Auburn vs. Louisville Preview

It's finally here, everyone! College football returned last night with some thrilling Thursday night games, and we'll enjoy our first Saturday full of Division-1 football tomorrow. As I type this, we are approximately 29 hours away from a game I'm particularly interested in, not because I have an interest in who wins, but because it will be the first college football game I've covered as a member of the credentialed media (see bottom). In preparation for Auburn's opener versus Louisville, I will lavish you with all of my extensive knowledge of this year's Auburn team and give you some things to watch for against Louisville. Kidding, of course. At least about the "extensive knowledge." While I did get to sit in press conferences and listen to coaches and players talk about the upcoming season throughout fall camp, I have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow. No one does. Ever. Especially not in the opener. However, that will not stop me from making a prediction just like everyone else who has no clue what's going to happen. But first, a little breakdown of Auburn's team this season based on what we've heard in fall practice.

Position-by-position breakdown

Quarterback: If there's any position on the team that Auburn fans should feel at ease about, it's quarterback. I'm not sold on the huge hype for Jeremy Johnson as far as postseason accolades and such, but he has the talent to be a first-team All-SEC player. I just don't know if he can accumulate the stats necessary to compete for the Heisman and other awards in Gus Malzahn's run-first offense, especially in the age of other quarterbacks putting up huge numbers in spread offenses. If, God forbid, something were to happen to Jeremy, Sean White has earned high praise from Gus, offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and Jeremy throughout fall camp.

Running back: This is kind of a "wait and see" position right now. Roc Thomas was named the starter after a lengthy position battle with Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson in fall camp, but the coaching staff said that is just a formality, which I think is true. All three (and possibly true freshman Kerryon Johnson) will get chances against Louisville to show what they can do. I've compared this running back situation to 2013. If you'll recall, Auburn played Tre Mason, Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant in the opening game versus Washington State. It took until the LSU game to really determine who "the guy" was, and I think it will be the same type of thing this season. The coaches have said that they want one guy to step up before they travel to LSU in week 3, so at that point we should have a fairly good idea of who that guy is based on performances in the first two games.

H-back: Honestly, this isn't a position I know a lot about. Redshirt freshman Kamryn Pettway and true freshman Chandler Cox have been competing for the starting job throughout fall camp, and I don't have any clue who has the leg up. Neither has game experience, and I think both will play against Louisville. What I do know is that this is a vital position in Malzahn's offense, so no matter who the starter is, they're going to need to grow up quickly.

Wide receiver: I could use all this space talking about Duke Williams, but that would do a huge disservice to a group of receivers that I think is very talented. Duke may or may not start because of his "suspension" in fall practice (Is it considered a suspension if you only miss practice?), but I expect him to see the field his normal amount, excluding possibly the first few plays of the game. The coaches are really looking for guys like Ricardo Louis, Marcus Davis and Melvin Ray to step up this year. Those three have a ton of experience, and they're going to need to be more consistent and well-rounded in this offense, which could be a bit more balanced with Jeremy at quarterback. Jason Smith, Tony Stevens, Ryan Davis and Stanton Truitt round out the two-deep depth chart at receiver. Jason Smith is one particular guy to look out for. He's not very big (6-1, 180) but everyone says he has some moves, so I think the coaches might find some creative ways to get the ball in his hands.

Tight end: True freshman Jalen Harris beat out redshirt freshman Chris Laye for the starting job, but, like with H-back, we haven't seen either in a game. tight ends have had various roles in Malzahn's offense over the years, so we'll see how it's utilized this year. Rhett Lashlee did say that they will "not put him in a position to fail" in the opening game. That seems obvious, but it's especially crucial to simplify the game as much as possible for a player in his first game. Based on that quote, I don't see Jalen getting a lot of touches in the first game, especially not if the game is close late.

Left tackle: Shon Coleman returns as the starter at left tackle this year. Coleman struggled in pass protection last season, but he said that was an emphasis in his offseason training. He'll get a good test in the first game against Louisville's talented front that really gets after opposing quarterbacks (they ranked 11th in the nation with 41 team sacks last season). Especially with Jeremy Johnson likely passing from the pocket more this season, it's crucial for Coleman to improve in defending Jeremy's blindside.

Left guard: Alex Kozan and Devonte Danzey are still competing for a starting position. The coaching staff plans to play both in the opener. I think this is a dangerous situation. Both are great players, but for the good of the line and the team, the coaching staff needs to pick one and go. I wouldn't be surprised if they do so after the first game (or even after the first half of the Louisville game) and roll with it. Chemistry is important on the offensive line more than anywhere else, so Auburn needs to pick its five and let them gel as early as possible. I think Kozan will win the job, but Danzey is a talented guy and could very well beat him out. Regardless of who wins the job, the "loser" will be the sixth lineman and the first man up if a starter goes down.

Center: Austin Golson won the job over Xavier Dampeer in fall camp. Golson was a tackle at Ole Miss before transferring to Auburn after the 2013 season, so he has SEC game experience. The only problem is that the experience is at tackle, not center. The other problem is that Auburn waited until the final week of fall camp to name Golson the starter, so he and Jeremy have not had much time to develop chemistry. I don't see that being a problem, but it's something to keep an eye on.

Right guard: Sophomore Braden Smith will be the starter at right guard. He played some as a freshman last year, but like Golson, he played at tackle. It will be interesting to see how seamless his transition to guard is. The coaching staff has expressed full confidence in Braden, but I wouldn't be shocked if the loser of the battle at left guard moves to the right side if he struggles early in the season.

Right tackle: Avery Young will be the right tackle, and I think this is the most solid position on the line. Avery has plenty of experience, and I'd be surprised if Auburn didn't run behind him quite a bit against Louisville.

Defensive tackle: The might be the weakest position on Auburn's team as far as depth goes. Montravius Adams has shown flashes of greatness but needs to be more consistent. The other three players on the two-deep depth chart are Dontavius Russell (I'm sure I won't get Montravius and Dontavious confused at any point this season), Devaroe Lawrence and Maurice Swain. We've heard especially good things about Devaroe. Defensive end DaVonte Lambert called him a "beast" and several members of the coaching staff have said he might be the best athlete on the team. However, none of the latter three have much experience.

Defensive ends: This is a position group that Auburn fans expect a lot out of, and rightfully so. Lambert was one of Auburn's best defensive linemen last season (I know that's not saying much given last year's D-line play, but still) before going down with an ACL injury, but he has fully recovered and will start at one defensive end spot. Behind him on the depth chart is vaunted freshman Byron Cowart, who has huge expectations on him this season. I would advise fans to not get too hyped up about Byron just yet. I'm not saying he's not a special talent, but only so much can be expected of freshmen. If he has five sacks this season, most people would consider it a disappointment. I think that's both a realistic and reasonable goal. But forget stats. If Cowart can help get some pressure on the quarterback, something Auburn was unable to do last year, he will help the defensive line out a lot. Opposite Lambert is Carl Lawson. Lawson will play the "Buck" position in Will Muschamp's defense, which is a "hybrid" defensive end, if you will. Lawson should have a bounce-back year after tearing his ACL last summer, but like Cowart, I would temper expectations, at least for the first few games. Keep in mind, he hasn't played a game since January 2014.

Linebackers: Oh, the linebacker situation. Two of Auburn's most consistent defenders and best tacklers over the past few years have been Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy, yet neither are starters. Both are listed on the depth chart with "or" between their names and Tre Williams, who will play inside and outside linebacker. The one linebacker spot that is locked up is the SAM linebacker (strongside), which will be manned by Justin Garrett. I expect to see Cassanova and Kris start at the other two spots, but regardless, all four will play a lot of snaps. Like defensive tackle, don't know about the depth here either.

Cornerback: Jonathan Jones returns from a year ago to start at one corner, but there will be new blood on the other side of the field for Auburn. Michigan transfer Blake Countess will start at cornerback, but he was worked at corner, safety and nickel in fall camp. He'll play all three in games as well, according to coaches. Everyone has had high praise for Countess. He started 30 games during his time at Michigan, so experience is not an issue. One person who surprised me is Josh Holsey. Holsey got extensive playing time last year at corner and nickel but is not listed as the starter for either this year. True freshman Tim Irvin is the starter at nickel. As I said earlier, you never know about freshmen, so I would stay ready if I'm Holsey. Auburn might need him to step up if Irvin falters early.

Safety: Another transfer, Tray Matthews, will start at safety alongside returner Johnathan Ford. Even though CBS will mention this SEVERAL times tomorrow, I'll go ahead and share a fun fact with you. Tray Matthews, who came to Auburn from Georgia, was one of two players on the wrong end of the Prayer in Jordan Hare as a freshman in 2013. The other, Josh Harvey-Clemons, who also transferred, now starts at safety for (drumroll, please) Louisville. Also, the Georgia defensive coordinator at the time, Todd Grantham, now holds the same position at Louisvile. Oh, and Shaq Wiggins, who was a corner on that 2013 Georgia team, now starts at corner for, well, you get the point. Lots of connections in the two secondaries. Moving on, Irvin is the backup for Ford, and Nick Ruffin, who played a lot as a freshman last year, is behind Matthews. I really like that group and think safety will be a strong point for Auburn's team this year.

Kicker: Daniel Carlson will handle the kicking duties again this year. He was solid as a true freshman last year, and I expect to see more of the same this year. Although this hasn't been clarified in any press conference, at least to my knowledge, I assume Carlson will also handle the kickoffs again in 2015.

Punter: Kevin Phillips won the job in fall camp over Ian Shannon. Shannon will be the backup at kicker and punter. The coaching staff is hoping the emergence of a punter this year will save some of Carlson's leg, because Daniel did all the kicking and punting last year. Gus Malzahn was quick to admit that punting is one of the hardest things to simulate in fall practice. Even when special teams are going live, defenders aren't going to go clock their own punter. Louisville and other teams won't mind doing so. Phillips will get the first opportunity, but if he struggles, I can't imagine the leash on him being too terribly long.

Long snapper: The most overlooked position on every single team. Auburn is no exception. Ike Powell will be the starter, and I haven't heard his name in fall camp. Auburn fans probably don't want to hear that name too much either, because usually it's not a good thing when the long snapper is being mentioned as a factor in the game.

Punt return: The coaching staff didn't name a starter on the depth chart, but apparently Marcus Davis didn't get the memo, because he told us last Sunday that he's the starter. Marcus has been compared a lot to Quan Bray, last year's punt returner. Marcus is shifty and he's got speed and good hands. Personally, I never cared much about big returns as a fan, I just wanted the returner to catch the ball. I don't think Marcus will struggle with that.

Kick return: The coaches gave no insight as to who this will be. Johnathan Ford, Roc Thomas, Ricardo Louis and Blake Countess are all listed with "or" between their names on the depth chart. I would think Roc and Ricardo will get the first shot, if only because of experience. Both of them returned kicks last year, and I don't remember Rudy (Johnathan's nickname) returning any last year. Not sure about Blake because I, admittedly, didn't watch a lot of Michigan football last year.

What to watch for

1. The line of scrimmage - This could be something to watch for in every game. All games are won or lost in the trenches, but I think that battle is especially key in this game. Louisville has one of the best front sevens in the nation, and Auburn's offensive line could be shaky early in the year, especially in the interior of the line. On the other side, I've heard that Louisville could start three freshman on the offensive line. If I'm a coach and I'm sending a freshman tackle out to block Carl Lawson all day, I don't feel so good about my chances in that matchup. I think both defenses will win the battle up front. Don't see a whole lot of rushing yards on deck for either team, and there may be more than a few sacks.

2. Fast starts - As you may have noticed, Auburn wasn't great at getting off to a good start last season. On the first offensive snap of three different games, the Tigers turned the ball over. Unsurprisingly, they went 0-3 in those games. In the first game of the season at a neutral site, it will be key for both teams to get off to a fast start. If Louisville comes out of the gate fast, Auburn could be in real trouble. But on the other side of things, it's important for Auburn to get off to a fast start on both sides of the ball to instill some confidence in Jeremy and the defenders, who are playing under Muschamp for the second time. And I hate to even count last year's Outback Bowl. He had that team for three weeks, but this is his defense now.

3. Mistakes - The first game is all about adjustments (if I had a dollar for every time I heard that line in preseason press conferences), but they're also about mistakes. As we've already seen with games this weekend, often the team to play the least sloppy is the team that will win. Once again, that sounds obvious, but it's true. I wouldn't be surprised to see 3-5 turnovers between the teams in this game. Whoever can force the opponent into mistakes and capitalize off those mistakes will have a good shot to win.

Prediction

As I mentioned above, I think the Louisville front seven will control the line of scrimmage and make plenty of plays. The game will come down to Jeremy Johnson's arm, and I think he will deliver in the second half. Louisville has not officially announced a starting quarterback, but it will be Reggie Bonnafon. He's a dual-threat guy who could cause problems if Auburn can't keep him in the pocket. Still, the fact that he didn't seize the job outright in fall camp tells me that the coaching staff is still not totally comfortable with him. I believe Auburn will force a late turnover and will win an extremely sloppy game by a field goal.

Auburn 24, Louisville 21

Enough talk, it's time to play ball.

Note/shameless plug: I'm the assistant sports editor at The Auburn Plainsman, and I'll be in Atlanta with the sports editor covering the game. Check out "theplainsman.com/section/football" to catch up on all the fall camp news, and stay tuned in the hours following the game for extensive game coverage. Also, we recorded our weekly podcast on Thursday which includes a run-down of fall practice and a Louisville preview. Give it a listen to get ready for the big game! Enjoy your day full of college football!

My Day at Augusta National

This past Wednesday I got an opportunity to cross something off of my sports bucket list: attending a round of golf at The Masters. It was an incredible experience, and I would recommend that everyone go at least once if given the opportunity. The beauty of the course alone makes it worth the trip, even if you're not a golf fan.

About six weeks ago, my friend and future roommate Matt informed me that he had won the Masters ticket lottery and had an extra badge for Wednesday's practice round. I quickly jumped at the chance to visit the most famous golf course in the world.

On Tuesday morning I met Tanner, another friend and member of the Auburn football tailgate crew, in Montgomery and we set out for Auburn. There we met up with Matt and his girlfriend Lena and enjoyed a delicious lunch at The Barbecue House. From there, Matt, Tanner, and I headed east, and we made our final stop in Grantville, Georgia (don't worry, I didn't know such a place existed either), where we picked up Mr. Mike, the leader of the tailgate crew and the only one of us who was not an Augusta first-timer.

We arrived in Augusta a little before 7 on Tuesday night, and, after settling into the hotel, headed across town to scout out the area around the course. After we put together our plans for Wednesday morning, we met up with Mike's son Coleman, who is in Augusta this week covering The Masters for Golf.com. All of us went downtown for dinner at Farmhaus, a popular burger joint. Downtown Augusta was beautiful. All of the shops and restaurants lining both sides of the street, combined with the buzz of Masters week, made for a great atmosphere.

After retreating to the hotel for a few hours of sleep, we awoke the next morning and went to Waffle House for breakfast. We then drove the couple of miles to the course, passing the infamous Hooter's where the PGA's resident drunk John Daly can be found partying when in town. We parked and walked to the front gate, arriving around 7:45. Gates were scheduled to open at 8, but they let us in as soon as we got there. I was amazed by the scene at the main entrance. There was a row of approximately 30 metal scanners, like the ones you walk through when going through airport security. Each person entering the course had to empty their pockets and pass through a scanner before getting their badge scanned. If anyone has a doubt about the seriousness of the tournament, it is laid to rest right there at the gate.

After successfully making it through security, we passed by the practice range and got our first look at the pros. Phil Mickleson was out on the practice green early, and we watched him for a few minutes before moving closer to the course.

We all agreed that the first order of business was to walk the front nine, no small task considering its length of over 3,700 yards. We made our way through the first few holes without seeing any golfers because, due to the early time, none were on the course.

After we reached the back edge of the course and examined the 6th hole, we noticed that some of the first groups, who had started on the back 9, were making their way down 15 and onto 16. We took a break from our walk to stand to the left of 16 and watch a couple of groups. This was one of the many cool spots on the course because from where we stood, we could see the 15th green, all of the par 3 16th, as well as the tee box on the 17th hole. This was also one of my favorite stops on the course because of the action that 16 presents in the practice rounds. The hole is entirely over water, so after hitting their tee shots, the golfers would drop a second ball on the tee box side of the pond and hit it so that it skipped across the water and onto the green, much to the delight of the spectators.

After watching a few groups play through on 16, we made our way back over to 6 to see a few groups who had started on the front nine and were beginning to catch up to us. The 6th hole was fun to watch because it has one of the toughest greens on the course. The hole placement on this particular day was an easier one, but after getting their original shot into the hole, the players would stick tees in the ground at the future hole locations to practice putting to that spot. One place they had a tee was on the far right of the green where the elevation is 15-20 feet higher than on the far left. When the flag is there, players have to hit into about a 10'x10' area from the tee box, which is 180 yards away. This hole was the first to make me truly realize the immense challenges that Augusta National presents to golfers, and likewise, the incredible skill that it takes to compete on such a course.

After spending about half an hour watching groups play through 6 and tee off on 7, we made our first stop of the day at the concession stand. I was amazed by the reasonable prices at the concession stands around the course. If you've been to any type of sporting event, you know that it typically costs an arm and a leg to eat inside the stadium/arena/ballpark, but this was certainly not the case at Augusta National. Throughout the day, I enjoyed a lemonade, two sweet teas, one of Augusta's famous pimiento cheese sandwiches, as well as two sugar cookies with Georgia peach ice cream, all for a grand total of eight dollars. (By the way, I think it's a rule that you can eat anything at The Masters and it doesn't count, hence the very unhealthy splurge.)

When we ended up at the clubhouse after finishing our trek through the front nine, we decided to head towards the infamous Amen Corner and check out a few of the holes on the way. After watching a few players finish number 18, we cut over to the 10th hole, which runs almost parallel to the 18th. While there we went to the spot where Bubba Watson hit the now-famous hook shot out of the trees to set up his par on the second playoff hole to win the 2012 Masters. While famous shots like that one look awfully tough on television, they look even tougher in person. Throughout the day I was able to see many spots where famous shots have been hit in recent years, such as Phil Mickleson's second shot on 13 in 2010, Tiger's birdie chip on 16 in 2005, and the aforementioned shot by Bubba on 10 in 2012. To see these places in person made me appreciate even more the skill of the professionals who have successfully taken on Augusta National over the years.

After watching some action from the grandstands on Amen Corner, we wandered around the course for a while and ended up back at the clubhouse at the front of the course. From there we made our way over to the Par 3 course, where the annual Par 3 contest is held. The crowds at the event were larger than normal due to the fact that crowd favorite Tiger Woods was participating in the event for the first time since 2004. We attempted to catch up with Jason Dufner, a Tour favorite of the whole group because of his Auburn ties, but he had finished the nine-hole course before we got there. From there we made the short walk to Founder's Circle, the players' entrance that is famous for the azaleas arranged in the Masters logo, where we had a picture taken in front of the clubhouse. While walking back around to the course, we saw Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, making his way out onto the course. Seeing such a powerful sports personality would usually be a cool experience for someone who loves sports as much as I do, but given my dislike of Goodell for his handling (or mishandling) of last year's domestic violence issues, it was anything but the highlight of the day.

After wandering around the course for a while longer, we made our way to the back of the course (we did A LOT of walking, about 7-8 miles over the course of the day) to visit the gift shop. The gift shop is not as reasonable as the concessions, but it was still important to get some memorabilia because the Masters logo is the only one I know of in sports that you have to purchase on site. I left with a golf polo, a hat, and a coffee mug. After leaving the gift shop, we made our final stop for concessions and made our way back to Amen Corner for the final time. On the way, we ran into the always-lovable Tommy Tuberville and his long-time running backs coach Eddie Gran, who were as nice as I could have ever imagined. I had never met Tommy, but after we approached him and he saw our Auburn shirts, we carried on a lighthearted conversation for five to ten minutes.

After saying goodbye to Coach Tuberville and Coach Gran, we spent a few minutes sitting on the 12th hole before making our way back to the front. On the long walk back to the front of the course, I took all of the mental snapshots of the beautiful course that my brain could hold. We finally made it back to the clubhouse, past the massive scoreboard, past the practice range at the entrance, and out of Augusta National Golf Club.

Visiting Augusta National was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had, and something that I hope every golf fan has an opportunity to do at least once in their life. The beauty, the pageantry, and the difficulty of the course make it one of the greatest places in the world of sports, and I hope I am privileged enough to go back many more times in the future.

The Best, the Worst, and the Steals of the 2014 NFL Draft

Another NFL draft has come and gone, and this year's was full of intrigue. The 2014 draft had no shortage of story lines. Who would the Houston Texans select with the number one overall pick? Who would be the first quarterback taken? Which teams were looking to trade up or down on draft night? Where would Michael Sam, the NFL draft's first ever openly gay player, be selected? These questions and so many more were answered on May 8th, 9th, and 10th as millions across the nation watched to see who their favorite team would select or where their favorite college player would be furthering his career. As always, there were some picks that I applauded, some that made me scratch my head a bit, and some that left my jaw on the floor. Soon after the draft, I began compiling a few lists, all based on my opinions and very limited knowledge of most of the players selected: the best picks, the worst picks, and the steals of this year's draft. The best and worst lists feature many star players selected in the first few rounds. The steals come mostly from the bottom of the draft and are the players I feel could one day have an impact in the league despite being drafted behind many of their peers. So here they are: The Best, the Worst, and the Steals of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Best

Honorable Mentions
Deone Bucannon- Safety, Washington State, drafted by Arizona Cardinals in first round with 27th overall pick; Bucannon is a hard hitting safety who can play close to the line of scrimmage to help control the run game or play back in coverage. He has great instincts and always finds a way to the ball carrier. Reminds me of longtime Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed.

Ra'Shede Hageman- Defensive tackle, Minnesota, drafted by Atlanta Falcons in second round with 37th overall pick; He reminds me a lot of Vince Wilfork of the New England Patriots. Hageman, like Wilfork, isn't usually the guy who makes the tackle, but he can eat up two blockers in the middle of an offensive line and free up his teammates to make plays. Most effective as a run stuffer but could develop into a good pass rusher.

5. Marqise Lee- Wide receiver, Southern Cal, drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars in second round with 39th overall pick; After botching their first round selection (see "Worst" below) by selecting Blake Bortles with the third overall pick, the Jaguars went after some help for Bortles and did not disappoint. Lee is a playmaker who can stretch the field on deep routes and pick up valuable yards after the catch on shorter routes. Many experts projected Lee to go in the mid-to-late first round, so nice job by the Jags of finally waking up and taking one of the best players still available at their draft spot.

4. Cody Latimer- Wide receiver, Indiana, drafted by Denver Broncos in second round with 56th overall pick; Latimer is a guy who really came on strong late in the draft process and boosted his stock. Despite flying under the radar for much of his time at Indiana, he began to catch the eyes of many scouts in workouts and interviews leading up to the draft. He doesn't have elite speed, but he has great hands and very rarely drops a pass. Much like Lee, Latimer was projected by many to be selected in round one. Shockingly, he came close to falling out of the second round. Denver wisely picked up another target for Peyton Manning and a receiver who can fill the void left by Eric Decker, who departed this past winter in free agency.

3. Jarvis Landry- Wide receiver, LSU, drafted by Miami Dolphins in second round with 63rd overall pick; Landry was often overshadowed by teammate Odell Beckham Jr. (selected by the Giants with the 12th overall pick) at LSU, but I believe he is just as talented. Beckham Jr. was often LSU's speed threat who could come up with the big play, while Landry handled most of the underneath routes. Like Latimer, he has great hands and catches most anything thrown in his direction. Miami not only got a great target for young quarterback Ryan Tannehill, but also got tremendous value with this pick deep in the second round.

2. Darqueze Dennard- Cornerback, Michigan State, drafted by Cincinnati Bengals in first round with 24th overall pick; Dennard was the best cornerback in this draft, and I still cannot figure out how and why 23 teams passed on him. He doesn't offer great size for a corner at 5'11", but he is a tremendous athlete and a physical player who can jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and help out in run support. I doubt the Bengals expected him to be available at this spot in the draft, but I'm sure they were thrilled, as any team would be, to add such a great player to their team late in the first round.

1. Johnny Manziel- Quarterback, Texas A&M, drafted by Cleveland Browns in first round with 22nd overall pick; If you know me, you already knew this was coming. As I watched the draft, I was disappointed but not surprised that the Texans passed on Johnny with the first pick. I was surprised, however, that the (brace yourselves) Jaguars, Raiders, Buccaneers, Browns (with their 8th overall pick), Vikings, Titans, AND Cowboys all decided that one of the best college football players in recent memory, if not of all time, wasn't who they were looking for as their franchise quarterback. The Browns, of all teams, finally wised up and traded up to 22 from their pick at 26 to select him. Although his playing style in college was unorthodox, I fully expect Manziel to transition well to the NFL and become a Pro-Bowl caliber quarterback. He has a strong and accurate arm, good pocket presence, and a high football IQ, all of which are key to becoming a good NFL quarterback. Any team would have been fortunate to draft Manziel as their next quarterback on May 8th, but for the Browns, who are known for quarterback troubles, it must have been extra sweet, especially considering they didn't draft him until the 22nd pick.

Worst

Honorable Mention
Lamarcus Joyner- Cornerback, Florida State, drafted by St. Louis Rams in second round with 41st overall pick- As is the case with most of the "Worst" picks, it's not Joyner's skill that bothers me, it's where in the draft he was taken. I think Joyner is a solid cover corner with good speed and good range. The knock on him is his size. In the age of bigger receivers, his 5'8", 190 pound frame won't be able to stand up against most NFL receivers. I saw Joyner as more of a 3rd-5th rounder selected as a slot cornerback. Instead, the Rams selected him in the second round and hope he can contribute as a top corner. So although not his fault, he lands an honorable mention spot on my worst picks list.

5. Logan Thomas- Quarterback, Virginia Tech, drafted by Arizona Cardinals in fourth round with 120th overall pick- I didn't watch a whole lot of Thomas in college, but what I saw was not impressive. Many said that his pre-draft workouts weren't either. The Cardinals selected him as a developmental quarterback, so he likely won't be asked to play immediately. Regardless, he didn't appear in college to be a guy capable of contributing at the next level. His arm strength is decent, but his accuracy and footwork need vast improvement if he is ever to see playing time on a competitive team. What makes this pick even more confusing is that two of the top developmental prospects of the draft at quarterback, Aaron Murray and AJ McCarron, were still available at this pick. Only time will tell, but I don't see Thomas becoming a competent starter in the NFL.

4. Timmy Jernigan- Defensive tackle, Florida State, drafted by Baltimore Ravens in second round with 48th overall pick- Jernigan was fairly impressive when he was on the field this past year. The only problem is that with Florida State's many blowout victories this past year, the starters, including Jernigan, only played two or three quarters in most games. As I watched him in the title game against my Auburn Tigers, I was impressed with him. He was disruptive and got penetration on most plays. However, whether due to Auburn's up-tempo system or lack of full competitive games prior to that for Florida State, he couldn't stay on the field. Auburn's running game was contained with him on the field, but when he checked out, they started to move the ball again. Multiple times he was shown on camera bent over gasping for air. It reminds me of another Ravens pick a few years back who turned out to be a bust, Alabama's Terrence Cody. Also selected in round two, Cody failed to pass his physical and hasn't contributed much for the Ravens. If Jernigan can stay in shape and stay on the field, I can see this becoming a very good pick. If not, his spot on my worst picks list will be justified.

3. Jeremy Hill- Running back, LSU, drafted by Cincinnati Bengals in second round with 55th overall pick- Hill, strictly as a football player, would have probably been a good pick in the second round. Unfortunately, he was arrested twice during his time at LSU, which threw up some obvious red flags for most teams. On the field, there is no doubt he can contribute to an NFL roster. He's a big guy who can run between the tackles and accelerates quickly for a man his size. However, he hasn't shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and he doesn't have top-end speed. These weaknesses, along with his off the field problems, should have dropped him to the third or fourth round. The Bengals, however, decided to pull the trigger on him despite the fact that highly touted running backs such as Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason, Devonta Freeman, and Andre Williams were still available. Hill could make an impact at the pro level, but only if he gets his act together off the field first.

2. Blake Bortles- Quarterback, Central Florida, drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars in first round with 3rd overall pick- Bortles was considered by many as the quarterback in this draft with the best potential, or "highest ceiling." Jacksonville is obviously not looking to be a Super Bowl contender next season, but they believe Bortles gives them the best shot to win down the road. He has good size and typically has good accuracy on short and intermediate throws. However, despite his size, he doesn't have elite arm strength. He also struggles with deep throws and doesn't have good speed or footwork. Jacksonville had options with this pick. They could have traded down in the first round and selected a quarterback, or they could have filled another team need and waited until a later round to select a quarterback. Instead, they chose to select Bortles as the first quarterback, who despite his big frame, doesn't have a big arm.

1. Jimmy Garoppolo- Quarterback, Eastern Illinois, drafted by New England Patriots in second round with 62nd overall pick- I can understand the Patriots logic here. Garoppolo attended a very small school and didn't play very stiff competition in college, but many experts project him as one of the top developmental quarterbacks in this year's draft. Tom Brady isn't getting any younger and only has a few years left to play. Why not bring in a young guy to be your quarterback-in-waiting and let him learn from a future Hall of Famer? It would be one thing if Tom Brady was on a terrible team and they were trying to build for the future while he rode into the sunset. But that's not the case. The Patriots are a good team. They went to the AFC Championship Game last year and have added more pieces to their roster this offseason. The draft was supposed to be their opportunity to patch up the few remaining holes on their roster, especially with their early round picks. Taking their quarterback of the future in the second round to sit on the bench for a couple of years does nothing to help the Patriots win now. They could've solidified their defensive front or given Tom Brady another offensive weapon to work with. Instead, they chose to throw their second pick towards the future and hope that Tom Brady can take his limited weapons and once again produce a contender.

Steals

Honorable Mentions
Jared Abbrederis- Wide receiver, Wisconsin, drafted by Green Bay Packers in fifth round with 176th overall pick- I didn't watch Abbrederis very much, but I was impressed with what I did see. Although he doesn't have great size or speed, he makes up for it with good shiftiness in the open field, his good hands, and superb route running. It can never hurt to give a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers another talented receiver to work with, and that's exactly what Green Bay got. Even if he doesn't work out, a fifth round pick alone doesn't kill a franchise. But if he does, he could develop into a top pass catcher in the NFL. He is worth the risk this late in the draft.

Morgan Moses- Offensive tackle, Virginia, drafted by Washington Redskins in third round with 66th overall pick- Although some would argue that Moses is not really a "steal" since he was taken so early, but for a guy who had a chance to go in the first round and was nearly a lock for the second round, he is absolutely a steal even early in the third round. Many experts rated Moses as the fourth best tackle in the draft, but an astounding eight players at the same position were selected before him. Adding to this steal is the fact that the Redskins were so poor on the offensive line last year. They needed help at the position, and they got it by selecting a good all around player to protect their young franchise quarterback, Robert Griffin III.

5. Storm Johnson- Running back, Central Florida, drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars in seventh round with 222nd overall pick- Johnson is one of the few players who really comes up big in the biggest moments. He can be a bit inconsistent, but when he gets going, he can be as good as anyone. It can only help that he is going to Jacksonville to team up with former backfield partner at Central Florida, quarterback Blake Bortles. If he can find his stride in the pros, he could become a starting running back in the NFL and provide excellent production for a seventh rounder.

4. Kevin Norwood- Wide receiver, Alabama, drafted by Seattle Seahawks in fourth round with 123rd overall pick- I absolutely love this pick. As an Auburn fan, I've had to put up with this guy for the past four years. He was a reliable receiver for Alabama throughout their run of national titles. Though few people realize it, Norwood was a huge part of AJ McCarron's historic career at Alabama. He runs great routes, rarely drops a ball, and does an excellent job of finding the open space when his quarterback is in trouble. There are often not gaping holes on the roster of a Super Bowl champion, but wide receiver was one of Seattle's weakest spots last year. Giving young quarterback Russell Wilson a receiver like Norwood to work with can only help make Seattle more formidable next season.

3. Pierre Desir- Cornerback, Lindenwood College, drafted by Cleveland Browns in fourth round with 127th overall pick- In the age of bigger wide receivers and pass catching tight ends in the NFL, teams are constantly looking for ways to slow them down. One way to combat the offense's size is to add more size on defense, especially height in the secondary. That's what Desir brings to the table. He's not the best corner in the draft, and he's also a bit raw and undeveloped because he played at such a small school. Desir's draw is his height. At 6'1", he's easily the biggest corner in the draft. He has the length to cover the big guys while also possessing the speed to stay with faster receivers. It will be up to the coaching staff in Cleveland to develop him, but he could become one of the league's most feared corners eventually. At worst, he can contribute as a slot corner and a solid backup to the outside corners.

2. Aaron Murray- Quarterback, Georgia, drafted by Kansas City Chiefs in fifth round with 163rd overall pick- Murray was my favorite developmental quarterback prospect coming into the draft, and I think he will eventually become at worst a competent starter in the NFL. I was completely shocked that he fell to the fifth round, even though he is coming off knee surgery to repair a torn ACL. While healthy, however, Murray set multiple SEC records and shredded the best defenses in college football week in and week out. His durability will be a big concern, but if he can stay healthy, he can contribute on successful teams. With current Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith's contract set to expire after this season, it is feasible that Murray could step into a starting role in the 2015 season. Whenever it may be, look for Murray to be productive when given the opportunity.

1. Michael Sam- Defensive end, Missouri, drafted by St. Louis Rams in seventh round with 249th overall pick- It's no secret why Michael Sam fell so far in the draft. After his historic announcement announcing his homosexuality, his draft stock fell instantly. It is understandable why many teams would want to stay away from the distraction of a gay player; however, from a purely football point of view, Sam was one of the top defensive ends in this year's draft. He likely would have been selected in the fourth or fifth round if he had kept quiet about his sexuality. Despite his decision, he still can contribute to a team with his ability to rush the quarterback and contain the run. If you can ignore the off the field issues, which the Rams gladly did, Sam is a great player to add to any roster. Considering the Rams were able to wait until the seventh round to add such a talent, this is the no brainer pick for steal of the draft.

Proposed Scoreboard A Bad Idea for Auburn

According to a story by al.com's Brandon Marcello, Auburn's Board of Trustees will vote Friday on whether or not to begin construction on what would be the largest video scoreboard in college football. Jay Jacobs, Auburn's athletic director, told Marcello that the scoreboard would measure approximately 200 feet wide and 55 feet tall. Most Auburn fans, especially ones that attend the home football games, are excited about the possibility, and reasonably so. I, however, think that it is a very bad idea for several reasons. Let me begin by saying that I attended all but one home game in 2013, and every home game in 2014, so I am fairly familiar with Jordan Hare Stadium and the gameday experience as a whole on the Plains. From my experiences and the experiences of several others that I have spoken with, there are far more pressing issues with the stadium that need to be addressed. (To Auburn's credit, they are in the process of planning upgrades to Jordan Hare, but none of the upgrades would be completed before the proposed scoreboard.) My seats the last two years have been in the North end zone. To access these seats, one must pass through a limited number of convenient gates to enter the stadium or go in a gate farther away and walk around the concourse. Once inside, the concourse is very narrow, probably about thirty feet wide. Thirty feet may seem like a lot, but when thousands of fans are trying to squeeze into the bowl of the stadium via walkways that are also very narrow, thirty feet of concourse space fills up very quickly. There is also a noticeable lack of major concession stands and restrooms on the North concourse, leading to very long lines for both before the game and at halftime. The concourse area needs expansion and additions, and both would be better ways to use the proposed 13.9 million dollars needed to construct the new scoreboard. Also, the sound system at Jordan Hare needs to be replaced. Auburn loves to play pump up music before big plays and during timeouts to get the crowd involved and the stadium loud, which is great. It is counterproductive, however, when the speakers are so bad that the crowd can barely make out the music as well as the public address announcer. If Auburn insists that a scoreboard is where the funds should go, they should focus on the North end rather than the South end, where the proposed video board would go. As mentioned before, I sit in the North end zone, so the current HD video board in the South end zone is perfect for me. However, above my seats, there is an outdated scoreboard that includes only the score, game clock (when it works, which is not all the time), down and distance, etc., but no video board. For fans sitting in the South end zone or on the South ends of the East and West upper decks, it is difficult or impossible to view the video scoreboard. Installing a video scoreboard on the North end of the stadium would please these fans and make the game more enjoyable for them. Lastly, there is no reason to build a massive scoreboard like the one proposed because in a couple of years, at most, someone will have one bigger and better. With college football programs around the country constantly looking to find ways to flex their financial muscles, there is no doubt that whoever has the biggest scoreboard will continue to be topped year after year. As proof of this, 2014 was the first season that Texas A&M was able to lay claim to scoreboard bragging rights, as their 7,340 square foot behemoth was finished in early June. Here we are, not quite eight months later, and another school is already making plans to take that claim by the 2015 season. Auburn cannot expect to hold onto the title any longer than A&M did. While it would be neat to lay claim to the biggest scoreboard in college football, that claim will not last long. The current scoreboard fits all of Auburn's needs, and the Board of Trustees should look to improve other areas of the stadium before spending nearly $14 million on an unnecessary piece of eye candy.