Latest news with #Reed
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin football class of 2026 commit begins June with notable SEC official visit
Wisconsin football class of 2026 commit begins June with notable SEC official visit Wisconsin football class of 2026 commit, defensive lineman Carmelow Reed, is taking an official visit to Ole Miss this weekend, according to Rivals' Adam Gorney. The 6-foot-7 defensive lineman committed to the Badgers on April 7, immediately becoming the highest-rated recruit in their class of 2026. 247Sports ranks the Olympia Fields, Illinois, product as the No. 531 overall player in the class of 2026, the No. 63 defensive lineman and the No. 13 player from his home state. Notably, Reed chose the Badgers over other offers from LSU, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri and Ole Miss. He is one of several players scheduled to visit Madison the weekend of June 6. Before making that trip, he began his official visit schedule with a notable SEC trip. As a junior with Olympia Fields, Reed logged 33 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks and a fumble recovery in eight games. As of May 30, he is Wisconsin's sole defensive line commit for the class of 2026. That class currently ranks No. 44 in the nation with seven players committed. If Reed were to decommit and head to Ole Miss, the class' ranking would drop substantially. Furthermore, the defensive front seven is a position group of significance for Luke Fickell, as he has honed in on top targets including McHale Blade, Kobe Cherry, Djidjou Bah, Arthur Scott, and Jermaine Polk. Wisconsin is in search of its third straight recruiting finish in the top 25, something Fickell leaned into when he assumed head coaching responsibilities in 2022. Given his team's 5-7 finish a season ago, offseason coaching changes and a new offensive system, Fickell and his staff may need to work harder to sell the program as a top destination. As of May 30, Reed remains a Badger. His status is one to monitor in the coming weeks. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Badger Commit Flirting with Rebels? Reed's Ole Miss Visit
Badger Commit Flirting with Rebels? Reed's Ole Miss Visit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Wisconsin football team's 2026 recruiting class currently stands at seven committed players. Among those players, and the Badgers' top-rated player according to the 247Sports rankings, is defensive lineman/EDGE Carmelow Reed. Advertisement Reed committed to the Badgers at the beginning of April, but his commitment to the Wisconsin football team may not be solid. Despite making a pledge to the Badgers, Reed could have his eyes looking elsewhere. It could be a case of him just making sure he's making the right decision, but in a report from Adam Gorney, the national recruiting director for Rivals and Yahoo Sports, Reed is expected to take a visit to the Ole Miss Rebels this weekend. The 3-star defensive lineman out of Olympia Fields, Illinois, is the 531st-overall player in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He is the 63rd-ranked defensive lineman and 13th overall player in the state of Illinois. Advertisement He committed to the Badgers over a handful of Power 4 teams, including LSU, Ole Miss, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, and others. Should the Badgers lose their pledge from Carmelow Reed, they will need to turn up the heat on some of their upcoming visits. Whether he is an edge or a defensive lineman, the Badgers are already relatively thin at those positions, especially along the defensive line. Related: Badgers Make Top 5 for Elite DL Jermaine Polk Stay in the loop with all things Wisconsin Badgers football and men's basketball by visiting for more updates. Ready to join the community? Follow Athlon Sports on YouTube, Facebook, and X to join in on the conversation. Advertisement You can also follow Staff Writer Christian Borman at @ChristianBorman on X. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Packers WR Jayden Reed spends extra time with JUGS machine to help cure drops problem
Packers WR Jayden Reed spends extra time with JUGS machine to help cure drops problem Extra time with the JUGS machine was the remedy of choice for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed after a 2024 season that featured too many drops. After Wednesday's OTA session, Reed said he's been using the JUGS machine -- a mechanical throwing device used by all NFL teams -- every day this offseason. 'Drops was a problem for me last year,' Reed said, via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. 'I've been on the JUGS machine every day this offseason. Obviously, that will help.' More consistency catching the football is a must for a talented and versatile wide receiver who left too many yards on the field as a second-year player. Reed dropped 10 of his 79 targets and had at least one drop in nine games during the 2024 season, according to Pro Football Focus. His 10 drops ranked second among wide receivers, while his drop percentage of 15.4 percent ranked as the third highest among receivers with at least 40 targets. Unfortunately for the Packers, too many of the drops from Reed and Dontayvion Wicks -- who combined for 20 drops in 2024 -- came in big spots, like third down. Despite the drops and a late season slump, Reed still averaged 15.6 yards per catch and 2.20 yards per route run -- both excellent numbers for a wide receiver. He went over 1,000 total yards in 2024 but could have been a true game-changer had he held onto the football better in the passing game. Not all the catching numbers were poor -- Reed did complete 8-of-12 contested catches in 2024. Also, this appears to be a new problem. As a rookie, Reed dropped only four passes and had a drop percentage of 4.5. And drops weren't a big issue as a collegiate player -- Reed dropped only 17 passes and had a drop percentage of 7.5 across four seasons and over 300 targets. Catching a football in a professional football game is a task with a lot of variables in play. Where is the ball located accuracy-wise? Are there defenders nearing in or close by? Receivers must use proper technique and have razor-sharp concentration to consistently make catches within the chaos. Like most receivers, Reed is putting in the work on the JUGS machine this offseason. The hope is he'll be more consistent catching passes from Jordan Love in 2025.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
It's math! Here's why you're struggling to win the Lotto
Tonight's total estimated jackpot sits at R20 million - R9 million for PowerBall and R11 million for PowerBall Plus. According to the National Lottery, there are 20 358 520 different combinations that Lotto and PowerBall players can play when choosing six out of 52 numbers. The order in which the numbers are matched does not matter in relation to how they are selected. There is also a 1 in 42 375 200 chance of matching all six numbers to win the maximum jackpot. While some argue that winning the lottery is a matter of luck, a mathematician claims that players can increase their chances of being the lucky one by selecting numbers strategically. Tonight's total estimated jackpot sits at R20 million – R9 million for PowerBall and R11 million for PowerBall Plus. 'PowerBall players reducing their chances' According to mathematician Dr Nathan Reed, PowerBall players may be unknowingly reducing their chances of winning by selecting predictable number combinations. Reed suggests avoiding consecutive sequences. 'Sequences like 1-2-3-4-5 or 5-6-7-8-9 are surprisingly popular. While they seem unique, many players choose them, increasing the likelihood of shared jackpots,' says Reed. ALSO READ: Odd PowerBall numbers raise questions; no funny business says commission However, the 20 winners who shocked the country by matching these numbers would disagree. On 2 December 2020, the winning numbers of the PowerBall were 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 as the bonus number. According to Ithuba, 20 people played these numbers and shared the R119 million as a result. Ithuba said these sequences were common among players. It tweeted at the time: 'Congratulations to tonight's 20 winners of the PowerBall draw. These numbers may be unexpected, but we see many players opt to play these sequences.' 'Hot numbers' Reed told that there are 'hot' numbers that players should not rely solely on. 'Numbers such as 16, 23, and 48 are frequently drawn and thus commonly selected by players. Relying solely on these can lead to overlapping combinations.' However, again in 2020, a player walked away with R37 million in July after playing the same numbers for the past four years. His winning numbers were 6, 16, 23, 26, 33 and 48, with a bonus number of 7. 'I have been playing the same numbers for the past four years, not only for Lotto but for PowerBall and Daily Lotto,' he told Ithuba at the time. RELATED: 'Many players play these sequences,' says National Lottery amid social media uproar 'I wanted to play the quick pick selection because I thought I had been playing the same numbers for years and the maximum amount I had won was R1 200 in the daily lotto draw early this year, so I thought maybe it's time I changed my playing strategy. 'I asked the cashier for quick pick selection, but before I gave her the money, my gut told me that today might be the day I strike it lucky and opted to play the same numbers manually.' 'Random PowerBall numbers' Reed further suggests utilising the quick pick option. 'Random number generators can help eliminate personal biases, producing less predictable combinations and reducing the chance of sharing a prize,' he says. 'Many players fall into the trap of choosing numbers based on patterns, birthdays, or perceived 'lucky' numbers. These selections often overlap with others, increasing the chances of shared winnings. By adopting a more randomised approach, players can enhance their odds of securing the full jackpot.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hegseth orders Pentagon's testing office staff cut by more than half
The Senate Armed Services Committee's top Democrat is blasting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his decision this week to appoint a new director of the Pentagon's operational test enterprise and rapidly cut its staff by more than half. Hegseth said his directed reorganization, which would reduce the staff, budget and resources at the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), supports the Defense Department's 'America First' strategy, according to a Tuesday memo. But Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said Thursday the move is 'reckless and damaging' to military accountability and oversight. 'For decades, DOT&E has played a vital, legally mandated role in safeguarding the integrity of major defense programs and ensuring military systems are effective before they are put into warfighters' hands,' Reed said in a statement. He said Hegseth has given no logical reasoning for this action, and he is worried the move 'appears retaliatory, driven by Mr. Hegseth's opposition to some of DOT&E's recent, legally required oversight decisions.' The Pentagon chief's change up of the DOT&E will see its staff of 94 personnel — including 82 civilians and 12 service members — axed back in seven days to just 30 civilians, 15 military personnel and one senior leader, the newly appointed acting Director Carroll Quade. Quade, who was up until now the Navy's deputy for test and evaluation, takes over from Raymond O'Toole, who has served as acting director of the office since January and twice as an acting deputy director since January 2021. Hegseth also ordered all contractor personnel support to end within seven days of the memo's release. The Pentagon chief justified the cuts by claiming an internal review 'identified redundant, non-essential, non-statutory functions within ODOT&E that do not support operational agility or resource efficiency, affecting our ability to rapidly and effectively deploy the best systems to the warfighter.' He estimated the changes will save more than $300 million annually. The Defense Department's test and evaluation office is in charge of validating weapons and platforms across the U.S. military, setting policies, providing oversight and publishing annual testing updates on such major weapons programs as the F-35 fighter jet, the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon and the Columbia-class submarine. But cutting the office back to a skeleton crew with limited contractor backing may prevent it from providing adequate oversight for critical military programs, 'risking operational readiness and taxpayer dollars,' Reed said. 'This kind of politically motivated interference undermines independent oversight and leaves warfighters and the public more vulnerable to untested, potentially flawed systems,' he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
