Rarely does significant new information come out regarding a prospect at this time of year. The folks at the combine generally do a good job poking and prodding until every stone has been overturned

Terrence Cody keeps shrinking as the NFL draft approaches. The two-time All-America nose guard weighed in at 348 pounds at Alabama’s pro day on Wednesday, with representatives from all 32 NFL teams present

The “pre-preseason” rankings that the pundits have been churning out earlier and earlier each year may have sod-all to do with how teams are ranked at the end of the season — or even, for that matter, in the first “official” preseason polls in August — but they do give some indication as to which teams will be the trendy picks through spring and summer. That goes for national-title favorites as well as the “sleeper” teams supposedly poised to present the big boys with their biggest challenges.Yesterday we sifted through some of 2010’s earliest ranking attempts and noticed a handful of teams that seemed to be getting repeated mentions in strata somewhat more rarefied than where we’ve become accustomed to seeing them. This means that the hype machine already may be training its sights on them to varying degrees, and as a result, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll be sick of hearing about them at some point between now and August.

I read today that Notre Dame has just inked a deal to play Maryland at FedEX Field for the 2011 season, a neutral site game that will give the Irish four seasons in a row with such a game. They’ve also got Arizona State scheduled in Cowboys Stadium in Texas for 2013.

The No. 1 ranked wide receiver in the 2010 NFL Draft class, Dez Bryant, has announced that he will not work out for scouts at the Oklahoma State Pro Day on Wednesday

Monday served as the first day of spring practices for Oklahoma’s football team. That means the Sooners officially start the post Bradford era on offense, even though you can argue that happened a long time ago.

While I am thankful for the fact that Spencer Hall regarded the arrest as bureaucratic and mundane after the fashion of most such arrests of Bulldog players, the fact that Zach Mettenberger was arrested over the weekend merely adds to my conviction that University of Georgia athletics should be declared a federal disaster area. Since the Red and Black’s Sugar Bowl beatdown of Hawaii on New Year’s Day 2008, the news has been almost universally bad across the board in all sports, with occasional (and largely ignored) positive developments in the tennis, golf, swimming and diving, equestrian, softball, and (with noteworthy exceptions) gymnastics programs. For some fan bases, March 6 was a perfect day, but Saturday was just another dismal day in Bulldog Nation.

While I am thankful for the fact that Spencer Hall regarded the arrest as bureaucratic and mundane after the fashion of most such arrests of Bulldog players, the fact that Zach Mettenberger was arrested over the weekend merely adds to my conviction that University of Georgia athletics should be declared a federal disaster area. Since the Red and Black’s Sugar Bowl beatdown of Hawaii on New Year’s Day 2008, the news has been almost universally bad across the board in all sports, with occasional (and largely ignored) positive developments in the tennis, golf, swimming and diving, equestrian, softball, and (with noteworthy exceptions) gymnastics programs. For some fan bases, March 6 was a perfect day, but Saturday was just another dismal day in Bulldog Nation

Previously: S Carvin Johnson.   Youngstown, Ohio - 5′10″ 178 Scout 3*, #103 S Rivals 2*, NR ESPN 2*, 68, #270 ATH Others NR Other Suitors Wisconsin, Kent State, Bowling Green, Air Force YMRMFSPA Brandent Englemon Previously On MGoBlog Commitment post. Brief interview with Tom

One item that we missed in this morning’s police-blotter-esque Headlinin’ post: Georgia QB Zach Mettenberger, one of two highly touted redshirt freshmen poised to compete for the starting job this season, was arrested early Sunday morning near Valdosta for, among other things, underage possession and false ID. If that doesn’t win this year’s Worst Way To End Spring Break Award, it’s sure to be at least a finalist. (Actually, if Valdosta is Mettenberger’s idea of a party, he may also be in the running for the Worst Way To Spend Spring Break Award, but that’s a different post entirely.) Mettenberger is the first UGA player to get pinched this year, and if history is any guide, he won’t be the last