Tarboro (N.C.) running back Todd Gurley has impressed Tom Lemming with his abilities.
Photo by Ron McCann
The shocking shift of major college football powers to different conferences centers around the almighty dollar, according to CBS/MaxPreps recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who has been observing the scene for 32 years.
"College football has one goal – it's all about the money," he said. "It's not about education, geography or (natural) rivalries. It will have an immediate effect on schools that don't make a major conference. The Big East possibly could collapse.
"Right now no one knows (for sure). There will be about four major conferences (SEC, ACC, Big 10 and Pac 12) and they will dominate the college football landscape. The SEC and Pac 12 (if they get Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State) are in the catbird seat. Everybody else will go wanting. Bowl games? Who knows?"
* Lemming says the SEC has the best recruiters, because those schools pay the highest salaries to their assistants. Among assistant coaches who are top recruiters, Lemming listed Ed Orgeron, Southern California; Tony Alford, Notre Dame; Fred Jackson, Michigan; Curtis Looper, Auburn; Charlie Weis, Florida; Tosh Lupoi, California; Jim McElwain, Alabama; Tim Horton, Arkansas; Joe Gilbert, Illinois; Frank Wilson, LSU; Jerry Petercuskie, North Carolina State; and Demetrice Martin, Washington.
*
Todd Gurley II, a 6-foot, 195-pound running back from
Tarboro (N.C.), is one of the fastest-rising senior recruits this year.
"I loved him on film," Lemming said.
Two other seniors whose stock has risen greatly are
Gehrig Dieter (6-3, 200), a wide receiver from
Washington (South Bend, Ind.), and
Jonathan Williams (5-11, 205), a running back from
Allen (Texas).
Noting that Dieter had more yardage in his first three games than most wide receivers have in a year, Lemming said that he has been added to the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl.
* Lemming sees a junior class loaded with talented quarterbacks across the country. He mentioned
Kevin Olsen (6-2, 198) of
Wayne Hills (Wayne, N.J.);
Max Browne (6-5, 210) of
Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.);
Tyrone Swoopes (6-5, 220) of
Whitewright (Texas) and
Matt Alviti (6-0, 180) of
Maine South (Park Ridge, Ill.).
* On tonight's weekly MaxPreps/Lemming Report (7 p.m., EST, on the CBS College Sports Network), special guests will include Miami (Fla.) head football coach Al Golden and
Hopewell (Aliquippa, Pa.) senior running back
Rushel Shell, who is approaching state rushing records.
Lemming also will discuss and show film of the Top 10 running backs in the country.
