Pete Crow-Armstrong dazzles once again as Cubs add to NL Central lead
CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong heard more thunderous chants of 'P-C-A!' and 'M-V-P!'
He is still getting used to the adulation.
'I'm still kind of new to the ovations and whatnot. I don't quite know how to respond all the time,' a sheepish Crow-Armstrong said.
Looks like he might get some practice this year.
In one memorable inning on a warm Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, Crow-Armstrong added another pair of dazzling plays to his breakout season with the Chicago Cubs — one that almost certainly will include the All-Star Game next month in Atlanta.
First, he robbed Milwaukee's Brice Turang with a diving catch in center for the second out of the eighth. Then he led off the bottom half of the inning with a 452-foot drive off the scoreboard in right for his team-high 19th homer, sparking another round of 'P-C-A!' chants from the crowd.
'That's why we come to the ballpark, to see things like that,' Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, 'to see great players do amazing things. Pretty cool.'
He also had his teammates shaking their heads in almost disbelief once again.
'Every game he plays is like two games for a normal person, just with how hard he plays,' pitcher Ben Brown said.
Turang's liner off Caleb Thielbar had an exit velocity of 90.1 mph and looked as if it was ticketed for the grass in left-center. But Crow-Armstrong sprinted over and gloved the ball as he dove and tumbled over before scrambling to his feet.
Thielbar just grinned as he took the play in from near the mound.
'He's playing at as high of a level as I've seen a center fielder play,' Counsell said.
After Caleb Durbin struck out swinging for the final out of the Milwaukee eighth, Crow-Armstrong walked to the plate to face Rob Zastryzny. He drove the first pitch from the veteran left-hander — an 85.5 mph cutter at the top of the strike zone — deep into the night.
It had a 111.5 mph exit velocity, and it was the longest of Crow-Armstrong's 29 career home runs.
'Didn't feel anything,' he said of the swing on the massive drive.
Crow-Armstrong, 23, was selected by the New York Mets in the first round of the 2020 amateur draft. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in the Javier Báez deal in July 2021.
He made his major league debut in 2023, going 0 for 14 in 13 games. He had a rough June last year before finding his form. He batted .289 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in his last 57 games in 2024.
Crow-Armstrong has carried over that success into this year. He also leads the Cubs with 52 runs scored and 23 steals, and he ranks second to Seiya Suzuki with 58 RBIs.
When the first batch of All-Star fan voting was announced on Monday, Crow-Armstrong had the highest total for NL outfielders at more than 1.1 million. The All-Star voting, along with the 'P-C-A!' and 'M-V-P!' chants he heard once again, well, Crow-Armstrong was taking it all in as best he could.
'It's so personable and it just feels super real and cool,' he said.
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft preview: What kind of player can they find with the No. 47 pick?
The NBA Draft is only seven days away and the Milwaukee Bucks have a selection to make. That pick at No. 47 is in the back half of the second round, but it is still an opportunity for the Bucks to, potentially, add a talented player on a cheap contract. This year's NBA Finals features a lot of lottery picks and first-round selections at the top of each roster, but nine second-round picks or undrafted players — Thomas Bryant, Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Isaiah Hartenstein, T.J. McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams — are among the 20 players who have played at least 25 minutes in the first five games of the series. Advertisement It may take years for a player drafted in the second round to realize his full potential or find his way to a contributing role in the NBA, but this pick isn't just a throwaway, so let's take a closer look at the Bucks and the No. 47 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. When talking about the draft, it's important to set proper expectations. That means this exploration will start with Seth Partnow's essential piece of analysis on the outcome of recent drafts, a piece I've often referred to as 'The Dream Killer.' Some quick thoughts: Let's start with the dream killer, @SethPartnow. — Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) July 30, 2021 First, it's important to recognize that the most likely outcome for any player drafted is not becoming a successful NBA player. At the very top, it is more likely that players will find success in the NBA, but that likelihood dwindles as you get deeper into the draft. With the 47th pick, the Bucks' chances of finding a contributor are low. According to Partnow's analysis from a few years back, a player selected between 40 and 50 turns into a rotation player roughly 10 percent of the time. Low odds, however, do not make it impossible for the Bucks to develop a rotation player from the 47th pick. It will require a strong plan and the right selection, but the Bucks can turn this pick into a contributor on a rookie contract, which, with the new collective bargaining agreement, is something that has grown in importance. However, even if the Bucks are successful in finding a hidden gem in the second round's back half, that player may not end up contributing much if the team is able to make the postseason next year. Per Stathead, only 75 rookies have played at least 10 minutes per game as a rookie in the postseason across the last 10 seasons and only 17 of those players were second-round picks. It's worth noting the Bucks played two of those second-round rookies (Malcolm Brogdon in 2017 and Andre Jackson Jr. in 2024) in the playoffs. Advertisement Recent changes to policies regarding Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) in college sports have had a profound effect on the draft, especially at the end of the first and the start of the second round. Before the changes, remaining in the draft was the best way for underclassmen who were borderline first-round draft picks to make money the next season. Even if there was some risk in dropping into the second round, those players would still end up being NBA players. Now, some of those underclassmen can just stick around in college for another year and have an opportunity to make more money than they might on a non-guaranteed contract as a second-round pick. Even some of the international prospects who often dotted the late first round and early second are now taking big NIL offers from colleges around the country as their first move to the United States to play basketball. Those changes mean the prospect pool is much different. As you're going to see as we cycle through some of the prospects, many of these players are going to have played at least four years of college basketball, often at multiple schools. Fewer players are like lottery tickets and more players are likely closer to their ceilings. That reality takes away some of the chances the Bucks could take a big swing, but also older prospects may be more prepared to make an impact earlier in their rookie contracts and that will take on increased importance in the new collective bargaining agreement. For this exercise, we're highlighting players exclusively from Tier 7 (players 37-54) in Sam Vecenie's 2025 NBA Draft Guide. (While we're here, you should go read it or maybe skim it and skip around to prospects you enjoy because it's 198 pages long. The amount of work Sam puts into it is outrageous. He is the best in the business.) Advertisement There may be prospects you enjoy more in Tier 6 who you think could fall to the Bucks or Tier 7 prospects you prefer to the ones I've highlighted or even Tier 8 players who you think have gone overlooked, but these are the 10 prospects, presented in the order they appear in the draft guide, that stood out in that tier. Martin's highlight reel is full of incredible dunks, which should come as no surprise considering Martin posted a 38-inch vertical at this year's NBA Draft combine. Many of those dunks happened because of a strong defensive effort from Martin. Throughout their national championship run, Florida was able to lock down opposing offenses and Martin was a big part of that, bringing tough on-ball defense and smart rotations off the ball. He stands just 6 feet, 2 inches tall, but his 6-foot-7 wingspan allowed him to compete against bigger players and get deflections. Plus, he can navigate screens. OH MY GOODNESS ALIJAH MARTIN POSTER 😱#MarchMadness @GatorsMBK — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025 Questions for Martin, however, pop up on the other end of the floor, where his role on an NBA team is more difficult to ascertain from his college resume. Despite being the size of a point guard, Martin played off-ball with Walter Clayton Jr. running the show for the Gators. Martin knocked down only 35 percent from 3 on 5.9 attempts per game, but he did take several attempts off the dribble and off movement in his lone season at Florida. He's not a true point guard, which could be a problem for a lot of teams. But Milwaukee might not have a problem with it — if Martin can defend up the ladder positionally — because of the presence of a non-traditional playmaker in Antetokounmpo. UP TOP to Yanic Konan Niederhauser ‼️ @PennStateMBB #B1GMBBall on @BigTenNetwork 📺 — Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) February 19, 2025 As you can see in the video above, Niederhauser is a massive human and quite athletic. The Swiss big man does not have the offensive skill set of big men the Bucks have typically targeted with Antetokounmpo on the roster, but if Niederhauser is only asked to play 10-15 minutes per game at the start of his career, Jericho Sims showed that the Bucks can probably make that work with an elite defensive effort. While Niederhauser racked up 2.3 blocks per game at Penn State this past season, there are still some questions surrounding how well he was defending. His elite athletic testing at the combine — 37-inch vertical, elite shuttle run score — suggests there is more to be mined on that end. There also is still some question of whether he can unlock it at the next level. Offensively, he should be able to successfully fill the role as a rim-running big almost immediately upon entering the NBA. Because of a knee injury that forced him to miss an entire college season and the bonus COVID year awarded to college players, Williams is an old NBA draft prospect, but that shouldn't necessarily take away from his attractiveness to the Bucks. Brice Williams dropped 30 for @HuskerMBB in their @CBBCrown win 👑#B1GMBBall — Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) April 1, 2025 Williams was asked to do everything at Nebraska this season and he did the job at a high level, averaging 20.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while still shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3. He made 88.3 percent at the free-throw line and made 38.6 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s during his two seasons at Nebraska. Williams also made 60.3 percent of his shots at the rim in half-court settings. Advertisement He was a well-rounded offensive player, so there should be plenty of avenues for him to make an impact offensively at the next level, if he can scale down his offense to a role where he doesn't have the ball in his hands all the time. Williams has a big 6-foot-10 wingspan and typically gave a strong effort on the defensive end, but it will be interesting to see what he can do as a role player in the NBA. To survive and thrive, he needs to be able to make a difference on defense while playing well off of stars on offense. While Williams did his work in a variety of ways offensively, Lanier's offensive game is built around elite 3-point shooting. Chaz Lanier was getting BUCKETS in No. 1 Tennessee's win over No. 23 Arkansas 🪣 29 PTS | 10-20 FG — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 4, 2025 Lanier was one of the best catch-and-shoot players in the NCAA this past season. The fifth-year guard knocked down 40.5 percent on 242(!) catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts on his way to averaging 18 points per game in his lone season with the Volunteers. He can knock down shots from a standstill, on relocation and off movement; it didn't really matter for Lanier as he put up one of the best 3-point shooting seasons in college basketball. His 3-point shooting will be how he could eventually make a living in the NBA, but his frame with a 6-foot-9 wingspan suggests that he can survive on the other end at the next level if he can build the right habits. In his only season with Georgetown — his third team in five college seasons — Peavy served as the Hoyas' offensive leader, averaging 17.2 points and 3.6 assists per game. He had the best 3-point shooting season of his college career, knocking down 40 percent on 4.1 attempts from deep per game, but he spent his first four seasons in college as a non-threat behind the 3-point line. At Georgetown, Peavy had the ball in his hands a lot and he produced, knocking down 3s and shooting a solid 43.2 percent on midrange jumpers. But this season was an outlier. MICAH PEAVY HITS A LATE WINNER FOR GEORGETOWN 🔥 (via @CBBonFOX) — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 21, 2025 Also an outlier? Peavy's ability on the defensive end. Per Stathead, Peavy was just one of 19 players in Division I men's basketball to average at least 2.3 steals per game in 2024-25. While Peavy does not have a huge wingspan (6-foot-7.25), he was massively disruptive on the defensive end, jumping passing lanes and getting into the space of opposing stars. If he can be a disruptive, physical defender and switch across multiple positions in the NBA, he will give himself a chance to prove what he can do on the offensive end. Advertisement After making the move to VCU from Utah State with head coach Ryan Odom, Shulga knocked down 40.2 percent from 3 over the last two seasons. Like Lanier, Shulga's offensive game is built around his impressive 3-point shooting, but the Ukrainian guard showcased far more off the dribble as the lead guard for VCU. Shulga used the threat of his shot to create advantages for himself and work into the in-between spaces of the defense, which allowed him to average 4.0 assists per game this season as he probed defenses with a tight handle. Max Shulga makes contested step back threes look easy 😳 @VCU_Hoops — CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 16, 2025 Those offensive skills should allow him to be a threat as a spot-up shooter at the next level with the possibility of also working some in the pick-and-roll game with strong screeners, but that remains to be seen. Shulga only has a 6-foot-5.75 wingspan, so he doesn't have great size and there are questions about his athleticism, which means Shulga has to prove himself defensively in the NBA to avoid becoming a regular target for teams looking to attack the weak link. Like a couple of the players already on this list, Brea is a knockdown 3-point shooter and he may be able to stake a claim to being the best shooter in the entire draft. He shot 43.5 percent from deep on 5.9 attempts per game this season, his lone year at Kentucky. He also hit 49.8 percent on 6.1 attempts per game in the 2023-24 season at Dayton. Brea knocked down 3s in every situation imaginable last season, which should give him an elite skill at the NBA level next season. Koby Brea poured it in from deep 🎯 He knocked down a career-high 7 threes in the W over No. 6 Florida 🔥 @KentuckyMBB — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 4, 2025 Over the last five seasons, though, we've seen the NBA game evolve. Consistently hitting from deep isn't enough to guarantee a rotation spot because opponents can effectively run specialists off the 3-point line and take advantage of them on defense. That is where the questions arise for Brea. His wingspan is only 6-foot-6 and he doesn't possess much of a game off the dribble. Defensively, he might not possess the requisite size or speed to survive at the next level. So, while he might be the best shooter in the draft, there will be a lot he needs to improve to find a place in the NBA. Standing 7 feet tall with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Goldin has legitimate size to be an NBA center. He used that size well at Michigan, averaging 16.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game to earn First Team All-Big Ten honors in his only season with the Wolverines. While his might not be the most popular skill set in the modern game, Goldin was a powerful post player and exhibited strong touch around the basket. Unlike Niederhauser, his offensive game was built more around skill and touch than explosive rim running, but that touch likely won't extend out to the 3-point line at the start of his NBA career. Vlad Goldin was GOLDEN tonight in Westwood ⭐️ His career-high 36 PTS led No. 24 Michigan to the road W over No. 22 UCLA 🫡 — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 8, 2025 While it was difficult for other players to score on him around the rim in Michigan's elite defense, Goldin blocked only 1.4 shots per game and part of that is because of a lack of quick-twitch athleticism. That may end up being a problem for Goldin at the next level. Because of his relative lack of athleticism and quickness, he will almost certainly need to be elite at the footwork and reads that go along with being a drop big in pick-and-roll coverage and it's unclear if he can do that. After two seasons as a rotation player in a more limited role at Gonzaga, Sallis transferred to Wake Forest and starred for the Demon Deacons. He averaged at least 18 points and 2.5 assists per game in each of the last two seasons, but his 3-point shooting fluctuated greatly. In his junior season, Sallis knocked down 40.5 percent on 5.4 3-point attempts per game, but his 3-point percentage dropped to 27.7 percent on 4.8 3-point attempts in his senior season. While Sallis struggled with his 3-point shooting, he has remained consistent with his midrange jumper at Wake Forest and used it as a weapon as a pick-and-roll ballhandler. 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞: 🎩 Hunter Sallis, @WakeMBB 🔗 — ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) January 20, 2025 All of the questions for Sallis at the next level deal with his size. When he went to the combine last season, he weighed 179 pounds. This year at the combine, he only weighed 181 pounds. If he is unable to put more weight on his frame, it is tough to see how he is going to keep a consistent place on an NBA roster, as he won't be able to play through contact on offense and he'll struggle to find players to defend. (For reference, think of Isaiah Joe — 6 feet 5, 181 pounds — trying to find a place in this year's NBA Finals.) Advertisement While many of the players on this list have strong offensive games with questions about their defense, it is a bit more difficult to know what exactly will be Watkins' calling card at the next level. While he only stands 6 feet 5, he has a massive 6-foot-11 wingspan and a strong frame. That strength, coupled with his wingspan, allowed Watkins to be a strong on-ball defender and make plays. He grabbed 1.9 steals per game in the 2023-24 season and 1.2 steals per game this past season. Steal and slam 😤 Watkins opening the game with an impressive effort! 📺 @FSUHoops x ESPNU — ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) February 13, 2025 Offensively, it's difficult to see what Watkins can do at the next level. While he likes to get out in transition to take advantage of his athleticism, that's a skill lots of NBA players have mastered. He isn't a knockdown 3-point shooter and he doesn't score efficiently at any level. Offensively he might look the part, but it's not quite clear how he can impact games. Trying to find players on the margins has changed drastically over the years. In previous versions of the NBA, you could try to find a specialist — like an elite 3-point shooter or great shot blocker — in the second round, exploit that elite skill for as much as it was worth and just deal with the fact that one of your role players might not be able to defend as well as you need or attack a closeout. Now, one-dimensional players (or players with one elite skill) are harder to hide. This postseason regularly featured NBA coaches finding a way to poke at the weakest link on the floor and take advantage of what that player could not do. Great shooters have to find a way to make something offensively when they're run off the line. Shot blockers need to be able to defend in space. While having an elite skill is still something that can give you a chance to get on the floor, players who can do a little bit of everything (generalists) have found it easier to keep their spot in a rotation than specialists. It's tough to know just how much of each trait or skill players need or whether draft picks, especially those drafted late in the second round, will be able to develop enough to stay on the floor in a playoff game. It feels more difficult than ever for role players to avoid getting targeted by an opposing game plan in the postseason. (Photo of Alijah Martin and Chaz Lanier: James Gilbert / Getty Images)
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Red Sox Trade Idea Would Ship $123M All-Star to Mets After Rafael Devers Trade
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Boston Red Sox shocked the baseball world when they traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, and Devers may not be the only All-Star who gets traded away. During a press conference posted on the team's YouTube channel, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow noted that trading Devers was not an indication of the team giving up on the season. However, even if they are not going to be sellers, they may be wise to trade Jarren Duran. Duran was an All-Star last season and ended up leading Major League Baseball in doubles and triples. This season, he is slashing .264/.319/.421 through 73 games. However, he may be the odd man out in the Red Sox's plans for the future. BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 30: Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow of the Boston Red Sox addresses the media during an end of season press conference on September 30, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.... BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 30: Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow of the Boston Red Sox addresses the media during an end of season press conference on September 30, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. More Billie Weiss/Boston) The Red Sox have Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela as options for their future outfield. Rafaela is signed to a long-term extension and trading Anthony is off the table as he is the No.1 prospect in baseball. That leaves Duran and Abreu. Duran has less club control and is older. He may also have a higher trade value. Sports Illustrated's Mike Phillips suggested the New York Mets acquire Duran from the Red Sox. "While Duran could be a leader for a new wave of Red Sox, he is turning 29 years old in September and it is fair to wonder if the 2024 season was the peak of his value," wrote Phillips. "Moving Duran now could allow Boston to add more pieces to commit to a youth movement while clearing center field for Anthony on a full time basis." "A lot of teams would be intrigued by Duran if he became available since he is under club control for three seasons after this one, but he would be a perfect fit for the Mets if Boston shops him," Phillips continued. "Duran would solve the team's hole in center field right now while also adding some length to the lineup and a strong presence in the clubhouse." The Red Sox were in sole possession of a wild card spot heading into play on Tuesday. They have a surplus of outfielders if Masataka Yoshida figures to see time in the outfield as well. They could flip Duran for one of the Mets' starting pitchers. The Mets are about to have a surplus of starters when Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea return. Trading Duran for a starter from the Mets could help both teams compete this year. More MLB: Astros Dealing With Frustrating News on Highly Anticipated Outfield Prospect
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Recruiting Rumor Mill: Latest chatter from huge June visits
There is so much happening through June that a second Recruiting Rumor Mill was needed this week, if not a third, fourth and fifth. Here's the latest from Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney. RIVALS FIVE-STAR EVENT: Roster | Big Ten teams in spotlight | Key QB storylines | Key RB storylines | Key WR storylines | Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy MORE GORNEY: Elite 11 opening night | Breaking down the 10 biggest commits from the weekend CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State Alabama linebackers coach Chuck Morrell had a detailed plan from the second Abrams stepped in the door over the weekend in Tuscaloosa and it was the best visit he's been on through his recruitment. The four-star linebacker from Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh isn't giving away any hints and still says each of his finalists – Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Oregon – have a 25 percent chance of landing him. Advertisement But the Crimson Tide, from the staff to the players to the development, made a big impression on him and that could help as decision gets draws near. The three-star tight end has been taking important visits and landing offers as the Agyemang has more than two dozen offers now but three programs are in the running ahead of his July 1 commitment. NC State, Duke and Georgia Tech are the standouts for the Marietta (Ga.) Kelly standout with days before he commits. The 2028 offensive tackle from West Des Moines (Iowa) Dowling has a ways to go in his recruitment but Iowa is already shaping up to be tough to beat. Barrett has 'very high' interest in the Hawkeyes after another great visit there where he talked to position coach George Barnett about what Iowa looks for in its offensive lineman and he spent time with the players, too. Advertisement Iowa State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Alabama are others involved but Iowa is setting the pace. Alabama, Michigan and Oklahoma are the three standouts for the 2027 three-star receiver from Belleville, Mich., and maybe it will be nearly impossible to beat the Wolverines for him, but the Crimson Tide are trying. Britton loves how position coach JaMarcus Shephard coached him during summer camp and an offer from the Crimson Tide is big as he's already planning a return trip to Tuscaloosa. But Michigan kids often end up in Ann Arbor and the Wolverines are another one of his three favorites. His dad by the same name played at Nebraska so if the Huskers offer it would be something to monitor but right now the four schools standing out to the 2027 four-star running back from Colleyville (Texas) Covenant Christian Academy are Iowa, Ole Miss, SMU and Arkansas. Advertisement A recent visit and offer from the Hawkeyes was huge as he sees the entire program as a 'brotherhood' and that made a big impact early on. The 2027 athlete from Buford, Ga., just landed an offer from Georgia after summer camp and the Bulldogs could already be tough to beat although there will be other serious competition. Florida is definitely a team to watch with Cantrell along with Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Indiana. But Georgia is the 'hometown team' and if the Dawgs keep up the momentum in recruiting him then they will be tough to beat. The No. 1 running back from Jackson, Ala., had an excellent visit to Auburn over the weekend where he learned new things about the offensive scheme and how they use running backs in the passing game but it still might not be enough. Advertisement Alabama has led for a long time and it still feels like the Crimson Tide are edging out others in his recruitment. Florida State and Georgia have been the mainstays in Fielder's early recruitment and now Alabama will be watched closely by the 2028 offensive tackle from Carrollton, Ga. Fielder loved his interactions with coach Kalen DeBoer and especially position coach Chris Kapilovic as Alabama becomes a major contender in his recruitment. The Seminoles and the Bulldogs lead but now Alabama, Nebraska, Miami and Ohio State are under watch. Fleming lined up visits to Oklahoma, Auburn and Alabama and landed offers from all of them as the 2028 offensive tackle from Huntsville, Ala., sees his recruitment take off early on. There are other programs that Fleming is interested in seeing but first he's going to focus on his season as the Crimson Tide could have an early edge. He loved working out at camp and the 'entire coaching staff' was hands-on in Tuscaloosa. Maybe Ohio State is too far ahead or the pull from Ole Miss or LSU keeps Geralds in the South but Oregon blew away the high four-star defensive tackle. It was a 'crazy experience' for Geralds in Eugene as he loved talking with coach Dan Lanning at his place as the consideration has to come 'from a football side and a business side' when it comes to the Ducks. Advertisement Being coached by Lanning, Tosh Lupoi and Tony Tuioti is very tempting and has given him something serious to consider. Georgia 'definitely moved up' and 'it's really close' in his recruitment with the Bulldogs making a move on Florida, which has been considered the leader for a long time. The Gators probably close here and it would be a surprise if they don't. But the four-star cornerback from Cocoa, Fla., has now taken great back-to-back visits to Syracuse and Georgia. It should be a battle to the end for the four-star edge rusher as Oklahoma has led for some time but he had a great visit to Ohio State, Florida could be surging for the Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy standout and now Kreul is coming off a great visit to Texas. Advertisement The Longhorns are 'high on my list' because Kreul loves the energy and the super high expectations throughout the program. He believes it's a place that fits him well. After his weekend visit to Texas A&M, the Aggies will be 'battling for the No. 1 spot' in his recruitment. It was that good in College Station as everyone 'from the janitors to the head coach' brought him in with open arms. The four-star receiver from Leakesville (Miss.) Greene County also has Auburn, LSU and Ole Miss battling right at the top. The four-star cornerback from Cornelius (N.C.) Hough is highly complimentary of each visit but Texas has surged in his recruitment and is right there with South Carolina and Florida State atop his list. Advertisement There could be a significant NIL play here, too, but what Matthews likes most about Texas is this: He wants to be pushed to be the greatest he can be on and off the field and that's what coach Steve Sarkisian has promised he'd do. The high three-star receiver ended up not taking his Arkansas official visit last weekend and now Okwufulueze is preparing for his trip to TCU this weekend before decision time. The Horned Frogs are 'standing out the most for sure' so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Owasso (Okla.) Rejoice Christian School standout leaves Fort Worth committed. The four-star tight end from Great Bend, Kan., could 'definitely see himself playing' at Iowa State and that has been the rumor – that the Cyclones lead in his recruitment. But Notre Dame could be surging and Kansas is right there as well. Advertisement Premer feels really welcome in Ames. It reminds him of home a little bit and he spent a ton of time with the coaches and players, which was a big selling point as well. His brother, Gene, is committed to Iowa and now the 2027 prospect from Hinsdale (Ill.) Hinsdale Central just got offered by the Hawkeyes so that's a considerable deal as well. Riordan spent a lot of time with position coach Kelvin Bell and he loves the consistency of message from the Hawkeyes' staff about development, teamwork and community. There is a significant Big Ten feel to his recruitment with Iowa, Ohio State and Indiana leading the way with Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota visits coming up this fall. LSU is going to be a major player for the 2027 high four-star receiver from New Orleans (La.) Brother Martin especially as position coach Cortez Hankton hit Royal up right at midnight when coaches could reach out to 2027 prospects. Advertisement The Tigers are right there but the message from Texas was that they're the new WRU and that was clearly a message being sent to the Louisiana prospect as well. Louisville and Ole Miss are two others to watch early on. USC seems to have taken the lead for Stokes and his visit to campus earlier this week only solidified the Trojans at the top of the list. The Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon standout loved working with coach Lincoln Riley, doing film work with position coach Anthony Jones Jr. and having all those resources right in his backyard. Oregon would be the biggest threat to USC right now in his recruitment. The former Missouri commit visited Colorado over the weekend and he loved it as the Buffaloes have emerged as the top team in his recruitment. The coaches laid out that Tims could be an early contributor there and he loved how 'it's not just talk over there, it's action' as the three-star safety from Seffner (Fla.) Armwood looks at his recruitment. Advertisement Louisville, Georgia and Miami are the others to watch. Maybe South Carolina is too far ahead to be beaten as Georgia tries to land the four-star defensive back from Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern. That part of the state has been a serving ground for the Gamecocks so that will be something to watch but Texas A&M blew him away over the weekend. The Aggies made a 'big jump' for Watkins over the weekend but it's not clear if it's enough to take over South Carolina yet. Nebraska and possibly others are working very hard to flip the four-star edge rusher from Miami (Fla.) Southridge and it has looked like there is significant interest in making a change. Advertisement But Wilson was back at Syracuse over the weekend and that was crucial. The Cuse coaching staff made it clear he's a top priority and pushed for him to stay locked in and right now there have been no changes. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH SYRACUSE FANS AT Miami was the first program to reach out to the 2027 five-star cornerback when coaches could text and call those players earlier this week. Penn State, Louisville, Auburn, Notre Dame, UCLA, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio State, Texas and so many others got involved shortly after. But USC remains the team to beat and could be very difficult to overcome as Williams, his father and others are very close with Trojans position coach Trovon Reed.
