Latest news with #FreshmanAll-America
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Greg McElroy Didn't Hesitate When Naming The Best Defense In College Football
Greg McElroy Didn't Hesitate When Naming The Best Defense In College Football originally appeared on Athlon Sports. ESPN analyst and former national champion quarterback Greg McElroy believes one defense sits above the rest ahead of the 2025 college football season. Advertisement The Ohio State Buckeyes fielded the top defense last season on the way to their ninth national championship and first under head coach Ryan Day. That group will look differently this season, though, with multiple NFL draft departures and the transition at coordinator from Jim Knowles to Matt Patrica. McElroy is still high on the Buckeyes, ranking them at No. 2 on his list of the top-10 defenses after spring practice and before fall camp. Leading the country, according to the former Alabama quarterback, is the Texas Longhorns. Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski instructs players during practice Austin American-Statesman-USA TO "This group has a ridiculously high ceiling this upcoming season," McElroy said Monday on "Always College Football." "I don't think there's a group in the country that can get after the quarterback better. That's what makes the Texas Longhorns the number one defense in the country heading into the 2025 season." Advertisement Texas and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski had some holes on the interior after NFL draft departures, leading to some notable pickups via the transfer portal like Maraad Watson (Syracuse), Hero Kanu (Ohio State), Travis Shaw (North Carolina) and Cole Brevard (Purdue). The Longhorns return two of the top pass rushers in the country in linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and EDGE Collin Simmons. Hill racked up eight sacks, 17 tackles for loss and earned First-Team All-America honors as a sophomore last season while Simmons posted nine sacks, 14 tackles for loss and took home Freshman All-America honors. McElroy tabbed Hill as the best linebacker in the nation and referred to Simmons as the most feared pass rusher outside of South Carolina's Dylan Stewart. Advertisement "The guy's a complete superstar," McElroy said of Hill. "I think he's the best linebacker in the country. Ridiculously athletic, amazing against the run and the pass, and he's versatile enough to win a third down situation." "I'm not sure there is a more feared pass rusher in the SEC outside of maybe Dylan Stewart, but he's expected to take on an even bigger role here in 2025," McElroy said of Simmons. In the secondary, Texas returns star safety Michael Taaffe alongside experienced cornerback Malik Muhammad. Jelani McDonald returns at nickel and Derek Williams Jr. is back after missing most of the 2024 season due to injury. High expectations surround the Longhorns' defense after finishing third nationally in scoring (15.3 points per game) last season. Advertisement However, It appears that there is enough talent and experience for a third consecutive College Football Playoff berth. That's if, of course, new starting quarterback Arch Manning can keep the offensive success rolling. Related: Updated Recruiting Rankings Feature New No. 1 Team After 5-Star Prospect's Commitment Related: SEC Powerhouse Emerges As Leader For Nation's No. 1 DL This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does Jaydn Ott land in ESPN's spring portal player rankings?
Where does Jaydn Ott land in ESPN's spring portal player rankings? With spring football practice and the NCAA spring transfer portal window in the rearview mirror, we've reached a (mostly) quiet part of the college football offseason. Teams will return after their post-spring ball break for summer workouts, and then fall camp and media days will be here before we know it. The spring was a very busy time for the Oklahoma Sooners, as they wrapped up spring ball on April 12th with the first-ever "Crimson Combine". But, most of the news came via the spring portal window, and OU's movement within. It was new general manager Jim Nagy's first crack at player acquisition and roster management, and he seemed to be up to the challenge. The Sooners faced some drama with defensive tackle David Stone entering the portal, but Nagy, head coach Brent Venables and assistant coaches like Todd Bates convinced him to withdraw a few days later. While retaining Stone was arguably the biggest move of the spring portal window for the Sooners, the acquisition of former Cal running back Jaydn Ott would have to be a close second. In their ranking of transfers from the spring portal window, ESPN ranked Ott third overall on the list. He came in behind only former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who transferred to UCLA, and former Stanford outside linebacker David Bailey, who transferred to Texas Tech. "Cal fought hard to keep Ott in the fold for 2025, but one of the top returning backs in college football is hitting the open market. Ott got off to a spectacular start to his career with the Bears, earning Freshman All-America honors as a true freshman starter in 2022 after putting up 1,218 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns in his debut season. He was even better as a sophomore, leading the Pac-12 with 1,315 rushing yards and 12 TDs on his way to first-team all-conference honors. Last year, though, an ankle injury suffered in the season opener made it tough for Ott to play up to his potential. He still managed to play in 10 games but finished the year with 385 rushing yards on 3.3 yards per carry and five total scores. After receiving significant SEC interest this offseason, Ott is ready to get back to playing at a high level but is now looking to do so elsewhere for his senior season." - Max Olson, ESPN. Ott's potential is obvious, and his production from when he was healthy has Sooner fans salivating. His health will be a major key in 205, but he's got a chance to be a star in Norman. "Ott could be at the top of NFL draft boards if there wasn't a drop-off in production last season. While he lacked a formidable offensive line and played on an injured ankle, he still lacked the explosive runs we saw as an underclassman. He'll still be highly coveted in the spring portal market as an instant-impact weapon with his dynamic traits. Ott possesses exceptional feet and lateral agility. He's a verified 4.5 laser in the 40-yard dash with impressive explosive metrics, but his best asset is his vision and ability to pick and slide gap to gap with quick-twitch elusiveness. Ott doesn't give defenders a clean shot in the hole and can stretch and bounce to the perimeter just as effectively. He breaks tackles with balance more than power and is a productive pass-catching weapon out of the backfield, which raises his value and ability to fit into most schemes. Given the wear on the tires, he might not be able to carry the whole load in the backfield." - Billy Tucker, ESPN. Ott steps into the lead back role for the Sooners, and he should be the first option in a room with a lot of good players. His ability could take the Oklahoma offense to another level, lining up next to John Mateer. "The Sooners got solid production from Jovantae Barnes and some encouraging play from Xavier Robinson last season, but they couldn't pass up the opportunity to add a true No. 1 back. He'll team up with quarterback John Mateer in Norman in what should be one of the SEC's most improved offenses this fall." - Olson, ESPN. Ott could have a huge impact this fall, especially if he can stay healthy in a Sooner uniform. While that was the biggest acquisition that Nagy made this spring, Oklahoma wasn't done. They have also added depth at defensive tackle, center, wide receiver, kicker and quarterback. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin football lands commitment from Purdue transfer specialist
Wisconsin football landed a commitment from Purdue transfer long snapper Nick Levy on Sunday. Levy joins the Badgers after one year with the Boilermakers. The rising senior began his college career at William & Mary (Football Championship Subdivision), where he started at long snapper in all 24 of the team's games over two seasons. His time with the Tribe was highlighted by a Freshman All-America honor in 2022. Advertisement The Ashburn, Virginia, native transferred to Purdue for the 2024 campaign. He started all 12 games at long snapper, finishing the campaign with an All-Big Ten honorable mention distinction. The Purdue transfer specialist is Wisconsin's second long-snapper commitment of the offseason, following Arkansas transfer Eli Stein. His addition indicates a lack of stability at the position, one that was handled masterfully by senior Cayson Pfeiffer in 2024. The remainder of the offseason will likely see a competition between the two transfer long-snappers, Stein and Levy, for the starting job. It is a key position on a special-teams unit that is in flux. Uncertainty also exists at punt returner and kick returner. Advertisement Wisconsin's overall transfer class, including winter and spring commitments, ranks No. 14 nationally. Seven blue-chip players are among the 18 commitments. That ranking can be tough to rely on, however, as tight end Tanner Koziol and wide receiver Mark Hamper, who were winter additions have already transferred out. For more on the Badgers' spring transfer movement and remaining roster needs, bookmark our 2025 spring window tracker. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football Purdue transfer portal Nick Levy commitment
NBC Sports
30-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2026 NFL Mock Draft: A way-too-early look at where Arch Manning, Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier might fit
With the 2025 NFL Draft now in the books, we turn the page to what a theoretical 2026 draft might look like. Arch Manning is widely rumored to be sticking around Austin for a couple of years, but he's eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft and as such, needs to be considered in any mock scenario until we have a firm answer on his intentions. This is mostly intended to be a fun exercise while also providing an early look at the names we'll likely be discussing a year from now. (Note: Draft order determined by PFF Mock Draft Simulator) Michael David Smith, 1) New York Giants The Giants have QB Jaxson Dart in the fold already, so trading down is a very strong possibility here with the glut of quarterback-starved teams in the NFL right now. Proctor would give Dart a dependable blindside pass protector to grow with. 2) Cleveland Browns The Browns traded back in 2025 with this moment in mind, as they now have the extra draft capital to move up for their preferred QB, if needed. With Manning falling in this scenario, Cleveland secures a rare high-end signal caller with an iconic family legacy to build the franchise around. 3) Tennessee Titans Parker (6-3, 265 pounds) wreaked havoc on ACC backfields last year, cheating 51 pressures with 35 stops and an 87.4 defensive grade. Tennessee strengthens its defense and adds another young pass rusher alongside 2025 second-round pick Oluwafemi Oladejo. 4) New York Jets The Justin Fields experiment is merely a stopgap measure until a long-term answer is uncovered for the Jets quarterback position. Klubnik (6-2, 210 pounds) is a former five-star recruit who came of age last year and is piloting a lethal Clemson offense that is loaded with three future NFL wide receivers. 5) New Orleans Saints Downs (6-0, 205 pounds) is arguably the best defensive player in the country and an immediate game changer for whatever franchise takes him. The best safety prospect since Kyle Hamilton, Downs is worthy of his sky-high fifth-overall draft capital in this scenario. 6) Carolina Panthers Bain (6-3, 275 pounds) is a massive, full-sized edge defender who took the ACC by storm in 2023, earning Freshman All-America accolades after recording 45 pressures and 27 stops for the Canes. He needs to clean up an elevated 26% missed tackle rate, but Bain has a dense frame that is made for the NFL. 7) Las Vegas Raiders Sellers (6-3, 242 pounds) has the prototype dimensions and arm strength NFL franchises covet in their QB1. He got acclimated to the college game in his first season as a starter, completing 65% of his passes while holding onto the ball for an average of 3.30 seconds per pass, which needs to come down. All the tools are in place for Sellers to emerge in Year 3. 8) Indianapolis Colts Allar (6-5, 235 pounds) thrived in OC Andy Kotelnicki's offense, with his 65.8 pressure passing grade ranking fourth among returning quarterbacks. This selection allows Indianapolis to move on from the failed Anthony Richardson experiment. 9) Dallas Cowboys Terrell (5-11, 180 pounds) is the brother of Tigers legend and first-round NFL Pro Bowler, A.J. Terrell. The Second Team All-ACC selection recorded 13 PBU, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and 64 tackles as a complete corner and should be an anchor for the Cowboys' secondary for years to come. 10) Cleveland Browns (from JAX) Cleveland pairs its new franchise quarterback, Arch Manning, with the most electric receiver from the 2026 draft class. Tyson (6-1, 195 pounds) averaged 3.04 yards per route with a 67% contested catch rate (10-of-15) for the Big 12 champs, as QB Sam Leavitt and much of the offense returns intact. 11) Seattle Seahawks Clemson is absolutely loaded on both sides of the ball, as Woods (6-3, 315 pounds) is a special athlete who lined up at EDGE for 171 of his 395 defensive snaps despite weighing 315 pounds. The third-year player is a force on the interior as a two-gapping run stopper who tears through 1-on-1 matchups. 12) New England Patriots The Patriots had one of the least effective pass rushes in the NFL last season. With most of the team's early 2025 draft resources being allocated to the offense, New England selects Overton (6-5, 283 pounds) to be a physical edge-setter they sorely need. 13) Los Angeles Rams (from ATL) The Rams traded back in Round 1 this year in order to stock up in case aging QB Matthew Stafford tries to hold the franchise ransom and demand a trade again next offseason. The son of QB Coach and former Dallas Cowboys backup Doug Nussmeier, Garrett (6-2, 200 pounds) is a polished pocket passer who posted a superb 83rd percentile offensive grade without the benefit of play-action last year, the top mark among returning FBS signal callers. 14) Pittsburgh Steelers You'd have to expect Pittsburgh would consider moving back should the top five 2026 quarterbacks be off the board, as they are in this exercise. More realistically, the Steelers will probably end up with a top 10 selection since Mason Rudolph is set to lead them into battle this fall, which is a losing proposition. With all potential top QB options exhausted here, Miami OT Mauigoa (6-6, 315 pounds) will have to suffice. 15) Miami Dolphins The Phins were favorites to select an offensive tackle this year, but pivoted to Kenneth Grant before selecting Arizona G Jonah Savaiinaea in Round 2. Fano (6-5, 302 pounds) has light feet and plays heavier than his 302 pounds suggest having allowed just one sack and two hits in 424 pass block reps last year. 16) Chicago Bears Spurned by the Raiders for Ashton Jeanty, and later by the Patriots who took RB TreVeyon Henderson one pick before them in Round 2, the Bears go with the most bankable back from the 2026 class in Love (6-0, 206 pounds). 17) Arizona Cardinals Whether Marvin Harrison Jr. takes a step this year or not, Arizona needs a dependable WR2 to help roll coverage away from their budding WR1. Williams (5-11, 190 pounds) is a fluid mover who has the versatility to play outside or slot depending on the situation. 18) Minnesota Vikings The Vikings were widely assumed to be taking a defensive tackle in the 2025 first round, but opted to give their new starting quarterback, JJ McCarthy, a plug-and-play starting guard in Donovan Jackson. Faulk is listed at a massive 6-6. 288 pounds and has the ability to set a hard edge or create interior pressure from the three tech. 19) Denver Broncos A true freak who posted a dominant 40% missed tackle rate while reeling in 25-of-28 passes while rotating in behind Rams second-round selection Terrance Ferguson, Sadiq (6-3, 245 pounds) is one of the most rocked up tight ends I've ever laid eyes on, and has the acceleration to turn upfield and burn trailing defenders. He could receive 80 touches this year and completely torch the Big Ten in the process. 20) Houston Texans PSU certainly knows how to churn out impact edge rushers such as Abdul Carter, Adisa Isaac and Micah Parsons. Dennis-Sutton (6-5, 266 pounds) is no exception after logging 45 pressures with 15.0 havoc plays and will give the Texans another devastating outside pass rushing threat opposite Will Anderson Jr. 21) Green Bay Packers McCoy (6-0, 193 pounds) boasts the second-highest coverage grade among returning Power 4 corners, allowing a dirt-low 15.8 QBR and 1.06 yards per coverage snap. It was a surprise when the Packers took a WR (Matthew Golden) in the first round for the first time in two decades. They now strengthen their secondary in order to deal with the fleet of talented wideouts in Minnesota, Chicago, and Detroit. 22) Tampa Bay Buccaneers A lynchpin of Texas' stout run defense that ranked seventh in EPA/rush last year, Hill Jr. (6-3, 235 pounds) recorded 7.5 sacks with a 19% pressure rate and 15.0 TFLs. He would immediately give Tampa Bay a productive, rangy middle linebacker to bolster the interior of its defense. 23) Los Angeles Chargers Despite rotating with a pair of talented edge rushers in Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart, Howell (6-4, 245 pounds) led the Aggies with 34 pressures and a 16.7% pressure rate that almost doubled Stewart's 8.4% rate in 2024. He would give the Chargers a dynamic speed rusher to disrupt the high-functioning Chiefs and Broncos passing offenses. 24) Washington Commanders Despite playing on one of the worst Power 4 defensive units at Stanford, Bailey has still managed to create a sterling 20.4% pressure rate with 16.0 havoc plays. He transfers to the well-funded Texas Tech Red Raiders this season and is poised to excel in head coach Joey Maguire's loaded defense. 25) Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati chose to strengthen its front seven with its 2025 draft capital, but now pivot to adding a lockdown cornerback to help the cause. Muhammad dialed up a 20% forced incompletion rate with 11 PBUs while allowing a microscopic .81 yards per coverage snap, and would represent an immediate upgrade. 26) Los Angeles Rams The Rams need a succession plan to rapidly-aging Davante Adams and Tate (6-3, 191 pounds) is a prototype X receiver poised to breakout as the WR2 for the National Champion Buckeyes. 27) Detroit Lions The brother of former FSU/Clemson quarterback DJ, Matayo Uiagalelei generated 10.5 sacks and is arguably the most disruptive EDGE in the Big Ten. He would form a game-wrecking duo with Aidan Hutchinson that could spell doom for NFC North offenses. 28) San Francisco 49ers Deebo Samuel is now a Commander, while Brandon Aiyuk will be 28 years old next year and San Francisco has shown it is willing to pivot in a moment's notice when it comes to its wide receivers. Lemon would give the 49ers a lethal slot receiver who can stretch the field and do the dirty work across the middle. 29) Kansas City Chiefs Stowers is a former four-star quarterback recruit who made the transition to tight end in 2023 and took off like a rocket ship at his new position, earning an 89th percentile receiving grade with an astounding 2.43 yards per route average. With Travis Kelce turning 36 this season, Stowers offers a smooth transition as their legendary TE ages out of the league in a year or two. 30) Philadelphia Eagles Barber (6-6, 314 pounds) has held down the left tackle spot at Florida for the last two seasons and is now slated to protect the blind side of potential future first-round quarterback DJ Lagway. Barber boasts ideal length and heft to become a multi-year starter in The League. 31) Baltimore Ravens Harris (6-1, 193 pounds) helped Penn State make the CFP Playoff last year by allowing a 41% completion rate, .57 yards per cover snap, and a superlative 16.8 QBR when targeted. He has legitimate CB1 upside and should at least settle in as a CB2 with his combination of length and speed on the outside. 32) Buffalo Bills One of my favorite defenders to watch from the 2026 class, Weeks (6-2, 228 pounds) leads all returning Power 4 linebackers with 56 stops to go with 17.0 havoc plays and a 22.2% pressure rate when blitzing. Buffalo's run defense would be instantly upgraded by plugging a blue-collar warrior like Weeks in the middle of the front.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tobias Harris starts, plays 35 minutes for Pistons in game No. 4 against New York
Tobias Harris starts, plays 35 minutes for Pistons in game No. 4 against New York No. 3 seed New York defeated No. 6 seed Detroit, 94-93, Sunday in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Former Tennessee basketball player Tobias Harris started and played 35 minutes for the Pistons. He totaled 18 points, eight rebounds, one steal and one block. Harris converted 6-of-15 field goal attempts and 6-for-6 free throw attempts. New York leads the best-of-seven series, 3-1. Harris played for the Vols from 2010-11 under head coach Bruce Pearl. In his one season at Tennessee, he averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 assists per game. He was a Second-Team All-SEC performer and a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team. Harris received Second-Team Freshman All-America honors by the USBWA. The former Vol was selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft (No. 19 overall) by the Bobcats. In his NBA career, Harris has played for Milwaukee (2011-13), Orlando (2013-16), Detroit (2016-18, 2024-25), the Clippers (2018-19) and Philadelphia (2019-24). Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
