|
 "After long discussions with my family, friends, teammates, and
coaches, I have decided to make myself available for the 2014 NFL
Draft," Manziel said in an open letter to Texas A&M fans. "The
decision was not an easy one. Anyone who has ever watched a football
game at Kyle Field knows that leaving that atmosphere, those
Saturdays with excitement, color and noise, will be hard for me.
"I cannot begin to tell you what the support of the school, my
teammates, coach (Kevin) Sumlin, Chancellor (John) Sharp and the
fans has meant to me over the last two years. The Heisman Trophy
belongs as much to you as it does to me. My teammates and I never
doubted the value or the deep and real spirit of The 12th Man. It is
not a myth. Anyone one has ever played football for Texas A&M knows
that passion is real."
Multiple outlets reported Wednesday that Manziel filed paperwork to
officially enter the 2014 NFL Draft.
The Texas A&M redshirt sophomore, the No. 2 quarterback in the
NFLDraftScout.com rankings and 17th overall, said Monday during an
appearance on the BCS national championship telecast he was making
his final decision with his family.
The next day, he reportedly aligned with LeBron James' marketing
reps, SSG and ringleader Maverick Carter.
Manziel was only a two-year starter, but a prolific one to be sure.
He was nine yards shy of becoming the first sophomore to total
10,000 yards from scrimmage.
Manziel promises to be one of the most polarizing prospects leading
up to the May draft. While he has dazzled with his playmaking
ability in college, questions remain about his arm strength and
whether he possesses the leadership qualities to become the face of
an NFL franchise following a tumultuous offseason after winning the
Heisman.
He racked up 7,820 yards and 63 TD passes and 2,169 yards and 30
touchdowns rushing. In the Aggies' first season in the SEC, Manziel
erupted onto the scene with an upset win over No. 1 Alabama, won the
Heisman and set the single-season record for total offense (5,116
yards).
— Louisville is on the brink of bringing back former Cardinals coach
Bobby Petrino.
Yahoo! Sports reported that athletic director Tom Jurich was to meet
with Petrino's agent on Wednesday to hammer out final contract
details and that the school plans to introduce him as as their new
coach on Thursday. The official announcement would come after a
meeting with the Louisville Athletic Association's personnel
committee to approve Petrino's hiring.
Petrino emerged from six candidates who interviewed for the
Cardinals' head-coaching vacancy left by Charlie Strong's departure
to Texas.
Petrino, who completed his first season in 2013 at Western Kentucky
with an 8-4 record, was interviewed Tuesday by Louisville athetic
director Tom Jurich, ESPN reported.
The 52-year-old Petrino's first coaching gig was at Louisville,
where he went 41-9 in four seasons (2003-06) and led the Cardinals
to an Orange Bowl victory in 2006. He then left for the NFL's
Atlanta Falcons. After one season there, he moved on to Arkansas in
2008 but was fired in April 2012 after a scandal that involved a
"pattern of misleading behavior."
In December 2012, Petrino signed a four-year contract at Western
Kentucky with a base salary of $850,000.
[to top of second column] |
— San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman is scheduled
to interview with Penn State for its vacant head coaching position, CBSSports.com reported. The report did not indicate when Roman would meet with Penn
State representatives about the job. The university wants to
conclude its search soon, but Roman is preparing with the 49ers
this week for an NFC divisional game against the Carolina
Panthers. Vanderbilt coach James Franklin has been prominently
mentioned as the leading candidate to replace Bill O'Brien, who left
Penn State after two seasons to become the head coach of the Houston
Texans.
Roman has just two years of college experience while serving as an
offensive coordinator at Stanford under Jim Harbaugh, who left the
Cardinal for the 49ers and brought Roman with him.
Penn State appears to have some competition for Franklin. He is
possibly a candidate for the head-coaching jobs with the Washington
Redskins and the Cleveland Browns in the NFL.
— Notre Dame running back George Atkinson III decided to skip his
final season of eligibility with the Fighting Irish to enter the
2014 NFL Draft.
Atkinson is a freakish athlete at 219 pounds. He ran a 100-meter
time in 10.36 in the Big East Outdoor championship, the type of
blazing speed that scouts and NFL evaluators covet and will make
room for, even if he's not an ideal system fit.
Atkinson's father, George Atkinson Jr., played for the Oakland
Raiders from 1968-1977. and had 30 career interceptions. Atkinson
Jr. told Blue Gold Illustrated the decision was based on
opportunity.
Atkinson III was suspended for his final college game at Notre Dame,
the Pinstripe Bowl, for what the school described as a violation of
team rules.
He was second on the team with 555 rushing yards and has three
rushing touchdowns this season. He caught seven passes for 51 yards.
— LSU offensive line coach Greg Studrawa is leaving the program to
pursue other unspecified opportunities, the university announced.
Studrawa had been part of coach Les Miles' staff since he came to
LSU seven years ago.
"Stud (Studrawa) was a big part of our success here," Miles said in
a statement. "We won a lot of games, including a national
championship and four straight 10-win seasons, with him. We
appreciate all that Greg did for this program and wish nothing but
success for him and his family in the future."
Studrawa served as the offensive coordinator during the 2011 and
2012 seasons after health issues necessitated that Steve Kragthorpe
relinquish those duties. Longtime NFL assistant Cam Cameron joined
the LSU staff as the offensive coordinator in 2013.
— Michigan Wolverines coach Brady Hoke announced that offensive
coordinator Al Borges will not be retained for the 2014 season.
"Decisions like these are never easy," Hoke said. "I have a great
amount of respect for Al as a football coach and, more importantly,
as a person. I appreciate everything he has done for Michigan
football for the past three seasons."
Prior to joining Michigan in 2011, Borges was a member of Hoke's
staff at San Diego State in 2009 and 2010.
Michigan's offense finished the season averaging 32.2 points per
game (46th nationally), but only 373.5 yards per game (97th) and
5.44 yards per play (76th).
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
