Latest news with #OT7
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
West spotlight: Biggest June visits
USA Today Sports June has become arguably the most important month in the recruiting calendar, with prospects crisscrossing the country on official visits and lining up announcement dates. Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney looks at five West prospects who are taking key visits this month. Advertisement BIG RECRUITING WEEKEND AHEAD: Top storylines | Five biggest Southeast visits in June | Biggest Midwest visits | Biggest Florida visits BRANDON ARRINGTON, Oregon (this weekend) There is a very real possibility that Oregon could land all three five-stars in California and this weekend could go a very long way in figuring that out. Arrington really liked his Washington visit last weekend. He could love his Oregon trip as the Ducks and Texas A&M are recruiting him the hardest. USC seems to be fading in his recruitment as Oregon, Texas A&M, Penn State and Washington are the frontrunners and making the biggest impact. Advertisement With his position versatility, his track background and so much more, Oregon looks like a top contender in Arrington's recruitment and this weekend could push the Ducks even higher on his list. RYDER LYONS, Oregon (June 13) How is this not shaping up great for Oregon? The five-star quarterback from Folsom, Calif., has Oregon and BYU visits coming up and then some fringe programs also involved with Michigan, Ohio State and Ole Miss in the mix. It seems like USC is a long shot in his recruitment which further solidifies the Ducks at the top. Oregon lost four-star QB Jonas Williams to USC and five-star quarterback Jared Curtis picked Georgia over the Ducks. Coach Dan Lanning and his staff have now prioritized Lyons, who could be similar to Bo Nix in that offense with more athleticism outside the pocket, and BYU just feels like a stretch at this point. VANCE SPAFFORD, Miami (June 20) Spafford remains committed to Georgia but he's going through his visit schedule this month starting at Washington, at UCLA this weekend, then he'll be at Georgia and will close out June at Miami before the Rivals Five-Star and then back to South Florida for the OT7 nationals. It's a busy time for the Mission Viejo, Calif. Standout. Advertisement A commitment to the Bulldogs since early November, the biggest threat to flip Spafford is Miami as he loves Coral Gables, the coaches there and the opportunity at wide receiver. That he's taking his final visit there is also telling but Georgia will have its chance soon as well. JETT WASHINGTON, Oregon (this weekend) Washington canceled his Ohio State official visit to move up his Oregon visit - another sign that the Ducks are a major frontrunner in his recruitment. The Ducks are very high on the list with Alabama (where he already visited) and Washington took a mid-week trip to USC as well. This will be the last official visit - for now - for the four-star safety from Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman and that's a great sign for Oregon. He moved up his trip, it's his final planned trip for now and the Ducks have been in a strong position throughout his recruitment. The Ducks are sitting pretty - if things go really well this weekend. RICHARD WESLEY, Oregon (this weekend) On May 10 during a visit to Oregon, the five-star defensive end jumped in a pool with coach Dan Lanning to announce his commitment to the Ducks. Before he could dry off, the Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon standout had backed off that pledge 17 days later since he didn't clear the pledge with those close to him. Wesley is back at Oregon this weekend as the coaching staff looks to continue to mend fences and work on getting Wesley back in the fold as the Ducks have always been one of his favorites. The five-star standout is also considering Ohio State, Texas A&M, Texas and others but Oregon can put itself back in a great spot with a solid visit this weekend.
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
One Last Song Before Military Service: BTS Gave ARMY A Night To Remember
Years of waiting have now turned into days before BTS ' comeback as the full group. The septet, comprising RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook, is finally set to reunite this June. Since their hiatus began in 2022 due to mandatory military enlistment, their loyal fanbase called the ARMYs, has held on tightly, waiting patiently for the day when all seven would get together again. Before their long-anticipated reunion this month, let's take a trip down memory lane when BTS last appeared as a group. It was on October 15, 2022, during the Yet to Come concert in Busan, South Korea, when the beloved OT7 was seen together on-stage for the last time before their military enlistments. The concert was a part of Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo, and it was made completely free for the fans. Over 50,000 fans gathered at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium to watch BTS together one last time before their hiatus. Those who couldn't make it to the concert, watched their favourite performers live through their screens.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Rivals250 Update: Ten prospects who could rise with a big June
Through camps, Elite 11, the Rivals Five-Star, OT7 finals and so much more, June is going to be a massive evaluation period. Rivals just released its new rankings and many more changes could be coming. Here are 10 prospects who can move up through a big June. Advertisement NEW 2026 RIVALS250: Ranking | Biggest storylines CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info Duckworth is already ranked as the seventh-best quarterback in the class and one notch from five-star status but we're going to see him at two massive events in June and that could determine whether he'll become a five-star quarterback or not. Advertisement The Jackson, Ala., standout, who is highest on Ole Miss but has Auburn, South Carolina and others after him, will be at the Elite 11 and then the Rivals Five-Star and we'll see if he should be even higher. The four-star Arizona State quarterback commit is from El Paso (Texas) Del Valle and hasn't really been on the national circuit much but he has outstanding film. After his pledge to the Sun Devils, a bunch of SEC teams, including LSU and Auburn, came through with offers but Fette has been steadfast sticking with Arizona State. He'll be at the Elite 11 to compare himself against some of the nation's best and his arm talent and athletic playmaking ability is on full display on film. Advertisement Ranked No. 106 nationally, Fette is moving up but maybe not enough yet. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ARIZONA STATE FANS AT There are already four five-star receivers in the 2026 class, which is a healthy number but all of them are bigger, outside prospects. The way NFL Draft trends are going, the shiftier, smaller slot guys are more in demand. That means if the Tennessee commit from Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic has a huge showing at the Rivals Five-Star this summer then he'll be in five-star consideration for sure. The top three slot receivers – King, Vance Spafford and CJ Sadler – are all expected in Indianapolis so game on. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TENNESSEE FANS AT Ponatoski is one of the most interesting prospects in the 2026 class because he is a legitimate two-sport star in football and baseball, and that is going to play a major impact on his recruitment. The Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller standout also won basically every award given to Ohio football players last season and he's also really taking his time with his recruitment. A big visit to Oregon is planned for later this month with Alabama, Wake Forest, Kentucky, Texas A&M and others involved. If he blows up at the Elite 11, Ponatoski has all the ability to move even higher inside the Rivals250. The four-star USC running back commit has crept into the back end of the Rivals250 but if rankings were based on only speed, Redeaux would be toward the top of this list. That consideration has come more into focus after some impressive performances this offseason and if he turns it up even more at the Rivals Five-Star this summer, the Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian standout could move up quickly. Advertisement His speed and all-purpose capabilities whether running the ball or catching it out of the backfield are dynamic. The Downey, Calif., four-star is just outside the Rivals250 but a big performance at the Elite 11 in a few weeks will back up some outstanding performances and move him even higher on the list. Rios is still lean and does need to add some mass to handle college defensive ends coming for him off the edge but in terms of dynamic passing ability and the ball popping off his hand, Rios has been really impressive at recent events. Arizona is a front-runner with UCLA, Kentucky and Oklahoma State standing out most. Ranked No. 207 nationally, Scruggs has put together some really impressive performances this offseason and if he backs it up again against national competition at the Rivals Five-Star then he could be in line for a very quick move up the rankings. Advertisement Clemson could have the edge over Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma and Penn State so the offers are there, the tape is there and now in-person evaluations are there for Scruggs to go much higher into the Rivals250. A four-star just inside the new Rivals250, Thomalla is committed to Iowa State but took a visit to Alabama over the weekend as the Crimson Tide look to flip him. Not only is the Omaha (Neb.) Millard South quarterback an elite playmaker on the football field but his dunking ability on the basketball court speaks to high-level athleticism that shouldn't be ignored. At the very least, Thomalla should be heavily considered to move up, especially if he shows out at the upcoming Elite 11. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ALABAMA FANS AT One of the prospects I'm most excited to see at the Rivals Five-Star this summer is Wise because he hasn't done many national events at all and so many people in the Panhandle of Florida talk about how gifted he is. Clemson landed his commitment in March and while there are no five-star interior offensive linemen (Lamar Brown was moved to athlete because he could play both ways and Darius Gray is a tempting consideration) Wise could get into that discussion with a dominant performance in Indy. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT The Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic quarterback committed to Washington in April and he's remained a low three-star prospect which is curious because coach Jedd Fisch definitely can identify top players at that position and then develop them. Advertisement Zammit does a nice job throwing on the run, escaping pressure, throwing into tight windows and he was a stat stuffer in his junior season. A big performance at the Elite 11 could catapult him up the rankings. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH WASHINGTON FANS AT
Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘We're getting a BTS concert': Indian fans hopeful as HYBE plans Mumbai office
HYBE, the agency behind some of the globally popular K-pop groups like BTS, TXT, Seventeen, Le Sserafim and more, is reportedly planning to open an office in Mumbai, its first in the country, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap. With the news arriving ahead of the highly anticipated BTS reunion in June—and rumored world tour plans for 2026—fans are hopeful that India will finally be included in the list of tour destinations. They also believe K-pop concerts might no longer be limited to small-scale events in the country. India's entertainment industry is booming, with reports suggesting it generated around Rs 101 billion in revenue in 2024, thanks to top-tier concerts, live shows, and immersive events. Also read: BTS India concert in 2026? 5 signs it could finally happen Apart from South Korea, HYBE has offices in America, Latin America and Japan. India could be the next, and for the Bang Si Hyuk-led company, this would be a big overseas market entry, as the country has become a major hub for global music concerts, with stars like Ed Sheeran, Coldplay. Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber, and Travis Scott headlining shows. However, according to reports, the plans are still under consideration, with a HYBE representative stating they are 'continuously doing market research in various regions.' The latest EY-FICCI M&E report, dated March 2025, projects an impressive growth in revenue from the live event entertainment sector, which could reach Rs 167 billion by 2027, with an 18.2% CAGR. Also read: Is BTS disbanding or is Jungkook up to something? 10 Most Googled questions about BTS before their big 2025 reunion 'Hearing BTS and India alone gives me immense happiness,' a fan commented on X. 'OMG we are getting a BTS concert, really?' wrote another fan. 'No way, pls someone tell me BTS and Seventeen are coming,' a third fan wrote. 'We are definitely getting concerts for the OT7 tour,' another added. It's been years since K-pop's craze boomed globally, and big groups like BTS, Stray Kids, Twice, Blackpink, etc., made their footing in the West, especially America, where they are enjoying sold-out shows that even many mainstream singers fail to achieve. However, India only saw a handful of those events, with big groups avoiding them due to a lack of infrastructure and low album sales. However, since those things have finally started to change, 2024–2025 saw many Korean artistes like Suho (EXO), Hyolyn (ex-SISTAR), BamBam (GOT7), Chen (EXO), Xiumin (EXO), B.I (ex-iKON), Jackson Wang, flocking to the country and receiving great response from the Indian audience. Now the wait is for BTS, the septet including Jin, Jimin, Suga, J-Hope, Taehyung, RM and Jungkook, whose popularity in India is unparalleled. For the unversed, HYBE also owns multiple subsidiary agencies like Belift Lab, Source Music, Pledis Entertainment, KOZ Entertainment, and ADOR, which is home to groups like NewJeans, ILLIT, BOYNEXTDOOR, and more. If the Mumbai office becomes a reality, this will also open the door for these groups.
New York Times
30-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why isn't the state of Florida producing highly ranked quarterback recruits?
When it comes to producing NFL quarterbacks, the state of Florida ranks at the top with Texas and California. Dating to 2016, 11 quarterbacks from the Sunshine State have been drafted, third most behind Texas (15) and California (13), and five have been selected in the first round, second most behind California (eight). Advertisement Yet, when it comes to high school recruiting rankings, it's been hard to find the state's best quarterbacks high up on any national lists. From 2010 through 2025, Florida produced only three quarterbacks who ranked among the top 100 prospects nationally — Jeff Driskel (No. 17 in 2011), Feleipe Franks (No. 54 in 2016) and Deondre Francois (No. 66 in 2015). Eight states have produced more top-100 quarterbacks during this stretch. Driskel, who signed with Florida and finished his career at Louisiana Tech, is the state's only five-star quarterback since 2010. That, however, is about to change. Dia Bell, the son of former NBA standout Raja Bell, is ranked No. 12 overall and No. 3 among QBs in the Class of 2026. Bell, who plays at Plantation American Heritage, has been committed to Texas since June. Further down the pipeline, Class of 2028 product Neimann Lawrence out of Miami Northwestern has a chance to be one of the state's best quarterbacks in years. He's already been invited to play in the 2028 Navy All-American Bowl and will be leading the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team at the OT7 national championships at the end of June. Bell and Lawrence, however, are the exceptions. So why isn't Florida — historically one of the most talent-rich states in the country — producing more elite quarterback recruits? It's about development and economics. 'No. 1, coaching is not where it needs to be on the high school teams,' said a Group of 5 assistant coach who has recruited Florida for 20 years. 'No. 2, you don't have enough QB gurus. It's getting better. You see a little more development. We have more gurus, but it's still not nearly as much in places like Texas, Georgia and California.' Ken Mastrole has coached quarterbacks in Florida at the high school level and in the predraft process for the past two decades. His students include seven eventual NFL Draft picks, most notably Teddy Bridgewater, EJ Manuel and Jacoby Brissett. Advertisement He blames the developmental issues on the lack of financial support in Florida's public school system. High school coaches in Florida have been fighting in the state legislature recently for raises amidst claims they've been notoriously underpaid for years. 'I could sit here and tell you there's four or five high schools where there's a Power 4 quarterback in terms of talent, but they're not getting what they need to develop,' Mastrole said. 'I'm dealing with one now — I'm not going to name him — he's 6-3, 220. I don't want to knock the school, but the development is not good. The four to six hours I spend with him a month isn't enough. In Texas, (there is an athletic period during school for) football training. They're going over offense and situations with coaches.' There were 14 quarterbacks drafted last weekend. None were Florida-born. That's happened only three times since 2016. Mastrole said a strong family support system is a common thread for many quarterbacks who find success. 'I see this at the NFL level, the kids who have the greatest opportunities — Gardner Minshew, Teddy Bridgewater, Jeff Driskel, Brandon Allen — a big part of it is the parents who create a strong structural environment for them to flourish,' he said. 'Regardless if it's a single mom household or a complete family setting, the kids who have the proper structure, genetics and inner drive, and parents who know what it takes playing a sport, they know what to do. Their parents put them in the right places with the right people. It was the same with (2025 No. 1 overall pick) Cam Ward. His mom and father were coaches.' Bridgewater, a 2014 first-round pick out of Louisville, said his mother couldn't afford private coaching when he was in high school. He didn't have a position coach at Miami Northwestern until he was a senior and didn't work with a QB coach until he left Louisville to prep for the NFL Draft. Advertisement 'I wasn't really prepared (for college),' said Bridgewater, who coached his alma mater to a state championship in 2024. 'I knew coverages and everything, but I came from a system that was (two options).' Bridgewater said it took him a year to really grasp the offensive system at Louisville. He lacked the reps and the development, especially since he didn't start playing quarterback until the seventh grade. 'That was the norm back then,' he said. 'I never took quarterback seriously because you knew your chance of making the league at quarterback was scarce. I basically learned to throw on the street with my partners. These kids now, like Niemann (Lawrence), are at least starting at it earlier.' Coaching and development no doubt play a role, but you can also make the case that many Florida prospects have been misevaluated. Lamar Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winner at Louisville and a two-time NFL MVP, was a three-star prospect (No. 398) in the Class of 2015. Michael Penix Jr., who finished second in the 2023 Heisman voting and is the starter for the Atlanta Falcons, was ranked No. 548 in the Class of 2018. Of the state's 11 quarterbacks who have been drafted since 2016, only four were rated four-stars or higher: Brissett (third round, 2016), Driskel (sixth round, 2016), Nathan Peterman (fifth round, 2017) and Anthony Richardson (first round, 2023). Who are the next Sunshine State quarterbacks who might hear their names called during the draft? Last season, 12 Florida-born quarterbacks started at least seven games at FBS schools. Six were starters at the Power 4 level — Georgia's Carson Beck (now at Miami), Cal's Fernando Mendoza (now at Indiana), Iowa State's Rocco Becht, NC State's CJ Bailey, Virginia's Anthony Colandrea (now at UNLV) and West Virginia's Garrett Greene. Beck and Bailey were the only blue-chip recruits in the bunch. In fact, Mendoza was ranked 140th out of 142 quarterbacks in the 2022 recruiting class. Yet, he was one of the most sought-after QB transfers in the portal in December. Advertisement Beck, Mendoza, Becht and Bailey are all expected to be starters once again this fall. Austin Simmons, a third-year sophomore at Ole Miss, is another native Floridian in the mix for a starting assignment. If all four do indeed start, that still gives Florida only four starters among the 68 Power 4 schools. Not a great ratio for a state that has produced roughly 15 percent of the nation's blue-chip prospects (at all positions) over the last four recruiting cycles. 'You can tell a lot of these kids just aren't learning enough football,' Matrole said. (Photo of Jeff Driskel: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
