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Highly Touted Playmaker Expected to Have Unfortunate Change of Heart on Georgia

Highly Touted Playmaker Expected to Have Unfortunate Change of Heart on Georgia

Yahoo3 days ago

Highly Touted Playmaker Expected to Have Unfortunate Change of Heart on Georgia originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Georgia Bulldogs have three wide receivers committed in the 2026 recruiting class. However, they may lose the most highly-regarded wideout.
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On3's Jake Rowe reported Friday that four-star receiver Vance Spafford is "unlikely to sign with the Bulldogs" despite giving the program a verbal commitment last November.
"The 5-foot-9 wideout is a west-coast kid who probably isn't going to leave the time zone," Rowe wrote. "That leaves Georgia, for now, with the well-rounded Ryan Mosley, who is a four-star prospect, and the explosive Brady Marchese, who is also a four-star."
"Georgia checks off some important boxes with those two guys."
Rowe focused on the positive -- the Bulldogs still have receivers Brady Marchese and Ryan Mosley committed for 2026.
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But based on the 247Sports rankings, Marchese and Mosley are just three-star prospects.
Spafford is the No. 12-ranked receiver in the 2026 class.
Georgia Bulldogs football head coach Kirby Smart© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
But recruiting experts have predicted that Spafford could back out of his commitment with Georgia.
On3's Chad Simmons reported on June 13 that the UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies were both trying to poach the receiver.
Rowe made no mention of any other specific programs. But UCLA and Washington are obviously on the west coast, which is where Rowe expects the receiver to play in college.
In addition to being the No. 12 receiver, Spafford is the 17th-ranked California prospect in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The wideout is also the No. 124 overall recruit in the class.
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Related: Coveted Playmaker Delivers Unclear Message on Georgia Ahead of SEC Visit
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

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Agyemang May Be The Answer To USMNT's Search For A Consistent Striker
Agyemang May Be The Answer To USMNT's Search For A Consistent Striker

Forbes

time31 minutes ago

  • Forbes

Agyemang May Be The Answer To USMNT's Search For A Consistent Striker

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 22: Patrick Agyemang #24 of the United States celebrates scoring during the ... More second half against Haiti during a 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group D match at AT&T Stadium on June 22, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images) In the U.S. men's national team's seemingly endless search for a No. 9 - aka a striker - the Americans hope they have found one in Patrick Agyemang. It's not just because he has scored five goals in nine appearances since making his international debut in January. It is also the way he performs on the pitch. He is hungry going forward and to score. Agyemang, 24, doesn't wait for the ball to be passed to him at his feet in the penalty area. He tries to make things happen, whether he is using his speed, soccer IQ or physicality. Case in point: In the USA's 2-1 victory over Haiti in its Group D finale in the Concacaf Gold Cup on Sunday, June 22, Agyemang was denied by goalkeeper John Placide in the 24th minute. In soccer, it is sometimes better to have amnesia and forget about the past and worry about the future. In the 75th minute, Agyemang had another opportunity. He latched onto a long feed from left back John Tolkin on the left flank. He raced into the penalty area and pulled Placide out of the net. Instead of ramming the ball into the empty goal, he put just enough momentum on it to roll safely into the lower right corner for what proved to be the game-winner and his second goal of the tournament. 'Me and John, we talked about that pass,' Agyemang told FOX Sports afterwards. 'He played the ball perfectly for me. Once I saw the keeper come on, compose yourself, take your time and around the goalkeeper, and once I got there, just finished.' According to OptaJack, Agyemang has scored five goals in his first nine international appearances, tying him Jozy Altidore for the sixth-fewest games needed to score five times for the USMNT. "Patrick is doing a fantastic job for the team," USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino said at the post-game press conference. "All that he gave to the team today and the previous games also, he's a fantastic striker. Still room to improve, but we are so happy with him." CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 24: Patrick Agyemang #33 celebrates with Wilfried Zaha #10 of ... More Charlotte FC after Agyemang's second goal of the match against the Columbus Crew at Bank of America Stadium on May 24, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by) An intriguing backstory Agyemang (pronounced Aaw-jee-mawn) has a great feel-good backstory, taking a path that not many national team players have followed. The son of Ghanaian parents, he began his college career at a Division III school - Eastern Connecticut State University. Most high-profile players will attend Division I schools right off the bat, climb through a club's academy or go to Europe at a relatively young age. The 6-foot-4, 196-lb. striker recorded 30 goals and added 10 assists in his first two seasons at Eastern Connecticut, while earning D-III All-American honors. He also was named Little East Conference player of the year as a sophomore. Agyemang transferred to the University of Rhode Island (Division I) and connected for 19 goals and 12 assists in his final two seasons as he wound up on the MAC Hermann Award Watch List. He was chosen by Charlotte FC as the 12th overall selection of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Not seeing much time with the first team (182 minutes total) as a rookie, Agyemang scored 10 goals in only a dozen matches for Crown Legacy FC (MLS NEXT Pro). With some seasoning and a year of professional soccer under his left, Agyemang enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in 2024, pacing Charlotte FC with 10 goals. Not many MLS teams can say that their top goal-scorer is a U.S. citizen. FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 18: Patrick Agyemang #7 of United States celebrates after scoring ... More the second goal of his team during an international friendly match between United States and Venezuela at Chase Stadium on January 18, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by) A memorable international debut Agyemang's production caught the eye of Pochettino, who called him into January camp and for a pair of international friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica. He acquitted himself well, scoring once in each of those contests. In his debut match against Venezuela on Jan. 18, Agyemang demonstrated how lethal he can be. A pass from Matko Miljevic was deflected into his path on the left flank. 'Once that ball breaks through, I'm like 1 v 1. My best position,' Agyemang said. 'I love it. I see the keeper come on. I step into it. I love getting the shot off my left foot. And I knew I was confident to strike it through." And into the back of the net in the 39th minute. 'I don't think many defenders like running with me, and I take advantage of it," he added. Four days later on Jan. 22, Agyemang came off the bench to give the Americans some 90th-minute insurance in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in Orlando, Fla. He became the 12th player to score in both of his first two USMNT caps, and the first since Ricardo Pepi in 2021. ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 22: Patrick Agyemang #7 of the United States dribbles the ball away from ... More Ryan Bolaños #6 of Costa Rica during the international friendly at Inter&Co Stadium on January 22, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Michael Pimentel/) It's Costa Rica on Sunday Agyemang and his teammates will face the Costa Ricans again, this time in Minneapolis in the Concacaf Gold quarterfinals on Sunday, June 29. This encounter, however, won't just a friendly but in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Gold Cup. 'The Gold Cup is a tough tournament,' Agyemang told FOX Sports. 'I think with our squad we know our quality, and as long as we put the effort and the heart into it, we let our play show.' Agyemang is far from perfect. He has struggled holding onto the ball and his passing isn't always spot on, which is important for someone with his height who also can be a target payer. So, he still has some work to do. The bottom line, however, for a striker is the top line of the scoreboard, a in putting the ball into the back of the net. The USMNT hasn't had two players who can put the ball away on a consistent basis since the Landon Donovan-Clint Dempsey era of more than a decade ago. They finished their national team careers with 57 goals apiece. Strikers and forwards, especially on the USMNT, can come and go, and run hot and cold, whether it is through injury, form or a coach's preference. Their prime-time years usually run from 22 to 30, although there are exceptions of the age spectrum (see Lionel Messi, who turned 38 on Tuesday, June 24, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, as two prime examples). AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: Ricardo Pepi #9 of the United States celebrates scoring during the ... More second half against Panama at Q2 Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images) The more, the better, up front As we have learned this year, strikers can live a fragile existence. Here are just five recent examples of their rollercoaster life: * Ricardo Pepi, 22, who has turned into a lethal presence for PSV Eindhoven (17 goals in 28 matches across all competitions. He was an obvious choice to play this summer but was sidelined with a serious knee injury in January. He hasn't played since. * Folarin Balogun, 23, was selected to the Gold Cup roster, but had to be pulled due to an ankle injury. He missed two months with a dislocated shoulder while performing for Monaco in French Ligue 1. * Josh Sargent, 25, who has filled the net for Norwich City in the English Championship (he tallied 15 goals this season), hasn't scored for the national team since a 4-0 win over Cuba in 2019. He didn't do much in the Concacaf Nations League in March and was left off the Gold Cup roster by head coach Mauricio Pochettino. * Haji Wright, 27, who connected for a goal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has an Achilles injury and he was sent home during the tournament. His next game will be for Coventry City later this summer. * Damion Downs, 20, also incurred an injury during the tournament and wasn't available as a substitute in the Haiti match. He competes for FC Köln in the Budesliga. Christian Pulisic, who is not playing in the Gold Cup, is a forward and the team's best attacking option. The A.C. Milan standout is much better suited as a player, not a target man, who can run at the opposition and set up teammates for assists or score goals himself. Besides, the more options Pochettino or any national team has up front, the better. To borrow a baseball phrase about pitching, you can never have enough dangerous forwards on your roster. On June 24, 2025, it is difficult to predict whether Agyemang, or any other No. 9 will be on the USMNT roster for next year's World Cup. It likely will come down to whether they are fit and in form, healthy and whether Pochettino feels like he is best suited for the team. So far, so very good for the Charlotte FC forward. If Patrick Agyemang can stay healthy, keep up his production for club and country and improve and hone his skills through the next year, we just might see him on the U.S. roster for the 2026 World Cup.

These 6 players are seeking a new NFL contract — will that boost their fantasy football performance in 2025?
These 6 players are seeking a new NFL contract — will that boost their fantasy football performance in 2025?

Yahoo

time37 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

These 6 players are seeking a new NFL contract — will that boost their fantasy football performance in 2025?

Special to Yahoo Sports An old fantasy football theory is that players perform better when they are heading into the last year of their contract. A couple of summers ago, the great Brandon Niles did an in-depth analysis of this phenomenon to assess if it held up — you can read it here. Today, I will be adding the information we know about the 2024-25 NFL season to that data in order to identify potential contract-year gems for this upcoming fantasy football season. Advertisement [Visit 4for4 for more fantasy football analysis] Recap: Does the contract-year bump exist? Here's a TLDR on what Brandon took away from looking at contract year data from 2015 to 2022: Quarterbacks: Younger quarterbacks heading into contract years tend to see a jump in production, while older contract-year quarterbacks do not as they are typically journeymen or close to the end of their careers. Running backs: Certain running backs have excelled in contract years, but situation and volume tend to be far better indicators of success than contract status. Wide receivers: Receivers experienced the biggest jumps in production during their contract years. Most successful contract-year receivers were in stable situations (safe depth chart position, continuity in the offense, etc.) Tight ends: There is a smaller sample size for tight ends compared to the other positions, but contract-year tight ends' success is more closely tied to opportunity than anything else. Overall, contract-year status isn't a stand-alone indicator of whether a player will be productive in fantasy or not. It is best used as a tiebreaker when deciding between two players to draft. Contract-Year Players from 2024 Quarterbacks Let's first take a look at how contract-year players performed last season to see if our rules still make sense. Note that in the tables below, I did not include players who were given a contract extension during the season (like Dak Prescott) or cut after the season ended (like Aaron Rodgers). Contract-Year QB Performance, 2024. (Chart by Darnold sticks out as a perfect contract year leap example. 2024 was essentially a make-or-break year for Darnold's career, as if he struggled as the Vikings' starter he likely would not have been a starting QB again. Instead, Darnold threw for over 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns as the overall QB9 in fantasy, and was rewarded with a 3-year, $100.5 million contract from the Seahawks in the offseason. Darnold fits nicely alongside Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones and other younger QBs who saved their careers in a contract year after a rough start. Wilson and Fields are a unique case because they split time together as the starter in Pittsburgh, but both of them played well enough in their reps to earn a deal as the starter elsewhere (Wilson with the Giants, Fields with the Jets). Running Backs Contract-Year RB Performance, 2024. (Chart by The 'middle class' of running backs in the NFL is in a weird spot. In years past, a player like Rico Dowdle would have been immensely rewarded for his 2024 breakout season. After entering the season with less than 400 career rush yards, Dowdle stepped up as the Cowboys' starting RB and ran for 1,079 yards, adding 249 through the air. But, Dowdle did not have much of a market at all in free agency, and signed just a 1-year, $6.25 million contract with the Panthers and will split time with Chuba Hubbard next season. Similarly, Najee Harris ran for 1,000 yards for the fourth consecutive year in his age-26 season, but only received a 1-year, $5.25 million contract from the Chargers, who went on to draft running back Omarion Hampton in the first round. Advertisement [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Because of the replaceability of running backs compared to other positions, teams have realized they are better off drafting an inexpensive rookie running back rather than paying a starter like Dowdle or Harris, who aren't elite. Moving forward, I think this means that contract-year running backs could become even more important to keep an eye out for, as several of them might truly be playing for their jobs as starters. Wide Receivers Contract-Year WR Performance, 2024. (Chart by It was a generally successful year for contract-year wideouts in 2024. Despite both of them tearing their ACLs halfway through the year, Chris Godwin and Stefon Diggs played well enough in limited time to earn multi-year deals in March. Higgins, after being on the franchise tag for two consecutive years, also put together a great season and earned a 4-year, $115 million extension with the Bengals. Godwin and Higgins' success reinforces the rule that contract-year WRs heavily benefit from situational stability. Advertisement On the flip side, DeAndre Hopkins, Diontae Johnson and Amari Cooper all struggled after moving teams at least once during the regular season. Tight Ends Contract-Year TE Performance, 2024. (Chart by It's hard to say that Conklin and Johnson really made a leap in their contract year, as their production is almost perfectly aligned with their prior expectations. As a whole, tight ends continue to be a difficult position to project contract-year leaps with, mainly because their breakout schedules are much more random than other positions. Potential Targets in 2025 Now, let's examine some players entering a contract year in 2025 and assess if they are potential candidates to make a leap and earn a lucrative new contract next spring. Advertisement As you might have expected, a lot of these names come from the 2022 NFL Draft class, as this will be their fourth season in the league. RBs: Breece Hall, Kyren Williams, Isiah Pacheco Hall and Williams are similar to me in that they have shown plenty of signs that they can be a top-10 running back in the league, but need to put it together for one more season to earn an extension. Hall and Williams will need to fend off younger players who are coming for their jobs, as Braelon Allen (4th round) and Blake Corum (3rd round) were all drafted with the intent to at least share time with the starter. Corum has shown less than Allen so I expect Williams to be safe and steady in fantasy once again, but I would not be surprised if Hall is traded during the season if he gets off to a slow start. Pacheco struggled last season and does not profile as an every-down starter, so I would not apply the running back contract bump rule to him. WRs: George Pickens, Deebo Samuel Sr. If I had to pick one player to experience the contract year leap this season, it would be Pickens. After getting traded to the Cowboys because the Steelers refused to give him the contract extension he desired, Pickens has a lot on the line in 2025. If he thrives in Dallas, he would be set up to receive a huge extension similar to Higgins' 4/115 number either from Dallas or another receiver-needy team in free agency. I absolutely love Pickens' fit with the Cowboys as the No. 2 next to CeeDee Lamb, and a healthy Dak Prescott should make this unit a top-10 offense at minimum. I would boost Pickens up in my rankings because of his contract status and actively pursue him in drafts. Advertisement Samuel is set to be a free agent in 2026 after getting traded from the 49ers to the Commanders in the offseason. This season will be a major inflection point for Samuel's career, as he has shown serious signs of decline playing through various injuries in 2023 and 2024. If Samuel can bounce back to something close to his 2021 form, it would extend the 29-year-old's career by at least a few more seasons. Samuel should slot in nicely as the No. 2 receiver next to Terry McLaurin in an electric Commanders offense, and there is also room for him to get touches as a running back as Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler aren't nearly as formidable threats as Christian McCaffrey was. Fully healthy for the first time in a while, Samuel is a great lottery ticket in fantasy this season who is worth applying the contract year boost to. TE: Kyle Pitts Pitts is a 2021 first-round pick who had his fifth-year option picked up, but we still aren't sure if he belongs as a starter in the league. For seemingly the fifth straight year, Pitts should be in a position to succeed in Atlanta. The Falcons' offensive upside as a whole is higher than previous years, with Michael Penix Jr. showing flashes in limited action last season, and Pitts could very well be the No. 2 or No. 3 option in the passing attack behind Drake London and Darnell Mooney. I fully understand being wary of Pitts after all the times he has hurt fantasy managers, but if there was ever a season to break out, it would be this one. Advertisement The Bottom Line Players entering the final year of their contract have mixed results in fantasy football. Generally, contract-year status should be used as a tiebreaker when deciding between two players instead of the end-all be-all deciding factor. Looking at 2024 data helped clarify the factors that go into a successful contract-year season. This year, there are several potential contract-year leaps to watch out for, namely from George Pickens, Deebo Samuel Sr., Breece Hall and Kyle Pitts. This story originally appeared in its full form on

Sporting JAX announce International Women's Soccer Series, facing Wrexham AFC and Hibernian FC
Sporting JAX announce International Women's Soccer Series, facing Wrexham AFC and Hibernian FC

Yahoo

time37 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Sporting JAX announce International Women's Soccer Series, facing Wrexham AFC and Hibernian FC

Sporting Club Jacksonville will participate in two international preseason matches as part of the inaugural International Women's Soccer Series. On August 2, Sporting JAX will welcome reigning Scottish Women's Premier League champions, Hibernian FC Women, to UNF's Hodges Stadium. Advertisement 'This preseason series of matches is not just about preparing to compete; it's about honoring our roots and stepping onto the global stage,' says Sporting JAX President and CEO Steve Livingstone. 'Hosting Hibernian FC Women is especially meaningful as we pay tribute to the late Ron Gordon, a beloved friend, mentor, and one of our founding investors. Ron's leadership revitalized Hibs and helped bring Sporting JAX to life. This match is dedicated to him and the Gordon family.' On August 10, Sporting JAX will host Wrexham AFC Women, the Welsh club owned by 'Deadpool' actor Ryan Reynolds and 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' actor Rob McElhenney. Wrexham's story gained notoriety thanks to the popular FX docuseries 'Welcome to Wrexham.' 'We're also thrilled to welcome Wrexham AFC Women to the First Coast, a club whose story has captured hearts and headlines around the world,' says Livingstone. 'Their story has ignited incredible energy for the sport and introduced new fans to the women's game, especially here in the U.S. They're the perfect preseason opponent as we introduce Jacksonville's first professional women's sports team to the community and world.' Sporting JAX says both matches are part of Sporting JAX's 16-game season ticket package, along with 14 regular season home games. Fans who already bought season tickets will automatically receive tickets to the games. Single-game tickets for the two international friendlies are on sale now. Fans can also purchase a combined two-game 'Euro Pack.'

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