Tag: Adam Rittenberg

Tigers take a tumble in ESPN’s future quarterback power rankings

On Thursday, ESPN released its quarterback future power rankings for college football (subscription required). The list projects the top 25 quarterback situations for the next three seasons (2022, 2023 and 2024) and is based on the QBs currently on …

On Thursday, ESPN released its quarterback future power rankings for college football (subscription required).

The list projects the top 25 quarterback situations for the next three seasons (2022, 2023 and 2024) and is based on the QBs currently on each roster, while also considering other factors such as returning starters, recruiting, depth, coaching and the potential for players to enter the NFL draft early/enter the transfer portal.

In ESPN’s future QB power rankings, Clemson is now ranked No. 17, a significant tumble from where the Tigers were a year ago in the same rankings at No. 2.

Here is ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg’s reasoning for where he ranked Clemson:

Clemson was going to drop in the rankings after a season in which it did not reach the CFP or produce anywhere near normal levels at quarterback. I can’t remember an elite program that returns both its head coach and starting quarterback, and faces as many question marks as Clemson does in 2022. … (Quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator Brandon) Streeter will try to engineer improvement with Uiagalelei, who looked good in limited action as a freshman but threw more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (9) last season and finished 97th nationally in total QBR (43.2). Uiagalelei has size, arm strength and a slimmed-down frame, but must recapture his confidence to lead a unit with fewer assurances than usual.

If Uiagalelei stagnates or regresses, expect Clemson to go with Cade Klubnik, ESPN’s top-ranked dual-threat quarterback and No. 28 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class. The Austin, Texas, native made an impression early in spring practice and could give Clemson the playmaking boost it needs at the position. Clemson also regains graduate transfer Hunter Johnson, an ESPN top-25 recruit who started his career with the Tigers before several disappointing seasons at Northwestern.

The top 10 in ESPN’s future QB power rankings, in order from Nos. 1-10, are Ohio State, Southern Cal, Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma, Texas, NC State and Michigan.

Besides Clemson, Miami and NC State, Wake Forest (No. 23) is the only other ACC team in the rankings.

South Carolina is ranked right behind the Tigers at No. 18.

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Does this ESPN writer think NC State is team to beat in ACC?

During a recent edition of The ESPN College Football Podcast, an ESPN writer discussed whether NC State is the team to beat in the ACC next season. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg believes the Wolfpack “might be” the favorite to win the conference in 2022 …

During a recent edition of The ESPN College Football Podcast, an ESPN writer discussed whether NC State is the team to beat in the ACC next season.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg believes the Wolfpack “might be” the favorite to win the conference in 2022 coming off of last season, when they finished 9-3 (6-2 ACC), came in second in the Atlantic Division behind Wake Forest and ahead of third-place Clemson (10-3, 6-2), and slotted in at No. 20 in the final AP Top 25 Poll and No. 19 in the final Coaches Poll.

“In some ways, they’re a safer pick than Clemson because Clemson had so much change after last year on the staff coming off of a down season for them, a year when they didn’t win the ACC and didn’t enter the College Football Playoff,” Rittenberg said.

“NC State’s been one of those right-on-the-cusp programs under Dave Doeren, who now has been there almost a decade. It’s crazy to think about that. But you look at four of the last five years, they’ve won eight or more games, they just haven’t broken through. They finished in the top 25 twice, including a top-20 finish last year, and may have been even higher if they were able to play that Holiday Bowl, which they were obviously very upset with UCLA about that cancellation and how everything went down. That would’ve been their chance for a 10th victory.”

Rittenberg added that “if there’s ever a chance for NC State to break through, it’s this year” — if the Wolfpack can beat the teams they’re expected to beat.

“Dave always has had a really good eye for talent. … That’s never been the issue for them,” Rittenberg said. “It’s been consistently winning the big games and avoiding some losses like even last year — losing to Mississippi State was a loss that I was like wow, that felt familiar. So, if they can take that out of their system and truly break through with a talented quarterback (Devin Leary), continuity on their staff, and enough talent returning, this could be their year.”

Rittenberg thinks NC State could possibly be on the verge of a breakthrough season in Doeren’s 10th year at the helm, similar to the type of seasons 2021 ACC Atlantic champion Wake Forest (11-3, 7-1 ACC) and 2021 ACC Champion Pittsburgh (11-3, 7-1) had last year.

“The environment at NC State, a big-time football environment. That is, in many ways, more of a football school than a basketball school,” Rittenberg said. “And so when they get it going, they could really be an emerging power in the ACC now that they have their coaching staff aligned, now that they’re stringing together some good seasons. But it won’t happen unless they have that breakthrough, like Pitt had, like Wake Forest had last year. NC State’s just been unable to deliver that, and we’ll see if they can do that this year.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

ESPN writer discusses Swinney’s ‘double down’, why Clemson is ‘so fascinating’

During a recent edition of The ESPN College Football Podcast, an ESPN writer discussed what he called Dabo Swinney’s “double down” this offseason when filling the voids on his coaching staff left by the departures of former Clemson defensive …

During a recent edition of The ESPN College Football Podcast, an ESPN writer discussed what he called Dabo Swinney’s “double down” this offseason when filling the voids on his coaching staff left by the departures of former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott after they took over as the head coaches at Oklahoma and Virginia, respectively.

Instead of looking outside his program to replace Venables and Elliott, Swinney, of course, decided to fill both coordinator roles internally, elevating senior defensive assistant Wes Goodwin to defensive coordinator/linebackers coach and giving safeties coach Mickey Conn the role of co-defensive coordinator, while bumping quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter up to offensive coordinator.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg pointed out that Swinney’s philosophy of promoting from within his staff has turned out well for him in the past, and that Swinney himself was an internal promotion back in 2008, when of course he was Clemson’s receivers coach and was named the program’s interim head coach before taking over the team full-time in 2009 and then eventually guiding the Tigers to two national championships, seven ACC titles and six College Football Playoff appearances since then.

“I think the Clemson situation is so fascinating. … Dabo Swinney is doubling down on what’s worked for him at Clemson – this approach that hey, it’s different here, and the way that we’re going to win is through the guys who have been here rather than going to the outside,” Rittenberg said. “Now, he did that for Brent Venables and had incredible success. But the internal promotion has worked. It worked for Dabo Swinney himself, going and being promoted from within the staff somewhat surprisingly to head coach and leading them on this historic run.”

Rittenberg added that he’s particularly intrigued by Streeter’s promotion to offensive coordinator, considering the fact he is Clemson’s quarterbacks coach as well and how important it will be for the Tigers to get more production from the position next season if they hope to win the ACC and return to the playoff.

“Because he worked with the quarterbacks last year, they didn’t get what they wanted necessarily out of D.J. Uiagalelei,” Rittenberg said. “So, is it going to be him, is it going to be someone else, can they get back to the type of production at quarterback is really going to determine where they are in the ACC, where they are in the playoff race.”

Rittenberg also brought up another question that he says people will ask about Swinney’s dynasty if he doesn’t lead the Tigers back to the playoff in 2022.

“And then on a macro level, people are going to wonder, fair or unfair – probably isn’t fair – if they don’t make the playoff, is this window closing?” Rittenberg said. “Is the whole Dabo thing, the whole Clemson thing, kind of going out the window if they don’t win this year?”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

ESPN writers agree, Clemson has best entrance in college football

It’s no secret that Clemson possesses the most unique entrance in college football. In just a few short weeks the Tigers will leave the playing surface to board the team buses in the west end zone and drive around to the top of the hill for the …

It’s no secret that Clemson possesses the most unique entrance in college football.

In just a few short weeks the Tigers will leave the playing surface to board the team buses in the west end zone and drive around to the top of the hill for the “most exciting 25 seconds in college football” before they take on South Carolina State on Sept. 11 at Death Valley.

And this time the moment will be sweeter after a limited number of fans attended games last season due to COVID-19 protocols.

A panel of ESPN writers gave their thoughts on the traditions that make college football different from any other game. One of the topics the writers broke down was the best stadium entrance and the consensus pick did not surprise.

“I’ve been to Clemson only once, but what a game I saw: Clemson vs. Louisville in 2016. Deshaun Watson vs. Lamar Jackson. The Tigers’ run down the hill was absolutely electric — my second favorite moment next to hugging Ryan McGee in the press box,” Adam Rittenberg said in the discussion. “But it’s hard to top the anticipation of the team taking the buses around the stadium, assembling at Howard’s Rock and then sprinting down the hill. Can’t wait to be back in Death Valley.”

Bill Connelly echoed the same sentiment about the moment when the Tigers run down the hill.

“Clemson is definitely No. 1. The bus ride builds anticipation, and the hill itself adds some lovely ‘Oh man, what if one of them slips and falls?; anxiety, too. It’s perfect,” he said.

Heather Dinich, David Wilson and Andrea Adelson each mentioned the Tigers’ tradition in their answer as well.

While Clemson fans have to wait an extra week to see the Tigers run down the hill, Clemson opens the season against Georgia at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 4 in the Duke’s Mayo Classic.

Brian Kelly ranked 85th on ESPN coaches-as-players list

What do you think of this ranking?

Notre Dame has had only six former college football players serve as head coach and none for a couple of generations. However, every college football coach was a player at some point, right? How else would someone understand the game so well? Brian Kelly indeed has playing experience as seen in a new piece for ESPN+ subscribers.

Adam Rittenberg has taken all 130 head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision and ranked them as players. Brian Kelly comes in at 85th on the list. Before you throw up your hands and say that’s too low, remember that Kelly attended a school that only had a club football team at the time. Assumption in Worcester, Massachusetts has since fielded a team that competes in Division II.

Kelly was a memorable player for Assumption. His 314 tackles were a program record. He also earned a pair of all-league honors and was a captain. Clearly, his leadership skills were evident at a young age.

Rittenberg ranks former Notre Dame player and current Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz at 98th on the list. The son of Lou Holtz, he played 11 games for the Irish in 1986 after playing two years at Holy Cross. mostly playing on special teams and also servicing as a backup receiver. He carried the ball once that season and gained a single yard on that attempt.

How good of a college football player was James Franklin?

Where did ESPN rank James Franklin as a college football player among his coaching peers?

[mm-video type=video id=01fa1cpz9gaa5kkkf6h2 playlist_id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fa1cpz9gaa5kkkf6h2/01fa1cpz9gaa5kkkf6h2-0d03da52c3212e950d805e89aea810b3.jpg]

By now you know the background of Penn State head coach James Franklin. Franklin played college football for East Stroudsburg, a Division 2 school in Pennsylvania, and a program that has been known to rack up the passing yardage over the years. But just how good was Franklin as the quarterback for the Warriors?

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg recently took it upon himself to rank every FBS college football coach based solely on their skill as a college football player. Rittenberg admitted his previous ranking in 2016 didn’t quite hold up well, so it was time for some re-evaluation. So Rittenberg re-ranked all of the FBS head coaches in 2021, obviously with some new additions to the list since his last attempt at this ranking in 2016.

Franklin comes in at a respectable No. 46 on the list. Only a small handful of coaches ranked ahead of him while playing for a Division 2 or lower program during their respective college years.

Per Rittenberg;

Franklin still can spin it to this day, a nod to his career as a quarterback for Division II East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania. He set 23 team records in two seasons as a starter. In [1994], Franklin ranked sixth nationally in total offense and was nominated for national player of the year honors.

Franklin remains loyal to his small school roots, and it is no surprise he and his staff keep a close eye on the developments around the state. This season will see the addition of a transfer from Shippensburg in wide receiver Winston Eubanks. And new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich first made a name for himself in the coaching world after reshaping the entire Shippensbrug offensive philosophy before being plucked away by Oklahoma State. Going from an old school Wing-T to a passing attack that piles up points on the scoreboard will do that for an offensive coordinator.

And really, what other excuse do we need to take a glimpse at Franklin during his college playing days? Check out the Penn State head coach on a program cover from 1994 (Penn State had a pretty good season that year too). That’s him on the right (No. 9).

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

[vertical-gallery id=3817]

[listicle id=4516]

[lawrence-related id=4490,4476,4142]

ESPN power ranks future Ohio State defensive production

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg ranked each college football programs’ defenses for the next three years. Where did Ohio State fall?

[mm-video type=video id=01f51xaettq6j3za2z3f playlist_id=01eqbz0qtnjg5x7tc8 player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f51xaettq6j3za2z3f/01f51xaettq6j3za2z3f-6372fe4a3ae0d1291643d854418cab4d.jpg]

It’s no secret that the Ohio State defense was the Achilles heel of the team last year, a reason the Buckeyes got sunburned near South Beach in the College Football Playoff national championship game vs. Alabama.

Afterward, head coach Ryan Day said the coaching staff would be emphasizing improvement on that side of the ball, and rightfully so. The porous and charitable defense was simply not up to Buckeye standards.

So, what about that future? Believe it or not, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg has been rolling out projections of programs’ expected production over the next three years, and the latest is a top 25 ranking of defenses (subscription required) over that time in college football. It takes things into account like recruiting, returning production, historical numbers, etc.

So where does Ohio State land? Well, we can tell you it made the top 25, and it isn’t nearly as bad as what we saw last season, but OSU did drop from the same projections last season according to ESPN.

NEXT … Ohio State’s defensive ranking for the next three years

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Notre Dame drops in ESPN’s future quarterback rankings

With the graduation of Ian Book, Notre Dame must find their signal caller of the future or they could continue to drop in the rankings.

Going into last year the Irish were in very good hands at the most important position in sports, with Ian Book quarterbacking the team for this 3rd-year as a starter. The results were great, a regular season ACC title, a berth in the College Football Playoffs for the second time in three years.

[lawrence-related id=25808]

Although the 2020 season didn’t end the way any of us wanted to, Book brought stability to the position which resulted in 10 wins. The immediate future most likely sees transfer Jack Coan as Books replacement, although the need for Brian Kelly to develop depth at the position is much needed for the future of the program.

The upcoming season’s past 2021 will hold a much different future for the position and after ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg looked at his future quarterback rankings (insider), the Irish will need to catch up a bit. Falling from 7th last year to 16th after this update, the position will once again be in the spotlight in South Bend.

[listicle id=24070]

Rittenberg sees the situation like I do, “Notre Dame needs to upgrade at quarterback to truly challenge for a national title despite two CFP appearances in the past three years.” The need for a difference maker at the position is glaring, Coan isn’t the long-term answer but maybe that player is already on campus.

[lawrence-related id=24129]

The 2021 class included top-100 recruit Tyler Buchner from California, who is the future at quarterback. That’s not a knock on Brendon Clark or Drew Pyne, it’s more of a testament to Buchner’s abilities. Rittenberg mentions Buchner as being “long been pegged as Notre Dame’s quarterback of the future.”

[listicle id=18499]

The future is now and the need to develop the depth at the position is a glaring issue. Clark and Pyne had virtually no experience heading into this season, which is why Coan was brought in.

Kelly and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees can’t have another situation like this years emerge next year. The younger quarterbacks need to play, so going into 2022, there should be some semblance of urgency to get the younger QB’s that much needed experience.

[lawrence-related id=24133]

With Coan’s injury history, relying on him to complete a whole season shouldn’t be taken for granted. Again, getting the younger players experience will be paramount. When Rittenberg revisits his future QB rankings next year, this group should be ranked higher as long as development happens.

Notre Dame football grabbed a coach with rising stock

New Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman is picked as a coach who saw their stock rise after the 2020 season by ESPN.

It’s safe to say we all agreed that when Brian Kelly announced defensive coordinator Clark Lea’s replacement was Marcus Freeman, it was a home-run hire. Just because we all think it’s the case doesn’t mean it’s is, but today when ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg looked at college football coaches who improved their stock (insider) who improved their stock, it was nice seeing Freeman included in the group.

Rittenberg prefaced Freeman’s inclusion by noting that he didn’t coach at the Power-5 level this year but does that really matter what level he was on? What he did a Cincinnati this past season was impressive, top-8 nationally in points allowed, raw QBR and yards per play allowed.

What’s nice to know is that Freeman had options to join multiple programs, as Rittenberg noted that he was a candidate for the Illinois head coaching job along with defensive coordinator at LSU, but chose the Irish. “No recent Group of 5 coordinator has built a stronger profile than the 35-year-old former Ohio State linebacker,” he said when explaining why Freeman made his list.

The ties to Indiana and Ohio are significant, as Freeman “has spend his entire coaching career” in the two states. What’s important about this fact is he understands how important the Midwest region is in recruiting. There is already buzz about Notre Dame potentially flipping Ohio State instate commit Jyaire Brown and making a big impact in chatting with Indiana defensive tackle Caden Curry, a top-100 prospect.

It’s not just the fact that Freeman is a coaching star on the rise, it’s the fact that he will be able to use his pull locally to bring in high level prospects to South Bend. Although we have yet to see the fruits of his labor, it’s a great feeling to know that Kelly made the right choice for Lea’s replacement in Freeman.

Big Ten releases statement on Midwest political state leaders’ letter

On Wednesday, the Big Ten released a statement in response to a letter sent to the conference from Midwest state political leaders.

On Tuesday, state political leaders from across the Midwest sent a letter to the Big Ten Conference expressing concern over the decision to postpone the fall football season and asking it to reconsider. It was yet another pressure point to the conference’s decision that many have been extremely critical of. Not because of why it was done, but because of how the process was handled and the lack of transparency then through today.

Despite all of the questions and secrecy involved, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren and the conference have been relatively quiet in response to most of the critiquing and sideways glances.

In this case though, the B1G actually released a statement in response to the letter, and thanks to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, we’re able to share it with you if you haven’t already seen it.

Basically, all this statement does is acknowledge that the letter was received and noticed. We’ll continue to wait and see what other drama surfaces over the next few days, and if there is indeed some sort of re-vote that occurs this weekend or early next as has been reported (again).

 

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Ohio State athletics by joining the Buckeyes Wire Forum.