Seantrel Henderson

Seantrel Henderson, a 6-foot-8, 340-pound left tackle widely considered to be the nation’s top high school recruit, signed with Southern California as expected. Henderson had delayed signing a letter of intent, saying he and his family wanted to wait until U.S.C. appeared last month before an N.C.A.A. infractions committee investigating the Trojans’ athletic department, football program and men’s basketball program. It is not believed that penalties will be known until next month.

Henderson was one of the most coveted recruits in the nation, capping off a season in which he won the Anthony Munoz Award as the nation’s top lineman and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The star out of Cretin-Derham High in Paul, Minn., narrowed his final list of schools to Florida, Miami, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC.

Wonder if the delay had anything to do with his ACT scores? Regardless the Trojans land another prize Recruit, a great way to start off the Lane Kiffin era!!

Tim Tebow Throws on Pro Day

Former Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow completed his first public workout with his revamped throwing motion Wednesday in Gainesville, Fla.. Tebow was hoping to impress N.F.L. general managers, coaches and scouts. He threw dozens of passes to three former teammates during a 30-minute workout.

The reviews came in mixed. Some NFL scouts were raving about his improvement. Bob Redman, reporting for the Florida page of Scout.com said that “One NFC Scout said, ‘I was blown away by the confidence he displayed in the new release and how effective he was delivering the ball. I was most impressed with his footwork and how quick he got rid of the ball; very impressive.’ “ On the other hand, Michael Wright of the Florida Times Union said “Looks like Tebow worked out one kink and developed another. There’s still a small loop & now a bit of a pause in motion. Mechanical looking.”

Tim Tebow’s long, looping throwing motion has been a source of criticism, and its because of it that some analysts have said he should move to H-back or even tight end. On Pro Day at Florida Field in Gainesville, FL, he showed off a tweaked new motion to scouts as he tried to show his critics wrong.

About 75 NFL scouts, coaches and executives showed up to see Tim Tebow’s Pro Day appearance. It was his first open workout since he appeared in the Senior Bowl.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow was the star attraction at Florida’s Pro Day. His new compact passing motion drew good reviews.

To make the adjustments he did, Tebow worked with longtime NFL assistant Zeke Bratwurst, former NFL coach Sam Wyche and former college/NFL assistant Marc Trestman, who at once time was offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.

Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren, known for influencing such QBs as Brett Favre, said:

“Clearly, he’s a special young man. You can tell he’s trying to make adjustments to his motion. That seems to be what people are fired up about, and he’s working very hard to do that, and it showed today. I thought he had a pretty good workout.

“Those of us that know the position a little bit and watch the position and have coached the position, you saw it. You saw he’s worked hard on changing some of his technique, and I root for him. He’s a wonderful young man. I pull for guys like that, and he’s going to make some team very happy.”

It’s true, however, that it would be easy to fall back on his old style during a game, as pass rushers close in on him. However, even those who were detractors of Tim Tebow, have always said that he has some of the necessary intangibles that many QBs are missing.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Raheem Morris, who was in attendance during Tim Tebow’s Pro Day performance, said the following:

“He didn’t miss many throws. He came out, did what he had to do. He’s a talented guy, he’s a popular guy, he’s a sharp guy, he’s a smart guy, he’s had success all his career and I’m sure nothing will be different when he goes to the next level.”

It seems that Tebow’s pro day neither helped or hurt his slotting in the upcoming NFL Draft. Coaches who saw him were impressed with how much work he put into changing his throwing motion and footwork. At the same time, it is not enough. Tebow’s throws are still too low, his throws are not accurate enough and he still throws with his old college motion on the run. Tebow has made a lot of progress and seems like the type of player who will improve in the NFL because he has a good work ethic and is willing to listen to his coaches. The best situation for Tebow would be to get drafted by a team with an established quarterback so that Tebow can learn from the veteran quarterback and have a couple of years to improve his mechanics.

Tim Tebow NFL Pro Day with Highlights

College Football Defensive Tackles Shine at the NFL Combine

There has been very little evidence to support any separation between two of the top defensive tackle prospects in this year’s NFL draft, Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy.

But a show of endurance and strength, or lack thereof, at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis could be a red flag for one player.

Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy completed only 23 bench-press repetitions of 225 pounds Sunday, and that was worrisome for NFL.com draft analyst Mike Mayock, who ranks McCoy as the best DT prospect in the draft, ahead of Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh.

“When you start comparing numbers, which is what this combine is all about, in the weight room yesterday Suh did 32 and McCoy did 23,” Mayock said Monday on the NFL Network. “I was stunned that McCoy only did 23 reps. That tells me he hasn’t been in the weight room the way he should have been over the last three years.”

McCoy was tied for 35th among 50 defensive linemen who took part in the bench press. Suh ranked sixth. The top defensive lineman, Jeff Owens of Georgia, had 44 reps.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was so impressive at the NFL scouting combine that he should have placed some distance between himself and Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy as far as who is the highest-rated prospect in the draft.

Unless St. Louis reaches to fill a need position by taking Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, the Rams are expected to select Suh.

“I just like being No. 1 and striving for No. 1,” Suh said. “If I’m to be No. 1, I’d be happy. If I’m not, then get ready for that next team who wants me and make the most of it.”

Suh (6-4, 307) bench-pressed 225 pounds 32 times and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.98 seconds.

Suh’s 35½-inch vertical jump, showed the kind of explosive power he has, and, was one of the best in combine history for a player at his position. He excelled at almost every drill.

Ideally, Suh will play tackle in a 4-3.

“I think I’d be able to adjust to anything,” he said. “I think whatever the team needs me to do I’ll be able to do.”

Suh was so dominant last season that he had 12 sacks, 24 tackles for loss and 26 hurries.

Unlike a lot of other highly rated prospects, Suh and McCoy never considered not working out at the combine for representatives from all 32 teams.

So who is the best?

“Two great players that’ll be great in this league,” Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “A couple of different styles, but both their styles are going to work.”

McCoy finished with six sacks and 15½ tackles for loss as a junior last season.

“I have a strong work ethic,” McCoy said. “I try to outwork the opponent that I’m going against.”

We here at Live From Then Press Box.Com vote for Ndamukong Suh!!

3 Future Stars that also Shined in Mondays Workouts;

1. Geno Atkins: DT, Georgia
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 293 pounds
Arm length: 32 in.
40-yard dash time: 4.75 (unofficial)
Bench reps: 34

2. Brandon Graham: DE/OLB, Michigan
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 268 pounds
Arm length: 32.25 in.
40-yard dash time: 4.72
Bench reps: 31

3. Sean Weatherspoon: OLB, Missouri
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 239 pounds
Arm Length: 31.25 in.
40-yard dash time: 4.68
Bench reps: 34

2010 NFL Combine - Sunday Results

Who impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday with the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers working out? Who had a disappointing showing? Doesn’t Anybody Want to Throw?

2010 NFL Combine – Sunday Results, QB’s, WR’s and RB Results

The annual NFL Scouting Combine is under way in Indianapolis, IN as we reported yesterday. On Sunday the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers worked out. Live From The Press Box.Com highlights the impressive and disappointing performers as reported to us by a Scout attending the event. The NFL Network provided the following stats regarding the players.

WHO IMPRESSED

Stanford running back Toby Gerhart (6-0, 231)
Gerhart opened up eyes when he ran the 40-yard dash in with an unofficial times of 4.53 and 4.58, the official time is probably around 4.6. The power back Gerhart had a lot of questions on if he had enough speed to be an NFL running back. Gerhart’s 40 time was better than optimistic projections. Unsurprisingly, Gerhart was fourth in running backs on the bench press with 22 reps. He was in the top 10 in the board jump and vertical jump of the running backs. Some felt that Gerhart had the most important sprint of any player in the 40-yard dash, and the Stanford standout made the most of it.

Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty (6-0, 225)
The Volunteers back had a fabulous showing at the scouting combine. Hardesty led all running backs in the vertical jump and board jump. That was after Hardesty had the fifth fastest 40-yard dash time for a running back at 4.49 seconds. Hardesty was sixth in the bench press with 21 reps. It was an excellent all-around combine that could cause a lot of NFL teams to re-evaluate Hardesty, who was projected to be a mid-rounder. Hardesty was a backup for most of his career. Tennessee running backs have had a lot success in the NFL, and last year Arian Foster went undrafted but still had a significant impact as a rookie in 2009. Don’t be surprised if Hardesty starts to rise.

Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster (5-9, 172)
Since the Senior Bowl McCluster has added seven pounds, and it looks like all of it is muscle. Despite his small size, McCluster finished seventh among running backs in the 225-pound bench press with 20 reps. Like Gerhart, McCluster also was in the top 10 performers at the board jump and the vertical jump. Those reps were better than some bigger power backs like Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer (5-11, 229) and Mississippi State Anthony Dixon (6-1, 233) who both had 15 reps. The Largo, FL product has fabulous speed, but that couldn’t be seen on his first 40-yard dash when he stumbled early on and ran an official time of 4.58.

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn (6-1, 219)
Benn was in need of a good combine. His junior season he was hampered by some injuries and poor quarterback play. In limited opportunities in college Benn showed a nice combination of size and speed. At the combine Benn showed his skill set. He tied for the lead on the bench press among wide receivers with 20. Benn followed that up with a quality 40-yard dash time. The unofficial time was 4.48 seconds, so the official time was in the 4.5 range. On the pass catching drills Benn did a good job of running routes and catching passes. The combine performance shows teams that Benn put in the work to be ready, and excel in a pressure packed environment.

Clemson wide receiver Jacoby Ford (5-9, 186)
Ford had one of the fastest 40-yard dash times with a blistering time of 4.28, and Ford had 13 reps on the bench press. In the receiving drills Ford looked solid. For Clemson Ford showed some game breaking speed at times, and he was a track champion in college. However, at the Senior Bowl Ford did not burn defensive backs regularly with that speed and there are legitimate concerns about if that speed will translate to the football field in the NFL. Still a great 40 time helped propel former Buccaneer Dexter Jackson into the second round, and teams that place a high value on track speed, like the Oakland Raiders, will be intrigued by Ford after his great sprint in Indianapolis.

Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate (5-10, 199)
The Fighting Irish standout had an excellent combine that should help his draft status. Tate is a speed receiver and does not have good height or bulk. Thus, it was important for Tate to showcase excellent speed to help his draft status. Tate did just that in the 40-yard dash when he had an official time of 4.42. It was the fourth best time for the wide receivers. Tate also was seventh for wide receivers in the bench press with 17 reps. It wasn’t all perfect for Tate as he dropped three passes in the gauntlet drill. Still, the combine performance from Tate should help him, and could solidify him as a late first-round pick.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Kansas wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe (6-2, 207)
The Jayhawks standout who had some character concerns had a rough combine showing. His 40-yard dash time of 4.61 was slower than expected. Briscoe also had a poor showing on the bench press with only nine reps. In the pass receiving drills Briscoe had a bad dropped pass. The lackluster combine performance from Briscoe won’t ease the concerns about his work ethic and character. With the importance of the combine Briscoe gave teams a red flag about his preparation skills.

In other news we have to ask ourselves, does anybody want to throw at this years NFL Combine?

“Quarterbacks worked out at the scouting combine Sunday. But most of the big-name ones did not throw here, preferring to wait for their colleges’ pro days, when they can throw to familiar receivers.

That’s understandable for quarterbacks like Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy, who are recovering from injuries. But the decision by others hasn’t pleased many coaches and general managers, who wanted to see quarterbacks, the healthy ones, throw on neutral ground. (Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour irked them in particular, because he is healthy and, unlike Tim Tebow, is not revamping his throwing motion.)

In fact, the quarterbacks also retreated from the workouts Saturday, with 16 of 19 opting not to bench-press. Does the bench press really matter to quarterbacks? No. But for a player like Tebow, who many believe could wind up playing another position in the N.F.L., the bench press would have provided an intriguing barometer.

Team executives and scouts also use the combine to judge players’ competitiveness, and they think agents who advise their clients to sit out do the players no favors. Quarterbacks have been the exception to the recent trend that has seen more top-flight players work out at the combine since the NFL Network began broadcasting it in 2004.

Two of the quarterbacks who did bench-press were impressive. Penn State’s Daryll Clark did 21 repetitions, good news for him because he might end up playing another position. Troy quarterback Levi Brown benched 225 pounds 20 times. To compare: Bruce Campbell, the chiseled Maryland offensive tackle who turned in the most impressive workout of the combine, benched 225 pounds 34 times.”

For many NFL prospects, life begins at 40 (yards).

Covering that distance in a scorching time, as Clemson’s Jacoby Ford did Sunday at the NFL scouting combine — can turn the heads of potential employers, just as a slow 40 time can send a player’s draft stock into a tailspin.

According to an NFL scout who, along with dozens of others, was keeping his own stopwatch on Ford, the 5-foot-8, 182-pound receiver clocked in at hand times ranging between 4.18 and 4.23 seconds. The official (electronic) combine record is 4.24, set in 2008 by Chris Johnson, now of the Tennessee Titans.

Ford’s electronic time posted on NFL.com was 4.28. Regardless, he was blistering fast, and that’s the type of performance that could significantly elevate him in some teams’ eyes.

Among the other players who performed especially well in drills and physical tests were Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson, who some felt upstaged Cincinnati’s Tony Pike (the elite quarterbacks are waiting for their campus pro days to throw), and receivers Golden Tate of Notre Dame; Taylor Price of Ohio University; Mike Williams of Syracuse; Damian Williams of USC; and Carlton Mitchell of South Florida.

Clemson’s C.J. Spiller appears to have a strong grip on the top spot among running backs, and Fresno State’s Ryan Matthews is widely regarded the second-best at that position.

Tim Tebow used a different approach to the 40-yard dash. He walked up to the starting line about 10 minutes before his run, felt the turf with his hand, took a step in each direction to figure out where he wanted to begin, then moved back to the center of the field to continue preparing.

It was an interesting routine, one that no other quarterback went through Sunday at the NFL Scouting Combine. And it worked.

Tebow ran in 4.72 seconds, the fourth-best time among the 16 quarterbacks who participated in the 40.

The University of Florida standout not only demonstrated his outstanding speed, but he also showed he can be a cheerleader. He consistently stood off the line about 5 yards to the left and yelled encouragement to his fellow competitors.

Here were the top eight finishers among quarterbacks in the 40:

BYU’s Max Hall — 4.87 seconds

The drills Monday and Tuesday, the final two days of the combine, are mostly devoted to evaluating defensive players.

Combine Top Performers to Date

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine Saturday Breakdown

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine Saturday Breakdown

Each February, hundreds of the very best college football players are invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., where executives, coaches, scouts and doctors from all 32 NFL teams conduct an intense, four-day job interview in advance of the NFL Draft. Here is a brief breakdown of the measurable drills:

40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is the marquee event at the combine. It’s kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It’s all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start.

Bench press
The bench press is a test of strength — 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance. Anybody can do a max one time, but what the bench press tells the pro scouts is how often the athlete frequented his college weight room for the last 3-5 years.

Vertical jump
The vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement.

Broad jump
The broad jump is like being in gym class back in junior high school. Basically, it is testing an athlete’s lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving.

3 cone drill
The 3 cone drill tests an athlete’s ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then, he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.

Shuttle run
The short shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete’s lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodse out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine presented day one results on Saturday. In the first real action of the Combine, it was Bruce Campbell that stood out from the group, as the offensive linemen and tight ends took center stage in front of the throng of NFL Scouts.

The Combine will be running for the next several days, providing a set of very exciting circumstances and results for die-hard College and NFL fans looking forward to the 2010 NFL Draft, or simply looking to scratch the off-season College Football itch.

Maryland OT Bruce Campbell has been the early star of the Combine. He was impressive at Friday’s weigh-in, then stunned scouts on Saturday. Campbell ran the 40 in 4.85 seconds, and in position drills he looked like the elite athlete he is built to be.

The first day of the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine wasn’t just about the big guys on the line though, as the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers were allowed to complete the bench press event of the scouting combine. This allowed some of the biggest offensive players in the draft to show just how much they could bench press in front of the scouts. The bench press workout tests the strength of players, having them post as many reps as they can with 225 pounds. In the bench press, it was Fresno State’s Lonyae Miller and Auburn’s Ben Tate that led the way with 26 reps each.

To sum it up, we have a quote form a scout that is attending the Combine;

With three days to go, some of the biggest names are still left to perform, but we have a lot of results from the first day of the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine below for you to review;

Running Back Bench Press Reps

Name / Reps

Miller, Lonyae 26
Tate, Ben 26
Conner, John 24
Gerhart, Toby 22
Toston, Keith 22
Hardesty, Montario 21
McCluster, Dexter 20
Mathews, Ryan 19
Tonga, Manase 19

Wide Receiver Bench Press Reps

Name / Reps

Benn, Arrelious 20
Jones, Donald 20
Long, Brandon 20
McGaha, Chris 19
Williams, Damian 19
White, Blair 18
Tate, Golden 17
Easley, Marcus 16
Mitchell, Carlton 16
Parker, Preston 16
Price, Taylor 16
Shipley, Jordan 16

Offensive Lineman 40-Yard Dash

Name / Time

Campbell, Bruce 4.85
Williams, Trent 4.88
Newhouse, Marshall 5.00
Veldheer, Jared 5.09
Smith, Shelley 5.11
Capers, Selvish 5.14
Jerry, John 5.15
Brooks, Dorian 5.16
Tennant, Matt 5.16
Degeare, Chris 5.16

Offensive Lineman Vertical Jump

Name / Height

Smith, Shelley 34.0
Williams, Trent 34.0
Davis, Anthony 33.0
Veldheer, Jared 33.0
Campbell, Bruce 32.0
Degeare, Chris 32.0
Brown, Charles 31.0
Capers, Selvish 30.0
Olsen, Eric 29.0
Washington, Tony 29.0
Young, Sam 29.0
Welch, Thomas 29.0
Saffold, Rodger 29.0

Tight End 40-Yard Dash

Name / Time

Dickerson, Dorin 4.40
Graham, Jimmy 4.56
Dickson, Ed 4.67
Harbor, Clay 4.69
Moeaki, Tony 4.69
Quarless, Andrew 4.69

Tight End Vertical Jump

Name / Height

Dickerson, Dorin 43.0
Harbor, Clay 40.0
Graham, Jimmy 38.0
Gresham, Jermaine 35.0
McCoy, Anthony 35.0
Dickson, Ed 34.0
Moeaki, Tony 34.0
Pitta, Dennis 34.0
Graham, Garrett 34.0

There’s a lot to look forward to on Day 5(Sunday). On the field, the quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs will begin drills. It always proves to be the most interesting on-field day at the combine. The defensive linemen, who measured Saturday, will hit the bench.

Bruce Campbell at the 2010 NFL Combine

Ndamukong Suh Destroying Texas

2010 NFL Combine: Ndamukong Suh will be the most watched

The annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., gets rolling today with several key players involved. Player interviews, etc., begin Wednesday. Workouts begin Saturday.

Of course, former Grant High School defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh out of Nebraska will be the headline act at this years Combine.

Suh is considered by many to be headed to the St. Louis Rams with the Number-one pick while some experts believe that Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy could be the first player selected.

How both perform at the Combine could tip the scales one way or the other.

Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma):

Some have McCoy above Suh in their mock drafts and big boards, and while we don’t feel that strong about the kid, there’s no doubt that McCoy is an impact player. What we don’t see with McCoy that we see with Suh is a greater variety of pass rush moves, McCoy seems to get caught up in blockers more often than Suh does, though that could be a question of scheme. However, McCoy is exceptional in peeling off blockers and pushing through to the ball-carrier, this may be his greatest asset. While he’s relentless to the ball, he might not be quick enough in recovering to take out the quicker-release quarterbacks in the NFL. He’ll be a dominant three-tech tackle in the right system; specifically in a front four with a larger nose tackle to soak up blockers.

Our expert leans towards Suh, saying “his resume speaks for itself.”

What Makes Suh so good?

“He has amazing quickness off the snap, tremendous upper-body strength (he often turned blockers into padded dummies), agility that has to be seen to be believed, and the kind of intensity and work ethic that could make him a true star in the NFL. Example: He’s probably the first overall draft pick no matter what he does, but Suh will go to the Combine, and will participate in every single drill.”

“I want to go out and do everything,” Suh recently told Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t want to leave any questions. I’m the type of person that feels like I don’t have anything to hide, so why go up there and start trying to hide things now?”

Suh’s awards are numerous and it is obvious why he has become one of the hottest players at this years Combine;

Suh is the first defensive player to win the honor since its inception in 1998. Suh is Nebraska’s second winner of the AP National Player of the Year Award, joining quarterback Eric Crouch who captured the award and the Heisman Trophy in 2001. Suh received 26 of a possible 59 first-place votes from the panel, edging Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, who received 20 votes.

Suh captured the Outland Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award. Both awards were presented in Orlando, Fla., at the ESPN Awards Show. The Bednarik award is given to the Nation’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player and is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. He is the first Husker to win the award in its 15-year history.

The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman, and Suh adds to Nebraska’s long history with the award. Suh’s trophy gives Nebraska a nation-leading nine Outland Trophies, four more than Oklahoma. Suh is the first Husker to win the award since offensive lineman Aaron Taylor captured the honor in 1997.

Suh becomes the fifth Nebraska player to win the Lombardi Award, joining Rich Glover (1972), Dave Rimington (1982), Dean Steinkuhler (1983) and Grant Wistrom (1997). Nebraska’s five Lombardi awards are the second-most by one school in the 40-year history of the award, trailing only Ohio State’s six Lombardi Award winners. The Lombardi Award goes to the college football lineman — offensive or defensive — who in addition to displaying outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of Vince Lombardi.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Suh became the 17th winner of the award as voted upon by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. He’s the first Nebraska player to win the award.

Black Coaches in NCAA Football

Black Coaches in NCAA Football, lets take a look at the current situation in College Football during Black History Month.

First we have an article written by SECfan and published on our sister site; The College Football Voice.

We have updated the article a bit, which is an indication of the positive change NCAA College Football is heading towards!

February is black history month and it only seems appropriate on a college football blog to address some positive changes occurring at the collegiate coaching level. With the departure of Mississippi State’s Sylvester Croom last season, the NCAA division 1A found itself with only 3 black head coaches out of 119 programs; Miami’s Randy Shannon, Buffalo’s Turner Gill and Houston’s Kevin Sumlin.

It appeared that while boosters and program directors were more than willing to have black assistant coaches, few programs seemed comfortable turning the keys over to a man of color. Even when they did, all too often it was an awkward affair as witnessed with the clumsy firing of Tyrone Willingham at Notre Dame. Fortunately, as Bob Dylan would say, times they are a changing.

Turner Gill has been promoted to a major program at Kansas. Former Florida assistant coach Charlie Strong is the head honcho at Louisville. Mike London is the head coach of Virginia. East Carolina has Ruffin McNeill, and Joker Phillips is captain of the ship at Kentucky. Willie Taggart also went from running backs coach to a head coach, returning to Western Kentucky to head up the Hilltoppers. Yes: Alma mater. And finally, Larry Porter went from LSU running backs coach to Memphis head coach. Porter is also going back to his Alma mater.

In less than a month the amount of black head coaches has more than doubled. Obviously more can be done but considering how long it has taken to see this type of progress, it truly is remarkable.

Many will ask, “Why does it matter”? Some may even question blogs like this one saying that pointing out a person’s race is, in itself, racist. I would argue otherwise and give you an example why. It is crucial for people of all races to see black men and women in leadership roles. This alone destroys negative stereotypes.

As an example I will refer to comments I heard while living in Kentucky in 1997 after Tubby Smith was hired to take over the basketball program at UK. It was not uncommon to hear comments like “Adolph Rupp would be turning over in his grave”. Tubby was judged harshly and even his successes (including a national championship in 1998) where often attributed more to Rick Pitino’s recruiting than to Tubby’s coaching.

Sadly, one of the biggest detractors of Tubby was my own brother in law, and many of his comments where based solely on Tubby’s race which is why I found it ironic that while discussing Joker Philips he was almost giddy. He discussed how Joker was the right man for the job and how much Rich Brooks had relied on him over the past few years. Then he went on to discuss how concerned he was that Charlie Strong was taking over at Louisville, one of his bitter rivals, because he is a “helluva coach.” Not once in the conversation did race come up. He was just an Eastern Kentucky boy judging a man based on the strength of his character and not the color of his skin, just as Martin Luther King Jr. requested so long ago.

- SECfan

Tony Dungy Weighs in On the Topic

It’s only been a little over a year since Tony Dungy retired from being head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, but that doesn’t mean he’s resting on his laurels. The former Super Bowl winning Head Coach has been doing quite a bit of speaking engagements and promotion of his books.

But one thing Dungy also wants to do is help the growth of Black coaches in College Football;

“To think that you would have a Black president of the United States and two Black men who have won Super Bowls before you would have a Black head coach in a top-20 school is hard to believe,” Dungy told the New York Times. “It doesn’t make sense. The baffling thing for me is that you can have African-American professors at these schools, you can be the head of the department, you can be the basketball coach, you can be the track coach, but you can’t be the football coach. How are we going to change that? I don’t know.”

Although Dungy wants to help in changing the culture of hiring practices at the Collegiate Level he understands why the practices are the way they are. In the NFL, the owner of the teams is the ultimate authority, at Universities; the schools have people to answer to, their Alumni, and therein lies the problem.

“Colleges are result driven, but the difference is that when [Steelers owner] Dan Rooney decides to hire Mike Tomlin, he doesn’t have to worry about any ramifications other than people buying tickets,” Dungy said. “The athletic director and the president at the University of Minnesota, they get Mike Tomlin’s name and their response is: How’s this going to affect donations? How’s this going to affect alumni relations? How’s this going to affect a whole lot of other things? That’s the pressure, that’s why it’s difficult, that’s why it is different. I don’t know how you change that unless an institution makes a moral stand and says, ‘We’ve just got to be a strong enough force that we’re going to do what’s right and if it does cost us a $12 million library, we’ll make up for it.’ “

Black Football Hall of Fame’s First Inductees

Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Deacon Jones and Eddie Robinson, the former Grambling coach, were among the first class inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The hall was established last year by James Harris, a former Pro Bowl quarterback, and Doug Williams, the most valuable player of Super Bowl XXII.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Taunting could cost a TD

The NCAA wants to get tough on taunting and make it more difficult for football players with concussions to try to tough it out.

Both of the proposals were announced Thursday by the Football Rules Committee and must now be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel.

If passed, players who draw flags for taunting gestures on their way to a touchdown would have the penalty assessed from the spot of the foul, taking away the score (This would be the big change). Penalties that occur in the end zone would continue to be assessed on the extra-point attempt, 2-point conversion try or ensuing kickoff.

The change would take effect in 2011 and on the NCAA’s web site, a release said the proposal received near-unanimous support.

Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, the Committee Chair said;

“Our committee firmly believes in the team concept of college football. Taunting and prolonged individual acts have no place in our game, and our officials have generally handled these rules well. This is just another step in maintaining our game’s image and reflecting the ideals of the NCAA overall”

The taunting rules seem to have become a topic of debate among college football players, coaches and fans every season. Last season’s big controversy stemmed from Georgia receiver A.J. Green receiving a 15-year personal foul penalty after he caught a go-ahead touchdown pass late in a game against LSU. The yardage from the penalty was assessed on the ensuing kickoff and helped LSU get into position to drive for the winning score.

The Southeastern Conference later said there was no video evidence to support the flag on Green.

Concussion prevention and treatment has also been a hot topic in recent years.

With that in mind, committee members also supported more stringent standards to keep players healthy.

If approved, injured players, including those with concussion symptoms,would have to be cleared by a designated Physician before being allowed to return for competition.

The action comes a month after the playing rules panel instructed the rules committee to review policies about stopping play for injuries and consider new rules to help prevent head injuries.

In previous seasons, there have been rules changes created to reduce “dangerous contact” during games.

Flags for taunting on touchdowns could wind up costing a team more than just field position.

Other topics discussed at the meeting include:

- Television monitors will be allowed in the Press Box Coaches’ Booths beginning in 2011. The home team has responsibility for insuring that Coaches’ booths for both teams have identical television capability.

- Requiring players who wear eye black to use solid black with no words, logos, numbers or other symbols. That will be effective next season.

- Ending the requirement that players’ pants always cover the knees.

- Eliminating the intentional “wedge” on kickoffs and punts, a rule the NFL adopted last season.

- Recommending conferences that do not have a pregame warm-up policy use a 10-yard, no-player zone between the 45-yard lines beginning 60 minutes before kickoff.

Its not College Football, but is an example of a TD that would be taken away if the proposed rule is passed!

Reggie Bush Taunting Brian Urlacher With Touchdown Run

College Game Day Crowd

The Gentleman’s Guide to College Football Etiquette By – SECfan of our Sister Site;
The College Football Voice.

Proper: To hold up one’s second digit and proclaim you are #1 after winning the BCS Championship Game.
Improper: To hold up one’s finger and declare you are #1 after winning the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Proper: To attach your teams flags to your car to show your support on game day.
Improper: To show up to sunrise service Easter morning with aforementioned flags still attached.

Proper: To be a young coed and wear cowboy hats, ripped, form-fitting t-shirts, and daisy duke shorts.
Improper: To be a member of AARP wearing a tube top and standing on your own breast.

Proper: To pray for safety for your team’s players and the ability to make good decisions during a game.
Improper: To pray that the star quarterback with Bible versus under his eyes breaks his femur.

Proper: During a game, asking the person next to you to stand up during a break so you can exit to the restroom.
Improper: Urinating on the person next to you.

Proper: Taking a picture with your team’s mascot.
Improper: Taking the opposing team’s mascot.

Proper: Discreetly blowing one’s nose on a kerchief or napkin.
Improper: Picking your nose while you are on the jumbo-tron.

Proper: Asking someone to hold your drink while you urinate in the restroom.
Improper: Asking someone to hold anything else while in the restroom.

Proper: Chanting SEC! SEC! SEC! while observing the Security Exchange Commission bust another billionaire for fraud.
Improper: Chanting SEC any other time.

Proper: Allowing bright young Coeds to visit a potential recruit’s high school for encouragement.
Improper: Dressing them only in whip cream.

Proper: Painting your end zones to reflect your school colors.
Improper: Painting the whole damn field smurf blue.

Proper: Buying a vehicle that compliments your team’s colors so the magnets on game day match.
Improper: Buying that vehicle if you are a Tennessee, Clemson, Texas, or Oregon State fan.

Proper: Shouting encouragement to the university’s dance squad.
Improper: Pointing to any part of your body while shouting the encouragements.

Proper: Upon becoming head coach promising to be loyal until the end.
Improper: Stating you are leaving for another school at the end of that speech.

Crazy College Football Fans

How crazy the UGA University of Georgia fans are!!

Florida Gator Fans goes Crazy after loss to Auburn

A Columbus BW3′s (Ohio State Fans) go crazy after LSU loses in OT

Jimmy Clausen

As had been rumored, Jimmy Clausen, former QB of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, won’t be working out at the NFL Combine next week, possibly leaving himself open to more criticism or perhaps shedding the Diva image he has been labeled with.

“I’m planning on doing all the interviews and, obviously, being seen by the doctors so they can see my toe, but my toe isn’t ready to go right now,” Clausen told Sporting News Radio. “I’m really excited to go down to Indianapolis next week so teams can get to know me as a person. And I think after they get to know me as a person, they’ll see the truth from what the perception is out there about me.”

This is a fairly logical decision by Clausen and his agent Gary Wichard, as he’s still healing after postseason toe surgery to repair an injury that bothered the potential Top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft most of the season.

Numerous NFL Mock Draft Boards have Clausen at or near the top of the 2010 Draft Board.

It is also clear is that Clausen and his Agent are taking a proactive step to battle the diva reputation that’s hung on Clausen since his decision to announce his college choice at the College Football Hall of Fame after a family ride in a stretch Hummer limo.

With or without the workout, Clausen’s spot in the first round will likely be based on his individual workouts. Mainly because, even if 100-percent healthy, most elite quarterbacks usually take a pass on throwing at the Combine, and instead chose to throw to familiar receivers at a workout set up for success.

“It’ll be interesting to see if skeptics spin this decision into more anti Clausen sentiment, when the reality of the situation is that the other elite quarterback in the draft, Sam Bradford (Oklahoma Sooners) specifically, most likely will not be throwing at the NFL Combine either.”

2009 Jimmy Clausen Highlights

QB Jimmy Clausen Highlights/Lowlights 2009 Notre Dame Part 1

QB Jimmy Clausen Highlights/Lowlights 2009 Notre Dame Part 2

Sources;

nbcsports.msnbc.com
Notre Dame Website
You-Tube
Notre Dame Message Board

Pac-10 Rumblings of Expansion

“It all had been going so well for the Mountain West.

It had started with the recently concluded football season. Check that, it had started with the football season that concluded in January 2009, when Utah busted the Bowl Championship Series for the second time in four years, whipping Alabama, 31-17. Not Alabama-Huntsville or Alabama A&M. Alabama Alabama. Bear Bryant’s Alabama. The one that beat the dog snot out of Texas in this year’s national championship game.

So what if Texas Christian lost to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl? No harm, no foul. Leading up to the game, ESPN said the Mountain West was halfway home to receiving an automatic BCS bid. ESPN said that. Not The Mtn. or Versus or the Navy Football Network or Wayne and Garth’s public access channel or one of the other obscure networks that Mountain West games are available on, provided the log-rolling contest leading up to them doesn’t go into overtime. ESPN. A sports channel that everybody gets.

Then basketball season heated up. For one shining moment, the Mountain West had three teams ranked among the Top 25. Or one more than the vaunted Atlantic Coast Conference had.

That was last week, before the Rebels were getting out-hustled to virtually every loose ball. Before they realized how much they missed Derrick Jasper on the boards and on defense.

Before, more important to a nationwide audience, the Pacific-10 Conference had to open its big mouth.”

Click Here to Read the Entire Article

Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh, DT – Nebraska Cornhuskers, is an extremely talented defensive tackle prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft. Suh dominated opponents this season and throughout his great career at Nebraska. Suh is a disruptive force in the middle, and equally effective as a run stuffer and a pass rusher. Despite being such a dominant player, it really took until the Big XII Championship Game versus Texas to have his coming out party. Suh has widely been considered the best defensive tackle prospect in years, and has an excellent chance of being this years #1 overall pick.

Let me preface this by saying that we are still in the process of scouting Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, and that from what we have seen, we really like him as a player. He may be the best NFL draft prospect since Jake Long of Michigan went to Miami, in other words the closest “Can’t Miss if you Pick Player” since the 98 draft when the Dolphins selected Long.

Suh, who measures out at 6’5 295 (or so) was a great player for Nebraska, and might be the best defensive player scouted in the past three years. He has great upper-body strength, disengages from blocks extraordinarily well, has good athleticism, deflects passes (had four against Virginia Tech), splits double teams, chases down screens… He’s very impressive. Rarely do you see defensive tackles throw BCS offensive guards around like rag dolls, but Suh does it multiple times a game. He nearly won the Big 12 Championship game on his own, completely dominating the line of scrimmage, he just does so many things well.

Nobody is perfect, though, and there are some concerns. Suh is, to borrow an overused saying, a bit of a tweener. While he has an exceptionally strong upper body, there are some concerns about his ability to anchor as the “nose” of a 4-3 defense (or 1-technique, if you prefer) on a consistent basis. His lower body strength could improve, but frankly he would likely need at least 20 lbs. in bulk to have the anchor. He also struggles with leverage a bit when facing effective offensive lineman (Which he will see consistently at the next level), and combined with his being comparatively “light” that could create a problem.

So, what to do? You move him to the “under” tackle spot (or 3-technique, gap shooter, what have you). That’s probably where he is best used anyways, and we could see him having great success there. One small problem, one great one. The small problem is that he isn’t a freak athlete. He’s very athletic, but his first step is not extraordinary. His plays against the run and pass are more likely to be the result of his strength and hands, which take a little longer. He may make twice as many tackles as, say, Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy, but most of Suh’s will be at the line of scrimmage, not 3 yards in the backfield. Personally, we prefer that style anyway because it is more sound against the run, but it probably means less completely broken pass plays (as in Tommie Harris of the Chicago Bears ruining an offensive game plan).

While Suh is an extremely versatile player, we cannot help but feel like Suh would thrive as a 3-4 end (Nebraska used him there a fair amount every game). His size, strength, hands, and athleticism would make him a dominant player – far, far, far better than say Tyson Jackson, now of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Breakdown

Strengths

Large Frame

Very Active – Motor is constantly running

Grades out well in chase (pursuit) tackling

Good lower body strength (Could be improved)

Great instincts, which allow him to be explosive off the snap

Great leadership and a solid work ethic

Considerable Upside

Uses his hands extremely well and shows tremendous strength when fighting off blockers

He is able to stand up linemen, locate the football, and position himself to make the tackle

Displays good technique when using the swim and rip moves

Reads Screens Extremely Well

Versatile; can play 1-, 3-, and 5-techniques.

Consistently disengages from linemen to make tackles

Effective at collapsing the Pocket

He is an amazing play-maker, seems to always be around the football

Weaknesses

Has shown a tendency to miss tackles

He has had multiple knee injuries and surgeries which will bring up huge concerns at the upcoming NFL Combine

Occasionally gets too high in stance which leads to being washed

Needs work on his Leverage Technique, Occasionally is too high in stance

Durability concerns due to Multiple Knee Surgeries

After one of the most dominating seasons by a defensive tackle in the history of college football, there is little doubt that Suh is the best player in this draft class on either side of the ball. Even casual fans became aware of the supremacy of the Heisman Trophy finalist after he nearly led the Cornhuskers to victory over Texas in the Big 12 Championship game and shutdown the Arizona offense in the Holiday Bowl. If St. Louis does not take him with the first pick, they may regret it for the next decade.

Suh Tosses McCoy

Ndamukong Suh on College Game Day

Ndamukong Suh Big 12 Championship Highlights

The Top 10 College Football Draft Prospects; 2010 NFL Draft (Updated)

We here at Live FromThe Press Box.Com decided to take a look at The Top Ten College Football Draft Prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft(Which obviously takes place in 2011).

We then presented those results in an article published on January 20, 2011. Now after the Super Bowl has been played, things are a bit clearer in terms of Draft Order and many teams have settled on their draft board preferences, so we contacted our Own NFL Draft Expert once again and asked him to update the board for us based on how he thinks the up-coming NFL draft will play out.

2010 NFL Draft 1st Round Order – Updated After Superbowl.

Tiebreakers: Easiest Strength of Schedule picks first. If still tied, then worst division record picks first. If still tied, then worst conference record picks first. If still tied, (*)coin flip decides order.

Round 1

1. St. Louis (1-15)
2. Detroit (2-14)
3. Tampa Bay (3-13)
4. Washington (4-12)
5. Kansas City (4-12)
6. Seattle (5-11)
7. Cleveland (5-11)
8. Oakland (5-11)
9. Buffalo (6-10)
10/11. Chicago (7-9)* (Traded to DEN)
10/11. Jacksonville (7-9)*
12. Miami (7-9)
13. San Francisco (8-8)
14. Denver (8-8)(Traded to SEA)
15. New York Giants (8-8)
16/17. Carolina (8-8)* (Traded to SF)
16/17. Tennessee (8-8)*
18. Pittsburgh (9-7)
19/20. Atlanta (9-7)*
19/20. Houston (9-7)*
21. Cincinnati (10-6)
22. New England (10-6)
23. Green Bay (11-5)
24. Philadelphia (11-5)
25. Baltimore (9-7)
26. Arizona (10-6)
27. Dallas (11-5)
28. San Diego (13-3)
29. New York Jets (9-7)
30. Minnesota (12-4)
31. Indianapolis (14-2)
32. New Orleans (13-3)

Our Expert, a retired NFL player with current involvement in Scouting in the NFL made his initial selections based on what he saw back in January. After some time has now elapsed from when we ran this story first, and the picture is becoming a bit more clear (or not so clear in many cases), here is the updated draft order from our Expert. This time with what he believes are the top alternate choices on the board for each of the Top Ten teams in the Draft order along with his thoughts.

He mentions that Team Pro days, Individual workouts, and the NFL Combine, combined with the indecisiveness of several teams (and their past draft history), many players are still in play here. Not to mention that the very nature of the NFL draft is fluid, and one late trade move by any NFL team can and most likely will blow up the entire selection process, to quote him directly, “It is the nature of the Beast”.

So here we go;


Experts Pick(s) for the 2010 NFL Draft

1. St. Louis Rams – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Although they are still wrestling with Jimmy Clasuen, and to a lesser extent Sam Bradford as a possible choice, at the end of the day he believes “Suh is clearly the best player in the draft, and the Lions will shore up that defense with his selection.

Rumors are also swirling that The Rams are looking to deal for Michael Vick at Quarterback”.

Why has the bloom dropped off of Clausens Rose? He has heard from a couple sources that there are some teams and scouts that dislike Jimmy Clausen’s personality. “He might come off as a diva or arrogant, but comments similar were also made about about Philip Rivers, one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. ”

2. Detroit Lions – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma


“Jim Schwartz and the Lions offensive line coach have raved about Jeff Backus’ play this season, and it seems that we can diminish the odds that Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung will be the pick here. Gerald McCoy is one of the top players in this class. He has elite athletic ability and is a consistent play maker in the mold of a Kevin Williams. The Lions need play makers desperately on the defensive line so it seems almost certain this pick will either be Suh (If Available) or McCoy.”

3. Tampa Bay Bucs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

“This is the last thing the Bucs want to happen. Defensive tackle is their No. 1 need and it would kill them to see Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy already off the board. I am also not buying that Tampa will move up for Suh because they have too many needs and those second-round picks are pure gold.

Eric Berry is an elite talent and the No. 2 player on my board. His ability to make plays against the run is amazing and he will be reminiscent of John Lynch for many Tampa fans. In coverage he will give this team more versatility at safety because they can use he and Tanard Jackson in an interchangeable role, which seems to be a trend around the league.

Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan could also be in play here and barring Donald Penn’s contract situation, we can’t completely rule out Russell Okung, but I’m willing to bet Tampa’s board will be stacked Suh-McCoy-Berry up to this point.”

4. Washington Redskins – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma


This selection has our expert confused a bit;”What this comes down to is Bradford’s shoulder. If he’s healthy…. and the Redskins have Dr. James Andrews working for them, so they’ll know better than anyone, Bradford will be the pick. If Andrews is pessimistic, Washington will take Russell Okung or Jimmy Clausen if he’s available”.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Our expert says that Okung is the “real deal”. “He could take the Chiefs’ offense to the next level if he is still available”. Other Options; “Eric Berry, S – Berry is the other major option here, but it would go against everything GM Scott Pioli believes in if he were to take a safety without having his Offensive and Defensive lines finished”.

“It will be interesting to see whether it ends up being Okung, Anthony Davis or Bruce Campbell, as the battle for the No. 1 tackle spot is one of the best story-lines of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Okung was the most consistent lineman in the nation this year and he will test out on a very high level athletically. I see no reason as to why Anthony Davis can take this from him (more inconsistent – doesn’t have elite lateral movement or athleticism), but watch out for Campbell because an amazing Combine could really vault his draft stock.

Other Choices; Eric Berry and Bruce Campbell if Available; While Campbell could definitely be the pick, there are two things that are swaying me toward Berry.

First, Berry is the far superior prospect. Campbell’s no slouch, but Berry is being hailed as the next Ed Reed. And second, Campbell has an extensive history of minor injuries that may deter some teams from taking him in the top 5-8. Recall what happened to Eugene Monroe last year.

And it’s not like Seattle couldn’t use Berry; the team was miserable against the pass this year, allowing seven of their final 10 opponents to compile at least 249 passing yards each game, with the three exceptions being two rookies and Vince Young.

If Berry and the top two quarterbacks are off the board, I believe the Seahawks will draft Campbell. ”

6. Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

“Carroll will be looking for his own “guy” to play quarterback and a franchise left tackle to protect him. Jimmy Clausen is unquestionably the top quarterback prospect in this draft. He threw for 28 touchdowns and only four picks on an 8.8 YPA and a 68.0 completion percentage this year. He’s superior to Sam Bradford because he has a bigger arm and has spent three years in a West Coast offense. Bradford, on the other hand, is coming out of a shotgun spread offense and just had shoulder surgery. His arm strength is also very questionable.

If the Rams are genuinely interested in Clausen, don’t be shocked if Daniel Snyder tells Bruce Allen to make a trade up to secure the chance to draft him. With teams in the top 10 needing quarterbacks (St. Louis, Washington, Seattle, Cleveland, Buffalo), Mr. Clausen might be quite the commodity come late April. ”

7. Cleveland Browns – Joe Haden, CB, Florida

“Cleveland is clearly looking for a franchise Quarterback, while thier fan base keeps screaming for DEFENSE! Well, there is good news and bad news… The good news is that with Sam Bradford off the board, most Browns fans will be happy with this selection, assuming they take Eric Berry or Joe Haden. The bad news is that Cleveland is delaying its return to playoff contention for another year. To win in the NFL CONSISTENTLY, you need a franchise quarterback. The Browns are the only team in the AFC North without one, so it’s no coincidence that they contend for the postseason only once every five seasons.

Haden projects as a shutdown corner, the scouting report compares him to Leon Hall – but cornerbacks don’t lead teams to the Super Bowl. Franchise quarterbacks do. Just look at the last seven NFL champions if you don’t believe me.

Haden will provide a huge boost for Cleveland’s defense, but the Browns won’t be a consistent winner until they find a franchise signal-caller.”

Also on the board for the Browns; Inside linebacker is a big need for Cleveland, and Rolando McClain is the consensus No. 1 prospect at that position in this class.”

8. Oakland Raiders – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

“There are only four possibilities here: Taylor Mays, Carlos Dunlap, Bruce Campbell and Everson Griffen. That’s it. If you think otherwise, you really don’t realize how horrible of a drafter Al Davis is.”

9. Buffalo Bills – Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa


“Left tackle is a huge need for the Bills, and they really have to be kicking themselves for passing on Michael Oher last year.

After watching and talking with a couple sources in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, I’ve learned that tackle Anthony Davis out of Rutgers has some serious work ethic concerns. I’m not sure Buffalo wants to gamble on his upside when they can draft a player with just as much potential in Bryan Bulaga who battled a thyroid injury all season. He shut down Derrick Morgan in the Orange Bowl and it wouldn’t shock me if Bulaga went in the top 10 picks.”

10.* Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech


“Jacksonville’s top need is selling tickets and drawing fan interest. The team’s No. 2 need is finding someone who can get to the quarterback. The Jaguars tried the 4-3 and the 3-4 in 2009, but nothing worked. Amazingly, the team finished with just 14 sacks, and no one had more than three.

Derrick Morgan is without a doubt the best player on the board at this point, and what we learned in the 2009 NFL Draft was Gene Smith is a huge fan of the Best Player Available theory. He will wreak havoc off the edge for Jacksonville as Smith continues to build his team on the line of scrimmage. The Jaguars need a pass rusher, and I think Morgan can be that guy.”

* Coin Flip

As you can see “Fluid” was an appropriate choice of words, let the debate begin on the 2010/2011 NFL Draft.

This Video is a bit dated, but interesting nonetheless;



Our Experts Number One Draft Choice; Ndamukong Suh

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2011 BCS College Football Championship

Who will win the 2011 BCS College Football Championship? The Top Ten candidates are, Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, Boise State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Florida, TCU, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

Here are the early odds out of Vegas:

1. Alabama 3/1
2. Ohio State 13/2
3. Oregon 12/1
4. USC 12/1
5. Boise State 15/1
6. Nebraska 15/1
7. Texas 15/1
8. Oklahoma 15/1
9. Virginia Tech 18/1
10. TCU 18/1
11. Florida 18/1
12. Miami (FL) 20/1
13. Iowa 20/1
14. Penn State 20/1
15. LSU 25/1
16. Oregon State 30/1
17. Auburn 30/1
18. Arkansas 30/1
19. Georgia 30/1
20. Pittsburgh 40/1
21. Wisconsin 40/1
22. Washington 50/1
23. Michigan 50/1
24. Georgia Tech 50/1
25. Clemson 50/1

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide

“Schedule rating: 5 out of 5. When Penn State comes to Tuscaloosa in September, a classic rivalry will be revived, and the SEC rotation will bring Florida to Bryant-Denny as well. Adding to a 24-game regular-season winning streak won’t be easy.”

No. 2 Oregon Ducks

“Schedule rating: 2. The Ducks get a trip to Tennessee on September 11 against a new Vols quarterback, and the PAC-10 schedule sets up well. USC and Oregon State are critical road games.”

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeye’s

“Schedule rating: 3. A home win over Miami would go a long way in strengthening the Buckeyes’ schedule in the computer polls. So will games against Big Ten heavies Wisconsin, Iowa and Penn State.”

No. 4 Boise State Bronco’s

“Schedule rating: 1. Give the Broncos credit: They’re trying to upgrade the schedule, traveling cross-country to play Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Washington D.C. Win that one, and a home game against Oregon State, and an unbeaten season could translate to a spot in the national championship game.”

No. 5 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

“Schedule rating: 4. Georgia Tech hasn’t separated itself from the rest of the ACC enough to expect upper-tier league games to be gimmes, and non-conference road games against Kansas and Georgia will be tough.”

No. 6 Miami Hurricanes

“Schedule rating: 5. A prove-it year for coach Randy Shannon includes non-conference games at Ohio State and Pitt and meetings with the rest of the top half of the ACC .”

No. 7 Florida Gators

“Schedule rating: 2. The Gators have to travel to Tuscaloosa, but until rival Florida State truly rebounds, the non-conference schedule will be annually awful.”

No. 8 T.C.U. Horned Frogs

“Schedule rating: 1. The Horned Frogs are still two games shy of completing their schedule, and there aren’t many takers. If TCU can nail down a game with Oregon State — it’s in the works — it will improve an awful Non-conference schedule that includes SMU and Baylor.”

No. 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers

“Schedule rating: 1. It all sets up for a Big Red revival: Texas visits Lincoln, and Oklahoma is off the schedule. The Huskers’ toughest non-conference test is a trip to Washington.”

No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers

“Schedule rating: 2. Bret Bielema’s best team yet gets UNLV, San Jose State, Arizona State and Austin Peay in non-conference play and a Big Ten schedule with no game against Penn State.”

2010 BCS National Championship Game Highlights

Click Here to Read the Entire Article

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Top Five Sleeper Recruits

Rivals.com has done a nice article on the Five Super Sleepers in 2010, so we here at Live From the Press Box .Com took a look;


1. Corner-back; Orne Bey, Monroeville (Penn.) Gateway (Miami University)

2. Safety Chris Hughes, Mobile (Ala.) Davidson (Mississippi State)

3. Wide Receiver; Lamar Ivey, Mebane (N.C.) Eastern Alamance (East Carolina)

4. DQB Kevin Spain, Phoenix (Ariz.) Paradise Valley (Hawaii)

5. Corner-back; Dale Trimble, Gadsden (Ala.) Gadsden City (Kentucky)

Click Here to Read the Entire Article

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Rivals Top 10 College Football Recruiting Classes

We here at Live From The Press Box.Com believe that Rivals.Com has the best list of the Top 25 Recruiting classes landed after the High School Athletes signed a Letter of Intent on National Signing Day this past Wednesday (And some who did not sign yet).

The debate about who has the best College Football Class will go on until the end of the next season, but for now, here is how we see it for the Top Ten Classes as named by Rivals;

1. USC

Lane Kiffin and his staff did a remarkable job keeping together the recruiting class that already was assembled by former coach Pete Carroll.

WR Kyle Prater, RB Dillon Baxter and Robert Woods lead this standout class. The Trojans also closed the day stronger than any other team, with the addition of five-star prospects Seantrel Henderson, Markeith Ambles, and four-star recruits Nickell Robey and Hayes Pullard.

Lane Kiiffin and Ed O did it again.

Kyle Prater USC Commit 2010 US Army All-American Bowl

2. Florida

The Florida Gator class is loaded from top to bottom, and made us hesitate about having them listed as number TWO by Rivals. There are a total of 10 Rivals100 prospects and 18 Rivals250 prospects. The defensive class is one of the best we have ever seen.

It begins with the nation’s top prospect in defensive end Ronald Powell, the nation’s best defensive tackle in Sharrif Floyd and additional five-star defensive standouts Dominique Easley, Darrin Kitchens and Matt Elam.

Here are the stars on offense; Offensive tackles Chaz Green and Ian Silberman, tight end Gerald Christian, running back Mack Brown and wide receivers Chris Dunkley, Adrian Coxson, Quinton Dunbar, and Solomon Patton.

DE Ronald Powell

3. Texas

The Longhorns really got their work done on the Friday before National Signing Day. Texas landed commitments from five-star recruits Jackson Jeffcoat and Jordan Hicks, also signing five four-star wide-outs including Mike Davis and Darius White, who are two of the top pass-catchers in the country.

On Defense, the line made a huge impact with the signing of defensive ends Jeffcoat, and Reggie Wilson. The Longhorns also signed three defensive tackles that will help clog up the middle, Taylor Bible and Ashton Dorsey. Tevin Jackson is an elite linebacker that also deserves to be mentioned here.

Jordan Hicks (LB, Lakota West)

4. Auburn (YES AUBURN)

Auburn is the biggest surprises this recruiting season. Head Coach Gene Chizik landed five-star quarterback Cameron Newton, five-star running back Michael Dyer, and five-star OL Shon Coleman.The Tigers also got four-star prospects, wide receiver Trovon Reed, offensive guard Eric Mack, defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker, defensive end Craig Sanders and linebacker Jake Holland.

Michael Dyer

5. Alabama

This is the third straight substantial recruiting class signed by Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide landed one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Phillip Sims, RB Corey Grant, punishing RB Jalston Fowler, and DeAndrew White leads a solid group of incoming receivers.

The best part of this Alabama class looks to be the secondary. The Tide signed five-star cornerback DeMarcus Milliner, four-star standouts in cornerbacks Dequan Menzie and John Fulton, and safety Jarrick Williams.

Linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive ends Adrian Hubbard and Alfy Hill round out the sterling defensive class. The Tide also signed offensive lineman Arie Kouandjio

Phillip Sims from Smith High School in Virginia

6. LSU

Les Miles and his LSU recruiting machine proved to be one of the best in College Football once again. the LSU Tiger Class is led by five-star Spencer Ware, who they grabbed from Cincy.

Other top recruits include defensive ends Justin Maclin and Jordan Allen, safety Eric Reid, cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, athletes Tharold Simon and Ronnie Vinson, offensive tackle Evan Washington, tight end Travis Dickson, wide receiver James Wright, running back Jakhari Gore and QB Zach Lee. The Miles Machine finished strong on Signing Day with a big time receiver, Kadron Boone, athlete Jarrett Fobbs, defensive lineman J.C. Copeland and five-star DL J.R. Ferguson.

Spencer Ware

7. Oklahoma

Bob Stoops assembled a nice class, led by two great running backs in Brennan Clay and Roy Finch. They gave the quarterback position depth by signing a four-star Blake Bell. Tyrus Thompson and Daryl Williams standout on the offensive line while defensive tackle Eric Humphrey is one of the steals in the country on the defensive line.

Stoops had a signing day surprise, four-star Corey Nelson de-committed from Texas A&M to join his high school teammate Joe Powell as an Oklahoma Sooner.

With at least one high ranking prospect at every position, Oklahoma filled almost every need they had and landed the kind of talent that should keep the program in the hunt in College Football.


Justin McCay

8. UCLA

Keeping up with big brother (USC) is hard to do, but Rick Neuheisel and his staff did the kid of recruiting job that could make them competitive in the PAC Ten for years to come.

The Bruins put together one of the nation’s best running back classes with Malcolm Jones, Anthony Barr, and Jordon James. The Bruins also added depth along the defensive line. UCLA finished strong with DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Dietrich Riley, Josh Shirley, Jordan Zumwalt and Anthony Jefferson.

Owamagbe Odighizuwa

9. Tennessee

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley and his staff did a fantastic job considering their short recruiting window, somehow they managed to keep all the previous staff’s early enrolles.

The Vols then went out and filled needs along the offensive line and at linebacker. Tennessee managed to land big-name recruits like wide receiver Justin Hunter, running back Rajion Neal, quarterback Tyler Bray, offensive tackle Jawuan James, and defensive ends Corey Miller and Jacques Smith.

And on National Signing Day, the Vols landed five-star wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers away from Georgia in a bold move. Getting in-state lineman James Stone was very important for Tennessee in future recruiting as well.

Da’Rick Rogers

10. Florida State

New Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher really did well with his first recruiting class; Defensive help is on it’s way to Florida State.

Leading Fishers first recruiting class off in style is five-star cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, the nation’s top middle linebacker in Jeff Luc, and defensive line standout Darious Cummings. The Seminoles also manged to land a big one on Signing Day in five-star linebacker Christian Jones.

On offense, the Nole’s made a good effort as well, led by Christian Green, a great receiver. They also added Kenny Shaw and the speedster De’Joshua Johnson to round out the new era at Florida Sate, replacing a legend such as Bobby Bowden may easier than many realized in Tallahassee.

2010 Under Armour All-America Game: Exclusive Lamarcus Joyner Highlights

Well here’s the list and the highlights, lets start the debate!!!!!!!!

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Ranking the Top College Football Recruiting Classes

Ranking the Top College Football Recruiting Classes;

This much is certain at Florida; Urban Meyer’s future with the Gators didn’t hurt their recruiting one bit this year.

USC , which finished strong to bring home top honors with Rivals.com, and Tennessee withstood late coaching changes to land highly regarded classes. And Auburn showed it’s not about to concede the state of Alabama to Nick Saban and the Tide.

Here are the best recruiting classes as rated by five of the major recruiting analysts;

Rivals.Com

1. USC
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Auburn
5. Alabama
6. LSU
7. Oklahoma
8. UCLA
9. Tennessee
10. Florida St.

Scout.Com

1. Florida
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Alabama
5. USC
6. Auburn
7. LSU
8. UCLA
9. Penn State
10. Florida St.

ESPNU

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Oklahoma
6. Florida State
7. USC
8. LSU
9. Tennessee
10. UCLA

Super Prep

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. Auburn
7. LSU
8. UCLA
9. Penn St.
10. Florida St.

Max-preps

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Alabama
5. Auburn
6. Oklahoma
7. LSU
8. UCLA
9. Tennessee
10. Penn St.

The debate on who got the best class can now rage on!

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National Signing Day

“With the collegiate version of the NFL draft — minus the high-dollar contracts. Unless you attend Southern Cal. (lighten up, it’s a jab. A poke, if you will.) — fast approaching, the fine folks at NBC Sports.com have asked us to offer up a preview of what to expect when National Signing Day rolls around.

So, we are graciously obliging. Even as our recruiting expertise is roughly equivalent to Vince Young’s ability to master the Wonderlic.

Regardless, here are just a few of the myriad storylines that might be able to whet your appetite ahead of the day that could go a long way in determining the future success of (insert your school here).”

Click Here To Read Entire Article

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College Football Recruiting

Ever wonder how a highly regarded teenager decides where to play College football? So did we here at Live From The Press Box.Com. After scouring the internet and talking to a few players that have been through the process, here is what we have come up with;

There are just three angles that play a varying degree of importance in each recruits decision to pack up and play College football at a certain University. Each of these has multiple facets to them so we’ll do our job here at Live From The Press Box and break down how location, the school itself, and the scheme the school plays play a role in a recruits decision.

Before we get into each of the aspects we’ll do what every coach has to be able to gauge early on; who is the decider. For some recruits it is their ego, they think of themselves and what will make them happiest in terms of girls, parties and the like.

However, generally, there’s another person helping to make the decision. Girlfriends, Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, Uncles or high school coaches are the likely choice. When a coach gets a bead on who is making the decisions he can then proceed to look for what is the most important to the kid and to his “decider.”

Location & University

These two items seem to go together so let’s tackle them together;


The most obvious facet of location’s role in decision making is a player’s desire to play within a close proximity to his home. If the player wants to play in front of his hometown supporters, grandmother or his family then a cross country school will likely be out of the question. Many kids have transferred back home because of these reasons and so proximity is a serious issue when looking at a school.

On the other hand, there are High School athletes that want to OR don’t mind getting away. Guys from Florida that go to Ohio State or kids from California that come East to play. It takes a strong kid to pack up his goods, ship out from Arizona and enroll at Georgia. There’s a different way of life, a different set of rules and no mothers or fathers there to keep you grounded and on the straight and narrow.

Weather

Getting back to location, let’s take a look how the location and university itself go into a recruits decision;

Enjoyment of the locale. Weather, co-eds, campus, bars, parties and the overall fun all come into play here. Kids from the south aren’t always chomping at the bit to head up north, play in snow and wear parkas. Kids from the west aren’t lining up to head down to the swamps of the south and suffocate in the humidity. Beach goers aren’t falling in love with programs that are landlocked.

While it might just be sweater weather or “football weather” to the fans these kids have to practice in it everyday, when a kid hates the cold spending 8 months out of the year in snow and wind is a depressing hell.

Time to break out the Lane Kiffin Jokes now; Girls do matter, always have to teenage boys, always will, this is not rocket science here, it is Teenage Boys 101.

When High School recruits go on their official visits they meet women, not necessarily set up by the university (Sorry Lane), rather girls met at parties. The better looking (Gorgeous), more interesting girls, means another way to entice a 17 year old kid into becoming a part of your recruiting class. Parents may not want to think about this or even discuss it, but the idea that having gorgeous, entertaining co-eds meaning nothing is pure fallacy.

There are 120 some odd schools playing FBS level football for the time being and if location has narrowed your choice down quite a bit then what step comes next?

Clearly looking at the academics and the university should play a fairly significant role. Rare is the case that a football player enrolls at a college without ever experiencing the campus life. Here location and the university do a delicate dance where the institution’s atmosphere combine with the location to have a combined effect on recruits.

However, universities aren’t just about campus life when it comes to decision time; they’re also about school. Two schools of thought here; can a recruit get into a certain school and does the recruit have a certain academic desire. The NCAA has a sliding scale for admissions, this means the higher your high school GPA the lower your required SAT/ACT score is to make you eligible to play.

Some schools; Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern and Duke for example, take this sliding scale as a “suggestion” before adhering to their own substantially more stringent baseline for the admission of football players. The biggest thing to remember here is every school plays by the NCAA standards, there is no avoiding those, but each school is free to enforce tougher acceptance requirements.

The problem here lies with figuring out if a kid can get through admissions. While every school is not as strict as the Stanford’s of the world, schools such as Florida, Oklahoma and USC do have their limits. At this point the decision becomes prep school in an attempt to reach an acceptable standard, or enrolling in a lesser institution.

Not to name names but schools in the Big East, C-USA and the MAC have shown a propensity for scooping up academic risks that other universities passed over.

Schematics


Regardless of the factors we have just covered, in the end these guys are still football players and often times the bottom line for their decisions is the football itself.

Everyone speaks on the relationship between a player and their recruiting coach. Folks know names like Eddie Gran and Ed Orgeron; not because of their coaching prowess but because of they’re ability to woo recruits. There’s no doubt that a school’s persistence comes into play but scheme is more than just getting along with or liking a coach; scheme fueled decisions fall into two categories: playing time and the system.

Playing time is a very recent phenomena, the days of whole classes redshirting and players emerging as juniors and seniors is long gone thanks to the influence of ESPN and the 85 scholarship rules. More games on TV coupled with less scholarships to give means good players are looking to go places where they can “showcase their game to NFL Scouts” as soon as possible.

Its a tough task for schools to stockpile talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Today’s players want to play, play immediately and when the choice is playing special teams and as a back up for two seasons at Florida vs playing the opener at their position at the University of South Florida often times the Bulls will win out.

The first round battle in the system decision comes from the position. What position will the player be asked to play at School X vs School Y?

High school linebackers don’t always want to become defensive ends. Quarterbacks don’t want to move to corner. Tight Ends don’t want to be Tackles.

The most obvious example of this is the 2004 signing day swap of Pat White. White was committed to LSU as a wide receiver, however he flopped on LSU for Rich Rodriguez’s spread attack at the West Virginia Mountaineers and now is one of the greatest option quarterbacks of the last decade.

The opposite was true for current South Carolina Gamecock Cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Coming out of South Pointe High, Gilmore was a great and dynamic high school quarterback but without any BCS level offers to play Quarterback he opted for the Gamecocks’ where he started at Cornerback in 2009.

Position changes aren’t the only problems with scheme as the actual playing philosophy must be taken into account. Spread options don’t work for pro styled quarterbacks. Flexbone attacks don’t fit big time wide receiver attacks. 3-3-5 defenses don’t fit pass rush defensive ends. A player must decide which system is the right one for them, their playing style and their skill-set. This is key to the decision making process.

Most recruits get this portion right from the beginning. Pro styled guys head to places like Alabama, USC, Georgia and Ohio State while spread styled recruits opt for Florida, Texas and Oregon. However, we’ve seen coaching changes affect scheme in a big way this season with two big name SEC performers coming to the conference after spending their early seasons outside of the league.

Its a complex and sometimes life changing decision, and these kids have a lot to consider.

College Football Coaching: Tips and Advice : Off-Season Recruiting in College Football



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2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl



In the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl, Tim Tebow was Shaky, while other NFL Draft Prospects Shined

Mardy Gilyard was once homeless and worked four jobs to stay in school after losing his scholarship.

However, in the Under Armour Senior Bowl, Mardy Gilyard was the star of this Show. The former Cincinnati Bearcat turned in an a strong audition for NFL Scouts in attendance at Saturday’s Senior Bowl. Gilyard compiled 103 yards receiving and caught a 32-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to help the North win a decisive 31-13 victory over the South.

“All my hard work just kind of came into one game,” an exuberant Gilyard said. “I’m truly blessed. I worked my butt off and I played my butt off. I’ve been through so much in my career.

“This game sums up everything, because I’ve been through all the hard work, all the ups and all the downs, the peaks and the valleys. I’ve been through everything. I’ve been from the brown sticky stuff at the bottom of the barrel to the cream at the top of the coffee.”

One of the nation’s top all-purpose threats, Gilyard set up the third-quarter touchdown with a 43-yard catch down the right sideline and had five receptions. Both that pass and the TD came from Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour.

Gilyard returned two kicks for 52 yards and gained 24 on two punt returns. He was chosen offensive player of the game while Mississippi State’s Jamar Chaney earned defensive honors.

Meanwhile, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow had a shaky outing running a pro-style offense against a sturdy defense.

He fumbled twice and finished 8 of 12 passing for 50 yards in the showcase for senior NFL prospects. Tebow’s longest completion was 11 yards and he netted 4 yards on four rushes, but was never turned loose as a power runner as he often was with the Gators. He battled strep throat early but didn’t miss any practice time during a week when he was trying to prove to skeptical NFL teams and draft analysts that he could be a starting pro quarterback.

The Senior Bowl game is most likely a showcase of future NFL talent. The majority of the players in the game are considered top prospects for the future NFL draft, including Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Tebow, who has been in the news lately over his controversial Superbowl ad, was considered sloppy in today’s game.

Some believe today’s performance may be a precursor for Tebow’s drop in the NFL draft rankings. Others say he’ll be just fine.


Michigan defensive lineman Brandon Graham had two sacks and a forced fumble and was chosen the game’s Most Valuable Player. The South committed six turnovers.

Tulane receiver Jeremy Williams had six catches for 82 yards, added a 27-yard run on an end around and was named the South’s most outstanding player. That honor went to Central Michigan’s LeFevour for the North. He completed half of his 10 passes for 97 yards and added a 1-yard touchdown run on a sneak, once again outdistancing the much more heralded Tebow.

LeFevour finished with more total touchdowns (150) than any other player in Football Bowl Subdivision, including Tebow (145). Zac Robinson had the game’s best passing numbers, throwing for 176 yards and a touchdown before getting intercepted late in the game.

Alabama players accounted for all of the South’s points. Robinson hit tight end Colin Peek for a 19-yard touchdown and Leigh Tiffin booted field goals of 43 and 33 yards.

Game Recap

The North never trailed in the game, taking a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on Brett Swenson’s 43 yard field goal. Leigh Tiffin would answer with a 43 yard field goal of his own–tying the game at three late in the first quarter. Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount’s 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter would give the North a 10-3 lead and Austen Lane’s six yard fumble return for a touchdown put the visitors out in front 17-3 with just under ten minutes to play in the half.

Hanging onto the football was a bit of a challenge for both squads all day long. The game featured nine turnovers, with six of those belonging to the South (four fumbles, two interceptions) and three to the North (two fumbles, one interception). Making matters worse for the South was the fact that two of those turnovers led to North touchdowns.

Despite the turnovers, Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano’s South squad seemed to be riding some momentum into the half—scoring 10 unanswered points to close out the first half. Leigh Tiffin drilled a 33 yard field goal and Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson fired a 19 yard touchdown pass to Alabama tight end Colin Peek, cutting the North’s lead to just four, 17-13, at the half.

But the North squad, under the direction of Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz and his staff, shut out the South in the second half—scoring 14 unanswered points in the final two quarters. Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour, who earned Most Outstanding Player honors for the North, ran for a one-yard touchdown and threw a 32 yard scoring strike to Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard to close out the scoring.

2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl | North Vs. South Highlights

2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl | #15 Tim Tebow Highlights

Senior Bowl Recap 2010

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