Bleacher Report - Pac-12 Football

Does the Pac-12 Need to Upgrade Its Bowl Tie-Ins?

Lisa Horne — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:08:32 -0400

The college football bowl schedule was released this week. ESPN's Kevin Gemmel laid out the Pac-12's portion of the schedule and nothing has changed:

Dec. 21, Gildan New Mexico Bowl, 2 p.m. Pac-12 vs. MWC

Dec. 21, Las Vegas Bowl, 3:30 p.m. Pac-12 vs. MWC.

Dec. 27, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, 9:30 p.m. Pac-12 vs. BYU (if bowl eligible)

Dec. 30, Valero Alamo Bowl, 6:45 p.m. Pac-12 vs. Big 12

Dec. 30, Holiday Bowl, 10:15 p.m. Pac-12 vs. Big 12

Dec. 31, Hyundai Sun Bowl, 2 p.m., Pac-12 vs. ACC

Jan. 1, Rose Bowl Game Presented by VIZIO, 5 p.m.

Jan. 6, VIZIO BCS National Championship (at the Rose Bowl), 8:30 p.m., BCS 1 vs. BCS 2,

Except for the Rose Bowl, do any of these excite Pac-12 fans? That's an honest question and the league's fans should be honest with their answers.

The Pac-12 has bowl tie-ins to the Mountain West, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big 12 and the Big 10. While the MWC has had some very competitive teams in the past, the losses of BYU, TCU and Utah has reduced its potency. Yet the Pac-12 still has two bowl contracts with the conference.

The ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten bowl contracts are fine. There is no need to retool those. But one bowl needs a makeover.

The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl appears to have lost its identity. Since 2002 the bowl's name has changed from the San Francisco Bowl to the Emerald Bowl to its current name. The match-ups have also changed.

It used to be an ACC vs MWC bowl. In 2006, it was changed to the Pac-10 vs the ACC. Then things got strange.

Nevada (WAC) played Boston College (ACC) in the 2010 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. The next year it was Illinois (Big Ten) vs UCLA (Pac-12). Last year it was Arizona State (Pac-12) vs Navy (Independent). This year it has scheduled the Pac-12 vs BYU (Independent). The MAC is also an available alternate.

Anyone else confused?

Four different conferences and two independent teams have played in that bowl since 2002. It is a mish-mash of conference teams and independents.

This is not the bowl's fault. The problem is that it is contracted to take the Pac-12's sixth-place team. If a Pac-12 team isn't bowl eligible—and that happened twice, in 2004 and '05—then the alternates play instead.

This bowl has a $1 million payout to the Pac-12 and is played in beautiful San Francisco. It is obviously a win-win for the league. But it can be better.

How much more interest would this bowl garner if it featured the Pac-12 vs the SEC or Big Ten? The SEC would be a hard sell because their teams prefer staying close to home in the postseason.

Had the SEC and Pac-12 agreed to a contract with the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl last year, we would have seen Arizona State vs Vanderbilt instead of Arizona State vs Navy.

Say hello to an instant upgrade.

The Pac-12 may be an elite conference, but it is not playing the big boys in three of its bowls. Not only does fan interest wane in lower-tiered bowls, but player interest wanes as well. The quick fix is scheduling a big boy conference.

Every major conference has a bowl tie-in with the SEC except one.

The Pac-12.

That needs to change if Commissioner Larry Scott wants to improve the Pac-12's image.

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USC Football: Reasonable Goals for Trojans' 2013 Season

Randy Chambers — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:32:50 -0400

How does USC set reasonable goals after what happened last season?

It's quite simple. Don't expect your team to be the greatest thing since a DVR and take more of a "wait and see" approach.

After the disappointing 7-6 season last year, setting reasonable goals shouldn't be that difficult this time. Even if every starter from last year was returning and Vince Lombardi miraculously became head coach, there is no way predictions for the upcoming season can get out of hand.

Trojans fans and most of the media fell for that once already.

So while you are scratching your head and trying to find a happy medium, let's see some of the attainable goals for USC this season.

More Balanced Running Game

It is still baffling to see that USC finished last season ranked 76th in the country and seventh in the Pac-12 in rushing yards. Injuries to running backs or not, you figured the backfield was talented enough to at least crack the top 50 in rushing yardage per game.

This year's squad should have no problem doing just that. Silas Redd returns for his senior season and should be used a lot like he was in Penn State where he was the workhorse, averaging 15-20 carries per contest.

A combination of a healthy D.J. Morgan, Tre Madden, Javorius Allen and Justin Davis should then be good enough to provide the depth that wasn't there last season.

Redd has the ability to carry the load and get back to his 1,000-yard rushing days, while Madden and Davis provide a nice change of pace and can score quickly. USC will likely rely heavily on the running game with questions still up in the air at quarterback. The depth and talent is certainly there for this rushing attack to average closer to 200 yards a game.

Although a 50-yard increase on the ground per game doesn't sound reasonable, the Trojans are in a little better position than last season.

Similar Defensive Pressure

One of the few things that went right for USC last season was the defensive pressure generated. The Trojans finished fourth in the Pac-12 with 45 sacks, producing a total of 279 lost yards by getting to the quarterback.

The good news is that a majority of the guys who made that relentless pressure happen are returning for another season.

It all starts with defensive lineman Morgan Breslin, who was responsible for 13 of those sacks. But Leonard Williams and George Uko also return, and they accounted for another 13 between them. The athleticism of linebackers Hayes Pullard and Lamar Dawson will also pose a scary threat to opposing quarterbacks.

USC has also added an elite defensive tackle in Kenny Bigelow, who will see significant playing time in his freshman year. His quickness off the ball and ability to shoot the gap is scary for somebody so young.

New USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast is an aggressive play-caller who will show a variety of different looks to confuse offenses and take advantage of the team's athleticism.

How the secondary will pan out remains a mystery, but the pressure up front will remain the same.

9 Victories

After what took occurred last year, expectations must be knocked down a few notches. There should be no predictions of Heisman Trophies, national titles or even conference championships at this point.

Sure, USC is a program that always has the talent to get the job done and should never be counted out, but last year's team looked to be one of the best in recent memory and fell flat on its face.

Questions remain at quarterback and the secondary isn't exactly looking great at the moment. There are also issues with the play-calling, which cost this team some games down the stretch. Does anybody actually trust Lane Kiffin to get the job done late in games?

The Pac-12 took giant steps forward last season and this year's schedule isn't a cakewalk. Road trips to Arizona State, Notre Dame and Oregon State are tough sledding. That doesn't even include UCLA, Stanford and even Arizona on the schedule as well.

This season should still be successful and could produce a BCS bowl with a bounce here and there. But expecting anything more than nine victories at this point would be a stretch.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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Here's Why Oregon Football Could Be in More Trouble with the NCAA

Michael Felder — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:05:41 -0400

On Thursday, after obtaining Oregon's notice of allegations, The Register-Guard exposed the possibility of complications that could come Oregon's way in dealing with the NCAA. As The Register-Guard simply stated:

The notice of allegations does note that Oregon is subject to penalties under repeat violator rules. The most recent allegations began within five years of the Ducks’ last major violation, the J.J. Arrington letter-of-intent scandal, which was resolved in 2004.

For folks hoping that the Ducks get slammed, that is good news. Harsh penalties are on the table, and perhaps the NCAA uses the repeat violator clause as a means to truly hinder the Ducks' program.

From the Los Angeles Times, here is the incident that serves as the window to the Ducks' increased penalties:

Oregon was in a battle with California for Arrington's services at the time of the violations. On the last night a junior college player could sign, Arrington told Oregon assistant Gary Campbell that he would sign a letter of intent.

However, the midnight deadline passed and Arrington still had not signed. Furthermore, Arrington told Campbell that he had changed his mind and wanted to attend California. Campbell went to the hotel where Arrington was staying, and the player forged his father's signature and falsified the time on the letter of intent.

Oregon released Arrington upon discovering the violations. Campbell, who has been an Oregon assistant for 20 years, was suspended for one week without pay and was not allowed to recruit off-campus for one year.

This was an incident that was not big enough to raise many eyebrows, and more importantly, not enough to bring serious NCAA trouble to Eugene. Now, as Oregon's time before the judge quickly approaches, it has to wonder if something deemed small, almost a decade ago, is going to trigger severe penalties from the enforcement committee.

Oregon does have hope. One of the more prominent "repeat violator" cases in recent history, the Alabama Crimson Tide program, ultimately came away only lightly dinged by the NCAA. While sitting on the repeat offender list following 1995 and 2002 sanctions, the 2009 Crimson Tide athletic department was only forced to vacate wins, extend probation and be listed on the repeat violator list for its infamous textbook scandal.

Three national titles later and still listed on the repeat violator list, Alabama is no worse for the wear.

Oregon's issues are bigger than textbooks, but the nature and relative newness of several of its violations make this case unique. There is more than just Will Lyles acting as a middle man for the coaching staff with recruits. The issues surrounding scouting services and acquiring information on prospects loom large as well.

The possibility for more trouble is real. Yet, in the coming sanctions, Oregon fans should be more worried about the NCAA looking to flex its muscle on rules about scouting services, street agents and phone-call rules than repeat violator status.

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Bleacher Report's Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference Team

Randy Chambers — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:21:25 -0400

The Pac-12 was a pleasant surprise last season when eight teams were declared bowl eligible and there was more parity. There were a lot of elite players on both sides of the ball that could make a difference and help teams turn the corner.

Players such as Marqise Lee, Will Sutton and Anthony Barr are not only elite Pac-12 players, but they could hold their own in any other conference as well. They also have a future at the next level once their college careers are over with.

You will hear some of these guys' names mentioned numerous times throughout the season, and don't be surprised if they are nominated for a few individual awards. One of the achievements all Pac-12 players strive to reach is first-team or second-team all-conference.

We are officially less than 100 days away from the season kicking off, so here is Bleacher Report's preseason All-Pac-12 team.

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Why Oregon'S De'Anthony Thomas Is Best RB Threat to Win 2013 Heisman Trophy

Ian Berg — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:16:21 -0400

The race for the Heisman Trophy is in full swing with athletic departments preparing campaigns for their potential stars and Vegas setting odds for the game's most illustrious award.

De’Anthony Thomas is the highest running back on the Heisman list from Bovada, and it’s tough to argue against his placement. Thomas is poised for a huge year and is the biggest threat for the Heisman at running back.

He is a unique talent for Oregon. There have been a lot of quality running backs that have passed through Eugene in the past few years, but Thomas is set to become the best to date.

One separator for Thomas is his all-purpose ability. He is a utility back that fills a number of roles for the offense. He lines up in the slot, runs downhill from the backfield and returns punts and kicks on special teams.

His impact is felt in every aspect of the Ducks program, making him the most important player to this team for 2013.

Marcus Mariota will be good, but Thomas is his safety valve.

Last fall, he rushed 92 times for 701 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also added 45 receptions, 445 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns to his stat line.

As a returner, he returned 13 punts and 16 kickoffs, totaling 611 return yards and two touchdowns. His returns averaged 17 yards on punts and 24.3 yards on kickoffs.

The stats tell the story. He is the cornerstone of the offense and as a rising junior will be one of the most experienced players on offense.

With Kenjon Barner gone, Thomas will become the primary back. Barner put up 1,767 rushing yards last fall and rushed for 21 touchdowns.

He didn’t show the receiving ability of Thomas, and he lacked the return numbers.

With the all-purpose threat that Thomas brings as a returner, receiver and rusher, it’s easy to see why he is one of the favorites for the Heisman.

With a new coach driving the program, there will be a national spotlight focused on Eugene.

Can Mark Helfrich continue the success that Chip Kelly saw? Will the offense be the same?

If Thomas can step in and carry the offense as expected, the Heisman campaign will come naturally. The country will already be watching Oregon closely, and when Thomas shreds defenses in the process, voters will take notice.

Oregon has never produced a Heisman winner, but that has a real chance of changing this fall.

The program has seen a number of players get close, but none have brought the complete package approach that comes with Thomas.

It all starts on August 31 when Nicholls State comes to Eugene, but the next two weeks will be what determines his chance in the race. If big games come against Virginia and Tennessee, Thomas should start making plans for New York this December.

Follow @ShugJordanPkwy

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Stanford Football: Can't-Miss Games on Cardinal's 2013 Pac-12 Schedule

Ethan Grant — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:36:04 -0400

As the Stanford Cardinal prepare for the 2013 season this summer, focus will invariably deviate to the team's Pac-12 Conference schedule during the meat of the regular season.

The reigning Rose Bowl champions have lost some of their talent on offense, including standout running back Stepfan Taylor and tight end Zach Ertz, but will return undefeated quarterback Kevin Hogan and a number of contributors on the defensive side of the ball.

Early word around college football circles also place the offense more in Hogan's hands than the coaching staff did at the end of the 2012 season, largely because they now feel he can handle the mental and physical load of the job, per Dave Miller of the National Football Post.

Expectations are high for the Cardinal to repeat as Pac-12 North champions, and maybe even represent the conference in a BCS bowl again at the conclusion of the 2013 season. Better yet, the Cardinal are an early dark-horse candidate to make the BCS title game for the last time before the system changes to a playoff.

As usual, Stanford will have its work cut out for it to accomplish those goals.

For starters, the non-conference schedule is no joke. The team will take on an upstart San Jose State team with nothing to lose to open up the season, and then travel to Army for a day game before Pac-12 play begins. Stanford will close the season with Notre Dame, which will likely be a Top 10 team to open up the season if you listen to college football analyst Phil Steele.

As Kevin Gemmell of ESPN.com puts it, if Stanford escapes from this 12-game slate unscathed heading into bowl season, it will have truly earned it.

Since Stanford will ride or die on its Pac-12 conference record this year, and college football fans everywhere are champing at the bit for the season to begin, here's a look at three can't-miss games both Stanford and college football fans in general should circle on their calendars to have something to look forward to in the coming months.

2013 Stanford Cardinal Football Schedule

Date	Game	Time	TV
Sept. 7	vs. San Jose State	TBD	TBD
Sept. 14	at Army	Noon ET	CBS Sports Network
Sept. 21	vs. Arizona State*	TBD	TBD
Sept. 28	at Washington State*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 5	vs. Washington*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 12	at Utah*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 19	vs. UCLA*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 26	at Oregon State*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 7	vs. Oregon*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 16	at USC*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 23	vs. California*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 30	vs. Notre Dame	TBD	Fox Sports 1

*Denotes Pac-12 Conference game. Schedule via ESPN.com.

Stanford's Can't-Miss Pac-12 Games

Oct. 19 vs. UCLA

Stanford has won five straight games against the UCLA Bruins, making this game somewhat of a farce if you buy into the notion that dominance doesn't make for an exciting matchup of teams in conference play.

However, Jim Mora Jr. has UCLA headed in the right direction. The Bruins lost two straight games to close the regular season that would have otherwise led to a Rose Bowl bid for the team, and UCLA will feature a young QB of its own with Heisman hopes at heart.

Brett Hundley will be back under center for UCLA next season, and by Oct. 19 we'll know whether or not his freshman success will be curbed by the infamous sophomore slump. Either way, Hundley will be eager to atone for his zero-touchdown, one-interception performance in the air during UCLA's three-point loss in the Pac-12 title game.

For Stanford, UCLA will provide the Cardinal with one of their first true tests of the conference slate.

Returning home after facing Utah, Stanford will need to find a way to deal with UCLA's dual-option attack and find a way to slow down Hundley in the running game, too—he ran for over 80 yards and a touchdown the last time these two teams met.

UCLA isn't expected to be a national championship contender after losing running back Johnathan Franklin and other supporting pieces on offense, but it is a capable young squad who took Stanford to the brink last season and is a program on the rise in the conference. If UCLA can equal its success on the ground from 2012, this could be Stanford's first close game and first true test of defensive fortitude.

Nov. 7 vs. Oregon

Oregon and Stanford are turning into one of college football's premier rivalries.

Chip Kelly will be gone from the Oregon sidelines, but the offensive minds for the Ducks will not, and Stanford didn't lose any muster after David Shaw took over for Jim Harbaugh once his move to the NFL became official.

The clash of high-flying offense against stingy defense makes for must-see TV each time these two teams take the field in a battle of Pac-12 North rivals.

Oregon, like UCLA, will feature a dark-horse Heisman candidate in sophomore signal-caller Marcus Mariota, who accounted for over 3,400 yards of total offense and 38 touchdowns (including a two-yard touchdown catch) during his freshman season.

Stanford also holds the last victory over the Ducks, a 17-14 overtime thriller that ended Oregon's national championship hopes toward the end of last season. With those kind of stakes hanging over this game and Stanford given an extra few days to prepare for this Thursday night battle, it will be interesting to see how the offense-defense clash continues as the Ducks travel south to Palo Alto.

Nov. 16 at USC

Stanford has also quietly won four straight games over the Trojans, including a 21-14 upset when Matt Barkley and company were the No. 2 team in the nation.

Stanford can't afford to let consecutive win No. 5 slip away, especially if they hold an undefeated mark at this point in the season.

It might be too early to start labeling games on Stanford's schedule of the "trap" nature, but traveling to USC late in the season after facing several other teams who will be nationally ranked at the time of the meetings (wishful thinking perhaps, but the Pac-12 has several who should be) makes this year's USC game just as interesting as last year's upset victory.

With the Trojans reloading, there's little doubt the talent will be flocking to the program. It does each year, and USC finished in the top 20 in recruiting again, according to 247Sports' rankings.

Like UCLA, USC will have revenge on the mind and maybe even a chance to upset Stanford's perfect season in this mid-November matchup. With Stanford bordering on being a national powerhouse for the next few years and USC always in games just on sheer talent, this is another can't-miss game on the current slate.

All 12 of Stanford's games should be fun to watch, even if you're just a casual college football fan. With the team expected to contend this year instead of being an upset candidate on everyone's schedule, how Shaw's team responds will define where Stanford is playing in bowl season.

Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant on Twitter:

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USC Football Recruiting: Profiling the 2014 Defensive Line Offers (Part 2)

Rick McMahan — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:05:26 -0400

Earlier this week I offered a glimpse of several high-profile defensive line recruits USC has offered scholarships to as compiled by Scout.com.

Now we will look at the remainder of the 13 tackles and ends that have been offered so far by the Trojans this year.

In a unit that desperately needs to be re-stocked after last year's verbal defections, the recruiting department is focusing on this portion of the defense as well they should.

If USC can get some of these players to sign on the dotted line in February, it will go a long way toward securing a dominant defense in the foreseeable future for the Trojans.

Now let's meet these guys...

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Best- and Worst-Case 2013 Scenarios for Every Pac-12 Football Team

Ian Berg — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:48:39 -0400

This fall the Pac-12 is loaded with talent and looking for titles. Each team has a fresh start, but not all are title contenders. Some just want to make the postseason.

This is a look at the best and worst that the fall will have to offer for each Pac-12 team.

The national title aspirations return for Oregon and Stanford, while USC would be happy with a shot at the Pac-12 title. Can Mike MacIntyre turnaround the Colorado program in year one?

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Analyzing How 5-Star QB Max Browne Fits into USC Trojans Offense

Lisa Horne — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:24:10 -0400

What do you do with a true freshman 5-star quarterback who is competing with two more experienced players at his position? Do you start him, redshirt him or lock him in as a reserve?

Those are the options facing USC head coach Lane Kiffin as he spends his summer mulling over which of his three quarterbacks will start this fall.

Is it redshirt sophomore Cody Kessler, who has patiently waited his turn behind Matt Barkley? Is it redshirt sophomore Max Wittek, who was thrust into the starting role against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech after Barkley went down with an injury against UCLA?

Or is it highly coveted 2013 recruit Max Browne, who had a great spring camp?

Kiffin's decision is critical for several reasons. His job security may depend on making the right choice. It's most likely Rose Bowl or bust for Kiffin.

Redshirting Browne could backfire if Kessler or Wittek were to get hurt. Who would be left as the reserve? Starting Browne could cause Wittek and Kessler to take their talents somewhere else after this season. Both would have two years of eligibility to offer an FBS school.

This decision by Kiffin isn't just about who deserves it the most. Politics play into this.

Browne could follow Barkley's footsteps and be the next four-year starter at USC. But Kessler and Wittek likely won't stick around if that were to happen. That's why Browne won't be named the starting quarterback. Maybe they all will.

Could this be a quarterback-by-committee approach for USC? It's not out of the question. Having all three quarterbacks start during the season would probably squelch any transfers. Most fans don't like the committee approach because it implies that no one separated himself from the others as a leader.

But USC is still under an NCAA-imposed 10-scholarship reduction and in survival mode for one more year. It has to preserve its thin roster. And its future quarterbacks.

Browne is the future. At USC's spring game press conference, Kiffin noted one negative of Browne's performance: "The rookie taking a couple of sacks." More from FOXSports West's Rahshaun Haylock:

Browne completed 7 of 11 passes for 80 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Browne also took a couple of sacks, which Kiffin said was one of the few negatives on the day.

“It’s hard to learn to throw the ball away,” Kiffin said of Browne.

Browne is 6'5", 215 pounds and will have to add bulk to his 18-year-old body this summer. He stands tall in the pocket, has a strong arm and is accurate. He is a traditional dropback passer.

With Browne at QB, USC's offense would look similar to 2002's under then-quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer was not very athletic when flushed out of the pocket. Imagine a scarecrow running for his life with anchors attached to his feet.

Palmer, like Browne, is 6' 5" and had a height advantage that allowed him to see the play develop. He didn't try to scramble under pressure. He threw the ball away. Under Palmer, USC ran a pro-style offense. Run the ball and wait for the passing game to open up.

If Browne is named the starter, expect to see the same. He's not athletic when flushed out—he needs to throw the ball away when the pocket collapses.

Having talented veteran receivers Nelson Agholor, Victor Blackwell and Marqise Lee at his disposal makes the passing game more of a viable option.

Browne could be expected to throw a lot of short passes to build his confidence early in the season. Think West Coast offense. But after two or three games, expect an air show. Browne is a huge downfield threat and Kiffin won't ask him to dink-pass his way down the field.

USC fans want to forget the misery of 2012. The porous defense. The vanilla play-calling. The stuttering offense.

Browne could re-energize the Trojan fans with his arm, or the future of USC football could be relegated to the sidelines with a clipboard in his hands.

We'll find out in 99 days.

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Oregon Ducks Received Notice of NCAA Allegations 6 Months Ago

Tim Keeney — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:23:42 -0400

The University of Oregon has known about the NCAA's allegations toward its football program for nearly six months.

The news comes from Rob Moseley of The Register-Guard:

University of Oregon president Michael Gottfredson received a notice of allegations in the Ducks’ ongoing NCAA investigation of its recruiting practices on Dec. 5, 2012.

The document was released to The Register-Guard today by the university in response to a public records request.

In February, news broke that the university "release[d] documents indicating 'failure to monitor' findings proposed" in the ongoing NCAA investigation (h/t Ken Goe, The Oregonian).

Things only continued to get worse for Oregon in April, as it was revealed the university had committed several major recruiting violations. However, a finding of no unethical conduct during that time suggested the Ducks would be able to avoid major sanctions.

However, as Moseley states, this reveals a repeat offense by Oregon:

A letter to Gottfredson detailing the administrative process of the investigation is followed by seven specific allegations of wrong-doing by the Ducks under former head coach Chip Kelly. All of which closely resemble—almost to the word—the allegations listed in Oregon’s failed attempt at a summary disposition resolution as submitted to the NCAA in October of last year.

And that could be a major hitch in this entire process:

According to Moseley, the violations contained in the notice of allegations are major ones, although no possible sanctions are listed in the document.

Still, it states that the university is subject to "penalties under repeat violator rules," which does not suggest good news for the Ducks going forward. This is an intriguing wrinkle in the story, as it also appears Oregon has been aware of its exact allegations since early December, which is earlier than was originally thought.

At that time, Chip Kelly, of course, was still head coach, and this is only going to further raise questions surrounding his now seemingly convenient departure for the NFL in January.

Either way, there are still several developments surely on the way when it comes to this ongoing investigation, which will be an intriguing story to follow until more becomes known.

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USC Football: Analyzing What Makes Marqise Lee so Special

Randy Chambers — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:08:58 -0400

Marqise Lee is the best wide receiver in college football and it's not even close. Never mind all of the individual awards and the records he continues to break, Lee is a special player who has a bright future once he finishes school (or leaves early, of course).

Lee is a game-changer and widely considered the top NFL prospect at his position. But what makes him stand out when there are so many great receivers? How is there such a wide gap between Lee and the rest of the pack?

The USC receiver does a lot of things correctly, but there are two things that truly put him in a class of his own.

Plays Bigger Than He Is

Lee looks like he is 6'4" when out there on the football field. The truth is that he is small receiver at 6'0" according to his USC bio, while ESPN lists him at 6'1".

Whatever height you want to go with, Lee is considered small by NFL standards and many scouts are going to have a hard time imagining him as a true No. 1 option on the outside. Lee seems like he is the perfect fit to play on the inside just off of his size alone.

The tricky part is that Lee doesn't play like a small receiver.

That size is a little difficult to believe. It is a lot like speed with football players. Some guys don't produce a blazing 40-yard dash time, but seem a lot faster once they put the pads on. That's Lee when it comes to size. He is small on the field, but anybody that has tried to cover him would tell you otherwise.

Lee high points the ball better than any receiver in the country. He finds the ball and is able to time his jump to perfection. This has more to do with a natural feel than anything, as some players just know when to go up and get it. Here you see Lee against a Syracuse corner, who is stuck on an island trying to cover the best receiver in the country.

Not only does Lee jump a little bit after the corner does, he jumps what seems to be about a good foot higher than the defensive back. Being able to time his jump exactly gives Lee a huge advantage over whoever is covering him. While he may be smaller than a lot of the corners and safeties out there, his leaping ability and timing is fabulous.

The ability to jump through the stadium gives Lee the advantage in jump balls and makes him tougher to cover.

Elite Athleticism

Players such as De'Anthony Thomas and Sammy Watkins will come up when discussing athleticism and speed, but the same things that make those two players great, makes Lee great as well. He may not be as fast as the Black Mamba and Watkins may have a slight advantage with his elusiveness, but Lee's athleticism is elite in its own right.

Most defenses choose to play off Lee and give him at least a five-yard cushion because of his terrific straight line speed. He is so quick off the line that he is able to beat press coverage and get by the corner, making the safety's job extremely difficult.

The problem is that Lee is a nightmare once he catches the ball. If you want to play off him, you better have reliable tacklers who are able to keep the USC receiver in front of them. This wasn't the case against Arizona, as Lee was able to break free on a dig route. All of those defenders chasing him grabbed air and were forced to watch him trot into the end zone.

Lee has top notch straight line speed and his long strides allow him to hit another gear in just a few steps. He accelerates so effortlessly and can create separation in the matter of seconds. Lee has no problem beating defenses over the top and often outruns both the corner and the safety, who both probably thought they were in perfect position to make a play on the ball.

Asking a defensive back to cover Lee in man coverage is absolute suicide and even using two players has proven to be difficult. You have to take the correct angles and be a wonderfully disciplined player to limit the star receiver.

Of course, easier said than done.

Along with Lee's sure hands, crisp route running and ability to make plays after the catch, it is his superb athleticism and ability to high point the football that makes him special.

Note: All screenshots were pulled from YouTube video uploaded by user MockingNFLDraft.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

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Oregon Football: Top 10 Highlights of the BCS Era

Jeff Bell — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:11:30 -0400

The BCS has been in place for the past 15 years, and in that time, Oregon Duck fans have had the pleasure of seeing some spectacular football.

There have been wildly entertaining games, gutty individual efforts and moments that simply cause you to smile and shake your head.

Here we're taking a look at the top 10 highlights of the BCS era, and when you pause to consider what kind of accomplishments the Ducks have had on offense, well, let's just say narrowing down the list to just a handful was quite a process.

Of course, that's not to slight the defense, which has come up huge time and time again. You can count on that side of the ball making an appearance or two as well.

Part of the criteria involved taking a look at when the play occurred—was it a pivotal moment in the game or a play that defined the season? But an equal if not slightly larger part of consideration went toward the play itself—how incredible was it regardless of the circumstances surrounding it?

Using that particular framework, let's take a look at the top 10 Oregon football highlights from the BCS era. And yes, there will be video.

Honorable Mention: I could probably list 20 different plays here, but among those that failed to make the cut despite being highlights that everyone remembers: Joey Harrington's 80-yard pass to Samie Parker in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl, Cliff Harris' punt return at Cal, Ed Dickson game-tying TD catch at Arizona, DAT's punt return vs Colorado and many, many others.

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Stanford Football: Keys for Cardinal to Repeat as Pac-12 Champions

John Rozum — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:15:32 -0400

The Stanford Cardinal are coming off a third consecutive BCS bowl game appearance and their first conference title since 1999.

Coach David Shaw has proven to be the perfect successor to Jim Harbaugh. Plus, Stanford didn't miss a step last season even though Andrew Luck was gone.

As for the 2013 campaign, Shaw brings in the No. 57 (Scout.com) and No. 63 (Rivals.com) ranked recruiting class. Even though that's not on par with conference foes Oregon, USC and UCLA, don't expect Stanford to just slide back this season.

To that end, let's check out how Shaw's crew can repeat as Pac-12 champs.

Note: Full view of Stanford's depth chart courtesy of GoStanford.com.

Rely on a dynamic ground game

With Stepfan Taylor out of the equation, Stanford has to keep its rushing attack moving.

Anthony Wilkerson must take the reins and simply attack the line of scrimmage. After averaging 4.5 yards per rush in 2012, Wilkerson briefly brought back the potential displayed in 2010. The Cardinal will need him to consistently produce as the season unfolds.

Elsewhere, Tyler Gaffney is back.

According to Kyle Kensing of SaturdayBlitz.com via Sports Illustrated, Gaffney was playing minor league baseball in 2012. Nevertheless, the guy accounted for 704 rushing yards and 11 scores between 2010 and 2011.

Feeding a sound mixture of Wilkerson and Gaffney allows the Cardinal to run a variety of plays geared toward controlling the trenches.

Defense...and more defense

There are three guys coach Shaw and Co. can always count on heading into the 2013 campaign.

First is linebacker Shayne Skov.

He logged 146 tackles through his first two college seasons, but then missed most of 2011 due to injury. Fortunately Skov returned nicely in 2012, recording 81 tackles, and Kevin Gemmell of ESPN.com believes he is Stanford's most important player:

There is no debate, however, about what Skov means to this team. Before his season-ending knee injury at Arizona in 2011, he was slotted as a potential first-round draft pick. He returned in 2012 and was very good. But not quite back to where he was pre-injury.

He is now. And that bodes very well for one of the top defensive units in the country.

The next guy that must keep producing is Ben Gardner.

Between 2011 and 2012 Gardner racked up 24.5 tackles for loss, 12 of which were sacks, and defended seven passes. His knack for disrupting the backfield is a great complement to Skov in the front seven.

Finally, there is safety Ed Reynolds, whose ability to change the field position on turnovers creates a huge competitive advantage.

Reynolds picked off six passes last season and returned them for 301 yards and three touchdowns. This ability to swing the momentum and instantly change any game gives Stanford a chance regardless of the second-half situation.

Turnover Minimization

Winning the turnover battle is one primary aspect that allowed Stanford to take the Pac-12 title.

Finishing the year at plus-nine, the Cardinal ranked No. 26 in turnover margin. Quarterback Kevin Hogan only tossed three picks the six games where he contributed the most, not to mention putting up a 71.7 completion percentage.

Provided Hogan continues to develop and set up the play-action, Stanford gains a favorable edge by establishing balance.

The pass rush will get pressure to force fumbles, and the coverage will make plays on the ball for interceptions. As a result, Hogan and Co. must capitalize accordingly or simply reduce turnovers to play the field-position game.

Regardless, sticking to a physical philosophy on each side of the line of scrimmage will propel Stanford ahead of its conference competition.

Read more Pac-12 Football news on BleacherReport.com

Why the Pac-12's Larry Scott Deserves to Be the Highest Paid Commissioner

Lisa Horne — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:20:05 -0400

Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott earned more than $3 million last year, making him the highest-paid "sitting college commissioner," according to the Wall Street Journal.

Scott earned every cent of that paycheck.

His innovative and forward-thinking ideas launched the Pac-12 Networks. This is the "first time a U.S. collegiate conference or any other programmer has launched a collection of networks across a variety of platforms, rather than a sole network," according to the Pac-12's official website. More:

On the field, the Pac-12 rises above the rest, upholding its tradition as the “Conference of Champions” ®, claiming an incredible 121 NCAA team titles since 1999-2000, including nine in 2011-12.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Pac-12 had the most NCAA titles or tied for the most of any conference in the country, winning at least six every year since 2000-01. No other conference has won double-digit NCAA crowns in a single year, the Pac-12 doing so six times, including a record 14 in 1996-97.

Despite these accomplishments, the Pac-12 still manages to be viewed by many as a second-tier league. The Wall Street Journal's Rachel Bachman's article highlights this perception:

In his four years as commissioner, Larry Scott has transformed the sleepy Pacific-10 Conference into the big-business Pac-12, expanding the conference and quadrupling its annual television-rights revenue.

Sleepy?

No other conference comes close to the amount of team national championships the Pac-12 has won. The same was true under the league's former Pac-10 name. Yet it was called sleepy.

There is no doubt the SEC has dominated football the last seven years. That league is wide awake and fired up. But there is also no doubt that college football is cyclical and another conference will dethrone it. Until that happens, we can all sit back and marvel at the awe of SEC football.

A conference commissioner oversees all of its collegiate sports, and perhaps that's why the Pac-12 doesn't muster much respect east of the Mississippi River. College football is king in the South, and the Pac-12 hasn't crowned a football champion since USC's 2004 AP and BCS-vacated titles. The Pac-12's reputation is being judged solely on college football, it would appear.

Its recent football championships and attendance figures all make up the Pac-12's perception, and to the average fan in the South, the Pac-12 doesn't impress. The Pac-12 isn't the SEC, and they should never be compared.

Most SEC schools are located in small cities where residents have lived their whole lives. The fandom is entrenched, the camaraderie deep. Birmingham is the most populated city in Alabama with a little over 200,000 residents.

USC and UCLA are located in the Greater Los Angeles area, which has a population of approximately 18 million—it's one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. The sports interests in L.A. are varied and represent every region in the U.S. due to its melting pot demographics.

Broad comparisons are inevitable but not always warranted. There is one comparison that should be noted, and it has Larry Scott's fingerprints all over it.

The Pac-12 is raking in the dough from its media rights deals. From the Sports Business Daily:

The Pac-12’s deal at an average of $250 million per year is for a 12-team league. The Big 12 deal averages $200 million across 10 schools.

The Sporting News notes that "ESPN’s current arrangement with the SEC—negotiated in 2008—pays an average of $150 million a year over 15 years." More:

When the SEC did this deal with CBS and ESPN four years ago, it was considered a groundbreaking agreement. The deals reset the entire collegiate media rights market, at least until the Pac-12 negotiated its massive deal with ESPN and Fox last year.

Well done, commissioner Scott. You deserve your paycheck.

Read more Pac-12 Football news on BleacherReport.com

USC Football: Is Kiffin Losing His Magic Touch When It Comes to Recruiting?

Rick McMahan — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:53:11 -0400

Through the dark days of the Kiffin era—and that certainly includes the disappointment of 2012—there was always one thing USC's head coach could hang his hat on: he was a helluva recruiter.

Even last year's class, with its multitude of last minute defections from players who had given USC their verbal commitments, still featured five Scout.com 5-star recruits among the abundance of 4-star athletes which comprised that class.

Indeed, even avowed Kiffin apologists (yes, that would include me), when faced with the barbs and insults hurled by naysayers regarding him, could point to the fact that year in and year out he delivered incredible recruiting classes.

But could that be changing? Is it possible that even the one thing Kiffin could be counted on for doing—bringing in great recruits—is something that he is no longer capable of producing?

Evidence of such a claim comes in two forms.

One, USC's verbal commitments for the 2014 class consists of five players and the "star ratings" for those players include three 4-stars, one 3-star and one player that is not rated at all.

Certainly not typical of the kind of class USC normally puts together.

Perhaps even more troubling is a recently released list of predictions of where the top 85 players will sign as prognosticated by 247sports.com analyst Shannon Terry.

In that list, Terry has projected exactly one player—cornerback Adoree Jackson—to give the Trojans his "John Hancock" in February when players can sign their letters of intent.

Yes, you read that right. One.

Now it should be noted that this is very early in process and things don't get more fluid than it does when trying to predict where an 18-year-old celebrated athlete plays his college ball.

As a matter of fact, when it comes to trying to figure out where these impressionable kids wind up, there is an old axiom:

"The only thing for sure is that nothing is for sure."

And to be perfectly honest about this, it should be noted that predicting the destinations for these players in May is truly an exercise in futility.

Nonetheless, it may reveal a national perception that the luster of USC may be waning and this may be reflected in the fact that the Trojans are now struggling to get athletes that once flocked to them.

However, there is a simple remedy to overcome this new hurdle in recruiting for Kiffin, and that is to win in 2013.

A good record this year suddenly makes USC relevant again in college football and that, along with the fact that the program offers so much, will translate into a flock of high profile recruits once again scurrying to sign with the Trojans.

Of course, that is easier said than done and with USC not well regarded this year, it remains to be seen just how successful they will be.

So in the final analysis, the question remains:

Is Lane Kiffin losing his touch when it comes to recruiting?

Maybe, maybe not.

I'll let you know for sure in February.

Read more Pac-12 Football news on BleacherReport.com

Ka'Deem Carey Will Push Towards the Heisman Trophy in 2013

Austin Kemp — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:12:21 -0400

Ka’Deem Carey was able to burst onto the scene last season as a sophomore, leading the nation with over 1,900 rushing yards and totaling 23 touchdowns on the ground. Now, being a year older and entering his second year in Rich Rodriguez’s spread attack, Carey will look to stay atop the leading rushers in the country and cement himself as a Heisman trophy contender.

At 5’11, 203 pounds, Carey is a nightmare for defenders in the open field. He has the ability to run through arm tackles and can also take a defender for a ride if tackled up high. Though his top-end speed isn’t great, Carey’s vision is what separates him. Once he spots a hole, he’s able to hit it as fast as any running back in the country.

Looking at Rich Rod’s running backs he’s coached in the past, evidence points for an improvement for Carey in 2013.

At West Virginia in 2001, running back Avon Cobourne rushed for 1,298 yards during his first season. Fast forward a year and you’ll see his numbers jumped by nearly 500 yards, increasing his total amount to 1,710. This can be seen for Steve Slaton as well, who jumped from 1,128 yards in 2005, to 1,744 in 2006. An increase of over 600 yards.

If this trend carries over to Carey, he could be in for a season that sees him eclipse well over 2,000 rushing yards. If that’s the case, how could you leave him out of the Heisman discussion? You couldn’t. Heck, it was a shame there was no mention of him last season in the discussion.

Naturally, teams in general make a noticeable leap when entering a coach’s second season. Yes, the Cats lost their QB to the NFL, but they have others with a year’s experience under their belts. The receivers and the offensive line will naturally improve now that they know what to expect with the new coaching staff, and because of this, Carey will benefit greatly.

The schedule isn’t too daunting, either. With the first three games consisting of Northern Arizona, UNLV, and UTSA, Carey should be able to rack in huge numbers depending on how much playing time he actually receives. Arizona also misses Stanford and Oregon State on the schedule, who were two of the top three defensive teams in the conference last season.

This is shaping up to be another incredible season by Ka’Deem Carey, and the funny thing is, most of the nation still doesn’t know who he his. If he is able to elevate his game even more than last season, the Tucson native should receive serious Heisman consideration. No one can predict injuries, but if Carey is able to stay healthy all season, he will, again, be the leading rusher in college football.

Read more Pac-12 Football news on BleacherReport.com

UCLA Football Recruiting: Top Out-of-State Prospects

Jason Fraychineaud — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:01:45 -0400

Jim Mora and his staff haven't been shy about heading outside of California in order to lure top talent to UCLA.

In 2013, the Bruins signed 25 prospects from seven different states. Not only did UCLA sign prospects from Western states such as Hawaii, Arizona and Washington, but it also was able to ink players from as far as Tennessee and Florida.

In this current recruiting cycle, Mora is yet again hitting the trails hard, going to all depths of the country in order to sign another stellar recruiting class.

Here are some out-of-state prospects that UCLA is heavily pursuing.

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College Football Sleeper? Look Long and Hard at Arizona State

Adam Kramer — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:06:44 -0400

For the first time in a while, Todd Graham is staying put. He’s not moving his family across the country to a new city for a new job, with another batch of angry fans trailing the plane with pitchforks and torches. Instead, he's remaining at Arizona State, where the future is brighter than it has looked in some time.

In the case of the 2013 season, things could be very bright. Other teams in the Pac-12 will garner headlines and preseason praise, just like they always do. But there’s a quiet optimism surrounding a Sun Devils team that will return many key pieces.

Arizona State’s 2012 started on a promising note, thanks in large part to a gift from the scheduling gods, although as the competition increased—especially during a monthlong stretch during the heart of the schedule—the losses began to mount. Still, Graham’s test drive, which culminated in a blowout victory over Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, was a success given the circumstances.

The term “sleeper” has been beaten to death, although it applies in this case. If Arizona State can stay afloat during a brutal early stretch of its schedule, a breakout season could be on the horizon.

Breakout Potential: More of the Same, Which Is Welcomed

For as much as Graham is heralded for his high-powered, up-tempo offense, the Arizona State defense—particularly defending the pass—was fabulous the moment he got off the plane. It helps to inherit this kind of talent, too.

The Sun Devils allowed just 167.9 passing yards per game, which was third nationally. Much of this success came because of consistent pressure, as ASU also tallied 51 sacks and 188 tackles for loss. Both numbers also ranked top-three nationwide.

Six members of the front seven will return, including Will Sutton, ASU’s All-American defensive tackle who surprised everyone by announcing he was returning for his senior season. He will be joined by linebacker Carl Bradford—who totaled double-digit sacks in 2013—giving ASU a potent two-headed attack.

If Arizona State can replace talent on the back end of its defense, this unit could prove to be one of the most disruptive in the country. Regardless, this is not a team opposing quarterbacks will be thrilled about playing.

On the other side of the ball, another year of digestion in Graham’s system should pay off for the offense, which has shown flashes of brilliance in its short lifespan. The team averaged 38 points a game, which was behind only Oregon (surprise, surprise) in the Pac-12.

Taylor Kelly returns as the team’s quarterback, and he should improve after surprising as a sophomore. If he can build upon the 30 touchdowns from a year ago and limit the mistakes, the outlook could be even brighter.

Running back, however, with Marion Grice and D.J. Foster returning, is where there could be a dramatic increase in production.

Grice finishes 2012 by running for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns in the team’s final two games, and Foster logged meaningful carries as a true freshman and should only improve. More importantly for this offense, the two combined for 79 catches for nearly 1,000 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns.

On the Other Hand: Areas of Improvement

There’s no question that Arizona State has the firepower to take that next step. Unlike most teams not named Alabama, however, there are areas of concerns. There are always areas of concern.

For ASU, however, these concerns boil down to a few items. First and foremost, it has to stop the run.

As good as this group was against the pass, it allowed more than 180 yards per game on the ground. Given the aggressive nature of the defense, it’s not necessarily a surprise. Sacrificing some of the incredible pressure generated for a more complete group could translate into more “controlled pressure” and less yards overall. There’s enough talent up front to make this possible.

And if stopping the run isn’t keeping Graham up at night, then perhaps it’s the depth at receiver. Chris Coyle returns as one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the Pac-12, although experience catching passes is lacking.

With Rashad Ross and Jamal Miles graduating, Richard Smith is the player many believe will step up. Help will also come this fall from a few intriguing recruits and junior college transfers.

After hauling in 67 catches for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns at Pierce Community College, Jaelen Strong is a name to keep an eye on. This is a dramatic step up in class, although at 6’4”, Strong has the size and speed Graham desperately needs.

Having a talented tight end and running backs to catch passes is a tremendous asset, but ASU needs both speed and consistency—something it lacked last season—on the outside. If it can find it, this offense will be incredibly difficult to slow down.

Season Synopsis: The Timing Is Right, and a Fast Start Will Be Integral

The Pac-12 South is ripe for the taking.

USC is still not its former self, and while UCLA and Arizona provide significant challenges, neither is a sure thing. The conference has undergone significant talent departures (with both players and coaches), which is good news for a team returning 17 starters.

The schedule wouldn’t be classified as favorable, and the potential of this team will be realized—one way or another—during a four-week stretch starting on Sept. 14. In that time ASU will take on Wisconsin (at home), head to Stanford, welcome USC and take on Notre Dame in Cowboys Stadium.

In the middle of November, the Sun Devils will match up with Oregon State and go to UCLA and Arizona in consecutive weeks. Again, there aren’t many “gimmes” on paper, although it might not matter.

Graham has one of the most complete teams in the country, one that seemingly no one's talking about. No, you won’t mistake the defense for Stanford’s, and the offense isn’t up to speed with Oregon’s relentless attack, but both units should improve upon an already impressive foundation.

If that’s the case, the eight wins from a year ago could resemble a good first step. And a run at roses might not be far off.

Read more Pac-12 Football news on BleacherReport.com

Mark Helfrich's 5 Biggest Challenges for Oregon in 2013

Jeff Bell — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:45:54 -0400

Each season of football typically offers up something new and exciting for fans to look forward to, whether it's new talent, new opponents or simply high expectations and the hope of winning a national championship.

Not a single one of those three items will catch Oregon fans by surprise as the team has been competing at an elite level for several years now. But one major difference will be the man in charge, Mark Helfrich.

If you've been rooting on the Ducks on since the late '70s, Helfrich will be just the fourth head coach you've seen in that time.

He replaces the departed offensive genius Chip Kelly and will face enormous expectations. But he inherits a team poised to once again capture a league title and compete for a national championship.

This isn't a rebuilding job by any stretch of the imagination, and the right pieces are in place. But while other new coaches like Sonny Dykes at Cal may be facing more X-and-O type issues, Helfrich will have some major challenges of his own to overcome.

Let's take a look at the top five challenges that Mark Helfrich and Oregon will face in 2013.

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USC Football: Kiffin's 5 Biggest Challenges for Trojans in 2013

Rick McMahan — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:04:11 -0400

Whether you love him or hate him—or are somewhere in between—one thing is for certain: 2013 is a "make or break" year for USC head coach Lane Kiffin.

Coming off of the resounding disappointment of 2012, Kiffin has used up whatever goodwill he may have had, and now only a return to past glory for USC will garner a return gig for the embattled head man.

But it won't be easy.

USC is far from the dominant program that was widely considered elite in the last decade when former head coach Pete Carroll was perched atop of the college football world.

For Kiffin to return to USC in 2014, he will have had to remedy a variety of issues that many perceive as shortcomings for this year's version of the men of Troy.

This slideshow will look at some of the challenges Kiffin faces in his effort to return USC to the pinnacle of college football world.

If he is successful, the Kiffin naysayers will be hating life for at least one more year, but if not, it will likely be time to welcome a new leader to the program.

Either way, here are the obstacles he is facing in 2013...

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Dionte Sykes Commits to UCLA: What Versatile Receiver Brings to Bruins

Andrew Kulha — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:47:06 -0400

Wide receiver recruit Dionte Sykes committed to UCLA on the same day that he received an offer from Jim Mora and the Bruins.

Now that's a commitment worth being excited about if you're a UCLA fan.

Sykes is a 3-star wideout with a great amount of potential, if only because of his size alone. He's 6'4'', 200 pounds, according to 247Sports.

Erik McKinney of ESPN.com reports on the commitment, and on Sykes' thoughts on his decision:

Sykes, who was previously offered by Arizona, Arizona State, Michigan and Michigan State, among others, picked up an offer from UCLA earlier this week and didn't need more than a few moments to know he would commit. On Thursday evening, he made it official by committing to the Bruins.

"I knew I was going to go there from the very beginning," Sykes said. "I've known that whole staff since I was little, and I'm from California. It's a perfect fit."

In contrast with 247Sports, ESPN lists Sykes at 6'2'', 205 pounds. Per McKinney, the young star says he can play tight end or wide receiver, and claims the Bruins are open to him playing either position:

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound receiver will have the ability to play tight end or wide receiver at UCLA, and he said the Bruins staff told him to keep an eye on both positions this fall.

"They said I'll play whichever one fits me best," Sykes said. "They want me to pay attention to the whole offense and we'll see how things work out."

Whatever his official height may be, there's no doubting that Sykes is a talented recruit and a good commitment for UCLA.

He runs crisp routes and has good footwork, and that complements his size. He displays incredibly soft hands and his length allows him to fully extend and make a fundamental catch with his hands. It also helps him go up and "high point" the ball.

Note: You can watch Sykes' highlights here.

All of that is a technical way of saying that Sykes will make some plays on less than accurate throws, and he'll be a good jump ball receiver over smaller defenders.

The final aspect of Sykes' game is his physicality. While he possesses all the traits of a good wide receiver, he's also not opposed to lowering his shoulder, driving his feet and pickup up extra yards after contact. That mentality should also make him a good blocker, so the possibility of playing him at tight end definitely exists.

We've seen the tight end position become more of a hybrid wide receiver/tight end role recently, and perhaps Sykes could fit that mold. Tight ends that can stretch the field vertically up the middle and seams are becoming valuable, and if Sykes puts on more weight, he could be that type of player for UCLA.

One thing is for certain: Whether it be at tight end or at wide receiver, Sykes projects to be a talented player for the Bruins.

Note: All scouting and analysis of Sykes done via tape study of film provided on his 247Sports profile page.

Read more Pac-12 Football news on BleacherReport.com