SB Nation Philly: All Posts by Peter Berkes

• Bill Connelly previews Auburn: Please be patient, Tigers fans

• Oklahoma State’s insane transfer restrictions list

NCAA/EA Sports' Ed O'Bannon defense? Some players don't match

2013-05-21T19:42:46Z

The NCAA and EA Sports are threatened by litigation claiming they have used the names and likenesses of athletes without compensation, but one of their possible defenses is that some of the players don't really match.

Former UConn guard Tate George was presented with screengrabs from the 2006 edition of NCAA Basketball, which included teams from past years, including the 1990 UConn team he was a part of, and asked whether the player that wore his number resembled him:

Curtner: "But you did wear Number 32?"

George: "Yes."

Q: And do you agree that that Number 32 belonged to the University of Connecticut, not to you?

A: From what I was told, yes.

Q: And, certainly, the Huskies logo belongs to the University of Connecticut and not to you?

A: Correct.

Q: And you would not say that that looks like you as you appeared in 1990?

A: No. I'm cuter.

The plaintiffs, led by former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon, contend that EA attempted to get as many in-game player characteristics as possible to match their real-life counterparts, and that the NCAA allowed them to do so while not offering compensation for those players in return.

For more on the case: Ed O'Bannon vs. the NCAA

A class action certification hearing for the case is scheduled for June 20. If the plaintiffs are allowed to certify as a class and pursue litigation as a group, the potential liability for the NCAA and EA could be astronomical.

More from SB Nation:

• Bill Connelly previews Auburn: Please be patient, Tigers fans

• Oklahoma State’s insane transfer restrictions list

Jadeveon Clowney gained 17 pounds in a year, got faster anyway

2013-05-21T19:12:30Z

Everyone knows Jadeveon Clowney is one of the most ridiculous athletes in college football. It's a given at this point. People who are that big shouldn't be able to move that quickly and explosively. He's basically a cheat code in pads.

So with all that in mind, the attentive reader probably wouldn't be all that surprised that over the past year, Clowney gained 17 pounds and somehow got faster in the process, according to the annual Freaks List by CBS Sports' Bruce Feldman. Clowney has gone from 257 to 274 pounds in the last year, and his 40-yard dash time has fallen from 4.58 to 4.54 seconds. His strength and conditioning coach, Joe Connolly, described him thusly:

"Clowney is more violent than anybody I've ever seen. There is a violence to his first step. I've never seen anybody with more first-step quickness than he has. He's off the ball while the ball is still in the center's hands. His explosiveness is unparalleled."

Because we're talking about how great Clowney is, here is that one gif that you're probably thinking about looking up. No problem, we're here to help:

More from SB Nation:

• Bill Connelly previews Auburn: Please be patient, Tigers fans

• Oklahoma State’s insane transfer restrictions list

For more on the Gamecocks, check out Garnet and Black Attack

South Carolina lands commitment from 2015 DE Shameik Blackshear

2013-05-21T18:33:41Z

Defensive end Shameik Blackshear has committed to the South Carolina Gamecocks, according to Tony Morelli of 247sports.com. Blackshear is a prospect for the 2015 recruiting class, and while he is not rated yet, Morelli thinks he will be a five-star recruit.

Blackshear stands 6'4 and weighs in at 235 pounds. The Bluffton (S.C.) High School product recorded 97 tackles and 5.0 sacks in 2012 as a sophomore. Despite being so young, he has a slew of offers from some of the biggest programs in the country, including Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Louisville, N.C. State, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Morelli noted that Blackshear is the most talented player to commit to South Carolina since Jadeveon Clowney, which is high, high praise.

Blackshear is the Gamecocks' second commitment for the 2015 cycle, following behind Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson High School wide receiver Dexter Neal. However, that's not much smaller than their 2014 recruiting class, which only includes three players at the moment.

More from SB Nation:

• Bill Connelly previews Auburn: Please be patient, Tigers fans

• Oklahoma State’s insane transfer restrictions list

For more on LSU football, check out And The Valley Shook

D'Haquille Williams decommits from LSU

2013-05-21T18:01:38Z

D'Haquille Williams, the top JUCO prospect in the nation, has decommitted from LSU, according to Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Williams told Smith that he's decommitting in order to pursue all of his options.

Williams, a 6'3, 213-pound Reserve (La.) native, is currently enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He committed to LSU less than two weeks ago on May 10, but has already changed his mind. A five-star recruit according to 247, Williams already has offers from almost every major school in the southeast, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M, and USC.

Williams was originally part of the 2011 recruiting class, but did not qualify due to spending the first two years of high school at an unaccredited school. He's spent the past two years in junior college, and seemingly has his academics in order. Last year, Williams caught 67 passes for 1,295 yards and 17 touchdowns.

More from SB Nation:

• Bill Connelly previews Auburn: Please be patient, Tigers fans

• Oklahoma State’s insane transfer restrictions list

Jake Golic transferring from Notre Dame to Cincinnati

2013-05-21T17:33:36Z

Former Notre Dame tight end Jake Golic will transfer to Cincinnati, according to his father, Mike. The elder Golic, a former NFL player and longtime ESPN radio host, announced that his son would be attending Cincinnati as a grad student next year, where he will play his final season of eligibility.

More: For more on the Irish, check out One Foot Down For all things Bearcats, head to Down The Drive

Since Golic will be a graduate student, he will be able to play right away without having to sit out a season. He's the second Notre Dame player to make his way to Cincinnati via transfer this offseason, following former super recruit Gunner Kiel.

Golic didn't record a catch for the Irish, but he was stuck on the depth chart behind Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert during his time in South Bend. Cincinnati will have to replace Travis Kelce, who was a third-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The other tight end who will compete with Golic for the starting job, Blake Annen, had one reception in 2012.

More from SB Nation:

• Bill Connelly previews Auburn: Please be patient, Tigers fans

• Oklahoma State’s insane transfer restrictions list

Florida football recruiting: WR Ryeshene Bronson decommits from Gators

2013-05-21T16:28:56Z

The Florida Gators 2014 recruiting class took a hit on Tuesday, as four-star wide receiver prospect Ryeshene Bronson decommitted, according to GatorBait.net. The 6'3, 180 pound Bronson, from Fort Myers (Fla.) Dunbar High School, was the first member of Florida's 2014 recruiting class when he committed last June.

More: For more on Gators football, check out Alligator Army

Bronson is the second player to decommit from Florida's 2014 class in the past five days, following four-star linebacker Christian Miller out the door. However, this move is not much of a surprise when it comes to people plugged into the recruiting scene.

Didn't have to be an insider to know something was up with Ryeshene Bronson and Florida.
— SB Nation Recruiting (@SBNRecruiting) May 21, 2013

Bronson holds offers from Miami, Florida State, Auburn, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, but now that he has reopened his recruitment, more could follow shortly.

The loss of Bronson and Miller drops Florida eight places to 14th in the 247Composite team rankings for the 2014 recruiting class, but it's still a long way from Signing Day.

More from SB Nation:

• Bill Connelly previews Auburn: Please be patient, Tigers fans

• Oklahoma State’s insane transfer restrictions list