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USA Today
a day ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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
5 days ago
- 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.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dalton Knecht plays 31 minutes for Lakers against Celtics in NBA Summer League
Seven former Tennessee men's basketball players competed in the NBA Summer League on Thursday in Las Vegas, Nevada. Detroit defeated Miami, 108-88. Chaz Lanier started and played 26 minutes for the Pistons. He totaled five points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals. Lanier converted 2-of-10 field goal attempts and 1-of-6 three-point attempts. He was selected in the second round by Detroit with the No. 37 overall pick. Zakai Zeigler totaled 15 points and four assists in 11 minutes for Detroit. He converted 3-of-7 field goal attempts, 2-of-3 three-point attempts and 7-of-7 free throw attempts. Zeigler was signed by the Pistons as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NBA draft. Indiana defeated New York, 91-88. Josiah-Jordan James totaled three points, two rebounds, one steal and one block for the Pacers. He converted 1-of-5 field goal attempts and 1-for-3 three-point attempts. James signed with Indiana as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and played for the Indiana Mad Ants last season in the NBA G-League. Atlanta defeated Memphis, 92-88. Jahmai Mashack started and played 25 minutes for the Grizzlies. He recorded eight points, five rebounds, four assists and one block. Mashack was the final player selected in the 2025 NBA draft. Portland defeated Houston, 102-83. Kennedy Chandler started and played 34 minutes for the Rockets. He totaled 14 points, five assists, three rebounds, two steals and one block. Chandler was selected in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft (No. 38 overall) by San Antonio, and traded to Memphis. He most recently played for the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn's NBA G-League affiliate. Boston defeated the Lakers, 87-78. Dalton Knecht started and played 31 minutes for Los Angeles. He totaled eight points, three rebounds, one steal and one block. Knecht, the 2024 SEC Player of the Year and SEC Newcomer of the Year, was selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft (No. 17 overall). Toronto defeated Golden State, 81-69. Tyreke Key recorded one assist in six minutes for the Raptors. He converted 0-of-2 field goal attempts and 0-of-2 three-point attempts.
New York Post
12-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Auburn star Tahaad Pettiford arrested on DUI charge
Auburn basketball star Tahaad Pettiford was arrested on Saturday morning with a DUI charge in Lee County, Alabama, per jail logs obtained by ESPN. The anticipated SEC Player of the Year contender for the upcoming season was released from jail midday and is no longer on the list as an inmate in the jail's log, the outlet reported. The incident comes just weeks after Pettiford withdrew from the NBA draft to rejoin the Tigers for his sophomore season, looking to prove he is ready for the next level. Tahaad Pettiford drives to the basket during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine on May 13, 2025 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NBAE via Getty Images 'We are aware of the situation, and we will handle it internally with Tahaad and his family,' Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement to ESPN on Saturday. 'We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward.' In his freshman year, Pettiford averaged 11.6 points per game while shooting 42.1 percent from the field across an average 22.9 minutes. He was a key member of an Auburn team that went on to reach the Final Four last season, averaging 15.2 points in the five tournament games. The Jersey City native will be a big highlight of the team's next chapter after star Johni Broome was selected by the 76ers at 35th overall. 'I was happy to go through the process, getting feedback from NBA teams,' Pettiford told ESPN at the time of leaving the draft. 'Going back to Auburn is a better situation for me. I see myself being a higher pick next year. It wasn't 100 percent this year, so I didn't want to take that chance.' Tahaad Pettiford dunks the ball during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. NBAE via Getty Images Pettiford wasn't a part of the big freshman conversation throughout last season, but for the upcoming year, he is on a short list of players as a possible preseason All-American. In the past, Pearl has applauded Pettiford's team-player mentality when it came to accepting his place and playing time among a team of veterans. 'I suppose some would just sort of expect that to be a problem,' Pearl said about Pettiford's situation in April. 'Not a word. Not a body language, shoulder shrug, roll eye ever from Tahaad.'
