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USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Watch: Brian Baldinger breaks down Rams rookie Shaun Dolac's performance vs. Chargers
Shaun Dolac was the most notable undrafted free agent signed by the Los Angeles Rams this season, mostly because of the accolades he collected in college. He was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection at the University of Buffalo, earning MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024 when he was also a consensus All-American. Dolac led the FBS with 168 total tackles and 177 interception return yards last season, putting up gaudy numbers in his final season with the Bulls. He's now trying to make the Rams' 53-man roster and his play this preseason has caught the attention of NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger. Baldinger highlighted Dolac in a new 'Baldy's Breakdowns' segment on X/Twitter, raving about the way the rookie linebacker has performed thus far. 'He was All-World in that conference. Free agent here with the Rams. All he does is find the football. And when he gets there, he finishes the play,' Baldinger said. What Baldinger likes most about him is his ability to wrap up ball carriers and get them to the ground without needing help from his teammates. Dolac is undersized for an inside linebacker at 6-1, 225 pounds, but he's a great tackler. 'He doesn't need any help,' Baldinger said. 'When he hits the guy, the play ends. This is what he did at Buffalo for three years. He was All-World there, doing the same thing two weeks in a row with the Rams.' Dolac hasn't yet secured a roster spot but he's making a strong case for one. While that might require the Rams to keep five linebackers on the team, for a player they see promise in, it'll be worth it.
USA Today
08-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
49ers rookie endears himself to fan base by targeting big rival
The San Francisco 49ers finished the 2024 season with a horrendous 6-11 record, but they were an average team by sack percentage, taking down opposing quarterbacks on 6.69% of their dropbacks, good for 18th in the league last season. While losing Leonard Floyd, Dre Greenlaw, De'Vondre Campbell and Khalil Davis from their front seven over the offseason didn't help things, the 49ers also added some capable players to Robert Saleh's defense that could help them get better results in 2025. Among those players is defensive lineman C.J. West, who the 49ers took in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft out of Indiana. The former Hoosier spent his first four collegiate seasons at Kent State, earning All-MAC honors once, before transferring to Indiana for the 2024 season. The 23-year-old has been dominating the team's recent training camp sessions, setting himself up for an opportunity to play a much larger role than originally expected when he arrived in San Francisco back in April. If what West is doing on the field isn't enough to sell 49ers fans on him being the real deal, his answer to who he's most looking forward to sacking in the NFL may. "That's a tough one," West told John Chapman on the "49ers Rush" podcast earlier this offseason. "Any quarterback that plays for the Seattle Seahawks. I don't care who they put on the field. Any quarterback that plays on the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle is expected to start Sam Darnold in 2025, after trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and signing the former first-round pick to a $100 million deal this offseason. However, they also have veteran backup Drew Lock and third-round pick Jalen Milroe on the roster as potential victims of West's interior pass rush. West may not have to wait long to get that first career sack against on San Francisco's biggest rivals, as the two teams face off in Week 1 at Lumen Field. More 49ers: Standout rookie named 49ers top player to watch in preseason opener
USA Today
07-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
One player to watch at each defensive position in Eagles' preseason opener vs. the Bengals
With kickoff fast approaching, we're looking at one player to watch at each defensive position. The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Cincinnati Bengals in the first preseason game of the summer, where there will be plenty to watch. It's unknown if Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, and any of the key starters will play. At the same time, Thursday night offers a debut opportunity for Jihaad Campbell at linebacker. For Cincinnati, head coach Zac Taylor has already confirmed that his starters will play at least a series, and could play into the second quarter. With kickoff fast approaching, we're looking at one player to watch at each defensive position. DB Maxen Hook – Toledo #37 A former teammate of star cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, Hook was a first-team All-MAC selection in 2024, his third straight season earning the honor. He was the third Toledo Rocket to make an All-MAC team in four seasons. Hook could be this year's Reed Blankenship. DB Brandon Johnson – Oregon #35 Named All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2024, Johnson played in 14 games for the Ducks, logging 45 tackles, five pass breakups, and 4.5 tackles for loss. Johnson played three seasons at Duke before transferring to Oregon. DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. Philadelphia drafted All-American pass rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland in the sixth round, and the former Virginia Tech star will look to show his explosiveness off the edge. DT Gabe Hall A rugged and versatile player at Baylor, a rookie free agent out of Baylor last season (6-6, 295 pounds), was on the practice squad for the entire season. He'll need a decisive training camp, but he can rush the passer and bring athleticism to the defensive tackle position. LB Dallas Gant A rookie free agent signing of the Vikings following the 2024 NFL Draft, Gant (6-2, 224 pounds) was a college teammate of cornerback Quinyon Mitchell at Toledo. CB Tariq Castro-Fields Castro-Fields was drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 draft by the 49ers. After a few months with the team, he was waived. The Commanders then picked him up, and he played in eight games, recording four tackles. Castro-Fields was picked up on waivers by the Panthers to begin the 2024 season, and he played nine snaps on special teams. He will be looking to establish himself as a key player in the Eagles' talented secondary. S Andre Sam Sam spent the season on the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad. Sam (5-11, 191 pounds) jumped from FCS after starting his career in 2017 at McNeese State, where he was selected First Team All-Southland Conference twice. Sam transferred to Marshall for the 2022 season before spending his final season at LSU. Overall, he played 58 games in college, registering 144 tackles, ten pass defenses, and nine interceptions. Sam has spent the past two off-seasons training with C.J. Gardner-Johnson and could prepare to carve out a key role in year three.
NBC Sports
05-08-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Seahawks sign RB Anthony Tyus, waive RB Donovan Kaufman
The Seahawks have swapped one young running back for another. Seattle announced on Tuesday that the club has signed running back Anthony Tyus. Tyus, an undrafted rookie out of Ohio University, briefly spent time with the Lions this offseason. He rushed for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, becoming a second-team All-MAC honoree. As a corresponding move, the Seahawks waived rookie running back Donovan Kaufman.
USA Today
29-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
49ers Training Camp: Could San Francisco start three rookies in their front seven in 2025?
The San Francisco 49ers are motoring through their 2025 training camp at the SAP Performance Facility next to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and that includes their first padded practice session of the year on Monday. With pads on, coaches and players can get a much better idea of how they'll play in games than jerseys, pants and shells. That is especially true for the defense, as they can finally use some of that physicality when making tackles or taking on blockers. Through five days of camp, the 49ers have had a few players stand out, but the three defensive linemen that they took in the first four rounds of the 2025 NFL draft - Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins and CJ West - have stood out. If they're all practicing like they have been, and it continues into the preseason games, they may all earn starting roles, or at least key rotational roles, when the regular season comes along. Williams, 21, was San Francisco's first selection this year (No. 11 overall) after a two-time All-SEC career at Georgia that included a national championship. He should be the team's starting edge rusher opposite Nick Bosa, with Bryce Huff, who the 49ers acquired in a trade this offseason, likely playing a fair amount as well. Collins, 23, played at Texas from 2020-24, earning All-SEC and All-American honors last year before the 49ers took him in the second round (No. 43 overall). At 6-foot-6 and 332 pounds, Collins is a physical presence, who entered training camp with the expectation that he'll push out one of Jordan Elliott or Kevin Givens in the interior defensive line. West, 23, spent four seasons at Kent State (2020-23), where he earned All-MAC honors once, before transferring to Indiana for his final year in college. San Francisco took him in the fourth round (No. 113 overall) this year, and while many penciled him in as a backup in 2025, his performance on Monday have some questioning that decision. Even defensive coordinator Robert Saleh had positive things to say about the former Hoosier after his dominance. 'He's like a little fire hydrant, right? He's powerful. He's got heavy hands,' Saleh said during his media availability after the session. 'He's going to be fine. He's like a lot of rookies, there are so many things that they're learning, especially on the interior of the D-Line where it's a game within a game. You know, the first thing they learn is pocket push and then they learn how to capture an edge and rush from there. I wasn't there. I heard he did a really nice job over there, but I'm excited to get to the tape to see it.' With Williams all but guaranteed a starting role in Week 1, Collins and West are the questions of the trio. They'll have to do enough to unseat Elliott, who played 41.3% of defensive snaps last year and is entering the final year of a two-year, $7 million deal, and Givens, who played 17.3% of the snaps in 2024 and re-signed with San Francisco on a one-year, $2.05 million deal this offseason. It's going to take a lot of work from the rookies, but if they keep this up, all three could be on the field for the first defensive snaps of the season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sep. 7. And, if that's the case, not only will it speak to the front office's impressive work, but it will also set them up with a strong base to build on for years to come. However, it's still a little early for that. Let's let them get a second padded practice in before we put them down on the depth chart in permanent marker. More 49ers: 49ers roster move may be good news for WR dealing with potentially scary injury
