Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

After posting a 2-1 victory over UC Santa Barbara in the home finale on Tuesday, the No. 8 UCLA baseball team heads to Palo Alto for the last regular season series of the season.

The Stanford Cardinal (30-21, 14-13 Pac-12) enter the meeting with the Bruins in desperation mode, looking to salvage their season and sneak into the NCAA Tournament. Stanford started the year ranked in all of the national polls, but has since slipped out due to an ugly RPI ranking that now sits at 80th in the country.

Given the fact that only 64 teams make the cut for NCAA Regionals, it’s clear the Card need to make a major splash in the final series of the season. And what better chance to do so than against a Top 10 team like UCLA?

If Stanford can find a way to sweep or at least win the series this weekend, there would still be a glimmer of hope on Monday when the NCAA field is announced on ESPNU. But another loss or two would be the final nail in the coffin for the Cardinal.

For the Bruins, the set versus Stanford is far less critical, but there’s still plenty to play for. UCLA (38-15, 20-7 Pac-12) is a lock for postseason play, and is all but assured to host a regional. How do I know that? Well, they’ve already constructed an additional grand stand at Jackie Robinson Stadium, which probably isn’t for the crowd to watch the grass grow.

Even so, the Bruins are still on the outside looking in as far as national seeds go with an RPI of 17. A series win or sweep of the Cardinal this weekend could push them into the conversation, especially if a few teams ahead of them lose. The ESPN college baseball blog doesn’t give UCLA a chance to earn a national seed, but until everything goes final we can hold out hope.

And, if that wasn’t motivation enough, the Bruins are still (technically) alive for a Pac-12 Conference title shot. No. 4 Oregon State (43-9, 22-5 Pac-12) holds the lead by two games and hosts Washington State in Corvallis this weekend. The Beavers have only lost one conference series all season, and though it’s unlikely they do so against the Cougs, anything is possible. If UCLA sweeps Stanford and Wazzu somehow sweeps OSU, the Bruins would be Pac-12 champs. But if the Beavs win even one game, they would clinch the conference crown.

First pitch at Sunken Diamond is scheduled for 7 PM PST tomorrow, followed by 7 PM and 3 PM starts on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. All three games will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks.

Stanford’s Friday night starter, Mark Appel, is considered to be one of the top pitching prospects in the nation. The senior right-hander has been projected by some outlets as the No. 1 pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, and is a consensus Top 5 selection. If only to see Appel go to work, make sure to tune in this weekend for another exciting series of UCLA baseball.

Go Bruins!

Jim Mora and Aaron Hester, Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

For the tenth edition (double digits, woot!) of Go Joe Bruin’s 26-part recruiting profile series, we’ll take a look at one UCLA signee that isn’t getting the kind of hype he deserves. While the media swoons over Priest Willis and Tahaan Goodman (and rightfully so), another talented defensive back is flying far under the radar.

Tyler Foreman, a 4-star safety from Encino, Calif. (Crespi), committed to Jim Mora and the Bruins following an official visit in late January. Foreman was a late addition to the 2013 class after decommitting from the Wisconsin Badgers in the wake of Bret Bielema‘s shocking move to Arkansas.

The signing of the 6’2″, 195-pound defender was an unexpected bonus for UCLA, especially considering he boasted offers from seven other Pac-12 teams and the powerhouse Oklahoma Sooners. And given the roster concerns in the secondary, Foreman’s pledge is all the more meaningful for the Bruins.

With Foreman in the fold, UCLA has four top-flight DBs coming in as freshmen in the fall. Willis, Goodman, Foreman and cornerback Johnny Johnson should all factor into the equation next season with the entire 2012 secondary lost to graduation or dismissal.

The expectation, or at least speculation, is that Willis will make the permanent switch to CB, while Goodman and Foreman will compete for spots at safety. The Bruins return rising sophomore Randall Goforth and redshirt junior Dietrich Riley at safety, but beyond them the depth chart is wide open for the last line of defense.

For that reason, it seems unlikely that Foreman will take redshirt in 2013. Odds are that he will see the field as a true freshman, possibly as a starter but definitely as a reserve. He could also contribute on special teams as a gunner or returner, much like Fabian Moreau and Goforth did last season.

But no matter his role, there’s no doubt UCLA is getting a polished playmaker in Foreman. As a senior in 2012, Foreman racked up 39 tackles to go with five interceptions, three forced fumbles and two pass break-ups (according to 247Sports). The Bruins lost a bona fide ballhawk when Tevin McDonald was sent packing before spring practice, so we can only hope that Foreman brings those stellar ball skills with him to the college level. If UCLA can force more turnovers on defense, it would be a huge boost to the Bruins’ offense, giving QB Brett Hundley extra opportunities to move the rock.

The start of the college football season is rapidly approaching, with UCLA’s opener versus Nevada exactly 100 days away. We’ll have to wait and see what happens when the Bruins head to San Bernardino in August, but today it looks like they’ll be in pretty good shape. Tyler Foreman could a tremendous reason why.

Colorado mascot Ralphie, Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

While the rest of the country gets to enjoy a week of college baseball conference tournaments, fans of the Pac-12 are forced to sit and wait for the start of NCAA play.

Why? Because the University of Colorado–Boulder doesn’t have a baseball team.

Without the Buffs fielding a squad, the Pac-12 falls one team short of the required number necessary to operate a sanctioned conference tournament. That makes the Conference of Champions one of only three conferences in the nation to not put on a tournament. Even the Great West Conference, which has only eight teams and thus isn’t eligible for an automatic bid, hosts a conference championship in baseball. It’s unacceptable that the most decorated collegiate athletic conference of all time can’t do the same.

But before I get caught rambling on about why the Pac-12 should have a baseball tournament, let’s attack the root of the issue–why doesn’t Colorado have a team?

According to the ultimate news source (Wikipedia), there used to be a baseball team in Boulder, but the program was discontinued in 1980 in a wave of massive budget cuts. Now, over 30 years later, the Buffaloes are still without a team on the dirty diamond.

To be fair, budgetary issues are a widespread issue in the world of higher education, and they’ve led to a number of unfortunate developments at public institutions across the country. Most recently, UC-Berkeley announced intentions to cut baseball and a handful of other programs back in 2011, a money-saving move that was met with mass dissent. Thankfully, private support was able to save the Golden Bears’ program, keeping college baseball alive in the East Bay.

But for Colorado, a return to the base paths seems slightly more complicated. Three decades without baseball basically means that any history the Buffs had is dead, along with fan support and recruiting connections. And though CU fans would probably applaud the program’s return, it would be a long, arduous road back to competing with the top-tier talent in the Pac-12.

Nonetheless, it’s something that Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn needs to make happen. There are some serious hurdles to clear, from facilities to budgeting to branding, but the Buffs deserve a team. And, as I’ve made abundantly clear, the Pac-12 deserves a conference championship in baseball.

At this point, Colorado only sponsors six men’s varsity sports–football, basketball, golf, track, cross country and skiing. Compare that list to the nine women’s sports CU competes in, and it’s clear there’s room for growth well within the Title IX gender requirements. There’s one speed bump cleared already! What else could possibly be holding it up?

Colorado State has a baseball team. Northern Colorado has a baseball team. CSU-Pueblo has a baseball team. Colorado Mesa has a baseball team. Even the Orediggers of the Colorado School of Mines have a baseball team.

What gives, CU?

Alabama basketball, Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

New UCLA head coach Steve Alford isn’t shying away from a challenge as he settles into his first season with the Bruins. Unlike his predecessor Ben Howland, Alford has made a point to ramp up the competition in the early going. Just ten days after a 2013 matchup with Duke was announced, word came down that the Alabama Crimson Tide have been added to the non-conference slate as well. The matchup doesn’t carry as much hype as the meeting with the Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden, but it’s still a step in the right direction for the Bruins, who’ve usually played a plethora of cupcake California teams in recent years.

The Tide will roll into Pauley Pavilion for the front half of a home and home series this season, and the Bruins will return the favor at Coleman Coliseum in 2014-15. Interestingly, UCLA and Alabama have only met thrice in basketball, with the Bruins holding a 2-1 lead in the all-time series. UCLA won the most recent meeting in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, but the Tide won the only ever pairing at Pauley back in 1983. Could this be the first chapter of a new rivalry? Probably not, but it should still be fun.

Here’s the tweet from CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein that broke the news of the cross-sectional showdown.

UCLA will begin a home and home series next year with Alabama at Pauley Pavilion. Return game in Tuscaloosa during 14-15 season.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 18, 2013

The Bama basketball team is definitely little brother in Tuscaloosa, home of the two-time defending BCS Champs in football, but that doesn’t mean the Tide can’t play. Alabama made the NCAA Tournament in 2011-12, which is more than UCLA can say, and followed it up with a 23-win season in 2012-13. And though the Tide were forced to settle for the NIT last year, the program is clearly finding its footing with fifth-year head coach Anthony Grant.

The Bruins had success versus the SEC on the hardwood last season, taking down Georgia at the Barclays Center and then-No. 7 Missouri in Westwood. But if they hope to keep it up next year, they’ll have to find a way to contain scintillating senior Trevor Releford, Alabama’s leading scorer from a season ago.

On top of his 14.9 points per game, Releford brings a veteran awareness to the court that any team would value. The 6’0″ guard also chipped in 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists to bolster his effort, easily making him the most versatile player on the Tide roster. If he finds his stride on the court in So. Cal next season, it could be a long night for Coach Alford and the Bruins. Here’s to hoping that doesn’t happen.

Credit: USA Today Sports Images

With the match score tied 3-3 and UCLA’s Adrien Puget leading 5-3 in Set 3, it seemed like national title No. 109 was on the verge of realization for the Bruins. But then it all slipped away.

Slowly but surely, Virginia’s Mitchell Frank battled back and drew a number of key errors from Puget. UCLA went from team match point to facing elimination in what felt like a matter of seconds. There was a defining play in which Puget and the Bruins thought the match was won, but the would-be clincher was waived off because Puget’s foot hit the bottom of the net.

From then on, the junior from France looked shaken up, and couldn’t find his groove. Frank roared back for a 5-5 tie before breaking Puget for the 6-5 lead and holding his final serve to send the Cavs into hysteria.

After back-to-back seasons as the national runner-ups, UVA has climbed the mountain and hoisted its first-ever NCAA men’s tennis championship. It was a special moment for seniors Jarmere Jenkins and Julen Uriguen, two postseason vets who have been through it all with the Cavaliers.

For UCLA, it can only be described as heartbreak. Puget is the easy scapegoat, but he wasn’t the only player on the court today. The Bruins didn’t do themselves any favors by dropping the doubles point, and they were in deep once Clay Thompson (2-6, 2-6) and Dennis Novikov (6-7, 3-6) went down in straight sets.

And yet, UCLA showed a resilience unexpected from such a young team. Redshirt freshman Karue Sell, after falling in the first set, 4-6, turned on the turbo to trounce Uriguen 6-3, 6-2 in the next two sets. The Brazilian righty knotted the score 3-3 and put the torch in Puget’s hands.

Puget, after sweeping the first set, 6-0, dropped the second to Frank, 4-6. The pinnacle was in sight for UCLA as Puget jumped out the lead in the decisive set, but critical errors left the Bruins just short when the score went final.

This one is going to sting for a while, but it can’t overshadow the amazing season that UCLA put together. A final record of 29-2, including two Pac-12 championships, a No. 1 ranking and a runner-up NCAA finish. The Bruin faithful will have to wait at least a few more weeks until No. 109, though this did seem like the most realistic shot at a team championship for 2012-13.

Looking to the future, UCLA appears to be set for a nice run on the national stage. The entirety of the Bruins’ core will return next season (barring any sort of early departure), and that’s good news for a team that’s gaining experience. Dennis Mkrtchian and Marcos Giron, both singles winners today, are sophomores, as is Novikov. Puget and Thompson, though losers today, are spectacular talents and will be seniors in 2014.

And, as mentioned, Sell is only a freshman, which leaves a ton of time for his development under 20th-year head coach Billy Martin. The biggest loss from the roster is probably redshirt senior Alex Brigham, who saw some court time in doubles action this season. But overall, the UCLA men’s tennis program looks plenty capable of claiming its 17th NCAA title sometime in the near future.

Today we can sulk and ask what ifs, but no longer. When the sun rises tomorrow, we should all be proud of the Bruins for an impressive campaign that put UCLA back on the map. The Bruins are trending upward in a number of recently dormant sports, and we can only hope that means the national title record will remain in Westwood for the long haul.

Pat Valaika (10) rounds 3rd base vs. USC, Credit: Jeff Poirier

Before the Bruins baseball team even arrived at Dedeaux Field last weekend, UCLA had already clinched the Crosstown Gauntlet by owning Southern Cal in head-to-head competition throughout the year. In fact, the Trojans were eliminated from contention in the first week of May after the UCLA men’s golf team placed second (compared to USC’s seventh) at the Pac-12 Championships.

The annually-awarded Crosstown Gauntlet trophy, which is meant to track overall athletic department success, was originally sponsored by Lexus, but the funding was dropped in 2009. Since then, UCLA and USC have kept tabs on the score and named the winner accordingly. For the past five years in a row, the Trojans won the archaic glove.

But the streak is officially over in 2013, as the Bruins crushed their L.A. counterparts, 65-50, behind big wins in football and men’s tennis, sweeps in men’s volleyball and women’s basketball, and now a sweep in baseball.

UCLA baseball could have come up empty at ‘SC over the weekend and still had enough points to claim the Gauntlet. So in reality, there probably wasn’t much—likely zero—discussion of it in preparation for the Trojans. But still, as we sit here three wins richer in the storied intracity rivalry, it feels good to see the Bruins take care of business and put the finishing touches on a strong year of competition.

But of course, their season isn’t over—it’s actually just starting to heat up. UCLA has four more regular season contests, including a pivotal Pac-12 series at Stanford, before the postseason begins. The Bruins are expected to host an NCAA Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium for the fourth consecutive year, and could also host Super Regionals if everything falls into place. And then, fate willing, there’s the College World Series.

Honestly, the Crosstown Gauntlet probably never crossed John Savage‘s mind. But regardless, the points that his team earned help solidify the Bruins’ dominance of USC in the 2012-13 school year, even while they prepare for bigger and better things.

However, in spite of the success, there’s work left to do. The Trojans still hold an 8-4 advantage in the Gauntlet overall, and will no doubt be focused on reclaiming it in 2014. The UCLA football team will have to find a way to win at the Coliseum in November if the Bruins hope to take it home back-to-back for the first time ever.

If there is one certainty though, it’s on the baseball diamond where you can count on more UCLA wins than losses. Since Savage took over in 2005, the Bruins have gone 23-9 against their rivals, and recent trends suggest that will continue. Southern Cal baseball is sinking fast while UCLA is building a dynasty, so expect plenty of Gauntlet points in the coming seasons. If all the other sports can keep up with baseball, the Bruins could be in for a long run as the collegiate champions of Los Angeles. Today, and for at least the next year, that’s exactly what they are.

Nevada QB Cody Fajardo (17), Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The college football offseason is in full swing, which means that very little is going on, but today a newsworthy story broke that should get UCLA fans pumped for 2013.

The betting lines for Week 1 of next season have been released by BetOnline.com, and have since been reproduced for your consumption by the famous Kegs ‘n Eggs blog.

UCLA will open its campaign on Aug. 31 at the Rose Bowl against Nevada as a 13-point favorite. This isn’t too surprising, as the Bruins are expected to contend for a Pac-12 title in 2013, but it’s interesting to see how Vegas views their chances.

The Wolfpack finished the 2012 season with a 7-6 record, including a season-opening shocker at Memorial Stadium over the California Golden Bears. Had it not been for an epic collapse in the New Mexico Bowl versus Arizona, Nevada would have finished with an 8-5 mark. But when you give up two touchdowns within the last 46 seconds, you probably don’t deserve a bowl victory anyway.

As we know, the Bruins posted a 9-5 overall record in Jim Mora‘s first season, but they finished the year on a three-game losing streak. Granted, two of those games were against the consensus Top 5 Stanford Cardinal, but a 49-26 loss to unranked Baylor in the Holiday Bowl was a tough pill to swallow.

In terms of common opponents, UCLA and Nevada both faced Cal and Arizona, each going 1-1 against those teams. Unlike the Wolfpack, the Bruins couldn’t muster a win up in Berkeley (and actually got spanked 43-17), but they did take care of the Arizona Wildcats by a score of 66-10 in Pasadena. And though those teams are different from the ones that’ll face off in August, it still provides a bit of a measuring stick for the upcoming battle.

UCLA loses a lot from last year’s squad, most notably all-time leading rusher Johnathan Franklin, so the roster is somewhat unsettled at this point. But the return of QB Brett Hundley and a stacked front seven headlined by LB Anthony Barr has most pundits predicting a step forward next season.

For Nevada, the 2013 season could also be marked by forward progress. Aside from losing a myriad of defenders and some of their top receivers to graduation, the Wolfpack return starting QB Cody Fajardo, who should have an impressive year. Fajardo had a strong sophomore season, tossing for over 2,700 yards and 20 TDS with only nine interceptions, and will only be better with a year of starting under his belt. UNR does lose a major piece in leading rusher Stefphon Jefferson, who was nearly unstoppable en route to an 1,800 yard, 24 TD season that saw him finish second in the nation in rushing.

Though UCLA is only listed as a two-touchdown favorite, the Bruin faithful would love to see a much bigger margin of victory to kick off Mora’s second season. If Nevada beats the spread (or dare I say beats the Bruins), it wouldn’t bode well for a UCLA schedule that also includes games at Nebraska, Stanford, Oregon and Southern Cal. Here’s to hoping the home team cruises to an easy win and proves that the oddsmakers undersold them.

Check back to Go Joe Bruin for more UCLA football news as the season approaches, and get excited for another season cheering on your Bruins!

UCLA men’s tennis during the national anthem, Courtesy of Official Twitter Account

The top-ranked UCLA men’s tennis team was put through the wringer on Monday against Ohio State, but came out clean with a spot in tomorrow’s national championship. If the Bruins can win one more match, it’ll mean national title No. 109 for UCLA—an NCAA-best mark that has been stuck at 108 for close to two years.

The Bruins topped the Buckeyes, 4-3, after sophomore Marcos Giron clinched the match on a third-set service break. Ohio State was the first team to score any points against UCLA in the NCAA Tournament, claiming three singles matches after dropping the doubles point. But as the pressure mounted, the upset-minded Bucks couldn’t quite hang with the No. 1 team in the nation. The decisive point for Giron came on an OSU double fault with the match tied 3-3, bringing the most intense match of the season to a sudden and unfulfilling end.

The victory bumped the Bruins’ record to 29-1 in 2013, and kept their winning streak alive at 20 consecutive matches. Most importantly, it earned UCLA a shot at its first national title since 2005 versus No. 2 Virginia at 2 PM PST tomorrow.

Despite a lower ranking, the Cavaliers have the most compelling case for being the top team in the country over the Bruins. UVA is a perfect 29-0 on the year, including a seventh straight undefeated ACC season and conference tournament crown. Virginia only allowed three points twice this season, once against the very same Ohio State team that gave UCLA fits earlier today.

This really is the most appropriate pairing there could have been for the national championship—No. 1 vs. No. 2, 29-1 vs. 29-0, Pac-12 Champs vs. ACC Champs. Whoever gets the quick start tomorrow by nabbing the doubles point will be in the driver’s seat for the title. Both squads have been essentially unbeatable this year, but something’s got to give.

UCLA may have the upper hand with history, owning 16 NCAA Championships to UVA’s zero, but the Cavs do have the edge when it comes to experience. This Virginia team has finished national runner-up in each of the last two seasons, falling victim to Southern Cal’s four-peat title run twice, so they know what it’s like under the brightest lights.

Will tomorrow be the day that UVA claims its first ever Division I men’s tennis title? Or will the Bruins play up to their billing and take home banner No. 17?

We’ll have to wait and see, but one thing is for sure—tomorrow’s champion will be the best in the land, unequivocally.

Go Bruins! Beat Virginia!

The above image is courtesy of the official UCLA men’s tennis Twitter page.

Asst. Coach T.J. Bruce (2), USC vs UCLA, Photo Credit: Jeff Poirier

For the better part of always, Southern Cal has been the collegiate baseball powerhouse of Los Angeles.

After all,  the Trojans’ program is the most storied in history with its 12 national championships and 21 College World Series appearances. The dozen titles is far and away the most ever, and the 21 trips to Omaha ties ‘SC for the 4th-highest mark in the nation, so there’s not much to argue there.

And when you compare those numbers to UCLA baseball’s all-time resume (4 CWS, zero titles), it becomes pretty obvious how big the disparity is.

Then there’s the all-time head-to-head series between the Trojans and Bruins, which favors the former by a jaw-dropping margin of 253-127. Taken at face value, it’s hard to slice it any other way—USC baseball is king of the Southland.

But when you dig a little deeper, the story takes a new shape.

Since the turn of the millennium, the UCLA and USC programs have been moving in opposite directions on the bell curve. The Bruins have made the NCAA Tournament eight times since 2000, compared to just 10 appearances in all of the 20th century. The trend towards success has paid off for the Bruins, as they’ve been lucky enough to host regionals each of the past three seasons—and they appear on pace for a fourth this year.

USC infielder in between pitches at UCLA, Credit: Jeff Poirier

For the Trojans, the script is flipped. After earning 32 regional bids last century, Southern Cal has just four NCAA appearances in the new one, including a current 7-year dry spell.

And in regards to championships, ‘SC has won just one CWS title in the last 35 years. So despite a streak of monumental dominance in the 70′s where the Trojans claimed seven crowns in 11 years, the prestige of Southern Cal baseball isn’t hugely relevant today. USC fans are always quick to use this logic regarding Bruins basketball, so it’s only fair to return the favor.

The bottom line is this—UCLA baseball is on the rise and ‘SC baseball is heading nowhere fast. Under the command of 9th-year head coach John Savage, the Bruins are 20-9 against the Trojans, and have come out winners in 20 of the last 25 pairings.

So far this season, UCLA is 34-15 and contending for the Pac-12 title, while Southern Cal is 19-30 with little to play for. The Bruins defeated the Trojans. 6-1, in a non-conference meeting earlier this season in the Dodgertown Classic. And if the teams’ respective trends continue this weekend, UCLA will be collecting two or three more rivalry wins in the next few days/

UCLA vs. USC is an old and storied rivalry, but the baseball diamond has long been dominated by the Trojans. Today, however, the winds of change are blowing. The Bruins, as both a team and a program, are poised to take the next step towards greatness, while Southern Cal sits stuck in neutral. If UCLA can pull off a sweep at Dedeaux Field this weekend, it’ll be another log for the fire burning down Troy.

Go Bruins! Beat Southern Cal!

Brett Hundley. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley exploded into the national picture last season, earning recognition and praise from anyone who saw him play. He’s a natural leader with a head for the game of football—determined and smart, yet modest. His team-first style was a key component in the camaraderie seen last season, and we can only hope it continues for seasons to come.

The rising redshirt sophomore from Chandler, Ariz. wore #17 for the Bruins last season. Coincidentally, 17 was also the previous UCLA record for passing touchdowns in a freshman season, but Hundley obliterated that stat, racking up 29 scores through the air. He also added nine more TDs on the ground, which is a hallmark of the diversity of his game. During the season, Hundley totaled 3,740 passing yards and just under 400 rushing, setting the tone for his career with a 72-yard touchdown run on his first snap at the collegiate level. Let me make the significance of this clear though, as it held much more meaning than just six points on the board.

Hundley had never played a game of college football in his life— more so hadn’t had a full offseason as the clear cut starter. His experience was as low as can go, but he showed us that instinct can make up for that. Following the season-opening snap, Hundley broke three tackles en route to the end zone. UCLA fans were going insane as they tried to figure out if what they witnessed was real. His teammates were more ecstatic than Ferris Bueller when he caught site of that 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder. The Bruins streaked down the field to give their QB props for what was only the beginning of an amazing 2012 season.

Let’s take a look at the crystal ball of college football.  It resembles the crystal football awarded to the annual BCS National Champion, only that one doesn’t look into Hundley’s future.

Heisman Trophy, Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Brett Hundley should stay on pace to reach greatness, and many have him in the picture for Heisman contention. Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy last season, totaling 5,115 yards while leading Texas A&M to Cotton Bowl,  where they ran over Oklahoma to earn a 41-13 victory.

Hundley probably won’t put up such staggering numbers that included over 1,000 yards rushing, but then again, I don’t think Manziel will continue to play at such an unbelievable level. However, I do see Hundley eclipsing his 2012 season mark of 4,095 yards. Doing so will put him in another league—that which consists of players including Manziel, and was once home to Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and the like.

It seems reasonable for Hundley to hit the 4,500 yard mark, as his running ability was held back by ankle pain (and a shaky offensive line) for most of last season. With a stacked recruiting class of O-linemen and an offseason of recovery, Hundley should have fewer hurdles to success in 2013. Also coming to his aid is Devin Lucien, a star wideout who was injured early last season. Lucien can be a major factor this season, and will take some pressure off of Hundley’s shoulders.

For more info on Lucien and the lot, click here.