Scott Linehan really believes in Ezekiel Elliott’s ability

We’ve heard absolutely nothing but good things from former standout Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott since his arrival in Dallas with the Cowboys. Their OTAs had been reportedly centered around him, and those in the organization have had nothing but good things to say about him. But the words from Cowboys’ offensive coordinator and playcaller Scott Linehan might be the best yet:

Linehan’s trust in Elliott at this point in his career is astounding. Of course you would expect great things out of Elliott coming out of Ohio State as one of the best backs in school history–as well as being a top pick—but that’s a huge endorsement from the guy you need it from the most. There’s not many good veteran backs in the game that are considered complete and could play on all downs, but Elliott has clearly shown that ability. So much that Linehan mentioned that the Cowboys have other backs who can do certain things, but will still “lean heavily” on Zeke. That’s about as good as it gets for a guy who has yet to step on an NFL gridiron.

Eli Apple vs. Odell Beckham Jr.

The No. 10 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and former Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple has gotten good reviews so far since joining the New York Giants. On Wednesday during Giants camp, Ralph Vacchiano posted a video of Apple going up against Odell Beckham Jr., one of the best wide receivers the NFL has to offer. Apple came up big in defending the All-Pro:

Surely there were other instances where Beckham may have gotten Apple, but he looked good there. It’s not a sure thing how much burn Apple will get early on, but he’s definitely getting good practice going up against one of the league’s best in Beckham. He’s landed in a good spot with the New York Giants, and his career should be a fun one to watch as the years go along. But then again, when haven’t we enjoyed watching former Bucks in the NFL?

“It isn’t just the wide receivers turning heads with their pass-catching ability. In particular, rookie tight end Nick Vannett has impressed in that department”

– John Boyle, Seahawks.com

Former Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett landed in one of the best situations out of all of his former Buckeye teammates. Vannett was selected No. 94 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, going in the third round to the Seattle Seahawks. While it doesn’t have the glamour of being a first round pick, it helps being on a Super Bowl contender. So far, Vannett has been impressing at Seahawks practice, where he has reportedly been impressing with his pass catching ability. Boyle notes that Vannett was largely thought of as being more of a blocking tight end, but his hands have been the talk so far.

Head coach Pete Carroll told Boyle, “He has surprised us. We knew he could catch the ball and all of that, but he’s a very natural catcher. He shows the savvy and the instincts that you hope a guy would have.” That’s pretty high praise from one of the best coaches in the game, who added that he has exceeded the team’s expectations. When the Seahawks are able to put on pads in training camp, the praise for Vannett should only be going up, when they’re able to see the complete product.

Cardale Jones throws a 50-yard beauty

We all know by now that Cardale Jones has a great arm, one so impressive that we’ve seen him time and again during his career at Ohio State throwing bombs off of his back foot for touchdowns. They’re throws that most other quarterbacks simply wouldn’t be able to make. But here, Cardale shows some great accuracy in practicing for the Buffalo Bills, stepping into his throw and landing it right in the net:

Jones won’t be the starter immediately in Buffalo, and that’s fine. He’s been able to stick back and learn from the quarterbacks in front of him, and has able been sure to be prepared when his time comes. He will likely be third in line behind Tyrod Taylor, and E.J. Manuel, but his skill set and youth could really work in his favor, as he improves with gradual experience. The quarterback position has been one that has had much uncertainty for the Bills over the past decade, so don’t be surprised if and when Jones gets his chance.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith was the winner of the 2016 James J. Corbett Award winner by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. The organization was founded in 1965, and has the largest association of collegiate athletic administrators.

The Corbett Award is presented annually “to the athletics administrator who, through the years has most typified Corbett’s devotion to intercollegiate athletics and who worked unceasingly for its betterment.” Smith is the second Ohio State athletic director to take home the award, with Dick Larkins being the first to do it, back in 1970, just the fourth time the award had been given out.

STICK TO SPORTS

In recruiting nothing is guaranteed until you sign your national letter of intent. After recently having his full ride scholarship revoked in a number crunch for a less attractive greyshirt option, longtime Ohio State pledge Todd Sibley has announced he is no longer a part of the Buckeyes class of 2017 and has flipped his commitment to Pitt.

Sibley, who was verbally committed to Ohio State since April of 2015, opens his recruitment with a number of potential suitors involved in his recruitment. Choosing Ohio State early in the process, the four-star rated Akron Archbishop Hoban product held scholarship offers from programs such as Michigan, and Kentucky, but now has offers from the likes of Pittsburgh, and Iowa State on the table.

With Sibley, a high school teammate of current OSU quarterback pledge Danny Clark, no longer penciled in as a future Buckeye, the Ohio State class of 2017 is back down to 13 commitments with nearly eight months until signing day. Still looking to bring a running back into the fold alongside JK Dobbins, Ohio State will shift their attention fully to prospects such as Cam Akers, and Ty Chandler, just two of the many recruits currently high on the Buckeyes. Who will they sign? Only time will tell.

The team at Land-Grant Holy Land wishes Todd Sibley nothing but the best in his future endeavors.

“…Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.” –King Henry IV, King Henry IV, 3.1.31

College football, as distinctly American as it is, does not play by American rules. America is a Democratic Republic. A nation that gives power to its citizens to elect its governmental officials (or at least the illusion of said process). College football is an oligarchy. Oligarchs are powerful, tyrannical. They are elitist and oppressive. Screw the people; give me power baby.

In a very direct way, the power of the oligarchs rests in their recruiting laurels. Those who have the talent, have the power. There’s proven correlation to on-field performance, and what succeeds on-field performance is typically bucket loads of cash that results in multi-million dollar facilities, which only further sustains the cycle.

Recruiting is serious business and being the crown jewel of a signing class brings even greater expectations. In 2016, that player is Rashard Lawrence.

How Did We Get Here?

LSU’s pursuit of Rashard Lawrence began early, when the Tigers extended an offer in March of 2014, the spring of Lawrence’s sophomore season. That fall, Lawrence would dominate in the Dome helping Neville claim a State Title. 247 listed him as the best player in the Dome that weekend, though at the time he was still thought to be an inferior prospect to eventual signing mate Edwin Alexander. That summer, the national offers began to flow. First from Texas Tech, then Oregon, Alabama, USC, Miami.

From the jump, most expected this to be an LSU/Alabama recruiting battle. Alabama emphasized Lawrence in much the same way that LSU did. When LSU hired Ed Orgeron and the recruiting dead period ended, Orgeron made it first priority to recruit Lawrence, though he was still a full signing class away. The diligence continued through the fall of his Senior season, where Lawrence lead Neville to yet another State Title. A new contender emerged in Ohio State. Lawrence bonded with the Buckeyes DL coach Larry Johnson Sr., an elite recruiter in his own right. Down the home stretch of the recruiting cycle, Alabama faded to the back while Ohio State and LSU sprinted to the finish.

Yet, by Lawrence’s January 22nd announcement, any luster from Columbus had worn off. Lawrence officially visited LSU the weekend before and specifically mentioned having lengthy discussions with new LSU Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda, which assured him of his final decision.

What Can He Do?

Height: 6’3″
Weight: 305
Short Shuffle: 4.87
Vertical Leap: 27.2″
Powerball Toss: 40.5″

The only thing that jumps here in terms of athletic tests is the 40-inch powerball toss. Great skill to have, particularly as an attacking DL like himself. Lawrence could dominated in HS just being the biggest, baddest man on the field. But he’ll quickly learn that if you don’t come with the hands in college, you won’t make a difference. 40.5 shows advanced strength for a young guy.

At 6’3″, 305, he’s built a bit like Dorsey, who most fans are already in a hurry to compare him.

Strengths: Explosion, Hand Use, Quickness, Hustle

Weaknesses: Anchoring

Explosion:

Let’s be frank about what Rashard Lawrence is and what he is not. If there are intentions of bringing Lawrence in to man the nose and eat-up blockers it would be a waste of his immense athletic tools. Lawrence has an elite first step. 1:44 watch him blow past the OL like they are stuck in mud

Hand Use:

Plenty of examples, but it’s just nice to see a young DL using his hands to create separation.:31is a nice job of him winning with his hands and dispensing of the OL. He’s got a nice club move. He even wins in his bull rushes, getting his hands inside and driving the OL into the QB starting at 1:20. Check 4:20 where he uses his hands, then rips under.

Quickness: Watch him move around at :20. Does that look like a DT to you? How about 3:47? Your run of the mill DT move like that? No? No? Didn’t think so.

Hustle: Watch 4:46 and you’ll see a guy with good hustle. Watch 4:56 and you’ll begin to question the boundaries of space and time.

Anchoring: One of my favorite guys to read is Jamie Uyeyama, who runs his own evaluation site and has contributions all across the web. Here’s his scouting report on Rashard Lawrence. I will respectfully disagree with his report here:

Lawrence is a true nose guard that can play the zero or the one technique in just about any scheme. He’s even athletic enough to be kicked out a bit wider, but the nose is his best fit.

I don’t disagree that Lawrence could be these things, so much as why waste all that explosion? When I think of a dominant one-tech, I think of a guy like Haloti Ngata. Ngata was a bit of a freak of nature, but on the football field he was most impactful eating up blocks and letting others make hell happen. He wasn’t racking up sacks and TFLs. Lawrence I see in entirely different light. Lawrence is Nick Fairley in 2010. He’s more Geno Atkins or Aaron Donald than Haloti Ngata.

Back to anchoring, it’s one area where Lawrence could stand to improve. I get the impression he will win in the running game with quicks, penetration and hustle, rather than holding his gap, but if he wants to be a fully rounded DT, it’s the area where he needs to grow.

What’s Next?

Dave Aranda’s arrival is really a game changer. Sure, Orgeron is retained, and he surely has an idea of roughly what his rotation should look like in 2016. But, with Aranda comes a new scheme and a fresh set of ideas. Those can be game changing variables. It wouldn’t be the first, and won’t be the last, time a player as fit more seamlessly into one coach’s scheme than another.

All of this is a long way of saying that Rashard Lawrence is a guy that would have had to fight through a depth chart of Davon Godchaux and Christian Lacouture as starters, as well as Frank Herron and Greg Gilmore as key backups, just to find playing time. Not insurmountable, but a bit of a steeper climb in the old system.

We don’t yet know how Aranda will elect to deploy his DL talent. Players like Arden Key and Lewis Neal look to be moving to OLB. The only remaining player to make any significant impact is Tashawn Bower. That means we have 5 DL for 3 spots. In other words, opportunity. In the old system, LSU would be more bound to player types. Sure, Lawrence is probably quick and athletic enough to play on the edge in a pinch, but it’s not the best use of his skills to have him as an edge rusher. Where he really will be dynamite is as interior rusher. He’s more of a true 3-technique but may be deployed like a 5 or 6 tech based on need an opportunity.

Let’s further keep in mind that Aranda likes to get inventive with his fronts. Though he keeps his concepts pretty simple, he’s been known to deploy two or no down line men. Lawrence is the perfect type of athlete to take advantage of a unique package like this due to his quickness and explosion. You don’t see many 300-pound athletes as nimble as Lawrence in open space.

It’s certainly encouraging when you see tweets like this:

man.. the extra work that @_fournette , @dgodch1 , and @Rashard_99 puttin’ in is intense!!!

— Ed. (@_catchmeeatin) June 15, 2016

Don’t know who that is, but to mention Lawrence in the breath of two players LSU is counting on to be team leaders speaks to his character and work ethic. Which is really what makes Lawrence a truly elite prospect. If you comb the web, you can read plenty about how much Lawrence improved over the course of his HS career. Mind you, LSU offered him as a sophomore before he played a down of football as an upperclassman. Lawrence isn’t a gifted athlete that thinks he can show up and be great. He works for it. He earns it. And he proves it again and again.

Expect big things.

High End: All-American, Future 1st Round Draft Pick
Low End: All-Conference contributor, Future NFL Draft Pick
Realistic: Multi-year Starter

Disclaimer: Before you proceed, just remember that none of the links are vetted and you may be reading something written by a 13-year-old, a so-called sports journalist or Clay Travis (is there really any difference between those options?). Some stories are from those unreliable, pesky pay sites, too. Read at your own peril.

Texas’ defense is surprising good: The numbers don’t lie; Texas is good on defense.

Texas WR John Burt has a message for recruits: You have to love Burt’s confidence in the program and Coach Strong.

Charlie Strong is authentic and that’s why he is successful at recruiting: Strong recruits players with a mix of honesty and realness that recruits and families find appealing.

Baylor Blotter

The Baylor Board of Regents did not take a vote on Art Briles return in 2017: The BU Board was under “an unbelievable amount of pressure” from influential donors to reinstate Briles in 2017. Want some names of those slimy Baylor donors?

In news that will surprise no one, victim’s families are not pleased at the idea of a possible second act for Briles: A family member summed this up well: “This is a very dirty place that we’ve seen has been very conniving and low down. It’s hard to fathom because not only is this a university, but it’s a Christian university.”

The Baylor Revolution is revolting: The Web site Baylor Revolution shows the ugly side of fandom. The site creator may be in the minority, but he certainly makes Baylor look bad.

Baylor recruits are still in limbo: Baylor has yet to release their recruits from the LOIs. What are they waiting for?

Read Option(al) or some other stuff.

Earl Thomas was never a South Carolina DB: Schools are now claiming players that their current coaches coached at another school.

Athletic departments should not be allowed to treat sexual assault allegations like annoying obstacles to winning: It is time that schools stop hoping the stories go away without any kind of action.

There is a downside to winning at all costs: College football needs talented coaches who are good role models with a strong moral compass.

Big 12 QBs are doing some remarkable hings with a football: Tech’s Patrick Mahomes dropped to his knees and passed a football 65 yards.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine has been a tradition in the state of Texas for many years. High schoolers rush to the magazine section upon its yearly release, hoping to get a glimpse of their football team. It’s not as widely acclaimed in the college ranks, but the information in it is still amazing. Today, the cover page of the prestigious Texas magazine was released, and it features two of our favorite people.

REVEALED: The 2016 summer edition of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, featuring @TTUKingsbury and @PatrickMahomes5! pic.twitter.com/jqmqBvXQxJ

— TexasFootball .com (@dctf) June 15, 2016

While we’re still going to have to wait and see about how we’re ranked in the magazine itself, having a cover all to ourselves is a big honor. Greg Tepper, Managing Editor of DCTF, wanted the photo to have a modern spin on an old classic.

1: I’ve long wanted to recreate the 1963 cover of DCTF. A modern spin on a classic. Really pleased with the cover. pic.twitter.com/nm6pvib3F8

— Greg Tepper (@Tepper) June 15, 2016

Being implicitly compared to Darryl Royal is a big honor indeed.

Name: Chris Slayton

Position: Defensive Tackle

Year: (Redshirt) Sophomore

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 297

Hometown: University Park, Ill.

High School: Crete Monee

2015 Stats: Playing in all 12 games (and starting five), Slayton tallied six tackles for loss and 22 total tackles.

2016 Projections: According to the current depth chart, Chris is your starting defensive tackle. While he’s going to be much less blitz-focused than last year, he can still get to and surpass 2015’s numbers pretty easily with the increased playing time.

How’d He Get Here?: He told a host of top programs “no thanks” in favor of the Orange. Along with nearby schools like Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin, Slayton also had offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri and Miami (among others).

What’d Recruiting Sites Say?: Three stars — the least you’d expect from a guy with those types of offers.

Money Quote: Slayton doesn’t talk much. But Jake Pickard’s happy to fill in the blanks:

“Last year he was really good, but this year he’s just a whole other animal. He’s going to tear it up.

He knows what the offense is going to do even before they do it. So because of that he knows what move he’s going to do. He knows what counter move for what he’s going to do. He’s in the backfield every single play. He’s a guy the offense would not want to go up against because he’s constantly giving 100 percent. It’s fun to watch him play.

I always try to watch him and try to sculpt my game off the way he plays because he’s phenomenal.”

Twitterfeed: @SlaytonCuse95

Tweets Of Wonder: Stephen Bailey points out Slayton’s impressive stat sheet from the spring game:

Defensive box score for Syracuse’s spring game: DT Chris Slayton leads the way with three TFL. pic.twitter.com/FDQEHEOU74

— Stephen Bailey (@Stephen_Bailey1) April 2, 2016

What Does Babers Think Of Him?: Babers doesn’t say much about individual players. That’s no fun for this section.

Interesting Nugget O’Interest: Apparently, Chris was a 2015 College Football News and CampusInsiders.com Honorable Mention Freshman All-American? Cool.

Let’s Get A Good Look Atcha:

Cal is always looking to upgrade their defensive profile. Their pass defense was among the worst in college football over two years ago before it pivoted to being at least semi-capable. But secondary will still be a priority until the Bears can find more players at the position.

Let’s take a look at some of the potential targets at the position the Bears have been showcasing interest in this cycle.

Nick Pickett Looks to Add Cal Offer: “BERKELEY — Three-star safety Nick Pickett has offers from Nebraska, San Diego State, Fresno State and Utah, and camped at Cal on Saturday.” [Scout.com > CalSportsDigest.com]

Fast rising DB up to 13 offers and counting: “There may not be a hotter defensive back prospect out west right now than Bellflower’s (Calif.) Jeffrey Manning.” [Scout.com > BearTerritory.net]

Darren Hall Talks Cal, Utah: “Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) defensive back Darren Hall breaks down his offers, visit to Utah and his interest from the Golden Bears.” [Scout.com > CalSportsDigest.com]

Andre Grayson Talks Recruiting: “Etiwanda (Calif.) defensive back Andre Grayson says Cal is his dream school.” [Scout.com > CalSportsDigest.com]