Latest news with #SECPlayeroftheYear
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
SEC Network analyst 'all-in' on Oklahoma Sooners QB John Mateer
.@ChrisDoering is ALL IN on Oklahoma's John Mateer 👀📸 @OU_Football Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer has received plenty of hype and recognition since signing with OU last winter. However, after being one of two Sooners named to the Maxwell Award watch list earlier this week, there's one college football expert who thinks Mateer will take home an even more prestigious award. SEC Network analyst Chris Doering has big expectations for Mateer this season and believes he'll be named the best player in the SEC and in all of college football by the end of the season. "I'm high on him for a number of reasons," Doering said. "This guy has amazing athletic ability. He's comfortable in the offense that he's already been running at Washington State with Ben Arbuckle as the two come over to Norman together. But I look at his arm strength and his ability to move outside of the pocket and make plays when things break down. Everybody knows that he can run the football, so what do defenses have to do? They have to play vision coverage." Doering went on to describe several plays in which Mateer worked outside the pocket and made deep throws on the move to create big plays. "I'm all in on him," Doering said. "I think this guy is going to be the SEC Player of the Year, and I also think he's going to win the Heisman Trophy," Doering said. If Mateer does in fact win the Heisman Trophy this year, he'll be the eighth Sooner to do so, following running backs Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, and Billy Sims and quarterbacks Jason White, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray. Even a season where Mateer plays well enough to be a Heisman Trophy finalist would be absolutely massive for Oklahoma in 2025. Besides their four winners since 1999, OU has had four other players that made the cut as finalists over the last 26 years, but never took home the coveted bronze trophy. Josh Heupel, Adrian Peterson and Jalen Hurts all finished as runners-up, while Dede Westbrook placed fourth. Mateer follows his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, over from Washington State to Oklahoma. The pair will navigate their first season in the SEC side by side as they look to right the ship on the offensive side of the ball at OU. Mateer has impressed many this offseason with his confidence, demeanor, leadership and ability since arriving in Norman. It's simply hard to overstate how far a Heisman Trophy-level season out of the QB position could potentially take this team in 2025. The Sooners are counting on Mateer to be the centerpiece of their offensive bounce-back this year. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Which Schools Have The Most Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time?
The Heisman Memorial Trophy is the most esteemed honor in college football and among the most honorable awards in any sport. It has been a quarterback-dominated award as of late, with 20 of the past 25 Heisman winners being signal-callers. The most recent winner, however, was Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter, who earned the prestigious honor after a standout season in 2024 and became just the second Buffaloes player to win the award and first since 1994. That said, which schools have produced the most Heisman winners? FOX Sports Research compiled the list. Schools With The Most Heisman Trophy Winners T-6. Army: Three FB/WR Doc Blanchard (1945): Three-time All-American RB/WR/QB Glenn Davis (1946): Three-time All-American RB Pete Dawkins (1958): One-time All-American T-6. Michigan: Three QB Tom Harmon (1940): Two-time All-American WR/KR/PR Desmond Howard (1991): 1991 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American DB/WR/PR Charles Woodson (1997): 1997 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American T-6. Nebraska: Three WR/RB Johnny Rodgers (1972): Two-time All-American RB Mike Rozier (1983): Two-time All-American QB Eric Crouch (2001): Two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year T-6. Florida: Three QB Steve Spurrier (1966): 1966 SEC Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Danny Wuerffel (1996): Two-time SEC Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Tim Tebow (2007): 2008 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American T-6. Auburn: Three QB Pat Sullivan (1971): 1970 SEC Player of the Year, one-time All-American RB Bo Jackson (1985): 1985 SEC Player of the Year, two-time All-American QB Cam Newton (2010): 2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American T-6. Florida State: Three QB Charlie Ward (1993): Two-time ACC Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Chris Weinke (2000): 2000 ACC Player of the Year, 2000 ACC Offensive Player of the Year QB Jameis Winston (2013): 2013 ACC Player of the Year, one-time All-American T-6. LSU: Three RB Billy Cannon (1959): Two-time SEC Player of the Year, two-time All-American QB Joe Burrow (2019): 2019 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Jayden Daniels (2023): 2023 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 5. Alabama: Four RB Mark Ingram (2009): 2009 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American RB Derrick Henry (2015): 2015 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American WR DeVonta Smith (2020): 2020 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Bryce Young (2021): 2021 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American T-2. Notre Dame: Seven QB Angelo Bertelli (1943): One-time All-American QB Johnny Lujack (1947): Two-time All-American WR Leon Hart (1949): Two-time All-American RB Johnny Lattner (1953): Two-time All-American QB Paul Hornung (1956): One-time All-American QB John Huarte (1964): One-time All-American WR/RB Tim Brown (1987): One-time All-American T-2. Ohio State: Seven RB Les Horvath (1944): One-time All-American RB Vic Janowicz (1950): One-time All-American RB Howard Cassady (1955): Two-time All-American RB Archie Griffin (1974): Two-time All-American RB Archie Griffin (1975): Two-time All-American RB Eddie George (1995): 1995 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Troy Smith (2006): 2006 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American T-2. Oklahoma: Seven RB Bill Vessels (1952): One-time All-American RB Steve Owens (1969): One-time All-American RB Billy Sims (1978): Two-time All-American QB Jason White (2003): Two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Sam Bradford (2008): 2008 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Baker Mayfield (2017): Two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Kyler Murray (2018): 2018 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year 1. USC: Eight RB Mike Garrett (1965): One-time All-American RB O.J. Simpson (1968): Two-time All-American RB Charles White (1979): Two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year, two-time All-American RB Marcus Allen (1981): 1981 Pac-10 Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Carson Palmer (2002): 2002 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American QB Matt Leinart (2004): Two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American RB Reggie Bush (2005): Two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, two-time All-American QB Caleb Williams (2022): 2022 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American Check out all of our Daily Rankers . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Browns roster review: A dive into Cleveland's 2025 running back room
With the official departure of Nick Chubb, the Browns are looking to revitalize their rushing attack this season on their roster. The team is entering a rebuilding year, with many young players — including two rookie running backs — aiming to make an impact in 2025. Despite the rebuilding nature of the season, the Browns drafted with a clear message: it's time to re-establish the run game. In April, Cleveland selected two highly regarded college running backs, Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, with very high hopes. The former national champion and SEC Player of the Year will both look to make a lasting impact on the offense, alongside returning veteran backs Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. The group has limited NFL experience, with only 415 combined carries among the four players, but that won't stop them from utilizing their talents this upcoming season. With nowhere to go but up, all four backs will have plenty of opportunities to prove why they deserve to be Cleveland's starting running back. Now, let's take a deeper dive into each of these players and the impact they're expected to have in the 2025 regular season: Quinshon Judkins It's no secret that fans are waiting on pins and needles to see how the Quinshon Judkins criminal investigation and contract situation will play out. Due to his recent legal troubles, Judkins remains unsigned and will likely remain that way for the time being. He is currently one of just five 2025 NFL Draft picks who have not yet signed their rookie contracts. If and when Judkins is cleared to play for the Browns, he could become one of the team's most explosive offensive weapons. In his lone season as an Ohio State Buckeye, Judkins tallied 1,060 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging an impressive 5.5 yards per carry. His efforts in all 16 games helped Ohio State capture a national championship. He's expected to share a significant portion of the workload with fellow rookie Dylan Sampson. Dylan Sampson You could argue that the Browns' most valuable 2025 draft selection was Tennessee Volunteer Dylan Sampson. The 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year was the heart of the Volunteers' offense, rushing for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also averaged 5.8 yards per carry and helped lead his team to a College Football Playoff berth. Sampson is expected to play a key role in the Browns' offense, regardless of what happens with Judkins. The Browns' rushing attack was at its best when they had a strong one-two punch in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. If Judkins' situation is resolved, the team could aim to recreate that successful backfield dynamic. Jerome Ford The Browns' veteran running back is returning for his fourth NFL season in Cleveland. After some negotiations, the team reduced Ford's 2025 salary from $3.86 million to $1.75 million — a move that likely secured his spot on the roster and retained his veteran presence. Despite his experience, he faces young competition for carries. In the Browns' 2024 running back carousel, Ford started six games and appeared in eight others. He totaled 790 yards and averaged a career-best 5.4 yards per carry on 104 attempts. Still, the Browns' rushing attack had a disappointing reputation last season. We'll see if Ford's familiarity with the offense gives him an edge over the rookie backs. Pierre Strong Jr. The running back in this group who will need to fight hardest for a 53-man roster spot is 26-year-old Pierre Strong Jr. Since acquiring him from the Patriots, the Browns have appreciated Strong's versatility on offense and special teams. The question is whether that will be enough to earn a roster spot. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff have not yet revealed how they'll structure the 53-man roster. Unfortunately for Strong, the team carried only three running backs on the Week 1 depth chart in 2024. His chances could improve if the Browns don't sign second-round pick Judkins, but he'll need to stand out during training camp either way.
USA Today
20-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee extends Chris Woodruff's contract
Tennessee announced a contact extension for men's tennis head coach Chris Woodruff. His contract extension is through the 2030 season. "Under Chris' outstanding leadership, our men's tennis program has firmly established itself as one of the premier programs in the nation," Tennessee vice chancellor and director of athletics Danny White said. "We are thrilled to have him at the helm, guiding us to even greater success in the years ahead here on Rocky Top!" Woodruff served as an assistant coach at Tennessee from 2002 until being promoted as head coach in 2017. He played for the Vols from 1991-93 and remains the only NCAA singles champion (1993) in Tennessee program history. Woodruff also earned ITA National Player of the Year and SEC Player of the Year honors. "I'm forever grateful for the opportunity Tennessee has given, not only myself, but my terrific family as well," Woodruff said. "The last seven years in particular have been incredible, especially under the direction of Danny White and his staff. They have led this athletic department to new heights, and I'm thrilled to receive this contract extension and have the opportunity to hopefully do our part in men's tennis." More: Tennessee extends Alison Ojeda's contract Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
USA Today
18-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Three Gators among ESPN's best players of all-time in each NFL draft slot
A classic male bonding is listing off arbitrary Day 3 picks from the NFL draft in years past, but ESPN's Ben Solak took the idea to a whole new extreme. Solak broke down the best player drafted of all time in each of the 262 slots of the modern seven-round draft. The bookend picks aren't so difficult to make. Solak had his pick of 14 Hall of Famers to choose from at the No. 1 overall spot, and no one is arguing with Peyton Manning at the top. Brock Purdy in the Mr. Irrelevant spot is another easy one. But the middle rounds get tricky. Three Florida Gators found their way onto this list: NFL rushing yards leader Emmitt Smith at No. 17, Hall of Fame defensive end Jack Youngblood at No. 20 and offensive tackle Trent Brown at No. 244. One of these is not like the others, but that's okay. Perennial Pro Bowlers such as cornerback Joe Haden, do-it-all athlete Percy Harvin and the Pouncey twins missed the cut because of the format. It's an interesting exercise from the offseason and maybe a new factoid to drop at the next draft party members of Gator Nation attend. 17. Emmitt Smith, RB (1990) — Dallas Cowboys Holding the NFL record for career anything should make a player a lock for this list, and Smith is still widely considered the GOAT at his position for his longevity and production. It's been 35 years since Smith donned the Orange and Blue, and his time came before the peak moments in Florida history, but he's still among the best to ever come through Gainesville. "The leader for career rushing yards by almost 2,000 yards takes the top spot here. Just how incredible are Smith's 18,355 rushing yards? Derrick Henry -- who is 19th in career rushing yardage but ninth with 84 rushing yards per game over his career -- would need to maintain his career average over another five seasons to catch Smith." Smith was always dominant on the field. It only took him two games to earn a starting role. In his first start as a true freshman, Smith broke a 57-year-old program record with 224 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. He broke 1,000 yards in seven games, the fastest any running back had ever done so to start their college career, and Smith finished ninth in the Heisman voting as a true freshman. A month-long recovery from a knee injury kept Smith from reaching 1,000 yards as a sophomore in 1988, but he broke the program record with 1,599 as a junior. Smith also set a record for rushing yards in a single game (316), longest rushing play (96), career rushing yards (3,928) and career rushing yards per game (126.7) and career rushing touchdowns (36), among 58 total records. A three-time All-SEC First Team selection and the 1989 SEC Player of the Year, Smith earned a unanimous first-team All-American nod and finished seventh in the Heisman voting. With pass-heavy Steve Spurrier coming in to lead the program, Smith decided to forgo his senior year and enter the draft. Dallas traded up four spots to get Smith at No. 17, or else he'd be lower than Youngblood on this list. The rest is history. Three Super Bowl rings, a Super Bowl MVP, an NFL MVP Award, four All-Pro selections, eight Pro Bowl selections and an 18-year career to rival all others. 20. Jack Youngblood, DE (1971) — Los Angeles Rams Youngblood is the defensive counterpart to Smith on offense in Florida history. Both are in the Gators Ring of Honor, an exclusive six-member group of which Steve Spurrier, Wilber Marshall, Tim Tebow and Danny Wuerffel are also members. Youngblood predates the Smith and Spurrier eras. He was a member of the Florida team that tested for what is now known as Gatorade. If anyone is deserving of a spot on the Florida football Mount Rushmore, it's Youngblood. "'What a great name for a pass rusher. Youngblood was a Rams lifer with eight All-Pro nominations and a retired jersey. His longevity just barely gives him the nod over another Hall of Famer, Steve Atwater, a legendary Broncos safety and winner of two Super Bowls. I flip-flopped on this one for a while." An All-State linebacker out of high school, Youngblood shifted to defensive end as a freshman at Florida and spent some time at defensive tackle throughout his career. He came to national prominence with a five-sack game against Florida State as a sophomore and earned a first-team All-American nod as a junior in 1970. That year, Youngblood led the team with 10 sacks and recorded 58 tackles. He spent all 14 years of his NFL career with the Rams, earning five first-team All-Pro selections, three second-team All-Pro selections and seven Pro Bowl selections. Although sacks weren't officially recorded by the NFL until the 1980s, Youngblood's 151 1/2 career sacks rank sixth all-time. 244. Trent Brown, OT (2015) — San Francisco 49ers Brown spent the first two years of his career at Georgia Military College, but he spent the bulk of his two years at Florida as a starter. He took over for tackle Tyler Moore after an injury during the Georgia game and moved to guard before the 2014 season. At 6-foot-8 and 363 pounds, Brown is the largest player in Florida history besides Desmond Watson. His projectability made him a seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft. After 28 starts over three years with San Francisco, Brown was traded to New England in 2018, where he won Super Bowl LIII. He signed a four-year $66 million contract with Oakland in 2019 and earned his first Pro Bowl nod the same year. Much of 2020 was lost due to the pandemic and Brown's own health issues, and he was traded back to the Patriots in 2021. Despite another injury, this time to his calf, New England signed Bown to a two-year $14 million deal. A torn patellar tendon ended his 2024 with Cincinnati early, and now he's with Houston ahead of the 2025 season. The sun is beginning to set for Brown's career, and he probably hasn't done enough to join the other two players on this list in the Hall of Fame, but a decade-long career in the NFL is something to applaud, especially for a seventh-rounder. The next time a friend says, "Who cares about the 200th pick of the draft?" Tell them about Trent Brown. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
