Put Johnny Manziel in front of Alabama's defense or in a third down at the Cotton Bowl, and he's absolutely calm. Maybe SEC defenses need to build pitching mounds on the field, because that seems to be the one situation that makes Manziel nervous.

Manziel, who shrugged off the pressure of being a freshman starting at quarterback for Texas A&M to produce one of the greatest college football seasons ever, admitted to nerves before he threw the ceremonial first pitch before the Rangers-Angels game on Sunday night. And it showed with the pitch.

Man, we love this video. It probably wasn't fun for the poor schmoe in the Brutus Buckeye costume and it'll probably end up as part of a concussion lawsuit some day like "NFL Rocks" has, but for the moment let's just savor the beauty and hilarity of a mascot getting absolutely smashed during a lighthearted play by a college linebacker at full speed.

It was Student Appreciation Day at Ohio State, something Urban Meyer seems to be turning into an annual tradition during spring practice. And as a fun thing, Brutus Buckeye got a chance to take a snap, no doubt figuring that he would be allowed to run downfield for a symbolic touchdown.

Linebacker David Perkins wasn't having that fun-loving stuff. Not on his watch.

Reggie Rembert presents President Barack Obama with a jersey as part of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy presentation at the White House in 2011 (AP)Last month, two Air Force officers drove through a snowstorm in Boston, looking for any indoor field so they could have a football workout after a long day of serving their country.

One of them was an All-American cornerback a couple years ago. The other a college receiver with measurables that match up well with many of the players who will be drafted later this month.

In that snowstorm, Reggie Rembert and Spencer Armstrong eventually found a field at Harvard. They've been there before, often working out on a field alongside the women's lacrosse team.

"We got a bunch of evil looks," Armstrong says.

This is the routine for Rembert and Armstrong. They work their jobs with the United States Air Force during the day, and desperately keep the door to their NFL dreams pried open at night. They know and understand why they haven't been signed by a NFL team yet. All service academy players with pro dreams eventually learn about the obstacles, most notably the minimum two years of active duty that they have to do after graduation.

[Related: NFL contract rules could help QBs get drafted in first round]

Their big chance to impress NFL teams comes Sunday and Monday at Cowboys Stadium at the NFL's super regional combine. All 32 teams will be represented at the event, which has most of the same drills as the more well-known NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Rembert, Armstrong and two other younger former Air Force players, Alex Means and Asher Clark, are among the 218 players who were invited. So were former Army linebacker Josh McNary and Navy running back Gee Gee Greene. Service academy players don't always get this kind of chance.

"All I need is a shot," Rembert said. "I've been busting my tail for two years for this opportunity."

Nebraska held is annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday and the star of the contest was a 7-year-old boy.

Jack Hoffman is a diehard Nebraska fan battling brain cancer. Last season, he formed a bond with Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead and has become an inspiration for the Huskers ever since.

[Also: Air Force duo tries to keep NFL dreams alive years after college careers ended]

So, during the fourth quarter of the spring game, Hoffman, who was dressed in a Nebraska uniform complete with an oversized helmet (no pads), lined up in the backfield, got the hand off and ran the ball in for a long touchdown.

It was the highlight of the game.

I need to apologize.

Last week, I wrote that if LSU coach Les Miles lost Florida and Ohio State in the Elite eight that the Dr. Saturday Coaches Bracket Challenge would be over and Louisiana Tech's Skip Holtz would be the winner.

I was wrong.

Upon further review, Miles, Holtz, our current leader, and Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy all have Louisville playing in the final, but only Miles and Gundy have the Cardinals winning it all.

That’s right, if Louisville wins the tournament then Miles with be the Bracket Challenge winner. If the Cardinals lose, Holtz will be the winner.

And see, I thought there would be no drama heading into the final weekend.

Apparently involving fans in kicking contests is the flavor of the month this spring.

Ohio State announced it was allowing at least one fan on the field to kick a field goal during its Student Appreciation Day. So Illinois decided to one-up the Buckeyes and invite three fans to come kick field goals on Wednesday and enjoy free pizza.

Who does a Student Appreciation Day on a Wednesday? Oh well, take that, Urban.

(USA Today Sports Images)

This offseason we will count down various topics from Monday through Friday, bringing you the top five of the important and definitely some not so important issues in college football. It's the Doc Five, every week until we will thankfully have actual games to discuss.

WAYS TO MAKE COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S FINAL FOUR PERFECT

NO. 1, EXPAND IT TO EIGHT TEAMS

Don't be fooled, the college football playoff that will be begin in the 2014 season isn't the perfect solution.

The college football powers were happy to slap the term "playoff" on what they're offering and try to appease the fans. It's better than the current setup. That's not saying much.

Expanding the championship from two teams to four won't be the final answer, we hope. Maybe four teams is just a test run. Figure out the logistics – and realize how much money it will make.

Then after a few years, make it a real playoff.

(@marlon_humphrey)

Mississippi State is taking a strange approach to the recruiting these days as they attempt to lure players fro rival Ole Miss, which notched a top 10 class this past recruiting season – by calling their potential recruits “Baller” and telling them they have “Swag.”

A couple days after a recruit posted a picture of a Mississippi State letter that simply said “You’re a Baller” on Mississippi State letterhead, 2014 cornerback recruit Marlon Humphrey posted a picture of his recruiting letter from the Bulldogs.

Guess ill be going to Mississippi State soon....SWAG twitter.com/marlon_humphre…

— Marlon Humphrey (@marlon_humphrey) April 4, 2013

Yes, yes that is a hand-drawn can of “Swag” and yes, the recruiter claims he has a truckload of it in “Stark Vegas.”