J. Darin Darst

Alot of great underclassmen were drafted over the weekend -- Darren McFadden, Ryan Clady, Vernon Gholston -- just to name a few, but some of these guy who bolted college a year early, probably are wishing they stayed another season.

Some of the guys of note who left early, who could have used another year in school:

Adrian Arrington, Michigan, WR: With Chad Henne, Michael Hart, Mario Manningham and Lloyd Carr all leaving Michigan, it was no surprise to see Arrington leave too, but I'm sure he was hoping to go a little higher than the No. 237th pick overall (7th round). The Saints actually made a trade to grab Arrington in the final round. At 6-foot-3 he could be another big target for Drew Brees.

Xavier Lee, Florida State, QB/TE: My how the mighty have fallen. Lee was rated as one of the top-rated quarterbacks in 2004 and now he is an undrafted free agent. Lee never had a major impact at Florida State. He told the Miami Herald, "I know my athletic ability will get me to the next level. I made some mistakes -- missing classes -- but I know in my heart I didn't get a good chance" at Florida State. So far nobody has come calling.

Erin Henderson, Maryland, LB: According to the Baltimore Sun, NFL analyst Mike Mayock suggested his size and history of knee injuries cost him a chance to be drafted. Henderson thought for sure he would be drafted on the second day, but was passed over by every team. He did agree to a free-agent contract with the Vikings to join his brother E.J. Henderson.

Johnny Dingle, West Virginia, DE: The 6-2 defensive end from the Mountaineers was expected to be a second-day pick, but unfortunately for him his name was not called. Another player from a team with a coaching change. He was coming off his best season in 2007 with nine sacks, but nobody came calling. He did sign a free agent contact with the Chiefs on Monday.

Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullen, Hawaii, WR: With Colt Brennan and Jason Rivers exhausting their eligiblity, these two also decided to leave school a year early, but neither was drafted. Grice-Mullen missed part of his pro day workout with cramping, but still ran a 4.3 40-yard dash. His size might of scared teams off, considering he was just 5-10, 187 pounds. Grice-Mullen signed with the Texans, while Bess, who is also 5-10, signed with the Dolphins.

It's hard to get geared up for college football season in the middle of March, especially with all the big conference tournaments going on and Selection Sunday on the horizon, but can you believe some schools are in spring practice?!?!?!?

I mean, it's March. Tourney time, baby! Bubble watch ... Automatic bids ... filling out your tournament bracket ... not watching football.

Not yet.

Some schools like Clemson, North Carolina, South Florida, Oklahoma State, Georgia, Arizona, etc. have been playing spring football for a week now!

Georgia's got a spring outlook on its site, even though its team is still playing in the SEC Tournament. I guess football rules at Georgia. But, you already knew that.

Vanderbilt's spring game is March 29. How many people in the state of Tennessee will be excited by that if the Commodores are still alive in the Elite Eight?

Hey listen, I love college football too, but I'm just not ready to start following spring practices. Not yet, I just can't do it. Give me a call around April 1 when we are down to the Final Four, then I can turn my attention to college football.

When you are home battling the flu there is only so much you can do.

So, while I've tried to help out work wise with NCAA Tournament stuff and NFL Draft stuff, mostly I've nodded off into dreamland, while taking breaks to cough up green stuff and blow yellow stuff our my nose (or is it coughing up yellow stuff and sneezing green? I've lost track)

One thing everybody does when they are home sick in bed is give the remote control a workout. It's hard finding something worthwhile to watch on TV these days.

Remember when you were home sick from school as a kid? It was a treat to watch all the game shows that were on while you were learning stupid crap like multiplication tables.

What's more important? 7 x 5 or ... how much to bid on that 25-inch color television when the three others have bid $1,800; $1,450; $1,200. The obvious answer is $1, but some guy would always say "$800." See, even at the age of 11, I was learning more at home, sick in bed,  than being at school!

As a child of the 70s, staying home sick was a treat -- all those great shows to watch -- Jokers Wild, Match Game, Let's Make a Deal, that "Big Bucks, No Whammy" Show (Press Your Luck), $10,000 Pyramid.

You were all set as a kid from like 9 am until Noon with nonstop game shows. Then you would eat lunch, take a nap and by the time 3 p.m. rolled around you were suddenly feeling better and ready to meet your friends getting off the bus.

Boy, things sure have changed as an adult. Staying home sick now sucks.

Price Is Right is still on, but where have all those great game shows gone? It's all talk shows now and they are the same today as they were years ago. Jerry Springer still has people fighting over who is sleeping with their cousin and Maury still is searching for people who are .... "NOT the father."

So what's good to watch when you are sick? I need recommendations. But here are five channels I've stumbled across the most.

1) VH1 has a good selection of reality shows -- Celeb Rehab, Rock of Love 2, Flavor of Love 3, Scott Baio is 46 and Pregnant, but most seem a little too scripted to be reality shows. Plus I can only watch so much Flavor Flav. But right now, this is the cream of the crop.

2) ESPN/ESPN2 -- Watching the SportsCenter loop eight times and watching Skip Bayless say something dumb. Always entertaining.

3) CNN/MSNBC/FOX News -- Watching the news is always good to help you go to sleep.

4) Disney/Nick -- If you have kids, you've watching too many of these channels already, so I seriously doubt you are going to spend your sick in bed time watching Hannah Montana or Dora. Plus, once my daughter comes home its time to watch Backyardigans, so I don't need to watch while she isn't here.

5) MTV -- This channel still exists? When's the last actual video they've shown ... 1994? Please, no more Sweet 16, True Life or Real World Gauntlet Challenge 9. Something has to be better than this garbage.

Or choice 6 -- turn off the TV and go to sleep.

It's the day you've been dreading for weeks fellas ... Valentine's Day!

That's right suckers, if you haven't already, run out and get some flowers at the local grocery store and head on over to your wife's office or head home and drop them off. Trust me, she'll love it.

I find it amazing that dropping off something as small as a few flowers, a balloon and stuffed animal in front of 50 of her co-workers can make her happy for the entire day. Now if you are one of those guys that already ordered a dozen roses online, then you are set, but I always make an appearance at the wife's office.

It's self-serving no doubt, because it makes me feel like a king when I walk in and all the other ladies stare at me and think to themselves:

"Wow! What a handsome guy!"

"What a wonderful husband, I wish my boyfriend or husband did that."

"Cynthia sure is lucky to have a guy like that."

I know, I know, they are probably really saying: "Who is that doufus dropping off three carnations he obviously just bought 10 minutes ago? My boyfriend/husband got me a dozen roses, all Cynthia's husband does is spend $4.99 at the grocery store and then take her to Chili's."

That's fine. My wife likes it. We don’t get to eat lunch together during the week, so she enjoys me showing up at the office. But this year, she is out of town on business and doesn’t come back until tonight. And since I've had my daughter for three straight days, her Valentine's Day present is to give Samantha a bath, while I play poker online.

 Aren't I a catch?

 All kidding aside, she is getting a nice weekend getaway.

But for you guys who don't have anything planned, maybe you can catch a movie. Blockbuster (does anybody still rent from them?) just released a survery of Movie Dos and Don'ts for Valentine's Day

Their best Date Movies are 1. 50 First Dates; 2. Casablanca; 3. When Harry Met Sally -- all solid choices. Now 50 First Dates was a nice movie, but any movie with Rob Schneider should never be No. 1 on any list, unless it’s a list about "One-Star movies featuring a guy who plays the same character that somehow made tons of money."

Now these are the ones NOT to get today, as the top anti-date movies (for women): 1.  Rambo; 2. Animal House; 3. The Terminator. Anything with lots of violence and sophomoric behavior is a no-no today guys.

Now if for some reason you get home and the wife/girlfriend already picked out a movie and they are any of the following three: 1. The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood; 2. Beaches; or 3. Titanic -- you are doomed.

There is going to be plenty of crying, sadness and then questions like "Would you do that for me?" or "I wish I was that pretty." or whatever stuff chicks talk about when they are emotional. Just suck it up and hope for the best. The only good news is Titantic is a solid movie. Can't speak for the other two, nor would I ever want to.

Now I was suprised that Valentine, starring Denise Richards and Katherine Heigl isn't on the list. It's about a four friends who start to receive morbid valentine day cards and on Valentine's Day ... Ah, who gives a crap what the plot is about, it has Denise Richards and Katherine Heigl and there are pool scenes!

Just tell the wife or girlfriend, you heard from a guy at work that it was a good movie and then when you realize it’s a stupid slasher film, just say "Damn, I didn't know, I thought it was a romantic love story."

Just don't blame me for sleeping on the couch tonight.

Is there such a thing? Well, there should be.

Christmas Eve is the day when kids get all excited because Santa is coming tomorrow and hoping to get the presents they asked for.

Signing Day Eve is the day when adults get all excited because the five-star recruit they've been drooling over the past two months, might put on the hat of their favorite team. I'm sure Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame fans all over the country will have trouble sleeping tonight, because they don't know what tomorrow will bring.

I can't make any promises, but here is what I bring today .... rumors:

As reported by the Bleacher Report, the nation's No. 1 wide receiver Julio Jones, might be signing with Alabama.

The website said he was spotted at the LSU-Alabama basketball game in Tuscaloosa on Saturday with Alabama commits Burton Scott and Robert Lester.

Jones has basically narrowed his choices down to Oklahoma, Florida State and Alabama. Texas Tech also had a shot, but he canceled his visit this weekend to Lubbock. He will announce his plans at 11 a.m. on ESPNU's recruiting show.

As for the nation's top quarterback Terrelle Pryor, its down to Ohio State and Michigan.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Terrelle Pryor told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review he is 80 percent sure he'll announce his college choice Wednesday afternoon on National Signing Day.

That pretty much means Oregon is out, considering he never visited the campus. So it's all coming down to Ohio State or Michigan.

Darrell Scott, the nation's No. 1-rated running back, is expected to choose between Colorado and Texas.

According to the Daily Camera, Scott told several recruiting services last month he was leaning toward Texas because it offers the chance to play early, tradition and warm weather. In interviews last fall, Scott told the Daily Camera and other media outlets he was heavily favoring Colorado because of early playing time and the fact his uncle, freshman wide receiver Josh Smith, is already a Buff.

The only other undecided player left on CSTV.com's Top 25 is Quinton Coples, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound, defensive lineman from Virginia.

Coples has a handful of schools to choose from, including Florida State, Tennessee, North Carolina and N.C. State. Mike Farrell, from Rivals.com, reported there are also strong rumors that he is headed to join the Tar Heels, but Coples has publicly denied that he is committed, and he is scheduled to announce on Signing Day.

Stay tuned, tomorrow is a big day.

With National Signing Day right around the corner, the top three prospects are still undecided.

The nation's No. 1 prospect, QB Terrelle Pryor, appears to have his choices down to four.

According to Terrelle Pryor's official website -- yes, he has his own official site -- he says he's still considering Ohio State, Michigan, LSU and Oregon, which indicates that Florida and Penn State may have fallen out of the picture.

He just visited Michigan and the Detroit Free Press reports his high school coach "liked" his trip. Pryor sat with Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez for parts of the game and Pryor was serenaded with “WE WANT PRYOR!!!” and “COME TO MICHIGAN!!!” chants from the student section.

He already visited Ohio State and will probably get to LSU and Oregon in the next couple of weeks.

"I talked over the Michigan visit with my dad when I got back, and I still have a lot of comparing to do," Pryor said. "And I'm going to take at least one or two more official visits if I can fit them in."

Darrell Scott, the nation's top RB, is likely leaning toward Texas. "Texas is still in the same place they were before. They hold a slight lead over Colorado."

According to BurntOrangeNation.com, the coaches from Austin are think they're going to win this battle with the Buffaloes. Scott still might be taking a visit to LSU, but it appears to be down the two Big 12 rivals. His uncle, Josh Smith, is a freshman wide receiver with the Buffaloes, which could play into where he lands.

The DailyCamera.com, a newspaper from Colorado, said Scott told them nothing is more important to him than family when he made an official visit to Colorado in October, but they also report that Scott isn't a fan of the cold weather in Boulder, which is one of the reasons Texas is in the lead.

As for Julio Jones, the nation's top receiver from Alabama. He is considering Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech, but the Crimson Tide are definitely the front runner. According to RollBamaRoll.com, he cut short his visit to Florida, so they are probably out.

He is headed to Norman, OK to visit the Sooners this weekend, where Stoops and Co. will try their hardest to steal him from Saban.

Stay tuned...

Dennis Dodd unveiled his early, early Top 25 for next season earlier this week:

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefo
otball/story/10578831

Now I know we are jumping the gun and anything can happen (just look at this past season), but for fun, I took all the early Top 25 polls from all the major sports websites and came up with a compiled list. Here is the Top 15:

1. Georgia (3) -- 85 points
2. Oklahoma (1) -- 79 points
3. Ohio State (2) -- 76 points
4. Southern Cal. -- 69 points
5t. Missouri -- 66 points
5t. Florida -- 66 points
7. LSU -- 56 points
8. Texas -- 30 points
9. Wisconsin -- 28 points
10. West Virginia -- 27 points
11. Kansas -- 25 points
12. Clemson -- 24 points
13. Texas Tech -- 21 points
14. Virginia Tech -- 22 points
15. Auburn -- 11 points

Others: Penn State, 10; Arizona State, 9; Tennessee, 8; Illinois, 6; BYU, 2.

So how would the bowls shape up? Good thing you asked....

BCS Title: Georgia vs. Oklahoma: If the poll holds to form, here are your No. 1 and No. 2 teams.

Orange: Clemson vs. BYU? Big Ten No. 2? With the last selection of the BCS eligible teams, the Orange Bowl is going to get stuck with whoever is left. A second Big Ten team -- Wisconsin or Illinois or the non-BCS party crasher. BYU will have the best chance to earn this slot. Now if Arizona State can work its way up the rankings, they could land here too, but they would more likely go to the Fiesta Bowl, allowing the Orange to get West Virginia.

Rose: Ohio State vs. USC: Easiest one to predict -- the Big Ten Champ vs. the Pac-10 Champ.

Sugar: Florida vs. Virginia Tech: The Sugar will almost certainly take the second-best SEC team and match them up with an ACC team or the Big East champion (West Virginia)

Fiesta: Missouri vs. West Virginia: If the Big 12 champion is in the title game, the Fiesta Bowl will probably replace them with another Big 12 team. It also gets first choice in the rest of the pecking order after the replacement teams. Looking at the above compiled rankings, West Virginia is the obvious choice. Now if Arizona State/Oregon or another Big Ten team is ranked high, they will grab them, allowing West Virginia to go Orange or Sugar.

Did you see this story this morning: http://www.sportsline.com/collegefo
otball/story/10576905

Somebody at the NCAA actually proposed a playoff? In Division I-A? Are you kidding me?

I'm not surprised it was Georgia president Michael Adams, considering he felt his team was one of the best in the nation. Would he have proposed a playoff if his team was say ... 7-5? Or what about if the Bulldogs beat Ohio State to win the BCS crown. Would he have done the same thing? Probably not.

But either way, its good to see the NCAA Board of Directors is going to study the possibility of it happening. 

His playoff proposal of the Sugar, Orange, Rose and Fiesta bowls as the opening round is horrendous. I mean, the first round is the Fiesta Bowl? So what is the semifinal round? Motor City Bowl? That proposal will never happen, but maybe if he tweaked to say first-round games at higher-seeded schools' sites and then use the bowls the rest of the way is more likely.

Ahhh, who are we kidding. None of it is more likely. We all know deep down the presidents and the BCS are never going to go for this.