“His skill set is off the chart,” Clarkson said. “I’ve never seen anyone at his age do what he’s been able to do.”
Clarkson then directed Kiffin to a video of Sills that is making the rounds on YouTube.
Kiffin watched it and called him back immediately.
“He was like, ‘This kid is incredible. How old is he again?’
“I was like, ‘That’s the problem, he’s 13.’ ”
A couple of hours later, the Sills family called Kiffin and they spoke for the first time. USC had always been Sills’ dream school, according to his father, David Sills IV.
“I’m as shocked as anybody,” Sills’ father said. “I was just talking with friends yesterday about what it’ll be like four years from now when David goes through the recruiting process. I never expected this to happen so soon.
According to Adam Schefter via his Twitter page, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy says that the pinched nerve in his throwing shoulder is making progress and he hopes to throw at the NFL scouting combine in a couple of weeks.
McCoy suffered the injury on Texas’s first possession against Alabama in the national championship game and he didn’t return. After visiting with the esteemed Dr. James Andrews, McCoy was given a two-week recovery period.
But if he can’t throw at the combine (which takes place almost two months after he suffered the injury), then red flags about his health will certainly be raised. There was some talk that the type of injury he suffered was career threatening, but if he throws well at the combine, those doubts will obviously be erased.
McCoy doesn’t have great arm strength as it is, but a good showing at the combine will keep his stock from plummeting as we get closer to April’s draft. Personally, I hope he’s healthy and has the opportunity to compete in the NFL because he showed during his four years at Texas that he’s got great character. The NFL could use more of those kinds of players.
So Nwaneri posted his five points on Tebow, with capital letters:
“1. He can’t throw, PERIOD.
2. He can’t read any coverage other than probably cover 2 or man.
3. The QB Wildcat WILL NOT WORK IN THIS LEAGUE. PERIOD.
4. He doesn’t know how to take a snap from center.
5. HE CAN’T THROW, and that’s really something you either have or not.”
Nwaneri then urged fans to buy tickets because he doesn’t want to come out “for pregame warmups to a COMPLETELY EMPTY STADIUM ANYMORE.’’
I realize that Nwaneri has some upside and is a starter on Jacksonville’s O-line (plus, I don’t necessarily disagree with what he said), but if I were Tebow the only thing I’d respond with is: Who the hell is Uche Nwaneri?
Of course, Tebow would never say that in response because he’s all class. He has more important things to worry about at this time of year than what some no-name Jaguar offensive lineman has to say about his talent.
And somebody inform Nwaneri that the stadium (any stadium) is never full when the players come out for warm-ups.
One of the most talked about prospects heading into April’s NFL draft will be Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Perhaps one of the best college football players of this decade, Tebow now has the task of trying to convince pro scouts that he can make the transition from the collegiate ranks to the NFL.
Some believe that Tebow is better suited for the H-back position or out of the Wildcat at the next level, and not at quarterback. Although he wants the chance to prove that he can be a drop back passer, Tebow may have to settle for being a versatile specialty piece in some team’s offense.
Strengths: Tebow is a football player. He has excellent strength, size and bulk, is a powerful runner, a hard worker and is as tough as they come. He’s an outstanding leader, is smart, and played against top competition at Florida. His arm is also strong enough to make all the throws and he can throw on the run. Because of his character and determination, he’s a low risk player if some team can find a spot for him in their offense.
Weaknesses: He’s never played in an offense that requires the quarterback to take the ball from under center. He has a wind-up motion and his delivery is slow and elongated. He’s not accurate, demonstrates poor footwork and has trouble throwing a tight spiral. He’s also never had to read a defense or coverages and his learning curve will be incredibly high. In essence, he’s a major project at the quarterback position and that’s why most NFL teams will look to move him to another position.
Highly regarded as the best player in this year’s NFL draft class, Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be one of the most talked about players for the next couple of months.
Suh became the first defensive player to be named the AP’s College Football Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He has drawn comparisons to former NFL players Reggie White and Warren Sapp, as well as the Vikings’ Kevin Williams.
Strengths: Where do you start? Suh was a dominant force for the interior of Nebraska’s defensive line in 2009, making plays as both a pass rusher and a run stopper. He’s one of those rare players that can have an impact on a play or in a game without showing up on the stat sheet. He consistently collapses the pocket, uses his hands well to get off blocks, has light fight and a ton of quickness for a defensive tackle. He also plays with great intensity, displays good lower-body strength and can drive offensive lineman off the ball with his power.
Weaknesses: He doesn’t have massive bulk and therefore isn’t a space-eater. He also suffered a knee injury that required surgery in 2005, then another knee injury that limited him in the spring of 2007. However, he played in 25 consecutive games over the past two seasons and therefore, questions about his durability have been shelved. While such a thing doesn’t exist, Suh is virtually a perfect prospect.
According to several media sources including NFL Network’s Lindsay Soto, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has struggled thus far at the Senior Bowl. On Monday, he botched several snaps on his first day of practice and also threw a couple of near interceptions as the day wrapped up.
One reason for his struggles could be because he’s sick. The St. Louis Post-Distpatch reports that Tebow was hospitalized on Monday with a 103 temperature due to strep throat. Tebow is still expected to play in the game on Saturday, but the illness may sideline him for the rest of the week.
Sick or not, this isn’t a good start for a player with so much to prove heading into April. Tebow wants to play quarterback at the next level, but in order to do so he must prove to scouts that he can play from under center, release the ball in a timely manner and demonstrate proper footwork when throwing. But his wind-up motion, release, footwork and ability to grasp a pro style offense are just a handful of question marks surrounding Tebow as he tries to make the transition from college to pro.
That said, some team will take a flier on him in the middle rounds because of his versatility. He resembles a Mac truck when he runs the football and he would be a great fit for the Wildcat. Some teams even see him as a potential tight end, although he didn’t catch any passes at Florida.
The five conferences that don’t get automatic bids to the Bowl Championship Series will receive a record $24 million from this year’s BCS bowl games, augmented by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl matchup of TCU and Boise State.
The figures still lag behind the six BCS conferences. The Big Ten and Southeastern conferences received $22.2 million each, with $17.7 million going to each of the other four BCS conferences.
Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican, has cited the revenue discrepancy as a reason for his legislation that would ban the promotion of a postseason NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision game as a national championship unless it results from a playoff. The bill passed a subcommittee last month but faces an uphill battle in Congress.
In a telephone interview Monday, Barton responded to the figures with a shrug.
“What is the BCS theoretically about? I thought it was about the best teams playing the best teams,” he said. “This simply acknowledges the reality that’s it’s not about that, but about revenue sharing. It’s an economic cartel.”
While I agree with Barton that a playoff system needs to be implemented in college football, I disagree with his above comment. The BCS isn’t about the best teams playing the best teams – it’s designed to pit the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation in a championship game. That’s it. It’s not a playoff system and it’s not designed to let all the teams battle it out on an even playing field. All it essentially cares about in the end is figuring out who the top two teams are and then letting them duke it out in the championship.
Do I want a playoff? Yes – very much so. But I also realize what the BCS is intended to do in its current format. For better or worse, the BCS is what it is and while the current format exists, it will continue to only care about matching the top two teams against each other in the title game.
Perhaps one of the best-kept secrets in this year’s draft is Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon, who could be a mid-round steal come April.
Listed at 6’1 and 245 pounds, Dixon led the SEC in rushing for 2009 and has impressed scouts thus far with his lower and upper-body strength. The fact that he was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs and missed just one game in his career speaks volumes about his durability as a ballcarrier. He also caught 56 passes while at Miss State, which proves that he isn’t limited to being a short yardage back.
Strengths: Dixon is a strong, powerful runner that can handle a heavy workload and has proven that he can run between the tackles. He also has a ton of experience after starting all four years at Mississippi State and despite being a bigger back, he has the lateral mobility to bounce runs outside. But perhaps his best strength is that he shows patience and vision as a runner, which lends to him picking up the pro game quickly.
Weaknesses: He doesn’t have top-end speed and he doesn’t change directions very well either. He does come with some off-field baggage as well, after being suspended for the 2009 season opener following a DUI arrest over the summer. His work ethic has been questioned in the past as well, as he has struggled with his weight. That said, it’s fair to note that he showed up at the Senior Bowl in tip-top shape, which is a good omen for his pre-draft workouts.
This video was taken before Lane Kiffin sat down to speak to the Knoxville media about his decision to leave Tennessee to take the USC job. One television reporter (or producer?) doesn’t want to agree to Kiffin’s terms. It’s pretty funny to watch thirty people trip over each other trying to get a stupid press conference started.
