ability as a player.

goes hand in hand with what you're saying about Dline. Instead of grooming an 18 year old and using your resources to build him from 260 to 300 just let the JUCO do it for you then stick them in when they're 20-21 years old and 295 lb

i can't argue against it being a way to "fill in gaps" on your roster but I couldn't root for a program that uses this as their major mode of recruiting

If i were a K State fan I'd be worried about exactly what Snyder will be leaving behind. I just don't see much planted for the future

 

[RunLeeRun]

well, let's not overstate Kansas State's position in the world of college football. When Snyder leaves they will go back to being the K State you and I grew up with. This is not a program going up....terrible facilities, terrible recruiting, no real roots being grown for the future. I'd argue that no other program in the nation is so reliant on their coach and his system than K State with Snyder. I might even argue you don't need to work as hard at recruiting when you pretty much wait for your regional JUCO teams to kick you some kids for 2 years. Obviously after 2 years of college football, weightlifting, and classes you are getting a kid a bit more used to being away from home and certainly closer to maxing their potential in both size and ability as a player.

goes hand in hand with what you're saying about Dline. Instead of grooming an 18 year old and using your resources to build him from 260 to 300 just let the JUCO do it for you then stick them in when they're 20-21 years old and 295 lb

i can't argue against it being a way to "fill in gaps" on your roster but I couldn't root for a program that uses this as their major mode of recruiting

If i were a K State fan I'd be worried about exactly what Snyder will be leaving behind. I just don't see much planted for the future

No, we know what they are. Every 15 years they make a run at it, only to trip on the last hurdle. But really, they shouldn't even do that given the reasons you stated.

I think they'd be smart to promote from the staff and try to keep it as close to the current set-up as possible. It's become their identity.

 

[TyBounce]

Clover , i hope you dont mind me posting this here , i didnt want to start a new thread since it's high school related and not neccesarily even football related.

The confederate flag controversy has made its way into the Alabama high schoo scene. The Vestavia Hills board of education along with citizens will be holding a meeting tonight to discuss the name and mascot change for the former Vestavia Hills Rebels. They will be doing away with the Rebel nickname and the Johnny Reb mascot.

...I say they go with Jellyfish since they are spineless !!!

 

[rolltide]

Clover , i hope you dont mind me posting this here , i didnt want to start a new thread since it's high school related and not neccesarily even football related.

The confederate flag controversy has made its way into the Alabama high schoo scene. The Vestavia Hills board of education along with citizens will be holding a meeting tonight to discuss the name and mascot change for the former Vestavia Hills Rebels. They will be doing away with the Rebel nickname and the Johnny Reb mascot.

...I say they go with Jellyfish since they are spineless !!!

what if they kept the name rebels but got rid of the flag and had a James Dean or Billy Idol mascot? would that pacify the Hills?

 

[TyBounce]

what if they kept the name rebels but got rid of the flag and had a James Dean or Billy Idol mascot? would that pacify the Hills?

LOL , Funny thing is , they did away with the flag way back in 92 , but kept the nickname and mascot , now they want to change everything.

There was also a state representative that proposed complete name changes for Robert E Lee and Jefferson Davis high schools in Montgomery .... but apparently that is not within the jurisdiction of the state legislature.

I completely understand taking the flag down from capitals and government buildings , but this whole thing is going too far.