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USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
6 things to know about new Rams WR Britain Covey, the NFL's top punt returner in 2023
6 things to know about new Rams WR Britain Covey, the NFL's top punt returner in 2023 The Los Angeles Rams added another return specialist and wide receiver to their roster on Monday when they signed Britain Covey to a one-year deal. Covey spent the last three years with the Eagles, primarily contributing as a returner in Philadelphia. He'll now try to make the Rams' roster this offseason, potentially helping out on offense and special teams. Here are six things to know about the Rams' newest addition to the roster. He grew up in the same city as Puka Nacua Covey and Nacua have one thing in common: They're both from Provo, Utah. Covey is 5 years older than Nacua and attended a different high school (Timpview) but they both have ties to Provo. While Nacua was actually born in Las Vegas and grew up in Provo, Covey was born and raised in the city. He attended the University of Utah after graduating high school, staying close to home. He was an outstanding high school QB, going 26-0 as a starter Covey was only a starter in high school for two years but he certainly made them count. As Timpview's starting QB, he went a perfect 26-0, won back-to-back state championships, threw 56 touchdown passes and had 4,492 passing yards and was named Utah Valley Football Player of the Year twice. He did a lot of his damage on the ground, too, rushing for 2,904 yards and 44 touchdowns. In his career, he scored 111 total touchdowns. He was a first-team All-American returner in 2021 Covey had an instant impact at Utah, earning Freshman All-American honors in his first year when he led the Utes in receiving with 519 yards on 43 catches. He was also an honorable mention All-Pac 12 and had a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown as a freshman. After missing two years for an LDS religious mission in Chile, he returned to Utah in 2018 and picked up right where he left off. He was first-team All-Pac 12 as a returner in 2018, 2020 and 2021, also earning first-team All-American honors in his final season in 2021. He had three return touchdowns that year, all from at least 78 yards out. He's Utah's all-time leading punt returner As good as Covey was on offense, he was especially impactful as a returner. He finished his career at Utah as the school's all-time leader with 1,092 punt return yards, scoring five total return touchdowns. His best season came in 2021 when he had 29 punt returns for 427 yards and two touchdowns, also returning a kickoff 97 yards for a score. He led the NFL in punt return yards in 2023 Covey earned a spot on the Eagles' roster after going undrafted in 2022 because of his return skills. He returned 33 punts as a rookie in 2022, along with 10 kickoffs, totaling 514 all-purpose yards in his first year. He came back in 2023 and was even better, returning 29 punts for an NFL-leading 417 yards with a long of 54 yards. He's still waiting to score his first NFL touchdown but with his elusiveness, he could return a kick to the house at some point soon. He won Super Bowl LIX last season with the Eagles Covey didn't play in the Super Bowl and was limited to just five games, but he was still a member of the Eagles' championship squad. He caught seven passes for 34 yards in 2024 and returned six punts for 46 yards. He had two stints on the injured reserve list, which limited his availability significantly.
Boston Globe
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
The Patriots got their offensive lineman. What's next? Let's reset the draft board ahead of Night 2.
• Second round (No. 38) • Third round (No. 69) • Third round (No. 77 — from Atlanta) Saturday • Fourth round (No. 106) • Fifth round (No. 144) • Fifth round (No. 177 — from Dallas) • Seventh round (No. 220) • Seventh round (No. 238) There are a few intriguing Day 2 possibilities for the Patriots to consider. Advertisement WIDE RECEIVER Jayden Higgins: The 6-foot-4-inch, 214-pound Higgins is coming off two impressive years at Iowa State in which he caught 140 passes for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns. He's coming off a great workout at the combine. Big body-pass catcher who could theoretically grow into the role of an X receiver. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Jaylin Noel: The other half of Iowa State's impressive receiving combo, Noel is a 5-foot-10-inch, 194-pounder who has great speed and yards-after-catch ability. In four years, he had 245 receptions (including 80 last year) for 2,855 yards and 18 touchdowns. Luther Burden III: Burden does't have the same size as Higgins (6-feet, 206 pounds) but the Missouri product the same sort of elite speed and athleticism as Higgins. He had 192 catches, 2,263 yards, and 21 touchdowns in three seasons. Advertisement Tre Harris: Harris checks in at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, and is distinguished by his hands (he's impressed on contested catches) and quickness (which has translated to better than average yards after the catch). In two seasons at Ole Miss, he caught 114 passes for 2,015 yards and 15 touchdowns. Jack Bech: A 6-foot-1, 214-pounder out of TCU, Bech landed on the radar of most NFL fans when he was named the 2025 Senior Bowl MVP. After spending two seasons at LSU, he transferred to TCU and finished his career with a flourish, catching 62 passes for 1,034 yards and adding nine touchdowns. Not an overwhelming presence, but he rarely makes a mistake and is difficult to bring down. OFFENSIVE LINE While New England theoretically addressed one of its biggest needs with the pickup of OT Aireontae Ersery: The Minnesota product, who started 38 games at left tackle for the Gophers, is a 6-foot-6-inch, 331-pounder who was the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year. OT Ozzy Trapilo: This Norwell native was an All-ACC first-teamer in 2024, making all 12 regular-season starts at right tackle. The son of former All-American and NFL lineman Steve Trapilo, Advertisement OT Charles Grant: Another left tackle, this 6-foot-5-inch, 311-pounder started 41 games at the position at William & Mary. He was a second-team AP All-American in 2023. RG Tate Ratledge: This Georgia product, OL Jonah Savaiinaea: The guy did just about everything at Arizona, lining up at both tackle spots as well as right guard. A 6-foot-4-inch, 324-pounder, he's the sort of guy who might not be an every-game starter but can be a valuable piece of the puzzle because of his versatility. A team captain last year, he was honorable mention All-Pac 12 for three consecutive seasons. Tight end: The position isn't necessarily an overwhelming area of need for New England, but this is a draft that is relatively deep at the position. For a team with a pair of dependable tight ends — both Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper are 30-plus — it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Patriots use a Day 2 or 3 pick on someone like Harold Fannin Jr. out of Bowling Green (an FBS-leading 117 catches last year), LSU's Mason Taylor (the son of former Miami pass rusher Jason Taylor; he was the first 100-reception, 1,000-yard tight end in LSU history), or Miami's Elijah Arroyo (16.9 yards per catch in 2024). Read more on the Patriots and the NFL Draft Christopher Price can be reached at
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans select OL and WR in ESPN's NFL mock draft
Texans select OL and WR in ESPN's NFL mock draft ESPN's Field Yates has the Houston Texans adding two offensive elements to improve the production of Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud in his recent two-round NFL mock draft. With their first selection in Yates' mock, the Texans land a surprise in Houston native and Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson at pick No. 25. "Houston would continue its offensive upheaval with the addition of Jackson, who just cracks my top 20 prospects. He was a stalwart for multiple seasons at guard for Ohio State before kicking out to left tackle in October when Josh Simmons went down with a knee injury," Yates wrote on "Jackson immediately became comfortable in the position and was outstanding throughout the Buckeyes' national championship run. His best spot is still at guard, but he has invaluable positional flex to go along with power and toughness." The position flexibility would help Houston collectively build an offensive line surrounding its five best players. Jackson, a Texas native, might be better suited at guard, but he held his own in 11 games at left tackle en route to the Buckeyes' first national championship in 10 years. Should Jackson thrive in camp at right tackle, that would allow Tytus Howard to shift inside to left guard, thus shoring up the interior part of the offensive line. If former second-round pick Blake Fisher improves, Jackson should shift into one of the guard roles with Howard, allowing veteran Laken Tomlinson and former LSU star Ed Ingram to serve as upside backups. In the second round of the mock, Houston lands Washington State receiver and All-Pac 12 honoree Kyle Williams at pick No. 58. "Williams would bring juice to Houston's offense, considering he finished his college career on a TD heater, scoring nine over his final six games," Yates wrote. "Tank Dell's status for 2025 is uncertain (knee), Stefon Diggs is off to New England and newly acquired Christian Kirk is under contract for just one season." Should Dell return in 2025, he'll be slow to regain that straight-line speed. Enter Williams, who in his final two seasons with the Cougars totaled over 130 receptions and 20 touchdowns while averaging 15.7 yards per catch. The Texans have seven picks in the draft with four major needs, including interior offensive line, offensive tackle, wide receiver and defensive tackle depth.
