FrontRowSportsReport.com: Sports Blog

It is about time. That is what I have to say about former Southwest Conference opponents Texas A&M Aggies and Arkansas Razorbacks resuming their rivalry. The two teams will play for the first time since 1991 when the new Texas Stadium opens in 2009. The two teams made the announcement today at the site of the new NFL stadium and will be part of a “long term agreement” starting with their first game on October 3, 2009. The Aggies and Razorbacks last played on November 16, 1991 a year before the Razorbacks left for the SEC. The Aggies beat the Razorbacks 13-3, but the Razorbacks lead the overall series 38-24-3.

There are a couple more days left in the 2008 NFL Combine, however before doing a complete wrap-up I wanted to post some of the highlights I have seen so far.

• Arkansas running back Darren McFadden ran a 4.33 40-yard dash - that is the second fastest time among running backs. Anyone who thinks he is not the top talent in the 2008 NFL Draft is a fool.
• East Carolina running back Chris Johnson ran the  40-yard dash in 4.24 seconds - tops amount backs. 4.24 is FAST - like Olympic fast.
• California wide receiver DeSean Jackson posted a position best 40 yard dash time of 4.35 seconds. What Jackson lacks in size he has in speed.
• Florida State wide receiver De’Cody Fagg suffered a serious knee injury yesterday running routes.
• Teams are very concerned about LSU’s Glenn Dorsey’s stress-fracture injury from back in 2006. Many people feel that the injury has not completely healed. Could this affect his NFL Draft ranking?
• My Prediction on who will be the biggest winner of the 2008 NFL Combine? Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib. McFadden was already at the top of the rankings so he had nowhere to go. Talib is proving he is a top position prospect and deserves to be drafted in the top 10.

Ok that is it for now, after the NFL combine is over we will do a more in-depth analysis  along with a new 2008 Mock NFL Draft.

With national signing day past us it is time to see who did the best job at getting top High School prospects to come to their school. Below are the top 10 schools with the best recruiting classes - the rankings are based on two factors: 1) How many top prospects they signed and 2) how well they did at filling gaps.

Top 10 2008 College Football Recruiting Classes

1. Clemson Tigers - The Tigers surprised a lot of people on signing day, they were able to get a bunch of players who verbally committed to other schools to switch. Top recruits: tight end Dwayne Allen, offensive tackle Antoine McClain and running back Jamie Harper.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide - New coach? So what! The Tide rolled with top wide receiver Julio Jones and offensive tackle Tyler Love.
3. Miami Hurricanes - The hurricanes joined Clemson is getting a ton of defensive talent, including linebackers Arthur Brown, Sean Spence and Ramon Buchanan.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes - The Buckeyes have the best class in the Big Ten, their class is heavy with top defensive talent including linebacker Etienne Sabino.
5. USC Trojans - The Trojans lost a couple prospects who verbally committed but, as usual, have their share of talent like top cornerback T.J. Bryant and defensive end Nick Perry.
6. Florida Gators - Like USC, the Gators lost a couple prospects but also like the Trojans they were able to get big time players like wide receiver T.J. Lawrence and safety Dee Finley.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - The Irish and Charlie Weis are coming off a horrible season and needed a big recruiting class, they got it. The Irish are bringing in top receivers Michael Floyd and Deion Walker as well as top quarterback prospect Dayne Christ.
8. Texas Longhorns - Texas is great at recruiting people who will fit need, not just going after the top player at a position - this recruiting class is no different.
9. LSU Tigers - Rolling with their BCS title the Tigers got top wide receiver Chris Tolliver and tight end Tyler Edwards, plus defensive end Chancey Aghayere.
10. Oklahoma Sooners - The Sooners have a class that could get better once a couple key prospects  decide where they are going, so for Oklahoma signed top prospects Jameel Owens at wide receiver and defensive tackle Stacy McGee.

Today is the day that the top High School prospects can officially sign with their chosen college.  Most of the athletes will stay with the schools that they verbally committed to - however things can change. Here is our first run down of who signed where and who has yet to make a official decision.

• Top quarterback recruit, and the player with the most buzz this year, Terrell Pryor did not commit anywhere and said that he needs more time to think this through.
• Top wide receiver prospect Julio Jones (ESPN #2 overall) signed with Alabama.
• Running back Jamie Harper (ESPN #3 running back) signed with the Clemson Tigers.
• Defensive End Robert Quinn has chosen North Carolina.
• Running back Joe Adams has switched from USC and signed with Arkansas.
• Top Tight End prospect Dwayne Allen switched from Georgia (who he verbally committed to) and signed with Clemson.
• Running back Jermie Calhoun has signed with Oklahoma.
• Shockingly, Al-American wide receiver Martin Bayless is going to play at non-BCS powerhouse Northwestern.
• Notre Dame Fighting Irish have signed 10 ESPN 150 players - including defensive end Ethan Johnson and quarterback Dayne Crist.
• Defensive End Nick Perry has chosen USC over Michigan.

Ok that is it for now, we will post another update from College Football Signing Day later.

The Arkansas Razorbacks are asking the NCAA to allow transfer quarterback Ryan Mallett to play in 2008, normally players that transfer have to sit out a year. Mallett, who left Michigan at the end of this season, has 3 years of eligibility left.

“After visiting with Ryan and his parents, we feel that it is appropriate to file a waiver in this case based on extenuating circumstances,” Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement. “While the outcome of the waiver request is uncertain, we feel strongly that as an institution we should offer our full support to Ryan and his family in this process.”

Mallett, a former top recruit, played 11 games for the Michigan Wolverines last year but his style of play would not fit in with new Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez’s coaching style, which focuses on a mobile QB.

Arkansas tailback and two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden will not be coming back to the Razorbacks for his senior season and will enter the 2008 NFL Draft. McFadden’s father, Graylon McFadden, is rumored to have sent the proper paperwork to the NFL offices this week. The official deadline for underclassman to petition for early draft entry is January 15th. I don’t think McFadden’s decision to head to the NFL was a big shock to anyone.

McFadden had a tremendous career at Arkansas, besides being a Heisman Trophy runner-up twice, McFadden rushed for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns. McFadden has rushed for over 1,600 the past two season - including 1,830 yards and 16 touchdowns this past College Football season.

We have McFadden as our #1 running back on the draft board and currently going to the New England Patriots with the 7th pick overall in our 2008 Mock NFL Draft.

With most of the secondary college football bowl games complete it is now time to pick the winners of the big bowl games (and a couple not so big ones) that are starting tomorrow January 1st.

College Football Bowls

Tuesday, January 1st

Sugar Bowl
#10 Hawaii vs #5 Georgia
My Pick: Georgia
I am really excited to watch this game because I have always enjoyed watching Colt Brennan throw the ball. I would love to pick an upset here and hope that Hawaii can become this years Boise State, but I just don’t see it. Georgia is looking to make a statement and prove they are a better team, I expect both teams to come out swinging for the fences but in the Georgia’s depth will outlast and outgun the Rainbow Warriors.

Cotton Bowl
#6 Missouri vs Arkansas
My Pick: Arkansas
Is Missouri for real? Yes, I think that they are – but that doesn’t mean they can beat a good Arkansas team. Darren McFadden is going to have a career day and set the pace for a big Arkansas win.

Rose Bowl
#13 Illinois vs #7 USC
My Pick: USC
I see this game being the most lopsided of all the BCS bowl games. Illinois is a good team but USC has so much more talent. USC, playing almost a home game, will throw, run and do anything they want against Illinois.

Capital One Bowl
Michigan vs #12 Florida
My Pick: Florida
Remember that loss to Appalachian State? Remember their coach issues? Remember Tim Tebow and his Heisman Trophy? Florida wins this game, but it will be close.

Outback Bowl
#16 Tennessee vs #18 Wisconsin
My Pick: Tennessee
Both teams are good, but not great. This is going to be the closest one of the day.

Gator Bowl
Texas Tech vs #20 Virginia
My Pick: Virginia
Virginia’s defense is really good and Texas Tech wont be able to do much.

Wednesday, January 2^nd

Fiesta Bowl
#9 West Virginia vs #4 Oklahoma
My Pick: West Virginia
Another great game, the deciding factor for me is that West Virginia will be coming out with major motivation and will try and prove they are the best team in the nation – despite losing to Pittsburgh. The only thing the Mountaineers need to be careful of his keeping focused with the whole Rich Rodriguez moving to Michigan.

Thursday, January 3^rd

Orange Bowl
#8 Kansas vs #3 Virginia Tech
My Pick: Virginia Tech
Just like Missouri, Kansas will be looking to show that they belong. They will make it a came but I do believe that Virginia Tech’s talent is too deep and athletic for Kansas to stay with them all game.

Saturday, January 5^th

International Bowl
Ball State vs Rutgers
My Pick: Rutgers
Rutgers in a toss-up. Remember when we all thought the Scarlet Knights were a BCS contender going into the season?

Sunday, January 6^th

GMAC Bowl
Tulsa vs Bowling Green
My Pick: Tulsa

Monday, January 7^th

BCS Championship Game
#2 LSU vs #1 Ohio State
My Pick: LSU
Oh the big game everyone will be waiting for, the good thing of this match-up is that once LSU roles over Ohio State there wont be any argument as to whom is the real national champion. I have said all season that Ohio State is over-rated and LSU will prove me right. Go Tigers!

College Football is buzzing tonight with the news that Bobby Petrino has suddenly resigned as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. After just 13 games in the NFL this season the word around town is that he is heading to Arkansas to be the new head coach of the Razorbacks - a position that has been surprisingly hard to fill once Houston Nutt left and went to Mississippi.

Petrino left Louisville last season to join the Falcons, signing a 5 year, $24 million contract.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Petrino called the Falcons early this evening and resigned - both Petrino and the Falcons agreed he would not coach the remaining three games.

It will be interesting to see what backlash will come out of this. The Falcons have had their share of bad luck this year, does the name Michael Vick ring a bell?  The news of Petrino leaving cant sit will with the players who have had to deal with so much.  Once Petrino does make the official announcement it will be interesting to hear what he has to say on the matter.