Michigan State's Shakur Brown Declares for 2021 NFL Draft, Forgoes Senior Season
Dec 14, 2020
Michigan State cornerback Shakur Brown runs on the field during an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Michigan State defensive back Shakur Brown will skip his senior year at Michigan State after declaring for the 2021 NFL draft, he announced in a tweet Monday.
"Ever since I was a child, it has always been my dream to compete at the highest level and play in the NFL," Brown wrote. "After much prayer and discussion with my family, I believe the time is right for me to pursue that dream."
Brown is tied for the national lead in interceptions this season with five and has also broken up four passes for the 2-5 Spartans, who end the season Saturday against Maryland. Brown did not say if he would play in the final game.
Per Matt Wenzel of MLive.com, Brown is the third cornerback in as many years to depart Michigan State a season early in favor of the NFL draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Josiah Scott in the fourth round earlier this year, a year after the Pittsburgh Steelers added Justin Layne.
After redshirting his first year, he tallied six tackles and returned an interception for a score through 12 games in 2018. He played in only seven games in 2019 because of injuries, recording 23 tackles, six pass breakups, two sacks and an interception.
Unless he plays Saturday, Brown will end his Michigan State tenure with 54 tackles, 16 pass breakups, seven interceptions and a pair of sacks through 26 appearances.
Jim Harbaugh: 'I Have Been, Am and Will Remain' Committed to Michigan
Dec 14, 2020
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is seen during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has one year left on his contract, but he has no intention of leaving the Wolverines program and is looking forward to extension talks when the current deal concludes.
"Yeah, that question does come up and I tell them my plan is, (I'm) committed to Michigan," Harbaugh said, per ESPN's Tom VanHaaren. "I have been, am and will remain. [Athletic director Warde Manuel] and I will talk at the end of the season on the current contract and that's the truth. That's where it stands."
After they had to cancel last weekend's game against Ohio State due to an increase in positive COVID-19 tests, the 2-4 Wolverines have one game remaining against No. 18 Iowa on Saturday.
The early signing period for incoming recruits begins this week, and the uncertainty surrounding Harbaugh's future at the school is causing some recruits, including top linebacker Jaydon Hood and 4-star receiver Xavier Worthy, topauseon immediately signing.
Quarterback recruit J.J. McCarthy, a 5-star recruit, is planning to sign when the period opens Wednesday, according toVanHaaren.
Fox Sports'Bruce Feldman said Saturday that "preliminary" contract extension discussions have involved talks of a lower base salary. Harbaugh was one of the highest-paid coaches in college football this season, earning $8 million in base salary, perUSA Today.
The Wolverines have had five consecutive winning seasons, but they've lost their last four bowl games and haven't beat Ohio State in Harbaugh's tenure.
If things don't work out with Michigan, the 56-year-old Harbaugh reportedly would be interested in returning to the NFL. He led the San Francisco 49ers to a 13-3 record in 2011 and was named NFL Coach of the Year that season. The Niners made it to the Super Bowl the following year.
Big Ten Championship 2020: Ohio State vs. Northwestern Breakdown, Predictions
Dec 14, 2020
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass during an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. Ohio State won 52-12. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
The Ohio State Buckeyes appear to be in great position to land one of the four College Football Playoff spots.
The Big Ten East winner will head to Indianapolis on Saturday to face the Northwestern Wildcats, who emerged as the class of the Big Ten West through its defensive play.
Ohio State and Northwestern will be involved in one of the biggest clashes of styles during conference championship weekend.
The Buckeyes have a high-powered offense, led by Justin Fields, while the Wildcats pride themselves on defense first and have no problem winning a low-scoring affair.
Big Ten Championship Game Breakdown
Ohio State
The Buckeyes have won the past three Big Ten Championship Games.
They are looking to become the seventh consecutive winner out of the Big Ten East. The Big Ten West has never won the conference title game in the current divisional format.
Because of a few cancellations, Ohio State tied for the fewest number of games played in the Big Ten, and it has not played in two straight weeks since October 31 and November 7.
In their two games in the past four weeks, the Buckeyes put up 94 points on the Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan State Spartans.
Fields and Co. average 46.6 points per game, and they have the most explosive offense Northwestern has faced all season.
The Buckeyes have an impressive running back tandem in Master Teague III and Oklahoma transfer Trey Sermon. They also have a pair of 500-yard wide receivers in Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.
Ohio State's abundance of top-tier talent makes it hard for any defense to stop, even one as stout as Northwestern's.
Since the start of the 2019 season, the Buckeyes have failed to reach 30 points on two occasions. The two occurrences happened against the Penn State Nittany Lions in a regular-season game and in a playoff semifinal versus the Clemson Tigers.
The Buckeyes do not have a dominant pass-rusher, like Chase Young or the Bosa brothers, on their defensive line, but they still have plenty of talented players who can stop Northwestern's offense in its tracks.
Linebackers Pete Werner, Baron Browning and Tuf Borland lead the team in tackles and have contributed two sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
If the front seven remains tough, it could stifle the production of Peyton Ramsey and the Wildcats offense, which would lead to quick stops and better field position for Fields and Co. to start with.
Northwestern
Northwestern played two more games than Ohio State, but it scored 56 fewer points than the Buckeyes.
In fact, the Wildcats were outscored by five Big Ten teams, including four from the Big Ten East and the Iowa Hawkeyes out of the West.
Pat Fitzgerald's program has not been forced to score a high total of points because its defense has been so solid.
Northwestern is coming off a 28-10 win over the Illinois Fighting Illini in which it held its opponent to 107 passing yards.
Ramsey, who is a transfer from Indiana, has nine touchdown passes, six interceptions and has been sacked on nine occasions. For Northwestern to have a chance, he has to avoid turnovers and provide a steady hand in long-yardage situations.
Ramsey does not have to outgain Fields, but he needs to be consistent enough to deliver a few scoring drives.
The Wildcats do not have a stud at the offensive skill positions, but it has a collective at running back and wide receiver that can combine for a solid performance. Three Wildcats have run for more than 200 yards and two players have 30 receptions and 300 receiving yards.
In each of its six victories, Northwestern held its opponent to 20 points or fewer, but it only faced one ranked team.
Defeating the likes of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Purdue Boilermakers each week is much different than dealing with one of the best teams in the FBS.
Prediction
Ohio State 49, Northwestern 24
Northwestern should be able to score points on the Ohio State defense at points, but it does not have the firepower to keep up with the Buckeyes' stars.
Those points may come later in the game when the Buckeyes have their foot off the pedal. Ohio State should learn from the slow start it experienced in the 2019 Big Ten Championship Game.
The Wisconsin Badgers had leads of 14-0 and 21-7 in the first half before the Buckeyes' offense moved up to another level in the second half.
Fields should learn from those early struggles and get off to a fast start in Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon.
Ohio State is accustomed to fast starts this season. It scored the first 35 points against the Michigan State Spartans in its last game and busted out to a 35-7 lead in a win over Indiana.
Another fast start combined with a few defensive stops could place Ohio State in the lead by double digits fairly easily, and it is unlikely that it will let up with the playoff in its sights.
Big Ten Announces CFB 'Champions Week' Schedule, Start Times, TV Info
Dec 13, 2020
Ohio State players celebrate with Haskell Garrett (92) after his touchdown on an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
The Big Ten announced its "Champions Week" schedule, with the title game between Ohio State and Northwestern highlighting the slate of games at noon ET on Dec. 19 on Fox.
Other intriguing matchups include Minnesota vs. Wisconsin and Purdue vs. Indiana:
For a struggling Michigan team (2-4), meanwhile, the chance to knock off No. 16 Iowa (6-2) would be a nice close to an otherwise disappointing season.
Most of the actual stakes for the slate of games comes down to Ohio State (5-0) vs. Northwestern (6-1). The Buckeyes are battling for a Big Ten title and a berth in the College Football Playoff. The Wildcats will be looking to win their first outright conference championship since 1995 (they shared the title in 1996 and 2000).
A win would also earn Northwestern a berth in a New Year's Six bowl game. It would be an enormous upset, however.
"I'm sure we're going to be underdogs by like 70," Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald joked whilespeaking to reporterson Saturday.
"They're a Top Four team," he added of the Buckeyes. "If I had a vote, I'd vote them No. 2. I think they're a complete football team, all three phases."
The Buckeyes come into the game as the sources of some controversy, given that they only played five games and the Big Ten ruled before the season that six games played would be the minimum to qualify for the Big Ten title game. But had Ohio State's game against Michigan not been canceled, the Buckeyes would have qualified for the championship even if they had lost, seeing as they held the head-to-head tiebreaker over Indiana (6-1) in the Big Ten East.
Lovie Smith Fired as Illinois Football Head Coach After 5 Seasons
Dec 13, 2020
FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2019, file photo, Illinois head coach Lovie Smith walks on the field before an NCAA college football game against Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa. Even after beating a Wisconsin team that was favored by 30 ½ points last year, Illinois heads into Madison as a 19 ½-point underdog as the two West Division rivals prepare to open the pandemic-delayed Big Ten season Friday night. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
The University of Illinois is parting ways with head football coach Lovie Smith after five seasons, Brett McMurphy of Stadium reported Sunday.
Smith's dismissal was later confirmed by the University of Illinois:
Smith never delivered a winning record during his tenure with the Fighting Illini, and they were only able to muster a 2-5 mark during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 Big Ten season.
Overall, Smith went 17-39 at Illinois and led the Illini to one bowl game.
The 62-year-old Smith is perhaps best known for his time in the NFL as head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2004 to 2012 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014 and '15.
Smith, who was named the 2005 NFL Coach of the Year, went 81-63 in nine seasons as head coach of the Bears. He led them to the playoffs three times and took them to the Super Bowl during the 2006 campaign.
His two seasons in Tampa were far less successful, as he went 8-24 with no trips to the playoffs.
When Smith took the reins at Illinois in 2016, there were high hopes for a turnaround, as theIllinihad posted a losing record in each of the previous four seasons.
That never happened, though, with the program in the midst of a streak of nine losing seasons, making it an afterthought in the Big Ten.
Smith's last stand at Illinois came Saturday when theIllinilost 28-10 to a Northwestern team that is set to face Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.
PeteThamelof Yahoo Sports provided a list of potential candidates to replace Smith:
Some names for Illinois: Army's Jeff Monken, Buffalo's Lance Leipold, former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, Kent's Sean Lewis, Iowa State OC Tom Manning, Ball State's Mike Neu, Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard and Cincinnati DC Marcus Freeman.
Included on that list is a pair of Illinois natives in Army head coach JeffMonkenand New York Giants outside linebackers coach Bret Bielema, who previously coached at Wisconsin and Arkansas.
Monkenmay be the best candidate given what he has accomplished at Army during his seven-year stint as head coach.
WhenMonkentook over at Army, it had posted a losing record in 16 of the previous 17 seasons. UnderMonken, the Black Knights have finished with a winning record in four of the past five years, including an 8-2 mark this season.
Big Ten Championship Game 2020: Early Preview for Ohio State vs. Northwestern
Dec 13, 2020
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, left, scrambles against Michigan State's Antjuan Simmons during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. Ohio State won 52-12. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
A week ago, the Big Ten wasn't even sure whether its best team would be able to participate in the conference championship game Dec. 19.
After deciding on a six-game minimum for teams to make the Big Ten title game before the season, the league reversed course—with the blessing of its member schools—to allow the 5-0 Ohio State Buckeyes to represent the Big Ten East in the title game. If they win, they will likely make the College Football Playoff as well, which would be a reported $40 million-50 million revenue boost to the league in a year wherein schools have collectively lost hundreds of millions of dollars because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league got smart, though, and the Buckeyes will face a Northwestern team ranked No. 14 and coming off of a commanding win over Illinois. Ohio State is likely to be a double-digit favorite, and the Buckeyes will need to be at least that convincing to get the CFP committee to put them into the playoff ahead of teams with eight, nine and 10 games under their belts.
Let's begin by breaking things down a little further.
Key Matchups
Justin Fields vs. Northwestern Defense
Despite only getting to play in five games, Justin Fields has again shown why he's considered a Heisman contender and prospective top-five overall NFL draft pick. He's completed nearly 74 percent of his throws, tossed 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions, and he's run for five more scores. He's the straw that stirs Ohio State's offensive drink, and Northwestern's biggest challenge will be getting pressure on him and forcing him to win the game with his legs.
The Wildcats rank 15th in the country in total defense, but they rank No. 3 out of 127 teams in points against, No. 6 in yards allowed per play and are among the top 25 in turnovers gained. They have been particularly elite against the pass, allowing just a 51 percent completion rate among opposing quarterbacks, while forcing 10 interceptions in eight games.
Ohio State will put them to the test with Fields, who utilizes the Buckeyes' skill players to get the ball out quickly and avoid sacks that would put OSU in long-yardage situations.
Northwestern Run Game vs. Ohio State Defense
One of the biggest keys for Northwestern's defense has nothing at all to do with that side of the ball. Ohio State has the fourth-highest scoring offense in college football (46.6 points per game), and if the Wildcats get into a shootout, this one will be over quickly. Northwestern quarterback Peyton Ramsey has been serviceable this year, but he's completed just 59 percent of his passes and averages just 5.8 yards per attempt.
On the ground, though, Northwestern has six players with more than 100 yards rushing this season, and their success mainly comes through ball control. The Wildcats won't gauge Ohio State—or anyone—with eye-popping runs, but they are physical up front and will do everything they can to make this a 14-10 or 10-7 game in the final minutes.
Whether they can do that is a different story. While it isn't an elite unit like it has been in previous years, Ohio State's defense still ranks among the top 45 nationally in total defense, and the Buckeyes have been especially good (No. 13) at getting off the field on third down and getting their offense the ball back. Simply put, the Wildcats have a steep hill to climb to keep this a low-scoring affair.
Iowa's Ihmir Smith-Marsette Says He's OK After Injury Scare from End Zone Flip
Dec 12, 2020
Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, left, flips in the end zone in front of Wisconsin safety Eric Burrell, right, after catching a 53-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 28-7. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette appeared to suffer a lower leg injury after front-flipping into the end zone to cap a 53-yard touchdown catch and give the Hawkeyes a 20-7 lead over Wisconsin on Saturday:
Per Scott Dochterman of The Athletic, Smith-Marsette was seen with a walking boot on his left ankle on the sidelines and missed the remainder of the game. He departed with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter after catching seven passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith, a senior playing his last-ever game at Iowa's Kinnick Stadium, told reporters he was fine and that he had no regrets.
"Do I regret the flip? No. Would I do it again? Yeah," Smith-Marsette said per Chad Leistikow of the Des Moines Register.
"I'm just happy we got the win. Everyone was having fun. My senior year, never going to play in Kinnick again...got to go out with a bang."
Iowa ended up taking down Wisconsin 28-7 to finish its regular season at 6-2, good enough for second place in the Big Ten's West division. Smith finished first on the team with 345 receiving yards.
Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald: 'I Fully Support' OSU Earning Big Ten Title Berth
Dec 12, 2020
Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald calls out a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Massachusetts, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Jim Young)
Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald is in favor of Ohio State being given a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game despite it only playing five games this season.
According to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, Fitzgerald said: "We couldn't predict where the pandemic would lead each team. To Ohio State's credit, they're undefeated. They've beaten everyone they've had the chance to play. I fully support the decision."
The Big Ten initially stipulated that teams would only be eligible to play in the Big Ten Championship Game if they played at least six games this season, but the rule was amended this week to allow for OSU to be part of the title game.
The Buckeyes are 5-0 and ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings, but they have had three games canceled this season because of COVID-19.
A game was called off against Maryland after positive tests within the Terrapins' program before Ohio State's COVID-19 issues led to the cancellation of a game against Illinois, and this week's scheduled rivalry game against Michigan didn't happen amid the Wolverines dealing with positive tests and contact tracing.
Northwestern, which beat Illinois on Saturday to move to 6-1 on the season, will be OSU's opponent in the Big Ten Championship Game after winning the Big Ten West.
Fitzgerald joked that his Wildcats will be "underdogs by like 70" against quarterback Justin Fields and the high-powered Ohio State offense.
The Northwestern head coach thinks so highly of Ohio State, in fact, that he said he would vote them as the No. 2 team in the nation if it was up to him.
Ohio State is fourth behind undefeated Alabama and Notre Dame and one-loss Clemson, and the Buckeyes having played only five games has plenty to do with it.
They are likely to qualify for the CFP should they beat Northwestern to win the Big Ten and move to 6-0, although there could be a scenario where Ohio State gets shut out.
If Clemson beats Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game and Florida beats Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, those teams will each have one loss and may all have enough support to comprise the top four and push Ohio State down to No. 5.
Report: Jim Harbaugh's Next Michigan Contract Likely to Include Base Salary Cut
Dec 12, 2020
FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh calls a timeout in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Ann Arbor, Mich. Michigan has been good, not great, under coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh's sixth season in charge of college football's winningest program, which he starred for as a quarterback three-plus decades ago, is expected to follow the pattern. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel and head football coach Jim Harbaugh have reportedly begun "preliminary" discussions about a contract extension.
Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman reported Saturday the talks have centered around a cut to Harbaugh's base salary paired with an increase in performance-based incentives:
"They're going to look at a lower base salary with big incentives." @BruceFeldmanCFB on Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh's contract extension pic.twitter.com/dApVX7O61r
Harbaugh ranked fourth among college football head coaches with a base salary of just over $8 million for the 2020 season, according to theUSA Todaydatabase.
Feldman noted there are questions about whether the former NFL quarterback's "ego" would allow him to accept a pay cut, however, and the contract talk comes amid rumors of a possible departure from U-M.
Mike Florioof Pro Football Talk reported last week Harbaugh is "believed to be eyeing a return to the NFL as a head coach" with sources saying "teams are doing their homework" on him.
The 56-year-old Ohio native was named the NFL coach of the year in 2011 after guiding the San Francisco 49ers to a 13-3 record during his first year with the team. The Niners reached the Super Bowl the following season, losing to the Baltimore Ravens, and the NFC Championship Game in 2013.
He left San Francisco after an 8-8 record in 2014 and took over at Michigan, his alma mater, in 2015. He'd previously been a head coach at the collegiate level with San Diego (2004-06) and Stanford (2007-10).
Harbaugh had guided the Wolverines to five straight winning seasons, but they've lost their last four bowl games, lost all five games against rival Ohio State and have posted a 2-4 record during the coronavirus-shortened 2020 campaign.
Now it sounds like his future in Ann Arbor is in question, especially if the school takes a hardline stance on the pay cut in contract negotiations.
It's worth noting the Michigan-based Detroit Lions will be conducting a search for a new head coach in the offseason after firing Matt Patricia. The Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans are also operating with interim head coaches, and more jobs are likely to come available over the next few months.
He'd also likely attract interest from other college programs if he decides to leave Big Blue.
Early National Signing Day 2020: Announcement Schedule, Predictions and More
Dec 12, 2020
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day coaches against Penn State during an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Ohio State defeated Penn State 38-25. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
With the recent shifts in college football recruiting—namely players committing earlier in their process—the buzz that used to surround National Signing Day in February has largely faded. Not only has an early signing day in December pretty much replaced it in importance, but most elite-level players have already decided on their school as a way to ensure their spot isn't given to another prospect.
Of the top 25 prospects in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports, 22 have already committed to a program. Of the top 55, just 10 aren't already spoken for.
In a recruiting year that has been completely upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, with prospects unable to take official visits to schools since March, most of the recruiting has been done by coaches via Zoom, Twitter and text messages. Prospects have been able to visit campuses on their own accord, but the usual pomp and circumstance of a blue-chipper coming to town has been largely eliminated because coaches are prohibited from "hosting" them.
There won't be a shortage of intrigue on signing day, as there are still a handful of top prospects committed, and there are always a few players with a surprising flip up their sleeves.
4-star DB Damarius McGhee (No. 185, 247Sports) Decision: Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 5:00 p.m. ET Considering: Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee Prediction: LSU
Barring a shocking turn of events on signing day, we will yet again see Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia reigning atop the college football recruiting world. One of those programs had brought in the No. 1-ranked recruiting class every year since 2010, and it doesn't appear that will be changing any time soon.
Of the 34 5-star recruits in the 2021 class according to the 247Sports rankings, 14 are committed to either the Crimson Tide, Buckeyes or Bulldogs, and it's likely that at least two more will commit to one of those three schools on signing day.
Behind them are defending national champion LSU, Oregon, Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame, Michigan and Oklahoma. The Wolverines have been able to hold on to their stable of committed players, despite rumors about head coach Jim Harbaugh's future in Ann Arbor being in doubt.
Of the aforementioned uncommitted prospects, two are among the top four players in the country, according to 247Sports. Korey Foreman, a defensive end from California and the No. 1 overall player in the class, committed to Clemson in late January but backed off that pledge by April. Most recruiting analysts opined that he wanted to be closer to home, and the two schools thought to be in contention for his commitment are USC and LSU.
The No. 3 overall player in the class is another defensive end, J.T. Tuimoloau, a 6'5", 277-pound lineman from Washington. The hometown Huskies were thought to be a serious contender for him, but all signs point to him ending up at Ohio State, which has produced Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa and Chase Young, all top-3 NFL draft picks at the defensive end position in recent years. It's tough to argue with that pedigree.
