Latest news with #AtlanticCoastConferenceDefensivePlayeroftheYear
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
2024 WNBA draft pick Celeste Taylor joins Grand Canyon staff
Celeste Taylor, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is joining the coaching staff at Grand Canyon for the 2025-26 season. Taylor played collegiately at Texas and then Duke, where Grand Canyon head coach Winston Gandy was an assistant on the staff. She was a defensive standout for the Blue Devils, named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 among her accolades. She played her final college season at Ohio State. A 5-foot-11 guard, she was drafted in the second round by the Indiana Fever and also spent part of the season with the Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury. Her biggest contribution came in 15 games with the Mercury, where she averaged 3.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists over 20.1 minutes per game. Taylor, who turns 24 this month, said she was grateful to Gandy for the opportunity. "This is his first time as a head coach and it's at a program like GCU that's definitely up-and-coming and growing and a beautiful university, but I'm definitely grateful for him giving me the opportunity," Taylor told ESPN. "He wants to put the best people around him, so for him to look to me and believe in me, to be able to help him is a blessing." Whether this is a long-term job remains to be seen. She is recovering from a foot injury she suffered playing over the winter in Australia and wants to return to the WNBA in 2026. "There have been teams who wanted me to come back this season, and I think for me, it's trying to get healthy and trying to maintain in the space of being fit and looking at what's right for my body, listening to my body," she told ESPN. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Boston Globe
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Boston College rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku drafted in second round by Cowboys
Ezeiruaku earned Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors this past season, joining Mark Herzlich (2008) and Luke Kuechly (2011) in an exclusive club. He led the nation in regular-season sacks with 16½, which tied the BC single-season record. His 20½ tackles for loss placed him second in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Ezeiruaku was the program's first consensus All-American since Andre Williams in 2013. Advertisement 'It's very safe to say that he's one of the best players to ever play in this program,' head coach Bill O'Brien said in November. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Ezeiruaku's breakout performance this past season vaulted him into the national spotlight, but his journey hasn't been all glamorous. After a promising sophomore season, in which he led the team with 8½ sacks, Ezeiruaku took a step backward as a junior with just two. Navigating nonstop double-teams proved more tricky than expected, and he felt like a shell of himself. 'I had really high expectations,' Ezeiruaku said. 'I put a lot of pressure on myself. I feel like I was chasing the plays, chasing the stats, chasing the sacks, instead of just having fun and playing football.' After a demoralizing stretch, he attacked the offseason 'full throttle' and pieced together a monster senior year. Advertisement Once projected as a third-to-fourth-round pick, he quickly skyrocketed up draft boards as the season progressed. Ezeiruaku secured the top times in the three-cone drill (6.94 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.19) among all defensive ends at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, which solidified his status as a likely first- or second-round pick. Ezeiruaku, who clairvoyantly professed to his parents at age 10 that he wanted to play football for a living, has now made that a reality. He knows what he does with the opportunity is more important than which night he was chosen. 'As long as my foot's in the door, I can't complain,' Ezeiruaku said. Trevor Hass can be reached at
Boston Globe
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
NFL hopefuls get a chance to impress teams at BC's Pro Day in advance of draft
'If we could fast-forward and see ourselves now, it's crazy to think about,' Trapilo said. 'I've had a great time. I know he has, too. It's really a dream come true for both of us.' Advertisement Trapilo, a 6-foot-8-inch, 309-pound tackle, and Kendall, a 6-4, 299-pound center, headlined a group of 18 participants. Athletes took part in the broad jump, 40-yard dash, pro agility drills, position drills, and more. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Pro Day is always well-attended, but this one carried extra weight and yielded more commotion than most, with many potential draft picks in the building. For local hopefuls, this was the final task before the NFL Draft begins April 24. Now, it's time to put on the finishing touches and keep preparing for what lies ahead. 'All the hay is in the barn at this point,' Kendall said. 'You just wait and find out where you're going.' Star Ezeiruaku's stock has risen dramatically after an Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year season and a strong showing at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. Risking it now wouldn't be worth it. Ezeiruaku, a 6-2, 247-pound New Jersey native, said it's 'very surreal' to know he'll live out a childhood dream in the coming weeks. He said he's happy to go on any day, but adding his name and picture to the wall of first-round picks inside Fish 'wouldn't look too bad.' Advertisement He acknowledged there may be some happy tears whenever the time comes. 'I just can't wait to embrace that moment with my family and finally check that part off the goal sheet,' Ezeiruaku said. Defensive lineman Neto Okpala, linebacker Kam Arnold, running back Kye Robichaux, offensive lineman Jack Conley, and defensive lineman Cam Horsley were other former Eagles to participate Monday. All have a chance to go later in the draft or sign as an undrafted free agent. O'Brien said it's all about what happens after the draft. 'It's definitely a big part of your life, but it's just a part,' he said. 'It's what you do from that point forward. You've accomplished that. You've gotten to that point where an NFL team has brought you into their organization, but now what are you going to do with it?' O'Brien, who welcomed 10 Patriots staffers to campus, had Vrabel address the entire team Monday morning. He said Former BC coach and current Patriots offensive line coach Doug Marrone was in attendance. While O'Brien made it clear he doesn't tell Vrabel who to draft, he believes players he coached have a chance to last in the NFL. O'Brien said it was also an opportunity for current BC players to see what the day is about and realize that they have a chance to reach that milestone. For quarterback Grayson James, who threw pinpoint passes to prospects with everyone watching, it's a potential glimpse into the near future. Advertisement 'They're coming here because they want to be around BC guys and see what they're all about,' O'Brien said. 'Maybe eventually they would draft them. I think that's a big part of today.' ⋅ Trapilo and Kendall have worked closely with former Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia over the past few months. 'He's a legend,' Kendall said. 'He's a Patriots legend. He's an NFL legend. He's an offensive line guru. It's just learning from him, focusing on a lot of things he saw in my game that I need to focus on.' They've also trained with Chris Lindstrom, a former BC great and current All-Pro guard with the Atlanta Falcons. ⋅ O'Brien said Marrone spent a lot of time with Ezeiruaku last year to collaborate on a pass-rush plan. 'Donovan did a great job of putting that plan into action,' O'Brien said. 'He did an unbelievable job. He never quit, he never gave up. He actually won us a couple games single-handedly.' ⋅ Vrabel joins a growing list of NFL names who have spoken to the Eagles, including Julian Edelman and Matt Ryan. O'Brien continues to lean into his local roots and connections. 'It's a special opportunity to have someone like Mike come in and speak to the team,' O'Brien said. Trevor Hass can be reached at
