College Football News

[Shadowlight]

Probably too early to start mentioning some new players on the scene but that has never stopped me before. Ha.

UCONN avoids in state white skilled talent like the plague so redshirt freshman WR former lacrosse star Nico Ragaini (6'0" 192) from my neck of the woods might emerge this season. They are about due another white WR star when you think of their slot WRs the past several years including Nick Easley, Matt VandeBerg (he wasn't strictly a slot) and of course speedster Riley McCarron who finally got a chance to shine in his senior season. Worth noting the only other two schools to engage Nico during the recruiting process were Yale and BC. Two schools who are a little more open minded than most when it comes to roster diversity.

Ragaini has been described as a slot and has great quickness and footwork. He has really impressed this spring and is in a battle for a starting spot.

CB Riley Moss who for a spell last season got to play the role of the Great White Hope at CB is listed as second on the depth chart. Just a sophomore with plenty of speed etc. lets hope for bigger things from him this season . I was very impressed with him but the coaching staff closed the door on him and never opened it back up. Cripes I hope they give him more leg room this season.

 

[Leonardfan]

Former USC QB Matt Fink transferred to Illinois. Looks like Hatie's black quarterback recruitment isn't working out as he thought.

Former PSU QB Tommy Stevens is still searching for a transfer destination. Sounds like Franklin screwed him over after he played the role of good teammate for the past couple of years.

 

[Leonardfan]

QB Matthew Baldwin transfering to TCU.
QB McClane Carter to Rutgers.

 

[LucasBryant]

Bama has a couple to keep an eye on! Jackson Bratton high 4 Star 6-3 225 4.6 Drew Sanders 6-5 220 4.5 Texas sprint star and football 5 star recruit. Both Linebackers though Sanders could be a TE as well. Impressive athlete!

https://mobile.twitter.com/dentonry...MSRtlr428HkSyP0IAAvITFFTs8vaST0UvjoB65KOoEy0g

 

[Leonardfan]

Bowling Green QB Jarrett Doege is transferring. Pretty surprising as he is arguably the best qb in the MAC.

 

[Red Raider]

It seems like every single school in the FBS has had a transfer QB come or go in the past year. Interesting trend almost like a college free agency. I’m all for it, somethings can get cloudy though such as the Justin Fields transfer and eligibility issues.

 

[Bucky]

Add Michigan's Brandon Peters as another QB throwing his name in Transfer mix.

 

[Red Raider]

Georgia Tech RB Nathan Cottrell has been moved to slot receiver for his senior year. He is very fast (8.0 yards per carry on 80 carries, also a kick returner). With GT’s new offense they will no longer do the triple option. Cottrell is one of two senior receivers and could find himself in a starting spot receiver position, I expect him to be no less than 2nd string. He has the ideal size at 5’11” 190lbs, it’ll be fun to see what he can do this year.

 

[Deceptive Speed]

Georgia Tech RB Nathan Cottrell has been moved to slot receiver for his senior year. He is very fast (8.0 yards per carry on 80 carries, also a kick returner). With GT’s new offense they will no longer do the triple option. Cottrell is one of two senior receivers and could find himself in a starting spot receiver position, I expect him to be no less than 2nd string. He has the ideal size at 5’11” 190lbs, it’ll be fun to see what he can do this year.

I'm ok with Cottrell at Slot receiver since it likely will give him a key role on Georgia Tech's Offense his Sr. season! However this move does further my disbelief that most coaches don't have a clue, as they could've atleast tried increasing Cottrells carry load first before ditching his position altogether. Cottrell put up 46 att for 362 yds and 4 TD on a whopping 7.9 ypc in 2018, with increased carries its possible Cottrell could have had a break out season. I really hope they don't change him to slot receiver full time, but now we'll probably never know if Cottrell can be a poor man's C.McCaffrey!??

 

[Red Raider]

I'm ok with Cottrell at Slot receiver since it likely will give him a key role on Georgia Tech's Offense his Sr. season! However this move does further my disbelief that most coaches don't have a clue, as they could've atleast tried increasing Cottrells carry load first before ditching his position altogether. Cottrell put up 46 att for 362 yds and 4 TD on a whopping 7.9 ypc in 2018, with increased carries its possible Cottrell could have had a break out season. I really hope they don't change him to slot receiver full time, but now we'll probably never know if Cottrell can be a poor man's C.McCaffrey!??

Through spring practice he has been getting the first team reps at slot, the good thing is that GT didn’t have a slot receiver position before so it’s new to everyone. I feel like having everyone learn the new position is good for Cottrell because he doesn’t have to compete with more experienced players at the position. If he can put up big numbers as a starting slot receiver and also be a returner this year he could get a shot at the NFL next year. We all already know how explosive he is!

Not all of the highlights are Cottrell but you can see his speed clearly in his big runs.

 

[Leonardfan]

Only issue with Cotrell moving to slot wr is who is going to be throwing him the ball. The qbs are all coming from the triple option offense.

 

[Rocky B]

I was checking in on Slade Bolden who must have red shirted last year at Alabama.....
Comments such as, “amazing”, “electrifying” and others were thrown around.....Mentuined as a slot receiver.....not an RB, of course.....There was talk last season about him being a db.....Either way, go Slade.......

 

[LucasBryant]

I was checking in on Slade Bolden who must have red shirted last year at Alabama.....
Comments such as, “amazing”, “electrifying” and others were thrown around.....Mentuined as a slot receiver.....not an RB, of course.....There was talk last season about him being a db.....Either way, go Slade.......

I’m a Bama fan. It’s a bitter sweet relationship Slade has progressed well and seems to be firmly in the slot. He has enough speed to stretch the deep safety but his quicks and hands are top level. He got good strength too. Slade had a strong spring and is expected to break into the rotation this year. Juedy and Ruggs are almost certainly leaving early so 2020 should be a prime opportunity for Slade to be the top wr along Devonta Smith.

 

[Shadowlight]

Sadly it still looks like Alabama will be firmly caste this season.

WR Slade Bolden is behind a bunch of "NFL" talents. Like newcomer Jake Smith of Texas, Bolden is a dynamic Swiss army knife type of player and one would hope the Crimson Tide incorporate him into the offense one way or another this season. He threw a TD pass in the spring game.

Bolden and Smith are cut from the Taysom Hill cloth where their versatility comes in handy. Both are very athletic and should be exciting to watch. That is if they get to see the field.

As for GT RB Nate Cottrell it strikes me that GT used to be very caste before and now that the more white friendly HC has exited in combination with what looks like a very caste recruiting class I wonder if Cottrell will get washed up to shore?

Cottrell has been a RB his whole career so we just don't know if he can adapt.

His NFL chances were always slim and since white return specialists are not seen as draft worthy Cottrell is a long shot for sure.

That said I am sure we will all be rooting for him like crazy. With his impressive speed he is just the type I would love to see at the NFL combine.

 

[LucasBryant]

Sadly it still looks like Alabama will be firmly caste this season.

WR Slade Bolden is behind a bunch of "NFL" talents. Like newcomer Jake Smith of Texas, Bolden is a dynamic Swiss army knife type of player and one would hope the Crimson Tide incorporate him into the offense one way or another this season. He threw a TD pass in the spring game.

Bolden and Smith are cut from the Taysom Hill cloth where their versatility comes in handy. Both are very athletic and should be exciting to watch. That is if they get to see the field.

As for GT RB Nate Cottrell it strikes me that GT used to be very caste before and now that the more white friendly HC has exited in combination with what looks like a very cast recruiting class I wonder if Cottrell will get washed up to shore?

Cottrell has been a RB his whole career so we just don't know if he can adapt.

His NFL chances were always slim and since white return specialists are not seen as draft worthy Cottrell is a long shot for sure.

That said I am sure we will all be rooting for him like crazy. With his impressive speed he is just the type I would love to see him at the NFL combine.

Yes, Slade is behind a bunch of NFL talent and they are absolutely legitimate future NFL first rounders in Juedy, Ruggs and D. Smith. So honestly, no reason to give quotation marks, they are legit and they are good teammates. But that’s life at Bama for almost anyone including Tua had to wait. But Slade is progressing well and is going to get quality pt this year.

For the record, I’m very close to Bama program and connected to some folks at the top by family and business. But sadly, Bama has been caste like most others.

 

[LucasBryant]

Sadly it still looks like Alabama will be firmly caste this season.

WR Slade Bolden is behind a bunch of "NFL" talents. Like newcomer Jake Smith of Texas, Bolden is a dynamic Swiss army knife type of player and one would hope the Crimson Tide incorporate him into the offense one way or another this season. He threw a TD pass in the spring game.

Bolden and Smith are cut from the Taysom Hill cloth where their versatility comes in handy. Both are very athletic and should be exciting to watch. That is if they get to see the field.

As for GT RB Nate Cottrell it strikes me that GT used to be very caste before and now that the more white friendly HC has exited in combination with what looks like a very caste recruiting class I wonder if Cottrell will get washed up to shore?

Cottrell has been a RB his whole career so we just don't know if he can adapt.

His NFL chances were always slim and since white return specialists are not seen as draft worthy Cottrell is a long shot for sure.

That said I am sure we will all be rooting for him like crazy. With his impressive speed he is just the type I would love to see at the NFL combine.

As it relates to Cottrell, I’ve known him and his family since he was in elementary school but not on a real close personal level. I lived in Kville for 15 years and coached summer travel baseball there. He’s a legit sub 4.4 40 and a legit 40 inch vertical. He will shine at the combine and has been utterly wasted at GTech. It makes me sick!

 

[Red Raider]

Cottrell was timed at 4.33 in high school, as far as white receivers he is on par with Scott Miller and Andy Isabella in terms of speed. He should translate well, would be nice to see another white speedster at the combine if he can have a big year.

 

[LucasBryant]

Cottrell was timed at 4.33 in high school, as far as white receivers he is on par with Scott Miller and Andy Isabella in terms of speed. He should translate well, would be nice to see another white speedster at the combine if he can have a big year.

Combine didn’t even invite Scotty Miller! Bs happens every year. Isabella has a so-called laser problem with his first two 40, gave him a 4.56 and 4.48 !! Then they found out the lasers were cheating him and started early...also happens every year. Isabella 4,31 has the fastest 40 in the combine.

 

[Shadowlight]

That Isabella laser problem still baffles me. Fastest 40 yard dash run by a white player in combine history and they screw up his time. Not once but twice. Coincidence?

Ex Penn State back up QB Tommy Stevens has transferred to MISS STATE. Since he is a graduate transfer he is immediately eligible.

He will have to fight off Nick Fitzgerald's back up for the starting spot.

Stevens is a big dual threat QB. A little strange that both Stevens and super dual threat QB Tate Martell chose black dominated schools. Martell as noted earlier transferred to Miami.

Martell is a little bigger but is he the "next" Kyler Murray type phenomenon?

Both Stevens and Martell have a lot to prove but may get their chance this season. Worth pointing out a former Penn State offensive coach went to MISS STATE so that probably influenced his decision. Stevens if he does somehow make it into the NFL it could be as a multi position type player.

 

[Bucky]

Good article on Rutgers Guard Zach Venesky.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nj...n-for-the-scarlet-knights.html?outputType=amp

 

[Red Raider]

We may see Louisville with a white receiver for the first time that I can recall. Former UNC slot Thomas Jackson is going to Louisville as a grad transfer. In 3 years at UNC he had 40 catches for 401 yards and 8 TD’s.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/bigred...ds-grad-transfer-receiver-thomas-jackson/amp/

 

[Bucky]

Seems like Louisville will clear up a bit under the new coach.

Oliver Martin just entered the transfer portal today.

 

[Red Raider]

Looks like the speculation was true, Oliver Martin transferring to Iowa!

 

[Leonardfan]

Looks like the speculation was true, Oliver Martin transferring to Iowa!

Good news! How many years did he waste in Ann Arbor? Two? Glad he is going back home to Iowa - should of committed there from the beginning though.

 

[Leonardfan]

UTEP redshirt junior QB Kai Locksley is suspended indefinitely.
Locksley is facing some serious charges including DWI, terroristic threats, and unlawful possession of a weapon. The charges are significant enough to warrant dismissal of the team, but UTEP will likely let more of the legal process go through before making a decision. The Miners were already in tough shape offensively, but this digs them deeper into the hole.


A side note - His father is the new head coach at Maryland after the former head coach DJ Durkin was fired due to a football player passing away due after a practice due to heat stroke last year. The elder Locksley has been labeled as the correct hire after Durkin since he understands the culture and players (ie. he's black). He has brought in several black transfer players to the program (not that Maryland was white friendly to begin with). Locksley owns a 3-31 record as a head coach/interim head coach. His tenure at New Mexico was a failure both on and off the field.