For the first time, I will not be writing to you from the friendly confines of Tuscaloosa. With graduating and starting life as a real adult, I have relocated to Columbus, GA. In other words, its a good mix of Auburn fans and Georgia fans who all hate each other and Alabama. I am truly in the heart of enemy territory.

So, I must fight with all that I have. On with the Auburn hating!

Auburn RB Roc Thomas apparently heading to Jacksonville State

Auburn running back Roc Thomas is possibly looking to join one of the top programs from the FCS ranks. Reports today surfaced suggesting Thomas is looking to transfer to Jacksonville State, although another report says he has yet to ask Auburn for a request to transfer.

To start, remember when Roc Thomas was one of the top recruits in the state and how much fans of the Barn crowed when Thomas decided to go to the east side of the state? Well, we see how that one is turning out. It looks like no one knows for sure if he’s actually transferring, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire…

Credit to Auburn’s PR team though for having the news leak during the middle of the news frenzy that is Baylor.

Ranking of “toughest” SEC football stadiums doesn’t mean much to Alabama – Alabama – Scout

Some stadiums have rowdiness, but a general lack of fan understanding of the game, so the intensity is misplaced, usually directed at the officials. Think Mississippi State.

There are a few places where fans are out of control mean, even before the game, notably Georgia and Auburn.

As for stadiums where the fans are most enthusiastic regardless of the chances of success by their teams against Alabama, I would say the top three are South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Tennessee.

But the toughest places to play are where the toughest teams await.

This one is a fun offseason article that’s entire premise is calling a bleacher report list dumb. The author mostly talks about how we assume that the loudest stadiums give the most advantage, but in all reality, the good teams are what made the stadium loud.

And yes, Auburn fans are mean. I went for one Iron Bowl back in the Shula years, and vowed never to return to that Godforsaken stadium.

College football roundtable: Most intriguing conference game – Pac-12 Blog- ESPN

Has this replaced Alabama-LSU as the best heavyweight bout in the SEC? Maybe not yet, but give it time. Ole Miss had the Tide’s number the last two seasons, representing the stiffest competition to the Nick Saban dynasty. This year should be a similarly heated battle despite the laundry list of former players now in NFL minicamps. Alabama’s defense is loaded once again thanks to the return of safety Eddie Jackson and defensive ends Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams.

Ole Miss has become a thorn in Nick Saban’s side. For whatever reason, they’ve just had the Tide’s number the last two years. In Saban’s time here, only LSU has beaten the Tide two seasons in a row. If the Rebels pull it out again this year, we could be looking at new levels of cactus-swinging.

Personally, I don’t see it happening again. I just can’t imagine Saban losing to a team three years in a row. It’s unprecedented. But, then again, I never thought Alabama would lose to Ole Miss the last two times either.

The 16 most irreplaceable college football players taking the field in 2016 – CBSSports.com

Ridley isn’t a hog when it comes to production. He’s not Tyler Boyd or Tyler Lockett — guys who will account for anywhere from one-third to one-half of their offense’s receiving stats. In that way, he’s different from a lot of guys on this list. However, Ridley is that perfect piece for offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. Just when you think you have to stop the Tide’s powerful running game, Kiffin will call up a play action to hit Ridley deep. Or when you stack the box, Alabama will hit Ridley with a screen and let him gobble up yards after the catch. He’s the guy that busts the defense wide open. Kiffin loves that type of explosive playmaker.

Calvin Ridley is an interesting choice for “most irreplaceable.” Though an amazing player, Alabama still has a plethora of receiving weapons in ArDarius Stewart, Robert Foster, O.J. Howard, Cam Sims, and incoming transfer Gehrig Dieter. Personally, I think I would have to vote either Jonathan Allen or Marlon Humphrey as the most irreplaceable. Who would you pick?

Alabama and Washington begin NCAA Softball Super Regional play Friday – Alabama – Scout

Sixth seed Alabama (49-12) will host No. 11 seed Washington (39-13) in the first game of the best-two-of-three series at 8 p.m. CDT Friday (ESPN2). The second game will be at 4:30 Saturday (ESPN) and the third, if necessary, will start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2).

This is the ninth Super Regional round held in Tuscaloosa, with Alabama winning seven of the previous eight home Super Regional contests. Over those eight series, Alabama has outscored its opponents 102-45.

The eight Super Regional winners will head to Oklahoma City next week for the 2016 Women’s College World Series. Games at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium begin on Thursday, June 2.

Our ladies’ softball team is in good shape. Two wins against the Huskies, and they’ll be in the World Series. Roll Tide.

Alabama falls short both at the plate and on the mound in 5-4 loss to Florida – Alabama – Scout

The book on Alabama hitting is an open book. Mississippi State started a pitcher who had never started a Southeastern Conference game in the SEC Tournament against the Crimson Tide on Wednesday, and he throttled Bama batters. Florida, which had played into the wee hours Thursday morning before losing to LSU, came back with another pitcher making his first against an SEC team and the Gators prevailed, 5-4.

Thus, Alabama exited the SEC Tournament at Hoover with a 1-2 record and only the faintest of hopes for an invitation to the NCAA Tournament when the selections are announced Monday.

The men, on the other hand, are struggling. Apparently unknown and unproven pitchers are a bit of an achilles heel for the Tide. Almost like the football team with opposing quarterbacks…

The men have a slight chance to make it into the NCAA tournament, but the chances look to be on the slim side. Keep your eyes peeled on Monday

Growing up in the small town of Brunswick, Georgia, University of Miami commit DeeJay Dallas has always seen himself as a leader.

“My uncle raised me to be a leader, he always used to ask me like ‘what’s a leader?’,” Dallas said. “And I always used to respond, ‘A leader is someone who knows how to lead and when to follow.’ And I feel like now is my time to lead.”

Although he still has one year remaining, Dallas has proven he can lead at the high school level. As a junior, Dallas led his team to a 12-3 overall record and state championship appearance; all while garnering attention from several top universities around the nation. Three months before his senior season; however, Dallas narrowed the list down to one school, and decided to commit to the University of Miami. The four star prospect will be enrolling before the spring of 2017, and although he has one semester remaining in high school, Dallas has already begun to help define the team’s future.

“When I committed, I already had it in my mind that I was gonna help recruit for this class,” Dallas, who committed to the team nearly a week ago said. “Me just being who I am, I try to surround myself with the best. Right now I’m trying to surround myself with the best classmates, if you want to call it that, that I can possibly have.”

Dallas has been working hard since his commitment to try and bring in top prospects for the ‘Canes. Since his commitment, Dallas has tweeted about top prospects such as Trajan Bandy.

@BandyTrajan Oklahoma? Cmon man .. We doing big things in squad 17 . We Bringing the U back come be apart!

— DeeJay Dallas (@Deejaydallas5) May 26, 2016

But while it remains important for Miami to keep their recruiting base in South Florida, Dallas has helped open up avenues out of state for Miami.  As the ‘Canes first 2017 commit from Georgia, Dallas knows what it is like to be an out-of-state recruit. Not only has Dallas embraced his role, but he has also taken on the leadership position in helping to bring out-of-state talent such as Anthony McFarland to Miami.

@AnttMacc_ come join the family bro #CanesFam

— DeeJay Dallas (@Deejaydallas5) May 23, 2016

Mark Richt came to Miami with a plan to combine the outstanding local talent with the talent of athletes from other parts of the U.S., and Dallas is now helping him put this plan into action.

“I feel like with me being an out of state guy, it does give me that edge,” Dallas said. “For me being an out-of-state commit, it’s like alright, so DeeJay did it, I can do it too. It’s that follow me factor.”

DeeJay has begun to lead off the field, and is expected to be a dynamic playmaker for the ‘Canes once he arrives on campus. Dallas has played a multitude of positions throughout his high school career, and currently plays quarterback at Glynn Academy. Once he arrives in Miami, Dallas will likely play a different position; either receiver or defensive back. DeeJay envisions himself playing “receiver more than DB,” but stressed he would do whatever the coaches ask of him. At the moment, he can be explosive in both units, and the team’s future depth might result in him getting on the field early in his Miami career.

Dallas is set to cap off his high school career, and there is little doubt he plans to use the reputation he created on the field to bring in other recruits. Dallas has already begun to make relationships with those involved with the program in Coral Gables, and plans to see a return to Miami’s glory days in the near future. In the past, when Miami’s program rebuilt itself, it was several individual classes that helped it emerge. Whether it was classes that included Alonzo Highsmith and Melvin Bratton under Howard Schnellenberger’s regime, or Ed Reed and Santana Moss under Butch Davis’ tenure, several players changed the course of Miami’s football program. It has happened in the ‘Canes past, and in DeeJay Dallas’ mind, history will repeat itself.

“We are probably gonna end up being the number one class in the nation, and then the next year we will probably have the number one class again,” Dallas said. “So really we are just preparing to win a national championship. Maybe one, maybe two, maybe three, maybe four; but once that ’17 class gets there, we’re gonna turn it around.”

Class of 2017 Highlights (Video courtesy of RichtEra via YouTube): 

Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football are off to a strong start on the recruiting trail for the 2017 cycle so far with some big name recruits already committed and more still on the board.

It is never too early to take a look at how things may finish up, even with signing day still so far away.

So here we go:

Commits are italicized

Quarterbacks (1)

5* Dylan McCaffrey (Littleton, Colorado)

Running Backs (3)

4* A.J. Dillon (Groton, Massachusetts)

4* O’Maury Samuels (Los Lunas, New Mexico)

3* Kurt Taylor (Covington, Georgia)

Fullbacks (1)

3* Chase Lasater (Jacksonville, Florida)

Wide Receivers (2)

5* Donovan Peoples-Jones (Detroit, Michigan)

4* Nico Collins (Pinson, Alabama)

Tight Ends (2)

4* Matt Dotson (Cincinatti, Ohio)

3* Carter Dunaway (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan)

Offensive Linemen (5)

5* Isaiah Wilson (Brooklyn, New York)

5* Tedarrell Slaton (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

4* JaRaymond Hall (Oak Park, Michigan)

4* Henry Bainivalu (Seattle, Washington)

4* Cesar Ruiz (Bradenton, Florida)

Defensive End (2)

4* Luiji Vilain (Alexandria, Virginia)

4* Corey Malone-Hatcher (St. Joseph, Michigan)

Defensive Tackle (2)

4* Jay Tufele (South Jordan, Utah)

3* Phillip Paea (Berrien Springs, Michigan

Linebackers (3)

4* Joshua Ross (West Bloomfield, Michigan)

4* Drew Singleton (Paramus, New Jersey)

3* Ben Mason (Sandy Hook, Connecticut)

Cornerbacks (4)

4* Ambry Thomas (Detroit, Michigan)

4* Alex Perry (Las Vegas, Nevada)

3* Benjamin St-Juste (Montreal, Quebec)

3* Randall Haynie (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Safeties (2)

4* Jaylen Kelly Powell (Detroit, Michigan)

4* J’Marick Woods (Florence, Alabama)

Overview

So there’s the first edition. This class looks like another 24-27 player haul and like last year, it will probably take some attrition to make it work in the end.

Have any questions, comments, concerns or just want to tell me how wrong I will end up being? Sound off in the comments below!

This is it. We’re officially just 99 days away from kicking off the 2016 Virginia Cavaliers football season, which is sort of a gnarly thought given that Virginia men’s tennis just won its third national championship this week, and both the men and women are competing for individual titles. Not to mention, the ACC Baseball Tournament hasn’t even wrapped up yet.

Over the next 99 days, we’ll take a look at the Virginia football roster, player by player, Wide receivers? We got em. Kickers? Yep. Starting quarterback? If you can tell us who that is, we’ll do that too. But as we count down the days until it’s time to start tailgating again, we’ll look at the player whose jersey number corresponds to the number of days remaining.

You might look and say, “but wait, there are some days without players! And some days have two players with that jersey number!” Rest, relax, it will be okay. Some days you might not get a preview from us. Others you might get more than one. Either way, you’ll be chock full of knowledge for each player come kickoff time.

Virginia fans are understandably tentatively excited for the start of the Bronco Mendenhall era. To date, it looks like he’s done all the right things in terms of buying into the culture on Grounds, reaching out to in-state recruits, and rallying the fan base, but at the end of the day, it’s the on-field product that matters.

There are just 99 days left until we get our first look of whether Mendenhall and company have what it takes to rebuild Virginia football.

The two biggest on-field complaints that Penn State fans have raised concerning the James Franklin-led Nittany Lions have been the head coach’s clock management and lack of offensive success. The defensive side of the ball, however, has been a delight to watch.

The upcoming 2016 season is starting to look like things are going to be a little different, though. While Joe Moorhead and his fast-paced, high-scoring offense are getting settled in Happy Valley, the 2016 version of the defense is missing some major pieces from the 2015 product.

That’s not to say that Brent Pry and company won’t be able to overcome this issue and find yet another future NFL defensive tackle, but it would be truly shocking to see the 2016 team end up with a defensive line that matches the 2015 line’s level of play.

What sort of effect might that have on the Nittany Lions in 2016? The offense is sure to improve (it just has to at this point, right?), but will they be able to stay afloat with a defense that takes a step back?

* * *

Using Bill Connelly’s S&P+ rankings system, let’s take a look back at how Penn State finished in said rankings during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Man, that 2014 defense was something, huh? The main point, however, is that the 2014 team hinged completely on the defense, because that offense was rough to watch. Plenty of fans would argue that the 2015 offense was just as difficult to watch, but the team’s confusing ability to make big plays, along with Saquon Barkley, was enough to make for a significantly improved unit overall. The defense, however, while fueled by a ferocious defensive line, took a small step back thanks to some regression in the secondary and inexperience in the linebacker corps.

It’s hard to find a college football expert, analyst or even fan, who doesn’t think that Penn State’s offense will improve under Joe Moorhead. The question is, however, if the defense will be able to keep up. Most people are plenty optimistic about Brent Pry as the new defensive coordinator, but any team would have trouble replacing three big-time starters on the defensive line and a starting safety.

If the defense takes a step back in 2016, will the projected improvement on the offensive side of the ball be enough to propel this team to higher heights than a a third consecutive season of 7-6? What sort of record could Penn State expect by finishing somewhere in the range of 35 on offense and 25 on defense? Let’s compare to other Big Ten teams from the past two years and try to fit them in.

The two teams that pop out here that seem like they could potentially be the most comparable to the 2016 Penn State team are the 2014 Nebraska team and the 2014 Wisconsin team. Joe Moorhead’s offense should be a major upgrade, but expecting the Nittany Lions to jump all the way to the teens or single digits in terms of offensive S&P+ is silly. The mid-twenties/low-thirties feels like a reasonable landing zone, however.

As far as the defense, the 2016 Penn State defense will likely be better than 2014 Nebraska’s, but 2014 Wisconsin finished No. 29, which feels like the right sort of landing spot for Brent Pry’s defense, as the linebackers will be a very strong unit, the defensive line is due for regression and the secondary is half-solid and half-wild card. Even with taking the low-end projection for the defense, considering their schedule, a finish in the area of a 29 ranking should be plenty feasible.

Looking at Bill C’s 2016 projections, his numbers expect Penn State to finish around an S&P+ ranking of 28 (still one spot ahead of Pitt, might I add). This falls right in line with our “out-of-thin-air” projections, as that 2014 Wisconsin team finished No. 25 overall, and the 2014 Nebraska team finished No. 31 overall. And if the Nittany Lions actually finish closer to the 35th ranked offense and 25th ranked defense as we originally predicted, that would have them falling right in line with the 2015 West Virginia team that finished No. 24 in the overall rankings.

To get even more optimistic (this is being written in May, after all), what if the Penn State defense doesn’t regress? What if they are able to stick in the teens as far as defensive S&P+, and improve their offensive ranking to somewhere in the high-twenties? Then you start to see a team that could be pretty special, like 2015 Michigan State.

I think a reasonable projection right now for this Penn State team is finishing similarly to that 2015 West Virginia team- solid on defense, and solid, but not spectacular on offense. This should be enough to help Penn State win most of the games on their schedule. However, don’t expect to see this team ranked in the AP and Coaches polls, just because the advanced stats might be kind to them.

But what do you think? Am I being too optimistic about the offensive and defensive sides of the ball? Will the special teams weigh the 2016 Penn State team down more than I’m accounting for? Am I not being optimistic enough? Let me know in the comments.

‘Battle Of The Big House’ Unleashed

Here’s another idea from Harbaugh that skirts the edge of recruiting news, much like his commencement speech at Paramus Catholic or his decision to participate in a national council on poverty. The newest idea? Fourteen Michigan high schools will play their first game of the season at Michigan Stadium from August 25-27.

“I don’t care if we make a penny,” said the head coach of one of the schools, Clarkston’s Kurt Richardson. “I just want the kids to have that opportunity to walk out on that field. It will be memories they will have forever. I think it’s awesome, and hopefully we can continue after this.”

Running Back Recruiting Not Dying Down

The nation’s #2 running back in the 2017 cycle, Cam Akers, has released his top-ten list with Michigan included. Obviously Michigan is already set up quite well at the position, but that hasn’t stopped the staff from looking around – either for a replacement or an addition. For example, this week Ty Wheatley stopped by the neighborhood of three-star Tennessee native Chase Hayden, and Wheatley said the search for more athletic runners is still in full swing ($):

“He told my coaches that I am a priority for them,” he said. “He said they are still looking for that all-purpose guy. Michigan is in my top group. I am looking to come up there sometime this summer still.”

Unsurprisingly, both Hayden and Akers have the athleticism to qualify for that ‘APB’ role. I particularly liked this film of Akers busting up defenses Denard-style.

On a slightly more somber note, Wheatley also visited one of Michigan’s current commits, O’Maury Samuels, to ‘get on the same page’ ($) regarding his recruitment. Samuels has since announced he will be taking some visits this summer to other schools to keep his options open. The four-star from New Mexico has gone pretty far under the radar to this point, so a little exposure and a few more offers should be good for him.

Michigan ‘Moving Up’ For Five-Star CB

We’ll see how long we can keep this train of five-star updates going. Darnay Holmes, the five-star corner out of Calabasas, California, had this to say this week ($):

“Michigan is for sure moving up in things,” Holmes told Huskers Illustrated analyst Mike Schaefer over the weekend. “Coach Jim Harbaugh is building a monster up there. My best friend David Long is going up there in June. Dylan Crawford is up there. A lot of California guys go up there. That shows Ann Arbor isn’t a bad place to go.”

David Long has been recruiting the nation’s top corner pretty hard, and that more than anything is keeping the Wolverines on Darnay’s radar. The two are extremely, extremely close – “blood brothers,” Long called it.

Michigan Eyeing 2018 New Jersey Haul

Steve Lorenz has put together an excellent look ahead ($) to New Jersey’s top recruits of 2018, but one story in particular stood out – that of five-star defensive tackle Tyler Friday. What is it about Friday?

He plays at another program (Don Bosco) whose head coach (Greg Toal) has bad blood with linebackers coach Chris Partridge after the Jabrill Peppers fiasco back in the day. Not surprisingly, Toal is another coach who is pushing his players to attend Rutgers’ camp on the 8th. Friday has told me he’s undecided on what he will do, which probably means he wants to attend the Michigan camp but is being pressured to do the opposite (he would not be the only one). We’re told that Michigan’s staff has a great rapport with Friday’s family. He may visit this summer.

It’s good to know Jersey’s pipeline to Michigan is still in good shape, then. The players are the ones who really matter here.

McCaffrey On Upcoming Visit, Recruiting DPJ

Normally reclusive, the five-star Michigan commit Dylan McCaffrey gave an interview this week in which he said he’ll be coming to Ann Arbor for the Aerial Assault QB Camp on June 18th. He also mentioned he is trying to recruit Donovan Peoples-Jones.

“I talk to Donovan Peoples-Jones a lot,” he said. “I’ve been talking mostly to receivers and guys up front. I talk a lot with Cesar Ruiz up at IMG Academy and (four-star center) Brett Neilon. I’ve been talking to guys all over.”

Michigan Getting O.V. From Isaiah Wilson

We all know Michigan is in good standing with five-star offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson, and that was confirmed yesterday when Wilson tweeted out his five official visits. However, two things I did not know: Wilson is 6’6.5″ and 354 pounds … and he’s still athletic enough to play tight end. Unreal.

Top Defensive End Target To Attend Satellite Camp

Not a five-star, sadly – but the 6’5″, 240-pound defensive end D.J. Johnson out of Sacramento, California is still pretty good. He ranks 151st in the 247Sports Composite in the 2017 class, and will be attending a Michigan satellite camp on June 23rd at Inderkum High School. This gives D.J. a chance to familiarize himself with the coaches ($).

“Coaching style and a relationship with the coaches is probably the biggest thing for me,” he said. “Instead of having to travel across the country to find that out about Michigan, I will get a chance to do it at the camp instead. That’s a big thing for me. I am excited to see them in action.”

Johnson’s situation is fluid, but some believe Michigan is in his top three as things stand today. Michigan also has Johnson very high on their recruiting board, possibly at #1 or #2.

Harbaugh Does It Again

Out of all the amazing things that Harbaugh has done, maybe it’s weird that this is what blows me away. But after recruiting Carter Dunaway well before he even started for his high school team – a move that proved very wise – Harbaugh is now in wonderful position with Michigan legacy Will Mallory, an unranked 2018 tight end out of Jacksonville, Florida. I’ll let Steve Lorenz take it away:

Michigan’s scholarship offer to Jacksonville (FL) Providence 2018 tight end Will Mallory way back in May of last year was rather nondescript, as not much was heard from him before or after it.

However, we’re hearing from him now, as the son of former All-Big Ten linebacker and current Jacksonville Jaguars special teams coach Mike Mallory has established himself as a national name on the recruiting trail. In May alone, he has picked up offers from South Carolina, Mississippi State, Alabama, Miami (FL), Louisville and Tennessee to name a few.

Harbaugh, you are irrevocably brilliant. Steve Lorenz recently put in a Crystal Ball ($) for the Wolverines.

Heavily Pursuing An Alabama Linebacker

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: a three-star linebacker from the deep south finds himself high up on Michigan’s recruiting board. Am I talking about Texas native Kenneth Murray, who was mentioned last week when Chris Partridge flew out to see him twice? Or maybe Shanon Reid, the Floridian who’s being recruited like heck to play SAM in Don Brown’s defense? Well, I could have been. But today I’m talking about Oxford, Alabama native K.J. Britt, who admitted he hears from Michigan “three or four times a week” ($).

And if the Alabama connection tipped you off to a possible mention of Coach Bam, you would be right. “We talk often,” Britt said of Michigan’s offensive analyst. “He is like a mentor to me. We talk about everything… he encourages me a lot to be the best I can be in everything.”

And about Jim Harbaugh? “He is different, but I like him.” Yeah, me too, K.J.

Other News & Notes

Bleacher Report put out a wonderful – and free – bio of Michigan commit Josh Ross yesterday. A great opportunity to see the person behind the name.

Cass Tech’s Donovan Johnson received an offer from Oregon – yes, that Oregon – and said in an interview with Rivals that a Michigan offer would vault the Wolverines high on his list ($). No offer so far.

Benjamin St. Juste has been a star of the summer camp circuit, and Rivals’ Mike Farrell offered up a video scouting report of Michigan’s future cornerback.

Michigan may be backing out of their satellite camp collaboration with Baylor due to the turmoil there. Baylor has also lost a commitment from elite tight end Kedrick James, but James seems enamored now with Texas A&M – and, according to Steve Lorenz ($), Michigan hasn’t pursued him that hard.

Remember the NCAA’s decision to rescind the rules limiting text messages? Well, early returns haven’t been as bad as many thought.

Joey “Big Toe” Julius began the 2015 season as the starting kicker for the Penn State squad after redshirting his first year behind Sam Ficken and walking on the team under James Franklin, handling both kickoff and extra point/field goal duties his first season on the field. As the season went on, his unyielding confidence seemed to waver and Tyler Davis took over XP and FG kicks–but Julius’ booming leg had him still on the field for placekicking.

Julius ended the season named to the BTN.com All-Freshman team, having seen time in eleven games. He was ten of twelve on field goals (83.3%) with a long of 40 yards, and 20 of 24 on extra points. Big Toe logged 53 kickoffs, averaging 62 yards with 22 touchbacks.

This season, Julius will be fending off incoming freshman kicker Alex Barbir as well as Davis for starting kicker duties.

It’s coming. Yesterday marked 100 days until Ohio State football kicks off the 2016 season. With today cracking double digits until the matchup versus Bowling Green State University in Columbus, the Buckeye football staff has enough on it’s plate to keep them more than busy this summer stretch. With recruiting being one of the major focuses this summer, Urban Meyer and company have put together a to do list that shows exactly why they are one of the premier programs in college football.

1️⃣ Days till kickoff in The Shoe.

#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Mcvh6FmF1S

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) May 26, 2016

Texas star receives Buckeye offer

The affinity Ohio State has for the state of Texas is no secret. Urban Meyer has had success in the Lone Star State and continuing relationships in Texas has helped him land several talented prospects in his tenure with the Buckeyes. Yesterday, the roots in Texas grew even deeper as it was announced via his twitter that BJ Foster (Angleton,Texas / Angleton HS) had received an offer from Ohio State.

A two-way player, Foster has both running back and safety duties on Friday nights in the fall, but most likely projects as a defensive back at the next level. The 2018 4-star stands at 6 feet 1 inch, 188 pounds and already boasts a very impressive offer list.

With 21 schools already throwing their hat into the ring, it’s easy to see why Ohio State came calling. Schools on the list for Foster include Baylor, Texas, Arizona, Arizona State, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State. As things currently stand, this Texas prospect is pegged to stay home and play for the Longhorns according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions, but Ohio State and others certainly have time to compete for his services.

Ok here we go BIG time Ohio State offer pic.twitter.com/fjBAK4GBV3

— THEBJFOSTER (@nofear_2) May 26, 2016

Top 2018 LB wanting to see Ohio State

Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell has been second to none in his development of linebackers in his tenure with the Buckeyes. Producing NFL Draft picks at record pace seems to be in Fickell’s DNA and recruits all over the country are taking notice. In particular, the nation’s top ranked 2018 inside linebacker, Teradja Mitchell (Virginia Beach, Va. / Bishop Sullivan Catholic) has let it be known that he is interested in making the trek to Columbus and see what the Buckeyes have to offer.

The No.18 player in the 2018 class already has a Buckeye offer, but seems to be wanting to make the relationship stronger. A visit to Ohio State would certainly help this take place. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and 225 pounds, Mitchell boasts the size that fits the Darron Lee mold perfectly. With over 25 offers already, Mitchell is easily one of the most sought after recruits in the 2018 class, but his interested in Ohio State shows that the Buckeyes have a real chance to be a major player for his services. Look for a visit to happen with Mitchell some time in the near future.

I wanna visit Ohio State ⭕️

— Teradja Mitchell (@WhosThatNumber7) May 26, 2016

Baylor fallout, Mond situation

Yesterday, Baylor University and head football coach Art Briles went their separate ways. While recruiting certainly isn’t anywhere near the forefront in this tragic situation, players unfortunately will most likely have some rethinking to do in terms of Baylor as a prospective college destination. One name linked to Ohio State long prior has been signal caller Kellen Mond (Bradenton, Fla. / IMG Academy). The nation’s fourth-ranked dual-threat quarterback has been committed to Baylor for nearly a year, but with the departure of Briles, the status of Mond and the Bears is certainly in limbo.

Mond recently visited Ohio State back in April and received an offer while on his visit to Columbus. Since then, we’ve heard several things on Mond and his chances of ending up a Buckeye. Although Ohio State is certainly still actively pursuing Tate Martell (Las Vegas, Nev. / Bishop Gorman), its been said by Mond himself that he was told he was “their main guy” in the 2017 class. The fallout at Baylor has certainly been disappointing and while recruiting easily takes a back seat to those affected, Mond will have a tough choice to make in the near future. Ohio State very well could end up seeing Mond feeling the Ohio State pull in the coming weeks.

https://t.co/sTdFHp2kCs

— .. Kellen™ ♛ ♰ ♛ (@TheKellenMond) May 26, 2016

OSU summer camp schedule

Ohio State’s coaching staff will have a loaded summer in terms of satellite camp opportunities and on-sight position camps in Columbus. Hoping to continue the trend in bringing the nation’s elite prospects to Ohio State, Urban Meyer has made sure that there is little to no downtime in the summer months as the evaluations of recruits will never cease to stop. In an article with cleveland.com, an in depth look is taken to see just how busy Ohio State will be. Currently, the Buckeyes are scheduled to head to Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and others each for satellite camps. The Ohio State brand has been a top program in college football because of it’s work ethic and chase of perfection. This summer will easily continue that trend.

If there is one word to describe sophomore cornerback Adoree Jackson, it would be versatile. He showed his versatility in 2016, by playing three different positions and producing for each of them. His explosiveness on both sides of the ball should make Trojan fans eager to see what he can produce in 2016.

Playing the cornerback, returner, and wide receiver positions, he became the program’s first three-way player in two decades. Seeing 157 plays on offense, 657 on defense, and 157 on special teams, he was all over the field.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jackson had 35 tackles, 8 deflections, a forced fumble, and an interception return for a touchdown. His best game came on November 28 against crosstown rival UCLA as he registered six solo tackles and two pass deflections as the Trojans came away victorious, 40-21.

Offensively, he had 27 receptions for 414 yards and two TDs while at the receiver position. In addition to showcasing his talents at wideout, he slid into the role of running back, carrying the ball 7 times for 36 yards, showcasing his speed.

Jackson found his niche at returner, providing USC with what seemed like tremendous field position every time he went back to take a kick. He took the ball 30 times for 690 yards on kickoff return, while returning punts 24 times for 251 yards and two touchdowns. He was (literally) everywhere on the field for the Trojans and provided them with a spark every time he touched the football.

What can we expect from Jackson in 2016? My thinking is more of the same. Due to the amount of talent at the wide receiver position, I would not expect him to see many opportunities there, while cornerback should be his primary position. Quick dump-off passes as a running back in certain packages and schemes are the most likely way I could see him getting multiple touches due to the ample depth at the wide receiver position.

Cornerback on the other hand is a different story. Jackson made a big impact last year at the position as a freshman and should provide that same spark in 2016. He showed an excellent awareness for the ball and was not afraid to make a play in any given situation. I expect him to play a big role at the position and become a key part of the defense.

As far as his duties are concerned on kickoff return, he should remain a catalyst in that area. Using his speed, he is able to find the open holes and “turn on the jets” once he gets into the open field. We saw it last year and there is nothing to suggest anything will change in that area. He should be able to provide the offense with good field position following punt and kickoff returns, something that will help the new offense immensely.

Statistically, I would expect a season that includes 50 tackles, 10 deflections and two interceptions at corner, and at least 30 touches for 700 yards on kickoff return. On punt returns, at least 30 touches for 350 yards and three touchdowns would be achievable as the Trojans look for Jackson to have a big ‘16 season.