Why is this news?: Blake Sims compared to Braxton Miller, what the Sugar Bowl means for recruiting

"Anytime you can add a quality coach to the Big Ten it's good for college football and great for the Big Ten."

- Urban Meyer on Michigan hiring Jim Harbaugh, via Jon Solomon, CBS Sports

Michigan introduced their newest head coach on Tuesday, as Jim Harbaugh takes over for Brady Hoke, who was fired at the end of the regular season. Plenty of support has come Harbaugh's way and even some towards Michigan from the national media. As Urban Meyer points out, this is a good hire for not only Michigan, but for the Big Ten as a conference.

Just looking at the Big Ten East division alone, you have Meyer, Harbaugh, Mark Dantonio and James Franklin as the head coaches for their teams. With the Big Ten trying to earn respect against the rest of the country, it's only a good thing that they are landing these big-time names at some of their biggest programs. If Harbaugh can have success at Michigan, there's no reason that the Big Ten can elevate its play to another level with the high-level coaching going on.

"We really haven't seen one like this yet, I don't think. It's almost like facing Braxton Miller, that's the closest thing I could say. I think he's very similar with his feet as him. We've just got to be careful with pass rushing."

- Joey Bosa on Alabama quarterback Blake Sims, via Michael Casagrande

With the College Football Playoff just a few days away from kicking off, the players are getting as prepared as possible to face their toughest opponent yet. Ohio State has to take on Alabama, who ranks as the top team in the country as of now. While many of the storylines revolve around Buckeye quarterback Cardale Jones, Alabama has an underrated signal-caller at their helm as well.

Blake Sims is an interesting player to watch and on Tuesday, Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa praised Sims' ability by comparing him to senior Buckeye quarterback Braxton Miller. Bosa mentions that Sims is the closest comparison to Miller in regards to quarterbacks that they've face this season. With the playmakers surrounding Sims, it will be a tough task to slow him down on Thursday night, but Bosa and the rest of Ohio State's defense will do their best to help get a victory.

"If I'm Alabama, I'm going to step on their throats as hard as I can. After Notre Dame lost [the 2013 BCS National Championship Game to Alabama, 42-14], every school in the SEC that went head-to-head with Notre Dame on a recruit said they can't hang with the SEC. Schools will do that if Ohio State gets plowed. The lure of playing in the SEC is so big to everybody, it's just a constant threat."

- Mike Farrell, via Michael Weinreb, Grantland

Michael Weinreb over at Grantland ran a really nice article on Ohio State's Urban Meyer and Alabama's Nick Saban and how they've met on the recruiting field over the past couple of years. Weinreb talks about both of their recruiting styles, but also mentions a few recruits that both fought over. Specifically, Vonn Bell. Bell committed to Ohio State over Tennessee and Alabama, in a tight recruiting battle.

The entire article is worth the read, but to read about how Urban Meyer attacks the recruiting field is quite impressive. Both have their strengths and it's also a nice reminder how much Meyer has done for Ohio State in that aspect of college football since taking over as head coach in 2012.

"I can bring back some explosive plays. I can make some plays on special teams and offensively, and I can also be a motivational person. I'm very spirited, very high-spirited, I'm very passionate about football. I love this team."

- Dontre Wilson, via Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Ohio State H-back Dontre Wilson has been out with an injury since the Buckeyes defeated Michigan State midway through the season. Leading up to the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff, there were rumors that Wilson may be able to play against the Crimson Tide after taking time to recover from his injury.

Wilson says he's at about 85 percent healthy, which isn't perfect, but Wilson says that if his team needs him to be out there, he wouldn't hesitate. The tough part about it, is that it might not be up to Wilson. Head coach Urban Meyer will have the final say and though I imagine he'd love to have the electric playmaker in the backfield, but he won't put Wilson out there unless he's sure he's ready to go. Either way, it's nice to have a backup plan just in case.

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