Texas AnM, Missouri will pay $12.4 mil to exit Big 12

Missouri and Texas A&M announced on their respective athletic websites that the total cost of leaving the Big 12 will be just under $25 million — or, $12.41 million each. But because of items such as direct payments from the NCAA, bowl payouts, etc., A&M will only end up paying the Big 12 $9.31 million out-of-pocket, according to reports by the San Antonio Express News and Dallas Morning News.

As a reference, SEC schools made just under $20 million in payout from the SEC in 2010-11.

Plus, there’s a provision. A&M “will receive a portion of the benefit received by the Big 12 Conference from the signing of its television contract with Fox Sports, scheduled to commence July 1, 2012.”

Missouri, on the other hand, has waived claim to any of the aforementioned TV benefits. Additionally, the school will pay the Big 12 approximately $500,000 for its share of officiating expenses for 2011-12 athletic year.

Here’s the statement from A&M:

“On behalf of Texas A&M University and Aggies worldwide, I would like to thank the Big 12 and its member institutions for the many memories over the past 16 years. We value our ongoing academic and athletic relationships with Big 12 members, and it is our hope to continue many of our longstanding athletic rivalries in the future. We appreciate the Big 12 working with us on a quick and amicable settlement.”

And from Missouri:

“We are pleased to have these issues resolved and we wish the Big 12 and its continuing member institutions the best in the future.”

Tide to offer four-year scholarships

Speaking to Cecil Hurt of TideSports.com, head coach Nick Saban confirmed that the football program will offer four-year scholarships beginning in 2013. Saban said, in essence, that the uncertainty swirling around the issue forced the school’s hand into not speaking on the subject publicly.

“Last year, it was something that was tabled,” Saban said. “Then there was the vote to rescind. We just wanted to know exactly what the rule would be before we made a comment. What if we had started offering four-year scholarships and then the rule had been changed back?”

One thing Saban stressed, and probably hasn’t been stressed enough, is the fact that, while the sport is moving away from one-year scholarships to multiyear ones, a player can still have his scholarship stripped if he fails to meet his obligations off the field and in the classroom.

“Most of the conditions are still the same,” he says. “The player will still have to be academically eligible. He will still have to obey team rules and regulations. And the player is still going to have the same rights and the same appeals process that he has now.”

Saban added that he thinks all of the members of the SEC will offer four-year scholarships beginning next year. Along with the Tide, LSU, Tennessee and Texas A&M voted earlier this month to rescind the proposal.

The reality is, though, Saban and the other coaches had no choice but to go along with the multiyear scholarships after the override failed. Being a holdout, especially in the hyper-competitive SEC, would have put a school at a disadvantage on the recruiting front as it would’ve certainly been used against them.

by J. Taylor

Kentucky LB booted after arrest

Kentucky linebacker Ridge Wilson did his part to reset it back to zero. Wilson, a senior-to-be, was arrested on a felony drug charge early Sunday by local police during a routine patrol. According to the story from WDRB in Louisville, police were in an area “known for drug trafficking and drug use” when they spotted a car with an Indiana license plate parked along the road. Police said they saw a man, Wilson, leaning down in the driver seat with no lights on in the inside of the vehicle. When police investigated, Wilson was reportedly ”extremely nervous” and “kept mentioning that he played football for the University of Kentucky.” Police searched the vehicle with Wilson’s permission and reportedly found pair of jeans with a bag of Xanax pills in them. Police also allegedly found nearly $2,000 in cash on Wilson. The linebacker was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, and according a UK spokesperson, has been suspended from the team for “breaking team rules.” Wilson was sixth on the team last season with 47 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery.

Kentucky has announced that Wilson has been dismissed from the team.

NCAA moves kickoffs to 35-yard line

The NCAA announced Thursday that college football kickoffs will be moved from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line starting next season.

The move, designed to encourage more touchbacks and reduce potential injuries, comes after the NFL made a similar adjustment to kickoffs in 2011.

Kicking teams also will be prohibited from having a running head start of more than five yards.

"The recommended changes came from the Football Rules Committee after that group examined NCAA data showing that injuries during kickoffs occur more often than in other phases of the game," read a statement issued by the NCAA.

Touchbacks on kickoffs also have been moved from the 20-yard line to the 25-yard line, while touchbacks on other plays -- punts into the end zone or fumbles out of the back of the end zone -- will continue to be placed at the 20-yard line.

Another change to the rules will require that players sit out at least one play if their helmet comes off during action on the field.

Lane Kiffin gets a good laugh about Tennessee’s “blame game”

Lane Kiffin hadn’t coached at Tennessee for two years, but was taking the blame for anything and everything wrong with the Volunteers until a shocking event last November.

What event was that? It was Tennessee’s first loss to Kentucky in 26 years, with Kentucky being led to a 10-7 win by a converted wide receiver who hadn’t played quarterback since high school.

It was after that signature loss that some Tennessee fans finally let Lane Kiffin off the hook, or at least let Derek Dooley join him in the blame game.

“Are you sure I didn’t get blamed for the Kentucky game? I’m sure somebody somewhere blamed me for that,” Kiffin told the AJC with a laugh.

“After we left two years ago, and I don’t remember the timeline, there were some floods in Tennessee. So people around here were joking that was my fault — that there were floods there.

“It is what it is. I still have a number of people I stay in contact with there at Tennessee. I know this: I did everything the right way there, as you can see what came out of the NCAA’s investigation. The goal was to make Tennessee better every day. That’s what we strived to do every day we were there … to build confidence in our players and our fan base, and recruit really good players.”

Flashback to 2009: Kiffin quickly reached celebrity status in his one season at Rocky Top, rocking the SEC establishment with his boldness and confidence. After beating out then-Florida coach Urban Meyer for a recruit, Kiffin famously said, “I love the fact that Urban had to cheat and still didn’t get him.”

Ironically, Kiffin and Meyer have gone from archenemies to fast friends now that both are outside of the SEC empire. Meyer told the CBSSports that Kiffin apologized for his past transgressions, and Meyer (now at Ohio State) responded by saying “I acted like a child, too.”

by Michael Carvell

Nebraska DB coach says no thanks to LSU vacancy

With Ron Cooper heading off to the Tampa Bay Bucs, LSU has a secondary coach position to fill. That search is ongoing, but you can take at least one person out of the running for the job.

Or, so says Nebraska defensive backs coach Corey Raymond, a LSU alum who has been linked to the open job with the Tigers. Speaking to the media on Friday at the Big Ten track and field championships, Raymond said he had zero interest in returning to his old school.

“I’m not going to take that job,” said Raymond Friday. “I told LSU I wasn’t going to come down there and do any interviews.”

Raymond was hired last year by Huskers head coach Bo Pelini and said his 14-year-old son likes Lincoln.

“I like working with Bo,” Raymond said. “It’s like being at the Harvard of football

Gators extend Muschamp’s contract

After a year on the job in Gainesville, Will Muschamp has been rewarded with a little additional job security by his Florida bosses. As first reported by Matt Hayes of the Sporting News, the Gators have given its head football coach a one-year contract extension. The move means Muschamp is now signed through the 2016 season. UF subsequently confirmed that the school had picked up an option year written into the coach’s contract.

“Coach Muschamp’s original contract was for five years with an option year,” UF wrote in a statement. “The UAA exercised that option year in January and he now has five years remaining on his current contract.”

The extension doesn’t come with a bump in an annual salary that averaged $2.75 million under the terms of his original five-year deal. In his one season at UF since replacing Urban Meyer, Muschamp went 7-6. That inaugural campaign was capped by a bowl win over Meyer’s new team, Ohio State.

Florida will begin its second spring practice under Muschamp March 14, concluding the 15 allotted sessions with its annual spring game April 7.

by J. Taylor

Tee Martin finally added to USC staff

The school announced last night via its Twitter account that Martin was the Trojans’ new wide receivers coach, replacing new Oakland Raiders assistant Ted Gilmore.

“We are extremely fortunate to make Tee Martin the final addition to our coaching staff,” said Lane Kiffin in a statement. “Not only does he bring instant credibility as a national championship quarterback, but he has grown into a nationally recognized coach and recruiter. We look forward to him taking our record-breaking receivers to an even higher level.”

Martin comes to USC from Kentucky, where he spent the past two seasons and was heralded as a recruiter. With the Trojans’ top two receivers in Marqise Lee and Robert Woods returning, Martin will have some talented skill players to work with.

Martin’s official hiring comes almost a week after Marvin Sanders and Scottie Hazelton were officially added to the USC staff.

Florida TE pleads not guilty in battery case

Last Thursday, Florida sophomore tight end A.C. Leonard was arrested on a simple battery charge after an apparent physical altercation arose from a verbal spat with his girlfriend.

On Monday, Leonard entered a written plea of not guilty for the misdemeanor, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The police report from last week’s incident stated Leonard “shoved his girlfriend forcibly with both hands in her chest/neck area. The force of the shove knocked her down to the ground, causing her head to strike a dog cage that was behind her.” Leonard then reportedly tried to force his girlfriend out of their apartment by her hair and then by her feet.

“She had chunks of hair ripped out of her head,” GPD spokeswoman Cpl. Angelina Valuri said last week.

Leonard was booked in jail for one night. Upon his release the next morning in front of a judge, Leonard said “I never hit her. I just wanted her to leave.” Leonard has been suspended from team activities by coach Will Muschamp.

by Ben K.

LSU secondary coach reportedly leaving for Tampa Bay

Rumors began circulating yesterday in the evening, that LSU defensive backs coach Ron Cooper would be joining the Bucs, and while that still hasn’t been formally announced by either LSU or Tampa, Randy Rosetta of TigerSportsDigest tweeted tonight that he received confirmation from LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette that Cooper is in fact leaving.

Cooper had been with LSU since 2009 and previously served on staffs at South Carolina, Mississippi State and Wisconsin. What role he’ll play in the coaching staff at Tampa remains to be seen.

by Ben K.

Terps remove Vandy restriction from O’Brien transfer

Maryland confirmed via a press release that offensive lineman Max Garcia, quarterback Danny O’Brien and linebacker Mario Rowson have all been granted a full release from the football program with no transfer restrictions.

“While at first I thought it was important to limit the institutions to which they could transfer, I have since reconsidered my decision” head coach Randy Edsall said in a statement. “At the end of the day, I want what’s best for these guys and I wish them well in their futures.

“As a program we are looking forward to putting this distraction behind us and to moving forward. Spring practice opens on March 10 and we can’t wait to get back out on the field.”

Heavily criticized for limiting the transfer options of quarterback Danny O’Brien and two other players, Maryland is backing off that stance, with the Baltimore Sun reporting that all three players will now be permitted to transfer to Vanderbilt if they so desire. The Sun wrote that “Terps coach Randy Edsall is meeting with the players this morning and informing them of the decision.”

O’Brien, along with offensive lineman Max Garcia and linebacker Mario Rowson, were granted releases from their scholarships earlier this month, although the releases came with stipulations: no transfers to ACC schools; any upcoming non-conference opponents, including West Virginia and Temple; and Vandy, coached by former Terps offensive coordinator James Franklin. The first two stipulations are standard, while the third was viewed, and rightly so, as vindictive, petty and classless.

Vandy's Hayward, Richardson ready for NFL Combine

Vanderbilt seniors Casey Hayward and Sean Richardson will look to enhance their National Football League prospects this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Hayward, a cornerback out of Perry, Ga., and Richardson, a safety from Linden, Ala., are among 59 prospects from defensive secondary positions expected to test their skills at the important scouting combine. They will be among the last of more than 300 prospects to test before an array of NFL coaches, scouts and administrators.
While Hayward and Richardson await an interesting week with NFL personnel, several other 2011 Vanderbilt seniors are gearing up for the program's Pro Day on March 23. Among those expected to participate in Pro Day are defensive end/linebacker Tim Fugger, offensive lineman Kyle Fischer, quarterback Larry Smith, tight end Brandon Barden, defensive lineman T.J. Greenstone and receiver Udom Umoh.
The Combine marks Hayward's second opportunity to impress NFL teams since he tied the Vanderbilt school record for career interceptions with a pair of picks in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. In late January, Hayward capped a superb week of workouts in Mobile, Ala., by contributing an interception at the prestigious Senior Bowl.
Numerous draft experts rank Hayward among the top five cornerbacks in the upcoming draft. If he tests well in the 40-yard dash and agility workouts, Hayward could move higher and place himself in the mix for becoming a first-day selection.
For the 6-2, 218-pound Richardson, the Combine offers a chance to solidify his position among the nation's top safeties. The three-year Commodore starter has been training with 10 other invitees in Southern California.

"I'm looking forward to just going to Indianapolis and performing as well as I can," Richardson said. "I want to meet as many teams as I can, maximize my potential and move up the draft board."

Gators lineman seeking a sixth season

A five-star recruit coming out of high school, James Wilson is hoping the 2011 season wasn’t his last at Florida.

According to the Florida Times-Union, the Gators offensive lineman has petitioned the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility. Wilson dressed for four games during his true freshman season in 2007 but ultimately used his redshirt year, then missed the final 10 games of the 2010 season due to a left knee injury.

There’s no word on when the player and the school will receive a decision from the NCAA, although both parties are hopeful one will come before the start of spring practice next month.

Wilson has played a total of 38 games during his time in Gainesville, including 12 last season. he’s had five starts, with four of those coming in 2009.

Coming out of Ponte Vedra, Fla., in 2007, Wilson was one of the most highly-rated interior linemen in the country, ranking as the No. 1 guard. Additionally, he was the No. 2 player in the state of Florida and the No. 12 player at any position overall.

Four-star WR to sign Tuesday

Davonte Neal is the No. 53 player in the Class of 2012 and the No. 6 “athlete” in the country.

The wide receiver/cornerback is also the highest-rated ’12 recruit who remains unsigned nearly three weeks after National Signing Day, although that situation should be rectified in short order.

The Scottsdale, Ariz., product is expected to announce his decision Tuesday at noon ET and sign his Letter of Intent. Neal has reportedly narrowed his choices to Arizona, Arkansas, North Carolina and Notre Dame.

The four-star player has already reportedly made his decision and informed his soon-to-be new coaches, who, the Arizona Daily Star writes, have been sworn to secrecy.

by J. Taylor

Kenny Miles still uncertain about a return to Gamecocks

Kenny Miles is still weighing whether his final season of college football will be played at South Carolina or elsewhere.

According to a tweet over the weekend from The State‘s Josh Kendall, the running back is still uncertain whether he will return to the Gamecocks for his senior season. Miles said he will make his final decision prior to the start of spring practice, which begins March 12. If Miles does decide to transfer from USC, he will be eligible to play immediately this season as he graduated in December. The reason for Miles considering a transfer is a relatively simple one: playing time. Prior to Marcus Lattimore going down to a season-ending ACL injury in mid-October, Miles had just one carry. Post-injury, Miles carried the ball 53 times in six games, including 21 carries in the regular season finale against Clemson and 15 in the bowl win over Nebraska.

Miles has rushed for 982 yards and two touchdowns.

Florida-Tennessee game may not make CBS schedule this year

Because of the new conference schedule that features new members Missouri and Texas A&M, Florida and Tennessee’s early season matchup may not be broadcast on CBS in favor of another game that features two more nationally relevant teams, Alabama and Arkansas.

“Normally you don’t have that kind of selection on that day because Alabama and Arkansas in past schedules has been a week later,” CBS Sports executive vice president Mike Aresco said, via the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “Alabama and Arkansas is a game we’ve done the last three years, so it does give us some options on that first Saturday.”

Aresco said CBS has until July to make a final decision.

The Florida-Tennessee game is the only SEC matchup that has been featured every year on CBS since 1996, but Florida has been average the past two seasons and Tennessee is a mess right now. Alabama, on the other hand, just won its second BCS championship in three years and Arkansas is coming off a Cotton Bowl win.

SEC schools going hard after Terps transfer

Garcia’s high school coach confirmed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his former player is on the receiving end of scholarship offers from Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Ole Miss. Additionally, Alabama and South Carolina are considering doing the same for the Norcross, Ga., native.

It appears, though, that two schools are the early front-runners for the experienced lineman.

“He was very excited about Georgia and Florida both coming in on him,” Norcross High School assistant Reggie Stancil told the paper. “It’s a situation where you get your release but you don’t know who all is going to want you or have space on their roster for you. It’s kind of a scary situation for any kid going into it.

“Now that his name has gotten out there and people have watched his film and loved it, it’s a big relief that four pretty good SEC schools want him.”

As Garcia has yet to graduate, he will have to sit out the 2012 season regardless of which SEC he ultimately chooses. He will have two years of eligibility remaining starting in 2013.

As a true sophomore in 2011, Garcia started all 12 games for the Terps at left tackle.

Son of All-Pro RB Fred Taylor commits to Florida

Kelvin Taylor, son of former Florida and Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, announced at UF’s Junior Day that he was committing to the Gators.

Taylor (5’10″, 190 pounds) becomes the fifth commitment of the 2013 class for Florida and the second running back, along with Winter Haven HS Adam Lane. Taylor said he plans to enroll early.

Of course, verbal commitments are non-binding, so Taylor can change his mind at any time.

The Belle Glade product has been a part of two state titles and became Florida’s career rushing leader, passing Emmitt Smith‘s record of 8,804 yards.

Kentucky reportedly reaches out to ECU for WR coach

Ben Jones of CatsIllustrated.com, Kentucky’s Rivals.com affiliate, reports that East Carolina wide receivers coach/run game coordinator Pat Washington has resigned today via an ECU spokesperson. Washington is expected, according to Jones, to fill the void left by Martin.

Footballscoop.com first reported the move. If the reports turns out to be true, Kentucky can’t confirm any new hires until two weeks after the job has been posted, Washington will have been at ECU for a whopping six weeks, having taken the job on Jan. 6. Washington spent the past three seasons at Southern Miss as the Golden Eagles’ running backs coach. He also coached receivers at Tennessee from 1995-2005, serving under current UK offensive coordinator Randy Sanders.

Ex-OU assistant Willie Martinez lands at Auburn

Auburn announced today that Martinez would be joining Gene Chizik‘s staff, replacing Phillip Lolley. Lolley stepped down from his position earlier this month to re-take an administrative job within the athletic department.

“I’ve had the pleasure to know coach Gene Chizik and other members of this staff for a long time, and I share their energy and passion for the game of football and developing young men,” Martinez said in a statement.

Martinez was connected to multiple defensive coordinator opportunities in his final months at OU, including Kansas and Illinois, but it appeared Martinez’s fate was pretty much sealed when Bob Stoops brought his brother back to Norman.

Martinez has some SEC ties from his days as a defensive coordinator at Georgia from 2005-09. He’ll be be reuniting with Auburn DC Brian VanGorder, who preceeded Martinez as the DC at UGA when Martinez was the secondary coach for the Bulldogs.

James Franklin denies improper contact with Danny O’Brien

The Washington Post reports, citing sources with knowledge of conversations between Edsall and O’Brien, that Edsall questioned whether there was improper contact between Vanderbilt coaches and O’Brien, along with Maryland transfers Max Garcia (O-line) and Mario Rowson (linebacker).

Speaking to 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, Franklin addressed the rumors that he was a reason behind Edsall’s decision to place a transfer restriction on the Commodores.

“I don’t like innuendos and comments being made about tampering and things like that. You guys know me. I am the type of guy, I am going to have relationships with my players. I hope to have relationships with the guys that play for me for the rest of my life.

“But the fact that people would make accusations that we tampered or did this or did that, again, I am just going to defend our program and defend our character and how we do things. But I think it is ridiculous to think that I am not going to have relationships with these kids after I leave places.”

“When I left [Kansas State] for Maryland, I talked to Josh Freeman every week. I still talk to Josh. Josh flew in for [my] birthday party. I am the type of guy, I am going to have relationships with my players.”

Edsall hasn’t addressed the rumor directly and the only comment he’s made about O’Brien’s departure was the following statement:

“I’m disappointed by Danny’s decision. Danny told me that he’s not committed to our program, that he’s not ‘all in.’ I want what’s best for all of our players. Danny wants a fresh start elsewhere. I wish him well.”

For that, among other things, the Maryland coach is getting blasted by the media.

Gators tight end suspended after battery charge

Florida coach Will Muschamp to take action on tight end A.C. Leonard following the sophomore’s arrest for domestic battery.

Muschamp said in a release this evening that Leonard is suspended from team activities and issued the following statement:

“This behavior will not will be tolerated. It is not what we expect from the University of Florida football program.”

Chick-fil-A kickoff games announced

One of the most highly-anticipated opening-week games of the past few years, the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will become games — plural — this year.

In a release, it was announced that the event will host two games on back-to-back nights, one on Friday night (Aug. 31) and Saturday (Sept. 1). The Friday night game will feature North Carolina State and Tennessee, with Auburn and Clemson playing Saturday in a rematch of the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl.

by Ben K.

Tee Martin to become USC’s new WR coach

Former Tennessee quarterback and Kentucky wide receivers coach Tee Martin is leaving Kentucky to join Lane Kiffin's coaching staff at Southern Cal. "i'm excited, great opportunity," Martin said in a text to News Sentinel sportswriter Mike Griffith.

Southern Cal quarterback Matt Barkley, however, broke the story on Twitter, but the news was later confirmed by Martin, the Kentucky athletic department and sources within the USC football program who were not authorized to speak on the record. After Barkley's Tweet, Martin confirmed the move in texts to several sports writers.

University of Kentucky spokesman Tony Neely confirmed late Wednesday to the Lexington Herald Leader that Martin is leaving Lexington.

In a text to the Herald Leader, Neely said, "Coach Martin is confirming that he has taken the job."

And Jeff Drummond of CatsPause.com of CatsPause.com reported: "Yes," Martin said via text message. "I'm headed to S.C."

Former Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, who recently added Scottie Hazelton as linebackers coach, and Marvin Sanders as defensive backs coach to his Southern Cal staff , adds the 33-year-old Martin as USC's wide receivers coach, the same position he held with the Kentucky football program. At Kentucky, Martin was had the additional role of passing game coordinator.

Martin, considered one of Kentucky's top recruiters and landing three of its top 2012 signees, interviewed with Kiffin on Monday and Kentucky coach Joker Phillips and Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart had been hopeful of keeping him with the Wildcats, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported. Martin had previously turned down overtures to leave Kentucky from Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee, the Courier-Journal said.

Asked late Wednesday by the News Sentinel's Griffith if Martin had considered any of the recent openings on Derek Dooley's Tennessee staff, Martin texted: "Never got a call."

Five Kentuckyl Wildcats named to 2011 All-Commonwealth Team

Five University of Kentucky football players, including 2011 seniors Winston Guy, Danny Trevathan and Ryan Tydlacka, and juniors La’Rod King and Larry Warford, have been named to the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame 2011 All-Commonwealth Collegiate Team, it was announced this week.

Trevathan earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award by the organization, while Guy, King, Tydlacka and Warford received nods on the 44-member team.

This is the second year for the All-Commonwealth Team, which was created to give recognition to youth at a local level and empower them to develop expectations of greatness. According to the organization’s release, these athletes represent the best college football players that the state of Kentucky has to offer, while their dedication to the game has contributed significantly to their teams.

The announcement follows the recent introduction of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame 2012 Inductees. The induction ceremony will take place June 15th at the Louisville Palace Theater, as part of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, taking place June 14-16. Tickets for the induction ceremony will be available March 1.

UGA levies two-game suspension on starting corner

In a press release Wednesday afternoon, Georgia announced that the cornerback will serve a two-game suspension to begin the 2012 season. The soon-to-be senior will miss the opener at home against Buffalo as well as the SEC opener against Missouri in Columbia.

Commings was arrested Jan. 21 and charged with domestic violence and simple battery following an incident involving his girlfriend. It was alleged, according to witnesses, that Commings struck the female victim in the face during the course of an argument.

In 2011, Commings started all 14 games for the Bulldogs and has played in all but one game the past three seasons.

Vandy landed its best recruiting class in history Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/02/01/vanderbilt-signing-day/

Franklin must work harder than his fellow SEC coaches to lure recruits who can not only handle the prestigious school's rigorous curriculum but also play well enough to lift Vanderbilt -- which won four games in two seasons before Franklin won six in 2011 -- from its usual spot as the SEC's Signing Day cellar-dweller.

Franklin seems to be succeeding. Vanderbilt doesn't get players Ohio State wants. It got one this year. Vanderbilt rarely beats Tennessee for players. It did this year. "It's the best class I've ever been associated with," Franklin said.

Tuesday night, Franklin's phones delivered the best and the worst news a coach can get on the eve of National Signing Day. Those episodes would provide the final bit of intrigue for a class that every major recruiting service considers the best Vanderbilt has signed in the Internet era. For Franklin and his staff, the letters-of-intent rolling off the fax machine Wednesday represented more than a year of work.

The collection of letters didn't include one player who was committed to Vanderbilt for eight months, but it did include the following:

• A quarterback who signed after a Vanderbilt assistant out-recruited his own brother.

• An offensive lineman who had to turn his back on decades of family tradition to become a Commodore.

• A linebacker who helped seal his late scholarship offer by holding his own personal slam dunk contest and sending the video to Vanderbilt's coaches.

• A tailback who turned down various powers (Alabama, Ohio State and others) because, to use a phrase Vandy coaches borrowed from Commodores baseball coach Tim Corbin, he would rather build a tradition than rent one.

These are only a few of the stories from a class that could make history at a school aching for football success.

Gamecocks to appear before NCAA’s COI this weekend

South Carolina will appear before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions this Friday and Saturday to answer questions concerning last September’s Notice of Allegations. According to the Charleston Post & Courier, an 11-person-strong contingent will represent USC at the hearing this weekend, including head coach Steve Spurrier, assistant coach G.A. Mangus, athletic director Eric Hyman and president Dr. Harris Pastides.

An NCAA investigation that began in the summer of 2010 ultimately found that football players and other student-athletes had received in the neighborhood of $55,000 in impermissible benefits, with $47,000 of that figure stemming from off-campus housing at an area hotel. The other $8,000 stems from “Kevin Lahn and Steve Gordon, representatives of the institution’s athletics interests, [making] impermissible recruiting contacts with and [providing] impermissible recruiting inducements to prospective student-athletes and [providing] extra benefits to student-athletes.“

The housing allegations, the first listed in the NOA, are from May 2009 through Oct. 2010, while the recruiting issues, the second listed in the NOA, allegedly occurred from the spring of 2009 through February of 2011.

The third major violation alleged in the NOA is a failure to monitor both the housing and recruiting issues.

In December of last year, USC self-imposed sanctions that included a loss of six scholarships over the course of three years; a reduction of official recruiting visits to 30 for the 2012-13 year; and an $18,500 fine for allowing four ineligible football players to compete during the 2009-10 football season.

The committee can either deem those sanctions sufficient, or impose further sanctions on the program.

Grayshirting a harsh reality for some recruits

Justin Taylor and Darius Philon, two high school seniors who believed all that nonsense about devotion and a man’s word being his bond.
Taylor, a star running back from North Atlanta High School, had been committed to play football at Alabama since the winter of his junior year. The Crimson Tide wanted him, and he wanted them. Everything appeared to be fine, even after the young man injured his knee and missed most of his senior season. But then the Tide upgraded, enticing five-star running back T.J. Yeldon to flip his commitment from Auburn to Alabama. Suddenly, Taylor wasn’t welcome in Tuscaloosa in the fall. He would have to wait until January, missing a semester of school, a season of football, and a chance to prove himself.
The process is called "grayshirting," and it’s very simple: Southeastern Conference coaches can sign only 25 new scholarship athletes at the beginning of each year, but there are more than 25 prospects out there who coaches want. So, rather than whittle down their choices, coaches will give and receive verbal commitments from players to lock them up. Then, with only weeks (and in some cases days) remaining before National Signing Day, the coach will come back and say, “Oh, gee, sorry, we’ve filled our allotment. We still want you, but you’re going to have to stay home this fall and come to campus sometime after Christmas break.”
Some take the news harder than others. Philon, a defensive lineman from Prichard, Ala., had been committed to Alabama since September and didn’t visit any other schools. But after Philon suffered a torn meniscus in December (and after the Tide signed two other defensive linemen, Dalvin Tomlinson and Korren Kirven), coach Nick Saban informed Philon that he would have to defer his scholarship until the spring semester.
Philon reacted the way you might expect from an emotional kid. He donned an Alabama hat at National Signing Day and then wept inconsolably.
Neither Taylor nor Philon signed with Alabama.
Taylor, who continued to voice his desire to join the Tide as late as January, finally saw the handwriting on the wall and signed with Kentucky.
"As far as pulling the scholarship, I think they did me wrong," Taylor said. "I was No. 7 to commit. That's all I've got to say. I was committed to them for a year. They could've handled it better."
Philon signed with Arkansas hours after breaking down in front of the cameras. He had never been to Fayetteville, Ark.

Kerry Stevenson, Philon’s coach, said the kid "had the world snatched out from under him."

Gators part ways with one OL coach, hire another

In a press release, Muschamp announced that Frank Verducci is out as Florida’s offensive line coach, replaced by Tim Davis.

Muschamp and Davis, who spent the 2011 season in the same position at Utah, were assistants on Nick Saban‘s Miami Dolphins coaching staff in 2005. Davis has also spent time on coaching staffs Wisconsin, USC and Minnesota, as well as a previous seven-year stint with the Utes.

“Tim is a perfect fit for our program – he has a history of coaching in a pro-style offense and shares the same program philosophies,” said Muschamp. ”It will be a seamless transition for our players and staff. He worked with Brian White at Wisconsin, Derek Lewis at Minnesota and Dan Quinn and I worked with him at the Miami Dolphins. He understands the values that we put on the line of scrimmage and he will help us get where we want to be at that position after Coach Verducci made a decision to pursue other interests. We wish Frank the best of luck and appreciate his efforts towards the Gator program.”

Verducci had been with the Gators for just one season. He also carried the title of running game coordinator.

Georgia gets another 2013 commitment

Shaq Wiggins, a junior defensive back at Sandy Creek High School, committed on Friday to play at Georgia.

Wiggins becomes the fourth member of Georgia's class for 2013. A four-star prospect, according to 247sports.com, Wiggins is listed at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds and currently projects at cornerback.

Georgia badly needs defensive backs for next year's class, after only signing one on Feb. 1, and then dismissing freshmen Nick Marshall and Chris Sanders. The Bulldogs already have another 2013 commitment from Tray Matthews, a safety at Newnan High School.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2012/02/10/1900212/football-team-gets-another-2013.html#storylink=cpy

Stoops makes the cut; Saban, not so much

If you’re Bob Stoops, you play on a Sunday in a PGA tour event in front of a national television audience, that’s what you do.

Paired with current PGA Tour pro and former OU golfer Hunter Haas, the Oklahoma head coach is tied for ninth after three rounds of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. While the Stoops/Haas tandem sits 10 shots out of the lead held by pro Padraig Harrington/European businessman J.P McManus, Stoops’ pairing did manage to post the lowest combined score of the day — a 12-under 60 at Pebble Beach.

It was the first time Stoops had played the storied course at Pebble Beach and, if he was anything like myself, spent the first 14 or so holes in utter awe of the sheer magnificence of the course carved mere feet from the Pacific.

The head coach of the 2011 BcS champions wasn’t as fortunate cut-wise, however. Nick Saban, partnered with former Tide golfer Bud Cauley, finished tied for 70th at 12-under. The cut line to play the final round at Pebble Beach today was 18-under.

A member of Saban’s foursome, somebody you may have heard of, fared a little better; coming off a loss in the Super Bowl last weekend, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick salved those wounds somewhat , by teaming with Ricky Barnes to make the cut at 22-under.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, paired with some hack named Tiger Woods, made the cut as well. The Romo/Woods pairing is two shots behind Stoops at 19-under.

Gamecock's Spurrier gets sizable pay raise with extension

USC’s Board of Trustees gave final approval Friday to Spurrier’s two-year contract extension as well as a $425,000 raise. Spurrier is now signed through the 2015 season and will make $3.3 million in 2012.

“We certainly appreciate our University Trustees, President and Athletics Director for their commitment to our coaching staff that keeps us very competitive in SEC coaching salaries,” said Spurrier. “We have an excellent group of coaches here that can really coach, recruit and represent the University of South Carolina in a first class manner.”

As intimated in his statement, Spurrier wasn’t the only Gamecock football coach to be taken care of by the board. The four assistants still on his coaching staff from the 2011 season were all on the receiving end of raises, and all of the Ol’ Ball Coach’s assistants were given two-year contracts.

Shifting some of the financial love over to his assistants came at Spurrier’s request.

“”A key element of having a nationally-prominent program that competes for championships is having a top-notch coaching staff, and I think we have that in place at South Carolina,” athletic director Eric Hyman said in a statement. ”We are fully aware of what is taking place in the marketplace and have made some contract adjustments accordingly. Specifically with football, we are extremely pleased that our program has been very competitive and are supportive of Coach Spurrier’s request to give his assistants multi-year contracts.”

Saban lobbied for WVU invite to SEC

In an interview with the Charleston Daily Mail discussing his state’s flagship school’s move to another conference, Sen. Joe Manchin revealed that none other than Alabama head coach and Fairmont, WV, native Nick Saban was helping with the push to get the Mountaineers into the SEC.

“I thought we could have been in the SEC,” Manchin said. “I talked to my dear friend Nick Saban about that, and, like me, he said, ‘I would like West Virginia in the SEC,’ and we were working toward that.”

Saban’s recruiting efforts weren’t enough as Manchin said the invitation instead went to a second Big 12 school.

“They chose Missouri instead, and then you never heard a thing else about it,” Manchin said.

Manchin’s relationship with Saban dates back to the days that the three-time BcS champion coach was an assistant under Frank Cignetti Sr. at WVU in the late-70s. Even the power of persuasion Saban possesses, however, wasn’t enough to get his home-state school into the most powerful football conference in the country.

Vols Charlie Baggett received $425,000 to leave UT

When he resigned from his position as Tennessee's wide receivers coach in December, Charlie Baggett agreed to a settlement that will pay him as if he'd been fired.

In 24 monthly payments, which began Dec. 31, 2011, Baggett will receive a sum of $425,000, according to a settlement agreement obtained Friday by the News Sentinel. The $425,000 matches what Baggett would have earned if he remained on Derek Dooley's staff for the 2012 season.

Under the terms of his original contract, Baggett was not to be owed anything if he instigated the agreement's termination.

In a December interview with the News Sentinel, UT athletic director Dave Hart would not specify whether Baggett had resigned or had been fired.

A 34-year coaching veteran, Baggett was the first of six assistant coaches to leave Dooley's staff since the end of the Vols' disappointing 5-7 season. At the time, a source told the News Sentinel that the 59-year-old Baggett had elected to retire.

UT, in his settlement agreement, urges Baggett to use his "reasonable best efforts to mitigate" the university's obligation to pay him by "making reasonable and diligent efforts" to land a similar position. Those positions include: assistant, associate or head men's football coach at a Division I college or university; professional football assistant or head coach; or media commentator with a national, regional or local network.

Baggett, who joined Dooley's staff in 2010 after one year with the St. Louis Rams, has yet to land a position that fits this description.

SEC tops list of invitees to NFL scouting combine

The official list of invitees for the NFL scouting combine, to be held Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis, was released Tuesday. Invitations were sent to 327 players; there were 327 invitees last year, too, when 254 players were drafted.

A selection committee, made up of representatives from the two main scouting services as well as members from various NFL player personnel departments, decides who gets the invitations. The committee’s goal is to invite every player who will be drafted in the ensuing NFL draft.

Obviously, the committee misses more than a few each year. For the most part, though, the invitees are the ones who end up hearing their names called during April’s draft. This year’s draft again will be a three-day affair, with the first round on April 26, the second and third rounds on April 27 and the fourth through seventh rounds on April 28.

The biggest position group at the combine will be defensive linemen and defensive backs (59 invitees each), followed by offensive linemen (55), wide receivers (47), linebackers (33), running backs (30), quarterbacks (19), tight ends (14) and specialists (11).

The SEC will be the most-represented conference, with 53 players (the same number as last year). The Big Ten and Pac-12 each have 45, followed by the ACC with 44, the Big 12 with 34 and the Big East with 20.

National champion Alabama has the most invitees, with nine. Georgia, LSU and Miami each have eight; Boise State, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State and USC each have seven; and Arizona State, California, Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Stanford and Texas A&M each have six.

On the other hand, some big-name programs had a low number of invitees, among them Auburn (three), Florida (three), Michigan (three), Tennessee (two, the same number as Kentucky and Vanderbilt), Texas (four) and UCLA (one).

Sixth year approved for starting LSU lineman

An injury during training camp cost LSU their most experienced offensive lineman during its run to the BcS title game, but a decision by the NCAA will give the Tigers that experience back in 2012.

In a press release, LSU announced that “offensive guard Josh Dworaczyk has been granted an extension to his five-year clock and will get a sixth year.” The school and the player were informed of the decision earlier in the day Wednesday.

“I’m excited to be able to get another year so that I can finish my career on the field,” Dworaczyk said in a statement. “I felt like I had some unfinished business so being able to get this additional year is a blessing.

“Watching from the sidelines last year wasn’t always easy because I was so used to being a contributor on the field. Getting another year means that I get to wear the Purple and Gold again and for that I’m very thankful.”

Dworaczyk started all 13 games during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, and has played in 38 games since coming to Baton Rouge in 2007. He redshirted his true freshman season due to injury.

Lawmakers unanimously shoot down legislating Clemson-USC rivalry

On Tuesday, it was reported that a South Carolina legislator had presented a proposal that would ensure the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry continues regardless of conference expansion. A day later, that attempt at legislation went down to a resounding defeat.

According to The State newspaper, the proposal put forth by Republican state representative Nathan Ballentine was voted down 7-0 by a House subcommittee. The decision seemed to align with that of USC’s stance on the issue: athletic schedules need to be decided by athletic directors and coaches.

“These matters should be handled by the universities and trustees,” subcommittee chairman Lester Branham told the paper.

Because Clemson’s conference, the ACC, has decided to go to a nine-game conference schedule when Pittsburgh and Syracuse join no later than 2014, there is some concern that out-of-conference games like Clemson-South Carolina could follow Texas-Texas A&M and Pittsburgh-West Virginia on the path to extinction. The Palmetto State showdown is the second-longest consecutively played game at the Div. 1-A (FBS) level and, while both schools “cannot conceive of a realistic scenario that would prohibit… continuing our football series,” Ballentine said he’ll be ready to see that it continues.

“I still think there’s the possibility in the future that the game could be in jeopardy,” Ballentine said. “If that happens, I stand ready to help if the situation changes.”

by J. Taylor

Auburn CB coach steps down into administrative position

Auburn cornerbacks coach Phillip Lolley is leaving his position and going back into an administrative role in the program, the school announced on Tuesday.

Lolley was in his third year as cornerbacks coach under coach Gene Chizik. To some who chant “War Eagle!”, it may have been three years too many.

“We appreciate Coach Lolley and the contributions he has made to the Auburn football program in his various roles over the years,” Chizik said in a statement. “We look forward to him continuing to help with the program’s success in his new capacity.”

Lolley has been with Auburn for 13 years. He worked in strength and condition from 1999-2000 and was the secondary coach from 2000-03. From 2004-08, Lolley was AU’s Director of NFL Relations. Upon Chizik’s arrival in 2009, Lolley returned to the field as a coach.

Auburn’s most significant coaching turnover the past few months came at the coordinator spot, with OC Gus Malzahn leaving to become the head coach at Arkansas State, and DC Ted Roof ”leaving” for Central Florida and then Penn State.

Lolley’s shift now leaves one open spot on Chizik’s staff.

by Ben K.

Michigan sells out allotment of tickets for opener vs. Tide

Michigan announced Tuesday morning that it had sold all of the nearly 25,000 tickets they had been given as part of the Cowboys Classic at Dallas Cowboys Stadium Sept. 1. The demand was so high, in fact, that it never got to the point of a public sale, with all 25K of the ducats scooped up by Victors Club members.

Tickets on the Michigan side, ranging in price from $125 to $285, were made available beginning Jan. 30.

“We have received unprecedented interest in tickets for the Cowboys Classic game with Alabama,” said UM chief marketing officer Hunter Lochmann in a statement. “The demand is on par or greater than our athletic department has ever seen.”

Alabama’s allotment of 25,000 tickets is expected to go on sale later this month.

As for the remaining 30,000 tickets — Cowboys Stadium has a capacity of 80,000 — Brett Daniels of the Cowboys ticket office told CFT in an email that “[t]here will also be a pre-sale to Cowboys season ticket holders in the near future. Because of demand, we do not expect to have a public on sale of tickets to the general public.”

Cowboys Stadium also has the capability of accommodating up to 30,000 standing room-only ticketholders. The availability of those tickets, Michigan’s release notes, will not be known until late April.

The Cowboys Classic will feature two storied football programs who have met just three times previously, the last coming in January of 2000 in the Orange Bowl. This time around, both teams should be highly ranked, with the defending national champion Tide likely coming in no lower than No. 3 in the major preseason polls and the Wolverines expected to be somewhere inside the Top Ten.

Gators DC Dan Quinn reportedly turned down Bucs

In recent days, there has been speculation bubbling just below the surface that defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was possibly leaving Florida for a job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Gainesville Sun, however, reported Monday that Quinn has turned down the opportunity with the Bucs and will instead remain with the Gators.

The Sun reports that Quinn had interviewed with Greg Schiano for the coordinator job in Tampa.

In Quinn’s first season at UF last year, the Gators finished eight in total defense and 20th in scoring defense.

Top quarterback Jameis Winston chooses Florida St

One of the nation’s top high school quarterbacks is bound for Florida State.

Hueytown’s Jameis Winston signed to play for the Seminoles on Friday at an indoor sports complex in Birmingham before teammates, family, friends and a handful of Florida State fans.

“I’m ready to get this started,” Winston said.

ESPN and Rivals.com both rate Winston as the nation’s top quarterback and among the 15 best overall prospects. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound dual threat quarterback was MVP of the UnderArmour All-American Game after going 8-of-9 passing for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

He committed to the Seminoles in August but was at an all-star game on signing day and waited to make it official. Winston’s decision is a big boost for a Florida State class that ESPNU had already rated No. 2 nationally behind Alabama, which also heavily pursued Winston.

He said that getting admitted to Stanford was an honor that made him think, but “it’s been decided for a while” that he would go to Florida State.

Winston is also an outfielder and pitcher who could be a high draft pick in pro baseball. Baseball America rates him as the No. 64 prospect in the upcoming draft.

“I want to be in the top round,” Winston said. He wouldn’t say whether he would still go to Florida State if he were drafted that high.

Being able to play both sports in college was a deciding factor for him. “If I wasn’t going to be able to play baseball, I wasn’t going to go to that school,” Winston said.

Winston passed for 2,424 yards, ran for 1,065 and accounted for 44 touchdowns as a senior. He was second behind Alabama signee T.J. Yeldon in the voting for Alabama’s Mr. Football.

Vols hire Derrick Ansley to coach CBs

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley has hired Derrick Ansley to coach the Volunteers' cornerbacks.

Ansley spent the past two season as a defensive assistant at Alabama, where he worked with newly hired Tennessee defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri. Ansley spent the last two months working as an assistant to Central Florida coach George O'Leary.

At Alabama, Ansley worked with first-team All-American safety Mark Barron and second-team cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.

Ansley also spent five seasons as an assistant at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., and is a 2005 graduate of Troy, where he started 40 consecutive games as a defensive back.

Tennessee announced the hiring on Friday.

Ex-S. Miss assistant completes South Carolina coaching staff

South Carolina announced today that USM cornerbacks coach Grady Brown would be joining the Gamecocks’ staff as secondary coach and assistant special teams coordinator. “We’re pleased to announce the hiring of Grady Brown, a sharp, young defensive secondary coach who has had much success the last three years at Southern Miss,” Steve Spurrier said in a statement. “He will also assist Joe Robinson with the special teams. He and Joe were together at LSU and know each other well. He will fit in extremely well here and be an excellent addition to our staff.”

Brown spent the past two seasons on USM”s staff under current North Carolina coach Larry Fedora and was retained when Johnson was hired. Southern Miss finished last season No. 7 nationally in pass efficiency defense and set a NCAA record for interceptions returned for touchdowns with eight. In total, the Golden Eagle defense finished the 2011 season as a Top-30 defense on their way to a Conference USA title and Hawaii Bowl win.

Brown was previously in strength and conditioning at LSU before taking over the CB’s at USM.

UGA dismisses three freshmen players

In a press release, Georgia confirmed that wide receiver Sanford Seay and defensive backs Nick Marshall and Chris Sanders have been dismissed from the team for violation of team rules. All three players were freshmen in 2011.

“It’s a privilege to play college football and to be a part of this team and University,” said head coach Mark Richt in statement. “Along with that privilege comes certain responsibilities. Mistakes were made and part of our job is helping them learn from mistakes. Going forward, we are committed to assisting them find opportunities where they can continue their education.”

Harvey-Clemons officially a Georgia Bulldog

Harvey-Clemons becomes the 19th member of the Bulldogs’ Class of 2012.

Since his announcement Wednesday, Harvey-Clemons had maintained that he was and will be a Bulldog, but for whatever reason there was a significant delay in sending his signed LOI to the school. Speculation was that his grandfather, and perhaps other family members, wanted the recruit to sign with the Gators. Harvey-Clemons’ grandpa is the recruit’s legal guardian, and his signature is required on the LOI as well.

Regardless of how it actually went down, UGA has officially landed one of the most talented defensive players in this class; Harvey-Clemons was rated by Rivals.com as the No. 31 player at any position in the country.

Tennessee fills final coaching need

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley has reportedly filled all his coaching needs one day after his program signed a Top 25 class.

Wes Rucker of GoVols247 and Austin Ward of The Knoxville News Sentinel report that Dooley has filled his final coaching spot after a tumultuous couple of months with lots of coaching turnover. Ward tweets that the Vols’ new co-defensive backs coach will be Derrick Ansley, formerly of Central Florida and Alabama. Ansley played at Troy. An announcement has not been made by Tennessee.

If the reports turn out to be true, it would be a very quick turnaround for Ansley, who just joined UCF’s staff in December as the team’s defensive backs coach after spending two seasons as a grad assistant at Alabama. Ansley would be joining Terry Joseph in the Vols’ secondary.

Alabama stocks up on defense, offensive playmakers

National champion Alabama restocked the nation’s top defense, scooped up a few highly recruited offensive playmakers and generally had what’s becoming a typical signing day for Nick Saban & Co. In other words, replacing departed stars with blue-chippers across the board on a program that has won two of the last three national championships. The Crimson Tide landed the consensus No. 1 class on Wednesday, punctuating the efforts by picking up defensive tackles Korren Kirven and Dalvin Tomlinson.

“I think we filled some needs with this class,” Saban said. “We started out with sort of a goal of explosive players on offense, running back, receiver, those kinds of guys. We felt good about the guys that we were able to attract from that standpoint.

“We’re obviously losing a lot of very, very good defensive players. Even though we have some good defensive players here, we felt that it was really important to have a really good year on the defensive side of the ball.”

Judging by the recruiting services, the Tide certainly did that. ESPN, Rivals.com and 247sports.com all pegged Alabama as the No. 1 class—the third year out of the past four that at least one has. Scout.com rated Texas ahead of the Tide.

“It’s the No. 1 class in the country probably across the board,” said JC Shurburtt, national recruiting director for 247sports. “It’s just a lot of talent heading to Tuscaloosa again.”

Fowler ditches ‘Noles verbal for Gators signature

Proving once again that a verbal commitment made a dozen or more months before signing day is non-binding and means next to nothing, long-time Florida State commit Dante Fowler Jr. became the first National Signing Day five-star flip when he signed a Letter of Intent with in-state rival Florida.

The defensive end — UF will list him as an outside linebacker — had given a verbal to the Seminoles back in Dec. of 2010, but has been a shaky commit ever since, saying as late as four days ago that “I don’t know where I’m going.” Now he does know where he’s headed, and the Gators’ top-five class has gotten that much stronger.

ESPN.com’s ACC blogger Heather Dinich wrote that “Fowler said he felt he could contribute more and get on the field faster as a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker in Florida’s system, and he liked the fact that coach Will Muschamp is a defensive-minded coach.”

247Sports had the St. Petersburg, Fla., product rated as the No. 15 player in the country, and was No. 28 according to Rivals.