Latest news with #FreshmanAll-American
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens DC Zach Orr offers A1 critique of their new safety tandem
Ravens DC Zach Orr offers A1 critique of their new safety tandem Zach Orr sees something special brewing in the Ravens starting safety tandem. Pay close attention to the backend of the Baltimore Ravens' defense as mandatory minicamp and training camp ensue. How's that for stating the obvious, right? Several OTA practices have already given us so much to talk about. Rashod Bateman is set to enter another tax bracket after signing an extension. Ar'Darius Washington is in a contract season, but he is unfortunately injured. That has seemingly opened the door for the nearly-forgotten Jalyn Armour-Davis, who has since gotten some snaps and worked at the safety position. For the Ravens to take another step in the right direction and get back to the AFC Championship Game, the backend of their defense will need to take a few steps of their own. We know there isn't much to worry about with Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton. The latter has missed a few OTA sessions, but there's a lot of optimism in the tandem he will form with a newly-acquired and highly-touted rookie. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has a ton of faith in his starting safety duo. The first three seasons of Kyle Hamilton's career were good enough to inspire the potential envy of NFL stars who are five years his senior. He earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association's All-Rookie Team in 2022. He has only gotten better since then. A member of the past two Pro Bowl rosters, he earned a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2023 before being named a Second-Teamer in 2024. One star alone, however, does not an elite safety tandem make, so Baltimore found an answer and an upgrade during the first round of this past April's draft in Malaki Starks. Saying defense coordinator Zach Orr is excited would be a massive understatement. This past week, he expressed his expectation for Hamilton and Starks as a duo. The NFL is a long way from college football in terms of level of competition, but Starks looks like a sure thing. Baltimore is hoping his skill set translates to the highest level of football. During his time in Athens with the Georgia Bulldogs, he was named a Freshman All-American and became a College Football Playoff National Champion. He was a Consensus All-American in 2023, a First-team All-American in 2024, and has two First-Team All-SEC (2023, 2024) to show for his trouble. He's used to playing in big games. He's certain to play in several this season, and fortunately for him, though the pressure to perform will come quickly, he doesn't have to do everything on his own.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ryan Williams Reveals Conversation With Jeremiah Smith During College Football 26 Cover Shoot
Ryan Williams Reveals Conversation With Jeremiah Smith During College Football 26 Cover Shoot originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Alabama's Ryan Williams and Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith were two true freshmen playmakers who stole the show last season. Advertisement Both wide receivers appeared on the Freshman All-American teams and Smith broke out in a big way thanks to the Buckeyes winning a national championship. With the pending July 10 release of EA Sports College Football 26, Smith and Williams are expected to be a significant part of the game's marketing, given their status as premier players from two of college football's biggest programs. Williams, while being interviewed by On3's Andy Staples, revealed the topics of conversation shared with Smith during the game's cover shoot. "Whenever we were in Pasadena, of course, we talked about last season and him winning a national championship. I was super happy for him," Williams said. Advertisement Smith finished the 2024 season with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also ran for one touchdown and rushed for 47 yards. In addition to being the Rose Bowl MVP, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound receiver was Big Ten Receiver and Freshman of the Year as well as a first-team All-American. Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2).Will McLelland-Imagn Images "But you know, we both agreed that although last year was super fun, super great and we both had good freshman seasons," Williams continued. "We left a lot on the table. Just with that experience from last season, we're still super excited for what's to come this season." Williams ended last year with 48 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. He also added 48 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Advertisement Expectations for both Ohio State and Alabama are high, as it should be for two of the biggest schools in the country. In ESPN's latest way-too-early rankings, the Buckeyes are Crimson are listed at No. 5 and No. 9, respectively. Both programs have yet to name a starter at quarterback after each school lost last season's starter to the NFL draft. Alabama and Ohio State both begin next season on Aug. 30, with the Buckeyes hosting the Texas Longhorns and the Crimson Tide traveling to Tallahassee to play the Florida State Seminoles. Related: Kalen DeBoer Takes Clear Stance on Nine-Game SEC Schedule After Alabama's CFP Snub Related: Ohio State's Battle Between 5-Star QBs Has Predicted Winner This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
DJ Lagway's Confidant Gives Health Update, Sends Subtle Warning To Competitors
It was a solid year for the Florida Gators and head coach Billy Napier, compiling an 8-5 record, marking their first winning season since 2020 and defeating the Tulane Green Wave 33-8 in the Gasparilla Bowl. One of the biggest storylines throughout their season was the emergence of true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, who, unfortunately, throughout this offseason, has been battling a lower-body and shoulder injury. Advertisement His road to being fully healthy seems to be going well, though, with Deiric Jackson, the CEO and Owner of Legacy Sports Advisors, who represent the quarterback, offering an update and warning to other teams. "He's healthy now; he's going to have his full arsenal," Jackson said via On3's Keith Niebuhr. "People have not seen his full arsenal. Not even close. I'm looking forward to seeing it this upcoming season.' Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2).Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images That's amazing news, as he already showed flashes of greatness last season, completing 115-of-192 passes for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 154.9 passing efficiency rating. Advertisement Those solid numbers led Lagway to being named Freshman All-American by several organizations, including ESPN and the Football Writers Association of America. He also finished the 2024 season off on a relatively high note, being named the Gasparilla Bowl MVP after completing 22-of-35 passes for, one touchdown and two interceptions. It will remain to be seen if Lagway can help Florida take another step in the right direction in 2025, as they have what could be seen as low expectations with ESPN BET giving them the 10th-best odds (+3000) of winning the SEC. Related: Major College Football Program Lands Third Transfer Portal QB
Winnipeg Free Press
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Woodbey's wish granted by Bombers
September 21, 2019 — 4:27 p.m. ET. That's the exact moment Jaiden Woodbey thought his football career was over. Instead it became the inciting moment in what's been a tumultuous seven-year story for the versatile defender through college, with stops in the National Football League, Indoor Football League and now in the Canadian football League, where he is making a strong case to make the Winnipeg Blue Bombers roster out of training camp this spring. 'You want to talk about perseverance? Resilience? That's really everything that I've embodied,' Woodbey told the Free Press recently. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Winnipeg rookie defensive back Jaiden Woodbey (2) goes to knock down a pass at Blue Bombers training camp. It was the third quarter of Florida State University's fourth regular-season contest against the Louisville Cardinals when Woodbey's Seminole teammate, Carlos Becker III, landed on his left leg while making a tackle. Woodbey dropped in a heap and grabbed at the limb, which was evidently broken. But that was the least of his worries. The ACL, MCL, meniscus and posteromedial capsule in his knee were all completely torn — about as traumatic as it gets for sports-related knee injuries. 'It was the worst pain I've ever experienced,' said Woodbey, whose leg was put in an air cast and surgically put back together 48 hours later. A sensational safety-linebacker hybrid, Woodbey was in his second year and looked to be on a rocket ship trajectory to the NFL. He was highly-touted, arriving at Florida State with five-star recognition (the 27th ranked prospect in the country), and backing that up by starting 12 games as a true freshman — one of nine players to start every game as a first-year player in program history — and being named to a Freshman All-American. Now, the hard-hitting safety was delivered a huge blow to his future. 'I wasn't supposed to come back from that,' he said. 'It was definitely a change of events, and one of the lowest points of my life.' Woodbey's recovery timetable was guessed to be anywhere from 12-18 months at best, and that still didn't guarantee he would come back anywhere close to the same player he was before. He returned in six months and played the following season. 'It was a lot of resilience, a lot of work ethic,' he said. 'There was a lot of reasons for me to quit, and I kept going.' However, there were concerns about whether the product of Fontana, Calif., was still the same player. Talent evaluators didn't think so, and after three years at Florida State and a year at Boston College, Woodbey went unselected in the 2023 NFL draft. The 6-1 defender was signed by the Los Angeles Rams, who viewed him as a linebacker and asked him to put on an extra 10 pounds to fit the body type they were looking for. Woodbey, who weighed anywhere between 220 and 230 pounds since high school, got up to 244 pounds. He quickly impressed in camp and across three pre-season games, particularly as a special teamer, and was told he would make the practice squad. The rug was swept from under him again, as the Rams later signed a veteran, which pushed Woodbey out of the mix. Woodbey sat out the entire 2023 season waiting for an NFL opportunity that never materialized. In early 2024, he looked north to re-ignite his career. 'I took it upon myself to reach out. I still have it on my phone. I reached out to every CFL team, every CFL scout, every CFL position coach — I emailed them, texted them, (direct messaged) them on LinkedIn, on everything. I still have it on my phone to this today, my emails and everything,' said Woodbey. 'I only got two responses. One was from a coach that was at Calgary, now he's at Hamilton, and the running backs coach from Montreal (Dave Jackson).' BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea has been impressed with Jaiden Woodbey's football IQ at training camp. But again, nothing came of it. Woodbey's only offer was to play with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League, which proved to be a humbling experience, to say the least. 'I still wanted to play. And it was rough, playing in a hockey rink, with eight men on hard astro turf, getting paid $196. You gotta love football to do that,' he said. 'I was questioning myself, like, 'Is this over? Is football over? What did I do wrong throughout this whole process to get to where I'm at?' But I kept going because I love football. One thing I always tell myself is I'd rather keep playing until I can't, because you could work for the rest of your life. You can't play football for the rest of your life.' On March 6, three days after he hired an agent, Woodbey signed with the Bombers. It was the opportunity that the 25-year-old had prayed for, and he has done nothing but impress since arriving in the provincial capital. Woodbey, who is now down to 228 pounds, has primarily worked with the first and second team defence at linebacker this spring. He also believes he's still capable of playing defensive back. Woodbey, who earned two master's degrees in college, has already earned a reputation as a guy who could quickly learn a different position if needed. 'Smart,' said head coach Mike O'Shea. 'Certainly a guy that has picked up what we're doing very quickly from that linebacker spot. Playing a little (lighter) is always better in this league. We don't need 245-pound middle linebackers. But I think he knows that. So being more versatile and keeping the weight down, and being able to play all the special teams is important. 'But right off the hop, you see him, you see how much making this team is going to matter to him. He actually showed up here early to get the lay of the land and suss things out, which is pretty cool. On the field, he's shown right away that he's grasping everything pretty quickly.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. On Saturday, Woodbey will play his first game on a full-sized field in 21 months when the Bombers host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Princess Auto Stadium (3 p.m.). He's still trying to prove that he's the same player he's always been. 'I'm a big believer that everything is already written. So it's like you gotta have faith, you gotta believe. And my whole thing is, if you pray, why are you worrying? That means you don't believe in your prayers,' Woodbey said. 'I pray for these opportunities in these moments. So it's like, whatever happens is going to happen. It's already written. So that's why I just come out here with a smile on my face and just enjoy an opportunity.' Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Eagles Andrew Mukuba makes an exclusive list of non-first-round draft picks to watch
Eagles Andrew Mukuba makes an exclusive list of non-first-round draft picks to watch The post-draft praise continues for Eagles rookie Andrew Mukuba. Have you ever been excited about something? Have you ever taken time to do research after the fact and found out you weren't quite as enthusiastic as you should have been? Let's talk about the Philadelphia Eagles' 2025 NFL Draft class. In particular, we'll zero in on safety, Andrew Mukuba. The story alone will force a smile across your face. Taken 64th overall, with the final pick of the second round, this 2024 Third-Team All-SEC nod completed his NCAA run with the Texas Longhorns. This is after a three-year ride with the Clemson Tigers. He earned Third-Team All-ACC honors in 2021 and Freshman All-American honors, and guess what? While at Clemson, he was teammates with fellow Eagles youngsters Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Will Shipley. Andrew Mukuba earns high praise on an impressive list of NFL rookie defenders taken after Round 1. Mukuba's stat line from his final NCAA season will impress you: 69 tackles, seven pass breakups, a forced fumble, and five interceptions, which led the SEC in 2024. ESPN's Field Yates recently pieced together an impressive read, Ranking 2025 NFL rookie impact for non-Round 1 draft picks. Philly's young rookie landed ninth on his list of the top rookie defenders. Here's what Yates mentioned as his reasoning. "The Eagles' remodel of their secondary continued into the draft, as they used the final pick of the second round on the instinctive, pro-ready Mukuba. I love his football IQ, and while Mukuba has a smaller frame for a safety (he was only 186 pounds at the combine), he packs a lot of power as a physical tackler. His versatility to play in the slot a little bit should only increase early playing time." That should get the adrenaline pumping. Mukuba joins a safety room already housing Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, Lewis Cine, Tristin McCollum, Andre' Sam, and undrafted rookie Maxen Hook. Philly traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans. Mukuba figures to make that a seamless transition. He isn't the headhunter that Brown is. Still, both will add value to this young Eagles secondary, as the new guy is a better cover guy and a phenomenal playmaker whenever the football travels into his vicinity.
