Latest news with #Forkpa
NBC Sports
30-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Rivals Five-Star: Breaking down the linebackers
Nicole Auerbach and Joshua Perry look into Wisconsin suing Miami for the transfer of defensive back Xavier Lucas, unpacking the money that flows through college football and the gray areas that exist with the portal. INDIANAPOLIS – The stars came out for the 2025 Rivals Five-Star event at the Indianapolis Colts' facility last week. Here we break down the top linebackers from the event. MORE FROM INDY: Highlights and analysis | Teams that should be pleased | Positional MVPs | Gorney Awards | Biggest surprises | Flip watch | QB analysis | RB analysis | WR analysis | TE analysis | OL analysis | DL analysis RECRUITING INTEL: Mid-South | Florida | West | Southeast | Midwest RIVALS FIVE-STAR MEDIA DAY: All the news, notes and interviews | The All-Lobby Team | How solid are the commitments? | Roster RIVALS FIVE-STAR INTERVIEWS: Jaden O'Neal | Trae Taylor | Chase Calicut | Samu Moala | Jake Kreul | Felix Ojo | Peyton Houston | CJ Sadler | Richard Wesley | JaReylan McCoy | Carter Scruggs | Nolan Wilson | Carson Sneed | Derrek Cooper | Devin Carter | Jayden Wade | Joel Wyatt | Kaden Henderson | Nick Abrams Abrams was outstanding all day, not making highlight plays all the time but being a solid linebacker, covering up running backs, running downfield with receivers during one-on-ones and then showing off great ranginess during the 7-on-7 tournament. The four-star linebacker from Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh, who has Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Oregon as his four finalists, had the longest wingspan of any linebacker at the Rivals Five-Star at 83 inches. He also boasted nearly 34-inch arms so he could unexpectedly knock down passes and tip balls. Abrams won the positional MVP award because he can cover so much ground. This is how impressively strong Forkpa is: The bench press winner was Clemson commit Grant Wise, who did 27 reps at 225 pounds and holds multiple Florida state records in weightlifting. Forkpa was one rep behind him. Not only is the four-star linebacker from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy super strong but he's not stiff, he can move and bat down passes. He trusts his eyes in coverage and then has the burst and speed to go after the ball and make the play. Florida, Michigan and others are battling it out for him. Moala did some reps coming off the edge during linemen one-on-ones and then flipped over and did many more with the linebacker group before playing 7-on-7 all afternoon. That's what has been so impressive about Moala, who reminds us a little of Jaelan Phillips. He has the physical presence to come off the edge and beat offensive tackles and then he can line up in space at linebacker, run with speedy receivers downfield and make life difficult at that position as well. That level of versatility should bode well in College Station. The Texas A&M commit reinforced his pledge to the Aggies over UCLA, Washington and others. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS A&M FANS AT White struggled a little bit with speedy receivers during the one-on-one session at Rivals Five-Star but it's often difficult – and unexpected in game settings – for linebackers to run 30 or 40 yards downfield in coverage. Once the Jackson (Miss.) Jackson Academy standout got his feet under him and used to the speed, he did much better, especially during 7-on-7. White was so good during 7-on-7 play that giving him the position MVP award was being seriously considered. His leaping interception near the end zone that stopped a drive from the opposing team was one of the best plays of the entire event.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Johnson City man convicted in 2021 overdose death
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Johnson City man has been convicted of murder in connection to another man's overdose death. A jury convicted Austin Forkpa of second-degree murder, sale of methamphetamine, and sale of fentanyl, according to a release by the district attorney's office. Forkpa was charged following the death of 20-year-old Bueford Patton III, who was found unresponsive by friends on Sept. 18, 2021. JCPD: Man facing attempted rape, indecent exposure charges According to the release, an investigation by Johnson City police revealed that Patton and two friends were attending a bachelor party when they obtained narcotics from Forkpa, who told them the drugs were Percocet and MDMA, or ecstasy. 'Unknown to the young men, Mr. Forkpa actually sold them fentanyl and methamphetamine,' the district attorney's office said. On June 4, the third day of the trial, the jury convicted Forkpa on all counts. The second-degree murder conviction carries a 15-25 year prison sentence at 100%, according to the release. Forkpa also faces 12-20 years at 35% for the sale of methamphetamine and 6-10 years for the sale of fentanyl. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Colorado, Florida impressing blue-chip LB Duyon Forkpa
The official visit slate for Duyon Forkpa is already underway. The Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy standout took in Colorado in early May and the Buffaloes immediately worked their way up his list of top contenders. Advertisement "It was amazing, I'm laughing just thinking about it," he said. "The best part was being able to sit down and talk ball with Coach (Andre') Hart. "I got to talk so much ball with them. That's the biggest thing, to see how you're going to be coached and developed there." The next trip up for Forkpa is right up I-75 to see the University of Florida once more. He was in Gainesville in December and the program has been on his mind ever since. "We're in contact all the time," he said of Billy Napier's program. "I don't want to play for somebody if I don't really trust them or have a good relationship with them. So talking to Coach (Robert) Bala all the time, and actually getting to know who he is, and him getting to know who I am strengthens our relationship." Advertisement The time on campuses of late has reminded the blue-chip 'backer, who took home positional MVP honors at the RCS Atlanta stop on Sunday, that he has a lot of relationship-building ahead of him. It heightens the importance of upcoming trips. Florida's official visit begins May 30, Florida State hosts him June 6 before Michigan June 13 and Cincinnati a week later. CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker The coaches Forkpa connects with will contribute plenty towards a final decision. Advertisement "It's very important," he said. "I want to be able to really talk ball and see the game how my coach sees the game." It also could extend the official visit slate into the 2025 college football season. "I can probably add to it," Forkpa said. "I may add an Auburn or Georgia Tech visit during the midweek. We'll see how things go. "Ohio State may switch with one, too." The potential to push trips into the fall would extend a decision-making window for the playmaking linebacker. "Once I'm done with all my OVs, maybe," Forkpa said of his timeline. "It may not go all the way to signing day, but probably during the season."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three Predictions: The U, Duyon Forkpa, Brian Harris
© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Rivals national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. has predictions on Miami signing a top-five class, an IMG Academy standout staying in Florida for college and a former Maryland commit ending up in the SEC. Advertisement CANTWELL COMMITMENT: Five pivotal moments that led Cantwell to Miami | Miami pulls off a stunner | Gorney: Kirby, UGA did everything right but it wasn't enough | Cantwell's decision stings Georgia the most | How often do No. 1 prospects flip from their original commitment? | Cantwell will be catalyst for Miami's next top class | coverage CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker MIAMI WILL FINISH WITH A TOP-FIVE CLASS Nick Lucero/ Advertisement Of course No. 1 recruit Jackson Cantwell is a major win for Mario Cristobal as his program works toward perhaps securing the top offensive line haul in the country, but the Cantwell addition will also help to push other recruits toward Miami. The Hurricanes are currently No. 8 in the Rivals Team Recruiting Rankings, but I predict their climb to continue into the the top five. The U never lacks on the trail, but the late-breaking win over Georgia and Oregon sent shockwaves through the industry and should allow for even more momentum to muster with additional elite targets. Priority No. 1 going forward, and perhaps prior, is the top prospect in South Florida: Derrek Cooper. The five-star running back has a national offer list and just hosted Ohio State and Texas coaches for visits, but Miami and Georgia have been the front-runners in this race for quite some time. Advertisement Sound familiar? Miami is recruiting against the very best close to home and beyond, and Cristobal is coming up on the winning side more and more as time rolls on. Landing Cooper would represent the second-straight cycle in which the area's top recruit stays home at The U after the Hurricanes secured Bryce Fitzgerald in 2025. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MIAMI FANS AT DUYON FORKPA WILL PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN FLORIDA DQ Forkpa Georgia native Duyon Forkpa made the move to IMG Academy after his junior football season and he has fit right in thus far. The rocked-up linebacker, who clocked a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash this offseason, has seen his offer list explode. Forkpa has also hit the visit trail hard since the move to the Sunshine State. Advertisement Florida State hosted Forkpa earlier in the spring and the Seminoles built some buzz. It may have shifted to a rival, however, following a visit to Gainesville to check out the Florida Gators thereafter. Michigan, Colorado and several other programs are working to get the blue-chipper out of the state, but the momentum is with Billy Napier's staff at the moment. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH FLORIDA FANS AT 1ST AND TEN FLORIDA SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH FSU FANS AT BRIAN HARRIS WILL SIGN WITH AN SEC PROGRAM Jeff McCulloch/ An early Big Ten commitment to Maryland before seeing dozens of new scholarship offers come in, Brian Harris has a final five of Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State and South Carolina going into a May 23 decision. The Big Ten still plays a strong role in this one, and Penn State looked to be in the best shape earlier this spring, but we now see this recruitment staying closer to home for the Floridian – at least by conference standards. Advertisement Harris should be considered an SEC lean, not only by the conference sporting the majority of the finalists, but also by the visits and offer trends late in this recruitment. 'Bama is the most recent offer, shortly after a trip to Tuscaloosa. Oklahoma was a game-changer that also resulted in an immediate trip to Norman. South Carolina was the first SEC program to jump in and that vote of confidence has played a larger role as the recruitment has rolled on through spring football. Sources close to the Jacksonville native point to the Sooners and Gamecocks as two of the major players jockeying for position down the stretch, for what it's worth.
