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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Notable Ravens players who are 25 and under heading into the 2025 NFL season
With the preparation for the second preseason game against Dallas, we're looking at Baltimore's notable talent under 25. The Baltimore Ravens have one of the top teams in the NFL, and plenty of young talent to help usher in a Super Bowl window. Most franchises are based on their talent under the age of 25, and the Ravens have several notable, high-profile performers who are still in their prime. With the preparation for the second preseason game against Dallas, we're looking at Baltimore's notable talent under 25. OL Emery Jones: 21 The Ravens selected Jones at No. 91 overall after the offensive tackle spent three seasons at LSU. He was a two-time second-team All-SEC selection. DB Malaki Starks: 21 A two-time All-American and Thorpe Award finalist, Starks appeared in 43 games (42 starts) during his three-year career (2022-24) at Georgia…Helped the Bulldogs finish 15-0 and win the CFP National Championship during the 2022 season as a starting freshman DB Nate Wiggins: 21 Wiggins played in 15 games (six starts) as a rookie in 2024, tallying 32 tackles (24 solo), 1 INT (pick-6), 13 PD, 1 FF, and 1 ST tackles. Wiggins helped Baltimore's defense rank No. 1 against the run (80.1 ypg), No. 2 in sacks (54), and No. 5 (tied) in yards per play allowed (5.2) LB Teddye Buchanan: 22 Appeared in 49 games at LB during his one year (2024) at Cal and four years (2020-23) at UC Davis, totaling 321 tackles (160 solo), nine sacks, 8 INTs (1 INT-TD), 10 PD, 3 FFs, and 1 FR. OLB Mike Green: 22 An All-American at Marshall, in 2024, Green led all FBS players in sacks (17), sack yardage (-144), TFL (22.5), and TFL yardage (-155) for a Marshall team that went 10-3 and won the Sunbelt Conference championship. LB Jay Higgins: 23 An All-American and All-Big 10 selection, Higgins has the look of an under-the-radar player who could end up next to Roquan Smith. Higgins (6-0, 224) started all 13 games in his final season with the Hawkeyes, totaling a team high 124 tackles (53 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, nine passes defensed, and four interceptions. OLB Adisa Isaac: 23 Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are the unquestioned starters, but the Ravens are hoping 2024 third-round pick Adisa Isaac can take the next step. Isaac saw action in four games and played 32 defensive snaps, as his NFL debut was delayed by a hamstring issue, which sidelined him for the Ravens' first two games. RB Keaton Mitchell: 23 Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell says he feels better than he did three years ago. As a rookie, Mitchell led all running backs with at least a dozen attempts in yards per carry (8.4 avg), and he has set personal records in all of his speed tracking analytics this offseason. OL Roger Rosengarten: 23 After alternating snaps in the first three weeks, Rosengarten took over as the Ravens' starting right tackle in Week 4 and never looked back, starting 16 games (including the playoffs). Among offensive tackles who played at least 50% of the snaps, Rosengarten ranked No. 39 at his position, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). He was credited with four sacks allowed in 488 pass-blocking snaps. WR LaJohntay Wester: 23 Wester is another of the Colorado speedsters. In his lone season at Colorado after transferring from Florida Atlantic, the smooth and dynamic receiver recorded 74 receptions for 934 yards and 10 touchdowns. His punt return touchdown against Utah further showcased his versatility and playmaking ability. WR Zay Flowers: 24 A 2024 Pro Bowler, Flowers logged his 100th-career reception in his 21st-career game, becoming the fastest player in Ravens history (21 games) to reach the mark. DB Kyle Hamilton: 24 A second-team All-Pro last season, Hamilton started all 17 games for Baltimore in 2024, totaling a career-high 107 tackles (77 solo), two sacks, 4 TFL, 1 INT, 9 PD, 2 FFs, and 1 FR, en route to earning his second-straight Pro Bowl nod…Helped Baltimore's defense rank No. 1 against the run (80.1 ypg), No. 2 in sacks (54), and No. 5 (tied) in yards per play allowed (5.2). Kicker Tyler Loop: 24 Loop went 6-9 on kicks from 50+ yards last season for the Wildcats. LB Trenton Simpson: 24 Simpson was productive over Baltimore's first 11 games, logging 65 tackles (34 solo), but he was a liability in the passing game. Simpson was entirely out of the Ravens' inside-linebacker rotation following the Week 14 bye, and he was limited to special teams during Baltimore's two-game postseason run. Simpson finished the 2024 regular season with 73 tackles (40 solo), including 1.5 sacks, four pass defenses, and one fumble recovery across 17 games. He'll battle special-teams standout Jacob Hummel and fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan. WR Devontez Walker: 24 After contributing primarily on special teams as a rookie, Walker has flashed speed and big-play abilities all summer long. WR Rashod Bateman: 25 Last season, Bateman played in all 17 games (14 starts) for Baltimore in 2024, tallying 45 receptions to go along with career highs in receiving yards (756) and receiving TDs (9)…Recorded three receiving TDs of at least 40 yards, tied for the most such scores in a season by a Raven since at least 2000. DT Travis Jones: 25 A breakout candidate, Jones appeared in all 17 games (15 starts) for Baltimore in 2024, posting a career-high 42 tackles (22 solo), 4 TFL, and one sack. Jones helped Baltimore's defense rank No. 1 against the run (80.1 ypg) and No. 2 in both sacks (54) and fourth-down efficiency (42.9%). OL Daniel Faalele: 25 After moving from offensive tackle to offensive guard, Faalele was named a Pro Bowl alternate after surrendering one sack and 30 pressures in 504 pass-blocking opportunities last season. An off-season working out with Ronnie Stanley should allow Faalele to take the next steps as a run blocker. TE Isaiah Likely: 25 Likely saw action in 16 games (nine starts) for Baltimore in 2024, totaling career highs in receptions (42), receiving yards (477), and receiving TDs (6). Likely became the second-fastest Ravens TE (34 games) to reach double-digit receiving scores in a career, behind only Mark Andrews (28 games). OL Tyler Linderbaum: 25 Linderbaum started at center in all 17 games and earned his second-straight Pro Bowl honor for Baltimore in 2024, blocking for an offense that ranked No. 1 in the NFL in yards per game (424.9), yards per play (6.8 – third-best single-season mark in NFL history).
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
When do Ravens rookies report for training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center?
Ravens rookies will report to the Under Armour Performance Center for training camp on Tuesday, signaling the start of an intriguing regular season for Baltimore Ravens rookies will report to the Under Armour Performance Center for training camp this morning, signaling the start of an intriguing regular season for Baltimore. John Harbaugh's team has few holes on both sides of the football, but several key positions will see competition, and a breakout campaign from an under-the-radar player could help ignite a run to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara. Expectations are high, and Zach Orr's defense has added elite talent at all three levels. What to know? The Baltimore Ravens added 11 draft picks to their roster in this year's NFL draft, landing Malaki Starks near the end of Round 1 to cap things off. Overall, the consensus for Eric DeCosta centered on draft value and landing prospects who can develop into starters regardless of the round in which they were selected. After using all 11 picks in the 2025 NFL draft, Baltimore signed 17 undrafted free agents, revealing the signings during the second day of rookie minicamp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Under the Radar players to watch ILB Jay Higgins, Iowa An All-American and All-Big 10 selection, Higgins (6-0, 224) started all 13 games in his final season with the Hawkeyes, totaling a team high 124 tackles (53 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, nine passes defensed, and four interceptions. S Keondre Jackson, Illinois State Jackson (6-2, 207) appeared in 45 games (33 starts) at Illinois State, logging 225 tackles (116 solo), including 14 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, five interceptions (two returned for TDs), and 13 passes defensed. Jackson was named an FCS All-American by the Associated Press and first-team All-MVFC. OLB Kaimon Rucker Rucker played five seasons for the Tar Heels and had 14.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss over his final two seasons. In only eight games last season, he had six sacks and eight tackles for loss, as injuries hampered him. An intriguing pass rusher, Rucker is 6-foot-1 and 254 pounds with 32 5/8-inch arms. He opted out of all athletic testing except the bench press, where he totaled 27 reps at 225 pounds. Impact rookie to watch: Malaki Starks Kyle Hamilton is a Swiss army knife, and Baltimore just drafted his positional twin. Starks was the only player in the FBS to play at least 1,500 snaps at safety and 500 snaps at slot cornerback over the last three seasons, according to ESPN Research.
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens' 2025 undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the 53-man roster
With training camp fast approaching, we're looking at five undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the Baltimore Ravens 53-man roster. We're about three weeks away from Ravens rookies reporting for the July 15 start to training camp, and the team just announced the open practice schedule. After using all 11 picks in the 2025 NFL draft, Baltimore signed 17 undrafted free agents, revealing the signings during the second day of rookie minicamp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Since that time, Monmouth's Sone Ntoh has been waived, but the Ravens still have OLB Kaimon Rucker Rucker played five seasons for the Tar Heels and had 14.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss over his final two seasons. In only eight games last season, he had six sacks and eight tackles for loss, as injuries hampered him. An intriguing pass rusher, Rucker is 6-foot-1 and 254 pounds with 32 5/8-inch arms. He opted out of all athletic testing except the bench press, where he totaled 27 reps at 225 pounds. K John Hoyland Hoyland joins sixth-round pick Tyler Loop to add another rookie to the kicking competition as the Ravens seek to find their replacement for Justin Tucker. Hoyland connected on 79.3% of his field-goal attempts and 99.3% of his extra points during his five years at Wyoming. Hoyland was 15-of-19 on field goals during his final season. OT Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, Oregon State Christian-Lichtenhan (6-8, 315) started all 12 games at left tackle for the Beavers, allowing just two sacks and being charged with one penalty on the year. ILB Jay Higgins, Iowa An All-American and All-Big 10 selection, Higgins (6-0, 224) started all 13 games in his final season with the Hawkeyes, totaling a team high 124 tackles (53 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, nine passes defensed, and four interceptions. G Jared Penning, Northern Iowa Jared Penning, brother of former Saints first-round pick Trevor Penning, played multiple positions on the offensive line in 48 games at Northern Iowa. S Desmond Igbinosun, Rutgers During his four seasons at Rutgers, Igbinosun (6-2, 223) accumulated 186 tackles (95 solo), including 15 tackles for loss and seven passes defensed. He's a teammate at Rutgers with Ravens sixth-round pick Robert Longerbeam. S Keondre Jackson, Illinois State Jackson (6-2, 207) appeared in 45 games (33 starts) at Illinois State, logging 225 tackles (116 solo), including 14 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, five interceptions (two returned for TDs), and 13 passes defensed. Jackson was named an FCS All-American by the Associated Press and first-team All-MVFC.
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
A surprising Saints offensive lineman was ranked among the NFL's best guards
A surprising Saints offensive lineman was ranked among the NFL's best guards The New Orleans Saints had a surprise addition to this offseason's position rankings by Pro Football Focus. Cesar Ruiz cracked the PFF list at their offensive guard rankings. Previously, PFF has ranked their site's top-32 players at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, defensive interior, edge rusher, linebacker, cornerback, and safety. The Saints have placed a few players in the PFF rankings: Kamara and Davis received ridiculously low ratings, while OT Taliese Fuaga and DT Bryan Bresee were overlooked altogether at their respective positions. A pleasant surprise was that both Hill and Johnson cracked the PFF tight end rankings. On Wednesday, PFF writer Mason Cameron revealed their site's choices for the top 32 guards coming into the 2025 NFL season. In perhaps a bigger surprise than the tight ends, Cesar Ruiz came in at No. 30 on the PFF list: ''A knee injury knocked Ruiz out for a good chunk of the front half of the 2024 season, but he still managed to finish with the highest PFF overall grade of his career. His 72.4 PFF pass-blocking grade from Week 8 through the end of the regular season finished inside the top 20 at the position after he allowed just one sack and a 2.2% pressure rate. Given his ample experience (4,706 snaps) at 26 years old, the hope is that Ruiz can continue that progression in 2025.'' Ruiz, who turns 26 later this month, was a first round choice out of Michigan by the Saints in the 2020 NFL Draft. He was the first interior offensive lineman off the board that year. A center throughout his two-time All-Big 10 career with the Wolverines, Ruiz was converted to guard upon his arrival in New Orleans. He played in 15 contests as a rookie, starting nine and appearing in 74% of the offensive snaps. Since his second NFL season in 2021, Ruiz has been a consistent starter for New Orleans at right guard. He played every offensive snap for the Saints in 2021 and 2022, missing one game in 2023 and three due to injury during the 2024 season.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former All-American linebacker, tackling machine named the Ravens one UDFA to watch
Former All-American linebacker, tackling machine named the Ravens one UDFA to watch PFF named former Iowa Hawkeyes All-American linebacker Jay Higgins the one Ravens undrafted free agent to watch for the 2025 NFL season After selecting 11 players in the 2025 NFL draft, Baltimore added 17 undrafted free agents to an already loaded roster. The Ravens have few holes on the roster, but suffered losses at the linebacker position, and they will look to have someone push Trenton Simpson. Baltimore has a positive history with undrafted free agents, and Pro Football Focus recently examined one player to watch from all 32 NFL teams. For the Ravens, it was a former All-Big 10 star at Iowa who could make his presence felt. The Ravens' linebacker depth chart behind Roquan Smith is a mix of unproven talent and rookie hopefuls. Trenton Simpson has yet to show he deserves the starting nod (58.7 PFF overall grade in 2024), perhaps opening the door for Higgins, fourth-round draft pick Teddye Buchanan or free-agent signing Jake Hummel to win the job. Higgins was the fourth-most-valuable Power Five linebacker this past season, per PFF's Wins Above Average metric. He was also the FBS' second-highest-graded linebacker in coverage (91.5), a potential boon to a Baltimore linebacker corps that allowed the sixth-highest passer rating in coverage in 2024 (111.6). An All-American and All-Big 10 selection, Higgins (6-0, 224) started all 13 games in his final season with the Hawkeyes, totaling a team high 124 tackles (53 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, nine passes defensed, and four interceptions.
