USC football countdown to kickoff—Drake London in focus
Position: Wide receiver
Years played at USC: 2019-2021
Career highlights: Despite entering a crowded USC receiver room featuring Michael Pittman Jr., Tyler Vaughns, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Velus Jones Jr., London earned immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2019. He finished that season with 39 catches for 567 yards and three touchdowns. In the COVID-shortened season the following year, he caught 33 passes for 502 yards and three scores in just six games.
As a junior in 2021, London became the Trojans' go-to option in the passing game. He came out on fire and appeared to be on his way to breaking numerous USC receiving records, before an ankle injury against Arizona sadly ended his season prematurely. Despite playing just 7.5 games, London racked up 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. For his performance, he was named the Pac-12 offensive player of the year.
After USC: Following USC's 2021 season, London declared for the 2022 NFL Draft, where the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the eighth overall pick. After two solid seasons in his first two years in the league, London broke out in 2024. He finished last season with 100 catches for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns.
London enters the 2025 season as one of the top young receivers in the NFL. He should once again be the go-to option for Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. this fall.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
a few seconds ago
- New York Times
Why Chelsea are not inclined to sign a new centre-back this summer
Enzo Maresca says he thinks Chelsea need a new centre-back to replace the injured Levi Colwill — but don't expect them to sign one this summer. 'You know how important Levi was last season, for the way we want to play,' Chelsea's head coach said in a press conference at Cobham on Friday. 'We said many times that we can create chances and to attack in the right way, if we can build in the right way. Levi was a huge part of our build-up and now he is out. 'We are trying to find a solution internally, but the club knows exactly what I think and we will see what happens. I think we need a central defender.' Maresca's comments jarred with last week's Transfer DealSheet, which reported that Chelsea are not inclined to panic following the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear Colwill sustained in training at Cobham that is expected to sideline him for most of this season. They feel no urgent need to go into the transfer market to find a replacement for the 22-year-old. Advertisement Sources at Chelsea, speaking anonymously to The Athletic, confirm their stance has not shifted. Three main factors inform the decision: confidence in the depth that has been amassed in this squad, a lack of suitable options available in this window, and full faith in Maresca and his coaching staff to work with and improve the talent at his disposal. Let's look at each of the three in turn. There is a strong belief within the Chelsea hierarchy that they have built the deepest squad in the Premier League, and centre-back might be its deepest position. Of the 10 senior defenders Maresca has competing for four starting spots, only Malo Gusto is not adapted to playing in a back three — which is what the defensive line becomes when the team is in possession. Not all of the other nine are suitable for the specific role Maresca is discussing: that of the central defender in the back three, who generally has more responsibility for progressing the ball in his system. Colwill is superb in that role, highly adept at punching low, pinpoint passes through the opposition lines into the feet of the Chelsea midfielders or attackers in front of him. Tosin Adarabioyo is the other player Maresca leaned on heavily in this position last season, often playing in the middle of Chelsea's back three in the Conference League as well as in specific Premier League games when Colwill was deployed further left and Marc Cucurella was pushed up. 'We build with Levi in the middle,' Maresca added. 'Last year, we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin. 'Now Levi is out, the only one who can do that job well is Tosin. Also, we have players who, unfortunately, like Wesley Fofana or Benoit Badiashile, have some problems and this is why I said that the club knows exactly what I think about central defenders.' Advertisement Badiashile has demonstrated the ability to progress the ball from central defence at times in his rollercoaster Chelsea career. In many respects, the 24-year-old has a similar profile to Colwill. He may be the best like-for-like replacement in the squad when fit, but there are also people at the club who believe 19-year-old Josh Acheampong can do that job if given more opportunities and experience. Aaron Anselmino also knows how to play in the middle of a back three from his time at Boca Juniors. At this early stage of his career, the 20-year-old is understandably at the bottom of Chelsea's depth chart in defence, but he could still be used as a bench option at some point during a long season if he impresses Maresca in training. The other senior defenders available to Maresca — Cucurella, Jorrel Hato, Trevoh Chalobah and club captain Reece James — are viewed as being better suited to defending the wide spaces on the left or the right of the back three. That leaves Tosin, Badiashile and Acheampong as realistic Colwill deputies. Second, there is the market. Which centre-backs are actually available for Chelsea to sign this summer and good enough to be considered upgrades on their depth options? Dean Huijsen was one, and Chelsea were prominent among the Spain international's suitors in May until he made it clear he wanted to join Real Madrid. Marc Guehi's situation at Crystal Palace remains unresolved, making him perhaps the most obvious name. He was monitored closely in January but that was with a view to deploying him on the left of the back three, where he has played at times for Palace and England. Ibrahima Konate, another defender set to be a free agent in 2026, has been linked with Chelsea in recent days, but he is more of a wide centre-back than a central ball progressor. Despite the reputation they have earned for recruiting aggressively and on a large scale, Chelsea are wary of panic buying. The almost total player overhaul that began in January 2023 has been done, the squad is regarded as being in a strong position and the bulk of the club's recruitment now is either long-term investment in elite potential or targeted tweaks to the first-team squad, rather than major surgery. Advertisement One cautionary example from recent Chelsea history is Axel Disasi. Signed for around €45million (£38m; $49.2m) from Monaco in August 2023, shortly after Fofana tore his ACL, he was immediately deemed unsuitable for Maresca's style of football on the Italian's appointment the following summer and is now one of several players the club are looking to offload. The risk of overreacting to Colwill's injury and making a similar error in this summer's market is considerable, particularly with no obvious target to pursue. In a scenario where a more obscure replacement could be found, even their success would create a problem once Colwill returns to fitness. His performance level and his personality within the squad merit him remaining a key piece of their long-term planning, in spite of this setback. Chelsea's determination to hold to the long view also extends to Mamadou Sarr, who was loaned back to Strasbourg to continue his development following a €14m transfer from the other club under the BlueCo umbrella in June. There is huge excitement about the 19-year-old's potential to play any of the roles in Maresca's defensive line and he could be ready to do so as soon as next season. What happens when Colwill returns to fitness is probably not foremost in Maresca's mind, and nor should it be. He is a head coach who is judged on his results, and everything he says and does should be viewed within that prism. He is also under no obligation to disclose the motives behind his words. Could he be trying to motivate the other defenders in his squad? Could he simply be trying to manage the expectations of fans dreaming of a Premier League title tilt? In any case, Chelsea made a long-term commitment to Maresca and his style of football by handing him a five-year contract on his appointment last summer. The early returns on that decision — a top-four finish that secured Champions League qualification plus two trophies, the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup — have been hugely encouraging. Advertisement Maresca is regarded by the Chelsea hierarchy as a talented coach capable of delivering results while also developing the talent in the Premier League's youngest squad. In his comments on Friday, the Italian also mentioned that he and his staff are 'trying to find a solution internally' to Colwill's absence. All signs point to that being the path in what remains of August and beyond. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What channel is Raiders vs 49ers game on today? Start time, NFL preseason schedule, how to watch
Week 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason continues with the San Francisco 49ers traveling to Allegiant Stadium to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. Here's what you need to know about how to watch the Raiders vs. the 49ers, the NFL Preseason Week 2 schedule, and more. 2025 NFL season record AI predictions: Win-loss picks for all 32 teams What time does Las Vegas Raiders-San Francisco 49ers NFL preseason game start tonight, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025? When is 49ers-Raiders football game today? The San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders will play at 1:05 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. Watch 49ers-Raiders preseason action with Fubo What channel is San Francisco 49ers vs Las Vegas Raiders on tonight, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025? How to watch NFL preseason Week 2 football game today The San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders will air on NFL Network and local TV stations at 1:05 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, on the following local TV stations: How to watch Raiders vs 49ers: Nevada TV channel Here is where to watch the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders game locally, according to KVVU, FOX5 (Las Vegas) KNSN 21, (Reno) How to watch Raiders vs 49ers: California TV channel Here is where to watch the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders game locally, according to KGET, NBC17 (Bakersfield) KRON, CW4 (Bay Area) KTLA, CW5 (Los Angeles) How to watch Raiders vs 49ers: Utah TV channel Here is where to watch the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders game locally, according to KTVX, ABC4 (Salt Lake City) How to watch 49ers at Raiders: California TV channel Here is where to watch the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders game locally, according to KPIX CBS5 (San Francisco) Watch the NFL free on Fubo How to stream NFL preseason Raiders vs 49ers football game tonight, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. Where to watch 49ers-Raiders game today The San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders will stream on NFL+ at 1:05 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. Fans can download NFL+ in the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Watch Raiders vs. 49ers with a Fubo free trial When do 2025 NFL regular season games start? What date is NFL regular season opening game? 2025 Las Vegas Raiders preseason schedule 2025 Las Vegas regular season schedule 2024 Las Vegas Raiders regular season record : 4-13 2025 San Francisco 49ers preseason schedule 2025 San Francisco 49ers regular schedule 2024 San Francisco 49ers regular-season record : 6-11 2025 NFL preseason TV schedule: How to watch every national preseason game Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. 2025 NFL preseason team schedules: complete team-by-team schedule of games AFC East: Buffalo Bills − Schedule | Miami Dolphins − Schedule | New England Patriots − Schedule | New York Jets − Schedule AFC North: Baltimore Ravens − Schedule | Cincinnati Bengals − Schedule | Cleveland Browns − Schedule | Pittsburgh Steelers − Schedule AFC South: Houston Texans − Schedule | Indianapolis Colts − Schedule | Jacksonville Jaguars − Schedule | Tennessee Titans − Schedule AFC West: Denver Broncos − Schedule | Kansas City Chiefs − Schedule | Los Angeles Chargers − Schedule | Las Vegas Raiders − Schedule NFC East: Dallas Cowboys − Schedule | New York Giants − Schedule | Philadelphia Eagles − Schedule | Washington Commanders − Schedule NFC North: Chicago Bears − Schedule | Detroit Lions − Schedule | Green Bay Packers − Schedule | Minnesota Vikings − Schedule NFC South: Atlanta Falcons − Schedule | Carolina Panthers − Schedule | New Orleans Saints − Schedule | Tampa Bay Buccaneers − Schedule NFC West: Arizona Cardinals − Schedule | Los Angeles Rams − Schedule | San Francisco 49ers − Schedule | Seattle Seahawks − Schedule Complete 2025 NFL preseason schedule: every team's games, full TV lineup Complete 2025 NFL regular season schedule: every team's games, full TV lineup Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Where to watch 49ers-Raiders game tonight live: Time, NFL preseason schedule
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Anthony Richardson Sr., Daniel Jones both have good moments as Colts QB competition continues
If the Indianapolis Colts are truly undecided about their starting quarterback, each candidate gave them something to think about in Saturday's preseason game. Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson Sr. both had some good moments against the Green Bay Packers. Jones started and had more than 100 passing yards in the first quarter. Richardson came on after that and did something that Jones couldn't do, which was take the Colts in for a touchdown. Richardson got the first start last week. Jones started this week, showing that the Colts feel it's a true competition. Richardson was always considered the favorite because of his upside and draft pedigree, but Jones has looked fairly good in preseason, and Richardson's limitations as a passer have not all gone away. Still, if Richardson had any edge in the competition, his performance on Saturday had to help. Richardson looked comfortable working with the Colts' backups. He hit Andrew Ogletree downfield for 21 yards, then Ashton Dulin down the sideline on the next play for 18. On a third-and-9, after an offensive penalty, Richardson showed off his running skills. He scrambled up the middle and Packers linebacker Isaiah Simmons had a shot at the tackle. But Richardson shoved him off and kept pushing ahead for 9 yards. The Colts know Richardson can run, but it was a reminder of the athleticism that made him the fourth pick of the NFL Draft in 2023. Richardson's best play didn't count. He had a third-and-2, fought through a sack attempt and threw deep to Anthony Gould. Gould made a nice catch for what looked like a 38-yard gain, but it was called back due to an offsides penalty on the offense. On the next play Richardson took a sack and the drive was over. Richardson had his issues too. He had a very poor throw to an open DJ Giddens out of the backfield that was incomplete, and a pass to the end zone that probably shouldn't have been made because his intended receiver was well covered, and he sailed it way too high and out of the end zone anyway. It was far from a perfect performance by Richardson, but Richardson isn't a perfect quarterback. He did show his playmaking ability and had some nice throws, which will make an impression on the coaches. At halftime he was 6 of 11 for 73 yards and his numbers would have looked much better if the 38-yard pass wasn't wiped out due to a penalty. A week after his misread led to a huge hit on a sack and a dislocated right pinkie finger, it was a much more positive day for Richardson. He came out after the first half, as Riley Leonard took over at quarterback. Jones ran the offense well, which shouldn't be a big surprise. He has plenty of experience. In the first quarter he completed 7-of-10 passes for 101 yards. He had some nice throws, like an easy 22-yard gain to Michael Pittman Jr. on the sideline and an accurate pass that rookie first-round pick Tyler Warren caught in stride for 25 yards. The Colts scored only three points in Jones' two drives but he mostly looked good. He hasn't done anything in the preseason to lose ground in the competition, though he doesn't have the ceiling that Richardson has. He'd be the safer choice for the Colts to start the season, if the coaching staff is looking for that. Colts coach Shane Steichen said this week he wanted to have a decision on his Week 1 starter "sooner rather than later" though he didn't have a timetable for making a decision. He said he didn't think there was a leader in the race and Saturday's game would be a big factor in the race. It doesn't seem like an obvious call, even after Saturday's game.
