DB Boo Carter with Vols but work to do before hitting field for Tennessee, coach says
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Tuesday that sophomore defensive back Boo Carter is with the Volunteers as they start preseason practice.
When Carter gets back on the field, however, remains to be seen after he reportedly missed workouts this summer.
Heupel declined to get into details.
'Boo is a part of our team here,' Heupel said. 'There's some things that he's got to accomplish to get back on the field with us. Don't have a set timeline on that. Our leadership council has been a part of those things, those discussions with me and with Boo.'
Heupel said he's proud of the leadership council. The head coach said he'll be the one handling all questions on Carter early in camp.
Whether Carter would show for practice was a question amid reports about his conduct. Tennessee parted with quarterback Nico Iamaleava just before the spring game in April. Heupel said then that nobody was 'bigger than the Power T.'
Carter made the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team for his play in 13 games, with five starts last season. He ranked sixth on the defense with 38 tackles, including 28 solo. He also led the SEC averaging 16.5 yards per punt return.
Tennessee gave him work in the slot at wide receiver during spring practice, allowing Carter a chance to follow in the two-way footsteps of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. The Vols need Carter with cornerback Jermod McCoy recovering from an ACL injured early this year. Quarterback competition
The Vols start practice Wednesday needing a new starting quarterback with Iamaleava now at UCLA. Transfer Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre all will be competing for the job for a program that made the College Football Playoff only to be routed by eventual champion Ohio State.
Tennessee opens the season Aug. 30 in Atlanta against Syracuse. Offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said they are looking for a quarterback who can run the offense, not just throw the ball hardest or farthest.
'It's about who can operate this offense that when we take the field gives us a chance to win,' Halzle said.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
recommended
Item 1 of 3
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
Re-ranking all 18 Big Ten head football coaches entering 2025 season
The Big Ten enters the 2025 football season with only one new head coach in place: Purdue's Barry Odom. That is a significant departure from last offseason, when the conference welcomed five new head coach hires (Indiana, Michigan, Washington, Michigan State and UCLA). Of course, Indiana's Curt Cignetti stole headlines throughout the year as he led the Hoosiers to a program-best 11-1 regular season and a College Football Playoff appearance. Michigan's Sherrone Moore and Washington's Jedd Fisch each found some success late in the season, while Michigan State's Jonathan Smith and UCLA's DeShaun Foster provided more mixed results. The Big Ten's hiring tends to happen in waves. After the conference sees little turnover during one season, the next can often bring significant changes. That reality is worth keeping in mind entering 2025. Several coaches enter the year needing a strong output to redirect their program's trajectory. Position Previews: Overall Offenses -- Quarterbacks -- Running Backs -- Wide Receivers -- Tight Ends -- Offensive Lines -- Overall Defenses -- Defensive Lines -- Pass-Rushers -- Inside Linebackers -- Cornerbacks -- Safeties -- Secondaries -- Special Teams Units Coaching Staff Previews: Offensive Coordinators -- Defensive Coordinators With training camps underway and the season fast approaching, we're taking an updated look at the Big Ten's head coach landscape. 18. Mike Locksley (Maryland Terrapins) Head Coaching Record: 35-67 (New Mexico 2009-11, Maryland 2015-present) Analysis: Locksley might need a job-saving performance in 2024. His Terrapins are fresh off a 4-8 campaign, including a 1-8 record in conference play and a 1-7 stretch to close the season. While it was the program's first losing season since 2020, it signaled possible struggles to come. That is especially the case after standout quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. transferred to Wisconsin. Locksley's coordinator hires -- each veteran with significant NFL experience -- signals his mindset entering the year. 17. David Braun (Northwestern Wildcats) Head Coaching Record: 12-13 (Northwestern 2023-present) Analysis: Braun was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2023, leading Northwestern to an 8-5 record after the late-offseason firing of longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald. 2024 was far from an impressive encore. The Wildcats went 4-8, including blowout losses in all but two Big Ten contests (wins over Purdue and Maryland). Northwestern is a challenging place to win in college football's current landscape. That said, Braun still has to establish the program's floor before he can rise in these rankings. 16. Barry Odom (Purdue Boilermakers) Head Coaching Record: 45-33 (Missouri 2016-19, UNLV 2023-24) Analysis: Odom turned over Purdue's entire program in just a few months. After the team went 1-11 last season, that change can't be anything but a good thing. Odom had some success at Missouri in the late 2010s and just recently excelled at UNLV. He should at least give Purdue some stability. 15. DeShaun Foster (UCLA Bruins) Head Coaching Record: 5-7 (UCLA 2024-present) Analysis: Foster and the Bruins did well in 2024, given the circumstances. The team faced one of the toughest schedules in the sport. Notably, it did so after the program was forced to rebuild after former coach Chip Kelly left for the Ohio State offensive coordinator opening. After a full offseason of roster improvements, 2025 will be an important year for Foster's standing. Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire 14. Jonathan Smith (Michigan State Spartans) Head Coaching Record: 39-42 (Oregon State 2018-23, Michigan State 2024-present) Analysis: Smith joined the Spartans with high expectations after a strong run at Oregon State. The team's 5-7 finish in 2024 was a major disappointment, given the hype surrounding the coach's hire. Like with many others, 2025 will be a critical year for his tenure. Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire 13. Greg Schiano (Rutgers Scarlet Knights) Head Coaching Record: 94-101 (Rutgers 2001-11, 2020-present) Analysis: Schiano has done well to establish Rutgers as a high-floor team over the last few seasons. A third consecutive bowl trip in 2025 would lead to a jump up these rankings -- especially if some of the other higher-ranked coaches struggle. 12. Luke Fickell (Wisconsin Badgers) Head Coaching Record: 76-38 (Ohio State 2011, Cincinnati 2017-22, Wisconsin 2023-present) Analysis: The start of Fickell's Wisconsin tenure has fallen far short of expectations. The program is just 12-13 through two seasons, including a 5-7 2024 season that snapped its 23-year bowl streak. The Badgers face the nation's toughest schedule in 2025, so it's unreasonable to expect a sudden breakthrough. But offensive changes and an impressive transfer class must at least push the program back to bowl eligibility. 11. Jedd Fisch (Washington Huskies) Head Coaching Record: 23-29 (UCLA 2017, Arizona 2021-23, Washington 2024-present) Analysis: Fisch took over the Washington job under challenging circumstances in 2024. Former coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama, bringing with him several of the Huskies' top players. Fisch, who won 10 games at Arizona in 2023, did well to lead the Huskies to a bowl game. His team's expectations are sky-high entering 2025. A nine or 10-win breakthrough could lead to a big rise in these rankings. Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire 10. Sherrone Moore (Michigan Wolverines) Head Coaching Record: 8-5 (Michigan 2024-present) Analysis: Moore impressed during his first year in charge. Despite the Wolverines having one of the nation's worst passing offenses, which the head coach is accountable for, the team still reached eight wins, including late-season triumphs over Ohio State and Alabama. Five-star freshman Bryce Underwood arrives in Ann Arbor to fix that passing situation. If he does, Moore's profile could quickly rise. Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire 9. P.J. Fleck (Minnesota Golden Gophers) Head Coaching Record: 88-61 (Western Michigan 2013-16, Minnesota 2017-present) Analysis: Fleck is established as one of the Big Ten's more consistent head coaches. He's led the Gophers to bowl appearances in six straight non-COVID seasons, including a strong 8-5 2024 campaign. While the program's ceiling isn't quite CFP-level, its consistent winning under Fleck is above its typical baseline. That leads to a strong ranking. 8. Matt Rhule (Nebraska Cornhuskers) Head Coaching Record: 59-56 (Temple 2013-16, Baylor 2017-19, Nebraska 2023-present) Analysis: Rhule led Nebraska to its first bowl appearance since 2016 last season. Still, the team was far from stellar over the back half of the campaign, winning just one of its last six regular-season contests. Rhule will need to lead the Cornhuskers to a breakthrough 2025 campaign for him to keep this strong ranking. Former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola's play will decide that fate. Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire 7. Lincoln Riley (USC Trojans) Head Coaching Record: 81-24 (Oklahoma 2017-21, USC 2022-present) Analysis: Riley is one of many coaches who need a big 2025 season. USC is just 15-11 over the last two campaigns, including a 4-5 Big Ten record in its inaugural season in the conference. Riley is expected to deliver Heisman quarterbacks and annual CFP appearances. Anything less and he'll start to slide to the middle of the pack. Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire 6. Curt Cignetti (Indiana Hoosiers) Head Coaching Record: 30-6 (James Madison 2022-23, Indiana 2024-present) Analysis: Cignetti and his Indiana Hoosiers were the story of college football last season. 2025 will be about validating the program's position as a steady competitor in the Big Ten. While another 11-win season is a lot to expect, Cignetti needs to deliver a minimum of eight wins to keep the program's strong momentum. 5. Kirk Ferentz (Iowa Hawkeyes) Head Coaching Record: 204-124 (Iowa 1999-present) Analysis: Ferentz enters his 27th season leading the Hawkeyes. That is incredible longevity, especially considering the sport's drastic changes over the last decade-plus. He and the Hawkeyes continue to win amid those changes -- the program has not had a losing season since 2012 and hasn't won less than eight games in a non-COVID season since 2014. This No. 5 position should be renamed after Ferentz when his career finally concludes. Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire 4. Bret Bielema (Illinois Fighting Illini) Head Coaching Record: 125-80 (Wisconsin 2006-12, Arkansas 2013-17, Illinois 2021-present) Analysis: Bielema is back near the top tier of Big Ten coaches after a fantastic 2024 campaign, delivering Illinois its first 10-win season in 23 years. Winning at mid and bottom-tier programs is just as impressive as doing so at places with top-tier resources. Few coaches would be able to do what Bielema has done with the Illini. His standing near the top of the conference is clear, even if the team doesn't reach the CFP this season. 3. James Franklin (Penn State Nittany Lions) Head Coaching Record: 125-57 (Vanderbilt 2011-13, Penn State 2014-present) Analysis: Franklin finally broke through in 2024, leading Penn State to the doorstep of the national title game. Expectations are sky-high entering 2025, and rightfully so. The temperature surrounding Franklin's performance in big games has finally cooled. But Nittany Lions fans will still expect a further breakthrough. Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire 2. Dan Lanning (Oregon Ducks) Head Coaching Record: 35-6 (Oregon 2022-present) Analysis: Oregon's 2024 season should be viewed as a resounding success, even with the blowout loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks were the one Big Ten newcomer to excel, going 12-0 in the regular season and defeating Penn State in the conference title game. Lanning has established himself in the select top tier of coaches, where the year-in, year-out expectation is national contention. Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire 1. Ryan Day (Ohio State Buckeyes) Head Coaching Record: 70-10 (Ohio State 2018-present) Analysis: No other coach can headline this list after Day's run to the national title in 2024. He's now one of just three active college coaches with a national title under their belt, joining Georgia's Kirby Smart and Clemson's Dabo Swinney. Another deep run could start to bring Day into the conversation with those Tier 1 coaches. Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
Seven new sports documentaries are out. Here's how to watch them and what we want to see next
It's a (relatively) down period across the sports multiverse, but this week counters with documentary and series premieres in football, basketball and soccer. It will depend on what you're partial to or which streaming subscriptions you have, but there should be something for everyone on this slate. If not, we offer a few suggestions for the next projects that should be in the pipeline. Advertisement ESPN content is also available with an ESPN+ subscription. FXX content is also available via Hulu and Disney+. The series looks like a straightforward zoom-in on the 2024 SEC season — with footage from 10 of the conference's locker rooms and campuses, as well as access to their coaches and staff. It's from the producers of 'Formula 1: Drive to Survive' and 'Full Swing,' so we kind of know what we're getting already. They got a sufficiently hectic year to film, too. We'll probably get gems from the Vanderbilt and Tennessee madnesses to the SEC's first Lone Star Showdown. Our pitch in that same direction: The Big Ten has to be next, right? Behind-the-scenes stuff for Michigan-Ohio State would sell itself. Midwestern winter would earn the moody cinematography and music cues that usually go with these things. Bon Iver could be to Wisconsin football what Explosions in the Sky is to Texas football. An old-fashioned theatrical release, Jimmy Jenkins' movie chronicles the Alabama Crimson Tide, with the Bear Bryant and Nick Saban eras as tentpoles. It relives the long string of national championships, but the doc's website says that it also examines the program's relationship with the civil rights movement. It's executive produced by Marlon Humphrey, the current Baltimore Ravens All-Pro defensive back and Bama All-American in 2016. The preview teases interviews with Jalen Hurts, Ozzie Newsome, Ralph Stokes and many others. Our pitch in that same direction: A look back at Fred Milton, an Oregon State linebacker whose refusal to shave his mustache turned into a walkout and other protests. It's a decidedly late-60s moment that's still pertinent. If we're talking about overall surveys and history lessons, I'll take something on the fascinating and complicated USC Trojans. The 'reality sports' staple that also yielded an all-time battle cry for snackers everywhere. The Buffalo Bills are the featured team for this year's training camp iteration, and new episodes will air on HBO on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET. This summer's run is directed by Rochester native Pat Harris. Out in western New York, the vibes are good but the stakes are high — Josh Allen is the reigning MVP and the Bills have won their division five straight times. Buffalo pursues nothing short of a Super Bowl this year. The cameras will probably try to hover around James Cook's contract holdout, and we'll get to know the grinders and hustlers giving all they've got for a roster spot. Advertisement Our pitch in that same direction: The time machine is still in the shop, but we can have a good time thinking of the wildest 'Hard Knocks' candidates across history. Would the '90s Cowboys dynasty volunteer themselves for every season? My pick right now is the 'Legion of Boom' Seahawks as some sort of archival 'Hard Knocks' remix. Pete Carroll, Marshawn Lynch, Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson … an all-star cast for an expressionist classic. One of the most dominant hoopers of the 21st century gets a career retrospective. This three-episode drop looks at Diana Taurasi's trio of memorable runs. She was a three-time national champion and two-time Naismith Award winner for player of the year at UConn. She won three WNBA rings and two Finals MVPs with the Phoenix Mercury. And she led the women's national team to six Olympic gold medals across two decades of international play. The series is promoting interviews with Geno Auriemma, Sue Bird and Taurasi herself. Our pitch in that same direction: The WNBA's steady cultural rise opens the door for more big-screen work. I'm eager to revisit the Detroit Shock now that the league is adding an expansion team in the Motor City. The Shock set attendance records and drew more than 22,000 fans for one 2003 Finals game. They were coached by Nancy Lieberman in their early years and Bill Laimbeer in their championship ones. There's a cool story in there. In the spirit of 'Welcome to Wrexham,' with Tom Brady in the ownership role and Birmingham City FC as the renovated club. Five episodes cover the winding road from relegation to triumph. Also in the spirit of 'Welcome to Wrexham,' this time with Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac involved. Eva Longoria is the lead here, and the group tries to restore and recalibrate one of Mexico's oldest institutions. Club Necaxa (Liga MX) plays its matches in Aguascalientes, and the weekly series is bilingual. Advertisement Also … wait, really? … yes, also in the spirit of 'Welcome to Wrexham,' with Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa as new owners of Campobasso FC, a Serie C Italian club. Campobasso has been on the rise since 2022, and the four-part series is said to depict how league promotions impact both the players and their neighbors in Molise. Our pitch in that same direction: If this is the standard formula going forward, perhaps we can show some love to Minor League Baseball organizations. Teams all around the country are hyper-local and hilariously unique. They're also struggling for dignity and getting bought out en masse by private equity groups. Which celebrity wants to save the Modesto Nuts? Whoever it is, I'll tune in. Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Diana Taurasi: Elsa/Getty Images)
New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
2025 Heisman Trophy Fantasy Draft: LaNorris Sellers, Jeremiyah Love and 30 more picks for NYC
After Travis Hunter's historic Heisman Trophy victory came by the smallest margin since 2009, the conditions are ripe for another season full of surprises in the race for college football's highest individual honor. Will an up-and-coming passer start a new streak of quarterback Heisman winners, or will another electric playmaker emerge as the engine of a College Football Playoff contender and capture voters' attention? Advertisement The format of this annual preseason exercise remains the same: We arranged writers in a randomized snake draft order and gave them four rounds to take their pick of this season's Heisman candidates. In December, the writer whose four picks have totaled the most points earns 12 months of bragging rights. Our scoring system: Here was the randomized order of our snake draft: 1. Chris Vannini (last year's champion, who snagged Travis Hunter with the seventh pick and never looked back); 2. Ralph Russo; 3. Scott Dochterman; 4. Stewart Mandel; 5. Bruce Feldman; 6. David Ubben; 7. Manny Navarro; 8. Justin Williams. There's no obvious frontrunner for the trophy this season, but people may forget Klubnik had a great 2024 after being held out of the end zone in a season-opening loss to Georgia. Clemson brings back its top three receivers, two of whom were freshmen a year ago. A good Week 1 showing against LSU could put him atop the list early. — Chris Vannini My goal in my first year participating in the Heisman draft is to not finish last. Hence, Smith was No. 1 on my board. Yes, receivers have rarely won the Heisman. DeVonta Smith of Alabama in 2020 was the first receiver to win it since Desmond Howard of Michigan in 1991. Smith could be good enough to buck the trend, but more importantly, his combination of talent and name recognition makes him the most likely player in the country to at least be one of the four finalists. — Ralph Russo Well, here's a gift. You guys just left me with the presumptive favorite, and I'll gladly select him here. Manning has more hype than any player in years, and if he leads Texas past Ohio State in Week 1, he's got the September Heisman wrapped up. If the Longhorns take the SEC crown, then he wins and I win. — Scott Dochterman Advertisement Not gonna lie, I really wanted Jeremiah Smith. Kudos to you, Ralph. But Love has a lot to offer as well. He's the kind of player who makes highlights every week, like we saw in last year's CFP with his 98-yard run against Indiana and ridiculous short-yardage touchdown against Penn State. He plays for Notre Dame, so he'll be in big TV windows every week for a Playoff contender. But I do realize it's bucking recent history to take a running back. — Stewart Mandel I took Nussmeier last year too, and even though LSU has to replace four O-linemen, including top-five pick Will Campbell, expect Nussmeier to put up huge numbers this season. He's got terrific arm talent and playmaking ability, and he's got more speed at receiver than any team in the country. He's also really, really sharp. The Tigers should be a Playoff team this season, and even if Nussmeier doesn't bring home the hardware, I expect him to be a Heisman finalist. — Bruce Feldman Sellers closed 2024 in style, fueling wins over Missouri and Playoff-bound rival Clemson. The tools are obviously there; he looks like an NFL edge rusher. He can improve as a passer, but he put together a special freshman season to build off and has a ton of help around him. There's no ceiling for him this year, and South Carolina could surprise. Am I also influenced by his status as a near-deity on the College Football 26 video game? Who's to say? My colleague Bruce Feldman also wrote a tremendous story about him. If this pick goes poorly, I'm holding Bruce personally responsible. — David Ubben Two players drafted in our first round were not listed among the top 19 players in BetMGM's preseason odds to win the Heisman: Love and Arnold. My approach picking this late in the first round was to select an SEC quarterback with dual-threat ability and the potential to formulate a strong Heisman narrative as a program savior. Hugh Freeze's busy offseason on the golf course convinced me to take a chance on Arnold, who has multiple early road opportunities to put the Tigers' 5-7 2024 season behind them (Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas A&M) and a couple more chances after that to pull off big upsets at home (Georgia, Alabama). — Manny Navarro Allar didn't put up gaudy numbers in 2024, but he ranked top-20 nationally in passing yards, completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating, with a 24-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He does lose tight end and leading pass catcher Tyler Warren to the NFL, but Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton will split the vote at running back. If Allar can continue to improve and boost his numbers, and Penn State lives up to the hype, he could get some Heisman buzz. — Justin Williams Advertisement I'm betting on potential at the top of the second round. Mateer was the most coveted quarterback in the transfer portal, and he joins an Oklahoma offense in dire need of a refresh, along with Ben Arbuckle, his former OC at Washington State, as well as Cal transfer running back Jaydn Ott. Assuming the Sooners get better injury luck at receiver in 2025, Mateer could be the next Oklahoma QB to hoist the Heisman Trophy, and I will be crowned the Sam Presti of this draft. If this pick flops, Oklahoma has bigger problems. — Justin Williams Sometimes you just have to have faith in the voting system. Ducks quarterbacks Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel finished third in each of the last two Heisman races. Moore, a former five-star recruit from Michigan, has a cast of young unknown receivers who will have to step up with Evan Stewart injured. That should help Moore earn the bulk of the credit if Oregon ends up being really good again. His first real opportunity to make a Heisman statement comes Sept. 27 at Big Ten favorite Penn State. — Manny Navarro Apparently I'm building my team solely out of dual-threat quarterbacks with a ton of potential amid some skepticism. Lagway took over the starting job as a five-star true freshman last year and was a huge reason why Florida rallied late in the season, notching a pair of Top 25 wins to cool off Billy Napier's seat. The Gators are one of the biggest wild cards in the SEC, and their outlook will be closely tied to how much promise Lagway fulfills in his first full season as the starting quarterback. I'm buying stock. — David Ubben I was surprised Beck was still available here. Going into last season, he was the college QB NFL scouts were the highest on because of his quick release, accuracy and ability to read defenses. The Georgia offense struggled in 2024 without Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, but I think Beck is in for a bounceback this season. Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson will be a great fit for him, just like he was for Cam Ward. — Bruce Feldman I did not love the other options at this range, so why not go for broke? Although a true freshman has never won the Heisman, I don't see any reason it could not happen today. Underwood is already a well-known name due to his multimillion-dollar NIL deal funded by Larry Ellison of all people. Now he takes over a Michigan offense that had abysmal quarterback play last season. If he can lead a resurrection and get the Wolverines back in the CFP, he'll be in the mix. — Stewart Mandel It's time to jump on the Demond Williams hype train. He's got a Charlie Ward type of game to him, and I think Washington is the Big Ten's biggest sleeper. In the Sun Bowl, Williams threw for 374 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 48 yards and another score. Can he do that against Big Ten defenses? Yes, he can. — Scott Dochterman Last year, I picked Johnson to win the Heisman. Not wrong, just early! Dual-threat quarterbacks usually have the best path to the Heisman. If Johnson becomes a more consistent passer and leads Kansas State to a Big 12 title, I'm feeling good about him being in the mix. Also, I'm fully acknowledging that I could very much regret not taking Arizona State's Sam Leavitt. — Ralph Russo Advertisement Back for a second season leading the Sun Devils, with 1,100-yard wide receiver Jordyn Tyson returning, Leavitt should take another big step forward. He nearly led Arizona State to the CFP semifinal, and with Cam Skattebo gone, the offense will be on Leavitt's shoulders. — Chris Vannini Are you aware of the quarterbacks Jeff Brohm is getting to the NFL? I'm talking guys like David Blough, Aidan O'Connell and (second-round pick!) Tyler Shough. The USC transfer Moss is no less talented than the others, and with receivers like Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy back, Moss is going to put up big numbers for a team that could be a Top 25 outfit. — Chris Vannini Buckeyes quarterbacks have received a ton of Heisman love since Ryan Day arrived in Columbus as Urban Meyer's offensive coordinator in 2017, but it's been a couple of years since one finished in the top 10 in the voting. Sayin is a former five-star with a chance to be the next great Ohio State passer. I concede he'll have to be especially good just to be the leading Heisman contender on his own team over Smith. — Ralph Russo Some young quarterback is going to make a move, and the Pitt sophomore has the perfect schedule to do it, with the Backyard Brawl in mid-September, important ACC matchups against Louisville and Florida State by midseason and high-stakes games against Notre Dame and Miami in November. — Scott Dochterman If you believe Penn State could win the national title this year, then it makes sense to take a Nittany Lion — and Drew Allar was already taken. Singleton is a big-play guy that averaged 6.4 yards per carry last season and also scored five receiving touchdowns. Yes, he will be sharing carries with Kaytron Allen, but Singleton is the more consistent highlight producer. — Stewart Mandel People inside Alabama's program have been high on Simpson for a long while, and he has been patient for his time. It's here. He has an extremely talented O-line in front of him and one of the most dynamic wideouts in the nation in Ryan Williams. With offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb reuniting with Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide will put up points in bunches. — Bruce Feldman Dampier was special at New Mexico last season, despite not having much around him. He followed offensive coordinator Jason Beck to Utah and will play behind one of the nation's best offensive lines, as part of a proud program that should still be stout on defense and is modernizing its offense. It's a steal to grab the quarterback of my pick to win the Big 12. — David Ubben Advertisement Do we miss Nick Saban yet? It's hard to believe it took until the late third round for an Alabama player to come off the board. I still would've taken Williams ahead of Simpson if both were available. In my eyes, there's no guarantee Simpson will be the Tide's quarterback by season's end. But if Alabama is really good, Williams will play a huge role in it. Yes, he only had two 100-yard receiving games last year as a freshman, including the whopper against Georgia. But there's too much upside to pass up this late in the draft. — Manny Navarro A running back hasn't won the Heisman since Derrick Henry in 2015, but we've had a handful of top-five finishes since then and two runners-up, including Ashton Jeanty last year. Hughes ran for 1,400 yards and 15 TDs at Tulane in 2024, and he joins an Oregon offense with a less-experienced quarterback in Dante Moore. If the Ducks thrive, Hughes could be the catalyst. — Justin Williams I took the only defensive player in the draft. Travis Hunter won the award as a two-way standout, but Aidan Hutchinson and Will Anderson Jr. finished in the top five in 2021, and Chase Young was top-five in 2019, so there is a precedent for edge rushers being in the mix. Parker had 11 sacks in 2024 and is projected as a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Plus, he has a beast next to him in defensive tackle Peter Woods who should help clear some lanes to the quarterback and boost Parker's stats. — Justin Williams I was torn whether to select Georgia's quarterback or running back here – since no one had selected a player off the reigning SEC champions yet. I decided to go with Frazier because I think he's the player with more pro potential and preseason hype. He also has no proven commodity in the backfield to share the ball with this year after Trevor Etienne left for the NFL. Feels like a quality darkhorse bet to me. — Manny Navarro Call it faith in Lane Kiffin. He won a national championship with Jake Coker. Simmons showed a ton of potential in relief of Jaxson Dart last year, and Ole Miss has never ranked lower than 32nd in yards per pass attempt under Kiffin. They've finished in the top 10 three times. Simmons has a lot to prove, but I could do worse with a fourth-round flyer. If the Rebels are in SEC contention, he'll be in the mix. — David Ubben Raiola came in with a ton of hype as a true freshman and went through some expected growing pains, but I like the path he's on. The Huskers added some much-needed help at wideout in the portal after having almost no speed on offense last year, and Raiola has had a full offseason to work with coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who pared down the playbook. Holgorsen knows how to exploit defenses and to put points on the board. — Bruce Feldman I guess I've established a trend now by picking the guys with the biggest NIL deals. But I was extremely impressed with Mensah, then a redshirt freshman, when I watched Tulane's near-upset of Kansas State in Week 2 last year and followed him from there. I'd be lying if I said I have a great grasp of Duke's personnel, but Manny Diaz had a great first year. If Mensah is as advertised, he could bring a lot of attention to himself and the Blue Devils. — Stewart Mandel Advertisement Uh, oh, did Happy learn to putt? Iowa's offense could turn a similar corner if Mark Gronowski replicates what he did at South Dakota State. Gronowski won the FCS player of the year award in 2023, when he led the Jackrabbits to their second consecutive national title. Gronowski has thrown for 10,309 passing yards and 93 touchdowns and rushed for 37 scores. If Gronowski ties in some numbers with victories against Oregon or Penn State, he'll be in contention. — Scott Dochterman I would have felt like a hypocrite not taking Reed after writing about how he might be the most underappreciated quarterback in the SEC. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the other option. I'm surprised he went undrafted. — Ralph Russo Jennings emerged as a star last season, leading SMU to an undefeated ACC season and a CFP appearance. He'll have a new collection of skill players around him, but Jennings will also enter his first season in full possession of the starting job. — Chris Vannini (Illustration photos: Jacob Kupferman, Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
