Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Branden Smith?

Branden Smith hasn't made much noise at Georgia since his freshman year when he burst onto the scene in with one very big play against the South Carolina Gamecocks. A play that happened so long ago that you've likely forgotten how spectacular it was—see it again below:



That one still leaves me shaking my head in awe—his speed is amazing—but what happened to Mr. Smith? Where has he gone and when the hell will he be back? All indications point to a 2011 return—whether it comes more on offense than defense is yet to be seen—as Smith was observed fielding kicks and punts over the weekend.

Is that where Georgia hopes to see him do the most damage this season, particularly given Smith's injury history? After all, it's well-known that Smith suffered through multiple concussions in 2011, and if he continues to play defense, collisions with opponents who outweigh him by better than 40-50 pounds is likely. Of course there are those who would point out that defensive back Brandon Boykin doesn't dwarf Smith by very much, size wise, yet he's been able to achieve success.

While the latter is true, it's premature to place Smith and Boykin in the same category where skill or development is concerned. Smith is not yet the caliber of player—at least not defensively—that Brandon Boykin is, and Boykin makes up for in ball skills and mental play what he lacks in overall size.

Overall, however, the biggest challenge Smith will have—if he does intend to succeed on defense—is grasping Todd Grantham's defense.

Recall that when Smith signed with Georgia in 2009, Martinez was still running the defense, and the soft-zone scheme Georgia's defense operated under was meant for guys like Smith and Boykin who could use their speed to catch up to a play if they missed a read (although, to be honest, we all remember how well that worked out).

With Grantham at the helm, defensive backs have to take a more proactive role in how they play their position. They have to both read and react—not just react—and not every player has proven that they can do this with ease.

If Smith is going to get back on the field fast, I suspect it will be in a special teams capacity—for the most part—with some gadget plays thrown in for good measure. I don't know that he has a future on defense at the corner spot, at least not now, but his speed and talent are simply too valuable a commodity to not find a home on the football field in 2011. 

Major Applewhite: "...I Love The City of Austin"

Now that the Florida Gators have, reportedly, found their man in Will Muschamp, new speculation has arisen as to who he might bring along with him.

Major Applewhite, the current University of Texas running backs coach, and former offensive coordinator of the Alabama Crimson Tide, is rumored to be tagging along to take over the OC duties at Florida.

However, the possibility of Applewhite leaving Austin seems unlikely given his ties to the program (he once played under coach Brown) and the city of Austin.

Applewhite has long been on-the record as a full-blown Texas guy. He loves the city of Austin and has stated his desire to remain there for as long as possible.

Last season, Gentry Estes of the Mobile-Press Register sat down to interview Applewhite during BCS National Championship week. He asked Applehwhite some very candid questions about his decision to vacate Nick Saban's staff after just one season, his connection to Alabama, and his hopes for the future.

Here are just a few quotes from that interview:

On leaving Alabama for Texas after just one season:

"...I understood why I wanted to go back to the University of Texas. I graduated there. My wife had graduated there. I'd spent seven years there as a student, player and grad assistant. I was familiar with every coach on the staff. I love the city of Austin. I liked my time in Tuscaloosa, but I love living in Austin, Texas. I was familiar with the administration. I knew the environment a lot more. It was a more comfortable environment. My wife and I were wanting to start a family. Look, people are going to talk. I played quarterback, and people talked back then. It really doesn't bother me. ... When I was at Syracuse, I thought about getting back to Texas. When I was at Rice, I thought about getting back to Texas. When I was at Alabama, I thought about getting back to Texas. I love the place. It's my home."

On why he didn't take the job at Houston (he was a candidate at one point but, reportedly, withdrew his name from consideration):

"Yes. I mean, I had an opportunity to go interview at Houston for a head job. It's amazing how the rumors can go a thousand different directions, but I was either going to take a job at Texas or I was going to stay at Alabama. It's that simple."

On his connection to Alabama:

"...Having been named after Major Ogilive, being an Alabama fan, you've got Coach Bryant's poster in your room, and you're wildly familiar with the expectations at Alabama. When I went to Texas from high school as a player, you notice those same things in a different part of the country. It's just a different state."

If a bet had to be made, one might place it on Applewhite staying put and taking advantage of the possibilities that a re-organizing of the staff could mean for him—possible move to QB coach? Too soon for an offensive coordinator's position?

Either way, there could be as many reasons for Applewhite to remain in the city he adores, at the school he loves, than there is for him to return to the SEC. Don't pencil him in just yet.

Will Muschamp To Replace Urban Meyer As Head Coach At Florida

Mack Brown won't have to worry about Will Muschamp's shadow any longer. The longtime defensive assistant is returning to the SEC.

The former Georgia Bulldog alumnus will step into the big shoes of Urban Meyer to coach at his alma mater's most hated division rival—the Florida Gators.

The hire is a great 'get' for Florida athletic director, Jeremy Foley, as Muschamp's name has been on the short list of many big jobs over the last several years and his ability to develop great defenses is well-known—particularly in the south where he worked at both Auburn and LSU.

That said, his arrival in Gainesville will come as a surprise to the many who believed that Bob Stoops was already signed, sealed, and about to be delivered. As early as this morning, Stoops was the man whom many felt was AD, Jeremy Foley's first choice—not Dan Mullen (Mississippi St) or Bobby Petrino (Arkansas).

Stoops would later deny the story as rumor, and it wasn't long before Muschamp's name was replacing Stoops' as the newest possibility.

The one sticking point appeared to be his desire to leave the Texas Longhorns. Many felt he was the heir apparent to Mack Brown's position—whenever the popular coach decided to hang up his headset—if he were patient. Muschamp was named head-coach-in-waiting in 2008 and was being paid handsomely for his defensive services ($900,000/year).

However, after the Longhorns finished the 2010 season with a 5-7 and without a bowl bid, being in Austin might have become a lot more heated than in recent years—especially given the heavy backslide the defense took this year.

Whatever the reason for Muschamp's decision to leave, if you're a Florida fan, you have to feel very good about the success he's had in the SEC—particularly in molding defenses.

Urban Meyer pulled in the top ranked defensive unit in the country last season and now Muschamp will have the opportunity to mold those players into the top-tier talent they are destined to become. He's a guy who will be fierce on the recruiting trail, phenomenal on the sidelines, and has just enough SEC experience to make something happen almost as soon as he touches ground.

That said, what's Texas to do next? They've lost both their defensive coordinator and their, assumed, next head coach. Is Muschamp's exit the beginning of some major changes in Austin or is this just a great assistant making his move sooner, rather than later?

In either case, it will be interesting to see what happens next in Austin. As for Florida, it's simply business as usual.

Related articles

• AP Source: Muschamp to Be Head Coach at Florida (nytimes.com)
• Florida Gators hires Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp (sports.espn.go.com)

Big 12 Rumor: Did Nebraska's Taylor Martinez Leave The Team?

Twitter is hopping with another wild rumor, this one regarding Big 12 quarterback, Taylor Martinez—Nebraska's talented redshirt freshman.

No idea how this, unconfirmed, rumor began, but there is heavy speculation that the public undressing head coach Bo Pelini gave Martinez on the sidelines, during last night's 9-6 loss to Texas A&M, could have something to do with a decision to jump ship:



Honestly, the validity of the story seems questionable.

Why would Martinez risk another year of eligibility and his high profile position at a major school— a school headed to the even bigger spotlight of the Big Ten—just because his feelings got hurt on the sidelines?

That said, some feel that Pelini's less than hospitable demeanor could be the biggest factor and one of the main reasons why if this rumor turns out to be true, Pelini's could possibly be shown the door as well. 

Whatever the case, no one in Lincoln is ready to see a blossoming star exit stage left on a promising college football career at Nebraska.

College Football: The Texas Longhorns Get Swept Away by The Cyclones

Someone forgot to tell the Texas Longhorns that the season didn't end with their victory over Nebraska, because they apparently didn't realize that.

The Iowa State Cyclones, led by a determined Austen Arnaud and a defense with a major chip on its shoulder, marched into Austin, TX with a seven-game losing streak to Mack Brown and his Longhorns.

However, by the end of the day, they were floating out of Texas Memorial Stadium with a helmet full of pride, and a solid 'w' to give to the supporters waiting for them in Ames, IA.

It was clear early that Garrett Gilbert and the rest of his teammates left their pride, their game, and their execution in Nebraska, because the team that showed up to play football today looked unprepared and unimpressed.

At the half, the Longhorns had three-points to show for their mediocre efforts.

By contrast, Iowa State came to play. On their second possession of the game, Arnaud led the team 80-yards downfield for a touchdown.

Two possessions later, the Cyclones added another six via the ground game—in-between the touchdowns, the Cyclones' defense kept the Longhorns off-balance, frustrated, and confused as they bullied, pushed, and punked for three quarters—including several denials in the redzone.

Before Texas finally figured out what was happening, the was game over.

It was a good win for Austen Arnaud and the Cyclones. The talented quarterback has played with a lot of heart over the years, but he's seen his fair share of losses.

For the Texas Longhorns, and Garrett Gilbert, it's just another bad loss on a season that, after last week, seemed to be turning a corner—just another Saturday in college football.

College Football Upset Alert: Nebraska Cornhuskers Getting Dominated by Texas Early

Look out, Nebraska fans, the Texas Longhorns are looking to spoil your BCS dreams in Lincoln today. The Longhorns are currently leading the Cornhuskers, 17-3 at the first half.

Texas quarterback, Garrett Gilbert hasn't been getting it done as much through the air, save a big third down conversion at the 10:09 mark in the second quarter—see play below,



...but the sophomore has made his ground presence felt—scoring both touchdowns for the Longhorns with his legs.

For their part, Nebraska's offense has stalled under the guidance of Nebraska quarterback, Taylor Martinez. The freshman QB has been harassed and pressured by the Longhorn defensive front—so far he's 4/10 for 63-yards and has managed just 26 yards on the ground (13 of which came on their first drive of the game.

Sam Acho, the Texas defensive end, has been channeling his best Ndamokung Suh (the former Nebraska defensive tackle) impersonation all day (Suh made mince meat of Texas quarterback, Colt McCoy in last year's Big 12 Championship Game). He's been in the backfield a ton today as the Nebraska offensive line has had no answer for him to this point.

By contrast, Gilbert has been well-protected and Nebraska has put, virtually, no pressure on him this afternoon.

It's still early, but the way things look in the first half, that early season slate of cupcakes for the Nebraska Cornhuskers has done little to prepare them for this physical game against Texas.