Latest news with #AcademicAll-BigTen
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan State football OL transfer Jacob Merritt commits to MAC school
Michigan State football OL transfer Jacob Merritt commits to MAC school Former Michigan State offensive lineman Jacob Merritt has found a new home in the Mid-American Conference A former Michigan State reserve offensive lineman has landed at a Mid-American Conference school. Jacob Merritt is officially transferring to Buffalo of the MAC. The Buffalo Bulls official football account shared the transfer commitment and signing of Merritt on Monday night. Merritt entered the transfer portal last month after spring practice wrapped up. He is a redshirt sophomore walk-on who never saw game action during his time at Michigan State but was considered to be a strong scout team player and in line for a back-up role this upcoming season. Merritt is from Northville, Mich. and was two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. Merritt will have three years of eligibility remaining. Merritt is one of a few former Spartans to recently announce transfer commitments to MAC schools. James Schott and Bai Jobe also committed to Miami (OH) of the MAC in the last few weeks. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
NBC Sports
13-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Cardinals sign fourth-round linebacker Cody Simon
The Cardinals signed fourth-round pick Cody Simon on Monday, the team announced. Arizona made the Ohio State linebacker the 115th overall pick. The Cardinals have signed five of their seven selections, with only first-round pick Walter Nolen III and second-round pick Will Johnson unsigned. Simon will compete for the starting job alongside Mack Wilson Sr. at inside linebacker. Free agent signees Akeem Davis-Gaither and Mykel Walker and holdover Owen Pappoe are other candidates for the job. Simon earned defensive MVP honors at the CFP National Championship and the Rose Bowl last season. He had 112 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, seven sacks and seven passes defensed in 2024. During his five seasons at Ohio State, Simon played 58 games with 30 starts and had 259 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 11 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception. He was a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Michigan State WR Montorie Foster Jr. signs with Seattle Seahawks
Former Michigan State WR Montorie Foster Jr. signs with Seattle Seahawks Former Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. has signed with an NFL team after an impressive rookie minicamp tryout A former Michigan State Spartans wide receiver has signed with an NFL team. Montorie Foster Jr. has signed with the Seattle Seahawks, the organization announced on Monday. Foster was an undrafted free agent in this year's NFL Draft, and recently participated in Seattle's rookie minicamp earlier this month as a tryout player. Foster must have impressed the Seahawks during his minicamp because it has now led to an official signing with the franchise. Foster played all five of his collegiate seasons with the Spartans, appearing in 54 career games. He was a fulltime starter for the Spartans the last two seasons, and finished his career with 108 receptions for 1,426 yards and eight touchdowns. He was also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. In his final season at Michigan State last year, Foster had career highs in receptions (46) and receiving yards (588), while also tying a career high touchdowns with three. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cody Simon checks all the boxes Arizona Cardinals need in a Mike linebacker
Cody Simon checks all the boxes Arizona Cardinals need in a Mike linebacker The strong emphasis on defense for the Arizona Cardinals continued Saturday morning with the addition of linebacker Cody Simon The strong emphasis on defense for the Arizona Cardinals continued Saturday morning with the addition of linebacker Cody Simon with the 13th selection in the fourth round of the draft, the 115th overall pick. What also continued is the mantra of high character and intelligence espoused by the Cardinals, with the latter being paramount to compete at the Mike spot on defense. Simon was Academic All-Big Ten three times and graduated with a degree in finance in December, 2023. Currently, he is studying for a master's degree in human development and family services. At Ohio State last season, the Buckeyes team captain had 112 tackles with 12.5 for loss, 7.0 sacks and seven passes defensed. He was the defensive MVP in the Rose Bowl and College Football Championship Game. Described as an 'ultimate team guy,' Simon had no penalties in 1,861 career snaps. After the draft is over, we can expect head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort to gush about Simon's traits. The Athletic player evaluator Dane Brugler chimed in by calling Simon a "selfless individual' whose 'personal character is off the charts." A classic quote came from former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who once said, 'Cody is a future president of the United States.' The genes are also strong. His father Mike went to Army and played on the rugby team, while his mother Amy ran track at Michigan. She is now a managing director at Morgan Stanley and was the first Black woman to be named a managing director in investment banking at Merrill Lynch. Simon got a jump on Gannon when he was asked after the selection about his production last season and said, 'I think all of that is about timing, it's about preparation and learning the weaknesses of certain offenses. I think I found a little bit of a knack to get to the quarterback last season and it's just being aggressive and being fast and violent, so that's really a good recipe for it.' Simon described his best attributes when he said, 'As a linebacker you need to have great instincts, and I think that's my biggest strength. Having great instincts and being able to tackle well. Being a great leader and communicator is vital for a good defense. If your middle linebacker can have that, you can have a good middle linebacker.' He'll now be learning a new defense and be competing with free-agent additions Akeem Davis-Gaither and Mykal Walker. Simon isn't concerned. 'I think I can play in any scheme possible,' he said. 'I love being a learner, and I can just study and really prepare the best I can. I'll be ready to play wherever, with whoever. I'm just excited to be a part of a system that's a little bit different and can go and attack offenses.' Simon said he communicated a lot at the Combine with new linebackers coach Cristian Garcia, who was running some drills. Simon said, 'We actually had a pretty good relationship at that point. Then, we had some interviews on Zoom. It was a really good relationship from what I could tell. He sounds like a great coach and I'm just super excited to be in that system.' Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Spartans backup OL Jacob Merritt enters transfer portal
Spartans backup OL Jacob Merritt enters transfer portal Jacob Merritt is one of many Michigan State reserves and backups to enter the transfer portal during the spring window Another Michigan State reserve offensive lineman has entered the transfer portal. Jacob Merritt announced on Wednesday that he will be entering the transfer portal. Merritt is a redshirt sophomore walk-on who never saw game action during his time at Michigan State but was considered to be a strong scout team player and in line for a back-up role this upcoming season. Merritt is from Northville, Mich. and was two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. Merritt will have three years of eligibility remaining. Stay with Spartans Wire for continued transfer portal news surrounding Michigan State football. The deadline to enter the transfer portal is Friday. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
