Latest news with #LegendHighSchool
USA Today
18-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Colorado 2026 softball recruit Lucy Thompson announces commitment to Nebraska
Nebraska softball picked up its fifth 2026 commit on Tuesday. Lucy Thompson announced her commitment to the Huskers on social media. Thompson is a versatile athlete, listing herself as a shortstop, second baseman, and centerfielder, while playing all over the field for Legend High School. The Parker, Colorado native hit .471 this past season, racking up 41 hits for 35 RBIs, 14 doubles, nine home runs, and two triples. She finished second on the team in hits, RBIs, and home runs and led the Titans in doubles. Thompson is also a member of the Titans' basketball and track teams and is currently competing at the 18U Triple Crown Nationals in St. Louis for the Colorado Batbusters. "I would of course like to thank the whole Nebraska staff and team for welcoming me into a home with open arms," Thompson said in her post. "Coach Revelle, Coach Miller, Coach Sippel, and Coach Ferrell, thank you for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to be a part of a family." Thompson now joins a slowly growing 2026 commitment list for Nebraska which includes catcher Brooke Lebsock, infielder Katelyn Crosby, infielder Shelby Southard, and outfielder Jaime Oakland. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
New York Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Broncos CB Pat Surtain's plans after winning DPOY: ‘Why not get another one'
PARKER, Colo. — Pat Surtain II rubbed his chin as he briefly considered the question, even though it was one he had already pondered himself. The 25-year-old cornerback won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award six months ago, at the conclusion of his fourth pro season with the Denver Broncos. The honor is part of an early career résumé that has him firmly on a Hall of Fame trajectory, a true lockdown corner in a passer-friendly era. Advertisement So, what's next? 'There's always something out there to do better,' Surtain said before hosting a free camp for 300 kids at Legend High School on a sweltering Saturday morning just outside Denver. 'Why not get another one?' Back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards would put Surtain in rarified air. No player has done it since superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald claimed the honor for the second straight season in 2018. No defensive back has ever claimed the award in consecutive seasons, dating back to the award's inception in 1971. The main reason to believe Surtain could achieve the historic feat resides in his technical mastery of the position. Surtain has been a polished cover corner since the moment he entered the league as a rookie in 2021, and his anticipation skills — like the kind that led to his 100-yard pick six against the Las Vegas Raiders last season — have grown with experience. Another reason why Surtain producing another DPOY season isn't an outlandish thought: The Broncos did significant work this offseason to reconstruct their defense in a way that could make it harder for teams to avoid the superstar cornerback. 'The respect level for Patrick has gone up' across the league, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said during the team's minicamp earlier this month. 'So how we adjust off that is huge.' When the Broncos meticulously broke down their personnel following a season-ending loss to the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the playoffs, they found vulnerability in the spine of their defense. Teams were able to funnel elements of their passing game inside too often, particularly on third down, and thus mitigate some of the risk that comes with challenging Surtain. 'The inner triangle,' as head coach Sean Payton calls it, needed to be fortified. Enter three key additions the Broncos believe will do just that: inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and versatile rookie Jahdae Barron. Advertisement Added to a pass rush that had a team-record 63 sacks in 2024 and returns every key member of the front seven, the three new additions help form what may be the most complete defense Surtain has been a part of since entering the league — at least on paper. Greenlaw, who missed the offseason program while rehabbing a quad injury, and Hufanga join the Broncos with considerable injury histories dating to their time together with the San Francisco 49ers, but both players have been stalwarts for championship-level defenses. 'Those guys are going to come in and bring that winning atmosphere,' said Surtain, who was shut out of the postseason during his first three seasons in Denver. 'They've been to Super Bowls and know how to win at a high level.' Barron, meanwhile, could give the Broncos more of a chaos agent near the line of scrimmage out of the nickel spot. He had 18 1/2 tackles for loss across his last three seasons at Texas. His disruptiveness stems from an ability to diagnose tendencies — not to mention a physical play style for a defensive back who is 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds — that has already impressed veteran teammates. 'He's catching on really well,' Surtain said of Barron, who played corner, nickel, dime and safety spots throughout his college career. 'Obviously, at Texas, he was a smart, savvy player who understands the game. That will translate well into our defense and I'm excited for him.' More from Surtain on what he's eyeing next in his already decorated career — Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) June 28, 2025 The hope for the Broncos is that more well-rounded personnel will force quarterbacks to take more chances in Surtain's direction. Or, conversely, that Surtain's presence will push action elsewhere on a defense that should now be more equipped to benefit from the way Surtain can change the geometry of the game. As long as it all pushes in the direction of Surtain's true post-DPOY ambition, the cornerback isn't much concerned with where the ball is being thrown. Advertisement 'The main goal is to win the Super Bowl,' he said. 'That's why I play the game, is to win. That's the end goal for me.' The pursuit of championship aspirations will begin in less than a month when the Broncos convene for training camp. In the meantime, Surtain's free camp was another opportunity to engage with a community he has poured himself into since arriving in Denver and then quickly setting up his charitable foundation. His efforts have focused on S.T.E.A.M. education (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and last fall the foundation awarded two $50,000 grants for two high schools in Denver to build 'Inspiration Rooms' that help foster S.T.E.A.M. growth. Manual High School in Denver, for example, is using its room to expand its burgeoning robotics program. The football camp Saturday was a chance for Surtain to get back to his roots. He vividly remembers tagging along with his father, former NFL cornerback Patrick Surtain, as he ran camps for kids during pro stops in Florida and Kansas City. The Broncos' star cornerback said he still abides by the same message his dad tried to convey at those camps. 'It's just teaching them at an early age that the simple way is the right way to do things,' Surtain said. 'Especially early on, at their age and just starting their journey, you just want to elaborate that doing the simple things right pays off.' As campers went through a stretch line at the start of Saturday's camp, a dozen or so kids surrounded Surtain, a small mob wrapping the cornerback in a roving bear hug. The 6-foot-4 Surtain smiled as he towered above the crowd of young fans. It was a fitting, visual reminder. Even as the Broncos build the defensive roster elsewhere, there's still no mistaking the centerpiece.
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Garett Bolles gives back to community with free youth football camp
Garett Bolles gives back to community with free youth football camp Denver Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles hosted a youth football camp for Colorado youth through his GB3 Foundation on Monday evening. The 300 participants, aged third through eighth grade, gathered at Legend High School in Parker, Colorado, to learn the game from Bolles, who is entering his ninth year with the Broncos. "I love giving back to the youth, not only in the juvenile court systems, but also in the high schools helping kids out as best as I can, and giving them faith, giving them a dream to be able to go out and live their dream like I'm living mine," said Bolles. "This is a dream come true to be able to give back to the community, and give them something to look forward to." The camps mean a lot to Bolles, who wasn't a football player until late in his teenage years. "This (camp) is what it's all about, to give me a voice and a platform to give back in the community, and to benefit (the kids) like they benefit me," said Bolles. "They do a lot more for me than I do for them. They touch my heart, put a smile on my face and make my job so much easier to go out and play on Sundays. Seeing the kids and they're cheering my name, that's what it's all about." The camp was free to attend, which was unusual. "I don't want to charge any kid," Bolles explained. "I wanted them to come out here and experience what I've experienced. A lot of these people, they come from different backgrounds. Some low-income families, some higher-end families, just a broad range of people. To be able to give back to them with a free camp, and to the community, give back to the people who love and care for me and gave me an opportunity and a voice, and a platform to boost my foundation, boost my ability to play football, I wanted it to be free so they can have that same ability." Participants received a GB3 Foundation t-shirt and wristbands that were marked with the New Testament scripture 2 Timothy 4:7: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (emphasis added). Finishing was a big theme of the youth camp, as Bolles addressed the youth. Check out the video from the camp below. Bolles also had some of his teammates stop by to assist. Offensive lineman Frank Crum and backup center Nick Gargiulo were among those who showed up to support Bolles and his foundation.
