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USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson is all over CBS Sports' 2025 college football award winner predictions
Clemson is all over CBS Sports' 2025 college football award winner predictions CBS Sports is forecasting a big year for several of Clemson's top playmakers. In its annual predictions for major college football awards, CBS named Cade Klubnik, T.J. Parker and Peter Woods as expected winners of national honors in 2025. Klubnik is projected to win the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's best quarterback. CBS' Will Backus wrote that Klubnik stands out due to his mobility, experience, and chemistry with offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. 'Klubnik also benefits from an excellent supporting class, highlighted by the ACC's top returning receiver in Antonio Williams,' Backus noted. Parker is CBS' pick for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which honors college football's top defensive player. After leading the nation with 12 sacks last season, Parker's ability to disrupt from the edge has him poised for more recognition. 'Few are better there than Parker,' Backus wrote. Woods is projected to win the Outland Trophy as the top interior lineman. Known for his elite athleticism and power, Woods racked up 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks last season. 'He's the type of defensive tackle that routinely commands double teams,' Backus said, adding that his presence opens up opportunities for teammates like Parker. Klubnik, Parker and Woods were the only ACC players included in CBS Sports' award predictions. CBS tabbed Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith as the early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee Titans rookie QB Cam Ward already showcasing himself as 'great leader'
Tennessee Titans rookie QB Cam Ward already showcasing himself as 'great leader' Show Caption Hide Caption Does Cam Ward have the pieces of a successful rookie quarterback? Former NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer has 3 things he looks for in rookie quarterbacks, and 1st overall draft pick Cam Ward has what he's looking for. Sports Seriously Quarterback Cam Ward is already doing his part to ingratiate himself as the Tennessee Titans' next franchise quarterback. Ward reported to rookie minicamp and started the process of learning everyone's name in the organization. 'I'm about business. I really want to be a pro. I want to be one of the great ones, and I want to be a good teammate at the end of the day,' Ward told the media. 'I want to win a lot of football games in my career.' TITANS 2025 SCHEDULE: Tennessee win-loss record predictions The 2025 No. 1 overall pick hopes to establish himself as a leader. 'I want to be a leader. I want to be there for my teammates,' Ward said. 'When everything goes down, I want to be the person to lift everybody back up.' So far so good. Ward's rookie teammates already view him as a chairman of the team. "He's just a great leader," Titans rookie tight end Gunnar Helm said to reporters. "Super easy to talk to, super easy to connect with, super easy to communicate with on the field." Titans head coach Brian Callahan, who played quarterback at UCLA, doesn't want to place the leadership burden on Ward too soon. He believes it'll happen organically as Ward gets more comfortable in the NFL. 'It's most important for quarterbacks, but Cam in particular. He just has to be himself. We're not asking him to do anything outside of what he would normally do. I think that personality will start to show as he moves forward and gets more comfortable and understands more,' Callahan said. 'Obviously, he's got to worry about himself first. He's got to make sure he knows what to do, how to do it and he's doing the things that he needs to do. But the leadership things come naturally. Those things show up as organically as possible as you're around players more and get more comfortable with people's personalities.' NFL SCHEDULE: Tracking latest news, rumors, updates about 2025 schedule Ward, who won the 2024 Davey O'Brien Award (college football's top quarterback) and was Miami's first player to win ACC Player of the Year, was the franchise's (including Oilers) third player to be drafted with the first overall pick. Tennessee has been marred by inept quarterback play in recent seasons. Will Levis didn't develop into a starting-caliber quarterback after he was selected in the second round in 2023. Levis tied an NFL-high with 18 turnovers last year and his 81.4 passer rating in 2024 ranked 29th among 32 quarterbacks with at least 300 dropbacks. The Titans haven't had a 3,000-yard passer since Ryan Tannehill in 2021. While it's incumbent upon quarterbacks to be leaders, it's more important for Ward to lead by example on the field, which is likely why Callahan stated Ward must 'worry about himself first.' The Titans have finished last in the AFC South in back-to-back seasons. They desperately need a quarterback to help them get out of the division basement. Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
BREAKING: Former Texas Longhorn QB Quinn Ewers drafted by Miami Dolphins
BREAKING: Former Texas Longhorn QB Quinn Ewers drafted by Miami Dolphins Q 🤘 With the 231st pick in the #NFLDraft, we have selected QB Quinn Ewers from @TexasFootball. — Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 26, 2025 Former Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers has been drafted by the Miami Dolphins. The Southlake, TX native was taken 231st in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Ewers was the starting QB at Texas for three years, leading UT to back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian thanks injuries cost Ewers in the draft. 'His quick release, his ability to make the short to intermediate throws is uncanny. I mean, this guy throws darts. The ball comes out of his hands so effortlessly, so precise and it's literally on point every single time, right? I give him credit — he worked at his craft, too. He was a shotgun, little more of an Air Raid-type quarterback that came into the program and really worked on the nuances, the play-action pass, the RPO game, the deep-ball shots. And I we saw him grow, not only physically, but I think mentally and emotionally, he turned into a great leader for us. So somebody is going to get a really good player that may be a little undervalued because of some of some of the injuries,' Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said in an appearance on Chris Simms' podcast. Ewers played in 35 games, leading the Longhorns to 27 wins. Over the past two seasons, he compiled a 21-4 record as a starter, the best two-year stretch for a Texas quarterback since Colt McCoy's 25-2 run in 2008-09. Ewers holds the longest active streak in the FBS with 26 consecutive games throwing a touchdown, the second-longest in Texas history behind McCoy's program record of 29. A semifinalist for the 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell Award, and Davey O'Brien Award, Ewers was also a top-10 finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He earned 2023 AP All-Big 12 Second Team honors and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Big 12 Championship Game. Ewers transferred to Texas from Ohio State in January 2022. To prepare for the NFL Draft, Ewers hired former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UCLA Under Fire For Decision In Nico Iamaleava Announcement
One of the more controversial college football transfer portal sagas came to an end on Sunday. After attempting to increase his pay at the University of Tennessee from $2.5 million to $4 million, Nico Iamaleava became a cautionary tale. The program decided it would be better off without the former five-star who led them to the College Football Playoff in 2024, letting him walk into a transfer portal market with minimal interest in his services. Advertisement Iamaleava ended up signing with the UCLA Bruins after they emerged as the lone program known to be interested in him. Although landing the No. 1 overall transfer is a big deal for a program like UCLA, which has had two winning seasons since 2016, it's already coming with a headache. When UCLA announced that Iamaleava had officially signed, they did so with a graphic of him wearing No. 8, which program and NFL legend Troy Aikman wore during his career with the Bruins. It's a number the program retired in 2014, and one that fans are not thrilled with being unretired for Iamaleava. "Did Troy sign off on this," questioned one fan. Advertisement "Isn't #8 retired by Troy Aikman @UCLAFootball," asked another. "Aikman must have given his Blessing," suspected another fan. "A $ was not available," joked another. "Embarrassing," commented one fan. Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8).© Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Prior to the signing of Iamaleava, the Bruins were expected to be riding with Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar, who has since decided to leave the program through the transfer portal after just a few months. If they do let Iamaleava wear No. 8, he has some big shoes to fill. During his time with the Bruins (1987-88), Aikman went 20-4 as a starter, led the program to a Cotton Bowl win, was a Heisman finalist, won the Davey O'Brien Award and was a consensus All-American. Advertisement In his lone season as the starter for the Vols, Iamaleava went 10-3, throwing for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns. It's safe to assume all eyes will be on him in 2025, as many will be eager to see if he lives up to the hype. Related: Deion Sends Clear Message to Players in Transfer Portal
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Warren Moon gives Cam Ward his blessing to wear retired no. 1 jersey, last worn in 2006
A Hall of Famer Hands Over His Number At Cam Ward's first press conference as a Tennessee Titan, there was a surprise no one expected. Before Ward spoke to the media, Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon stepped out from a side room holding a No. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 1 Titans jersey. Moon wore that number for the Houston Oilers, the team that later became the Titans, and the number had been retired in his honor since 2006. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi introduced Moon, who said he came because of the respect he has for Ward. 'I just came here because I got a lot of respect for this young man right here,' Moon said. 'I wore the No. 1 for a lot of different reasons and for a long time starting back in 1976. Now I'm part of the Titans family and my Oiler jersey will probably never be worn again. But the Tennessee Titans jersey is going to be worn by Cam to kind of revitalize it.' Why No. 1 Matters to Ward Ward wore No. 1 at Washington State and Miami. It became his identity as he rose from a zero-star recruit at Incarnate Word to one of the top quarterbacks in college football. Last season, he threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns at Miami, breaking school records and winning the Davey O'Brien Award for best collegiate quarterback. He was also a Heisman Trophy finalist. Ward is originally from West Columbia, Texas, just an hour outside of Houston, but he never saw Moon play. He only became familiar with Moon during the NFL draft process earlier this year. 'I didn't know much about him,' Ward said. 'Before I reached out to him, I watched his film to make sure he's legit and yeah, he was legit! I'm trying to get up to his level one day. He's a Hall of Famer and for me to be in that same number is an honor." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now How the Decision Happened Ward called Moon about a month ago and asked for permission to wear the No. 1 jersey. It wasn't the first time a Titans player had asked, but Moon said this time felt different. 'You start thinking about your legacy and the things that you established when you were playing,' Moon said. 'You want to make sure those things continue. He has a chance to create a great legacy for that number with this organization, where I did mine with the Houston organization, even though we're all part of the same thing." Moon also noted how Ward had played at Washington State, the rival of Moon's alma mater, the University of Washington and how both men were from the Houston area. Those small links made the connection feel more meaningful. Starting Fresh with a Legendary Jersey Moon played 17 seasons in the NFL, including 10 with the Oilers. He was a six-time Pro Bowler, won an Offensive Player of the Year award, and retired with 49,325 passing yards and 233 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, the same year the Titans retired his No. 1 jersey. Now that number belongs to Cam Ward, who will begin his NFL career with Moon's support behind him. Ward was visibly surprised at the press conference and hadn't known Moon would be there. The moment made it clear how serious the opportunity is and how rare. Very few retired numbers are ever brought back. Moon's decision shows trust in Ward, even though he hasn't played a single NFL snap yet. Before leaving, Moon offered a message to the young quarterback: 'Just to come here and be humble. You got to be able to give a little bit of yourself to each position on the football team. Keep getting better every day and improve the confidence teammates will have in him so every time he goes out on the field they say, 'We have a chance to win with this guy.''
