Nussmeier, Klubnik among best Heisman value bets
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USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Four Clemson football starters named to preseason watch list for 2025 Lombardi Award
More preseason honors rolled in for four Clemson football starters Tuesday. Defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods were named to the preseason Lombardi Award watch list, as were linebacker Sammy Brown and offensive tackle Blake Miller. The Lombardi Award annually recognizes the nation's best down lineman on either offense or defense "who best embodies the character, discipline, and excellence of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi, while also demonstrating outstanding performance and ability on the field." Clemson tied the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Longhorns for programs with the most players named to the 2025 Lombardi watch list. It's the latest in a string of preseason accolades for the four Tigers. Woods was named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list, as was senior quarterback Cade Klubnik. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive tackle was also named to the preseason watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Outland Trophy. Woods enters his junior season after playing in 11 games (10 starts) a year ago. He had 28 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble as a sophomore. In two seasons at Clemson, Woods has recorded 54 tackles (31 solo), 11 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles over 23 games. Parker, the Tigers' 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge rusher, started all 14 games last season and has played in all 27 games since his freshman season in 2023. He had 57 tackles (35 solo) and had 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles to go with two fumble recoveries in 2024. Parker was also named to the Nagurski Trophy and and Bednarik Award watch lists. Brown, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker, is coming off a true freshman season in which he played in 12 games (six starts) and made 80 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was previously named to the preseason Butkus Award watch list along with senior Wade Woodaz. Miller is set to enter his fourth season as an anchor of the offensive line and was previously named to the Outland Trophy watch list. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman has started all 41 games for the Tigers at right tackle since his freshman season in 2022. Clemson football players on 2025 preseason award watch lists Here's an updated look at Clemson players named to various preseason watch lists ahead of 2025. Clemson football schedule 2025 Clemson opens the 2025 season against the LSU Tigers at Memorial Stadium in primetime on Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ABC. Clemson is ranked No. 6 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 4 in the preseason AP poll. LSU is ranked No. 9 in both polls. All times Eastern. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Who Are The 10 Best College Football Players from Each AP Top 10 Team?
College Football Who Are The 10 Best College Football Players from Each AP Top 10 Team? Published Aug. 12, 2025 7:37 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link The start of the 2025 college football season is just 12 days away, and it's sure to start off with a bang. Week 1 is set to feature a handful of electric heavyweight matchups of nationally top-ranked teams and a plethora of storylines, including first-year head coaches making their debuts and the impact of NIL and the transfer portal. That said, FOX Sports' RJ Young put together a list of one standout player from each of the top 10 teams in the AP Top 25 college football preseason poll, which was unveiled Monday. [Related: RJ Young's Ultimate 136 college football rankings ] Six of these 10 players will be facing off against one another in Week 1, as there are three top-10 tilts on the schedule: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Clemson vs. No. 9 LSU and No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.). 10 Best College Football Players from AP Top 10 Teams Francis Mauigoa is one of the top offensive linemen in college football. (Photo by) ADVERTISEMENT Stats: Started 26 games in two seasons for the Hurricanes, anchoring an offensive line that led the nation in scoring (43.9 points per game); projected to be the first offensive tackle drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft . Mauigoa enters the year as one of the top OT draft prospects. At 6-foot-6, Mauigoa is massive and will be vital to protecting quarterback Carson Beck this season, giving the Hurricanes hope to make their first CFP appearance. Garrett Nussmeier is entering his second season as LSU's starting QB. (Photo by) Stats: Finished fifth in FBS in passing yards (4,052 yards) and tied for eighth in pass touchdowns (29) last season. Like Mauigoa, Nussmeier will also vie to be one of the top players selected at his position in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was one of the best passers in the SEC last year, which was his first season as a starter, while also having the pressure to replace then-reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Ryan Williams had a shining freshman season. (Photo by) Stats: Freshman All-American and first-team All- SEC selection; one of seven SEC players to record 8 touchdown catches last season. Williams had a season to remember in 2024, and he was only 17 years old. His touchdown catch that helped Alabama beat Georgia was widely viewed as one of the top plays of the season, showing his ability to make contested catches and speed. That also helped him earn a spot on the cover of "College Football 26." Dillon Thieneman was a star at Purdue before transferring to Oregon. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Stats: Led all Big Ten defensive backs with 104 total tackles last year with Purdue. One of the best defensive players to transfer this past offseason, Theineman was a standout for a Purdue team that has been one of the worst programs in a power conference over the past couple of years. He won Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023, when he recorded six interceptions. Jeremiyah Love was a key reason for Notre Dame's deep CFP run. (Photo by) Stats: Scored a rushing touchdown in 13 consecutive games last season, setting a Notre Dame record; was one of 10 FBS players to record 1,100-plus rushing yards and 19-plus total touchdowns. Love was instrumental in Notre Dame's breakthrough season, which ended with an appearance in the national championship game. His 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana was key for Notre Dame in its first-round win, which was also one of the five games he rushed for over 100 yards in. CJ Allen has been a do-it-all linebacker for Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Stats: Made 12 starts last season and finished second on the team with 76 total tackles. Entering his junior year, Allen is part of the next wave of Georgia defenders with NFL promise. He'll look to capitalize on a strong 2024 season, as the Bulldogs seek to make their first College Football Playoff semifinals for the first time in three years. Cade Klubnik was one of the best quarterbacks in college football last season. (Photo by) Stats: Top five all-time in Clemson history in passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass attempts and completions; only player in FBS to throw for 35 touchdowns with six or fewer interceptions. After an underwhelming first season as Clemson's starting quarterback in 2023, Klubnik broke through in 2024. He certainly wasn't the reason why Clemson lost to Texas in the CFP, either. He threw for 336 yards in that game as he seeks to be one of the top quarterbacks selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Jeremiah Smith had a freshman season for the ages. (Photo) Stats: Set Ohio State freshman records in receptions (76), receiving yards (1,315) and touchdown catches (15); was tied for second in FBS in touchdown catches and fourth in receiving yards; his nine catches of 40-plus yards are tied for the most in the FBS. Smith is arguably the best player in college football entering the 2025 season, with many preseason lists ranking him as such. Even though he's only a sophomore, some have even said that he would've been a top-10 pick had he been draft-eligible following his freshman season. Dani Dennis-Sutton is one of many key players returning for Penn State. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Stats: Finished tied for fifth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (13) and tied for sixth in sacks (8.5); also forced two fumbles and recorded 42 total tackles. The Nittany Lions had several players that Young could've named the best on their roster. Drew Allar is viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation entering the year, while Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen make up the best running back tandem in the sport. Sutton gets the nod, though, after his 8.5-sack season. Arch Manning is entering his first season as Texas' full-time starting QB. (Photo) Stats: Only FBS or NFL quarterback in the past 25 years to record a 75-plus-yard touchdowb pass, a 65-plus-yard touchdown run and another 50-plus-yard touchdown pass in the same game; went 2-0 as a starter last year, throwing for 583 yards and totaling 5 touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing) in those two games. Similar to Penn State, Texas also has a lot of returning players who could've been named the top player on its roster. Ultimately, Manning got the honor, and it's hard not to see why. He showed his promise as one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory in the handful of games he played in last year, showing tremendous arm strength and an ability to operate as a runner. Check out all of our Daily Rankers . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football share
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kellen Moore receives first massive blow as head Coach of New Orleans Saints
Kellen Moore receives first massive blow as head Coach of New Orleans Saints originally appeared on The Sporting News It certainly was not the dream start first-year head coach Kellen Moore wanted. Taking over for the fired Dennis Allen, he took his first major loss on Tuesday. The New Orleans Saints have been dealt a devastating setback just weeks before the regular season kicks off. Veteran center Will Clapp, a New Orleans native and former LSU standout, has been ruled out for the entire 2025 season after suffering a severe foot injury that requires surgery. The injury occurred early in Sunday's preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, with Clapp being carted off during the Saints' first offensive series. Will Clapp to miss the entire 2025 season This loss is especially painful for the Saints' offensive line depth. Clapp was stepping in for starting center Erik McCoy, who was already dealing with his own injury issues. Now, the Saints must rely on unproven depth, with undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins thrust into the role. For a team looking to bounce back from recent struggles, losing an experienced interior lineman is a major obstacle, especially given the importance of offensive line continuity in both protecting the quarterback and establishing the run game. MORE: Kyle Shanahan gives update on a key offensive star injury A team already facing an uphill battle The Saints' 2024 season was one of inconsistency and frustration. Despite boasting a defense that kept them in most games, the offense often sputtered, plagued by injuries, shaky pass protection, and an inability to find rhythm in the run game. The team finished outside of playoff contention, leaving fans and analysts wondering if the current roster makeup was enough to compete in the NFC South. Now, heading into 2025, optimism has taken another hit. Training camp injuries are always tough, but losing a veteran center, someone familiar with the playbook, protections, and snap cadence, means the Saints' offense will have to make adjustments on the fly. In a division where every win will matter, the margin for error is now even thinner. Unless their young replacements can step up quickly, this could be the kind of preseason blow that lingers well into the regular season. More NFL News: Matthew Stafford throws 68 passes in preparation for return Dolphins lose key offensive piece for 2025 after neck surgery Travis Hunter splits roles in eye-catching preseason debut for Jaguars Cam Ward's strong start sparks Titans' fans in preseason Tom Brady's 17-foot statue towers over Gillette Stadium Matthew Stafford throws 68 passes in preparation for return
