National Signing Day...

National Signing Day has come and gone and the rich get richer.  Many surprises came out of signing day today and we're looking at the top schools with the best recruits.

Pac-12 - USC Trojans
For a school that is on probation from scholarships and bowl games USC still holds a strong monopoly on many top recruits coming out of California.  George Farmer (WR, 5-star prospect) can become a really good compliment to an offense that is starting to click under QB Matt Barkley and WR Robert Wood.  Lane Kiffin sure is making progress in SoCal by the announcement of 30 new players.
-  Honorable Mention - Oregon and California

Big 12 - Texas Longhorns
Maybe its because I'm bias, but i still feel Mack Brown has a huge hand over the entire state of Texas.  Accordingly, many of their recruits came through and signed including top running back Malcolm Brown.  If Texas is serious about getting the run game going, they got a good physical runner in Brown, who many scouts are comparing to Adrian Petersen.  The Longhorns got many players to fill both sides of the ball including former Longhorn star Jordan Shipley's younger brother, Jaxon.
-  Oklahoma is a really close second (and for Sooner fans you guys have solid defenders coming)

Big Ten - Ohio St. Buckeyes
Jim Tressel still brings many players into Ohio, but then again not to many programs have had much success like the Buckeyes in recent years from the Big Ten, but that is changing with the likes of Nebraska coming, and programs such as Wisconsin emerging as real power houses.  However, Tressel still brought in quality players especially on defense.  Curtis Grant (ILB, 4-star) may become another star linebacker to put on a Buckeye jersey.  He has great awareness and good run-stop ability.
-  Nebraska has already made an impact on its new conference by bringing in hard-nose players.

SEC - Alabama Crimson Tide
Not to many coaches recruit as heavily as Nick Saban, and his signing class proves it.  The Tide are stacked on defense with Safety Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, LD Trey DePriest, and DE Xzavier Dickson.  They also got a great running back in Demetrius Hart.  All these guys were 5-4 star recruits and the top coming out of their respective states.  Again coach Saban has out everyone else in getting the top players.
-  Auburn and a surprising Georgia team came close to what Alabama is doing in SEC recruiting

ACC - Florida St. Seminoles
Probably the best signing day came to Jimbo Fisher and the Noles.  Tallahassee has many new bloods including a dual of RB that can make an immediate impact.  James Wilder and Devonta Freeman who can possibly become a smash and dash in their own sense.  What Freeman lacks in height he makes up for raw power and intelligence with the ball.  Wilder on the other hand has the body size and athleticism to play either side of the ball.  With so many top prospects Florida St has a chance to become a power house once again.
- "The most exciting 25 seconds in college football" just got more exciting with Clemson taking second in the ACC.

Big East - Rutgers Scarlet Knights
With a lot of talent going to the other big five conferences the Big East is left with the scraps, but i believe that the Scarlet Knights have found that diamond in the rough.  Savon Huggins (RB) is potentially the best thing to come to Rutgers since Ray Rice, and he's built like him, but faster.  Huggins was the top pick-up for the Rutgers and the Big East altogether.
-  Louisville is also making noise with Charlie Strong as Head Coach with a solid day out of Miami

With all the hype surrounding National Signing Day we all hope that these guys can come out, perform and make college football the reason we wait for September so impatiently.

One month to Madness...

With only one month left until march and recently played NHL all-star game and the Pro-Bowl, the Column presents his college top performers.  These guys have been chosen due to performance on the court, and how much they've helped their teams.

The Captains First Team:
G - Kemba Walker - UCONN Huskies (JR. 24 PPG, 4.3 APG, 5.3RPG)
G - Jimmer Fredette - BYU Cougars (SR. 28 PPG, 4.3 APG)
F - Jordan Hamilton - Texas Longhorns (SO. 19 PPG, 7.5 RPG)
F - Marcus Morris - Kansas Jayhawks (JR. 17 PPG, 7 RPG)
C - Jared Sullinger - Ohio St. Buckeyes (FR. 18 PPG, 10 R

The Captains Second Team:
G - Brad Wanamaker - Pittsburgh Panthers (SR. 12.5 PPG 5.3 APG, 5 RPG)
G - Nolan Smith - Duke Blue Devils (SR. 21 PPG, 5.6 APG, 4.7 RPG)
F - Terrence Jones - Kentucky Wildcats (FR 18 PPG, 9 RPG, 2 BPG)
F - Kawhi Leonard - San Diego St. (SO 15 PPG, 10 RPG)
C - JaJuan Johnson - Purdure Boilermakers (SR. 21 PPG, 8 RPG, 2 BPG)

Now some may have noticed a lot of these guys come from the blue blood schools, but they have helped their teams to become the most productive in the country.  Look for there guys to continue to make noise throughout February, but lets hold off into March.  We have a month until the brackets are out, and expect my bracket completed and loaded so all of you can see how well you do against the Captain!