Sure, the 2018 season is officially in the books and Clemson
is celebrating its second championship in three years, but college football
never really ends.
After the final whistle in Santa Clara, California, it was
already only a matter of weeks until several programs head into spring
practice. Every coaching staff is getting ready for the traditional national
signing day on the first Wednesday of February, too.
The offseason is
hardly that.
We're looking ahead to the coming months, a time that will
include transfers, an increase in pressure on certain coaches and a whole bunch
of hype for potential breakout teams.
TOP STORYLINES
OHIO STATE ENTERS
POST-URBAN MEYER ERA
Although the finality of his decision has been met with
skepticism, Urban Meyer chose to retire as Ohio State head coach after the 2018
campaign.
He's handing Ryan Day, formerly the offensive coordinator,
and the keys to a thriving program. Ohio State finished 13-1 with a Big Ten
crown and Rose Bowl victory in 2018, and Meyer posted an 83-9 record during his
seven years in Columbus.
The Buckeyes are built to compete for national championships
without him. That burden of expectation now falls on Day.
NEW FACES,
FAMILIAR PLACES
Mack Brown is
best known for winning a national championship at Texas, but he spent 10 years
with North Carolina immediately before his UT tenure. And now, Mack is back at
UNC.
Dana Holgorsen's rise through the ranks included a two-year
stop at Houston as the offensive coordinator. Following an eight-year stint at
West Virginia, he's decided to return to H-Town.
Manny Diaz spent three seasons as Miami's defensive
coordinator and accepted his first head coaching opportunity at Temple in
December. Within three weeks, however, Mark Richt retired,
and Diaz headed back as the boss.
Additionally, former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike
Locksley is embarking on his third stint at Maryland. He was in College Park
from 1997-2002 and 2012-2015 as an assistant.
FAMILIAR FACES,
NEW PLACES
While the coaches above have a connection to those schools,
two former SEC bosses jumped at the chance to be the head man again. And you wouldn't
have expected the places.
Les Miles,
who led LSU to 112 victories from 2005-16, has taken over a floundering Kansas
program and is hoping to rebuild it.
Jim McElwain's tenure at Florida ended poorly, but one year
assisting Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan led to a head coaching gig. McElwain
has assumed control at Central Michigan.
WHAT TO KNOW FOR
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY
THIS REALLY IS THE
NEW NORMAL
Two years ago, the first Wednesday of February was still the
most important date of the recruiting calendar. Only then could non-early
enrolling high schoolers sign a national letter of intent.
But things have changed dramatically.
The introduction of the early signing period in December has
reshaped recruiting. Prospects send in paperwork then to officially end the
process―or, in some cases, protect their spot. Coaches want to have their
classes finalized before the year ends, too.
As a result, a majority of players are signed. While some
top talents remain, the number is substantially lower than before 2018.
5-STARS UP FOR
GRABS
Per the 247Sports composite rankings, the 2019 cycle has 34 5-star
players. The lone uncommitted prospects are defensive tackle Ishmael
Sopsher and offensive tackle Darnell
Wright.
Alabama is pursuing both talents―shocker! ―while LSU is a
key contender for Sopsher. Wright has a more extensive list with North
Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee in the running, too.
No, there won't be as much national drama, but that won't
take away from the excitement of landing a player of their caliber.
TOP TRANSFER NEWS
JUSTIN FIELDS, QB,
OHIO STATE
Shortly before the title game, the dual-threat quarterback
officially decided to leave Georgia and picked Ohio State as his new
home.
Transfers typically need to sit out a full season, but a
rare circumstance will give Fields a decent case in a fight for immediate
eligibility. He was the target of racial slurs from a fellow UGA athlete, a
baseball player who was dismissed from the team.
As with Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson last year,
Fields may transfer and be ready to play in his first season on campus.
JALEN HURTS, QB,
ALABAMA
Where will he land?
Hurts graduated from Alabama in December, so he can transfer
freely. After sitting behind Tua Tagovailoa (when healthy) all season, the
two-year starter is expected to leave Tuscaloosa.
Dozens of teams should be interested in the rising senior,
including Oklahoma―the team Alabama defeated in the College Football Playoff.
Hurts didn't have much time in the spotlight as a junior, but he should return
to a starting lineup in 2019.
KELLY BRYANT, QB,
MISSOURI
If Hurts bolts, that means two starting quarterbacks from
the College Football Playoff in the 2017 season will have transferred.
Kelly Bryant opened 2018 as Clemson's starter, but he lost
the role to star freshman Trevor Lawrence. Bryant decided to leave the team,
wisely protecting his redshirt and final season of eligibility.
Several power-conference teams expressed interest in Bryant,
and he eventually settled on Missouri. The dual-threat quarterback is the
favorite to replace Drew Lock, a potential first- or second-round pick in the
2019 NFL draft.
MORE PLAYERS TO
KNOW
AUSTIN KENDALL,
QB, OKLAHOMA
Hey, kid! Have fun replacing the Heisman Trophy winner who
replaced a Heisman Trophy winner.
Well, maybe. If he stays, Kendall must beat out incoming
5-star Spencer Rattler. That's no sure thing, considering Kendall
only has 39 career pass attempts.
Plus, he's graduated and entered the transfer database.
Kendall might not leave, but let's say Rattler thrives in winter workouts and
spring practice. Kendall could transfer and wouldn't need to sit out. Either
way, he could be a starter somewhere in 2019.
TATE MARTELL, QB,
OHIO STATE
It's not certain, but he's probably gone. Once considered
the heir to Dwayne Haskins, Martell entered his name in the transfer database
after Fields transferred to OSU.
Martell served as the backup to Haskins in 2018, ending his
redshirt freshman year 23-of-28 for 269 yards and a touchdown. Martell added
128 yards and two scores on the ground.
West Virginia and Miami are among the early candidates to
land Martell, per Jeremy
Birmingham of Lettermen Row. There won't be a shortage of
interest, though.
XAVIER THOMAS, DE,
CLEMSON
Austin Bryant used up his eligibility, and the NFL is
beckoning Clelin Ferrell. Clemson will revamp its defensive front in 2019, and
Thomas should quickly emerge as the star.
Midway through the season, Dabo Swinney said Thomas was
"taking off like a rocket ship," per Tony Crumpton of TigerNet.
The No. 3 overall
prospect in the 2018 class, he stepped into the Tigers'
rotation as a true freshman. Thomas gathered 35 tackles with 10.5 stops for
loss and three sacks.
COACHES ON THE HOT
SEAT
CLAY HELTON, USC
2018 was always a rebuilding year for USC. Expectations were
relatively low, though an appearance in the Pac-12 Championship Game seemed
possible because the South Division was mediocre.
But missing a bowl? Oh, there are some people in Los Angeles
who are quite unhappy with Helton.
Entering his fourth year, Helton brought in Kliff Kingsbury
to coordinate the offense. Provided he doesn't leap to an NFL job―and that's
possible―Kingbury's system and quarterback coaching will be hugely beneficial
to USC's scoring attack.
Should he leave, though, the pressure on Helton to put
together a bounce-back year will only increase after his best solution departs.
CHRIS ASH, RUTGERS
The program has spent five seasons as a member of the Big
Ten. During that time, Rutgers has never registered a winning record in
conference play and is 7-36 overall against Big Ten foes.
And the "why" is simple: Rutgers can't score.
In 2018, the Scarlet Knights trudged to 13.5 points per
game―the lowest mark in the entire Football Bowl Subdivision. They ranked 121st
last season and 127th in 2016, Ash's first year.
Ash likely has one final opportunity in 2019 to show Rutgers
is becoming a competent football program, or he's gone.
RANDY EDSALL,
UCONN
Speaking of competence, let's aim for that, UConn.
The Huskies ended 2018 with historically bad numbers on
defense. They surrendered 617.4 yards per game―the most in college football
history―and 50.4 points. The 605 total points allowed surpassed the previous
record by 33 points.
Yes, UConn played a bunch of freshmen. Perhaps that
experience plus an offseason of development will bring major improvement. But
if it doesn't, Edsall won't last through 2019.
EXPECT THE HYPE
ENTERING 2019
TEXAS LONGHORNS
After the Sugar Bowl, Sam Ehlinger said it. He really said
it.
Longhorn nation: We're back
The quarterback capped his sophomore year with a 28-21
triumph over Georgia, giving Texas its first 10-win season in nine seasons. The
Longhorns also reached the Big 12 Championship Game, positioning itself on the
national radar despite falling short to Oklahoma.
Revamping the defense will be pivotal to Texas matching its
inevitable hype, but Tom Herman has recruited extremely well for two years. And
Ehlinger certainly won't lack confidence.
TEXAS A&M
AGGIES
Jimbo Fisher's first season at Texas A&M ended with a
9-4 record, highlighted by victories over ranked Kentucky and LSU. While the
Aggies left a win or two on the table, it was a strong year.
And entering 2019, they'll be a popular top-15 choice.
Texas A&M brings back four starters on the offensive
line in front of quarterback Kellen Mond, plus every top wide receiver. Throw
in a potential top-three recruiting class, and Fisher has inspired a whole
bunch of excitement in College Station.
Similar to Texas, the Aggies have several key departures on
defense, as well as running back Trayveon Williams and tight end Jace
Sternberger. Withstand those, however, and Texas A&M will be a threat.
OREGON DUCKS
The return of Justin Herbert solidifies Oregon's place in
the national championship discussion this summer.
All five offensive linemen will return with running backs
C.J. Verdell and Travis Dye, who combined for 2,141 yards from scrimmage as
freshmen. Once again, this offense will score―provided it can replace Herbert's
most important target.
No player other than Dillon Mitchell managed more than 500 receiving
yards, and he's headed to the NFL. Though development is never guaranteed, the
Ducks have a clear succession plan.
A season-opening showdown with Auburn and late September
trip to Stanford will shape Oregon's level of success.
PRIME BUY/SELL
CANDIDATES
AUBURN TIGERS
In 2017, Auburn found itself an SEC Championship Game
victory from likely reaching the College Football Playoff. This past season,
the Tigers were hardly even in the conversation.
While lumbering to an 8-5 record, Auburn posted the lowest
yards per carry (4.25) of Gus Malzahn's tenure. Second-year starter Jarrett
Stidham couldn't atone for those struggles, and now he's chasing the NFL rather
than returning for his senior season.
And it won't be any easier in 2019. In addition to annual games
with the SEC West and Georgia, the Tigers will encounter Florida and Oregon.
Malzahn's job security may be tenuous.
PENN STATE NITTANY
LIONS
Trace McSorley wrapped up his career with more than 10,000
yards of total offense and accounted for 107 touchdowns. Penn State won 31
games and a Big Ten championship with him at quarterback.
Now, he's gone.
On the bright side, the replacement isn't a complete
question. Tommy Stevens has waited patiently for his opportunity, taking some
snaps and also contributing at receiver. He'll be in a competition with
Sean Clifford to replace McSorley.
The projections will be simple: Believe in the quarterback,
Penn State will be fine. Have doubts, and the Lions will regress.
MISSOURI TIGERS
Not only does Missouri return a healthy majority of its
production, the schedule sets up quite nicely in 2019.
The nonconference slate is manageable, especially because
West Virginia travels to Columbia. Then in SEC action, the Tigers will avoid
Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State and Texas A&M in crossover
play. SEC schedules can hardly be more favorable.
But it always depends on the quarterback. Bryant thrived in
2017 when surrounded by outstanding talent and coaching. Will he duplicate that
performance in a new environment?
2018 MOMENTS TO REWATCH
WHEN YOU'RE BORED
3. FAKE FAIR CATCH
FOOLS ARKANSAS
By the time the regular season ended, you might've forgotten
about this play. After all, North Texas routed Arkansas 44-17.
During the first quarter, North Texas held a 7-0 lead.
Keegan Brewer caught a punt at his own 10-yard line, hopped a couple times as
if he'd fair-caught the kick and watched the Arkansas coverage unit head toward
the sideline.
And then, he took off. Following a wall of blockers,
Brewer raced 90 yards untouched to the end zone in a touchdown so divisive
the NCAA considered whether a rule should be created to
outlaw it.
2. JALEN HURTS
LEADS THE SEC TITLE COMEBACK
After leading Alabama to the national title game as a true
freshman and sophomore, Hurts watched most of 2018 from the sideline. He
gathered nearly 1,000 yards of total offense, but that was mostly because
Alabama kept wrecking everyone.
However, the onetime Hurts played meaningful snaps; it was
the Crimson Tide's most critical moment of the season to date.
During the SEC Championship Game, an ankle injury sidelined
Tua Tagovailoa while Bama trailed 28-21. Hurts stepped in and guided two straight
touchdown drives to give the Tide a thrilling win.
1. TREVOR LAWRENCE
SHREDS ALABAMA DEFENSE
Round 4 of the Alabama/Clemson postseason rivalry was the
most lopsided game of them all.
Trevor Lawrence, a true freshman, racked up 347 yards and
four touchdowns during the 44-16 beatdown in the national championship. Clemson
won its second national title in three years.
By no means is Alabama dropping
off the national radar, but the blowout signaled Clemson's arrival as college
football's preeminent force. That's also in no small part to one simple,
eye-popping fact: Lawrence still has two more years.
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