Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, January 7, 2016

Now that star Michigan State OT Jack Conklin has declared for the draft, what's next for the Spartan line? Mike Griffith of Mlive.com notes that the Spartans are particularly green up front, as just two of the five returning MSU offensive players who started the CFP Cotton Bowl last Thursday were linemen:

  • Left guard Brian Allen (13 starts)
  • Right tackle Kodi Kieler (19 starts)
  • Tight end Josiah Price (15 starts)
  • Tailback Gerald Holmes (7 starts)
  • Receiver R.J. Shelton (11 starts)

Keep an eye on this next year.

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New Rutgers offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer is drawing lots of attention because of his age. He's just 28.

"Certainly, I understand the concern," Mehringer said an interview with NJ Advance Media. "You look around at some of the other coordinators within the conference and around the country and note their ages. It's certainly not invalid to consider."

He also is being talked about because of near-death experience, overcoming a severe head injury and subsequent coma. Good read from Dan Duggan of NJ.com.

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Cool look back at Ohio State?s 2013 recruiting class by Cleveland.com. Did it maximize its potential?

A year ago, the comparison between Ohio State's recruiting Class of 2013 to maybe the most famous Ohio State recruiting class, the group that formed the heart of the 1968 National Champions as sophomores, was just beginning to form. Now, many are gone, guys like Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Vonn Bell, Darron Lee, Eli Apple and Jalin Marshall.

From those sky-high goals, did they do what they set out to do?

"I think we did what we were supposed to do," Marshall said before the 44-28 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. "I think we didn't do what we wanted to do, which was win another national championship and become one of the best teams ever.

"But I think we did well."

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Yes, Christian Hackenberg is gone. But his legacy will endure.

Was it a smooth ride for Hackenberg? Nope. But, he soldiered through some tough times to get this program back solid footing. And for that, he should be thanked.

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Don't look now, but Ohio State has won seven games in a row and is unbeaten in Big Ten play. Who saw this coming after losses to Texas-Arlington and Louisiana Tech? Not me.

We will find out a lot more about OSU when it plays at Indiana on Sunday. Can't wait.

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A good podcast from IndyStar.com on what James Blackmon's injury means to Indiana. Clearly, it's not a good thing.

A guy like freshman OG Anunoby will need to step up. The good news: He has been a surprise so far. Kid is a good athlete and smart.

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InsideNU.com is counting down the top five moments of the Northwestern football season. No. 4, that wild win in Madison, Wisc. I like to call it the "Overturned Call Bowl."

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A price for success: assistant coaches leave for better jobs. That is what Iowa LB coach Jim Reid is doing, taking the DC job at Boston College.

Reid, 65, is originally from Massachusetts, so this is a move closer to his roots, an increase in title and probably a raise.

HawkCentral.com notes that this isn?t a new role for Reid. He spent one season as Boston College?s defensive coordinator (1994) before becoming Richmond?s head coach for nine seasons. Despite a 3-9 record last season, Boston College led the nation in total defense at 254.3 yards allowed per game.

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It was pretty nice to see former Nebraska player Alex Gordon re-sign with the Royals.

Gordon received a four-year deal, with a mutual option for a fifth year. The agreement is for $72 million. A contact of that amount would be the largest in franchise history, trumping $55 million deals given to Mike Sweeney and Gil Meche. Gordon, who played at Lincoln Southeast and Nebraska before becoming a star with the Royals, was one of the top outfielders available on free agency.

The four-time Gold Glove winner - who will be 32 in February - has spent his entire nine-year career with the Royals, who drafted him second overall in 2005.

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