Latest news with #Kinder'sTexasBowl
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
LSU linebackers named to prestigious defensive award watchlist
LSU linebackers named to prestigious defensive award watchlist LSU football linebackers Harold Perkins Jr. and Whit Weeks were named to the Lott Trophy watch list. The trophy is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player for impact on and off the field. The last Tiger to take home the award was Glenn Dorsey in 2004. With Weeks and Perkins, LSU is aiming to have one of the best linebacker duos in the SEC. Perkins and Weeks are both coming off significant injuries in 2024. Perkins went down in Week Four with a knee injury, while Weeks was carted off the field in the second quarter of the Kinder's Texas Bowl after sustaining multiple lower-body injuries. Weeks led the team with 125 tackles, including 10 for loss and 3.5 sacks. He added six quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Despite sitting out all spring, he will be at full strength for summer workouts. Perkins burst onto the scene as one of the SEC's top pass rushers in 2022, but Perkins moved to inside linebacker in 2023. It was an adjustment for the former five-star recruit, but he made 75 tackles, including 13 for loss, in a second-team All-SEC season as a sophomore. The New Orleans native will aim to increase his NFL Draft stock with a standout senior season. Perkins' exact role in 2025 remains to be seen. There's been talk of Perkins' playing the STAR position in Blake Baker's defense, but that slot is usually manned by a defensive back. Look for LSU to take advantage of Perkins' versatility this fall. Where Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins ranked as recruits Weeks and Perkins were both among the top linebackers in the country in their respective recruiting classes. Perkins, a member of the 2022 class, was the No. 9 overall prospect and No. 1-ranked linebacker. Weeks signed in 2023 and ranked No. 149 overall in the On3 Industry Rankings. Weeks was the No. 15-ranked linebacker in his class.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LSU defensve coordinator Blake Barker updates status of Whit Weeks
LSU defensve coordinator Blake Barker updates status of Whit Weeks Blake Baker went on @OTB_ESPN this morning and said LSU LB Whit Weeks is nearing 100% as summer program approaches for the Tigers. 'He's at full speed doing football drills and more than anything it's just the fatigue as far as the next thing.'#LSU — Glen West (@glenwest21) May 21, 2025 LSU linebacker Whit Weeks is near full strength, according to defensive coordinator Blake Barker. He joined ESPN Baton Rouge's Off The Bench talk show on Wednesday and gave an update on the star defender's status. "He's at full strength doing football drills and more than anything it's just the fatigue as far as the next thing," Barker said. Weeks suffered a broken fibula and dislocated ankle in the second quarter of the Kinder's Texas Bowl on New Year's Eve against Baylor. The medical team carted him off the field for evaluation and he didn't return in the victory. Prior to the injury, Weeks enjoyed a breakout campaign. As a sophomore, he led the Tigers and tied for second in the SEC with 125 tackles, including 10 for loss and 3.5 sacks. Should he get off to a strong start in 2025 without limited productivity, Weeks' NFL Draft stock will rise. Many analysts considered him a future early-round pick ahead of last year.
New York Post
10-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Saints could be barreling toward Arch Manning derby after Derek Carr retirement shocker
The Derek Carr-less Saints might be barreling toward an awkward quarterback decision between a loyal son of their city and a loyal son of one of their coaches. Carr's surprise retirement Saturday leaves the Saints with three young quarterbacks — rookie Tyler Shough, second-year pro Spencer Rattler and third-year pro Jake Haener – battling to start. Advertisement Rattler and Haener are a combined 0-7 as starters. It's possible that Shough – a 25-year-old second-round pick who reportedly was the top quarterback on some NFL teams' boards during the 2025 draft — finds immediate success like rookies Jayden Daniels (Commanders) and C.J. Stroud (Texans) have in recent years. It's also possible that Shough struggles and the Saints become strong contenders for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. 4 New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr announced his retirement on Saturday. AP Advertisement And that would be very interesting because it could lead to a choice between quarterbacks Arch Manning of Texas and Garrett Nussmeier of LSU. Manning is the grandson of Saints legend Archie Manning, a New Orleans native and a graduate of the city's famed Isidore Newman School that also produced his uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning. Archie remains the last first-round quarterback drafted by the Saints (1971). Advertisement The thought in football circles is that — like Peyton and Eli — Arch will spend at least four years in college, which would put him in the 2027 draft class instead of 2026. After all, NIL opportunities balance financial-earning opportunities and Arch still only has two career starts under his belt. 4 Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns reacts after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies 17-7 at Kyle Field on November 30, 2024 in College Station, Texas. Getty Images Advertisement But the allure of playing for the hometown Saints might be hard for the family to resist if everything lined up perfectly on both ends. Then again, Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier figures to have a say in the quarterback of the future. 4 Archie Manning during his Saints tenure. Getty Images And Nussmeier would figure to be partial to his son Garrett, who also is a common top-10 pick in way-too-early mock drafts. Nussmeier could have entered the 2025 draft after leading the SEC in completions and attempts while passing for 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his first year starting in place of Daniels. But he chose to return to LSU and solidify his draft standing. 4 Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier of the LSU Tigers in action against the Baylor Bears in the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Houston, Texas University Images via Getty Imag Asked by The Post during Super Bowl week about the possibility of coaching with or against his son in the NFL, Doug Nussmeier said that his mind had not gone there yet but that he would 'always be a resource' for his son. Advertisement Doug highlighted responding to adversity as one of Garrett's biggest strengths. 'That's a big part of being successful at the position,' he said. 'The higher you go, the harder it is. Every day is not going to be great. You have to stay neutral. You have to realize that when you think you are on top, you are going to get brought down really quick. When you think you are on the bottom, put your nose down and fight your way and you'll be just fine.' Carr, 34, retired rather than undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a labrum tear and damage to his rotator cuff that likely would have sidelined him for the full season and left his career in doubt anyway.
