ALABAMA: Per al.com, Kevin Steele is the new Crimson Tide’s director of player development. Steele was Alabama’s defensive coordinator during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He was Clemson’s defensive coordinator from 2009-11. Steele is considered one of the best recruiters nationally.
Saban also announced Thursday that Kerry Stevenson had joined the staff as the team’s director of player development. Stevenson is a former high school coach with ties to the Mobile, Ala., area. Tidesports.com confirmed that former Fresno State head coach Pat Hill, South Carolina offensive-line coach and co-offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott and UCF offensive line coach Brent Key are possibilities to replace Jeff Stoutland as offensive line coach.
ARKANSAS: According to the Arkansasnews.com, defensive end Austin Flynn was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Fayetteville early Wednesday morning. Flynn, who had 10 tackles in 12 games last season, is the first Arkansas player arrested since coach Brett Bielema’s arrival on Dec. 4. It will be interesting to see how Bielema handles his first discipline test.
AUBURN: The Tigers’ record next year should be improved due to the non-conference schedule which consists of Arkansas State, Western Carolina, Florida Atlantic and the opener at home against Washington State.
GEORGIA: After receiving a raise close to $400,000, coach Mark Richt is nearing $3.2 million annually per the AJC.com. His contract was extended one year through the 2017 season. Richt becomes the fourth-highest paid football coach in the SEC. Arkansas’ Bielema also will make $3.2 million. They are behind Alabama’s Nick Saban ($5.32 million), LSU’s Les Miles ($4.3 million) and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier ($3.55 million), who have all won national titles. Even Richt’s detractors can’t argue with his success last year. In the SEC title game, the Bulldogs were five yards away from playing for a national title.
Much has been made about the Bulldogs are losing 12 players on defense who started at least two games last season. As many as eight of those players could end up being drafted in April. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham recently told the media that the team has nine starters coming back who started in one game or more last year. In the past two seasons, Georgia has forced 62 turnovers, the second most in the SEC behind LSU (63). The Bulldogs were third in the SEC last season in scoring defense in league games. They allowed 18.1 points per game
KENTUCKY: According to Kentucky.com, Wildcat signee Nate Willis, a top junior college cornerback, tweeted on Wednesday night that he is planning to start his career in Division II. Willis, rated the nation’s third-best juco cornerback by 247Sports.com, had 50 tackles, four interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced fumble in his two seasons at Arizona Western College.
LSU: Coach Les Miles has hired Cam Cameron as the Tigers’ new offensive coordinator. Michael Bonnette, LSU’s associate athletic director for sports information, said Thursday night that Miles had notified his players that Cameron was taking over and that Greg Studrawa would continue to be the offensive line coach. Studrawa had called plays the last two seasons after stepping in for Steve Kragthorpe, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease months after being hired as offensive coordinator in 2011. Kragthorpe served as the Tigers’ quarterbacks coach the last two seasons.
Cameron, 52, comes to LSU after serving as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator from 2008-12. Cameron and Miles were on the Michigan staff together from 1987-93.
LSU finished No 10 in the SEC this past season in total offense and No. 8 in scoring defense. They were held to 20 or fewer points in four of their eight league games.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: According to the Clarion-Ledger, Billy Gonzales has been hired to coach receivers on coach Dan Mullen’s staff. Gonzales, who was had a one-year stint at Illinois last year, has had four different jobs in five years.
OLE MISS: Also per the Clarion-Ledger, Rebel starting quarterback Bo Wallace, who played the last half of the season with a hurt shoulder that required surgery soon after the bowl win over Pitt, will miss spring practice. His recovery time is four-to-six months. Barry Brunetti will likely get most of the snaps.
FLORIDA STATE: According to Warchant.com, Jameis Winston wants to be the Seminoles’ starting quarterback and the starting left fielder. A year ago, Winston was the nation’s top quarterback recruit. He also was drafted in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Texas Rangers. Winston’s has a low-90s fastball a look at the back end of the bullpen, too. He will juggle both sports during the spring. If Winston wins the job, it will be interesting next season if he continues to play baseball.
GEORGIA TECH: Per Espn.com, the ACC is considering giving Georgia Tech two Thursday night games for the 2013 season, at Clemson and home against Virginia Tech. The Hokies have become a common primetime opponent for the Yellow Jackets. The two teams played each other on Thursday nights in 2010 and 2011 and then on Labor Day night in the season opener in 2012.
MIAMI: Miami added an addition to its 2013 recruiting class. Coach Al Golden announced Wednesday the signing of ESPN 300 running back Cornelius Elder (5-10, 170), who is from The Ensworth School in Nashville. He rushed for 2,618 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior in 2012. Elder finished his prep football career with 6,351 rushing yards, 84 touchdowns and three consecutive state titles. He is also an outstanding basketball player.
NORTH CAROLINA: Coach Larry Fedora has announced the hiring of Ron West as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. West, who coached previously with Fedora at Baylor and with defensive coaches Vic Koenning and Dan Disch at Illinois, comes to Chapel Hill after a year at Arizona State where he served as the Sun Devils’ co-defensive coordinator.
VIRGINA TECH: Safety Michael Cole will no longer play football because of a neck injury that occurred last season against Florida State, the school announced Thursday. Cole sustained a cervical neck sprain and subsequently underwent surgery. Though he will no longer play football, Cole will remain a part of the team.