Wazzu adds 24 as part of 2013 signing class

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(Below are the bios released by Washington State on the new members of its 2013 recruiting class.)

The following student-athletes signed Financial Aid Agreements or a National Letter of Intent and enrolled at WSU in January and are attending classes:

LYMAN FAOLIU
Defensive End
6-2 / 275
Vallejo, Calif. / Vallejo HS / College of San Mateo ‘12

FAOLIU’S JUNIOR COLLEGE CAREER
Attended College of San Mateo…as a FRESHMAN, tallied 36 tackles with 6.5 tackles-for-loss including two sacks…also intercepted one pass and forced one fumble…as a SOPHOMORE, named to the All-NorCal Conference team…recorded 46 tackles including 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks…also recovered a fumble…rated three stars by Rivals.com and member of ESPN’s Top-100 Junior College players…enrolled in January and have three years to play two.

FAOLIU’S HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
Attended Vallejo High School…as a JUNIOR, earned all-league second team honors as a defensive lineman…as a SENIOR, named all-league first team as both an offensive and defensive lineman…also threw shotput and discus.

IVAN McLENNAN
Linebacker
6-3 / 220
Hawthorne, Calif. / Leuzinger HS ‘11 / El Camino College ‘12

MCLENNAN’S JUNIOR COLLEGE CAREER
Attended …as a FRESHMAN, earned All-Central Conference honors after making 77 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks…intercepted one pass and recovered three fumbles…as a SOPHOMORE earned Junior College All-American honors and First Team All-Central Conference honors after making 79 stops including 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks…had one interception he returned of a touchdown…also forced a fumble and recovered one…rated three stars by Rivals.com…rated the No. 24 junior college prospect and No. 2 outside linebacker prospect by 247Sports.com.

MCLENNAN’S HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
Attended Leuzinger High School…as a SENIOR, named All-Bay League i rst team and defensive MVP of 2011 Lions All-Star game.

JACOB SEYDEL
Offensive Lineman
6-6 / 285
Riverside, Calif. / Arlington HS ’11 / Riverside City College ‘13

SEYDEL’S COLLEGE CAREER
Attended Riverside City College…full qualifier out of high school, went to junior college route…as a FRESHMAN, earned All-Central Conference second team honors…enrolled at UCLA following freshman year but came back to Riverside for the 2012 season…as a SOPHOMORE, named to All-Central Conference first team…rated two stars by Rivals.com…enrolled in January and will have three to play two.

SEYDEL’S HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
Attended Arlington High School…as a SOPHOMORE, named All-Inland Valley League honorable mention…as a JUNIOR, earned First Team All-Inland Valley League honors and helped Lions to a 10-2 record…as a SENIOR, named First Team All-Inland Valley League and helped AHS to a 9-2 record.

ROBERT LEWIS
Wide Receiver
5-10, 160
South Gate, Calif. (South East HS)

As a SOPHOMORE made 14 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns and carried 137 times for 1,085 yards and seven scores…as a JUNIOR earned second team All-Los Angeles and first team All-Eastern League honors…rushed 142 times for 1,090 yards and seven scores…caught 14 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns…had two punt returns for touchdowns, one kickoff return for a touchdown and also scored once on a fake punt…as a SENIOR was named the Player of the Year in the division, league and region…led South East HS to a 13-1 record and its inaugural City Section D-II Championship…also played running back, safety and returned kicks…scored 36 total touchdowns…had 203 carries for 2,023 yards and 30 touchdowns, and 20 receptions of 338 yards…as a defensive back made 59 tackles, five interceptions and blocked three kicks…named All-Area First Team by the Los Angeles Times and was All-Los Angeles City Section Division II Team…ranked the nation’s No. 10 running back prospect by Rivals.com…named No. 26 prospect in California by ESPNU…rated four stars by ESPNU rated the No. 106 overall prospect in the West Top 150 by Scout.com…rated the No. 13 wide receiver prospect in the West by FoxSportsNext.com.

B.J. SALMONSON
Offensive Lineman
6-5, 285
Everson, Wash. (Nooksack Valley HS)

As a JUNIOR named first-team Class 1A all-state as a defensive lineman and all-state honorable mention as an offensive lineman by Associated Press…named all-classii cations Whatcom County and first-team all-NWC on both lines… finished season with 78 tackles (30 solo) including 16.5 for loss and 9.5 sacks…as a SENIOR named to 2011 Ron Siegel Washington State Preseason Senior All-State Team…named i rst-team all-state on offensive line by Associated Press… named to Seattle Times Red Chip list.

The following signees plan to enroll at WSU in August, 2013:

DAQUAWN BROWN
Cornerback
6-0 / 175
Los Angeles, Calif. / Dorsey HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Dorsey High School….as a JUNIOR, earned all-league second team honors after making 52 tackles, 30 solo, and three interceptions…as a SENIOR, named All-City Section i rst team, All-Coliseum League first team and All-Region first team by the Los Angeles Times …made 55 tackles, five interceptions and broke up 10 passes…returned two kickoffs for touchdowns…selected to play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl…named Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the Cal-State All-America game…named to the West Top 150 by Scout.com…rated three stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com…ranked the No. 33 cornerback in the country and No. 55 overall prospect in California by Rivals.com…high school teammates with current Cougar linebacker Jeremiah Allison.

TYLER BRUGGMAN
Quarterback
6-2 / 202
Phoenix, Ariz. / Brophy College Prep ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Brophy College Prepatory and played for coach Scooter Molander…as a SOPHOMORE, earned All-Region honorable mention after passing for 1,304 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions…as a JUNIOR, helped Brophy Prep to an 11-1 record…named Phoenix Metro Player of the Year by Arizona Republic after completing 156-of-259 passes for 2,497 yards and 37 touchdowns and two interceptions…as a SENIOR, guided Brophy Prep to an 11-3 record and earned all classification All-State second team by the Arizona Football Coaches Association…also named All-State Division I honorable mention by Arizona Republic, Division I Section III Offensive Player of the Year …completed 177-of-323 (.548) passes for 2,803 yards with 33 touchdowns and eight interceptions…also rushed for four touchdowns…threw for 300+ yards three times and tossed 3+ touchdowns seven times…threw for 368 yards and six touchdowns against Pinnacle High School….named to Academic All-State first team…rated four stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com… one of 12 quarterbacks named to the Western 100 by the Tacoma News Tribune…ranked the No. 49 overall prospect in the West Top 150 by Scout.com…ranked the No. 18 quarterback prospect in the country by Rivals.com…ranked the No. 2 overall prospect and top quarterback prospect in Arizona by ESPN.com.

RIVER CRACRAFT
Wide Receiver
6-2 / 205
Trabuco Canyon, Calif. / Santa Margarita HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Santa Margarita High School…as a JUNIOR, earned All-State, All-CIF and All-Trinity League honors after catching 46 passes for 654 yards and six touchdowns…helped SMHS to a CIF State D1 title…as a SENIOR, named All-County by the Orange County Register and Trinity League Offensive Player of the Year after recording 51 receptions for 935 yards and 10 touchdowns…also intercepted one pass and recorded i ve pass breakups…selected to play in South Bay BMW West Coast Bowl, caught two passes for 32 yards including a 17-yard touchdown…rated three stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com…ranked the No. 91 overall prospect out of California by ESPN.com…high school teammates with fellow Cougar signee Riley Sorenson.

ISAAC DOTSON
ATHLETE
6-3 / 210
Bellevue, Wash. / Newport HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Newport High School…as a JUNIOR, rushed for 741 yards and 12 touchdowns…also passed for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns…also named All-League in basketball…as a SENIOR, earned All-Area honors by the Seattle Times and allleague i rst team after rushing for 1,047 yards and 17 touchdowns…also threw for 765 yards and 11 touchdowns…named a red chip prospect, one of Washington’s top 100 prospects by the Seattle Times…rated three stars by Rivals.com and ESPN.com…ranked the No. 16 prospect in Washington by ESPN.com…father, Michael, wrestled for the Cougars 1983-86, was a three-time NCAA and Pac-10 qualii er and earned All-American honors as junior.

DANIEL EKUALE
Defensive Line
6-4 / 290
Pago Pago, American Samoa / Nuuuli Technical HS ‘12

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Nuuuli Techincal High School, graduated in 2012…rated three stars by Scout.com…ranked the No. 92 defensive tackle prospect by Scout.com and America Samoa’s top overall prospect by 247sports.com.

CARLOS FREEMAN
Offensive Line
6-3 / 290
Oklahoma City, Okla. / Midwest City HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Midwest City High School…as a SENIOR, helped MCHS to an 11-1 record and earned All-State accolades from the Oklahoma Coaches Association…named District 3 Offensive Lineman of the Year…also ranked state’s No. 1 heavyweight wrestler… allowed just one sack in 23 career starts…named to The Oklahoman’s Super 30 prospect list for the state of Oklahoma…rated three stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com…ranked the No. 25 center prospect in the country by Scout.com and the No. 11 overall prospect out of Oklahoma by ESPN.com…carries a 4.0 GPA.

DARIUS LEMORA
Safety
6-0 / 185
Port Arthur, Texas / Memorial HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Memorial High School…as a JUNIOR, earned 5A All-State honorable mention by the Associated Press…as a SENIOR, earned All-District second team after making 54 tackles, two sacks and two pass breakups…earned Academic All-District first team…rated two stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com…named the No. 96 safety prospect in the country by ESPN.com.

PAULO LEPUA
Defensive Line
6-3 / 265
Habor City, Calif. / Narbonne HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Narbonne High School…as a JUNIOR, tallied 14 sacks…as a SENIOR, named Los Angeles City Lineman of the Year, All-City Section first team and All-Area by the Los Angeles Times and South Bay Daily Breeze Defensive Player of the Year after recording 26 sacks…All-State first team by calhisports.com…selected to play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, made three tackles including one sack… ranked the No. 64 overall prospect in the West Top 150 by Scout.com… one of 11 defensive linemen named to the Western 100 by the Tacoma News Tribune…rated three starts by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com…rated the No. 41 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com.

COLE MADISON
Tight End
6-6 / 270
Burien, Wash. / Kennedy HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Kennedy High School…as a SOPHOMORE, earned First Team All-Seamount League at defensive tackle and offensive tackle…as a JUNIOR, named First Team All-Seamount League as a tight end and defensive end and Seamount League Offensive Lineman of the Year…tallied 15 receptions for 265 yards along with 37 tackles and two sacks…invited to Army Bowl Junior Class Combine…as a SENIOR, First Team 3A All-State by the Associated Press…named Defensive Interior Player of the Year and First Team All-Seamount League as a tight end and as a defensive lineman…also earned all-league honors in basketball three times…named to the West Top 150 by Scout.com…ranked the No. 9 guard prospect in the West by Scout.com…rated three stars by ESPN.com and Scout.com…ranked the No. 42 guard in the country by Scout.com and the No. 14 overall prospect in Washington by ESPN.com.

VINCE MAYLE
Wide Receiver
6-3 / 220
Natomas, Calif. / Inderkum HS / Sierra College ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Inderkum High School…as a SENIOR, rushed for 661 yards and caught 11 passes for 299 yards…also made a team-best 12 sacks.

JUNIOR COLLEGE
Played basketball for Shasta Community College in 2009-10…attended Sierra College to play football in 2012……as a SOPHOMORE in 2012, named to the All-America i rst team by the California Community College Association, All-California and Valley Conference Offensive MVP after leading all California Junior Colleges with 16 touchdown catches…tallied 61 receptions for 984 yards…rated four stars and a top-5 junior college WR prospect by ESPN.com.

MATT MEYER
Offensive Line
6-6 / 290
Lynden, Wash. / Lynden HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Lynden High School…as a JUNIOR, earned All-Northwest Conference second team…helped football and basketball teams to 2A State Championships and the baseball team to the championship game……also named All-NWAC first team in basketball and baseball…earned all-league second teams honors in football and all-league first team in basketball and baseball…as a SENIOR, earned all-league honors at both offensive line and defensive end and helped LHS to its second straight2A State Championship…named All-State offensive lineman by the Seattle Times and the Associated Press…earned All-State honors at defensive end by the Tacoma News Tribune…named a red chip prospect by the Seattle Times…rated three stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com.

JAMAL MORROW
Running Back
5-8 / 180
Menifee, Calif. / Heritage HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Heritage High School…as a SOPHOMORE, rushed for 731 yards and eight touchdowns…as a JUNIOR, rushed 207 times for a school-record 1,777 yards and 21 touchdowns…also caught 15 passes for 139 yards…as a SENIOR, named to All-CIF Central Division first team, All-Valley Offensive Player of the Year, All-Area by the Press Enterprise and Sunbelt League Player of the Year after rushing for a school-record 2,092 yards and 15 touchdowns…reached the 200-yard mark six times…also caught two touchdown passes…averaged 9.96 yards-per-carry and helped HHS to the CIF Southern Section semifinals…also made 26 tackles, two interceptions and forced two fumbles…rated three stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com…ranked the No. 84 running back prospect in the country by Scout.com.

CODY O’CONNELL
Offensive Line
6-8 / 350
Wenatchee, Wash. / Wenatchee HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Wenatchee High School…as a JUNIOR, named All-Big Nine second team…named Offensive Line MVP as the NW Elite Football Camp in May, 2012…as a SENIOR, earned all-classifications All-State honors by the Seattle Times and Tacoma News Tribune despite missing most of season with knee injury…also named 4A All-State by the Associated Press and Big Nine Lineman of the Year… named a red chip prospect, one of Washington’s top 20 prospects by the Seattle Times…rated three stars by ESPN.com and Rivals.com…rated the No. 75 offensive tackle prospect in the country and No. 10 overall prospect in Washington by ESPN.com… honorable mention Northwest Nugget by the Tacoma News Tribune.

PEYTON PELLUER
Linebacker
6-2 / 225
Sammamish, Wash. / Skyline HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Skyline High School…as a SOPHOMORE, earned 4A All-State honors by the Associated Press after making 176 total tackles including 110 solo…as a JUNIOR, helped SHS to a state championship and named 4A All-State by the Associate Press after making 153 total tackles including 122 solo…as a SENIOR, helped SHS repeat as state champions…was named First Team All-State by the Seattle Times and Tacoma News Tribune and 4A All-State by the ¬Associated Press after making 55 tackles including 40 solo, two sacks and one interception…missed four games due to an injury…selected to play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, led the West team with six tackles, including three solo…named a red chip prospect, one of Washington’s top 20 prospects by the Seattle Times…rated four stars ESPN.com and three stars by Rivals.com..ranked the No. 25 middle linebacker prospect in the country and the No. 5 overall prospect in Washington by ESPN.com…one of 14 linebackers named to the Western 100 by the Tacoma News Tribune…named an honorable mention Northwest Nugget by the Tacoma News Tribune…father, Scott, started at linebacker for the Cougars 1977-80 and played five seasons in NFL for the New Orleans Saints…grandfather, John, played end for WSU 1953-55 and his great grandfather, Carl Gustafson, played flanker for the Cougars from 1925-27 and was given WSU’s Fred Bohler Award for inspiration…uncle, Steve, played quarterback at Washington and later played eight years in the NFL, five for the Dallas Cowboys and three for the Kansas City Chiefs.

RILEY SORENSON
Offensive Lineman
6-5 / 320
Santa Margarita, Calif. / Santa Margarita HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Santa Margarita High School…three-year starter at SMSH…as a SOPHOMORE, named All-State SuperSoph Team by GoldenStatePrep.com…as a JUNIOR, named All-Trinity League first team and helped SMHS to a California Division I State Championship…as a SENIOR, named All-Trinity League first team…rated three stars by ESPN.com. Rivals.com and Scout.com…ranked the No. 67 offensive line prospect in the country by Scout.com…high school teammates with fellow Cougar signee River Cracraft.

GERALD STERLING
Defensive Line
6-4 / 275
Aliceville, Ala. / Aliceville HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Aliceville High School…as a JUNIOR, recorded 15 sacks and also caught two touchdowns as a tight end…as a SENIOR, tallied 15 sacks, forced 10 fumbles, recovered four fumbles and blocked one field goal…also rushed for five touchdowns rated three stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com…ranked the No. 79 defensive tackle prospect in the country and No. 33 overall prospect out of Alabama by ESPN.com.

EMMITT SU’A-KALIO
Defensive Line
6-4 / 250
Pago Pago, American Samoa / Kanana Fou HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Kanana Fou High School…rated two stars by Scout.com…chose WSU over Utah, Wisconsin and Colorado.

CHARLESTON WHITE
Defensive Back
6-1 / 170
Amarillo, Texas / Palo Duro HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Palo Duro High School…as a JUNIOR, had 46 receptions for 759 yards and six touchdowns…as a SENIOR, earned 4A All-District 3 i rst team honors as a wide receiver and a defensive back after making 50 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions and catching 26 passes for 557 yards and six scores…rated three starts by ESPN.com and two stars by Scout.com…rated the No. 209 wide receiver prospect in the country by ESPN.com.

GERARD WICKS
Running Back
5-10 / 195
Carson, Calif. / Long Beach Poly HS ‘13

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Long Beach Poly High School…as a JUNIOR, rushed for 772 yards and 11 touchdowns…averaged 8.0 yards-percarry…as a SENIOR, named Pac-5 Division Offensive Player of the Year and All-CIF Pac-5 Division i rst team…also named to All-Area Team by Long Beach Telegram after rushing 156 times for 1,596 yards and 20 touchdowns…also named the Division 1 All-State team by MaxPreps…selected to play in South Bay BMW West Coast Bowl, rushed 10 times for 52 yards…named to the West Top 150 by Scout.com…one of 10 running backs named to the Western 100 by the Tacoma News Tribune…rated three stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com…ranked the No. 51 running back in the country and the No. 77 overall prospect in California by Rivals.com

AP

Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater ended the 2012-13 season as one of the early preseason Heisman favorites for the upcoming year. Whether he makes it to New York next December remains to be seen, but if he does, the senior doesn’t want any help from the school.

Per WDRB.com, Bridgewater asked his coaches for no Heisman campaign from the program.

“He went to the coaches not wanting a Heisman-type campaign,” UL SID Rocco Gasparro said. “He wanted it to be about team and if we won as a team individual recognition would come anyway. It says a lot about the character of Teddy, I think, and how much his team means to him.”

If nothing else, it’s a departure from his tone toward the Heisman last month. When asked in April if he would mind the school putting on a Heisman campaign for him, Bridgewater said ”Not at all. It’s something that I’ve been training for my whole life to be in these shoes, and at this stage, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

That’s because there isn’t, but if Bridgewater really is more focused on the bigger picture, good on him. If he — if Louisville — has a great year with the more than manageable schedule the Cardinals face, he’ll probably be in New York either way.

AP

Given the boot from Boise State earlier this month for violating team rules, defensive lineman Sam Ukwuachu says he’s found his transfer destination. And it’s back in his home state of Texas.

Speaking to Sic’EmSports.com, Ukwuachu says it’s a “done deal” that he will transfer to Baylor early next month. The redshirt freshman recently visited Waco and chose the Bears over Florida and Utah. Baylor cannot comment on the news until Ukwuachu officially enrolls.

“Baylor was my best option. It’s close to home. It’s a good program. [Boise St. Chris Petersen] really helped me to where I wanted to go. Things just didn’t work out up there,” Ukwuachu told the site, adding that while he was reportedly dismissed from the team, he and Petersen came to a mutual understanding that it was best to part ways. Ukwuachu also missed Boise’s spring practice because of what Petersen called “personal things.”

Ukwuachu played in all 13 games for the Broncos last season, including 12 starts. He was named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.

Barring a special waiver, Ukwuachu will have to sit out a season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.

AP

Like many of you, I’m sure, I was glued to the television yesterday watching as a horrifying tornado ripped through central Oklahoma.

While Monday’s events are separate from football, there is a football angle. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and his family live just south of Moore, OK, a town unfortunately hit hard by yesterday’s storm. Stoops said his family could see the tornado through their back window; he was working at OU’s football offices at the time.

“It crossed over just north of us and just about a mile from our home,” said Stoops.

To his knowledge, no player was directly affected by yesterday’s tornado. However, two assistant OU coaches, a grad assistant and strength coach, lost their homes.

We’re glad Stoops, his family, and the entire OU family, are safe. And certainly our thoughts go out to those who were not so lucky.

(Hat tip: the Oklahoman) 

AP

What do coaches always say to quarterbacks? You better be able to make all the throws in your playbook blindfolded?

Johnny Manziel says “challenge accepted.”

Known more for his improv ability, the Heisman Trophy winner showed off his throwing accuracy as well during a “Zorro drill” while training with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. Blindfolded, Manziel tossed just two uncatchable balls out of 29 attempts. Not too shabby.

“I have always said he has the best antenna in football,” Whitfield said. “I think he just proved that.”

And if anyone needs anymore proof, here’s a video of one of the passes.

It might not be on the level of a trick shot video, but it’s impressive nevertheless.

(Hat tip: Fort Worth Star-Telegram) 

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Tragically, the Little Casears Pizza Bowl and its accompanying mascots (pictured) are likely no more. At least when it comes to its current venue.

According to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, the Detroit Lions are expected to create and operate their own bowl game that will be played at Ford Field beginning in 2014. The unnamed bowl would match teams from the ACC and Big Ten rather than the Big Ten and MAC, which is the current tie-in setup for the Pizza Bowl.

Et tu, Detroit?

The ACC and Big Ten are already headed toward a Pinstripe Bowl matchup with many bowl contracts expiring after the 2013 season. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has made a point that he plans on emphasizing more attractive bowl matchups in the future and the Little Casesars Pizza Bowl has been far down the conference’s pecking order. Where this new bowl places on the Big Ten’s new lineup remains to be seen, but an ACC opponent would be an upgrade.

Conversely, the loser in this scenario, should it come to fruition, would be the MAC. And anyone who loves Little Caesars. Bowl officials told the Detroit Free Press that the game could be moved to Comerica Park in Detroit, but it’s overall future appears to be very much in doubt.

AP

Tight end Jake Golic (pictured left) never made much of an impact on the field for Notre Dame. That’s understandable considering he sat behind guys like Tyler Eifert and Kyle Rudolph. Now, the son of former Irish and NFL defensive lineman Mike Golic will spend his final year of eligibility somewhere else.

Mike Golic said on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” that his son will transfer to Cincinnati as a grad student and be eligible to play right away. Officially, UC cannot comment on the transfer until he enrolls. The Bearcats are looking to replace the productivity of Travis Kelce, who was taken in the third round of last month’s NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Golic will rejoin former Notre Dame teammate Gunner Kiel at Cincinnati. The quarterback was added to UC’s roster last month.

AP

With 100 days left before the start of the college football season, the watch lists are already underway. Yesterday, the preseason Rimington Trophy watch list was released. There are 44 eligible linemen on this year’s list with 17 players returning from last year’s watch list.

Of the 44, nine players are from the SEC, while the PAC-12 and Mountain West Conference each have five candidates listed. Last year’s winner was Barrett Jones from Alabama (pictured).

David Andrews, Jr., Georgia
Russell Bodine, Jr., North Carolina
Evan Boehm, So., Missouri
Jake Brendel, So., UCLA
Betim Bujari, Jr., Rutgers
Ben Clarke, So., Hawaii
Sean Conway, Sr., Western Kentucky
Dillon Day, Jr., Mississippi State
Reese Dismukes, Jr., Auburn
Dominic Espinosa, Jr., Texas
Dillon Farrell, Sr., New Mexico
Jay Finch, Sr., Georgia Tech
B.J. Finney, Jr., Kansas State
Matt Galas, Jr.,  Nevada
Bryce Giddens, So., Arkansas State
Hroniss Grasu, Jr., Oregon
Gus Handler, Sr., Colorado
Jonotthan Harrison, Jr., Florida
Andre Huval, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette
Gabe Ikard, Sr., Oklahoma
Travis Jackson, Jr., Michigan State
David Kekuewa, Jr., Bowling Green
Ryan Kelly, So., Alabama
Zac Kerin, Sr., Toledo
Kody Koebensky, Sr., Arizona State
Tyler Larsen, Sr., Utah State
Taylor Lasecki, So., SMU
Corey Linsley, Jr., Ohio State
Macky MacPherson, Sr., Syracuse
Mike Marboe, Jr., Idaho
Shane McDermott, Jr., Miami
Cole Pensick, Sr., Nebraska
Ryan Powis, Jr., Army
Bryce Redman, Jr., Houston
Austin Reiter, Jr., USF
Weston Richburg, Jr., Colorado State
Isaac Seumalo, Sr., Oregon State
James Stone, Sr., Tennessee
Bryan Stork, Sr., Florida State
Travis Swanson, Sr., Arkansas
Evan Swindall, Sr., Mississippi
Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, Jr., New Mexico State
Brandon Vitabile, Jr., Northwestern
Robert Waterman, Jr., UNLV

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Some links from around college football on a Tuesday… 

• Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are reaching out to help the victims of yesterday’s devastating tornado.
• Are coaches keeping the potential for multiyear scholarships a secret from athletes? An interesting read here from the Chronicle of Higher Education.
• The Sports Business Journal asks if the ACC is late to the conference network party.
• Speaking of the ACC, Maryland’s 2014 game against Virginia Tech at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium is on hold for now.
• The Washington Post has obtained the documents in the ACC-Maryland dismissal hearing.
• Bill O’Brien will be featured on Tuesday night’s episode of “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” on HBO. It sounds like it’ll be worth viewing if you get the channel.
• Indiana got a late addition from a 320-pound offensive lineman.
• The pretrial hearing for Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has been delayed.
• A lot of rumors are circulating about Notre Dame commit Eddie Vanderdoes.
• Alabama’s shattered BCS trophy is still worth a pretty penny apparently.

The Military Bowl is getting a venue change, and a slightly more appropriate one at that.

With the announcement Monday that Conference USA added a tie-in to the Military Bowl came the official news that the bowl would be moving from RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington D.C. to Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis where the Naval Academy plays its home football games.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post and ESPN’s Brett McMurphy reported the move earlier Monday morning. The game, previously known as the EagleBank Bowl until 2010, has been held at RFK stadium since it’s beginnings in 2008.

The game will select last in the ACC’s bowl lineup and give C-USA six bowl tie-ins in 2013. However, Navy is not precluded from playing in the bowl despite the fact it will now be held at the Academy’s home site.

The Midshipmen lost the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in 2008 to Wake Forest.

(Photo: NavySports.com) 

AP

Less than a month after granted his release from Arkansas, quarterback Brandon Mitchell has found a new home to finish his collegiate career.

Mitchell told ESPN’s Joe Schad he has decided to enroll at North Carolina State for his final year of eligibility.

“I like the culture, coaches, expectations within the program starting all the way at the top, and most importantly chemistry,” Mitchell told Schad. “I felt I built it with players in just three days. Bottom line is I want to win, and I want to win now. They have the best opportunity there for success and just had one missing piece.”

Because Mitchell is graduating from Arkansas this year, he will be eligible to play immediately. With the departure of Mike Glennon, Mitchell should have an opportunity to compete for the Wolfpack’s starting quarterback job, though Mitchell could play the role of an offensive athlete as well.

Either way, Mitchell will join former Florida QB Jacoby Brissett, who transferred to NC State earlier this year.

Reuters

Suspended for spring practice for violating team rules, Alabama wide receiver Danny Woodson will transfer to another in-state school.

Per al.com, Woodson will transfer to South Alabama. Jaguars coach Joey Jones confirmed the move during Sun Belt spring meetings.

“We’re very excited about having Danny Woodson at South Alabama,” Jones said. “I really admired his play in high school and we wanted him very badly out of high school. Of course we understood when he signed with Alabama. But we believe we have a potential All-America-type receiver coming here and we’re obviously very excited.”

Woodson, a former four-star receiver for the Tide, had one catch for nine yards in six games last year. He redshirted his freshman season in 2011 and must sit out a year to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.

AP

As John noted late last week, three of Wes Lunt‘s five possible transfer destinations – Southern Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt — were reportedly deemed off-limits at the discretion of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. That left Lunt with two schools — Louisville and Illinois — to consider out of his original five.

According to ESPN’s Joe Schad, Lunt has already taken an unofficial visit to Illinois. Schad writes that Lunt feels comfortable with offensive coordinator Bill Cubit‘s offense and has a good relationship with Illini coach Tim Beckman. But while a visit to Champaign was expected for Lunt, the reasons behind Gundy’s decision to block certain schools from the QB’s transfer wish list have been more vague. That’s where Schad provides some clarity.

Schad reports that reasons for the restrictions include:

• That Lunt allegedly cited a desire to transfer “closer to home” and that those blocked schools are not “closer to home.”
• The belief that at least some coaches at some interested schools improperly contacted Lunt.
• The possibility Oklahoma State could face some of the blocked conferences in a bowl game.

If true, it would shed some light on why Gundy did what he did. Of course, it still looks bad for Gundy given that he’s just months removed from being a reported candidate for both the Arkansas and Tennessee jobs. And, for clarification purposes, Lunt can transfer wherever he wants; getting a grant-in-aid during his first year at his new school is what’s at stake.

Generally speaking, the fact that a coach can go from job to job with no consequence (outside of a buyout) while placing restrictions on players is ridiculous. The NCAA is providing some help to give athletes immediate eligibility in more pressing cases, though it has no bearing on those restrictions.

Getty Images

Larry Scott made a big splash as Pac-12 commissioner when he landed a multi-billion television deal for his conference that will make it among the richest in college athletics.

In that vein, Scott has upstaged his own league. Citing tax records, the Wall Street Journal reports Scott made over $3 million for the 2011-12 year. That amount would apparently make him the highest paid commissioner at the college level. Scott’s total salary of $3,022,462 breaks down into $1,575,000 in base salary, $1,376,000 from a bonus and additional compensation of $71,462.

For reference, that’s a couple hundred thousand more than Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany and about twice as much as SEC commish Mike Slive.

But who’s counting?

Can’t say it’s not deserved, though. Scott has done a tremendous job with the Pac-12′s exposure over the last few years.

AP

Miami’s response to its Notice of Allegations is due today  as the university heads toward a June hearing in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions. The program hasn’t suppressed its feelings about the NCAA’s investigation, however. UM president Donna Shalala has called for no additional sanctions beyond the ones self-imposed by the school and a motion to dismiss the case was reportedly filed in March.

Most of that, of course, stems from the fact that the investigation reached FUBAR status earlier this year when the NCAA revealed it had to investigate itself due to improper conduct by its enforcement staff.

Now, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports an unnamed former Hurricanes assistant is pointing fingers as well, although this time at the SEC.

Here’s what Jackson noted in his Sunday column:

One former UM coach accused of wrongdoings complained privately that what the ex-UM coaches allegedly did paled in comparison to unreported violations committed in the SEC.

Without any names or examples, it’s hard to take that kind of cliché accusation seriously. Or, perhaps SEC programs followed Andy Staples‘ seven steps to successful cheating. Besides, it’s UM that’s under the microscope here, not the SEC. Attempting call someone else out isn’t going to change anything.

What could change the direction of this case, though, is if Miami provides enough evidence to support its case being tossed now that its response to the NOA has reportedly been filed.

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

– Anderson Independent Mail: Clemson’s Sammy Watkins enters ’13 as ACC, national receiver to beat.

– The Sun Belt Conference has unveiled a new logo, motto.

– The Birmingham News reminds us that the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 is not just about Nick Saban.

– For what it’s worth, Spartans middle linebacker Max Bullough garnered the most votes in an mlive.com poll that asked “Which Michigan State or Michigan football player would you pick first?”

– Chuck Landon of the Huntington Herald-Dispatch has an interesting view on Twitter seemingly taking over the sports universe.

– In what should serve as hopeful news for Vol Nation, head coach Butch Jones is going nonstop when it comes to beefing up recruiting at Tennessee.

– The Daily Oklahoman takes note of Oklahoma State’s looking to make recruiting inroads out West.

– Is Oklahoma looking to go tall at the wide receiver position on the recruiting trail?

– Arizona Republic: Former Arizona State quarterback Andrew Walter gave signals that he might be suited for politics.