LSU football QB Garrett Nussmeier names favorite former LSU wide receivers in NFL
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Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
White Ensign beaten in eventful season opener
IT was an entertaining start to the Essex Senior League campaign, with seven goals and three red cards at Burroughs Park, as White Ensign lost 5-2 to SOUL Tower Hamlets. The 2025/26 season got off to the worst possible start for Ensign who found themselves 4-0 down inside 33 minutes. Although Riley Weir did pull one back for the hosts just before half time, Tower Hamlets restored their four-goal cushion six minutes after the restart through Samir Bihmoutine. On 73 minutes, following a clumsy challenge from Joseph Atoki, both he and two Tower Hamlets players were sent off – including goalkeeper Sidi Haidara. Ensign failed to make the man advantage count, only managing a single consolation goal deep into injury time thanks to Mechack Asuka. It took the visitors just 63 seconds to break the deadlock and it came courtesy of an Ensign mistake. Tolu Ajayi's fluffed clearance gifted the ball straight to Sherman Artmeladze, who lobbed the ball over Ensign 'keeper Jordan Williams to give the visitors an early lead. Tower Hamlets were only promoted to the Essex Senior League last season, but made light work of Ensign and soon added to their lead with two goals in quick succession. Rian Patel did well up against Ajayi on the right-hand side before finding Steve Carvell in space in the box. His shot was parried by Williams, but only as far as Kieran James who side footed home the rebound from close range. The away side kept up the pressure, with Artmeladze seeing a shot from distance turned behind by Williams, and they soon added a third to their tally. Carvell got his name on the scoresheet, thumping an unstoppable strike past Williams and into the top corner from 20 yards. Things then got even better for Terry Spillane and John Field's team, making it 4-0 just past the half hour mark. James slipped a clever pass into Artmeladze who was able to break into the box and, despite losing his balance, wriggled away from both Ajayi and Albie Keith, before chipping the ball over Williams and into the top corner. Any hopes of a major Ensign comeback were increased somewhat just before the interval, with the hosts reducing the deficit to three goals. Rio Campbell dug out a cross and it was met by Weir who beat Haidara with a stooped diving header to make it 4-1 going into half time. However, six minutes into the second period, Tower Hamlets restored their four-goal cushion. Louie Maxwell thumped the ball forward and over the Ensign backline, Bihmoutine raced onto it, beat Williams to the ball and poked it past the Ensign 'keeper and into the back of the net. The game fizzled out somewhat after this, however with 20 minutes left to play it sparked back into life. Haidara claimed an Ensign corner and looked to start a Tower Hamlets counterattack. However, when he went to kick the ball he was caught by Atoki, resulting in Haidara wrestling Atoki to the ground and sparking a huge fight between both sets of players. When tempers did finally cool down somewhat, referee, Adeolu Adeyemi, brandished three red cards – dismissing both Atoki and Haidara as well as Tower Hamlets defender Keanu Hill who was also involved in the melee. This resulted in, not only a man advantage for Ensign, but also outfielder Taylor Gibson having to go in goal for Tower Hamlets. Aaron Bloxham's side couldn't make this count though. A glancing header from Asuka, seven minutes into injury time proved nothing more than a consolation as Ensign fell to a heavy defeat on opening night. Ensign are next in action on Wednesday night, when they entertain a Barking side who take on Basildon United this weekend.
USA Today
8 minutes ago
- USA Today
Wisconsin alumnus included in ESPN's top off-ball linebacker ranking for 2025 NFL season
Former Wisconsin football standout Zack Baun was included in ESPN's list of the top 10 off-ball linebackers ahead of the 2025 NFL season earlier this month. Baun is the third former Badger to receive a position on the outlet's preseason positional rankings, joining two-time Doak Walker Award winner Jonathan Taylor (running backs) and defensive legend T.J. Watt (edge rushers). The off-ball linebacker list is powered by a feedback from dozens of NFL league executives, coaches and scouts, which ESPN then parlays into a top 10 ranking based on their vote totals, composite average position and information from interviews. Following that method, the outlet listed Baun as the No. 3 off-ball linebacker in the NFL ahead of this coming season. At No. 3, Baun is sandwiched between Baltimore Ravens superstar Roquan Smith (No. 2) and Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl winner Nick Bolton (No. 4). Four-time first-team All-Pro Fred Warner earned the top spot, followed by Washington Commanders' rising star Frankie Luvu (No. 5), Chicago Bear Tremaine Edmunds (No. 6), Buccaneers veteran Lavonte David (No. 7), second-year Dallas Cowboy DeMarvarion Overshown (No. 8), Denver Bronco Dre Greenlaw (No. 9) and New York Jet Quincy Williams (No. 10). ProFootballFocus' list of the top 32 linebackers ahead of 2025 had Baun at No. 2 behind only Warner, who is widely considered the best linebacker of his decade. Entering his second year in Philadelphia, it appears as if Baun is poised to become a household name at this stage of his career. The Wisconsin native's numbers convey the same message. In 16 starts for the Eagles, who hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in a dominant win over the Chiefs this winter, the former Badger registered 151 tackles, 11 for loss, five quarterback hits, 3 1/2 sacks, four pass deflections, five forced fumbles and an interception. By the season's end, Baun was named a first-team All-Pro, a Pro Bowler and a finalist for the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award alongside T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson and Patrick Surtain II (winner). In the postseason, Baun was responsible for 33 total tackles (20 solo), two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and one forced fumble across four playoff games. In Super Bowl 59, he notched a team-best seven tackles (three solo) and a crucial interception on three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. Baun's explosive year led to a three-year, $51 million contract extension with Philadelphia this offseason. Baun's Eagles will begin their season against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 4 at Lincoln Financial Field. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Athletics' Nick Kurtz shares heartwarming moment with family after bonkers game
The post Athletics' Nick Kurtz shares heartwarming moment with family after bonkers game appeared first on ClutchPoints. On Friday night at Daikin Park, Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz put forth a historic performance that stunned the baseball world and earned a place in MLB history. In a 15-3 blowout victory over the Houston Astros, the 22-year-old slugger became the first rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game, going a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate. Kurtz homered in the second, sixth, eighth, and ninth innings, with each home run coming off a different Astros pitcher, Ryan Gusto, Nick Hernandez, Kaleb Ort, and position player Cooper Hummel. His final homer, a three-run shot in the ninth off Hummel's 77 mph pitch, landed in the Crawford Boxes in left field. His third homer of the night, a solo blast in the eighth, traveled 414 feet. Earlier in the game, Kurtz also singled and doubled, with the double in the fourth inning narrowly missing a fifth home run by mere feet. The numbers were staggering, six hits, five extra-base hits, six runs scored, eight RBIs, and a record-tying 19 total bases, matching a modern-era MLB record set by Shawn Green in 2002. Kurtz and Green are now the only two players in MLB history to collect six hits and four home runs in the same game. Since RBIs became official in 1920, Kurtz is the only player ever to achieve in his career: a game with 4+ HR, 5+ XBH, 6+ hits, 6+ runs, and 8+ RBIs, all in one night. What made the night even more special was the presence of Kurtz's family. 'A's rookie Nick Kurtz greets his parents and godparents after the game of his life. It was the first time his godparents had seen him play a big league game. His parents flew in today to attend,' Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported. 'This is the first time my godparents have been here, so they probably have to come in the rest of the year,' Kurtz explained after the game, via The Boston Globe. 'My parents flew in today. They've been here a bunch, but it was cool to have some family here for that.' Kurtz was selected fourth overall by the A's in the 2024 MLB Draft following a standout collegiate career at Wake Forest. He dominated the minors with a 1.283 OPS across Single-A and Double-A, followed by a 1.040 OPS in Triple-A before his MLB debut on April 23, 2025. After struggling early with a .208 average and just one home run through May 19, he turned things around dramatically. Since then, he's slashed .352/.427/.870 with 24 home runs in 43 games, translating to a 90+ homer pace over a full season. In July alone, Kurtz has led all major leaguers in multiple offensive categories, batting average (.425), on-base percentage (.494), slugging (1.082), runs (22), doubles (13), home runs (11), and RBIs (27). Related: Athletics' Nick Kurtz reacts to 'awesome' 4-HR game vs. Astros Related: Athletics star Nick Kurtz's historic explosion vs. Astros has fans going crazy
