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USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Four Clemson football starters named to preseason watch list for 2025 Lombardi Award
More preseason honors rolled in for four Clemson football starters Tuesday. Defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods were named to the preseason Lombardi Award watch list, as were linebacker Sammy Brown and offensive tackle Blake Miller. The Lombardi Award annually recognizes the nation's best down lineman on either offense or defense "who best embodies the character, discipline, and excellence of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi, while also demonstrating outstanding performance and ability on the field." Clemson tied the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Longhorns for programs with the most players named to the 2025 Lombardi watch list. It's the latest in a string of preseason accolades for the four Tigers. Woods was named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list, as was senior quarterback Cade Klubnik. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive tackle was also named to the preseason watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Outland Trophy. Woods enters his junior season after playing in 11 games (10 starts) a year ago. He had 28 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble as a sophomore. In two seasons at Clemson, Woods has recorded 54 tackles (31 solo), 11 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles over 23 games. Parker, the Tigers' 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge rusher, started all 14 games last season and has played in all 27 games since his freshman season in 2023. He had 57 tackles (35 solo) and had 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles to go with two fumble recoveries in 2024. Parker was also named to the Nagurski Trophy and and Bednarik Award watch lists. Brown, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker, is coming off a true freshman season in which he played in 12 games (six starts) and made 80 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was previously named to the preseason Butkus Award watch list along with senior Wade Woodaz. Miller is set to enter his fourth season as an anchor of the offensive line and was previously named to the Outland Trophy watch list. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman has started all 41 games for the Tigers at right tackle since his freshman season in 2022. Clemson football players on 2025 preseason award watch lists Here's an updated look at Clemson players named to various preseason watch lists ahead of 2025. Clemson football schedule 2025 Clemson opens the 2025 season against the LSU Tigers at Memorial Stadium in primetime on Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ABC. Clemson is ranked No. 6 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 4 in the preseason AP poll. LSU is ranked No. 9 in both polls. All times Eastern. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The top 10 biggest storylines of the transfer portal on Saturday
Jeff Douglas, Inside ND Sports The transfer portal opened on Wednesday with a flurry of activity. Here are the biggest transfer announcements from day four of the 2025 spring transfer window. MORE TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer search | Transfer Team Ranking | Football Player Ranking 1. HOUSTON CB A.J. HAULCY The Houston secondary took a big hit for the second day in a row when All-Big 12 safety A.J. Haulcy announced he'd be entering the transfer portal. He joins fellow Cougar defensive back Jeremiah Wilson in the transfer portal and neither will have a shortage of options. Advertisement Haulcy had started every game for the Cougars over the last two seasons and dominated the defensive backfield in the league this season, tying for first in interceptions with five and finishing second in pass breakups with 13. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH HOUSTON FANS AT 2. SAFETY KENNEDY URLACHER TO USC USC coach Lincoln Riley and GM Chad Bowden have made a concerted effort to improve on the defensive side of the ball. For their latest addition, the Trojans tapped into Bowden's Notre Dame connections to sign Kennedy Urlacher. The freshman safety and son of NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher played in 14 games for Notre Dame last season, recording 12 tackles, one tackle for a loss, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH USC FANS AT 3. DB JULIAN NEAL TO ARKANSAS Arkansas and head coach Sam Pittman added to their top 10 transfer class when they signed former Fresno State and Stanford defensive back Julian Neal. The Razorbacks now have five defensive backs in this transfer class as they work to field a stronger pass defense this coming season. Neal was a standout at Fresno State last season but transferred to Stanford in December. When the Cardinal fired head coach Troy Taylor, Neal went back into the transfer portal to find a new home for this season. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ARKANSAS FANS AT 4. BYU LB HARRISON TAGGART BYU has lost more than 20 players to the transfer portal this cycle and Harrison Taggart is the latest to announce he is leaving Provo. Last season, Taggart started every game for the Cougars, finishing second on the team in tackles (69) and posting two and a half tackles for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble, three pass breakups and one interception. 5. DT DE'MARION THOMAS TO OKLAHOMA STATE The Cowboys are quickly improving their defense this spring. De'Marion Thomas makes three defensive commitments in as many days for Oklahoma State. The former starter at Vanderbilt has two more seasons of eligibility remaining and he'll aim to use both of them in Stillwater. Advertisement Thomas, who is originally from Tulsa, played nearly 400 snaps for Vanderbilt last season, recording 34 tackles, one and a half tackles for a loss and one sack. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OKLAHOMA STATE FANS AT 6. WR DACARI COLLINS TO LOUISVILLE Louisville and head coach Jeff Brohm were active during the winter transfer window and now they have their first addition of the spring in Collins. The former N.C. State wide receiver has caught 38 passes for 526 yards and four touchdowns over the last two seasons. Collins, who began his career at Clemson, has one year of eligibility remaining. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LOUISVILLE FANS AT 7. CB TEON PARKS TO COLORADO Colorado had its spring game on Saturday and finished the day off with a commitment from Teon Parks. The former Illinois State defensive back is coming off an excellent 2024 campaign in which he only allowed completions on 38 percent of the passes thrown in his direction. Parks played 729 snaps last season and was credited with one interception, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble according to Pro Football Focus. He has two more years of eligibility remaining. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH COLORADO FANS AT 8. WR XAVIER LOYD TO MISSOURI After beginning his career at Kansas State and then transferring to Illinois State, Xavier Loyd is heading back to his home state to finish out his college career. Missouri is bringing in Loyd to add experience, depth and size to its receiver room. Advertisement Loyd, who has two years of eligibility remaining, was credited with 65 catches for 909 yards and six touchdowns last season. Florida State, Oklahoma and others were also pursuing Loyd. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MISSOURI FANS AT 9. RB CJ HESTER TO MICHIGAN Michigan already strengthened its running back room this offseason by adding former Alabama standout Justice Haynes. Now it added more experience and depth by bringing on CJ Hester. He was the second-leading rusher for UMass last season and has two years of eligibility remaining. Hester, who is originally from Michigan, began his college career at Western Michigan. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MICHIGAN FANS AT MAIZE& 10. EDGE PHILLIP LEE TO ARKANSAS After signing Julian Neal earlier in the day, Phillip Lee became the second defensive commitment Arkansas secured on Saturday. The edge defender is expected to play a fairly significant role for the Razorbacks this season. At Troy, Lee led the team in sacks a year ago and Arkansas will be counting on him to impact the passing game in a similar fashion this season. He is entering his final season of eligibility. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ARKANSAS FANS AT
