Oregon Ducks: ACC
BRADENTON, Fla. -- ESPN 150 wide receiver Artavis Scott (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake), as expected, was one of the top wideouts in attendance at the IMG 7v7 Southeast regional championships over the weekend.
The four-star wide receiver visited Michigan recently and said he enjoyed his experience in Ann Arbor.
The four-star wide receiver visited Michigan recently and said he enjoyed his experience in Ann Arbor.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Watch List running back Tony James (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville) picked up an offer from the Oregon Ducks on Tuesday afternoon.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound speedster said he believes he would fit well in the Oregon offensive system.
"That offer means a lot to me, actually," James said. "This is one of those offers that I have kind of been waiting on. It shows my dedication and hard work have been paying off. Oregon is the type of offense where I know I would fit in. They spread the ball out a lot and I feel I could really do well in that offense."
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound speedster said he believes he would fit well in the Oregon offensive system.
"That offer means a lot to me, actually," James said. "This is one of those offers that I have kind of been waiting on. It shows my dedication and hard work have been paying off. Oregon is the type of offense where I know I would fit in. They spread the ball out a lot and I feel I could really do well in that offense."
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There were several standouts at Tuesday's Day 2 practice for the Under Armour All-America Game (5 p.m. ET Friday, ESPN). Two players -- one for Team Nitro, the other for Team Highlight -- said they are closing in on their college decisions and will make their announcements Friday. Meanwhile, the nation's No. 1 player left the field at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports with an injury.
Folston closing in on decision
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3-star ATH Juwaan Williams plans officials 
August, 28, 2012
8/28/12
8:56
PM PT
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
CLARKSTON, Ga. -- After leading his team to 36-14 win over Cedar Grove, which features four-star quarterback and Vanderbilt commitment Johnathon McCrary (Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove), Juwaan Williams (Tucker, Ga./Tucker) was not satisfied. Now in AAAAA after winning the AAAA state championship in 2011, Williams feels the bar has been raised for a successful season.
"The expectations are even higher here for the seniors and everyone that had a part in the state championship last night," Wiliams said.
On Friday, Williams excelled in directing the Tigers' multi-pronged rushing attack, as well as keeping the opposing defense on its toes. They were called offsides numerous times because of Williams' crafty snap counts.
"The expectations are even higher here for the seniors and everyone that had a part in the state championship last night," Wiliams said.
On Friday, Williams excelled in directing the Tigers' multi-pronged rushing attack, as well as keeping the opposing defense on its toes. They were called offsides numerous times because of Williams' crafty snap counts.
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OL J.D Hinnant talks top four, visits
August, 28, 2012
8/28/12
9:00
AM PT
By
Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
With the Oregon Ducks still in search of a third offensive lineman to add to their recruiting class, the name most often associated with the Ducks is somewhat of a late bloomer. Better late than never.
Having earned 13 scholarship offers since the spring, versatile lineman J.D. Hinnant (Fountain Valley, Calif./Fountain Valley) has seen his name pop up everywhere.
"It has been pretty crazy really. Going from no offers to having 13 in a matter of months, it is kind of hard to believe sometimes" Hinnant said.
Having earned 13 scholarship offers since the spring, versatile lineman J.D. Hinnant (Fountain Valley, Calif./Fountain Valley) has seen his name pop up everywhere.
"It has been pretty crazy really. Going from no offers to having 13 in a matter of months, it is kind of hard to believe sometimes" Hinnant said.
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USC wasn't eligible for the coaches' poll in 2011 due to NCAA sanctions, but it will start 2012 almost at the top.
The Trojans are ranked third, behind No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama, the two SEC teams that played for the BCS national title last season.
The vote at the top was tight. USC, with 19, and Alabama, with 20, actually got more No. 1 votes than LSU (18). That should be your first warning of the "What the heck" nature of the poll. LSU, which welcomes back 15 starters from a 13-1 team and upgraded at quarterback with Zach Mettenberger, seems like a clear No. 1 to the Pac-12 blog.
LSU, with 1,403 points, was just ahead of Alabama, at 1,399. USC got 1,388.
It's a little surprising that USC isn't No. 2. Alabama only has 11 position players returning, including just five from last season's outstanding defense. But coaches tend to tip their caps to defending champs, and it's not unlikely that each of the seven SEC coaches in the poll -- the Pac-12 had six -- voted the SEC teams one-two. I also have a hunch a Pac-12 coach -- or two -- didn't vote USC either No. 1 or 2.
And, of course, the coaches poll, though it is unfortunately included in the BCS standings, is the least respected of all polls due to its regional biases, obvious conflicts of interest, lack of transparency and the simple fact that few coaches pay attention to teams they don't play. Oh, and many of the coaches hand off their votes to sports information directors.
Oregon comes in at No. 5, 18 points behind No. 4 Oklahoma. Stanford is 18th, just ahead of the Oklahoma State team that nipped the Cardinal in the Fiesta Bowl.
And that's it for the Pac-12 in the top-25. Washington came in at No. 26 and Utah at 32nd, based on the "others receiving votes" tally.
The SEC led all conferences with seven ranked teams. The Big 12 had six, including new members West Virginia and TCU. The Big Ten had four, the ACC three.
It's also evident that the voters ran out of steam in the top 25. Florida, Notre Dame and Auburn combined for 16 losses in 2011, but were ranked Nos. 23, 24 and 25, respectively.
As we noted, "What the heck!"
Here are the coaches who voted, per USA Today, including the six Pac-12 coaches, who are bolded:
The Trojans are ranked third, behind No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama, the two SEC teams that played for the BCS national title last season.
The vote at the top was tight. USC, with 19, and Alabama, with 20, actually got more No. 1 votes than LSU (18). That should be your first warning of the "What the heck" nature of the poll. LSU, which welcomes back 15 starters from a 13-1 team and upgraded at quarterback with Zach Mettenberger, seems like a clear No. 1 to the Pac-12 blog.
LSU, with 1,403 points, was just ahead of Alabama, at 1,399. USC got 1,388.
It's a little surprising that USC isn't No. 2. Alabama only has 11 position players returning, including just five from last season's outstanding defense. But coaches tend to tip their caps to defending champs, and it's not unlikely that each of the seven SEC coaches in the poll -- the Pac-12 had six -- voted the SEC teams one-two. I also have a hunch a Pac-12 coach -- or two -- didn't vote USC either No. 1 or 2.
And, of course, the coaches poll, though it is unfortunately included in the BCS standings, is the least respected of all polls due to its regional biases, obvious conflicts of interest, lack of transparency and the simple fact that few coaches pay attention to teams they don't play. Oh, and many of the coaches hand off their votes to sports information directors.
Oregon comes in at No. 5, 18 points behind No. 4 Oklahoma. Stanford is 18th, just ahead of the Oklahoma State team that nipped the Cardinal in the Fiesta Bowl.
And that's it for the Pac-12 in the top-25. Washington came in at No. 26 and Utah at 32nd, based on the "others receiving votes" tally.
The SEC led all conferences with seven ranked teams. The Big 12 had six, including new members West Virginia and TCU. The Big Ten had four, the ACC three.
It's also evident that the voters ran out of steam in the top 25. Florida, Notre Dame and Auburn combined for 16 losses in 2011, but were ranked Nos. 23, 24 and 25, respectively.
As we noted, "What the heck!"
Here are the coaches who voted, per USA Today, including the six Pac-12 coaches, who are bolded:
The USA TODAY Board of Coaches is made up of 59 head coaches at Bowl Subdivision schools. All are members of the American Football Coaches Association. The board for the 2012 season: David Bailiff, Rice; Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech; Tim Beckman, Illinois; Bret Bielema, Wisconsin; Terry Bowden, Akron; Art Briles, Baylor; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Matt Campbell, Toledo; Gene Chizik, Auburn; Dave Christensen, Wyoming; Mark Dantonio, Michigan State; Tim DeRuyter, Fresno State; Dave Doeren, Northern Illinois; Sonny Dykes, Louisiana Tech; Jimbo Fisher, Florida State; Kyle Flood, Rutgers; James Franklin, Vanderbilt; Al Golden, Miami (Fla.); Jim Grobe, Wake Forest; Darrell Hazell, Kent State; Brady Hoke, Michigan; Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia; Skip Holtz, South Florida; Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana-Lafayette; Curtis Johnson, Tulane; Ellis Johnson, Southern Miss; Butch Jones, Cincinnati; Brian Kelly, Notre Dame; Lane Kiffin, Southern California; Mike Leach, Washington State; Pete Lembo, Ball State; Tony Levine, Houston; Mike London, Virginia; Rocky Long, San Diego State; Dan McCarney, North Texas; Mike MacIntyre, San Jose State; Ruffin McNeill, East Carolina; Gus Malzahn, Arkansas State; Bronco Mendenhall, BYU; Les Miles, LSU; George O'Leary, Central Florida; Paul Pasqualoni, Connecticut; Bo Pelini, Nebraska; Chris Petersen, Boise State; Joker Phillips, Kentucky; Paul Rhoads, Iowa State; Mark Richt, Georgia; Mike Riley, Oregon State; Rich Rodriguez, Arizona; Nick Saban, Alabama; Steve Sarkisian, Washington; Frank Solich, Ohio; Steve Spurrier, South Carolina; Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee; Bob Stoops, Oklahoma; Dabo Swinney, Clemson; Jeff Tedford, California; Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech; Kevin Wilson, Indiana.
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Brandon Oliver
Brandon Oliver joined ESPN in 2012. In recent years, Oliver has been involved in the Nike Football Tour with both ESPNHS and Nike. He has covered West Coast recruiting for various online outlets since 2008, with an emphasis on Oregon football. Email him at boliverespn@gmail.com.