Virginia announces recruiting class of 22

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(Below is Virginia’s press release on the players added as part of its 2013 recruiting class.)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia football program signed 21 student-athletes to a National Letters of Intent (NLI) for the 2013-14 academic school year head coach Mike London announced. One additional recruit enrolled at UVa in January, topping the class off at 22. Highlighting the nationally ranked class are 10 signees from the state of Virginia, including six from the Richmond region and three from the Tidewater region.

(Writer’s note: below the jump are the complete bios of all 22 members of Virginia’s 2013 recruiting class.)

George Adeosun
6-6 • 295 • OL
Alpharetta, Ga.
Alpharetta HS

Played offensive tackle at Alpharetta High School for head coach Jason Dukes … a native of Nigeria, didn’t start playing football until reaching high school … started junior season on the junior varsity team and an injury forced him to make varsity debut blocking ESPN’s No. 2 recruit and Auburn signee Carl Lawson … holding his own, he remained on varsity for the remainder of his career … student body president at Alpharetta High School … a four-star player by 247sports … a three-star player by Rivals.com, ESPN.com and Scout.com.

Zach Bradshaw
6-3 • 210 • ATH
Damascus, Md.
Damascus HS

Played linebacker, receiver and kick returner for head coach Eric Wallich at Damascus High School … named to the Maryland Consensus All-State team at linebacker … also named to Maryland’s Big School All-State team at linebacker … Washington Post All-Met first team and Montgomery Gazette first team honoree … one of the state’s top all-around performers, a defensive standout who had more than 600 receiving yards and handled kick return duties … played in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … listed as three-star player by ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports … attended the same high school as current UVa safety Brandon Phelps.

Tyrell Chavis
6-3 • 290 • DT
Richmond, Va.
Varina HS/Fork Union Military Academy

Was a 2012 signee with Virginia before attending Fork Union Military Academy for a post-graduate season where he played for coach John Shuman … offensive guard and defensive tackle for head coach Stu Brown at Varina High School … first-team all-district offensive lineman … first-team all-region offensive and defensive line … Touchdown Club of Richmond first-team defensive lineman … first-team All-Metro offensive and defensive line … is a four-star player by 247Sports and the No. 9 prep player in the country … a three-star player by Rivals.com and ESPN.com … played at Varina with current UVa cornerback Maurice Canady … son of Marie Chavis … has an older brother, Robert … enjoys cooking.

Malcolm Cook
6-1 • 195 • S
Richmond, Va.
Fork Union Military Academy

Played safety for head coach Captain Brian Hurlocker at Fork Union Military Academy, playing for the high school team … was an All-Prep League and Virginia Prep/Rivals.com All-State honoree … made 96 tackles and intercepted nine passes, four of which he returned for touchdowns … amassed 369 interception yards … had a 100-yard interception for a touchdown against St. Christopher’s … returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Georgetown Prep … scored a receiving touchdown against Liberty Christian in the VIS Division 1 State Championship game … caused three fumbles during the season … caught four passes for 59 yards … spent first three years of high school at Armstrong High School in Richmond where he also played quarterback … made 67 tackles and had seven interceptions at Armstrong in 2011 … returned five of his interceptions at Armstrong in 2011 for touchdowns … a four-star player by 247Sports … a three-star player by Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN.com … ranked the No. 27 safety in the nation by 247Sports … ranked the No. 13 prospect in Virginia by the Roanoke Times.

Corwin Cutler
6-4 • 180 • QB
Chesapeake, Va.
Ocean Lakes HS

Played quarterback at Ocean Lakes High School for head coach Chris Scott … senior season was cut short due to injury, but still threw for over 2,100 yards and 30 touchdowns … VHSL Group AAA All-State first-state first-team honoree … named a VHSCA All-State first-team quarterback as a senior … All-Tidewater first-team honoree while guiding the Dolphins to an unbeaten regular season and Beach District Championship … Beach District Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Eastern Region … threw for over 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2011 … finished high school career with 4,635 career passing yards in regular season games, which ranks No. 12 all-time on the South Hampton Roads career passing list … ranked by ESPN.com as a four-star player and the No. 21 quarterback in the class of 2013 … a three-star player by 247Sports, Scout.com and Rivals.com … ranked the No. 14 prospect in Virginia by the Roanoke Times … nickname is Turtle.

Jack English
6-5 • 260 • DL
Richmond, Va.
St. Christopher’s School

Played tight end and defensive line at St. Christopher’s School for head coach Michael Turner … Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro second team in 2012 … was a three-year letterwinner in football, earning all-state, all-prep and All-Metro honors twice … as a tight end, made 11 catches for 204 yards and one touchdown in 2012 … made 56 tackles and 17.0 tackles for loss … also collected five sacks for a loss of 43 yards … made 50 tackles, including 20 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2011 … also plays baseball and basketball … all-prep and all-state pitcher and outfielder on the baseball team … is a three-star player by ESPN.com and Rivals.com … ranked the No. 18 prospect in Virginia by the Roanoke Times … son of Ben and Loretta English … has an older brother, Patrick … has an older sister, Kate.

Kirk Garner
5-11 • 180 • S
Olney, Md.
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School

Played safety and receiver at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School for head coach Bob Milloy … rushed 10 times for 70 yards and one touchdown … caught 18 passes for 270 yards … made 42 tackles on defense and two tackles for a loss … snatched four interceptions and caused two fumbles … returned a kickoff against Gonzaga for a 78-yard touchdown … returned 14 punts for 128 yards … Maryland Consensus All- State honoree … All-State Big Schools first team at defensive back … All-WCAC first team at wide receiver … All-Gazette first team … All-Met second team as a defensive back … played in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … made 33 tackles as a junior in 2011 … a four-star player by Rivals.com … a three-star player by 247sports, ESPN.com and Scout.com … current Cavaliers E.J. Scott and Vincent Croce attended the same high school.

Tim Harris
6-2 • 190 • DB
Richmond, Va.
Varina HS

Defensive back and wide receiver at Varina High School for head coach Stud Brown … Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro first team … played in the Chesapeake Bowl … ranked the No. 10 prospect in Virginia by the Roanoke Times … All-Capital and All-Central Region first-team honoree … ranked as the No. 11 recruit in Virginia according to the 2013 Daily Press Fab 15 … a four-star performer by 247sports, ESPN.com, Scout.com and Rivals.com … the No. 124-rated player in the nation by 247sports and the No. 16 rated cornerback … the No. 179-rated player in the nation by Rivals.com and the No. 14-rated cornerback.

Keeon Johnson
6-3 • 200 • WR
Kannapolis, N.C.
A.L. Brown HS

Wide receiver at A.L. Brown High School for head coach Mike Newsome … in 2012, made 41 catches for 535 yards and five touchdowns … ranked as MaxPreps.com’s No. 25 wide receiver … member of the 2012 Carolina All-Gridiron team … represented the North team in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas … as a junior in 2011, caught 39 passes for 795 yards and nine touchdowns … a three-star performer by 247sports, ESPN.com, Scout.com and Rivals.com.

Zack Jones
5-11 • 180 • WR
Chesapeake, Va.
Oscar Smith HS

Wide receiver at Oscar Smith High School for head coach Richard Morgan … earned VHSL Group AAA all-state second-team honors as a wide receiver in 2012 … caught three passes for 85 yards, one touchdown and had 116 all-purpose yards in the 2011 Group AAA Division 6 state title game, helping Oscar Smith win its second title in four years … caught 32 passes for 675 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012 … named first-team all-district and all-region … named to the All-Tidewater second- team … caught 52 passes 1,015 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior … had a 90- yard kick return for a touchdown and a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown in 2011, the only two times he registered a kick return … also punted for over a 40- yard average … all-district and all-region first-team … All-Tidewater and all-state … three-star performer by 247sports, ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com … ranked the No. 19 prospect in Virginia by the Roanoke Times … brother of former UVa captain Perry Jones.

Micah Kiser
6-2 • 215 • LB
Baltimore, Md.
Gilman School

A linebacker and tight end at the Gilman School for head coach Biff Poggi … was a three-year letterwinner and a three-time All-Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Conference honoree … two-time Maryland Consensus All-State first- team defense … two-time All-Metro first-team … was the 2012 All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year … Baltimore Sun ‘s Defensive Co-Player of the Year … helped Gilman to a MIAA A Conference title defense … was a 2012 Semper Fidelis All- American … accumulated 111 tackles, two forced fumble and intercepted three passes, while returning two for touchdowns … was a team captain in senior and helped lead Gilman to a No. 19 ranking in the USA Today Super 25 high school team rankings … was a 2011 MaxPreps Air Force Junior All-American second-team linebacker … made 91 tackles and forced three fumbles as a junior in 2011 … a four- star player by 247sports and ESPN.com … a three-star player by Scout.com and Rivals.com …. also played lacrosse at Gilman in 2011 with current Cavalier Ryan Tucker … played the 2010 season of football at Gilman with current Virginia wide receiver Darius Jennings … volunteers with Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Agape House … son of Michael and Donna Kiser … has a younger brother, Jordan.

Andre Levrone
6-2 • 195 • WR
Laurel, Md.
Our Lady of Good Counsel

Played wide receiver and safety at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School for head coach Bob Milloy … suffered a lower extremity injury in the first game of 2012 and didn’t return to play until the final three games of the year … caught nine passes for 117 yards … rushed twice for 63 yards … ranked the No. 42 wide receiver in the nation and No. 2 wide receiver in Maryland by Rivals.com … ranked the No. 11 recruit from Maryland by Rivals .com … ranked the No. 1 wide receiver in Maryland by 247sports … selected first-team all-combine of the US Army All-American Junior Combine … named preseason all-state first-team by MaxPreps … named Top Performer out of the 30 participants from the state of Maryland at the Army All- American Combine by MDHigh.com … named the No. 2 wide receiver at the Top Gun Showcase Camp by Rivals.com … a three-star player by 247sports, ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com … son of Andre and Angie Levrone … has an older brother, Jonathan … has an older sister, Raquel … brother Jonathan served a tour in Iraq as a tanker in the U.S. Army … mother Angie was a high school MVP for three years in track & field, gymnastics and cheerleading … father Andre, Sr. played linebacker for his base team while serving in the Marine Corp … cousin Kevin Levrone is a IFBB Hall of Fame body builder, four-time first-runner-up to Mr. Olympia … current Cavaliers E.J. Scott and Vincent Croce attended the same high school.

Brendan Marshall
6-5 • 210 • QB
Gaithersburg, Md.
Our Lady of Good Counsel

Played quarterback and punter at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School for head coach Bob Milloy … completed 102-of-172 passing attempts for 1,375 yards and seven touchdowns to lead Good Counsel to an 11-1 record and a national rank of No. 43 … was an honorable mention All-State Big Schools first-team as a punter … had 37 punts for 1,351 yards which comes to a 36.51 average … seven punts were inside the 20 … also named All-Sentinel first-team punter … in 2011 he threw for 1,471 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior … a three-star player by 247sports, ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout .com … current Cavaliers E.J. Scott and Vincent Croce attended the same high school.

Jack McDonald
6-5 • 275 • OL
Quincy, Mass.
Boston College HS

Played the offensive and defensive line at Boston College High School for head coach Joe Gaff … also played for two seasons for head coach Jon Bartlett … three- year starter on the offensive line … two-time Catholic Conference All-Star … 2012 Catholic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year … 2012 Massachusetts Super 26 all-state team … three-time scholar athlete … 2011 Massachusetts Division I state champion … 2012 Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic … 2012 Boston Globe All-Scholastic … earned High Honors or Honors every term of high school … volunteers at My Brothers Keeper, an organization that delivers presents and furniture to families in need … son of John and Michelle McDonald … has an older sister, Kiley … has two younger brothers, Michael and Dylan … uncle Cliff McDonald played offensive tackle at New Hampshire and held the New England Heavyweight boxing title … cousin Cliff McDonald, Jr. played football at Dartmouth.

Taquan Mizzell
5-10 • 185 • RB
Virginia Beach, Va.
Bayside HS

Played running back at Bayside High School for head coach Darnell Moore … a five- star player by Rivals.com … the first five-star recruit to come to UVa since current Jacksonville Jaguar Eugene Monroe in 2005 … a Parade All-American honorable mention honoree … ranked the No. 29 player in the nation by Rivals.com and the No. 5 running back in the class … a ESPNU Top 150 prospect, ranking in at No. 78 … ranked by ESPN.com as the No. 9 running back in the nation … a four-star recruit by ESPN.com, Scout.com and 247sports … ranked the No. 3 player in Virginia by the Roanoke Times … ranked as the No. 6 recruit in Virginia according to the 2013 Daily Press Fab 15 … a Lemming Top Player for MaxPreps.com as the No. 4 running back prospect in the nation … ranked the No. 51 prospect in the nation by MaxPreps.com … selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl … had a 72-yard kickoff return that set up the game-winning score as the East beat the West, 15-8, in the U.S. All-American Bowl which was played in the Alamodome in San Antonio … also played in the Chesapeake Bowl and rushed for one touchdown … All-Tidewater first-team honoree … All-Beach District first-team honoree at running back and kick returner … finished senior season with 1,231 yards rushing with 31 touchdowns … accounted for over 2,000 all-purpose yards … led Beach District in rushing … added five receiving touchdowns and returned two punts and one kickoff for scores … finished high school career with 416 regular-season points, which ranks No. 2 all-time in South Hampton Roads history … collected more than 3,500 career rushing yards … All-Beach District first-team running back and kick returner … All- Tidewater first-team honoree … VHSL Group AAA All-State second team honoree … rushed for 1,198 yards and 23 touchdowns as junior in 2011 … nickname is Smoke.

Sadiq Olanrewaju
6-6 • 280 • OL
Gaithersburg, Md.
Salisbury School (Conn.)

Played offensive line and defensive line at the Salisbury School for head coach Chris Phelps … registered 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks for a loss of 21 yards … helped the Salisbury School to the 2012 New England Championship … a three-star player by 247.com, ESPN.com, Scout.com and Rivals.com … listed as the No. 64 overall player in Scout.com’s East 100 rankings … helped school to a 9-0 record during his senior season … named to Max Emfinger’s Northeast Top-75 list … named No. 3 player in Connecticut by Rivals.com … helped team defeat Phillips Exeter Academy to win the Jack Etter Bowl and win its second New England Preparatory School Athletic Council title in the last three years.

Eric Smith
6-5 • 280 • OL
Decatur, Ga.
Columbia HS

Played offensive line at Columbia High School for head coach David Edwards … also played for former head coach Mario Allen … Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-DeKalb honoree … is a three-star player by 247sports and ESPN.com … team finished 5-5 during his senior season … starting center on high school basketball team … named to Class AAAA All-Region 6 team.

LaChaston Smith
6-0 • 215 • LB
Statesville, N.C.
South Iredell HS

January early enrollee and will participate in spring football … a linebacker and running back at South Iredell High School for head coach Scott Miller … was MVP of the North Carolina AA State title game after rushing 25 times for 159 yards and three scores … scored the game-winning touchdown with 19 seconds left in 30-27 win over Carrboro … missed most of senior season with an injury … upon return in opening round of playoffs rushed for a state single-game record of seven touchdowns on 13 carries for 191 yards and all in the first half … did not play the second half … played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas … as a junior made 82 tackles, 12 of which went for a loss … also had 1.0 sacks and two interceptions … added 99 tackles, 24 of which went for a loss in 2010 … also had 7.0 sacks and forced seven fumbles … Catawba Valley Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore … all-conference selection as both a sophomore and junior … listed as a four-star linebacker by ESPN.com … listed as three-star player by Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports … national position ranked by Rivals.com at No. 36, ESPN.com at No. 40 and Scout.com at No. 45 … son of Janice Smith … has three sisters, Shakayla, Tatiana and Kendrea Mayfield … has one brother, Preston Ellis … brother Preston ran track at Livingstone … nickname is Ray Ray.

Max Valles
6-5 • 210 • ATH
Sicklerville, N.J.
St. Joseph (Fork Union Military Academy)

Was a 2012 signee with Virginia before attending Fork Union Military Academy for a post-graduate season … played wide receiver, defensive end and safety for head coach Paul Sacco at St. Joseph High School in Hammonton, N.J. … finished 2011 with 13 catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns … on defense had 33 tackles and seven sacks … grabbed one interception, caused three fumbles and recovered one … part of a defense that allowed only 17 points the entire season (1 rushing TD, 1 passing TD & 1 FG) … member of three state championship teams, including 2011 with a 10-0 record … All-South Jersey … all-state … Press Athlete of the Fall … named All-Cape-Atlantic League … Philadelphia Inquirer South Jersey Defensive Player of the Year … also a All-Cape-Atlantic performer as an outfielder for the St. Joseph baseball team … son of Paul and Pamela Valles … has two older brothers, Andre, and Hakeem, a sophomore in 2012 on the football team at FCS Monmouth … volunteers at the St. Joseph eighth grade football camp … plans to major in criminal justice.

Eric Tetlow
6-6 • 300 • OL
Richmond, Va.
Mills E. Godwin HS

Played on the offensive line at Mills E. Godwin High School for head coach John Phillips … saw time all over the offensive line, including at center … started on the defensive line as well at Godwin … VHSL Group All-State second-team and VHSL Group AAA Coaches All-State second-team honoree on offense … VirginiaPreps.com’s All-Central Region first-team honoree … led an offensive line at Godwin that produced two players who each averaged over 96 yards rushing per game in 2012 … ranked the No. 36 prospect in Virginia by the Roanoke Times … played in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … a three-star player by ESPN.com, 247sports and Rivals … listed as the No. 41 offensive tackle prospect in the nation by ESPN.com … listed as the No. 23 prospect in Virginia by ESPN.com … a two-star player by Scout.com … also played baseball, basketball and wrestling first two years of high school … father Peter, who was born and raised in Australia, was a world-class swimmer, won national championships and qualified for the Olympics before coming to the United States to swim at Harvard … father was ranked as high as seventh in the world in the 1,500-meter freestyle.

Donta Wilkins
6-2 • 305 • DT
Woodbridge, Va.
Potomac HS

Played offensive and defensive line at Potomac High School for head coach Jerry Roadcap … VHSCAA All-State AAA first-team honoree as an offensive lineman … All- Met first-team honoree and two-time Northwest Region offensive and defensive player of the year … recorded 100 tackles with 12.5 sacks and 27 tackles for a loss in 2012 … played in the Chesapeake Bowl … recorded 90 tackles and 10 sacks in 2011 as a junior … also recorded 20 tackles for a loss … in 2011 was a VHSCAA All-State AAA honoree on both offense and defense … was a first-team defensive honoree and a second-team offensive honoree … ranked the No. 12 prospect in Virginia by the Roanoke Times … ranked the No. 18 defensive tackle in the nation by 247sports and the No. 13 player in the Commonwealth of Virginia regardless of position … is a four-star player by 247sports … ranked a three-star player by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com.

Connor Wingo-Reeves
6-3 • 220 • LB
Midlothian, Va.
Monacan HS

Played linebacker and tight end at Monacan High School for head coach Danny Parsons … collected 93 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles as a senior in 2012 … Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro second-team performer in 2012 … a first-team All-Dominion District linebacker … ranked the No. 40 prospect in Virginia by the Roanoke Times … a two-star player by 247sports, ESPN.com, Scout.com and Rivals.com … also plays basketball for Monacan.

AP

A pair of standout Syracuse signal callers will not so unexpectedly be honored by their alma mater, the school announced Sunday.

In a press release, Syracuse confirmed that former quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Don McPherson will have their respective jerseys raised to the Carrier Dome roof during retirement ceremonies this coming season.  The latter will be honored during the Oct. 5 game against Clemson, the former during a Nov. 2 game against Wake Forest.

McNabb and McPherson will become the sixth and seventh players honored in this manner by the Orange, joining the likes of Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and John Mackey.

“It is our pleasure to honor Donovan McNabb and Don McPherson and recognize their importance to the history of Syracuse football. Both of these men were catalysts for some of the greatest success in college football during their respectful tenures at Syracuse. We want to recognize these extraordinary men during our inaugural season in the ACC as we look to establish new success,” said Syracuse athletic director Dr. Daryl Gross in a statement. “We celebrate two individuals who were significant in branding Syracuse football as a national power. The nation’s eyes were fixated on these two amazing student-athletes as they helped elevate and maintain SU football’s prominence.

“We truly hope all SU fans will join us during the season to salute the jersey retirement of these two tremendous individuals and their families  as we look to compete at the highest level in the ACC as New York’s College Team.”

McNabb led the Orange to three Big East titles and two BCS bowl berths during his time with the Orange.  He was also the first player in conference history to be named first-team All-Big East four times.

15 years after last playing for the Orange, McNabb still holds Syracuse career records for most touchdown passes thrown, total offense, touchdown responsibility, and highest passing efficiency.

“It is an honor,” McNabb said. “Obviously the number 44 had its impact on the program and now #5 will be honored, too. Hopefully we will have more in the future. When you play high school football your goal is to earn a scholarship and a starting position and win the national championship. You do not think about individual honors such as this. It is really unbelievable. Syracuse prepared me for life away from the game. I came in with a mindset that after football I wanted to be in broadcasting. Syracuse taught me responsibility, maturity and played such a big role in developing me into the man I want to be, to be looked at not only as a great athlete, but a great person.”

McPherson was a 1987 All-American who finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting; won the Maxwell Award, which honors the college football player of the year; the Davey O’Brien Award, which recognizes the best collegiate quarterback; and was the first recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He led the Orange that year to an undefeated regular season and a Sugar Bowl berth.

He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

“There are so many people who are responsible for this honor who should be standing next to me when this happens,” McPherson said. “In sports we wear jerseys because we are part of a team. The number on the jersey is meant to identify the player wearing it. To have my jersey singled out is more a moment of reflection than accomplishment. It makes me think about what I did to deserve this and that makes me think about all of the people who came before me, were at Syracuse with me and who have been there since I graduated. A significant part of my journey has been having somebody like Coach Mac in my life. When Daryl Gross called to tell me about this event, I started to write down the names of those who have impacted who I am and it quickly became too long to list everyone. I am blessed.

AP

Meandering our way through the offseason, a single one-liner at a time…

– Mike Leach might be returning to the Big 12… as an opposing coach.

– 10 of the 12 teams in the Big Ten are investing a combined $1.72 million more this year in football assistant coaches pay than they did last year.

– The Des Moines Register has a 45-minute conversation with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, replete with video and everything.

– From, again, the Des Moines Register: recruits who keep an open mind are simply playing by the rules.

– al.com takes a look at the surprising development at slot receiver for Auburn this spring.

– If you’re interested in hearing third-generation Michigan State player Riley Bullough singin’ and strummin’, click HERE.

– Michigan will, for now, open the season as 26-point favorites vs. Central Michigan.

– With skill commitments in tow, Vanderbilt will now switch its recruiting focus to the trenches.

AP

In 2012 as a high school senior, Derrick Nash led the state of Michigan in rushing.  In February, the running back signed a National Letter of Intent to play his college football at Central Michigan in what he called “the greatest moment in my life.”  Three months later, Nash received the worst news of his young life.

Leukemia, diagnosed following a trip to the emergency room for what was thought to be mono or the flu.

The prom, his graduation ceremony and even his first year of college football have been replaced by chemotherapy sessions at University Hospital in Ann Arbor.  The good news is Nash was told by doctors that “everything would be fine. I would be able to get better” and play football again after sitting out the 2013 season.

Nash, though, wasn’t sure that would be with the Chippewas, telling Hugh Bernreuter of mlive.com that he was “worried [CMU] coaches were going to give up on me.”  That was one fear in this whole process for which there was no need.

“One of the first things we told him was that he was going to play football again and that he was going to play for CMU,” Chips head coach Dan Enos (pictured) said. “Keeping him on scholarship was a no-brainer. It’s the right thing to do. That’s the philosophy from the president through the athletic director to the coaches. You do the right thing.”

Added Enos, “I can’t wait until he can run onto our field before a game wearing a CMU uniform. That’ll be a great moment for a lot of people.”

Nash will continue undergoing chemo treatments for the next five months or so, but could be released from the hospital as early as late this month.  The website writes that Nash “expects to receive a medical redshirt season and begin working toward the 2014 season” following his release.

Thoughts and prayers go out to Nash as he continues his battle to beat this insidious disease.  And here’s to hoping he realizes his dream by running out on to the field in September of 2014 with his teammates as the Chips take on Purdue.

AP

With “voluntary” summer workouts set to commence in short order, Tulsa has found itself suffering an unexpected bit of personnel attrition.

The school confirmed to Tulsa World late this past week that kicker Daniel Schwarz and wide receiver Adam Boyd will not be a part of the football program for the 2013 season and will apparently seek transfers.  As is ofttimes the case, no reasons for the departures were given.

The bigger of the two departures by far is that of Schwarz.  As a freshman last season, Schwarz was the Golden Hurricanes’ starting kicker, connecting on 12-of-18 field goal attempts and 52-of-59 extra points.  He finished second on the team in scoring with 88 points.

Taking over the kicking duties will apparently be Carl Salazar, a walk-on who has spent time at both Air Force and Oklahoma.

Boyd, a two-star member of Tulsa’s 2012 recruiting class, took a redshirt for his true freshman season.

AP

Thanks to family issues back home, Tulane will be without one its most experienced members of its receiving corp for the 2013 season.

According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, Wilson Van Hooser has asked for a release from his Tulane scholarship and will transfer out of the football program.  The reason for the transfer has nothing to do with problems with the coaching staff or off-field issues or anything of that sort.  Rather, the senior wide receiver wants to move back home to be closer to his mom, who the paper writes has undergone seven back surgeries and several other procedures looking into her brain over the past several months and is currently bedridden.

“I needed to make a big-boy decision, because I’m graduating, my older brother is getting married and Fudge (brother and Tulane teammate Walker Van Hooser) is moving into a position he’s really excited about,” Van Hooser told the Advocate. “I need to step up for my family, and I need to be the one to be back in Montgomery (Ala.) to help out as much as I can.”

While Van Hooser is leaving the Green Wave, he wants to play his final season of college football.  In a classy gesture, Van Hooser said that the Tulane coaching staff has reached out to their counterparts at Auburn and Troy in an attempt to help the player find a roster spot for the 2013 season.

That gesture wasn’t lost on Van Hooser.

“I was so impressed with the way the coaches handled it, and I hoped they would be okay with my decision,” the receiver said. “But I didn’t expect them to sympathize, and they did. These things aren’t easy.”

Van Hooser has played in 37 games the past three years, totaling 55 catches for 805 yards and nine touchdowns.  His best year came during his redshirt sophomore season in 2011 with 36 receptions for 487 yards and four touchdowns.  While he had just 11 catches in 2012, he averaged over 21 yards per reception and his five touchdown catches were tied for second on the team.

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A little over a month after signing on as a member of North Carolina’s 2011 recruiting class, Delvon Simmons was released from his Tar Heels scholarship and ultimately landed at Texas Tech.

Two years later, the defensive tackle is on the move yet again.

RedRaiderSports.com is reporting that Simmons has decided to transfer out of the Tech football program.  Apparently this doesn’t come as a shock to those who cover the team on a daily basis as Chris Level of that Rivals.com website wrote on Twitter that the player has “gone back and forth on wanting to transfer several times; this time, it’s happening.”

The Tech athletic department has yet to publicly confirm the defensive lineman’s impending departure.

As for potential transfer destinations, Simmons is already slated to visit USC this weekend.  Simmons was close to signing with the Trojans coming out of high school before (briefly) opting for the Tar Heels.

Additionally, Simmons is reportedly considering Miami, Penn State and Pittsburgh.

Simmons, who will be forced to sit out the 2013 season if he stays at the FBS level, will have two years to use two seasons of eligibility beginning in 2014.

For the 2011 recruiting class, Simmons was a four-star recruit rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania; the No. 5 defensive tackle in the country; and the No. 80 player at any position in the country.  He started all 13 games for the Red Raiders in 2012 after playing in 10 games as a true freshman in 2011.

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Ladies and gentlemen, the college football offseason!

According to FOX8-TV in Cleveland, Akron football player Seth Cunningham is facing a charge of aggravated robbery following an incident late Thursday night.  And by “incident,” we mean the cornerback allegedly held up a tobacco pipe store at gunpoint.

Per the television station, “Cunningham, 21, entered the 24-hour store on Pearl Road Monday and waved a 9mm handgun in the air. He stole a water pipe worth $447 before taking off.”

Brunswick (Ohio) police caught up with and arrested Cunningham, who they allege admitted to the robbery.  He was taken to a county jail but was subsequently released after a $30,000 bond was posted.

The Zips subsequently confirmed that Cunningham has been indefinitely suspended from the football program.

The senior cornerback played in nine games in 2012.

Meandering our way through the offseason, a single one-liner at a time…

– Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges has no problem with Devin Gardner fine-tuning his game with the help of a quarterback guru.

– The Omaha World-Herald says all the talk of more neutral site games in college football is a bunch of hot air.

– Graduating from Texas, former UT great Vince Young says the sheepskin trumps any pigskin glory he achieved with the Longhorns.

– Polynesian players are prospering at Utah.

– PennLive.com: Michael Mauti‘s rise to Penn State icon was about so much more than his play.

– al.com: Auburn legend Terry Beasley fights back during week of despair, health scares

– With Nick Saban set to be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame this weekend, some of the Tide coach’s knickknacks (get it?) will be on display.

– More than $91,000 raised for Mott Children’s Hospital by Michigan football.

AP

In December, it was announced that Daniel Jenkins would be transferring out of the Arizona football program after finishing second among Wildcat running backs in rushing yards last season.  In January, the running back took to Twitter to announce that he would be transferring to Washington State to continue his collegiate playing career.

Four months later?

Lt. Frank Drebin, take it away…

Friday night, UA head coach Rich Rodriguez announced that Jenkins had decided to leave Wazzu and transfer back to the Wildcats.  No reason was given for Jenkins’ decision to transfer back into the program from which he had left just five months ago.

Jenkins participated in spring practice at WSU and would’ve been eligible to play for the Cougars in 2013 as he had graduated from UA in December.  Now, he will be eligible to play for the Wildcats this season as a graduate transfer.

In 2012, Jenkins was third on the team in rushing behind the nation’s leading rusher Ka’Deem Carey (1,929 yards) and quarterback Matt Scott (506) with a career-high 293 yards.  As a four-star member of UA’s 2009 recruiting class, Jenkins was rated as the No. 12 all-purpose back in the country by Rivals.com.

AP

Shortly before National Signing Day this past February, it was reported that Marquise Williams was no longer enrolled at North Carolina. A couple of months later? That’s no longer the case.

UNC confirmed Friday that the quarterback is again enrolled at the school and is attending classes.  Academics prevented Williams from enrolling for the spring semester, which kept the player from participating in spring practice.

Last season, the former four-star recruit served as the primary backup to starter Bryn Renner, who returns to the Tar Heels this fall for his senior season.

Mitch Trubisky exited spring as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart as a true freshman.  Trubisky was an early enrollee after signing on as a member of the Tar Heels’ 2013 recruiting class.

As a redshirt freshman last season, Williams accounted for 127 yards passing and 186 yards rushing.  He scored four total touchdowns.

AP

Two months after being slapped with a suspension, Darius Millines, along with a teammate, has seen his career at Illinois come to an untimely end.

An Illini official confirmed to the Associated Press that Millines and defensive end Darrius Caldwell have been dismissed from the football program.  As expected, the only reason given was an unspecified violation of team rules.

The school has yet to offer up any public comments on what led to head coach Tim Beckman‘s decision to dismiss the duo.

In early March, the wide receiver was indefinitely suspended for the same set of reasons.  As a junior last season, Millines was second on the team with 319 receiving yards on 32 catches.

Caldwell played in 12 games as a redshirt freshman last season, credited with 17 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

AP

We don’t yet know to where Wes Lunt will transfer, but we do know where it won’t be.  Reportedly.

According to Jeremy Fowler of CBSSports.com, Oklahoma State is restricting the quarterback from transferring to Southern Miss as well as any SEC school.  Such restrictions would severely limit desirable destinations for Lunt as he had been considering five schools; three of them — Southern Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt — are now off-limits because of his former school in general and his ex-coach specifically.

Still on Lunt’s radar are Illinois and Louisville.  Lunt either has or will in very short order visit the Illini, who are currently considered the front-runners by default.

A school spokesperson confirmed the head-scratching restrictions to Fowler, and stated it was between OSU head coach Mike Gundy and Lunt when asked why the player would not be released to that set of schools.  It’s unclear why Gundy — ya know, the “I’m a man, I’m 40″ rant guy when it came to defending one his players from the sharp barbs of the mean ol’ media — placed such restrictions on Lunt.

The Southern Miss football program is now headed by Todd Monken, who served as Gundy’s offensive coordinator in 2011 and 2012; the Cowboys and Golden Eagles are not slated to face each other during the regular season at any point over the next nine years.  After sitting out the 2013 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules, Lunt will have three years of eligibility remaining; the only SEC school Oklahoma State will face in the regular season during that four-year timeframe is Mississippi State in 2013.

Ironically, Gundy spoke to at least two different schools this offseason about their head coaching vacancies, and would’ve been free to move to those programs without restriction.  The two schools he’s known to have spoken with about their openings?  Arkansas and Tennessee, both members of the SEC.

Excellent work, Coach Gundy.  You and your university and T. Boone should be very proud of the pettiness and double-standards on full display.  Stay classy, Stillwater.

UPDATED 6:26 p.m. ET: According to Zach Kerker, sports director at 1450 in Springfield, Ill., Lunt’s high school coach stated that his former player is also restricted from transferring to Pac-12 schools as well as Central Michigan (on OSU’s non-conference schedule in 2015 & 2016).  The reason behind the restrictions?  ”They could play in bowl games,” the coach said.

Pitiful.  Absolutely pitiful situation.

While uncertainty still abound when it comes to one high-profile member of Florida State’s 2013 recruiting class, another has seen his status clarified in a positive way by an arm of the NCAA.

FSU announced Friday that defensive end DeMarcus Walker has been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse following months of uncertainty.  Walker was an early enrollee at FSU but did not participate in spring practice due to the Clearinghouse issue.

Reportedly, the issue stemmed from an online course he had taken in high school.

“Nole Nation I just got the best news ever I’m cleared academically now,” Walker wrote in a tweet posted to his Twitter account. “I swear ever(y) school on the schedule is in trouble now. #FEAR THE SPEAR.”

Walker was a four-star member of FSU’s recruiting class this year, rated as the No. 5 strongside defensive end in the country and the No. 11 player at any position in the state of Florida.  He was rated by Rivals.com as the No. 57 player in the country.

In part because of attrition and in part because of his talent, Walker is expected to contribute immediately to the Seminoles’ line rotation.

AP

Thanks in large part to it being a (very) low point in the offseason college football news cycle, another blast directed at Nick Saban has dominated the headlines over the past couple of days.

The Alabama head coach was referred to as “the devil himself” as well as accused of lacking a personality by Florida assistant Tim Davis at a booster function.  What differentiates this from Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin‘s “Nicky Satan” blast earlier this year is the fact that Saban and Davis had a previous working relationship, leading the former to label the latter’s comments as “terribly disappointing” and seemingly being left hurt by the jabs.

During an appearance via the telephone on the Dan Patrick Show Friday, Saban addressed that topic as well as multiple other issues — including the acknowledgement that preparations for the rematch with Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M are already ongoing.  Check out the video below.

Meandering our way through the offseason, a single one-liner at a time…

– al.com: While you’re going after Nick Saban, he’s going about his business.

– Speaking of Saban, have you ever wondered what the Alabama head coach would look like with Dana Holgorsen‘s hair?  If so, today’s your lucky day.

– Losing U.S. Open tennis could lead to CBS televising early-season SEC games.

– Charlie Weis likes the hope fans have in the Jayhawks, but doesn’t want their faith to be blind.

– Auburn’s defensive line going back to basics in order to shore up its run defense.

– Eric Weddle has become an unofficial ambassador for the Utah football program.

– Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer and ESPN sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards are engaged to be married.

– Former Ole Miss quarterback Tom Luke has returned to his alma mater as the football program’s assistant athletics director for player development.

– This Georgia Tech grad assistant’s attempt at recruiting via photoshopping is bad. “Not bad meaning good but bad meaning bad,” says Run DMC.

– Not football-related, but Ohio is the most swearingest f—–g state in America.  O-F’N-H!!!

– Not football-related either, but RIP Dick Trickle.  Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em…