The following players were those that I thought performed best overall during the 3 days of practice this year. If I failed to mention someone who performed well but escaped my attention I truly wish to apologize. QB BAKER MAYFIELD #6 RB RASHAAD PENNY #20 WR TRE’QUAN SMITH #4 WR D.J. CHARK #7 WR CEDRICK WILSON #11 TE… Read More »
Funny how time just slips away. I first heard those words in a country song when I was very young. They mean more to me today and especially during Senior Bowl week. Here we are about to begin Thursday practices, which are the last before the game on Saturday. North Practice Our last chance to see all the… Read More »
We opened out action today with the NORTH practice at 12:30. As expected a bit more action and hitting today. I spent a good deal of the first hour with the DL group , which seems to be one of the more talented position groups on the team. And some of the work and constructive instruction OL Coach… Read More »
In the brave new world of the Senior Bowl the weigh-in now starts at 7:30 AM, but that is my problem not yours, dear reader. Here are some odds and ends observations from Pigskin Paul. It is my opinion that we are continuing to see the brave new world of college football players under the new, more aggressive… Read More »
Not sure if I should really call this Day 1 or just check-in time. Although there was a pre-dinner Press Conference with a few introductory comments by Director Phil Savage. Phil explained that despite the plethora of “drop-outs” from the original acceptances list it was really not more than in many recent years. Bowl injuries that still require… Read More »
As always there seems to be a performance dichotomy between practice and game-day performances below is my All-Star team based on actual in-game performance. Please also remember that some practice warriors never go to perform in the actual game because of injuries or other circumstances. QB NIC SHIMONEK #16 TEXAS TECH RB PHILLIP LINDSAY #23 COLORADO WR JEF… Read More »
Below is my All-Practice team for this year’s Shrine Game. These are the 22 (actually 25) players who stood out to me at their positions for the week’s work in practices. I did not consider the Special Teamers since we actually see them do so little during practice time. I got extra input and help this morning from… Read More »
The last day of full practices had a lovely weather start in the morning for the East squad. Temps were in the low 50’s with a bright warm sun shining down. Wednesday is the last day of full contact practice for this game, so the intensity level is high given that it’s the last chance for some guys… Read More »
Another wonderful Florida Winter day with morning practice temps of about 55-60. But not such a great day for the East OL unit, or their coaches. I never even saw KYLE BOSCH on the field this morning. And by the end of practice both JAMAR McGLOSTER/Syracuse and CORY HELMS/South Carolina had left for medical attention. The McGloster injury… Read More »
On the ground again in St. Petersburg, FL for Day One of the 2018 Shrine Game practices. Because of the morning National Scouting player weigh-in, which the press is strangely barred from, both Monday practices are in the afternoon. The temps had risen to the low 60’s with mostly clear skies and warm sunshine. The EAST took the… Read More »
KEISHAWN BIERRIA #7 LB WASHINGTON 6’1/230. Because he lacks the traditional bulk of an ILB BERRIA has not gotten the credit he deserves as an active, productive IB, who plays the run effectively, and has the athleticism to handle pass coverage in the middle of the field. He has a nose for the ball and pursues from sideline… Read More »
There are times when the only value in my world for many of these earlier Bowls with .500 teams in action is that it gives me an opportunity (tongue in cheek) to look at a few prospects that fit the category of ‘good players in bad/mediocre programs’. So let’s separate a little fly-shit out of the pepper, shall… Read More »
Got a trifecta of games for you to watch on New Year’s Day. These are big time Bowls with top tier teams playing, which means lots of pro prospects to watch in anticipation of the NFL Draft in 4 months. Also note that Editor Colin has the two Final Four games for you elsewhere on the site. Monday… Read More »
Friday Dec. 29 1PM/ET ESPN BELK BOWL Charlotte, NC WAKE FOREST (7-5) by 3 VS TEXAS A&M (7-5) Another game that finds at least on of the participants in the midst of a head coaching change. The Aggies are now moving into the Jimbo Fisher era. WAKE has gone through their upheaval and this is now HC DAVE… Read More »
INDEPENDENCE BOWL (Shreveport); SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (8-4) vs. FLORIDA STATE (6-6) by 3; 1:30 PM ET; ESPN After a bit of debate about whether FSU’s schedule actually earned them a bowl bid at 6-6, it appears we are ready to play some football. Southern Miss has been a solid mid-major football program for decades now. Without a doubt their… Read More »
We’re getting warmed up for the legit Holiday Bowl schedule, which I happen to think begins Christmas Eve. But for now let’s take a peek at games for this Saturday the 23rd. The overall talent from a Pro Prospect standpoint clearly elevates with this trio of games. Saturday Dec. 23rd NOON/ET ESPN. Birmingham Bowl, Birmingham, AL TEXAS TECH… Read More »
DAVID BRIGHT #64 OT STANFORD 6’5/300. I don’t think this guy has gotten the credit he deserves for his all-around play out at LT for the Cardinal. Every time I watch Stanford play he impresses me with his steady work out at LT in both pass-pro and the all important run blocking in the Stanford ground and pound… Read More »
1) CLEMSON 12-1 One slip when their QB got hurt has been forgotten with dominant play in November. Best all-around team in the country, especially on the defensive side of the ball. 2) OKLAHOMA 12-1 One early slip and a Defense which has problems against teams that pass as well their own Offense. But their Offense is just… Read More »
BRIAN ALLEN OC #65 MICHIGAN STATE 6’2/305 Being a solid college player does not necessarily mean the pro game is in a player’s future. Size, athleticism, etc. often end up derailing pro aspirations for dozens of solid players each season. And then there are the guys who play well in college, don’t quite measure up athletically, and yet… Read More »
Major upsets abound every week in College Football these days. Limited scholarships, graduate transfers, injuries and more all make things dizzier at the top of the ladder than ever before. So here here are the latest rankings as we are down to the final 2-3 weeks of the regular season. 1) ALABAMA 10-0 They aren’t exactly kicking butts… Read More »
SATURDAY NOV. 11 Noon/ET FOX MICHIGAN STATE (7-2) @ OHIO STATE (7-2) by 7 These are the two most surprising teams in the big Ten this season to my eyes. I have no idea how the Spartans have compiled their record, with a very young and relatively inexperienced roster. Usually by this time of year URBAN MEYER has… Read More »
MARCEL ATEMAN WR #3 OKLAHOMA STATE 6’3/220 The number one wideout for the Cowboys is clearly JAMES WASHINGTON. But Okie State also has a full stable of thoroughbred wideouts for Mason Rudolph to throw to. For my money the clear No. 2 is MARCEL ATEMAN, who is having a great season after missing all of 2016 to a… Read More »
This weekend’s games will lead to the first official NCAA FBS rankings next week. Recent history and the odds in general say we will witness a couple more upsets this weekend which will make the committees work even more challenging. I will follow up this week’s game action with a Top 15 ranking list which I hope to… Read More »
MARK ANDREWS #81 TE 6’4/254 OKLAHOMA JR ANDREWS has made his mark for the Sooners as a very athletic receiver in a big boy body, ever since his true frosh season in 2014. He is a two-time, all Big 12 1st teamer. This season, with the graduation of WESTBROOK/LEWIS at WR he has become Baker Mayfield’s top target.… Read More »
#20 OREN BURKS OB VANDERBILT 6’3/230. You have to be a real Draftnik to really know much about BURKS, but I highly recommend you watch him in action for the Commodores as the season progresses. BURKS has toiled in relative obscurity but has been a significant factor in making the Vandy team competitive in the tough SEC. He’s… Read More »
