About 15 minutes ago, Pat Forde at Y! hinted that Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze was in serious trouble. Ole Miss administrators were meeting to determine the fate of his job-kind of trouble.

Just 9 minutes later, this happened:

Presumably Pat Forde will follow-up with his reporting, and we’ll update this as it goes along. But, Matt Luke is the interim coach, Hugh is off into the sunset, a Committee on Infractions hearing is still pending, and his career is very much in question. For the Rebels, since Freeze was the de facto if not de jure offensive coordinator most years, it throws a lot of uncertainty into a 2017 season where the Rebels were already expected to struggle. There’s obviously a transfer exodus to worry about as well.

This isn’t the end of Ole Miss’ troubles…by any stretch. It’s the end of the beginning of their woes.

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In a stunning turns of events, Hugh Freeze has resigned, effective immediately. Matt Luke will serve as interim head coach (almost certainly for the entire season). Just like you, our heads are spinning. We’ll obviously have much more coverage coming to you ASAP, but…. a few quick thoughts.

Dan Wolken is reporting this is related to a call Freeze made to a number tied to an escort service. If that’s the case, yikes. That’s a bad look for anyone, but especially someone who constantly tweeted bible verses and gave sermons at local churches.

1. There must be something really, really damning. No administration sticks by someone through the NCAA stuff and then sees its coach “resign” for something small.
2. The recruiting class was already terrible, but now… yikes. Yeah, it’s going to get ROUGH. Like, lose battles to Louisiana-Lafayette rough.
3. I bet a lot of players will transfer. That’s wild conjecture on my part, but… if I’m a great player, I’m not sticking around for no chance at a bowl and nothing proven at head coach. No one is safe.
4. Ole Miss has to make a great hire during a terrible time. With NCAA sanctions looming, they’ll almost certainly just treat this season as a wash, but beyond that, what do they have to sell a new coach on? A roster that will likely be gutted by transfers and two awful recruiting classes in a row? It’s going to be tough to find someone good that wants to step in and take this thing over.

More on this as it develops.

There are four positions on Bud Foster’s defensive line; Defensive End, Defensive Tackle, Nose Tackle, and Stud End. Who fits in where and what actual technique that player executes for that particular defense is one of those maddening Foster/Wiles related bits of football voodoo. The Hokies haven’t been known for fielding dominant traditional Defensive lines. They have, however, come up with some interesting non-traditional looks that have bubbled to the surface of Hokie greatness. No one is going to write of laurel leaves and carpets of triumphal flower pedals when it comes to Virginia Tech Defensive Lines. Most of our pros are outside guys, or have been backed off to outside linebackers in professional 3-4 formations. Darryl Tapp is still pulling in an NFL pay check. Jason Worilds took three seasons to convert from DE to OLB for the Steelers, played a few good seasons, and suddenly retired due to personal religious reasons. I don’t remember any defensive linemen who have really stuck anywhere at the next level. There may be a few hanging in the higher numbers of depth charts, but Tech is just not known for huge, fast, and powerful defensive line play.

That might remain one of the biggest hits that Bud Foster’s reputation takes over his impressive career. He just didn’t seem to recruit or field defensive line personnel that were “large enough”. That sort of goes for Linebackers, too, but we aren’t talking mid-fielders, we are talking about who is playing in the trenches. The last two seasons things look like their might be some changes in the offing.

The Hokies return five players with game experience. There are no Seniors of any type (redshirt or true). No player has more than 2 seasons of experience. Vinny Mihota and Ricky Walker are natural starters at Defensive End and Defensive Tackle. The presumed other two starting positions will be some combination of Travon Hill, Tim Settle, and Houshun Gaines. There are a more than a few redshirts that are going to be vying for the #2 cells on the depth chart. Five experienced starters, with only a couple being every down players, means that the new linemen are going to have to step up, and do it convincingly.

Vinnie Mihota hurries up the ECU QB John Schneider – SB Nation

First, let’s look at the presumed starters. Vinny Mihota proved himself over the last two seasons. The true Junior started and played thirteen of last season’s 14 games, and if he hadn’t finally been benched for the Belk Bowl, he’d have started the 14^th. The benching wasn’t something nefarious. Vinny played a heck of a season, and few folks really noticed, but he was doing it on one wing. At some point in 2016 Mihota dislocated his shoulder. Some folks would let that slow them down, but the coaching staff nearly had to drag him off the field. Mihota racked up 43 total tackles last season (20/23) he also managed to break up three pass attempts and chipped in for a solid Beamer Ball kick block. He had surgery on both shoulders in the offseason. Something tells me that if Mihota his healthy, he’s going to have a career season in 2017.

Ricky Walker getting rush pressure deep in ECU’s territory John Schneider – SB Nation

Ricky Walker started 4 games last season, and played in all 14. He had 28 tackles and four total pass breakups to his credit. Walker played well, especially doing the primary job of Bud Foster’s defensive line scheme, which is stuffing up and controlling the line of scrimmage. Ricky also had a few Special Teams moments to remember grabbing two return opportunities for a respectable 19 yards.

Tim Settle in his Beamer Ball Guise John Schneider – SB Nation

We are likely to see far more of Tim Settle this season. Settle has had some issues with keeping his weight in check, but last season seemed to get the hang of the conditioning regimen. He shined on Special Teams often looking like he was bucking for the title of world’s largest Gunner. (He even grabbed the distinction of the largest man with the number 25 on a football field. He also lit up the world with a contribution to Beamer Ball with a blocked kick, and 15 yards of kick returns. Settle is still getting used to the Nose Tackle position in the defense. He was constantly disruptive, and even earned some honors with an honorable mention for Freshman All-American. That’s pretty special for a first season on the field. We expect to see much more of Tim Settle this season. He’s even sporting the number 4, instead of the old 97. No matter whether it’s 4, 97, or the special 25, Tim Settle will be a presence in the middle of the Hokie Defensive line and probably Special Teams for quite a while.

Trevon Hill looks like he’s about to make a move playing opposite Vinny Mihota at the other DE position. Hill played in all 14 games last season, and netted 37 total tackles. Six of them were tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Hill is quick, strong, and gained confidence and playing time as the season progressed earning a start for the Belk Bowl with four tackles to go with it. Trevon Hill is going to be a critical player this season. His experience and growth is right on pace with Tim Settle’s. That bodes well for the starting front four.

Fighting in the Trenches John Schneider – SB Nation

Of the Redshirt Sophomores, Darius Fullwood and Xavier Burke got some game time last season, but it’s going to be up to them to get the effort up to see some action on the field this season. The starting five are going to need some help and an occasional breather. The backups are going to get playing time in 2017. Houshun Gaines played in 12 games last season. He has the size and the talent to vie for serious field time. He will need to step up in 2017.

Let’s not forget some of the Freshmen. Although most true freshman linemen get a 1^st year redshirt, look for J’Bril Glaze, Zion Debose, and Robert Porcher IV, to possibly escape the early lineman crimson shirt to earn spots on the depth chart. Glaze is looking large and inside at 6’7” and 270. He’s listed as “DL” which means he could go just about anywhere Foster and Wiles feels like he’ll make the best contribution, but a Defensive Tackle as tall as Bucky, and bigger than – well, anyone on the defensive line in years, might just make a small impact.

What is nice about the Tech line is that unlike prior seasons, the Defensive line is pushing up in size but keeping its speed and strength. As for the remainder of the defensive line, the redshirt freshmen and new true freshman will have some challenges to meet. They have joined the #LPD, and Coach Foster has acquainted each of them with just what that means.

The defensive line was critical in every game last season. When it played at the top of its potential, the Hokie Defense was downright scary. This season it’s set to dominate the line of scrimmage, again.

Next up and certainly not last in our hearts, Special Teams… Pride and Joy… The source of all things Beamer Ball!

More pressure. Pinned Deep and no where to go. John Schneider – SB Nation

Adam Anderson — teammate of Tennessee commit Jamarcus Chatman — visited Tennessee today. Anderson actually gave Tennessee the number one recruiting class in the SEC when he decommitted from LSU a few weeks back.

Everyone immediately pointed towards Georgia when he left LSU, but Tennessee has the added benefit of Chatman here. Anderson told SEC Country that “the plan has always been to play together,” when speaking about Chatman. The 247 Sports crystal ball projections still point heavily to Georgia, however.

Anderson is 6-4, 214 pounds. He’s listed as an outside linebacker, but he’s really a pass rusher. 214 pounds is a little light for Tennessee’s base 4-3 scheme, however. It would be interesting to see how Bob Shoop and Brady Hoke would use Anderson.

With Greg Emerson and Jamarcus Chatman already in the fold, a move off the line of scrimmage may be where Anderson would land in Knoxville. But first things first, Tennessee has to gain Anderson’s commitment.

Will a crowed defensive end group scare off Anderson? Will the scheme? I’m sure all of this was covered today in Anderson’s visit. This was Anderson’s second visit to Knoxville — we’ll see if it’s enough to sway him to commit.

Four-star OLB Channing Tindall from Columbia (SC) Spring Valley was in attendance for Jimbo Fisher summer camp on Thursday and received an offer shortly after the afternoon session ended.

The lengthy 6’2 213 lb. linebacker shined in camp on Thursday, using his body to get our in front of passes and his showing off his coverage skills in one-on-one while standing out in individual drills.

Florida State is Tindall’s 18th total offer and Thursday was the first time he stepped foot on campus. Tomahawk Nation’s Bud Elliott saw Tindall in The Opening and believed the incoming high school senior was the best player there.

Although Tindall is a four-star ranked No. 133 overall and No. 5 among outside linebackers and No. 3 in South Carolina in the 247 Composite rankings, this is due to the other outlets that contribute to the composite rankings not having any recent updates. 247 has Tindall ranked the No. 22 overall prospect in the country, No. 1 OLB and No. 1 player in South Carolina.

Florida State has added another Defensive End to its class, as 6’7 253 lb Chaz Neal out of Armwood High School from Seffner, Florida has committed to FSU. Neal chose FSU over offers from USC, South Carolina, Oregon, USF and Maryland. Neal is ranked 1053rd nationally, 53rd as a DE, and 162nd in the state of Florida via the 247 Composite Rankings and he has only been rated in 3 of the four major recruiting services. Josh Newberg of 247sports was able to catch up with the big athlete following his commitment and get a quote about his decision:

“Coach Lawing told me I am a good player, I get off the ball good, I can bend and he wants me at his school,” Neal told Noles247. “When they told me they were offering me a scholarship as a defensive end, I took it and I committed.”

“I feel good, I feel like this is home. I talked to coach Jimbo, he’s a real cool guy, he’s very inspiring and loves having me committed.”

A very raw football prospect; Neal is all about upside showing the ability be a strong-side defensive end or maybe grow into an offensive tackle one day.

Neal is the 14th commitment of FSU’s 2018 recruiting class which is ranked 10th nationally and has 7 4-star and 7 3-star prospects.

The Michigan State Spartans football program has picked up its first commitment of July with Parks Gissinger, a three-star defensive end/athlete out of Chaminade College Prep (West Hills, California), announcing his allegiance to the Spartans via Twitter.

Gissinger stands at a towering 6-feet-4-inches tall, and weighs 235 pounds. He is the first recruit from the West to commit to the Spartans. The current class is made up of eight Ohio prospects, three Michigan prospects, one Georgia prospect, and now one California prospect.

Gissinger ranks as the No. 38 weak-side defensive end in the 247Sports Composite. He also ranks as the No. 77 player in California.

Scout sees him as a three-star athlete, who ranks 14th at the position in the entire West region. Meanwhile, Rivals lists him as a three-star strong-side defensive end.

Gissinger seems to bring versatility to the class. As a junior, he also played tight end and long snapper, according to his Hudl highlight video. Though, I would expect him to call the defensive line home in East Lansing, as the Spartans recruited him defensive end.

I actually expected Chase Kline to be the next Spartan, however, this makes me just as happy and is a welcomed addition!

Defensive line is one of Michigan State’s biggest question marks in 2017 and beyond, after attrition in the offseason depleted the position. This is a great commitment for the Spartans at a position of dire need.

Apparently, Gissinger took a visit to campus last week, and was blown away by the facilities and the program. Adding that he felt at home there.

Per Scout.com:

“I had a great visit there last week and everything just felt right,” Gissinger said. “The facilities are unreal and they have a big time football program that is tough to beat. Coach (Mark) Dantonio is an amazing coach and a great guy.

“He made me feel at home on the visit and helped make my decision for me. I also love the Business School. Eli Broad donated a bunch of money to it so it’s coming up. I don’t know how to describe it but it just felt like the right choice for me and I’m very excited to be a Spartan.”

Assuming Gissinger is set to play defensive end, he joins the Slade twins — Jacob and Zachary — as the third defensive lineman in the class. That would also make him the ninth player on the defensive side of the ball in the 2018 class.

Check out Gissinger’s highlights below:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Justin Fields, the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation is making a return visit to Tallahassee this weekend and has now arrived with his father.

His visit was expected, as he recently told SB Nation he was planning to make return trips to all his major suitors (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, and USC). Despite that, fans of FSU have fretted since Fields has recently made return trips to some of his other favorites, but not Florida State (Fields did make it down for the June session of Jimbo Fisher Camp).

Fields is 6’3” and 221 pounds. He’s started just one year at Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison, but had an excellent season. He’s a tremendous runner and has recently shown he can throw the football with nice touch and accuracy to go along with great decision-making. Fields is one of the highest-rated quarterbacks ever.

Watch this video of Fields as he exhibits his skills and describes his game.

The former LSU commit is the first cornerback to receive a Texas offer in the 2019 class.

Former LSU commit Derek Stingley Jr. is the latest 2019 prospect to receive an offer from Tom Herman and the Longhorns.

The Baton Rouge native originally pledged to the Tigers on June 10, but decommitted on April 7. The 4-star prospect has offers from several national powerhouses, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Florida State.

Stingley is rated as the No. 182 overall player in the class of 2019, and the No. 10 CB. The Dunham School prospect is the first cornerback to receive an offer in the 2019 class for the Longhorns.

Stingley stands at 6-0 and weighs 170 pounds. His grandfather, Darryl Stingley, was a wide receiver in the NFL.

CBS TV schedule released at conference meetings.

It appears as though the LSU-Alabama matchup will likely headline CBS’ prime-time football slate again this season, per a network schedule announcement today at SEC conference meetings in Destin, Fla.

Nov. 4 will be one of three double-header days for the conference’s primary network partner, with LSU-Bama likely as the highest-profile matchup. Other games that day include Auburn at Texas A&M, Florida at Missouri, South Carolina at Georgia and Ole Miss at Kentucky.

LSU and Alabama has been a prime-time matchup on CBS each season since 2011. This year’s game is, of course, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The next two Saturdays, Nov. 11 and 18, will also be double-headers, but with a noon/2:30 p.m. CT slotting, as opposed to the 2:30/7 p.m. slotting on the 4th.

The entirety of the CBS schedule is as follows:

DATE, TIME (ET)

GAME

Saturday, Sept. 9, 3:30 p.m.
TCU at Arkansas

Saturday, Sept. 16, 3:30 p.m.
Tennessee at Florida

Saturday, Sept. 23, 3:30 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week

Saturday, Sept. 30, 3:30 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week

Saturday, Oct. 7, 3:30 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week

Saturday, Oct. 14, 3:30 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week

Saturday, Oct. 21, 3:30 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week

Saturday, Oct. 28, 3:30 p.m.
Georgia vs. Florida

Saturday, Nov. 4, 3:30 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week No. 1
8 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week No. 2

Saturday, Nov. 11, Noon
SEC Game fo the Week No. 1
3:30 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week No. 2

Saturday, Nov. 18, Noon
SEC Game of the Week No. 1
3:30 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week No. 2

Friday, Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m.
Missouri at Arkansas

Saturday Nov. 25, 3:30 p.m.
SEC Game of the Week

Saturday, Dec. 2, 4 p.m.
SEC Championship Game

Saturday, Dec. 9, 3 p.m.
Army-Navy Game

Friday, Dec. 29, 3 p.m.
Hyundai Sun Bowl