Tag: Bruce Feldman

Is Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton the ‘best kept secret’ in college football this season?

Nic Scourton is a superstar in the making

Texas A&M will kick off the 2024 season by hosting 7th-ranked Notre Dame in a Saturday night prime-time showdown. This has become the most widely covered Aggie opener in over a decade.

This offseason, new head coach Mike Elko utilized the transfer portal to fill several holes on the roster, adding one of the top 2023 defensive playmakers in former Purdue defensive end Nic Scourton. Scourton led the Big Ten in sacks (10) while amassing 50-plus tackles during his final year with the Boilermakers.

Every pre-game show agreed on Saturday morning that this would likely be a low-scoring game, as both program’s defenses should keep both offenses at bay for most of the night.

However, The Athletic writer Bruce Feldman appeared on Fox Sports to point out that Scourton has continued to be undervalued by the national media, as NFL scouts reportedly view him as the top defender in the 2025 draft cycle. Speaking with Fox Sports and Big Noon Kickoff analyst Chris Fallica, Feldman feels that Scourton will break out as soon as the Aggies hit the field.

“The breakout star tonight will be Nic Scourton. A&M coaches believe that he will be the breakout guy. He was the best-kept secret in college football last season. At 19 years old, he was a team captain. Standing at 6-4 and 285 pounds, NFL scouts have told me that he is an incredibly fluid athlete for being a really big dude.”

Against Notre Dame, I fully expect Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman to move him around the line of scrimmage while taking advantage of matching up with freshman left tackle Anthonie Knapp.

No. 20 Texas A&M will host No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31, at 6:30 p.m. CT, and the game will air on ABC.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Potential Commanders QB Jayden Daniels receives huge praise from multiple coaches

The praise keeps coming in for Jayden Daniels.

In his latest mock draft for The Athletic, Bruce Feldman made no outlandish predictions. Feldman, one of the most respected writers with high-level connections in college football and the NFL, has USC quarterback Caleb Williams going No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears.

Who does Feldman project going No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders?

That would be LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. There are no surprises here. Regardless of what you hear about Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Washington is expected to choose between Daniels and North Carolina signal-caller Drake Maye.

Why does Feldman see Daniels landing in Washington? He calls it a hunch — which is not a report. As we mentioned, Feldman is well-connected.

Where it got interesting was what Feldman said regarding the “coaching intel he received on Daniels. Here’s the first bit of intel he provided:

I tell people this: Outside of Patrick Mahomes, I haven’t coached against someone like this. He’s just very hard to defend. We tried to force him to run it to take it out of his hands. The throws he makes and the timing he has, I thought was second to none. He throws the deep ball extremely accurately.

This isn’t Feldman comparing Daniels to Mahomes. The coach told Feldman that preparing against Daniels was almost as difficult as preparing to face Mahomes. Washington has lacked a quarterback that puts fear into opposing defenses for years.

The next coach:

As a junior (in 2022), he would just hang onto the ball, but he got so much better playing quarterback. Without him, with as bad as they were on defense, I think they’d win six games. Tops. If there’s a concern if you’re an NFL team, it’s that he will take some shots and he is narrow. How well will he hold up?

This is the type of improvement that encourages you about Daniels. He improved in each college season before his tremendous 2023 season. It’s reminiscent of former LSU — and fellow Heisman Trophy winner — Joe Burrow’s rise.

Finally, more talk on Daniels’ improvement:

He improved a lot. He’s a really good deep ball thrower with more than above-average arm strength. Those 15-, 20-yard touch throws were better than I thought. He didn’t look like he was that fast, but he just glides and runs by people, and he outruns their angles.

It remains to be seen if Daniels will be the pick. There is a lot of time remaining until the 2024 NFL draft. Could he be the leader? Sure. But so could Maye or even McCarthy. General manager Adam Peters has kept this close to the vest, which is unlikely to change. It’s doubtful anyone will know who the pick is until the Commanders turn the card in on April 25.

Former Purdue DE Nic Scourton reportedly ‘strongly considering’ Texas A&M

According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, former Purdue DE/OLB Nic Scourton is still considering the Aggies over several programs.

Former Purdue defensive end/outside linebacker Nick Scourton entered the transfer portal earlier this week. After leading the Big 10 in sacks during the 2023 season, nearly every Power 5 program needing a defensive playmaker will battle for his commitment, including Texas A&M.

New Aggies head coach Mike Elko has his work cut out for him as the pivotal 2024 offseason rolls on while the departure of veteran pass-rusher Fadil Diggs, who will follow former interim head coach Elijah Robinson to Syracuse, has left a hole in the trenches.

According to Feldman in a recent update, Nic Scourton will visit Florida State and Louisville but is still “strongly considering” visiting Missouri, Colorado, Georgia, and Texas A&M. A native of Bryan, Texas, just 10 or so minutes away from College Station, new Aggies head coach Mike Elko has a chance to bring Scourton home for his last two collegiate seasons and become an immediate contributor in 2024.

Earning a starting spot in the trenches during his 2023 sophomore season, Scourton lit up that stat sheet with 50 tackles (33 solo tackles), 10 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and three pass deflections on the year.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Report: Kentucky HC Mark Stoops is a candidate to take over at Texas A&M

According to multiple sources, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops has emerged a legitimate candidate during Texas A&M’s head coaching search.

We’ve reached what looks to be the final stages of Texas A&M’s exhaustive search for the program’s next head football coach after the recent firing of now-former head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Throughout the week, credit to TexAgs’ Executive Editor and Co-Owner Billy Liucci, who has continued to drop several “nuggets” regarding potential names Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork has and will pursue in the coming days.

Earlier this week, Liucci revealed that Ohio State head coach Ryan Day remains a candidate for the position despite being a long shot to leave the Buckeyes, especially if Ohio State were to lose to Michigan on Saturday. Now, after his most recent update, one surprising name has emerged late, as Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops enters the race, which was further confirmed by ESPN CFB insider Pete Thamel and The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman on Saturday morning.

“One name that is expected to emerge in the next 24 hours is Kentucky coach Mark Stoops,” Thamel stated on ESPN’s College GameDay.”He coaches a rivalry game against Louisville (on Saturday), and the next 24 hours will be critical for his candidacy.”

Stoops, who is finishing his 11th year at Kentucky, has compiled a 72-64 record (35-55 SEC) and has taken the Wildcats to seven bowl game appearances, including four wins while recording two 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. At the age of 56, Stoops has a proven track record, but after firing Fisher with an enormous $76.8 Million buyout attached, this looks more like a lateral move, if any.

However, Thamel explained that this is just one name out of several contending candidates, including UTSA’s Jeff Traylor, Arizona’s Jedd Fisch, Duke’s Mike Elko, and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham.

“One source cautioned me that things are fractured at Texas A&M,” Thamel stated. “a lot of people put up a lot of money to pay off Jimbo Fisher, so don’t expect this to be a linear search to the finish.”

While Mark Stoops and Ryan Day are the hot-button names of the day, anything can change at the drop of a hat.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Two candidates have emerged as strong candidates for MSU football opening

College football insider Bruce Feldman is reporting a pair of current head coaches have emerged as “strong candidates” for the Michigan State opening

College football insider Bruce Feldman is reporting a pair of head coaches have emerged as strong candidates for the Michigan State opening.

Feldman is reporting Kansas head coach Lance Leipold and Washington State head coach Jake Dickert have emerged as strong candidates Michigan State will pursue. Both Leipold and Dickert are leading teams that are off to good starts this year and have been often linked to the Spartans since Mel Tucker was let go.

With both Leipold and Dickert serving as head coaches, don’t expect either to openly express interest in the Spartans’ job anytime soon. But this is definitely a report we will need to monitor for additional developments over the next few months.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on Twitter @RobertBondy5.

Report: Jimbo Fisher’s job is very much in jeopardy according to Bruce Feldman, ‘A&M will find that money’

According to Bruce Feldman, Jimbo Fisher’s job is very much in jeopardy if the Aggies don’t turn things around. He went so far to say, “A&M will find that money.”

Jimbo Fisher is gearing up to play UL Monroe later this afternoon, but according to a new report, he could be playing for his coaching tenure in College Station.

While appearing on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic shared the latest on Fisher’s future at Texas A&M. When asked point blank if Fisher’s job was in jeopardy following last week’s loss to Miami, Feldman responded with “Absolutely.”

One of the deciding factors hanging over Fisher’s coaching tenure is his enormous contract buyout number. But according to Feldman, that won’t be an issue if this season goes sour.

“Now Jimbo is 1-7 in his last eight against Power Five opponents. The buyout is huge, $77 million dollars. But I’m told if he doesn’t get it going this year, A&M will find that money.”

Feldman’s report comes off the heels of sports personalities such as Paul Finebaum and Joel Klatt echoing the same tune this past week. Fisher’s recent track record against Power Five competition, highlighted by his 5-7 campaign in 2022, has left much to be desired. Those feelings are only underscored by the amount of money he’s being paid.

As Feldman notes later in his report, the arrival of No. 4 Texas to the SEC next year, who is coming off a big win over No. 10 Alabama, has only heightened the pressure on Fisher to deliver. If these hurdles were coming in year two or three, it would be one thing. Instead, the fanbase is understandably losing patience as Fisher embarks on his sixth season in Aggieland.

Fisher’s first step toward righting the ship begins in Texas A&M’s Week 3 matchup against UL Monroe, which kicks off at 3 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee.

Two Ohio State football players named to Bruce Feldman’s college football freaks list

Ohio State football had two players named to Bruce Feldman’s college football ‘freaks list.’ You can probably guess one of them.

Every year Bruce Feldman of the Athletic (subscription required) puts out a list highlighting the best athletes in college football headed into the season.  It is always very interesting to look at because it includes star players, as well as players with a lot of potential yet to emerge as household names.

Feldman recently released his full freaks list for this season which had 25 players total named, including two Ohio State players.

The first Buckeye to make the list is Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 2 on the list.  Harrison Jr. is an obvious choice for this list because he is a very unique talent.  His speed, explosiveness and ability to change directions at his size is at a higher level than any receiver in recent memory in college football.

The other Buckeye to make the list is Sonny Styles who was checked in at No. 20 on the Freaks list.  Though Styles is just 18 years old and doesn’t turn 19 until November, he is already set to play a big role on Ohio State’s defense this fall.

Styles was a five-star recruit and a top 20 player in the 2022 class.  His size at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, combined with his movement skills make him perfectly suited to excel in both run defense and coverage in a hybrid linebacker safety role.

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Trio of Ducks, one former Oregon player crack Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List’ for 2023

The Athletic’s ‘Freaks List’ is out for 2023. It features a trio of Ducks, one former Oregon player, and a 5-star recruit who unfortunately got away.

The Athletic’s ‘Freaks List’ written by Bruce Felman each and every year is among the most entertaining articles you will read leading up to the college football season. Like other publications, it doesn’t go through to top 100 players in the nation, regurgitating many of the names that we already know will have a big impact on the upcoming season.

Instead, Feldman goes through the 101 most physically outlandish “freaks” in college football. In his own words, the Freak’s List aims to “spotlight the players whose athleticism blew the minds of folks inside their own college football programs.”

A year ago, Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez was near the top of the list because of his length and speed. This year, a trio of Oregon Ducks made the cut for Feldman.

More than just those three Oregon players, though, there are a handful of other notable “freaks” for Duck fans to read about. Among them is one former Oregon Duck who transferred out of the program, a former 5-star recruit who Dan Lanning and Co. probably still have nightmares about losing, and a long list of Pac-12 players or guys who the Ducks will see on their 2023 schedule at some point or another.

Here are all of the “freaks” that you need to know about as an Oregon fan:

Why Bruce Feldman thinks Michigan football can win a national championship in 2023

The hype is building! #GoBlue

Coming off a disappointing finish in the 2022 College Football Playoff, Michigan football is starting to get more hype as the 2023 season nears. The usual powerhouses had been sparking the luster in the eyes of those predicting the next year. But as the season approaches, many are asking, ‘Why not Michigan?’

Fox Sports sideline reporter and The Athletic columnist Bruce Feldman went on a very Wolverines-friendly show on Wednesday, sitting down with alumnus Rich Eisen. For Feldman, Michigan’s potential success hinges strongly on the man who will touch the ball every offensive snap: J.J. McCarthy.

“One of those five-star guys that they do have, J.J. McCarthy, didn’t play when they played against Georgia — he wasn’t the starter, Cade McNamara, obviously, was,” Feldman said. “J.J. is really, really gifted. We saw that certainly against Ohio State, when the backfield — there was almost no Blake Corum. He played, but — even though Donovan Edwards had two great runs, he was playing injured in the game, as well — playing hurt. And McCarthy made big plays.”

But will that be enough to get the Wolverines to the promised land?

Even the aforementioned McNamara got the maize and blue to the College Football Playoff after beating Ohio State. McCarthy, essentially, just replicated his success. However, there are several more gears McCarthy has that many quarterbacks do not. For Feldman, he and another player are part of why he believes a championship is possible in Ann Arbor.

“If J.J. McCarthy plays like all the people who are evaluating him think he has that talent, I do think they can win a national title,” Feldman said. “Because they have really good leadership, they obviously have a terrific offensive line, they have dynamic running backs. Some of these guys have blossomed.

“Kris Jenkins, his dad was a former NFL star, he was a three-star guy, he was 240 pounds when he came to Michigan. He’s 302, and Jim Harbaugh told me, ‘I think he’ll be a top 10 pick.’ He is the kind of guy that Georgia and Alabama are playing with. They don’t have eight of him, but they do have a few. And it helps them that this is the year that three of the most talented teams quote-unquote — are (starting) new quarterbacks. And two of them were in the top of the draft and the third guy they’re probably gonna build a statue of him in Athens.”

Beyond that discussion, Feldman and Eisen discuss many different facets of the 2023 Michigan football team. Watch the entire exchange here:

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National college football reporter gives praise to Noah Kim following MSU spring game

MSU quarterback Noah Kim turned some heads during the Spartans’ final spring practice on Saturday

Michigan State quarterback Noah Kim turned some heads during the Spartans’ final spring practice on Saturday, including Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

Feldman took to Twitter to give some praise to Kim following the Spartans’ spring event on Saturday. Feldman — who is a national college football reporter and well respected in the industry — stated Kim looked “pretty impressive” for the Spartans on Saturday.

The comment itself isn’t necessarily high-praise but it’s noteworthy anytime a major college football reporter like Feldman is taking notice of your ability. Especially on a day that included spring games for numerous major programs, including Ohio State, Penn State and Texas.

Kim appeared in four games last year, completing 14 of 19 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns.

Kim is in the midst of a position battle for the starting quarterback spot after serving as the backup last year. Following Saturday’s event, it appears he and returning starter Payton Thorne are relatively close in the battle, with Katin Houser following behind in third.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on Twitter @RobertBondy5.

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