Marshall Football

Former Marshall running back Devon Johnson died Tuesday at the age of 25. His family confirmed the news in a statement, via Joe Person of The Athletic:

Statement from Devon Johnson’s family following the death Tuesday of the former Panthers RB at 25: pic.twitter.com/3eKx0y1j4y

— Joe Person (@josephperson) November 7, 2018

Johnson played for the Thundering Herd from 2012 to 2015. He went on to spend time with the Carolina Panthers organization but never made the active roster.

"I am shocked and saddened at the news of Devon Johnson's passing. Devon was a force in our program, both literally and figuratively," Marshall coach Doc Holliday said in a statement, per the Register-Herald. "Whether on the field or off, his impact was immeasurable and he will be missed by so many at Marshall. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family."

Johnson spent time at linebacker and tight end in his first two seasons at college before converting to a running back full time in his junior year.

He came through with 1,767 rushing yards in 2014, sixth-most in the country, plus 17 rushing touchdowns.

Unfortunately, injuries held him back in 2015 and he went undrafted in 2016. He joined the Panthers practice squad but injuries once again slowed down his career as he was placed on injured reserve.

Johnson is originally from Richlands, Virginia.

Larry Aaron III, a sophomore defensive tackle at Marshall University, died Thursday at the age of 19.  

Per Grant Traylor of the Herald Dispatch, Aaron died because of complications with his treatment after he was shot on Jan. 1. 

Marshall head coach Doc Holliday offered his condolences to Aaron and his family on Twitter:

We lost an incredible young man today. The entire Herd Family is praying for Larry Aaron's family. pic.twitter.com/ektV7ixukc

— John Doc Holliday (@DocHollidayFB) February 22, 2018

Aaron's mother said on Jan. 2 that her son was paralyzed after throwing himself in front of his girlfriend to protect her from gunfire during a New Year's Eve party in Maryland. 

"It is in his spine and he has no feeling in his legs," Melissa Aaron said. "They can't remove it because they are afraid it could be dangerous and hinder him even more to do so. It is right in the middle of his spine."

Traylor noted Aaron's injuries weren't believed to be life-threatening at the time. He was released from the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute and sent home on Feb. 8. 

A redshirt freshman in 2017, Aaron appeared in eight games and recorded 13 tackles for Marshall last season. 

 

Melissa Aaron, the mother of Marshall defensive tackle Larry Aaron, said her son was paralyzed after being hit by stray gunfire at a party on New Year's Eve in Maryland. 

"It is in his spine and he has no feeling in his legs," she told Grant Traylor of the Herald-Dispatch. "They can't remove it because they are afraid it could be dangerous and hinder him even more to do so. It is right in the middle of his spine."  

"I'm in shock myself, she added. "I'm just numb. It's such a freak accident."

Per his father, Aaron was standing by a wall with his girlfriend when a dispute broke out at the party and shots were fired.

"He was standing up against a wall, him and his girlfriend, and two guys got into an argument, and they just started shooting, and my son stepped in front of his girlfriend to shield her," Larry Aaron Jr. said, per Kim Dacey of WBAL-TV. "And one of the bullets got him."

He was one of two people shot in the altercation. The suspect in the incident remains at large.

"Since the party spread very quickly on social media, we know most of the people, if not all at this party, have social media accounts and cell phones," Anne Arundel County police Lieutenant Ryan Frashure told Dacey. "So, we're asking if anyone has any type of video or pics from the party that detectives could use, to identify anybody, whether they be more witnesses they can speak to or possible suspects, to please contact our detectives over at the western district."

His mother told Traylor that several of his teammates, including running back Tyler King and linebackers Jaquan Yulee and Donyae Moody, have since visited him in the hospital

"He is in good spirits and he's talking with teammates," she said. "I'm so proud of how the Marshall family sticks together."

Aaron, a redshirt freshman this past season, registered 13 tackles in eight games in 2017.

Marshall cornerback Rodney Allen was arrested on misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence as well as driving without a license, per the Charleston Gazette-Mail. 

Huntington police caught Allen attempting to flee the scene after a car crash early Sunday morning.

Once he was brought back to the station, he provided a breathalyzer sample that registered a .167 blood alcohol content.

The school's athletic department said they would handle the matter "internally and appropriately."

Allen is heading into his senior year after being a leader defensively in 2016. He appeared in 11 games, grabbing two interceptions while ranking third on the team with 76 tackles. The Dallas native also led the Thundering Herd with four forced fumbles and 12 passes defended.

1 of my favorite projects I've worked on EVER. Honoring both the 1970 & 1971, on the 45th Anniversary. So much meaning behind it #Honored pic.twitter.com/lUAZU1m0Gj

— Marshall Equipment (@HerdEquipment) November 6, 2016

On Saturday, Nov. 12, Marshall's football team will be playing for more than just a victory against Middle Tennessee.

In remembrance of those who died in a horrific plane crash on Nov. 14, 1970, that killed 75 people on board, including 37 Marshall football players and nine coaches, the Thundering Herd will place a special decal on their helmets against the Blue Raiders.

As Anthony Chiusano of NCAA.com detailed, "The aftermath of the plane crash shook the Huntington, West Virginia, community and almost led to the discontinuity of the football program." No matter your college football allegiance, Marshall deserves credit for honoring those who died that day.

Steward Butler, a senior running back at Marshall University, was arrested Wednesday morning in Huntington, West Virginia, and charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery.

According to Curtis Johnson of The Herald-Dispatch, the Lakeland, Florida, native is accused of beating two gay men.

Per Dan Griffin of WSAZ NewsChannel 3, details have surfaced regarding the alleged incident, which occurred in April:

https://twitter.com/WSAZDanGriffin/status/595959211189731328

https://twitter.com/WSAZDanGriffin/status/595959318245220354

https://twitter.com/WSAZDanGriffin/status/595959510180700160

https://twitter.com/WSAZDanGriffin/status/595959832840114176

According to Griffin, Butler is being held on a total bond of $10,000:

https://twitter.com/WSAZDanGriffin/status/595948970381352961

Marshall initially suspended Butler from the team, and the running back was ultimately dismissed from the program outright, according to Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick:

Coach Holliday and I have decided to dismiss Steward Butler from our program in light of additional information regarding his charges.

— Mike Hamrick (@MikeHamrick92) May 6, 2015

School interim president Gary White released a statement, according to MetroNews: 

Interim President Gary White said, in a prepared statement, the “violent, bigoted behavior” alleged would not be tolerated at Marshall. “Period.”

President White said what Butler is accused of is extremely serious.

“We will allow the legal process to run its course and will act swiftly and appropriately within our Student Conduct System and according to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities as more details become clear,” White said.

Butler was the No. 2 rusher for the Thundering Herd last season as he ran for 798 yards and seven touchdowns. That came on the heels of 765 yards and eight scores as a sophomore.

He was once again penciled in to be the backup to Devon Johnson in 2015, but that could be in jeopardy based on the charges against him.

Butler will have the opportunity to go through the legal system; however, his playing career at Marshall is very much up in the air at this point.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

The Marshall University Thundering Herd were never truly in the playoff conversation. Everybody knew, whether they openly admitted it or not, that the upper echelon of the Power Five would squash Marshall. 

But Rakeem Cato and Co. always had one thing that nobody else besides Florida State University had in college football—an undefeated record. 

Not anymore. 

It's a tune that is almost tired at this point, but it's something that still stings to those that grasped onto hope until the very end.

There was the University of Houston and Case Keenum's letdown in the Conference USA title game to the University of Southern Mississippi in 2011 after tearing through the regular season undefeated. 

There was Northern Illinois University in 2013, with a regular season-ending loss to Bowling Green State University after going 12-0. 

Those teams have always represented hope for the "Group of Five." After all, undefeated is undefeated, and it's hard to argue against—even if your toughest opponent was Rice University. 

However, Marshall's embarrassing loss to Western Kentucky University—a 67-66 overtime tilt that was won when the Hilltoppers converted a two-point conversion in the first overtime—proved it. Marshall doesn't belong in the playoff conversation. 

The 15 combined TD passes between #WKU's Brandon Doughty (8) and Marshall's Rakeem Cato (7) were the most in single-game FBS history.

— Michael Grant (@MichaelGrant_CJ) November 28, 2014

What's worse is that Marshall all but lost an opportunity to play in a top-tier bowl game as well. That honor will now likely befall either Boise State University or Colorado State University. 

Marshall's run was certainly respectable. Like I said, undefeated is undefeated and winning 11 games is admirable and worth celebrating no matter the team or the level of football. 

But the notion that Marshall belonged at the playoff table—or even in the discussion—simply because it was undefeated was naive. Marshall hasn't faced any Power Five teams, and it has even had some relatively close calls against bottom-feeder FBS schools (see Middle Tennessee State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham). 

It was Marshall that dug its own grave on Friday afternoon, though. Cato threw four interceptions—three of them in the first half. That alone gave Western Kentucky the momentum it needed to control the pace of the game, and it should remove Cato from any Heisman Trophy talk as well. 

The Herd gave up 67 points, including the game-winning two-point conversion—to Western Kentucky. 

How is that for guts? Western Kentucky just ended it for Marshall.

— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) November 28, 2014

Perhaps it's a good thing that Boise State or Colorado State will be the Group of Five representative in a top-tier bowl. Boise State has history there—successful history I might add—while Colorado State has beaten two Power Five teams. 

How would Marshall have fared against the likes of an Auburn University, University of Mississippi or Baylor University? If Brandon Doughty hung 67 on the board, imagine what Nick Marshall, Bryce Petty or even Bo Wallace would do. 

Marshall's run was a fun one. And it deserves a decent bowl selection and some prime-time billing for it. Cato is still an elite quarterback whose career outshines most at that university. 

But Marshall was never playoff worthy. It was never even close. 

Friday's loss just affirmed that. 

One thing is certain about the first College Football Playoff rankings to be released Tuesday: There will be one undefeated team that has absolutely no chance of making the final four.

That’s the sad plight of Marshall, which is 8-0 but figures to be ignored because it plays in Conference USA. 

It's probably of little consolation, but at least Rolling Stone magazine has declared the West Virginia university “The People’s Champion.”

Count me among those who think the Thundering Herd has the best team name in college sports but also one of the worst predicaments when it comes to getting ranked. The latest AP poll has Marshall way down at No. 23, but isn't that one spot better than LSU was when it upset No. 3 Ole Miss last Saturday night?

And if Marshall wins out and maintains a spotless record in the loss column, it’s a reminder that college football still doesn’t have a foolproof means of selecting a national champion.

Suppose this was basketball season. A team with Marshall’s undefeated record and ranking in the polls could be reasonably expected to get a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament and have a shot at knocking off some of the sport’s marquee schools.

But that opportunity doesn’t exist in football. Which is why Marshall coach John “Doc” Holliday confesses to having a case of “basketball envy.”

“I do,” the coach told me Monday during a phone interview. “I worry about the direction we’re taking as far as football is concerned, because what’s wrong with having a Butler in the (championship game of) NCAA tournament? Every year somebody steps up and makes a run in basketball. I think that’s what college sports and college football should be all about.”

Butler’s basketball team made it to consecutive national championship games in hoops in 2010-11, and 2014 champion UConn was ranked only 18th going into the tournament.

But with power-five conferences having such a huge edge, both historically and for strength of schedule, there’s no place in college football for a Cinderella story.

“If there’s a football team out there that’s a non-power-five team that deserves to be in the talk, then what’s wrong with that?” asks Holliday. “I think it would be great for college football.”

Instead, Holliday sees potential trouble brewing for even some top teams because of the ever-growing emphasis on the power-five conferences.

“I think at times you better be careful what you ask for, and I’m talking about even within the power-five conferences,” Holliday said. “The way I kind of see it going down the road, there’s going to be separation even within the power-fives. ...I think there are going to be 10 or 15 teams out there that are totally separated. Can those people in the private schools, and all those people within the power-fives, can they compete with the upper tier? I’m not sure they can.

“I don’t want anybody to give us anything,” Holliday stressed, adding, “I think we deserve to be in the conversation, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”

The coach hopes people won’t forget how good non-power-five Boise State was while going 92-12 under Chris Petersen from 2006-13. Or, before it joined the Pac-12, the Urban Meyer-coached Utah team of 2008 that went 12-0.

Holliday was on Meyer’s staff at Florida as associate head coach from 2005-07, which included one national championship with Tim Tebow at quarterback.

“I know that when I worked with Urban that one of the best football teams he thought he ever had was the Utah team when they were undefeated, prior to him going to Florida,” Holliday said. “He’ll tell you that today, that it was one of the best teams he ever coached.”

Holliday says his Marshall quarterback, Rakeem Cato, compares nicely with Tebow.

“As far as competitiveness, absolutely,” Holliday said. “He’s in the same boat.”

But a better comparison for Cato perhaps is Russell Wilson. Two weeks ago, Cato broke Wilson’s FBS college record by throwing a touchdown pass in a 39th consecutive game, and then kept the streak alive and growing to 40 in Saturday’s victory against Florida Atlantic.

“What I like about him is what a special kid he is,” Holliday said. “He’s a guy who has overcome adversity.”

That’s putting it mildly. Cato’s mother died suddenly from pneumonia when he was 13, and his father was imprisoned throughout the quarterback’s childhood.

He also grew up in the Liberty City section of Miami, which has one of the nation’s highest crime rates. Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman wrote an excellent piece about the rigors of Cato’s childhood, and how he had to overcome anger and bitterness before he could become a complete success on the field.

The undersized QB arrived at Marshall weighing only about 150 pounds, but now is a muscular 176.

“He walked onto campus as a skinny kid who didn’t know when to get up or go to bed,” Holliday said. “To see him come as far as he’s come has been great.”

Cato figures to win yet another C-USA Offensive Player of the Year award and leave Marshall as one of the school’s best three quarterbacks all time, joining former NFL players Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington.

Pennington can perhaps best relate to how this Marshall team is being left out of the national championship discussion, since he was the star of the 1999 team that went 13-0.

As good as Cato has been, last Saturday’s 35-16 victory over Florida Atlantic belonged to Devon Johnson. The junior ran for a school-record 272 yards and four touchdowns, and had a remarkable hat trick of three long-distance TD runs, from 58, 62 and 66 yards.

It gave Johnson his seventh 100-yard game of the year and pushed his season total to 1,203 yards and an 8.8-yard average per carry. But until just a few days before practices began in August, Johnson had been penciled in as a tight end. And he was originally recruited as a linebacker.

“I’d like to sit here and tell you we have a crystal ball and knew he was going to be the type of player he is,” Holliday said. “I think probably the thing that gets overlooked here with his success right now is that our offensive line is playing really well. We’ve got an offensive line that’s built in the same mode that he is. They’re all physical, tough like he is, they’re very well coached. He’ll be the first one to tell you that without that offensive line he wouldn’t have the success that he has.”

That success includes helping make Marshall the only FBS team to score at least 35 points in every game. The Herd’s 45.9 scoring average ranks third nationally, and with a defense that’s giving up only 16.5 points a game, Marshall’s 29.4 scoring margin leads the nation.

Still, there isn’t a great chance of Marshall moving up much in the rankings considering its remaining schedule: Southern Mississippi (3-5), Rice (4-3), UAB (4-4) and Western Kentucky (3-4). 

But undefeated is undefeated. And if Marshall remains that way, the college game should be respectful and at least include the Thundering Herd in the conversation.

Tom Weir covered college football as a columnist for USA Today. All quotes in this story were gathered firsthand.

It's time for Heisman Voters to take a serious look at Marshall superstar quarterback Rakeem Cato and consider him for a New York City invite after his latest accomplishment. 

On Saturday, in a game against Florida Atlantic, Cato threw a touchdown pass for the 39th consecutive game, breaking former Wisconsin and now Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson's record. 

History! Marshall QB Rakeem Cato throws a TD in 39 straight games, an NCAA record.

His story is even better. » http://t.co/yANdBRn8b3

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 18, 2014

Per Bill Bender of Sporting News, the record began back on Sept. 10, 2011. 

Cato's record isn't a gimmick or a fluke. He not only broke a record that was thought to be one of college football's unbeatable, but also has Marshall at 6-0. If they finish the season undefeated, that'll put the playoff committee in a tough position to say the least. 

But for Cato, he's earned his Heisman Trophy consideration this season, much like Jordan Lynch of Northern Illinois and Colt Brennan of Hawaii did before him. 

Coming into this week, Cato has racked up 1,698 passing yards, another 200 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. He's also at the helm of the second-highest scoring team in the nation, averaging 47.8 points per game through six games. The Herd have also scored at least 42 points in all of their games. 

How Marshall QB Rakeem Cato is not being considered a serious Heisman candidate is beyond me. NCAA record 39 straight games with TD pass.

— Josh Graham (@JoshGrahamShow) October 18, 2014

Cato himself has been the model of consistency. In only one game this season—against Akron—has Cato been limited to just one passing touchdown. Over his career, he has 107 total touchdown passes after breaking the record, far and away the most of any active player, per ESPN. 

But where the ceiling rests for Cato lies at the end of the season. Marshall's schedule to finish off the season—Southern Miss, Rice, UAB and Western Kentucky—leads many to believe that the Herd will finish without a blemish on their record. 

Of the four opponents left on the Herd's schedule, none are ranked in the top 50 in pass defense. So expect Cato to boost his stats by teeing off on the weak secondaries. 

There's certainly things that Cato lacks that other Heisman candidates have. Dak Prescott's Mississippi State Bulldogs are ranked No. 1. Marcus Mariota is considered a top 10 draft pick. 

But if the Herd finish the season undefeated, the masses will clamor for Marshall to be in the playoffs, and for Cato to be in The City That Never Sleeps for the Heisman Trophy presentation. 

It’s Rakeem Cato’s 22nd birthday, and he’s decided to spend it with Tom Brady, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson.

Instead of joining his favorite quarterbacks at a nightclub or swanky restaurant, however, Cato is having them over to his place. Only they’re not actually there and it’s not a party, unless you consider another film session of some of the game’s greatest quarterbacks—one in a growing, repetitive series—a party.

"I’m going to watch film," Cato said when pressed about his birthday plans. "We’ve got practice early tomorrow, too."

While this potential introduction to Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato may not seem all that exciting, consider this a favor: At some point in the 2014 season—perhaps when the Thundering Herd are still undefeated, destroying Conference USA teams like traffic cones that wandered into the express lane—you will know his name.

What’s most shocking, however, is that one of college football’s most productive passers—and a legitimate Heisman dark horse, no matter what he tells you—is not a household name already.

Perhaps it’s because he was under-recruited despite playing in the heart of recruiting country. Or maybe it’s his overall lack of size, a break from the traditional QB mold that serves as a prerequisite on our respect checklist. Or maybe it’s a Marshall thing, another example of our inability to appreciate greatness that doesn’t fit that template.

"If we continue to put in the work and continue to win, eventually people recognize us," Cato said. "We still have a lot more work to do. But when that time comes, we’ll be ready for it."

What’s immediately striking about Cato is his natural ability to remove the spotlight from himself. He doesn’t sidestep questions or tiptoe around answers, but instead brings the bigger picture into focus when he can. He’d gladly stay underrated—or not rated at all—when it comes to individual success and solo achievements.

When the talk shifts to Marshall, the coaches or the players—oftentimes on his own accord—the tune changes. His tone shifts, expectations unfold and a mindset comes into focus.

"My main goal since I stepped on campus was to bring a championship to Marshall," Cato said. "My focus is all on this season and trying to win that championship."

While that might seem unrealistic to the big-brand buyer, don’t dismiss this as propaganda. Marshall’s first three losses last season came by a combined 13 points, and one of those losses came to Virginia Tech in triple overtime.

There’s momentum in the program and familiarity within a potent offensive attack, and head coach Doc Holliday is proving to have much more than a name built for a business card.

"It’s a different vibe for everyone on our team," Cato said. "We’re riding a wave right now, playing with a lot of confidence."

Such confidence was evident in the team’s 31-20 win over Maryland in the Military Bowl, giving Marshall its first 10-win season since 2002. Looking over the schedule this season, there is a distinct possibility that this team could finish without a blemish.

Date	Opponent
Aug. 30	@ Miami (OH)
Sept. 6	vs. Rhode Island
Sept. 13	vs. Ohio
Sept. 20	@ Akron
Oct. 4	@ Old Dominion
Oct. 11	vs. Middle Tennessee State
Oct. 18	@ FIU
Oct. 25	vs. Florida Atl.
Nov. 8	@ Southern Miss
Nov. 15	vs. Rice
Nov. 22	@ UAB
Nov. 28	vs. Western Kentucky

In fact, according to Cato, anything less would be a disappointment.

"I think we have a great opportunity to go undefeated," Cato said. "We have all the pieces in place, a great coaching staff and a great group of players."

Again, as he often does, Cato failed to mention the most important ingredient when it comes to an unbeaten season: the quarterback. And while he might not dwell on what he’s accomplished, we certainly will.

Over the past two seasons, Cato has accounted for 83 touchdowns and thrown for more than 8,100 yards. He's also thrown a touchdown pass in 32 consecutive games, a streak that will continue on this fall.

For comparison’s sake, former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel accounted for 93 scores and threw for just a shade over 7,800 yards in his past two seasons.

That’s not meant to put Cato on the Johnny Football path. In fact, he’d much prefer if you just let him be. But when you look at the magnificent production stacked up against some of the other great quarterbacks in recent years—the Manziels, the Bridgewaters, the Boyds—it becomes apparent that he warrants a seat at the table. At the very least, access to the club.

Name	School	Passing Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
Rakeem Cato	Marshall	8,117	83	20
Johnny Manziel	Texas A&M	7,820	93	22
Teddy Bridgewater	Louisville	7,688	60	12
Marcus Mariota	Oregon	6,342	77	10
Tajh Boyd	Clemson	7,747	90	24

Being overlooked, however, is nothing new to the Florida native. In fact, in a way, this is where his comfort zone lies. 

Coming out of high school, 247Sports rated Cato at No. 1,308 in his class overall and the No. 32 dual-threat quarterback in the country. Although he played his high school ball at Miami Central—a school that naturally garners eyeballs and interest from Florida programs—the buzz never got loud enough.

Cato instead wound up at Marshall, a decision that has panned out favorably for both parties. And while he’s happy with where he landed, he also doesn’t forget the quiet phones and empty mailboxes.

"I do all the time," Cato said when asked about playing with a chip on his shoulder. "I remember those times when I was overlooked. I use it as motivation. But I don’t dwell on it and I don’t regret anything."

Part of the reason Cato was overlooked by programs is his size. Listed at just 6’0" and 188 pounds on his official Marshall bio, he’s a breakaway from your create-a-player build.

The NFL buzz hasn’t started, and it may never start. But as much as size is discussed or perceived as limiting, Cato doesn’t look his physical makeup.

"As long as you know what you’re doing and you’re making plays, size really isn’t a factor at all," Cato said. "For me, personally, it’s 100 percent heart. If you’ve got heart, everything else will take care of itself."

For Cato, everything else has taken care of itself thus far. And as good as he’s looked over the past few seasons, over the course of more than 10,000 yards passing, there’s still room for growth in his eyes.

"I want to be more efficient in the passing game and complete more passes, especially with my deep ball," Cato said on his goals for this season. "I also want to become a bigger leader and help out those who need it."

The transition to team leader hasn’t come overnight for Cato, and it’s still an item needing fine-tuning on the spring checklist—at least according to him. Thankfully, he’s had some help along the way.

Former Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry and wideout Aaron Dobson are two of the players Cato credits in helping him mature as a leader. He’s also received guidance from one of the greatest players in school history, a guy who knows a little bit about efficient quarterback play.

"I talk to Chad Pennington a whole bunch," Cato noted. "He showed me the path and the right way of how to do things on and off the football field."

All of the guidance, reps, doubt and birthday film sessions have put Cato in a position to thrive for the 2014 season. It’s also started the slow churn of Heisman hype, even for a player who has struggled to garner any hype at all.

Yet, when pressed about the possibility of winning college football’s most prestigious award, Marshall’s undersized and under-recruited quarterback refused to break character.

"I’m not thinking about the Heisman," Cato said. "I’m thinking about our team and focusing on getting better."

He might not want you to remember the name Rakeem Cato, but trust me, you’re better off not forgetting it. Soon enough, you won’t have a choice.

Adam Kramer is the College Football National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand.