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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the best quarterbacks that Auburn will face during the 2025 season
Auburn will be tasked with slowing down a heap of great quarterbacks in 2025. The 2025 season is quickly approaching, which means it is a great time to scout every quarterback that the Auburn Tigers are slated to face this season. Auburn will head to Baylor to open the 2025 season on Aug. 29 for a game that is sure to excite those who love great passing games. The Tigers will face Ball State and South Alabama before opening SEC play at Oklahoma, then Texas A&M, to close the September portion of the schedule. Auburn will also face a College Football Playoff participant in Georgia, as well as arch rival Alabama at home this season, with games against Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Arkansas mixed in. The docket of quarterbacks Auburn is slated to face is a great mix of experienced quarterbacks and those aiming to make a name for themselves as transfers or being first-year starters. Auburn's defensive backfield will be experienced and ready to slow down each team's passing game every week. Ahead of the 2025 season, here is a look at every quarterback Auburn is slated to face this season, ranked No. 12 to No. 1. No. 12 Kaiel Kelly, Ball State Cardinals The first player on our list has had a strange, yet eventful college career to say the least. Ball State's Kiael Kelly began his career as a defensive back at Ball State in 2022 before making the move to offense, where he has played quarterback and wide receiver. He started in seven of 11 games in 2023 at quarterback, where he passed for 577 yards and two touchdowns while adding 724 yards and seven scores on the ground. He caught three passes for 10 yards as a receiver last season. There is zero doubt that Kelly will be a major player in Ball State's offense when the Cardinals visit Auburn on Sept. 6, but will it be at quarterback? No. 11 DJ Smith, Mercer Bears Smith started seven games for Mercer in 2024 and returns as the eldest quarterback on the roster. The JUCO product completed 74% of his passes last season for 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 152 yards and four touchdowns. He has zero issue slinging the ball as he passed for over 200-yards in four games last season, with his best game coming in his Mercer debut against Presbyterian, where he passed for 320 yards and three scores. Smith joins Kelly from Ball State in being a quality dual-threat quarterback, and will definitely not be the last on our list. Smith will lead the Mercer Bears into Jordan-Hare Stadium on Nov. 22 as an appetizer for Thanksgiving Day, as well as the Iron Bowl. No. 10 Beau Pribula, Missouri Tigers Missouri will replace several offensive threats this season, including quarterback Brady Cook. In steps Drew Pribula, a former three-star quarterback who spent his first two seasons at Penn State. Pribula attempted just 56 passes in Happy Valley, but was solid in short-to-medium depth situations by completing 18-of-21 passes from depths between 0 and 19 yards for 229 yards and five touchdowns. Pribula has a great arm, and he hopes that he will be meshed well with his offensive line before leading his Tigers into Auburn on Oct. 18. No. 9 Zach Pyron, South Alabama Jaguars The former Fyffe Red Devil and Pinson Valley Indian will lead South Alabama into Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sept. 13. Pyron showcased his dual-threat ability in three seasons at Georgia Tech by passing for 995 yards and rushing for 271 yards. After briefly transferring to Minnesota for spring practice, he elected to come back to his home state to play for Major Applewhite and the South Alabama Jaguars. Pyron was a phenomenal quarterback in our state as a high school player, and will look to find similar success at South Alabama this season. No. 8 Ty Simpson, Alabama Crimson Tide There's a new sheriff in Tuscaloosa as Ty Simpson will take over for Jalen Milroe as the starting quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He is the poster child for "waiting it out" as he is set to take over the offense in his fourth season with the Tide. In three seasons, he has completed 51 passes for 381 yards and zero touchdowns. He has thrown just one "turnover worthy pass" according to Pro Football Focus, and his receivers have dropped seven of his passes. He is unproven, but his story could change before the Iron Bowl, which is slated for Nov. 29 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. No. 7 Gunner Stockton, Georgia Bulldogs Gunner Stockton got his feet wet in the College Football Playoffs last season when the Georgia Bulldogs faced Notre Dame in the quarterfinals. Stockton takes over for Carson Beck, who left Athens during the offseason to transfer to Miami, and the Rabun County, Georgia native is ready to take over his home-state team. He holds a 68.7% completion percentage and 124 rushing yards over the last two seasons as a back-up to Beck. Stockton will lead Georgia into Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 11, in a game slated for prime time. No. 6 Marcel Reed, Texas A&M Aggies The line is officially drawn between inexperienced, unproven quarterbacks and quarterbacks and quarterbacks with at least one year of starting service. Reed returns to Texas A&M after starting eight games for the Aggies last season, splitting time with Conner Weigman, who is now a Houston Cougar. Reed passed for 1,864 yards last season and rushed for an additional 543 yards with 22 total scores. His dual-threat ability will create havoc for SEC foes all season long, and will test the likes of Keldric Faulk and the Tigers' defense in College Station on Sept. 27 No. 5 Zach Calzada, Kentucky Wildcats An old friend will visit Jordan-Hare Stadium on Nov. 1 when Zach Calzada leads the Kentucky Wildcats into Auburn. Calzada suited up briefly for the Tigers during the 2022 season, but never saw the field due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. He would enter the transfer portal following the 2022 season, where he eventually ended up at FCS Incarnate Word. Calzada bounced back by passing for 6,342 yards and 54 touchdowns in two seasons at Incarnate Word, he also broke out his run game by rushing for 332 yards in 2024. Expect Calzada to be extra motivated to face his former team in November. No. 4 Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt Commodores Diego Pavia led Vanderbilt to the Birmingham Bowl last season and is poised to beat Hugh Freeze for the fourth straight season in 2025. Pavia passed for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns for the second-straight season, and cut down on his interceptions by throwing just four, and tossing just seven "turnover worthy passes." His great decision-making, mixed in with his run game, has haunted Auburn over the last two seasons, and the Tigers will look to end his good fortune on Nov. 8 in Nashville. No. 3 Sawyer Robertson, Baylor Bears Former Mississippi State quarterback Sawyer Robertson passed for 3,058 yards last season in his first full year as Baylor's starting quarterback and is going to be the core of Baylor's air raid system yet again this season. Auburn's defensive backfield will be the most experienced unit on the field, but will be tested greatly in week one with Baylor's aerial attack on Aug. 29 in Waco. No. 2 Taylen Green, Arkansas Razorbacks Taylen Green will be another great passer that Auburn will be tasked with slowing down this season. Green threw for over 3,154 yards and 15 touchdowns last season while showcasing his running game that he developed at Boise State by pounding out 602 yards. Green is the highest-graded offensive quarterback that Auburn will face this season, and they will look to slow him down on Oct. 25 in Fayetteville. No. 1 John Mateer, Oklahoma Sooners Out is Jackson Arnold/Michael Hawkins, in steps John Mateer. Mateer transferred to Oklahoma from Washington State, joining his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle. Mateer, like Pavia, is a great decision-maker. Last season at Washington State, Mateer threw just 16 turnover-worthy passes in 348 attempts, throwing seven interceptions to 29 touchdowns. He also added 1,008 yards on the ground. If Oklahoma corrects the issues that plagued Arnold last season, Mateer could end the season as a Heisman-trophy finalist. Mateer and the Oklahoma Sooners will welcome Auburn to town on Sept. 20, which will be the SEC opener for Auburn. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Taylor Decker, Alim McNeill, Malcolm Rodriguez headline injured Detroit Lions on PUP list
Six Detroit Lions players were placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list before the start of training camp, highlighted by a couple stars and a big name. Left tackle Taylor Decker, defensive tackle Alim McNeill and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez will not take part in practice for the foreseeable future as they've been placed on the PUP list. McNeill and Rodriguez were expected to be on the PUP list as they continue their recovery from season-ending injuries suffered late last fall, while Decker comes as a bit of a surprise. The Lions did not list what injury Decker is currently out with. Cornerback Khalil Dorsey, offensive guard Miles Frazier and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo were the other three players placed on the PUP list. Within a 17-day period last season, McNeill and Rodriguez both tore the anterior cruciate ligament in their right knees. Rodriguez went down in a Thanksgiving Day win over the Chicago Bears and McNeill suffered the same fate in a Dec. 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Each players isn't expected to return to action until later this year. Until they are activated, neither McNeill nor Rodriguez will count against the 53-man active roster limit. While the absence of Rodriguez and McNeill will hurt, the Lions are well-fortified at the positions they play after making a number of moves this offseason. At linebacker, Detroit re-signed Trevor Nowaske and added both Grant Stuard and Zach Cunningham. They also beefed up the interior of the defensive line, bringing back Levi Onwuzurike before signing Roy Lopez and drafting Tyleik Williams in the first round. The offensive line, however, continues to take hits. Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow surprisingly decided to retire during the offseason, a move that just became official, while his potential replacement, second-round pick Tate Rateledge out of Georgia, has yet to sign his contract. It's unclear at this time if Decker is expected to miss any regular season time with whatever injury he currently has. Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@ Follow him @RainerSabin on X This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Taylor Decker, Alim McNeill headline injured Detroit Lions on PUP list
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Former Jackson State star signs with Dallas Cowboys
After an up-and-down journey in the NFL, former Jackson State star and Detroit Lions edge rusher James Houston has signed with the Dallas Cowboys, according to multiple reports. Houston, a 2022 sixth-round pick out of Jackson State, began his career on the Lions' practice squad. He made an immediate impact after being activated, debuting on Thanksgiving Day with a two-sack performance against the Buffalo Bills. He went on to tally eight sacks in just seven games, quickly becoming one of the league's most surprising breakout rookies. Despite that early success, Houston struggled to carve out a consistent role. In the 2023 offseason, Detroit experimented with him at SAM linebacker, but the fit didn't stick. His momentum took another hit when he fractured his ankle while covering a punt in Week 2 against Seattle, sidelining him for most of the season. He returned just in time for the NFC Championship game. In 2024, the Lions gave Houston another opportunity as a traditional defensive end. However, he began the season as a healthy scratch. An injury to star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson opened the door for Houston to get back on the field, but he was ultimately waived on November 26. Now, Houston gets a fresh start with Dallas, a team actively building depth behind Micah Parsons. His mix of speed and burst off the edge makes him a compelling low-risk, high-reward signing for the Cowboys. At Jackson State University, James Houston was a dominant force on defense. In his lone season (2021), he recorded 70 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and 1 interception, helping lead JSU to an SWAC Championship and earning FCS All-American honors. At 25 years old, James Houston has a chance to revive his career and contribute to one of the NFC's top contenders, the Dallas Cowboys. The post Former Jackson State star signs with Dallas Cowboys appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Malcolm Jenkins came through in the clutch in our Saints Play of the Day
Shout out to Malcolm Jenkins for some of the greatest hustle plays in New Orleans Saints history. The Dallas Cowboys gained 47 yards on this grab-and-go pass from Jon Kitna to Roy Williams back in 2010, but Jenkins saved a touchdown -- and likely the win -- by hurrying to make a play in a gotta-have-it situation on Thanksgiving Day. That makes it our Saints Play of the Day as we count down to kickoff, with 47 days to go until the Saints host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. The Saints were trailing 27-23 late in the fourth quarter when Williams found space in the Saints secondary; Kitna threw a dart, and then it was off to the races. Williams had a step on Tracy Porter but Jenkins closed the gap quickly, meeting the Cowboys receiver at the New Orleans 11-yard line. A tackle would've been enough, but Jenkins did even more. He stripped the ball from Williams' hands and recovered the fumble in one of the biggest plays of the season. You can see it for yourself right here. And Drew Brees didn't waste that opportunity. He got out of the Saints' own red zone with a 22-yard pass to Marques Colston, and then flipped the field on an impressive 55-yard lob to Robert Meachem. Lance Moore caught his next pass, scoring the go-ahead touchdown, and the Saints never looked back. Dallas' final possession ended with a missed field goal from 59 yards, and then all it took was for Brees to kneel out the clock. But things could have gone very differently if Jenkins didn't wrestle the ball out of Williams' hands. If he had scored or even set up the Cowboys offense to drain the clock themselves, New Orleans probably doesn't win this one. That Jenkins came through in such a big spot with all of America watching is commendable.
UPI
3 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Eat better to better, Columbia researcher suggests in cookbook
1 of 3 | Complex carbohydrates and fiber from fresh and fruits and vegetables are a key part of a diet designed to promote better laid out in a new cookbook authored by a top U.S. nutrition researcher. File Photo by Debbie Hill/ UPI | License Photo ST. PAUL, Minn., July 22 (UPI) -- A top U.S. nutrition researcher is translating her expertise on the connections between diet, better sleep and heart health from the pages of dry academic journals into a colorful mass-market cookbook. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, a professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, along with recipe expert Kat Craddock, have chronicled dozens of recipes and lay out a 28-day meal plan designed for better sleep health in Eat Better, Sleep Better, published by Simon & Schuster earlier this year. St-Onge in recent years has published studies exploring various angles of the connection between what we eat and how we sleep -- a field that remains poorly understood even as doctors have named lack of proper sleep as one the top risk factors for heart disease. Her work has mainly centered on examining the relationship between sleep, weight management and cardiometabolic disease risk. She has also performed well-received research on "functional foods," or foods that offer health benefits, and on how ingredients affect weight management and cardiovascular disease risk prevention. Now with Eat Better, Sleep Better, she and Craddock have produced an elegant, 288-page cookbook packed with 75 recipes meant to give users an opportunity to shape their diets around foods that promote better sleep. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it prioritizes protein sources that are rich in tryptophan, the amino acid that serves as the building block for the sleep-regulating hormones melatonin and serotonin. Tryptophan, of course, is found in turkey and is famous for producing drowsiness after a full Thanksgiving Day dinner. But the book goes well beyond that, highlighting several other ingredients tied to healthier sleep, such as omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in salmon; complex carbohydrates found in oats and buckwheat; and spices like ginger and turmeric. For example, the book's recipe for savory lamb stew notes that lamb is exceptionally high in tryptophan and is also an excellent source of several essential nutrients, including zinc and vitamin B6, "two of the four essential nutrients involved in the body's production of serotonin and melatonin." Similarly, the recipe for chia pudding identifies tiny chia seeds as "a sleep-supporting superfood," not only rich in protein and tryptophanm but also in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, magnesium, fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamin B6 and zinc. St-Onge told UPI one of her main goals with Eat Better, Sleep Better is to translate her scientific research on sleep into a more popular format at at time when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 40% of U.S. adults are getting insufficient sleep. "We do all this work and always publish it just in scientific journals, and my book agent said, 'But the public wants to know, too, it should be something that's available for them as well,' and I thought, he kind of has a point," she said. "We need to disseminate the work that we do, the findings that we have. "Especially in this day and age when the work that we do is funded entirely from taxpayer dollars or donor dollars, if we're talking about the American Heart Association, and it's really a return on their investment -- the knowledge that we can impart to them." St-Onge said she also finds that nutritionists sometimes have a misconception about the ability of people to translate esoteric facts about micronutrients into real-world diets, especially if it means changing those diets. "If you're saying eat more plant protein or eat more fiber, they'll ask, 'Where can I find fiber and plant protein?' And I'll say, well, buckwheat is a great grain. 'Buckwheat? What's that? And how I am going to put it to use in my own diet?' "I thought it was wonderful that I able to get paired with Kat, my co-author, who is in the food world and the recipe development world, and talking more about the application of nutrition in real life. I like recipes, and I also like to cook, but I've never been trained in recipe development or anything like that. So it was nice to be able to be part of that process." Craddock would develop the recipes and send them to St-Onge, who would then try them at home and offer some additional suggestions. One of the reasons there's a need for a sleep-centered cookbook is because it's not just what's eaten before bedtime that affects the quality of sleep, but rather what's consumed throughout the whole day, and over even longer periods, that counts in the body's ability to make melatonin. "We're saying sleep is complicated, it's not just about what happens at night, it's about what happens during the day," she said. In the background of it all is the risk that poor sleep poses to heart health. The American Heart Association in 2022 added sleep to its list of "Life's Essential 8," the eight top markers for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health, calling proper sleep "vital to your heart and brain health." That assessment is shared by Dr. Kin M. Yuen, spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a sleep medicine specialist at UCSF Health in San Francisco. "A balanced diet with a healthy amount of lean protein, carbohydrates, including fruits and vegetables, starches and healthy fats, along with nuts and seeds -- for those without allergies -- is the most optimal" for healthy sleep, she told UPI in an emailed statement. Generally, she added, sleep specialists support their nutritionist and cardiology colleagues in advocating for a diet that may include plant based protein, leafy greens and lean animal proteins, such as chicken, fish and seafood, depending on the individual's sensitivity and tolerance. Yuen said it's also important for people with sensitivities or intolerances to specific substances to avoid or limit those food groups, as they may disturb or fragment sleep. "Therefore, those with lactose intolerance may have better sleep by ingesting fewer dairy products or using lactose-free dairy only," she said. "For those with diagnosed celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, sleep may be improved without gluten in their diet, which may cause bloating, stomach upset or nausea, and sometimes weight loss." Ultimately, she cautioned, no one diet plan works for everyone. "Individual differences and allergic tendencies may limit the intake of a particular food group. Viral, bacterial illness and antibiotic use may make a regular diet not feasible," Yuen warned. Nevertheless, "good sleep and healthy diets go very well together," she concluded. "Adequate exercise also ensures sleep quality is optimized. Adequate daytime sunlight and devoting enough time to sleep will help ensure that the quality of sleep is optimal."
