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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
DeVonta Smith and former Alabama players introduce a new wrinkle to the Eagles' practice
DeVonta Smith and former Alabama players introduce a new wrinkle to the Eagles' practice None of us will ever forget the adrenaline rush that came with the Philadelphia Eagles' announcement of DeVonta Smith's selection. We'll never forget where we were when he was on the receiving end of the "dagger" Jalen Hurts threw during Super Bowl 59. It has been more than seven years since Tua Tagovailoa hit him on 2nd and 26 during overtime of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. He's a little older now. He isn't much bigger. Our Skinny Batman... Our Slim Reaper... He keeps chugging along. It's hard to believe that DeVonta Smith enters year five as an Eagle. We've come a long way. His first reception doubled as his first TD vs. the Atlanta Falcons in the same Mercedes Benz Stadium in which he caught that pass from Tagovailoa years earlier. He set Philadelphia's franchise rookie record for receiving yards (916). He has won a Super Bowl, catching the aforementioned "Dagger" in his home state of Louisiana, Fast forward to the present, and Smith, now one of the elder statesmen on offense, is adding a helping hand wherever he can. Recently, a conversation about contested catches with head coach Nick Sirianni led to the introduction of a new drill he once ran as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide while terrorizing the college football landscape en route to his second CFP National Championship and the Heisman Trophy. Coach Sirianni spoke about this before the Eagles took the field for their fourth training camp practice since returning to the NovaCare Complex. The next time you see Smith 'Moss' somebody. Remember, he works hard to be as good as and as talented as he is. As of this story's release, he's recovering from some tightness in his back, so he sat out of the aforementioned fourth training camp workout. Fear not. His absence was precautionary. All signs point to him being on the field and present for the regular-season Week 1 opener vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs top-rated players in EA Sports College Football 26
The 2025 Ohio State football roster will feature the two highest-rated players in EA Sports College Football 26. According to leaked early rankings for the game, which will be released July 10, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the top-ranked player regardless of position. Smith checks in with a 98 overall rating. One of his teammates is right behind him. Junior safety Caleb Downs has a 96 player rating, one spot higher than anyone else in the game. Advertisement Both players are projected to be future top-10 NFL draft picks. Formerly the No. 1 recruit nationally, Smith signed with the Buckeyes as part of the 2024 class and made an immediate impact. As a freshman, he caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns while holding down a critical role on Ohio State's national championship team and rewriting the record books for first-year Buckeyes receivers. Ohio State has recently offered a scholarship to his younger brother, Angelo, a three-star safety prospect according to in the class of 2027. Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. Smith is also on the cover of the game, sharing that honor with Alabama's Ryan Williams. Advertisement Downs displayed two-way ability as a sophomore during the 2024 season, both as a safety and as a punt returner. According to Pro Football Focus, Downs played more than 1,000 snaps for the Buckeyes last year. He was a unanimous All-American in his first season with the Buckeyes after transferring from Alabama. Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs top-ranked players in new game
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What are Ohio State's player ratings in EA Sports College Football 26?
Ohio State boasts the highest-rated players in College Football 26, the newly released video game from EA Sports. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs, who are expected to anchor the Buckeyes' roster this year, are 98 and 96 overall, respectively. Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a pass during the College Football Playoff National Championship against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 22, 2025. Four others are at least 90 overall. They are tight end Max Klare (91), wide receiver Carnell Tate (91), linebacker Sonny Styles (90) and cornerback Davison Igbinosun (90). Advertisement Below is the full breakdown of the rankings of all Ohio State players. College Football 26: Top Ohio State ratings (Overall rating in parenthesis) Quarterback Julian Sayin (85) Tavien St. Clair (80) Lincoln Kienholz (80) Running back James Peoples (87) CJ Donaldson Jr. (86) Bo Jackson (80) Sam Williams-Dixon (76) Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (98) Carnell Tate (91) Brandon Inniss (80) Quincy Porter (78) Mylan Graham (78) Bryson Rodgers (76) De'Zie Jones (72) Bodpegn Miller (71) Tight end Max Klare (91) Jelani Thurman (82) Will Kacmarek (82) Bennett Christian (79) Nate Roberts (75) Max LeBlanc (71) John Ferlmann (56) Left tackle Ethan Onianwa (85) Ian Moore (75) Carter Lowe (74) Left guard Luke Montgomery (78) Jake Cook (69) Devontae Armstrong (69) Center Carson Hinzman (81) Joshua Padilla (74) Right guard Tegra Tshabola (80) Gabe VanSickle (71) Julian Goines-Jackson (67) Right tackle Austin Siereveld (78) Phillip Daniels (78) Devontae Armstrong (73) Defensive end Beau Atkinson (85) Kenyatta Jackson (84) C.J. Hicks (83) Caden Curry (81) Joshua Mickens (77) Logan George (77) Zion Grady (74) Dominic Kirks (74) Eric Mensah (74) Defensive tackle Eddrick Houston (85) Kayden McDonald (80) Tywone Malone Jr. (80) Jason Moore (77) Jarquez Carter (73) Trajen Odom (72) Linebacker Sonny Styles (90) Arvell Reese (85) Blake Carney (79) Payton Pierce (74) Garrett Stover (74) Riley Pettijohn (73) Tarvos Alford (73) Cornerback Davison Igbinosun (90) Jermaine Mathews Jr. (88) Lorenzo Styles Jr. (79) Aaron Scott Jr. (78) Travyon Fuller (77) Bryce West (76) Miles Lockhart (71) Safety Caleb Downs (96) Malik Hartford (79) Jaylen McClain (77) Keenan Nelson Jr. (76) Cody Haddad (71) De'Shawn Stewart (71) Leroy Roker III (66) Kicker Jayden Fielding (74) Jackson Courville (73) Casey Magyar (67) Punter Joe McGuire (76) Nick McLarty (71) Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@ and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more. Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What are Ohio State's EA Sports College Football 26 player ratings?
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
5 teams that should pounce on a Jameson Williams trade in near future
Heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions traded up from 32 to No. 12 to select Alabama's Jameson Williams in the first round because they thought they had a need for a No. 1 wide receiver. While they didn't know it at the time, he was already on the roster in the form of Amon-Ra St. Brown, who had just wrapped up an incredible rookie season where the fourth-round selection racked up 912 yards and five touchdowns. Lions general manager Brad Holmes' aggressive move required patience, knowing that Williams had suffered a torn ACL in the College Football Playoff National Championship. The recovery process from that injury limited Williams to just six games as a rookie, where he recorded one reception for 41 yards and a touchdown. Advertisement After improving to 354 yards and two touchdowns in his sophomore NFL season, Williams had a big breakout last year, recording 58 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns. Now he's entering his fourth season, which is typically the time when teams extend their prized former first-round picks with a high-dollar contract extension. Yet, despite the Lions already coming to terms with franchise cornerstones such as Aidan Hutchinson or Kerby Joseph, no such extension has come for Williams. His lack of long-term contract security has led to The Athletic's Colton Pouncy's assumption that the Lions could look to trade Williams, possibly as soon as next offseason. However, as we've seen, sometimes players are traded without any warning. Other times, rumored trade timelines can be accelerated by an aggressive offer. Ultimately, if Williams is mildly available, which teams could plot a trade for the Lions' former first-round pick? Here's a list of five potential landing spots. Cleveland Browns Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Jerry Jeudy has emerged as a respectable No. 1 option since arriving via trade from the Denver Broncos last season. However, the Browns aren't looking at Williams as their top option, like in Detroit, he'd be arriving as a complementary weapon who can help elevate the offense by providing a speed threat capable of taking short passes for long gains. Advertisement Las Vegas Raiders Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images The Las Vegas Raiders are ready to supercharge their offense after injecting Pete Carroll, Geno Smith, and Ashton Jeanty into the building, but what about the receiving corps? Plus, we all know how much the ghost of Al Davis would appreciate a receiver with speed to burn. Pittsburgh Steelers Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Steelers may be done targeting secondary weapons after adding Jonnu Smith, but they could get to training camp and realize more help is needed at the receiver position. If so, making an aggressive offer for Williams, who's still just 24 years old, could be a great way to boost their chances of returning to the playoffs and actually winning their first elimination game since 2016. Advertisement Buffalo Bills Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images While they managed to have the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL last season, the Buffalo Bills' receiving corps still lacks some star power. Adding Williams would give Josh Allen another receiver he'd have a hard time overthrowing, which could force defenses into a panic as they try covering every inch of the field. Kansas City Chiefs Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images We've already seen how effective Patrick Mahomes can be when he has a capable speed demon playing the receiver position. While Xavier Worthy may already be on the path for greatness, the Chiefs will eventually have to replace some of Travis Kelce's targets, and why not do so with someone who's a tough cover on any given Sunday? Advertisement Related: Pittsburgh Steelers' 4x All-Pro's roster spot could be in danger Related Headlines
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football director of operations Paul Federici announces retirement
With the 2025 Iowa football season just under two months away, the Hawkeyes will have a new Director of Operations as 21-year tenured Paul Federici announced his retirement on Tuesday after 21 years with the program. Federici spent the past 16 years as director of football operations, which followed a five-year tenure as director of athletic training services for the Hawkeyes. 'Paul has been an invaluable member of our program for more than 20 years,' head coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'He joined the team as an athletic trainer and rapidly became known for his skills, focus and commitment to the players. Several years later, Paul moved into the role of Director of Football Operations, which he has held for the past 16 years.' Among his duties as Director of Operations, Federici assisted with the planning, coordination, and implementation of Iowa's daily operation and travel plans beginning with the 2009 football season. Federici also served as a championship team operations liaison at the College Football Playoff National Championship games from 2015-19, served on the Rose Bowl Game Advisory Committee, and was the Big Ten representative on the National Football Operations Committee. 'It is incredibly challenging to manage all the details surrounding every facet of a football program — from logistics, to travel, to managing staff and player needs — and Paul has made it look effortless,' Ferentz added. 'We wish him well in retirement and thank him for making our program better.' In a statement of his own, Federici made sure to thank everyone he encountered during his 21 seasons with the program and share his appreciation for the knowledge he gained. "It has been an honor to contribute to the academic, athletic, and social experiences of the hundreds of players, 60+ football student managers, football staff, and extended student staff since 2004. Working with young people every day was beyond rewarding," said Federici. "It was a special privilege to learn from John Streif, Norm Parker, Ben Hansen, Andy Piro, Ken O'Keefe, Reese Morgan, and Dr. Ned Amendola,' added Federici. "Each provided unique personal and professional perspectives for which I will always be grateful. Coach Ferentz's leadership and consistent messaging to staff and players on skills focused on lifelong success is the fundamental cause of Iowa Football's sustained athletic and academic success." During his time on staff, the Hawkeyes won 172 games, had 18 winning seasons, shared two Big Ten Championships, won three Big Ten West Division titles, finished in the Big Ten's first division 19 times and appeared in 19 bowl games (including the 2020 Music City Bowl, which was canceled due to COVID). Before joining the Iowa program in 2004, Federici served as an assistant athletic trainer at Vanderbilt from 1987-93, where he later became the head athletic trainer for the Commodores from 1994-99. Between 1999 and 2004, he served as the head athletic trainer for the Seattle Seahawks for five seasons. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
