Training camps continue to open across the country, though Sunday was dominated by yet more off-the-field news about Johnny Manziel, who is being investigated by the NCAA about an autograph session for which he was allegedly paid cash. Elsewhere, Jadeveon Clowney is nursing what appears to be a minor knee injury. Catch up on that news and more below.
College football camp news roundup: Johnny Manziel to practice, minor Jadeveon Clowney injury
Texas A&M is one of several teams to open camp Monday, though most of the talk figures to center on an issue that has nothing to do with football.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Texas A&M
The Aggies begin workouts Monday, but it’s not likely to be a quiet day for head coach Kevin Sumlin after an ESPN report surfaced Sunday indicating that quarterback Johnny Manziel is being investigated by the NCAA. Manziel had been scheduled to address the media Monday, but that changed following the inevitable firestorm of reaction that came after this latest development in an eventful offseason for the Heisman winner.
South Carolina
Jadeveon Clowney has a “tweaked knee” which limited him in practice on Sunday.
Clowney has been the center of attention in Greenville, to no one’s surprise, but it has in part forced a change of plans early in camp. The Gamecocks planned to leave practices open to the public and the media during the first week or so of camp, but Steve Spurrier decided to put an end to that Sunday because he decided that fans and autograph-seekers were too much of a distraction. He also made it plain that he’s had enough of the preseason talk about Clowney.
Notre Dame
Quarterback Tommy Rees hadn't expected to head into the 2013 season as the starter, but that's the position he's in after Everett Golson was suspended for the season for an academic infraction.
“Whenever my time came, I wanted to be ready to make the most of it. I never really anticipated things working out like this,” he said Sunday, speaking with the media for the first time since Golson’s suspension was made public in late May. “But I’m definitely excited.”
Fortunately for the Irish, Rees has starting experience, but if he should struggle, there isn't much in the way of a known quantity behind him. Senior Andrew Hendrix, who has attempted just 44 passes in his Notre Dame career, appears to be the second-stringer at this point.
Texas
In Austin, players reported for camp Sunday and head coach Mack Brown held a press conference to discuss the season ahead. Brown addressed the backup quarterback situation -- both Case McCoy and Tyrone Swoopes will get reps with the first and second teams -- as well as the defense's performance last season:
Not mincing words, Coach called out his defense and offered observation that after studying film of practices and games can’t really explain why they lost confidence early in the season. Maybe due to the loss of leaders Hicks and Jeffcoat. Maybe it was they faced the 3 game offensive juggernauts early in the year.
The Longhorns begin practice Monday.
Alabama
The Crimson Tide opened camp on Friday and held their annual Fan Day on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart was one of the coaches who spoke to the media during the event, and he addressed a number of topics, including the subject of up-tempo offenses, which has become something of a controversy in the SEC.
“Several teams in our league are very effective at it. You’ve got to address the issue but it’s always been an issue. For us, it’s more about how to get better at it more often. Seven times in a year instead of two times in a year.”
Smart flashed a smile and ended his answer with a little levity.
“I’d still rather see that than the triple-option, Georgia Southern come running through here,” he said.
Nick Saban also addressed the media. Video of his press conference is available here.
In other camp news, wide receiver DeAndrew White is back on the field and says he feels good now that he is fully recovered from the ACL injury he suffered last season. White, who played well in the spring game, could be a significant part of the offense in 2013.
Georgia
The Bulldogs are expected to rely on some young players in the secondary, including freshman Tray Matthews, who was penciled into a starting position at safety when camp began. On Sunday, it was evident Matthews was nursing some sort of injury, though UGA would not specify. Matthews wrote in a tweet that it’s nothing serious, but this is not an area of the defense where the Bulldogs want to encounter preseason setbacks of any sort.
USC
Clancy Pendergast was brought in to replace defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin after a disappointing 2012 season, and so far, he’s impressing the players, who are appreciative of his aggressive style.
"Coach P is more of a 'get after the quarterback' type of guy," safety Dion Bailey said. "That's pretty much his identity."
Said linebacker Hayes Pullard: "Pendergast brings that swagger. That's been great for us."
Penn State
Bill O’Brien admitted Sunday that he made plenty of mistakes in his first season as head coach of the Nittany Lions. Among other things, he wants to improve his in-game management in 2013.
"Doing a better job managing the clock before halftime. There were a couple of games (in 2012) where I could have used our timeouts a little better to give us a chance to have a two-minute drive to maybe kick a field goal before halftime. Or end-of-game situations. Or just call some better plays because I'm communicating better with the guys in the press box this year."
N.C. State
Leading returning rusher Shadrach Thornton is facing an assault charge stemming from an arrest in June, though he is currently participating in fall practices. New head coach Dave Doeren issued a statement on his first major headache Sunday:
“We were made aware of the situation in June and Shadrach was suspended immediately,” Doeren said in a statement Sunday night. “We have certain standards that we want our players to live by, on and off the field, and he did not live up to those standards. He had to earn his way back into team activities.”
Thornton has a court date set for later this month.
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