Latest news with #IMGAcademy
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Former Colorado Defensive Back Lands With SEC Contender
Former Colorado Defensive Back Lands With SEC Contender originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Ole Miss added transfer defensive back Isreal Solomon this week. The former Colorado Buffaloes player made his way to Oxford after one year at Hawaii. He announced the move on social media Sunday. The 6-foot, 180-pounder will now be headed to the third stop in his college career. He joined Colorado as a preferred walk-on and wanted to learn in the secondary under Deion Sanders and his staff. After a year in Boulder, Solomon had a change of heart and wanted more playing time. His time at Hawaii was brief with Ole Miss pulling in one of the most underrated talents. Advertisement Solomon was a 'monster' on film and showed out time and time again. He was reportedly one of the only players to jam up No. 2 overall 2025 NFL Draft pick Travis Hunter in practice, giving a consistent challenge for the deep set of receivers. He nearly had a pick in CU's Black and Gold Spring Game before entering the portal. The Dallas, Texas native spent his 2023 season at IMG Academy and finished with 45 tackles, four interceptions, five pass breakups and 2.5 sacks. He was named Player of the Week six times during his senior season. Solomon made his way to Florida as the only recruit to play in both the Trinity League (CA), along with high-level Division I feeder IMG. Related: Travis Hunter Catching Attention Over Future Implications With Contract Two of the toughest at the high school level with a slew of NFL talent being produced from both. Solomon transferred to IMG as a senior from Santa Margarita Catholic HS in Southern California. He tore his labrum in the first game of the 2021 season but staged a massive comeback. Advertisement Related: Deion Sanders Ends Beef With Former NFL Player Since leaving Colorado, Solomon participated in a few camps, running a 4.38 at USC and 4.41 at TCU in the 40-yard dash. Both times sparked interest from several schools with Ole Miss being able to win him over. Being in the SEC was top on Solomon's list since leaving Coach Prime and the Buffs. Solomon will have all four years of eligibility at Ole Miss. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football gets commitment from 3-star offensive lineman out of IMG Academy
Florida football gets commitment from 3-star offensive lineman out of IMG Academy The Florida football program added its third verbal commitment to the 2026 recruiting class with the word from three-star offensive lineman G'Nivre Carr on Sunday. The 6-foot-4-inch, 336-pound trench warrior out of Ocala, Florida, who attended the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, amassed 35 offers before making his decision, choosing the Gators over the Tennessee Volunteers, Georgia Bulldogs and Colorado Buffaloes. Carr had initially set his commitment date for June 25 — after completing his official visit schedule — but jumped at the opportunity to join the Orange and Blue. Growing up just south of Gainesville, the rising senior has made plenty of trips up I-75 to see the school and the athletic facilities. This clearly played a role in his commitment to UF. "Because I'm homegrown, my physical, my character and all the other stuff meet their requirements, and they love me," Carr told Swamp247 prior to his decision. But proximity was not the only important variable in that equation, as offensive line coach Rob Sale and assistant offensive line coach John Decoster put in the work to make him feel welcomed at the program. "Florida has always made me a big priority," he also offered. "Just calling me every day... making sure I'm good, the fam's good. Calling my mom, my stepdad, all of them. It's just the little things for me." G'Nivre Carr's recruiting summary Carr is ranked No. 437 overall and No. 39 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 470 and 39, respectively. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
New to The Street Proudly Presents: IMG Academy to Be Featured in Original Special Broadcast on Bloomberg Television
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / May 29, 2025 / New to The Street, the nationally recognized business television series, proudly presents an exclusive original broadcast spotlighting IMG Academy, the world leader in sports education. The feature will air Saturday, May 31 at 6:30 PM ET on Bloomberg Television as sponsored programming. This televised special provides a rare inside look at IMG Academy's elite campus, transformative development model, and the innovative tools preparing the next generation of leaders both on and off the field. The segment will highlight how IMG Academy integrates world-class athletic training, rigorous academics, and personalized development to shape future collegiate athletes and high-character individuals. IMG Academy Highlights: Top 3 finalist for the World's Best School Prize - "Supporting Healthy Lives" (only U.S. finalist in the category)100% college acceptance rate for the Class of 202410 student-athletes accepted to Ivy League institutions20 student-athletes admitted to top 25 U.S. universities3 student-athletes accepted to U.S. Military Academies332 student-athletes committed to NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA programs4.35M+ athlete profile views on NCSA by college coaches in 202440,000+ college coaches on the NCSA recruiting platform31,000+ athlete college commitments in 202414 partnerships with national sports governing bodies Strategic Brand Alliances IMG Academy's mission is reinforced through strategic partnerships with top global brands that share its commitment to performance, innovation, and excellence. These include: Under Armour, Gatorade, Therabody, Merrill, Uni, Dunlop, and NTT Sonority. Cross-Platform Distribution The Bloomberg Television premiere will be amplified across New to The Street's media ecosystem, including distribution to its 2.5M+ YouTube subscribers, syndication across major social platforms, and iconic billboard exposure throughout Times Square and the NYC Financial District. About IMG AcademyIMG Academy is the world's leading sports education brand, offering a holistic model that prepares student-athletes to succeed in sport, college, and life. Based in Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy delivers a comprehensive suite of development programs through its state-of-the-art boarding school and sports camps. Its innovative online platform, IMG Academy+, provides personalized coaching with a focus on personal growth through athletic performance. Through its NCSA recruiting network, IMG Academy also connects student-athletes with more than 40,000 college coaches, offering unparalleled access, tools, and guidance to navigate the collegiate recruitment process. To learn more, visit About New to The StreetNew to The Street is a nationally syndicated business media platform known for long-form interviews with founders, executives, and public company leaders. Broadcasting weekly across Fox Business and Bloomberg Television as sponsored programming, the show reaches over 219 million U.S. households. With a digital footprint that includes 2.5+ million YouTube subscribers, 700K+ social followers, and the most powerful billboard presence in Times Square and NYC's Financial District, New to The Street is the only financial media brand delivering high-impact exposure across broadcast, digital, social, and out-of-home channels. Media Contact:Monica BrennanMonica@ SOURCE: New To The Street
New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
How NIL, new NCAA landscape alter expectations for DT Eric Gregory, Bengals UDFAs
CINCINNATI — As the sixth and seventh round of the draft unfolded last month, the frustration level grew incrementally, pick by pick, for Arkansas defensive tackle Eric Gregory. He started 44 games in the SEC, after all. He posted his most productive season last year. He's molded like an NFL defensive tackle prototype at an athletic 6-feet-3, 319 pounds. He had draftable grades. What was happening? Advertisement Then, late that Saturday afternoon, the phone rang. It was a team with an upcoming pick. He answered, prepared for a conversation he'd remember for the rest of his life. He got a sales pitch. A team calling to lure him in case he goes undrafted. The phone rang again from a team with a pick. Another sales pitch. Then another. 'That was a little upsetting,' Gregory said, serving up an understatement the size of the chip on his shoulder. 'I wanted to turn the phone off, but I knew I couldn't.' Instead, he turned on dad mode. In the most stressful moment, Gregory poured attention into his 1-year-old daughter, Aurora. That part was easy for the 24-year-old. Understanding how to handle setbacks and the perspective of what truly matters. Gregory's dealt with a quarter-century of adversity. His father recently died, and he moved from his hometown of Memphis in his senior year of high school to expand his profile at IMG Academy. He's had to live with coaches in the process. 'I have been on my own for a long time, so I kind of grew up fast,' Gregory said. 'With that type of stuff, you mature fast.' So, when Bengals defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery called after a draft where his team, surprisingly, didn't draft a single defensive tackle, Gregory realized the frustration of the day no longer mattered. Not for his career, not for his football future, not for his daughter or his son due in November. 'I knew immediately when I got off the phone with them,' Gregory said. 'Going in, I was a little mad I didn't get drafted. I felt like I should have been drafted. But the opportunities I have with the roster, I have a great opportunity to come in and produce right away.' Welcome to the new landscape of college football and rookie expectations. Gregory might be a rookie feeling like a freshman again in the hallways of Paycor Stadium during minicamp, getting fitted for pads and finding his locker. But he'll turn 25 the day before the Bengals' home opener and is a grown man in every way. Advertisement Gregory played a whopping 61 games for the Razorbacks. He played against current teammates Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase in the Battle of the Golden Boot in 2019. LSU won in a 56-20 rout, as they did against most teams that year, but Gregory shared the field. He'll do it again six years later. Every year brought a decision of whether to declare or stay. He stuck around, put on 90 pounds early in his career, changed positions from end to tackle and graduated. He could have come out last year, but NIL compensation kept him comfortable, and the extra COVID-19 year of eligibility gave him options. 'The plan is never to stay that long, but injuries come and life happens,' Gregory said. 'Just like last year, I decided to come back, I had a baby. I didn't want to be going through this new process right here with a newborn baby, so that's why I decided to stay there last year. It definitely was hard to stay that long. You want to get out there and come in younger.' Being 25 used to warrant a red flag next to a name on the draft board. That's not the case anymore. The Bengals have four rookies who will turn 25 this year, including second-round linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. Scouts would prefer younger, of course, with second contract considerations and growth potential all part of the equation. But with so many older players around, there's an increasing number of situations where age and maturity are an advantage, especially at positions where a team needs immediate impact. That includes Knight, who drove for DoorDash after games to support his family while playing for Charlotte, then transferred to become a captain and play for an extra year at South Carolina. He's spending OTAs lined up next to veteran Logan Wilson as a starting linebacker. "I develop the tenacity to hunt" – Demetrius Knight Jr. #WhoDey x @iam_the1knight — Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) May 5, 2025 'It's definitely an advantage at times,' Bengals director of college scouting Mike Potts said. 'Obviously, you would like the guy that's younger that has the same amount of experience … You take all the factors, but with a guy at that position that we want to come in and be a leader, part of the evaluation is the character and the makeup that he's bringing to our team. I think the maturity and everything he brings off the field, as well as on the field, were all pluses across the board.' Advertisement Gregory arrives with six seasons of SEC football and life motivation already baked in as the Bengals seek immediate depth help at defensive tackle. The same goes for fellow undrafted defensive tackle Howard Cross, who played six seasons and 66 games at Notre Dame, including the last three under current Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden. He turns 24 this summer and was a second-team All-American and team captain. Gregory and Cross are older than five of the other 12 defensive linemen on the roster. The cumulative experience in football and life hits fast forward on rookie expectations in the eyes of head coach Zac Taylor. 'They've seen more, they have experienced maybe different coaching staffs,' he said, acknowledging Gregory had three defensive coordinators and five defensive line coaches in Fayetteville. 'Like all of us, there is a maturity that takes over when you get older in life. For some of these guys, you can bank on that quality being beneficial for them and us. It gives a whole different perspective to people as they have kids and real commitments. Causes you to grow up quickly. Focus on, 'Hey, this is my career, this is a tremendous opportunity.' Some guys maybe see that more quickly as they get older in life than some of the younger guys who have talent and ability and are eager, but again, we all know that maturity can really help you in a lot of ways.' As for the sales pitch Taylor and Montgomery gave Gregory and Cross, there weren't many promises about the future. They focused on past examples. Linebacker Maema Njongmeta spent five years at Wisconsin before making last year's team and playing a key role on special teams. Undrafted tight end Cam Grandy saw action on offense. Undrafted punter Ryan Rehkow won the job over a former draft pick, Brad Robbins. Back in Taylor's first season in Cincinnati, he started undrafted rookie Damion Willis in his coaching debut, partially to send a message. 'If you are undrafted and want an opportunity to play football, come to Cincinnati. We are going to give you the same opportunity we give draft picks,' Taylor said. 'We've shown that over the years.' Nobody can say for sure whether Gregory will have a chance to contribute, whether on the practice squad or as a depth player. We'll see this August. That leads us back to the phone he wanted to throw in a lake on April 26. He quickly realized what Cincinnati could provide. He didn't get caught up in the flash of bigger markets or perfect weather or slick sales pitches. Advertisement Gregory saw the past. He saw the path. He saw his daughter. Now, he recognizes his long journey uniquely positions him to take advantage of this spot. 'I don't like to say it, because I was motivated (when I was younger), for sure, but especially last season, it was an extra boost in motivation,' Gregory said. 'I have a young girl to support, and I want her to have a life better than what I had. It was definitely a huge motivation. I got another (child) on the way. Can't ask for a better opportunity.'
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Highest-rated Class of 2025 football recruits from Florida
The dust has finally settled on the Class of 2025 football recruiting cycle. As programs look at their finalized rosters, the future landscape of college football is beginning to take shape. From five-star quarterbacks making headlines to underrated defensive linemen poised for breakout careers, this class is loaded with game-changing talent. Stacker compiled a ranking of the best Class of 2025 football recruits from Florida using data from 247Sports. Here's the players from Florida set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come. - National rank: #137 (4 stars) - Position rank: #12 - College: Miami - High school: Columbus (Miami, FL) - National rank: #136 (4 stars) - Position rank: #12 - College: Florida - High school: Seminole Ridge (Loxahatchee, FL) - National rank: #124 (4 stars) - Position rank: #17 - College: Miami - High school: West Broward (Pembroke Pines, FL) - National rank: #114 (4 stars) - Position rank: #13 - College: Texas - High school: Port Charlotte (Port Charlotte, FL) - National rank: #112 (4 stars) - Position rank: #15 - College: Nebraska - High school: Homestead(Homestead, FL) - National rank: #109 (4 stars) - Position rank: #13 - College: Oregon - High school: Carrollwood Day (Tampa, FL) - National rank: #95 (4 stars) - Position rank: #12 - College: Missouri - High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) - National rank: #92 (4 stars) - Position rank: #2 - College: Notre Dame - High school: Berkeley Prep (Tampa, FL) - National rank: #82 (4 stars) - Position rank: #12 - College: Florida - High school: Northwestern (Miami, FL) - National rank: #65 (4 stars) - Position rank: #10 - College: Texas - High school: Wiregrass Ranch (Tampa, FL) - National rank: #62 (4 stars) - Position rank: #6 - College: Alabama - High school: West Orange (Winter Garden, FL) - National rank: #59 (4 stars) - Position rank: #8 - College: Florida - High school: Booker T. Washington (Miami, FL) - National rank: #54 (4 stars) - Position rank: #4 - College: Florida - High school: Mandarin (Jacksonville, FL) - National rank: #46 (4 stars) - Position rank: #4 - College: Missouri - High school: Cocoa (Cocoa, FL) - National rank: #44 (4 stars) - Position rank: #9 - College: Texas - High school: Mandarin (Jacksonville, FL) - National rank: #41 (4 stars) - Position rank: #2 - College: LSU - High school: Raines (Jacksonville, FL) - National rank: #35 (4 stars) - Position rank: #8 - College: Florida - High school: Tampa Bay Tech (Tampa, FL) - National rank: #30 (5 stars) - Position rank: #6 - College: Florida - High school: Jones (Orlando, FL) - National rank: #17 (5 stars) - Position rank: #1 - College: Alabama - High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) - National rank: #11 (5 stars) - Position rank: #2 - College: LSU - High school: Zephyrhills (Tampa, FL) © Stacker Media, LLC.
