Former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell Considering 5 Schools

Former Arkansas quarterback Brandon Mitchell has added another school to the list of schools he may possibly be transferring to. The Michigan Wolverines.

Mitchell, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 239 pounds, has appeared in 21 college football games with only three starts under his belt. He has thrown for a little over 300 yards with two touchdowns. He has rushed for 75 yards and also two touchdowns. He has also caught 17 passes for a total of 272 yards.

This dual-threat athlete could be used many different ways at Michigan, although Devin Gardner seems to have the starting QB role all to himself. Brandon is also considering UAB, where he has a close relationship with coach Garrick McGee. He is also contemplating transferring to NC State, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State.

I believe every school he is considering could definitely benefit from having Mitchell's presence on their team. It's only a matter of time before we find out where he'll be going.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle

matt.projectcfb@gmail.com

Can Brady Hoke Lead the Wolverines to the Big Ten Title in 2013?

After three abismal years as Rich Rodriguez as their head coach, the Michigan Wolverines were delighted to announce Brady Hoke as their new head coach back in 2011. In said year, Hoke lead the Wolverines to a 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory against Frank Beamer and the Virginia Tech Hokies. In Hoke's first year as Michigan head coach, he not only accomplished these things, but also led Michigan to it's first victory over Ohio State since 2003.

Can Brady Hoke lead the Wolverines to a B1G Title?

After a very successful first year, Hoke led Michigan to an 8-5 record in 2012, and a close Outback Bowl loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks. Unfortunately for Michigan fans, Michigan yet again lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes, and also the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. But Hoke's record in the Big House is still perfect.

In 2013 Michigan will be looking for Brady Hoke to lead the Wolverines to their first Big Ten Title since 2004 when they split the title with the Iowa Hawkeyes. However, Michigan not only lost one of their most electric players in Michigan history, Denard Robinson, but lost quite a few key players as well. Wide receiver Roy Roundtree, defensive end Craig Roh, center Elliott Mealer, defensive tackle Will Campbell, linebacker Kenny Demens, and strong safety Jordan Kovacs are just a few of the key players Michigan will be without in 2013.

There is quiet a few positives to look at however for the Michigan Wolverines. Devin Gardner has seemed to prove that he not only can scramble with the best of them, but also has an arm that any quarterback would be lucky to have. Although Denard Robinson was a huge playmaker, Gardner seems to have the arm to be able to put the ball exactly where the receiver needs it, unlike Denard. And to assist Gardner will be senior Jeremy Gallon, Jerald Robinson and sophomore tight end Devin Funchess, who came down with some great catches last season.

Fitzgerald Toussaint will look to come back this year after breaking his leg in a game against Iowa last season. He will lead the stable of running backs that Michigan is equipt with, such as Thomas Rawls, Dennis Norfleet and Justice Hayes.

Monster linebacker Jake Ryan tore his ACL in sprint practice.

On defense Michigan has seemed to play quite well, being led by Greg Mattison, who many believe is a defensive genius. Demond Morgan, Courtney Avery and Thomas Gordon will be a few of the names that you'll see wreak a little havoc on the other side of the ball for the Wolverines. Michigan will look for Joe Bolden and Cam Gordon to step up in the linebacker roles since Jake Ryan tore his ACL during spring practice.

Michigan's schedule does have a few speed bumps in it. On September 7th Michigan will host Notre Dame, and look to defeat their rival who beat them last season in South Bend. On October 12th Michigan will travel to Happy Valley to face Penn State (lead by 2012 Project CFB Coach of the Year Bill O'Brien). Michigan also plays rival Michigan State in East Lansing, immediately followed by hosting the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Big House. Michigan will go on the road to take on Northwestern and Iowa following that, then wrap the regular season up on November 30th to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big House, for what everyone knows as "The Game".

Michigan's chances of an undefeated season are very small. However, having a few key players really step up in these big games, could make all the difference between a 6-6 season, and a 8-4 or 9-3 season! Could Brady Hoke lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten Title in his third year as head coach in Ann Arbor? He very well could. But he needs to have his boys play the best they play against the likes of Notre Dame, Michigan State, Nebraska and of course their bitter rival Ohio State Buckeyes.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle

matt.projectcfb@gmail.com

Can Virginia Tech Win the ACC Championship in 2013?

Coming off a disappointing 2012 campaign, head coach Frank Beamer and the Virginia Tech Hokies look to have a bounce back season in 2013 and make a run at the ACC Coastal Division crown and an ACC Championship in 2013. The Hokies, who prior to 2012 had a streak of 14 seasons of 8 or more wins, had a 7-6 2012 campaign, which culminated in a 13-10 overtime victory over Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Going into 2013 the Hokies are led by extremely talented, yet extremely eratic quarterback, Logan Thomas. Thomas had a very up and down 2012 season, throwing for close to 3,000 yards and 18 touchdown passes, to go along with 524 rushing yards, and 9 rushing touchdowns, including a 73 yarder against Miami. But he also threw 16 interceptions and completed only 51.3% of his passes. The Hokies rushing attack is slated to be lead by sophomore tailback J.C Coleman who rushed for close to 500 yards and scored 2 touchdowns as a freshmen. Senior Tony Gregory will also be looking to contribute on the ground as well. Unfortunately, Thomas lost his top 2 receiving options in Corey Fuller and Marcus Davis, the top leading option in the passing game returning is sophomore Demitri Knowles who hauled in 19 passes for 240 yards. including a 42 yard touchdown. The Hokies also bring back tight end Ryan Malleck who hauled in 17 passes for a mere 128 yards. Virginia Tech will be mainly relying on young players at the wide receiver position to step up and fill the void on the outside.

On the defensive side of the ball, leading tackler Jack Tyler looks to lead the Hokies defensive unit along with fellow linebacker Kyshoen Jarrett who was 2nd on the team in tackles.The defensive backfield is expected to be led by cornerbacks Detrick Bonner and Kyle Fuller. The defense, historically has been a strong point of Beamer's teams has an up and down season in 2012 but by the end of the season the unit was among the better units in major college football.

From a schedule standpoint, the Hokies could not start the season with a bigger test. They open the season with two time defending national champion Alabama in a nationally televised night game. After facing the Tide, the Hokies take on Western Carolina in the home opener on September 7th and then face East Carolina on September 14th and Marshall on the 14th of September before opening ACC play with a road trip to Bobby Dodd Stadium to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on September 26th. After facing the Yellow Jackets, the Hokies wont leave Lane Stadium for he entire month of October as they host North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Duke before hitting the road to take on Boston College on November 2nd. After facing the Eagles, the Hokies will head down south to take on the Miami Hurricanes before hosting Maryland in the home finale. The Hokies finish the season with cross state rival Virginia on November 30th.

If the Hokies have any hopes of making a run at an ACC championship Thomas needs to have a season similar to his sophomore season where he completed close to 60% of his passes and threw 6 less interceptions than 2012. If Gregory and Coleman can produce on the ground, it should make things a little easier on Thomas in the passing game who in 2011 had 2011 ACC offensive player of the year in the backfield with him in running back David Wilson  who single handedly out produced the entire Hokies backfield in 2012 on his own in 2011. Logan Thomas has all the physical tools to be a dominant player in the ACC this season and potentially be in consideration for the Heisman Trophy in 2013. This might sound a little crazy especially considering his inconstancy as a passer over the last 2 seasons, but when he is on his game, he is as good as any quarterback in the country, if he can string together a few strong performances through the air and on the ground, he can bring the Hokies back into the forefront of the ACC. However, if he will remains to be seen. Especially with their two biggest tests in the ACC in my eyes coming on the road in Georgia Tech and Miami respectively. If Thomas and the young talent around him play up to their potential, I could at the very least see Beamer back into the discussion as the best team in the ACC in 2013.

- Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez

josh.projectcfb@gmail.com

A Brief History of the Auburn Toomer Oak Trees

Traditions are one of the biggest parts of what many of us love about college football. Among the more historic and more well known, especially in SEC country, involves the Toomer Oak Trees at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street in Auburn, Alabama and has always been a major part of the Auburn football lore. Hanging over the corner of Magnolia and College Street are two massive oak trees that after many major causes for celebration, the War Eagle faithful decorate the two large trees with toilet paper which has came to be known as rolling Toomer's or rolling the corner. This tradition was started when Toomer's Drug Store, located on the same corner as the two massive oak trees, that had the only telegraph in the entire city would alert the townspeople of a road win by tossing the ticker tape from the telegraph over the nearby power lines  This has been a tradition among the Auburn fans since the early 1980s.

Originally the rolling Toomer tradition was solely reserved for football celebrations, but recently the

celebration has expanded to anything positive regarding Auburn, be it athletic or otherwise. Toomer's corner has become a popular pre-game rally position for both home and away contests.

In January of 2011, a local radio show was alerted by a caller that he personally poisoned the two trees with Spike 80DF, which is a very potent herbicide, some were worried about not only the trees themselves but the potential effects the herbicide had on the Auburn water supply as well. This tree poisoning garnered national attention when it was featured in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "Roll Tide/War Eagle" diving deep into the heated Alabama/Auburn football rivalry. The caller to the Paul Finebaum Radio Network identified himself as "Al from Dadeville."

After investigation, the Auburn police took Harvey Updyke Jr, a resident of Dadeville, Alabama (and controversially a life long Alabama Crimson Tide fan) into custody and was charged with class C criminal mischief  which classifies as a felony in the state of Alabama. He could face up to 5 years in prison for the poisoning of the trees, on top of the two he has already served.

Despite efforts to save the trees, it came out that the trees could not be saved and had to be cut down. After being cut down on April 23rd, the Oaks have been made into several different mementos available for purchase commemorating the history of the trees, with all proceeds going towards a a specialized scholarship fund.

- Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez

josh.projectcfb@gmail.com

Can Anyone Stop Ohio State from Winning the Big Ten Championship?

After an undefeated 2012 campaign under new heard coach Urban Meyer, expectations are sky high in Columbus. No longer held back by NCAA post season sanctions, Ohio State sets their eyes on the Big Ten championship and are hopeful they can at the very least be in the discussion for the BCS Championship as well.

Braxton Miller scored 28 total touchdowns last season.

Leading the charge offensively for the Buckeyes is Heisman hopeful quarterback Braxton Miller. Miller was nothing short of dynamic last season accounting for over 3,300 yards of total offense and 28 total touchdowns (15 passing, 13 rushing) in 2012. The Buckeyes also have running back Carlos Hyde returning for his senior season. Hyde had a very solid season in 2012 rushing for close to 1,000 yards and scored 16 touchdowns on the ground. Miller and Hyde should prove to be a very scary 1-2 punch on the ground this season. But that does not mean they do not return talent at the wide receiver position either. They return both of their returning receivers in Philly Brown and Devin Smith. They both caught over 60 passes in 2012 and combined for 9 touchdown catches, Brown also chipped in two more scores on special teams. The Buckeyes have to be very happy that they return the nucleus of an offense that scored close to 40 points a game last season.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes are losing a few key contributors along the defensive line to the NFL draft and graduation, most prominently  Johnathan Hankins who amassed 55 total tackles in 2012, including 4 tackles for loss, defensive end John Simon and his 9 sacks in 2012 are also going to need to be replaced. Linebackers Etienne Sabino and Nathan Williams who combined for over 80 tackles are also leaving for the NFL draft. Fortunately, the Buckeyes still return their leading tackler in senior linebacker Ryan Shazier. Shazier had over 100 tackles in 2012 with 17 tackles for loss, including 5 sacks, and he also had an interception to boot. The secondary will be lead by senior cornerback Christian Bryant and safety CJ Barnett.

From a personnel standpoint, Buckeyes fans have to be excited to have not only the core of the offense but also their two leading tacklers in Shazier and Bryant. Despite losing two key contributors on the defensive line in Hankins and John Simon, the Buckeyes still have tons of depth and young players ready to step up along the defensive line. However, you can have all the talent in the world but if you cant put it together on Saturdays you have no shot to contend for a Big Ten Championship.

Urban Meyer began his coaching career at Ohio State
with an undefeated season.

Looking at their schedule, the Buckeyes are set up very nicely for a run at not only a Leaders division championship, but the Big Ten crown as well. The Buckeyes open with two non conference home games in Buffalo and San Diego State before heading to the west coast to take on the California Golden Bears before heading home to take on Florida A&M before the first real test in my eyes on the schedule and that is a September 28th showdown in Columbus with the Wisconsin Badgers. If Ohio State can survive the Badgers they are set up for a very nice October home slate with the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions after a trip to Ryan Field to take on the Northwestern Wildcats.The Buckeyes will then start November with back to back road trips to Purdue and Illinois before hosting the Indiana Hooisers in the final home game of the season before finishing the regular season in the Big House to take on the hated Michigan Wolverines on November 30th.

In college football, a favorable schedule is at times the most important aspect to a successful season. I think that a 10+ win season is very possible, and may be expected by the Buckeye faithful in Columbus. With the biggest obstacles coming in Wisconsin and Michigan and both teams graduating their most dangerous offensive weapons in running back Montee Ball and quarterback Denard Robinson respectively. I do not see any team in the Big Ten that can match the offensive firepower of Braxton Miller and the Buckeyes. It should be an exciting season for you if you are Buckeye fan in 2013 and beyond.

- Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez

josh.projectcfb@gmail.com

Can Butch Jones take Tennessee to the Top of the SEC?

The Tennessee Volunteers are arguably one of the most popular teams in college football. The Tennessee orange. The orange and white checkered endzone. Their mascot Smokey. Anyone who knows college football knows about the Tennessee Volunteers. However, being in the SEC, Tennessee has been stuck in the shadows of teams like Alabama, Florida, LSU, Auburn and others for quite some time. The last time that Tennessee won the National Championship was in 1998, when under Phillip Fulmer they beat the Florida State Seminoles in the first ever BCS Title Game.

Tennessee fans, players and alumni have been waiting anxiously to see their Volunteers fight back to the top of the SEC, and not only bring the SEC Championship home, but also bring another National Championship to Neyland Stadium.

Butch Jones has been coaching in the NCAA since 1990, where he was a defensive assistant at Rutgers. In 1992 Jones left Rutgers to become offensive coordinator for Wilkes. He was at Wilkes from 1992 to 1994, when he left for his alma mater Ferris State. There he assumed the same role he did at Wilkes.

In 1998 Butch found himself at Central Michigan University, where he'd move from coaching tight ends to running backs, and eventually become offensive coordinator from 2002 to 2004. Rich Rodriguez then brought Jones to West Virginia where he coached the wide receivers.

After two successful years at West Virginia, Butch got hired back to Central Michigan but this time as the head coach. There he led the Chippewas to an overall record of 27-13 over three years, and two MAC Championships. In 2010 Butch became the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats. In Cincinnati, Butch started off slow with a 4-8 record. In 2011 he improved to 10-3 and led the Bearcats to a Liberty Bowl victory over Vanderbilt, as well as a Big East Championship. In 2012 Butch led the Bearcats to a similar ending to the season, ending with a 9-3 record and another Big East Championship.

After much success at Cincinnati, on December 7, 2012 Butch announced that he was leaving Cincinnati and the Big East for Tennessee and the SEC.

The SEC will definitely bring quite a bit of competition Butch's way. He faced some top opponents while being the head coach at CMU and Cincinnati, but in the SEC he will consistantly face top opponents.

Tennessee has been waiting for a coach to bring them the success that they have been expecting, and Butch Jones can definitely be the coach to bring them that success. With an overall head coaching record of 50-27, he is not someone to be taken lightly. Granted teams like Alabama and LSU seem to be fine oiled machines that can't seem to lose, Tennessee has an overall record of 799–354–53. They more often see victories than defeats, and that's something that they'd like to see continue. I feel that Butch Jones is a man that will strive to lead Tennessee to continue improving that record, and to eventually get them the recruits and players good enough to not only become a top ten team, but to once again become National Champions.

- Jackson McNamara

@jacksonmcnamara

Can Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide Win a 3rd Consecutive National Championship?

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have been easily the most dominant program of the last 5 years, and arguably among the most dominant dynasties in college football history. With 3 national titles in the last 4 years (and 4 overall) it is hard to think of a more highly decorated coach in the nation than Nick Saban. His win loss record with the Tide speaks for itself (68-13 overall, with 2 SEC championships), he has really gotten to the point where winning games and making bowl games is not enough. He is now being judged on SEC and national championships.

So this brings up the question, can Saban and the Tide win a 3rd straight national championship? Well, as we have come to realize, in order to even have a shot at a national championship you must at the very least win 10 or 11 games in the regular season. So, having said that, you must first look at the schedule for the Tide; they open with Frank Beamer and the Virginia Tech Hokies as the Chick Fil-A Kickoff game, the Hokies who historically have been among the best in the ACC had a down season in 2012 and hope to have a much improved 2013 campaign. Next on the slate is a showdown with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, the only team to defeat the Crimson Tide in 2012. Johnny Football is electric, that's undeniable, however after losing starting left tackle Luke Joeckell to the NFL, it is hard to imagine Manziel duplicating his numbers from last year, this early test for the Tide and despite being a early match up, could potentially decide if the Tide is in fact on track for a 3 pete.

After facing the Aggies in College Station, they return to Tuscaloosa for two straight against the Ole Miss Rebels (and a phenomenal recruiting class) and then Georgia State on October 5th and 12th, before heading to Lexington to face the Kentucky Wildcats and new head man Mark Stoops on October 12th. Alabama then returns to Bryant-Denny Stadium for a three game SEC stretch, first facing off what many feel is a much improved Arkansas Razorback team on October 19th, then the Tennessee Volunteers the very next week and finishing up the home stand against Les Miles and the LSU Tigers in what has really become one of the highest profile, and most tightly contested SEC games year in year out. This growing rivalry between Saban's current squad and his former team has become a major determining factor in not only who wins the SEC, but also who may be competing in the national championship game in January.

After the Tide clashes with the Tigers, they travel to Starkville to take on Mississippi State, before taking on Chattanooga at home and they end the season against the in-state rival Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl.

Looking at the schedule, the Crimson Tide may have lucked out by avoiding two teams many feel could challenge the Crimson Tide for a SEC championship in the Florida Gators and the Georgia Bulldogs until potentially the SEC Championship game. But that's not saying that it is a cake walk for Saban this season. Far from it, competing in the SEC, without a doubt the most competitive conference in the country, you are in a battle every week. Luckily, the Crimson Tide returns many key starters to last seasons championship team, starting with quarterback AJ McCarron, who only threw for nearly 3,000 yards (2,933 to be exact) and 30 touchdowns (to only 3 interceptions), and of those 30 touchdown tosses, 11 were into the hands of electrifying wide receiver Amari Cooper, who some Alabama fans like to refer to as "Baby Julio" as a tribute to former Alabama stand out Julio Jones, Cooper had a solid freshmen season hauling in 59 passes for 1,000 yards.

TJ Yeldon

Leading the charge for the Tide's vaunted rushing attack is sophomore tail back TJ Yeldon, who despite splitting time with Eddie Lacy (who chose to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft) had over 1,100 rushing yards and 131 receiving yards for 13 total touchdowns (12 rushing), but they also are losing 3 members of arguably the best offensive line to the NFL draft (DJ Fluker, Barrett Jones and Chance Warmack) but if we have learned anything over the last few years about the Tide, it's that the young players waiting in the wings are no slouches either.

Despite losing defensive standouts like defensive linemen Jesse Williams, linebacker Nico Johnson and cornerback Dee Millner, the Tide still have an abundance of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Linebackers CJ Mosley and Trey DePriest both had very solid 2012 seasons, the two combined for 93 tackles, and with the recent history of Alabama linebackers stepping up and playing well (Rolando McClain, Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower in particular) I could very well see Mosley and DePriest stepping up and being very pivotal parts of the Tide defense this season.

By looking at the schedule and the returning contributes to both the offense and defense, I do feel the Tide can win a 3rd BCS championship, they have arguably the most talented roster top to bottom in the country, however with as unpredictable college football has been and the potential for injuries in the game of football it's hard to say anything is a given one way or another, however just by looking at the schedule and who is returning from last seasons championship team they have a very good chance of at the very least competing in a big time BCS bowl game, if not another championship game. One thing is for sure, we all will be very interested to see what happens once the Tide and the rest of the country begin competing in the 2013 college football season, preparing to make a run at a national championship.

Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez