Decision Time: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas

Why Dezmon Briscoe made the right decision to turn pro and enter the 2010 NFL Draft.

1. Program in transition: New head coach Turner Gill has big shoes to fill. Say what you want about Mark Mangino being an insensitive brute; the man completely turned around a program in ruins. In fact, since coming to Kansas in 2002, the big man engineered a high-flying and prolific offense, which led throngs of fans to donate the necessary funds to bring KU’s facilities up to Big 12 standards. While Gill inherits a good player base to remain competitive in the early-going, the former quarterback’s resume at Buffalo saw him amass a 15-18 record in conference play in a rather weak Mid-American Conference. Even in his conference-winning season a year ago, Gill’s squad was barely a .500 team, which played its best game in the conference final. The Bulls went on to lose their bowl game despite being located only a stone’s throw away from the game’s site in Toronto. Also, the fact that Gill is a Nebraska guy may dissuade top recruits from committing to the Jayhawks due to the perception that he’ll immediately jump ship to coach his old team if given the opportunity. Briscoe didn't wait to find out who the new head coach would be, but Coach Mangino had more than one foot out the door when the wide out made his decision.

2. New quarterback takes over for Reesing: Kansas fans are bracing themselves for life after Todd Reesing, who was the ring leader of an electrifying passing game thanks to his intelligence, accuracy and consistent play. Briscoe’s return to Kansas would have had him adjusting to the growing pains of the athletic, but unproven Kale Pick at quarterback.

3. It doesn’t get any better than this: While completing a four-year college education is the right and honorable thing to do, all that goes at the window when a first- or second-round selection is in the offing. Briscoe is a long, physical receiver with the ability to break tackles and change directions after the catch. Despite an occasional bout of the dropsies, the 6’3” wide out is skilled enough to contribute right now at the next level and would only risk seeing his value drop by returning to a Kansas team in transition.

Mancini’s Take: Although he’s never been accused of being a speed merchant, Briscoe has the size, strength, body control, and leaping ability to be a difference-making weapon. In addition, the playmaker possesses key intangibles that pro teams covet, such as effectiveness as a blocker, amazing balance to remain in bounds at top speed, and on-field awareness. While Briscoe may still need to improve his consistency, he definitely has an NFL body and should be able to immediately overpower smaller defensive backs at the line of scrimmage and in the red zone.

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Jacobsen, KU Athletics

2009 Orange Bowl HOF: Ward, Zorich & Davis

Miami, FL (www.orangebowl.org) - The Orange Bowl Hall of Fame will induct three new members this year for their impact on the history of the FedEx Orange Bowl. College Football Hall of Famers Jeff Davis of Clemson, Charlie Ward of Florida State and Chris Zorich of Notre Dame will all be joining the Orange Bowl Committee as they are recognized during the AvMed Coaches Luncheon on January 4, 2010 at Jungle Island in Miami.

The trio will then be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl on January 5, 2010 at Land Shark Stadium which features ACC Coach of the Year Paul Johnson and his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets against Big Ten Coach of the Year Kirk Ferentz and his Iowa Hawkeyes.

Known as “The Judge,” Jeff Davis was the leader of the Clemson Tigers defense that began the 1981 season as an unranked afterthought but finished the year as a squad that became national champions and is regarded one of the more surprising stories in college football history. Davis played linebacker in 40 games for the Tigers, starting in 35, and had 30 games where he had double-digit tackles, including 22 of his final 23 games. As a senior, he was named the ACC’s Most Valuable Player, consensus All-American and concluded his career with a 24-tackle performance against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl for the national championship, where he was named the game’s MVP. His 175 tackles was an all-time single-season school record. Davis entered College Football’s Hall of Fame in 2007.

After two years as a punter and back-up, Charlie Ward finally received an opportunity at quarterback in 1992 leading the ’Noles to an ACC title as conference Player of the Year, and FedEx Orange Bowl victory where he was named MVP. His senior year saw Ward lead FSU to a FedEx Orange Bowl victory over Nebraska, and the school’s first national championship, when he was again named the game’s MVP. During that season, Ward threw 27 scoring passes with only four being intercepted as he captured the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell, Camp and O’Brien awards. At the time, his victory margin in the Heisman vote was the largest ever. Ward entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Chris Zorich began his collegiate career at Notre Dame as a linebacker, but was moved to nose tackle early in his freshman year. Zorich became a first-team All-America as a sophomore, despite having played sparingly as a freshman. In his first game he had one and a half sacks and ten tackles against Michigan. He finished the year third on the team in tackles as Notre Dame went undefeated and won the national championship. Chris became a consensus All-American in 1989 as a junior. As a senior, Zorich won the Lombardi Award and was recognized as a unanimous All-America. In the final game of his collegiate career he was the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the FedEx Orange Bowl. Zorich was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.