Kobe Bryant's Influence On Virginia Tech Football

Virginia Tech Fullback Takes Tips from Kobe Bryant

Andy Bitter, The Roanoke Times

While Virginia Tech fullback Sam Rogers is rehabbing an elbow injury he sustained in December’s Military Bowl, Hokies running back Shane Beamer gave Rogers some work. Andy Bitter details Rogers’ homework, which includes watching Kobe Bryant’s documentary, Kobe’s Muse.

What can one of basketball’s best finesse players teach a decidedly un-finesse football player? Beamer told Bitter:

Part of the gist of that is being a leader sometimes is uncomfortable. Leading people where they want to go, it’s not always easy, and whether it’s conditioning with the strength coaches, for the injured guys, or trying to lead the football team, that’s part of it and it’s been a good learning experience for him.

Kobe Bryant is just one facet of Bitter’s detailed report from the last Virginia Tech spring practice open to media, before the Hokies’ spring game on Saturday.

DeMatha Prospect Could Be Georgia’s Next Great Running Back

Jason Butt, The Washington Post

Anthony McFarland of Washington D.C.-area prep powerhouse DeMatha Catholic could be the next great Georgia Bulldogs running back.

McFarland told the Washington Post, “As soon as I went down to Georgia, it was a family atmosphere. I’ve never been around a type of environment like that. It was a great feeling.”

Florida State and Georgia are the two front-runners for the 2017 running back, rated 5-stars by 247Sports.com.

Utah Defensive End Nate Orchard Is The Pass-Rusher Chicago Bears Need

Patrick Finley, The Chicago Sun-Times

The Chicago Bears’ pass-rush defense has left much to be desired in recent years. That’s why Patrick Finley — a former Arizona Wildcats beat reporter, so he knows his Pac-12 South — suggests that Utah standout Nate Orchard is the man Chicago needs in the NFL draft.

Orchard made 18.5 sacks in 2014, just a half-sack behind Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha for the nation’s lead, and was my vote for the Bronko Nagurski Award.

Finley’s breakdown of Orchard’s hypothetical fit in the Bears defense is a worthwhile read.

FCS Matchups We’d Like to See

Craig Haley, The Sports Network

Craig Haley — who has his finger on the pulse of the Championship Subdivision unlike anyone else — breaks down matchups that aren’t on the 2015 FCS docket, but really should be.

Some are dream nonconference scenarios, others are Playoff rematches. And then there are the conference games that league size prevent, like North Dakota State vs. Illinois State.

The epic FCS Championship rematch won’t happen in the Missouri Valley Football Conference slate. As Haley details, the Bison and Redbirds miss each other in the regular season for a second straight year.