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New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
The next Diego Pavia? These QB/play caller packaged deals could pay big dividends in 2025
Vanderbilt was one of college football's feel-good stories in 2024. The Commodores changed the complexion of their program in large part because they hit on quarterback transfer Diego Pavia from New Mexico State. Vanderbilt also hired Pavia's offensive coordinator, Tim Beck, who coached the quarterback for two years with the Aggies. It was the latest example of a program bringing in a QB and coordinator (or head coach) from the same school, importing an offensive system and enjoying immediate success. USC did the same with Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams in 2022, and there are other examples in which a quarterback and coach have a shared history and eventually reunited and flourished — Michael Penix Jr. and Kalen DeBoer at Washington, Bo Nix and Kenny Dillingham at Oregon, to name a few. Advertisement As a new season nears, let's examine some of the most notable quarterback/coach packaged deals from the offseason and how they can change the trajectory of their new programs. Quarterback: John Mateer Coach: Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle Previous school: Washington State This was the most prominent QB/coach addition of the offseason. Washington State ranked in the top 10 nationally in both scoring offense and yards per play in 2024. Mateer, who was ranked as the No. 119 quarterback recruit in the Class of 2022 in the 247Sports Composite, burst onto the scene with 3,139 passing yards, 826 rushing yards and 44 total touchdowns in his first season as the starter. The Texas native ranks atop The Athletic's list of the 100 most impactful transfers and is fourth among 136 FBS starting quarterbacks in our 2025 quarterback tiers. After a hideous offensive season, Sooners coach Brent Venables made the shrewd decision to hire Arbuckle. When Mateer entered the transfer portal in December, not too long after Arbuckle's hire, Oklahoma seemed like the most logical landing spot. The Sooners ranked 97th in scoring offense and 124th in yards per play last season, a considerable drop-off from the elite numbers the program has routinely posted over the last few decades. Oklahoma, in 2024, stumbled through its second losing season in Venables' three years on the job — after not having a losing record since 1998. He has placed his faith in Mateer and Arbuckle to resurrect the offense and get the program back on stable footing. It is a big jump in competition, transitioning from Washington State, which essentially played a Mountain West schedule last season, to Oklahoma and the SEC. But Pavia and Beck made an even bigger leap, from Conference USA to the SEC, last year and excelled in their new surroundings. Quarterback: Devon Dampier Coach: Offensive coordinator Jason Beck Previous school: New Mexico The Utes ranked 102nd in scoring offense and 111th in yards per play in 2024. The result was a 5-7 record in Utah's debut in the Big 12 — the program's first losing season since 2013. Andy Ludwig, who coordinated Utah's offense during its two Pac-12 title seasons (2021 and 2022), stepped down in October. The Utes are past the constant uncertainty surrounding quarterback Cam Rising's health status, too. Advertisement Utah coach Kyle Whittingham went to his old stomping grounds, the Mountain West, to look for answers. He found them in Dampier and Beck at New Mexico. Dampier's dual-threat ability made him one of the most entertaining QBs to watch in 2024, when he passed for 2,768 yards and rushed for 1,166 and accounted for 31 total touchdowns. Dampier, who ranked 25th in our QB tiers, threw as many interceptions as touchdowns in 2024 (12) and completed just 57.9 percent of his passes, but he will now be surrounded by a better supporting cast. With the help of Dampier, Beck oversaw a Lobos offense that ranked fourth nationally in yards per play and 23rd in scoring last season. Utah's offensive line should be among the best in the Big 12, which will help both the QB and play caller. The Utes always have a strong defense, so if Dampier and Beck can inject some life into the offense, it wouldn't be a shock to see Utah back competing for a conference championship. Quarterback: Tommy Castellanos Coach: Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn Previous school: Castellanos (Boston College/UCF), Malzahn (UCF) Florida State hit rock bottom last season, plummeting from 13-1 in 2023 to 2-10 in 2024. The offense was horrendous — ranking 106th in turnovers committed, 131st in scoring and 132nd in yards per play, yards per rush and sacks allowed. The decision to go all in on quarterback transfer DJ Uiagalelei was a disaster. Offensive coordinator Alex Atkins was fired during the season. In December, Malzahn decided to leave his head coaching role at UCF to become the offensive coordinator for Seminoles coach Mike Norvell, who is in desperate need of a bounce-back season. The quarterback decision was curious once again. Castellanos posted solid production for Boston College in 2023, with 2,248 passing yards, 1,113 rushing yards and 28 total touchdowns. But Bill O'Brien took over as the Eagles head coach last season, and Castellanos wasn't really a fit for the offense. O'Brien benched Castellanos in November, and the QB left the team with a couple of games remaining. Advertisement That wasn't good optics-wise, and now he's landed at a Florida State program that needs a culture reset. Malzahn's offense is at its best with a dual-threat quarterback, so this could work out. And there is a familiarity here — Malzahn signed and coached Castellanos at UCF in 2022 before Castellanos transferred to Boston College. Quarterback: Maverick McIvor Coach: Offensive coordinator Rick Bowie Previous school: Abilene Christian Hilltoppers coach Tyson Helton popularized the 'import an offense' game plan in 2021 when he brought in quarterback Bailey Zappe and coordinator Zach Kittley (now the head coach at FAU) from Houston Baptist. WKU led the nation in passing that season. The Hilltoppers are doing it again with McIvor and Bowie. McIvor, now in his seventh year, started his career at Texas Tech but didn't receive much playing time. He transferred to Abilene Christian in 2022 and developed into a quality starter, leading the program to the FCS playoffs for the first time ever in 2024 while throwing for 3,847 yards and 30 touchdowns (to seven interceptions). He passed for 506 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-51 overtime loss to Texas Tech, which really grabbed people's attention. In Bowie's only season at Abilene Christian, the Wildcats ranked 16th nationally in the FCS in scoring offense. In 2023, Bowie was the offensive coordinator at Valdosta State, which averaged 36.9 points per game and went 12-2 and made the D-II playoffs. Western Kentucky's offense wasn't as prolific in 2024 as it had been in previous years, so the hope is that McIvor and Bowie get things back on track and put the Hilltoppers in contention for the CUSA title. Quarterback: Braylon Braxton Coach: Head coach Charles Huff Previous school: Marshall There will be few programs more interesting than Southern Miss this season. A lot of these quarterback/coach package deals left their previous stops for schools or positions many would consider to be an upgrade. Advertisement Braxton and Huff were key figures for a Marshall team that won the Sun Belt last season. Now they're at Southern Miss, which finished last in the same league with an 0-8 record in Sun Belt play. Huff never seemed to be in lockstep with Marshall's administration and left amid contract drama, which opened the door for Southern Miss to hire him. Huff was able to lead the Thundering Herd to a conference championship in part because of Braxton's breakout season. Braxton threw for 1,624 yards, 19 touchdowns and two interceptions and also ran for 610 yards and four scores. He has good size at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds and is probably the most dynamic playmaker at the quarterback position in the Sun Belt. Braxton is one of 19 transfers who left Marshall for Southern Miss. That's good championship experience to have, but we'll see if the new arrivals can get things turned around quickly at Southern Miss. The Cowboys hired TCU receivers coach Doug Meacham as their offensive coordinator. Oklahoma State has not named a starting quarterback, but Hauss Hejny, a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle, followed Meachem from TCU to Stillwater. Hejny has to beat out Zane Flores for the starting role, but there is some familiarity here as the Cowboys try to rebound from a disappointing season. Jackson Eck is now the head coach for the Lobos after a good run at Idaho. He's brought several key players with him, including quarterback Jack Layne and offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner. They helped Idaho reach the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last year and will be inserted into prominent roles at a New Mexico program that is essentially starting from scratch after losing its head coach, Bronco Mendenhall, to Utah State and QB (Dampier) and OC (Beck) to Utah. Advertisement Brandon Rose attempted 36 passes last season at Utah. Mike Bajakian took over as interim OC for the Utes after Ludwig stepped down. Rose and Bajakian are both at UMass now as the program starts a new era under first-year coach Joe Harasymiak, who was Rutgers' defensive coordinator in 2024. The Minutemen are headed back to the MAC this season as well. Rod Smith is now the offensive coordinator after spending the past few seasons at Jacksonville State. He overlapped at JSU with Zion Turner, who is in contention for the starting job at Marshall but has to beat out Carlos Del-Rio Wilson, who made stops at Florida and Syracuse. (Photo of John Mateer: Dough Hoke / USA Today Network via Imagn Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle


New York Times
07-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
College football's top 100 transfers: What we're hearing about 2025's hottest newcomers
By Bruce Feldman, Sam Khan Jr. and Manny Navarro The method in which college football teams are assembled has changed drastically over the last few years — and the number of players switching teams keeps growing by the year. It's not just coaches picking off the best players from other teams anymore, either. We're seeing assistants and coordinators getting hired at new places and bringing players with them. Advertisement Last offseason, quarterback Diego Pavia and offensive coordinator Tim Beck made the move from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt, sprung one of the biggest upsets of the year and altered the College Football Playoff race. Pavia was ranked No. 100 on our top-100 list last season. The player ranked just ahead of him — 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year Peny Boone — appeared in only six games for UCF and hardly made a dent for the Knights. So, yes, quantifying impact can be tricky. Not every transfer lives up to the hype. Which 2025 transfers do we think will make the biggest mark on their new teams this fall? We solicited feedback from dozens of FBS coaches and staffers this summer to find out which players have impressed and are on track to become impact players. Some staffers were granted anonymity because they aren't authorized to speak publicly about their rosters. Below, everything you need to know about The Athletic's 100 most impactful transfers of 2025. 1. QB John Mateer, Washington State → Oklahoma Mateer was electric at Washington State in 2024, throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores against a Mountain West-heavy schedule that included just two Power 4 teams. Opposing coaches are confident he will make an impact at OU, but 'it'll be interesting to see how (he) holds up over the course of an SEC schedule,' a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. 'He has so much juice. Worst case, he'll be a good player.' 2. QB Carson Beck, Georgia → Miami Beck went 24-3 as a starter at Georgia but is coming off elbow surgery and an underwhelming 2024 season in which he threw 12 interceptions. Miami staffers have praised his intellect and dedication to work with his new receivers. 'If he gets back to playing how he was two years ago, he'll be really good,' a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. 'The elbow surgery's gotta scare you a little bit (as well as) the turnovers last year. … But he's a very talented kid.' Advertisement 3. Edge David Bailey, Stanford → Texas Tech Bailey is the headliner of the Red Raiders' renowned transfer haul this offseason. The former Freshman All-American produced 22 1/2 tackles for loss and 14 1/2 sacks in three seasons at Stanford. He's got rare speed for his size (6 foot 3, 250 pounds), having hit 22.16 mph on the GPS. 'He's an absolute freak,' Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. My position-by-position previews for the 2026 NFL Draft begin next week – eager to share all the scouting buzz from the summer! I really like this EDGE group. Texas Tech's David Bailey (Stanford transfer) brings a ton of juice and could be a SR riser this season 🚀 — Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) July 10, 2025 4. DB Dillon Thieneman, Purdue → Oregon Thieneman was a consistent producer over two years (24 starts) at Purdue. In 2023, he picked off six passes en route to earning Freshman All-America honors, and last year he led all Big Ten defensive backs with 104 tackles while adding seven pass breakups. He has good range and a knack for finding the ball and is a physical tackler. A Power 4 GM called Thieneman his favorite player in the portal this cycle. 5. QB Fernando Mendoza, Cal → Indiana After taking Indiana to the College Football Playoff with Kurtis Rourke, Curt Cignetti is betting on another transfer QB to lift the Hoosiers. Mendoza is big (6-5, 225) and has a good arm. 'He was pretty impressive when we played against him,' a Power 4 personnel director said. 'A little stiff, but not a statue. Good, solid quarterback. I think he'll be pretty good there.' 6. DB A.J. Haulcy, Houston → LSU Haulcy was a Freshman All-American at New Mexico in 2022 (87 tackles, two interceptions), led Houston with 98 tackles in 2023 and led the Big 12 with five interceptions in 2024 en route to first-team all-conference honors. He's instinctive and physical. 'He's a really good player who packs a punch,' a Power 4 defensive coordinator said. 7. WR Eric Singleton Jr., Georgia Tech → Auburn Singleton is a small, shifty stick of dynamite who is lethal in space. He caught 104 passes for 1,468 yards and nine scores in two years at Georgia Tech and was also a weapon in the running game. He'll be a major asset in the slot for Auburn. 'He's the real deal,' a Power 4 general manager said. 'He was the best receiver in the portal.' Advertisement 8. Edge Damon Wilson II, Georgia → Missouri The Tigers had edge rushers drafted in 2023 and 2024 but saw the streak come to an end in April, even with Johnny Walker Jr. finishing fourth in the SEC with 9.5 sacks. Wilson, a former five-star recruit, is expected to be the next highly productive pass rusher in Corey Batoon's system. He had 26 pressures (second-most on the team) and three sacks while splitting reps on a loaded Georgia front last season. 9. RB Jaydn Ott, Cal → Oklahoma Ott was Oklahoma's second-biggest get in the portal after Mateer. He accounted for more than 3,300 yards from scrimmage and 30 touchdowns in three seasons at Cal. A lingering ankle injury slowed his production in 2024 after a breakout 2023. 'He's got impressive power and acceleration. He's a home run threat,' a Power 4 head coach said. 'I always thought he was very underrated because he was playing at Cal.' 10. OL Ethan Onianwa, Rice → Ohio State Onianwa was the top O-lineman on the board of several Power 4 programs. He allowed only one sack on 294 pass-blocking snaps last season, and his pressure rate of 2.4 percent ranked in the 92nd percentile of FBS offensive tackles. He dropped 20 pounds in his first semester at Ohio State and is now 6-6, 325, and The Athletic's Cameron Teague Robinson reported he looks 'right at home at left tackle' on the Buckeyes' projected starting line this month. 'He's really smart with a lot of athleticism for being so massive,' a Power 4 OC said. 'He has first-round talent.' 11. RB Makhi Hughes, Tulane → Oregon Hughes, a two-time first-team all-conference back at Tulane, should provide instant production for the Ducks. In his last two years at Tulane, he rushed for 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns while also serving as a receiving threat. 'He's got a lot of bulk and strength. He's a real downhill runner,' a P4 head coach said. 'Has a good burst and has good hands too.' 12. QB Darian Mensah, Tulane → Duke Mensah was a revelation as a redshirt freshman last year at Tulane and attractive enough to the Blue Devils to pivot away from Maalik Murphy (now at Oregon State). He's got room for growth, but there's a lot of optimism about how good Mensah could be. 'He has really good accuracy and awareness,' a Group of 5 head coach said. 'He is a good quarterback. His physical talent is just OK. His arm strength is decent, and he can run a little but isn't that willing of a runner.' 13. WR Dane Key, Kentucky → Nebraska Key brings good size (6-3, 210), production and a veteran presence to the Huskers passing attack. He has increased his catch and yardage totals each year and now rejoins his 2024 position coach, Daikiel Shorts, who also made the move from Lexington to Lincoln this offseason. Expect him to be a major target for sophomore QB Dylan Raiola. Something you'll likely see a lot this fall: Dylan Raiola ➡️ Dane Key 🏈 Fall camp is underway for the #Huskers!@WOWT6News — Mason Kern (@MasonKernMedia) July 28, 2025 14. QB Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee → UCLA Iamaleava, the subject of the year's wildest portal story, led Tennessee to a 10-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance in his first season as the starter. The former five-star recruit impressed with his big arm and athleticism, but he struggled at times finding open receivers. Since arriving in Westwood, Iamaleava has wasted little time impressing his new teammates and coaches with his talent and his temperament, but he doesn't have much time to learn a new offense. 15. OL Emmanuel Pregnon, USC → Oregon The 6-5, 320 Pregnon has great strength and length and should be a huge asset on Oregon's interior O-line. He was one of the most experienced players in the portal, with 36 career starts, including 25 at USC over the last two years. He considered going pro, accepting an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl before opting to return for one more year. 'I thought he was a top-10 player in the portal,' a Power 4 scouting director said. Advertisement 16. QB Devon Dampier, New Mexico → Utah Dampier could breathe new life into the Utah offense. He joined his former OC at New Mexico, Jason Beck, in Salt Lake City, so the transition should be seamless. He's an electric runner (fourth among FBS QBs with 1,166 rushing yards last year) and capable as a passer. 'I think they're going to be dangerous (with him),' a Power 4 general manager said. 'He's not going to win any combines from a throwing perspective, but with better people around him he's going to do a good job there.' 17. TE Max Klare, Purdue → Ohio State Klare was the most coveted tight end on the market after finishing eighth nationally at the position in receiving yards (685) in 2024. Ohio State staffers liken his skill set to that of veteran NFL tight end Zach Ertz, a three-time Pro Bowler and former second-round pick. 'He's an X-factor and he creates big-time mismatches for the defense,' a Power 4 GM said. 18. OL Howard Sampson, North Carolina → Texas Tech North Carolina's 2024 starting left tackle is a mountain of a man at 6-8, 340 pounds. 'He's just so big and hard to get around,' Texas Tech OC Mack Leftwich said. 'Dude doesn't even fit through the door frame.' The Red Raiders hope he can anchor an O-line that needs big-time improvement this year. They love the early returns since Sampson arrived. 'He's the real deal,' Leftwich said. 19. CB Tacario Davis, Arizona → Washington Davis tested the portal last offseason but withdrew and returned to Arizona for the 2024 season. He re-entered this winter to rejoin his former head coach, Jedd Fisch, in Seattle. He's a two-time all-conference pick with size (6-4) and length that's hard to find at his position. He has an impressive 21 pass breakups over the last two seasons. 20. DL Lee Hunter, UCF → Texas Tech Hunter provides the type of disruptive interior defensive line presence that Texas Tech needs. He was a second-team All-Big 12 pick in 2024 and compiled 20 1/2 tackles for loss in the last two seasons. He moves well for a 320-pounder and hit 16.5 mph on the GPS this spring, according to Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire. He was one of the first significant portal acquisitions in Texas Tech's big offseason. 'Lee Hunter changes this building,' McGuire said. 21. QB Gio Lopez, South Alabama → North Carolina Bill Belichick's first North Carolina quarterback is a southpaw with some moxie. Lopez impressed as a dual-threat playmaker for the Jaguars, and Power 4 coaches are excited about what he'll bring to Chapel Hill. 'A little bit of a gunslinger. He throws it really well,' a Power 4 OC said. 'He's really well put together. He's a pretty thick kid, so he can take a little bit of a beating. He's good.' 22. WR Nic Anderson, Oklahoma → LSU Anderson is a big-time talent who was sidelined most of 2024 with an injury. In his breakout redshirt freshman year in 2023, he caught 31 balls for 798 yards and an Oklahoma freshman record 10 touchdowns, one of which was the game-winner against Texas. He's a proven deep threat (his 19 yards per reception in 2023 ranked fourth nationally) who will allow Garrett Nussmeier to attack downfield more. 'He makes plays on the ball in the air that are unbelievable,' Nussmeier said at SEC media days. Advertisement 23. LB Amare Campbell, North Carolina → Penn State Campbell entered the portal after a productive 2024 season but opted to return and go through spring practice with Bill Belichick and the new staff. He re-entered in late April and landed at Penn State. 'He's a playmaking guy,' Penn State linebackers coach Dan Connor said in June. 'He can create. He can play in space. He can play in the box. He can blitz. He can cover. He can do a lot.' 24. WR Zachariah Branch, USC → Georgia Georgia had a problem with drops at receiver last season, and Kirby Smart addressed it by tapping into the portal to land 6-6, 200-pound Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and Branch, a 5-10, 180-pound speedster and special teams ace. Branch is expected to make a huge impact in both phases of the game for the defending SEC champions. 'He's an explosive playmaker that we've got to find ways to get the ball,' Smart said. 25. Edge Beau Atkinson, North Carolina → Ohio State Two of the Tar Heels' best defensive players bolted after going through spring practice with Bill Belichick: Atkinson and linebacker Amare Campbell. Atkinson started only one game last season (the Fenway Bowl) but still produced 26 pressures, 12 tackles for loss and 7 1/2 sacks while playing roughly 30 snaps a game for Mack Brown. Imagine what he'll do with better talent around him in Columbus. 26. WR KC Concepcion, NC State → Texas A&M The 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year caught 124 passes for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons with the Wolfpack — no other wideout on Texas A&M's roster has more than 17 career receptions. When Marcel Reed decides to throw, Concepcion will be the most targeted receiver on the team. He lined up in the slot 77 percent of the time last season at NC State and figures to play a similar role with the Aggies. 27. QB Jake Retzlaff, BYU → Tulane Retzlaff was a late addition to the Green Wave, departing BYU in July because he was facing a suspension for violating the school's honor code. In 2024, Retzlaff led the Cougars to an 11-2 record and CFP contention. 'He's got plenty of arm talent. The guy can really spin it,' a G5 head coach said. 'His accuracy is pretty good — not great — and he can be reckless with the football. He can run and he really plays with a chip on his shoulder.' 28. WR Duce Robinson, USC → Florida State The 6-6, 223-pound former five-star recruit could be the next Johnny Wilson. Early indications from FSU are that he and slot receiver Squirrel White (Tennessee transfer) are going to seriously upgrade the offense, now run by Gus Malzahn. 'Super hard-working kid who is eager to make an impact. Big catch radius. He's a tough kid. He has a lot he wants to prove to himself. We need that attitude,' a Seminoles staffer said. 29. LB Elo Modozie, Army → Georgia Kirby Smart signed four of the Bulldogs' 10 incoming transfers following the spring, and Modozie was the one proven commodity among them. The 6-3, 248-pound outside linebacker produced 6 1/2 sacks and 37 quarterback pressures last season, and he has been a good fit in Athens. 'People are going to know that name before the year is over,' Smart said at SEC media days. Advertisement 30. WR Barion Brown, Kentucky → LSU Brown's pure speed will be an asset to the Tigers in multiple ways. He can stretch the defense on the outside, but he's also a dynamite return specialist, having returned five kickoffs for touchdowns in three seasons at Kentucky and twice earning All-SEC honors as a returner or all-purpose player. 31. QB Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma → Auburn Arnold was supposed to be the next star QB for Oklahoma but endured a messy 2024 season. His supporting cast was ravaged by injuries, he went through a coordinator change, and he was briefly benched midseason. Auburn is banking on Arnold turning into what the Sooners thought he would be. 'I think he's really talented,' a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. 'He still has a chance to be a really good player.' 32. TE Tanner Koziol, Ball State → Wisconsin → Houston The 6-7, 240-pound Koziol was one of the most coveted tight ends in the portal after catching 94 passes last year, third-most nationally at the position. His 26 contested catches led all tight ends, per PFF. Houston pursued him in the winter, but he initially chose Wisconsin. He re-entered the portal in the spring, and the Cougars got their guy. 'Fantastic movement skills. … I think he's going to be an outstanding player for us,' Cougars coach Willie Fritz said. 33. QB Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State → Iowa Expectations are sky-high for the two-time FCS national champion. He was considered a draftable prospect but chose to transfer into the Big Ten for one more college run. 'He's better than most of the FBS starting QBs that went in the portal,' a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. 'Makes some good throws but he misses some layups. Powerful runner. Really tough kid. Winner.' 34. Edge Patrick Payton, Florida State → LSU The Tigers signed five defensive linemen in the portal, including four from Power 4 programs. Payton, the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, is by far the most experienced with nearly 1,600 career snaps, 31 1/2 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and 90 QB pressures. Payton now needs to prove that he can be an alpha. He had his best season in 2023 while playing opposite eventual first-round pick Jared Verse and looked ordinary on a 2-10 FSU team in 2024. 35. RB Ahmad Hardy, Louisiana-Monroe → Missouri The 5-10, 205-pound Mississippi native became a hot commodity after he ran for 1,351 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry as a true freshman. It made sense that Hardy ended up at Missouri. The Tigers have had the leading rusher in the SEC two of the last four seasons, running mostly outside zone. 'He has great burst, understands the scheme and how to run it,' Eli Drinkwitz said of his new back at SEC media days. 36. TE Terrance Carter, Louisiana → Texas Tech Carter (6-2, 245) is not as big as Jalin Conyers (6-4, 265) — the former Texas Tech transfer tight end who caught five touchdowns for the Red Raiders last year — but he could have an even bigger impact. Carter was seventh among tight ends nationally with 689 receiving yards last year and has impressed this offseason. 'He has some of the best body control and route-running ability that I've seen in my career,' Texas Tech OC Mack Leftwich said. 'He's really good in the pass game, and he's a better blocker than people give him credit for.' Advertisement 37. WR Trebor Pena, Syracuse → Penn State James Franklin wants to spread the ball around a little more this season with first-round pick Tyler Warren off to the NFL and Harrison Wallace now at Ole Miss. Pena had an ACC-leading 84 catches for 941 yards and nine touchdowns last season and will be a primary target for senior QB Drew Allar. 'He's a stud,' an ACC personnel director said. 38. QB Beau Pribula, Penn State → Missouri Pribula spent the last two seasons backing up Drew Allar but showed enough to have QB-needy programs intrigued this offseason. Penn State used his mobility situationally, but he's also a capable, accurate passer who produced when called upon. When Allar returned for one more year, Pribula departed to seek a starting opportunity. 'He could be a real sleeper at Mizzou,' a Power 4 scouting director said. 39. OL Xavier Chaplin, Virginia Tech → Auburn The Tigers have six offensive linemen who have started at least 13 games, but Chaplin's arrival gives Hugh Freeze a legitimate starting left tackle and allows 37-game starter Dillon Wade to move back inside to left guard. Chaplin, a 6-7, 348-pound junior, gave up only two sacks in 2024, his second full season as Virginia Tech's starting left tackle. 'The length and footwork he has, it changes us,' Freeze said this spring. 'I think he's an All-SEC performer when I watch him move around.' 40. TE Jack Endries, Cal → Texas After losing Gunnar Helm to the NFL, the Longhorns acquired a tight end who produced at a similar clip. Endries tied for sixth nationally — one spot behind Helm — in catches among tight ends in 2024 (56). He caught 91 passes for 1,030 yards in the last two seasons and is a good route runner with good hands. He'll be an asset for Arch Manning and the Texas passing game. 41. OL Isaiah World, Nevada → Oregon World's frame (6-8, 310) and traits are elite. His great feet and movement skills have NFL scouts intrigued, but first he will team with USC transfer Emmanuel Pregnon to give the Ducks a formidable left side of the O-line. But there's still room for growth. A Group of 5 offensive coordinator called him 'inconsistent' in 2024, citing struggles in the screen game, and he was among the 25 most penalized tackles in the FBS last year, per PFF. But if he can put it all together, he could be dominant. 42. DB Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech → LSU LSU improved from 104th in pass efficiency defense to 68th last season, Blake Baker's first as coordinator. The Tigers should take a bigger leap forward this fall after upgrading in several spots. Delane, a 6-0, 190-pound cornerback, earned third-team All-ACC honors last season after finishing third in the league with four interceptions and sixth with 11 passes defended. 'He's a defensive weapon,' Baker said. 43. Edge Will Heldt, Purdue → Clemson The Tigers have two potential first-round picks in T.J. Parker and Peter Woods. Heldt provides new defensive coordinator Tom Allen with another high-quality pass rusher who could see a lot of one-on-one matchups. The 6-6, 260-pound junior produced 28 pressures, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks while receiving most of the attention last season as a sophomore. 'His growth the last few years has been impressive,' Allen said this spring. Advertisement 44. DB Raion Strader, Miami (Ohio) → Auburn Strader was one of several key winter portal pickups for the Tigers. A first-team All-MAC selection in 2024 with 22 career starts, Strader is an active defender who makes a ton of plays on the ball. He led the FBS with 18 pass breakups last year and has 31 combined in the last two seasons. He's a fluid athlete with the skill set to play inside or outside corner. 45. DB Xavier Lucas, Wisconsin → Miami Luke Fickell had big plans for the South Florida native and wasn't happy when the 6-2 corner decided to leave for a bigger NIL payday back home. Miami's secondary problems last season were well documented. There's little doubt internally that Lucas will play a huge role at cornerback alongside returning Freshman All-American O.J. Frederique. 46. Edge Williams Nwaneri, Missouri → Nebraska The 6-7, 255-pound redshirt freshman and former five-star recruit was Nebraska's first commitment during the winter portal window. He played a total of 38 snaps and had three pressures and one sack in his debut at Missouri. He may not be ready to make a big impact right away, but he has the highest ceiling of Nebraska's roster additions. 47. CB Jeremiah Wilson, Houston → Florida State The 5-10, 185-pound senior started eight games last season and tied for third in the Big 12 with four interceptions. FSU landed the Florida native following the spring to help fill the void left behind by third-round pick Azareye'h Thomas. Wilson's late addition is a sign that some of the younger players on the roster might not be ready to contribute right away. 48. RB Justice Haynes, Alabama → Michigan The 5-11, 205-pound junior from Georgia began the 2024 season as Alabama's starting running back but lost the job after six games to Jam Miller. Haynes averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns. At Michigan, it looks like he'll split carries with sophomore Jordan Marshall. He feels like the perfect fit in Chip Lindsey's offense. 49. WR Reggie Virgil, Miami (Ohio) → Texas Tech Virgil was one of the most explosive receivers in the country last year, averaging 19.9 yards per catch, best among players with at least 40 receptions. He'll give Texas Tech QB Behren Morton a legitimate deep threat to complement the rest of the receivers. 'He's gonna catch five or six 50- or 60-yard bombs this year and be a huge big-play guy,' Texas Tech OC Mack Leftwich said. 50. QB Miller Moss, USC → Louisville Under Jeff Brohm, the Cardinals have had success with transfer QBs the last two years (Jack Plummer, Tyler Shough). Could Moss be next? His traits don't jump off the page, and he got benched at the end of last season, but he was productive at times and has shown he can play good football. 'I'm a big fan of his game,' a Power 4 personnel director said. 'He can make all the throws. I think he'll be really good there.' 51. RB Fluff Bothwell, South Alabama → Mississippi State 52. WR Malachi Fields, Virginia → Notre Dame 53. Edge Romello Height, Georgia Tech → Texas Tech 54. DL Jehiem Oatis, Alabama → Colorado 55. OL Fa'alili Fa'amoe, Washington State → Wake Forest 56. LB Nikhai Hill-Green, Colorado → Alabama 57. RB Rahsul Faison, Utah State → South Carolina 58. LB Josiah Trotter, West Virginia → Missouri 59. Edge Jimmori Robinson, UTSA → West Virginia 60. DL Maraad Watson, Syracuse → Texas Bothwell (832 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and Faison (1,109 yards, 8 TDs) both put up good numbers at G5 schools last year but are stepping into Power 4 programs. Faison, who has spent time at two junior colleges and two FBS schools, has yet to be cleared for the 2025 season. The three incoming Big 12 defensive linemen are intriguing. Height is at his fourth school and didn't start until last season, but he was solid at Georgia Tech in 2024 (6 1/2 tackles for loss). Oatis decided to redshirt after four games last year but has starting experience and a frame (6-5, 325) that's hard to find. Robinson was the American Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 with 10 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Advertisement 61. TE Bauer Sharp, Oklahoma → LSU 62. OL Patrick Kutas, Arkansas → Ole Miss 63. WR Chase Sowell, East Carolina → Iowa State 64. RB CJ Donaldson, West Virginia → Ohio State 65. QB Braylon Braxton, Marshall → Southern Miss 66. LB Khmori House, Washington → North Carolina 67. WR Kevin Coleman, Mississippi State → Missouri 68. DB Julian Neal, Stanford → Arkansas 69. DL Santana Hopper, Appalachian State → Tulane 70. QB Chandler Morris, North Texas → Virginia Braxton headlined a group of 19 scholarship transfers who followed coach Charles Huff from Marshall to Southern Miss. Braxton went 8-0 as a starter to lead the Herd to a Sun Belt title. 'He can run, he's big, physical, has a big arm and makes good decisions,' a G5 scouting director said. Hopper is another quality G5-to-G5 transfer and has the Green Wave staff excited. He was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection and had the highest PFF grade in the league among defensive linemen in 2024. 71. Edge Princewill Umanmielen, Nebraska → Ole Miss 72. RB Jaivian Thomas, Cal → UCLA 73. DB Julian Humphrey, Georgia → Texas A&M 74. QB Maalik Murphy, Duke → Oregon State 75. WR Emmett Mosley, Stanford → Texas 76. DB Zechariah Poyser, Jacksonville State → Miami 77. TE Luke Hasz, Arkansas → Ole Miss 78. QB Conner Weigman, Texas A&M → Houston 79. DB Brice Pollock, Mississippi State → Texas Tech 80. QB Maverick McIvor, Abilene Christian → Western Kentucky The QBs here are in fascinating situations. Murphy had a solid 2024 at Duke, but the Blue Devils pivoted to Darian Mensah. Still, Murphy should upgrade an Oregon State passing attack that struggled last year. Weigman, a former five-star recruit, battled injuries in his three-year Texas A&M career and is looking to lift what was one of the nation's worst offenses last year at Houston. McIvor, who put up big numbers at ACU, followed his offensive coordinator, Rick Bowie, to Western Kentucky in much the same way former Hilltopper Bailey Zappe did with Zach Kittley (now the head coach at FAU). 81. DB Matthew McDoom, Coastal Carolina → Cincinnati 82. DL David Gusta, Washington State → Kentucky 83. OL Braelin Moore, Virginia Tech → LSU 84. OL Conner Moore, Montana State → Michigan State 85. WR De'Zhaun Stribling, Oklahoma State → Ole Miss 86. WR Jordan Dwyer, Idaho → TCU 87. OL Josh Thompson, Northwestern → LSU 88. QB Tommy Castellanos, Boston College → Florida State 89. WR Noah Thomas, Texas A&M → Georgia 90. OL Hunter Zambrano, Illinois State → Texas Tech LSU lost four NFL Draft picks on the offensive line, so rebuilding up front was a top priority. Thompson started 21 games over the last two seasons on the right side of the O-line, while Braelin Moore started 24 over the last two years on the interior. Conner Moore and Zambrano are both stepping up from the FCS ranks and have received high praise from their new staffs since arriving. 91. RB Wayshawn Parker, Washington State → Utah 92. OL Pat Coogan, Notre Dame → Indiana 93. OL Elijah Pritchett, Alabama → Nebraska 94. LB Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern → Nebraska 95. DB Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State → Texas Tech 96. OL Joe Cotton, South Dakota → Cincinnati 97. LB Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma State → Oklahoma 98. QB Steve Angeli, Notre Dame → Syracuse 99. WR Eric Rivers, FIU → Georgia Tech 100. QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty → Colorado Cotton, a 6-6, 317-pound tackle, was a big win for Cincinnati. He started 27 games in the last two seasons and was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection. 'I thought he was one of the best linemen in the country,' a Power 4 personnel director said. Advertisement Angeli was impressive when he saw the field for Notre Dame. Could he have the type of impact at Syracuse that Kyle McCord did a year ago? 'Limited sample size, but this kid's got it,' a former Power 4 scouting director said. Salter will be fascinating to watch. True freshman Julian Lewis is also in the mix, but Salter has talent and is proven, though he was much better in 2023 than 2024. (Top illustration photos: Nathan Giese / Avalanche-Journal; Doug Hoke / The Oklahoman / USA Today Network via Imagn Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Youth Archery growing in popularity
FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — One of the oldest sports in existence has been gaining traction across the nation, including right here in the Wabash Valley. In recent years, youth archery has been on the rise here in the Hoosier state. The Indiana NASP, or National Archery in the Schools Program, plays a large part in that. It began back in 2005 with ten pilot schools, but Indiana NASP coordinator Tim Beck says that number has grown to just under 500 across the state. 'The program has been attractive to both almost 50/50 male and female,' Beck said. 'It's just a program, let's face it, not everybody makes it onto the basketball court or the football field, but we have a lot of students that really excel and find their niche with the archery program, and they get to interact. The social activity of archery is very unique.' Not only can youth here in Indiana get opportunities through their high school seasons, but they can also hone their skills by trying to get an arrow like this onto one of these targets at the Farmersburg Range and Archery. The Lambert family created the range when they saw the passion that their son Oliver had developed for the sport when he was in elementary school. Owner Amy Lambert says the next step was sharing that passion with the community. 'Locally to us, there weren't a lot of places where you could go and shoot archery competitively,' Lambert said. 'The youth programs in the state for us to practice were more than a couple hours away, so we decided to start our own S3DA team, which stands for Scholastic 3-D Archery, and it kind of takes NASP to that next level to prepare kids to shoot in college or to shoot competitively or just for fun for the rest of their lives.' As the sport continues to thrive, even current archers, like Sullivan junior Jayme Adkinson, say they have noticed a change since they began. 'With archery, you travel around a lot. You meet a lot of new people, you get out of your comfort zone,' Adkinson said. 'You socialize a lot, so it helps with your social skills and you just become friends with a lot of people, like I have people from four years ago that I've met and I'm still close friends with because of archery and S3DA.' Linton sophomore Rainey McCammon says the sport has become a staple in the Wabash Valley. 'I've seen it grow a lot,' McCammon said. 'When I was in fourth grade, we had about 20 kids around my age, and then the NASP program at Sullivan now has over 200 I'd say. Then I joined S3DA and it's even bigger.' The NASP season ended in early March, but the Midwest Mavericks still have plenty of shots to take in 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


USA Today
04-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Surviving college football revenue imbalance at Coastal Carolina means embracing free food
Surviving college football revenue imbalance at Coastal Carolina means embracing free food Show Caption Hide Caption US LBM Coaches Poll: Ohio State claims top spot after national title run See where your team landed in the final US LBM Coaches Poll ranking of the year. Sports Pulse Like Tim Beck doesn't have enough to sort through this offseason. Let's throw something else on his plate. So I called the Coastal Carolina football coach, and we talked briefly about hot dogs and burgers and nachos — and how through an innovative marketing plan, they're all free at Chanticleers home games in 2025. 'It's a great idea to reward our fans,' Beck says. It was also, I soon found out, a peek into something of greater importance. An opportunity to show the reality of college football at the Group of Five level of the Bowl Subdivision. Or as they're more commonly known: the have-nots. Hold on for the ride, everyone. Here we go. Beck's leading rusher, Braydon Bennett, accounted for 13 touchdowns last year and transferred to Virginia Tech. His best edge rusher, Clev Lubin, had 9½ sacks in 2024 and transferred to Louisville. Deamontae Diggs, another talented edge rusher who had five sacks, transferred to Florida State. He best interior defensive lineman, Will Whitson, transferred to Mississippi State. Nearly 30 other players from the 2024 roster hit the transfer portal in the now era of free player movement. Beck has new offensive and defensive coordinators, and a four-way battle for the starting quarterback job. Because, of course, his starting quarterback last season (Ethan Vasko) transferred to Liberty. He still doesn't know the framework of a salary pool for the defacto pay for play system that could be formally approved after a Monday hearing in the courtroom of U.S. District judge Claudia Wilken. The agreement allows FBS schools to spend as much as $20 million-23 million on all athletes. Most power conference schools are expected to spend as much as 75-80 percent the final revenue-sharing figure on football. At Coastal Carolina, as with just about every other Group of Five school, they'll be fortunate to be able to spend half of the allowable figure — on all athletes. It's roster management and accounting and budgeting, and new NCAA rules and new NCAA football committee rules. Every single move has multiple sticky tentacles that can't be seen until you're stung. 'It's a flood of things,' Beck said. 'Every corner you turn, you're running into something else.' Exhibit A: sideline communications. The rules committee decided last season that FBS schools could use helmet communications (like the NFL) and computer tablets during games. One problem: someone has to pay for it. The NCAA, despite its multi-billion dollar media rights deal for March Madness (among other revenue generation), isn't gifting helmet communications and iPads for everyone. You want it? Find the funds in your budget. And speaking of budgets, the NCAA also recently allowed unlimited recruiting visits for athletes. What was once five defined official visits has turned into those with the most money get the most official visitors. I know this is going to shock you – like just about everything else that has unfolded in the new player-friendly environment – there's a hole in the process with which players can take advantage. Earlier this year, Beck had a couple of recruits on campus and found out both had multiple offers from power conference schools. Why would anyone with offers from Michigan and Georgia and Tennessee be interested in Coastal Carolina? 'They just admitted it,' Beck said. 'They were here for the trip to Myrtle Beach.' This is the trickle down of those fateful decisions made by the NCAA in the summer of 2021, moves coaches and administrators all warned of, but are all legally impotent to stop. When the NCAA finally gave in on name, image and likeness deals, and simultaneously threw open the doors to free player movement, the creation of free agency with no salary cap was born. So was every possible unintended consequence. And nearly every one eventually trickles down from the Power Four conferences to the Group of Five. Beck was part of the process as the top assistant coach at three of the heaviest hitters in football: Ohio State, Texas and Nebraska. But once you're knee-deep in that high-value, daily fight of win or walk, you can't even recognize the Group of Five horizon line. There's no time to see what's eroding underneath you, much less time to care. If you think the $20 million-23 million 'salary pool' is really a salary cap to promote competitive balance throughout FBS, I've got a $2 million-a-year private NIL job promoting Bob's Bait and Tackle to sell you. You know, the private NIL deals above and beyond the 'salary pool' that will never, ever, be regulated. It's not 'fair' market value, it's 'free' market value. Someone(s) in the NCAA should take a freshman Econ 101 classes offered by all of their universities before trying to force 'fair' market value into any conversation. And lose again in court. 'Fair' flew out the window in 2021, despite the NCAA knowing for months multiple states had NIL bills that would become law in the summer of 2021. And didn't nothing about it. Then complained that Congress – holy dysfunction, Congress – wouldn't help them. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 as we knew it is dead. The ACC now has an official end time of the early 2030s (that's not far away), and the Big 12 is a juiced up Group of Five conference. So yeah, Tim Beck doesn't mind talking about free hot dogs and nachos. 'Our fans are very loyal, they support all of our programs,' Beck said. 'That's something that will never change.' Amen to that. Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.


New York Times
01-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Coastal Carolina offering free concessions at home football games to ‘elevate fan experience'
Coastal Carolina is looking to make its fans the best-fed in college football this fall. Fans at the Chanticleers' six home games in 2025 can acquire four items per concession stand visit from a selection of hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and fountain drinks. They can make unlimited visits and are only required to scan each trip through an athletic department app. Advertisement 'We're always looking for ways to elevate (fans') game day experience,' Coastal Carolina athletic director Chance Miller said in a release on Monday. 'We're excited to offer free concessions this fall as a way to say thank you for the energy, passion and support they bring to Brooks Stadium every game.' Picture this. It's September 6. You've got your free nachos. Free hot dog. Free drink. The Chants have taken the field for the first time. Life is good. Season tickets ➡️ | #FAM1LY | #TEALNATION — Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) March 31, 2025 Fans can also purchase other items at concession stands. Third-year coach Tim Beck's team begins its home slate on Sept. 6 against Charleston Southern. The Chanticleers have gone 14-12 under Beck, with two bowl appearances. They went 6-7 in 2024, capped by a loss to UTSA in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, which Coastal Carolina hosts annually at Brooks Stadium. The move to offer free concessions runs counter to what some larger programs are doing to grow their revenue ahead of the House settlement, which is expected to be finalized next week and will allow larger athletic departments to share up to $20.5 million with athletes. The University of Tennessee announced in September a 10 percent 'talent fee' on the price of season tickets. Arkansas basketball also announced a shakeup in seating for season ticket holders in January, arranging seats by donors' donation levels. The move also is the latest and most dramatic in an effort by some teams to lessen the financial burden on fans attending games. When the Atlanta Falcons opened their new stadium in 2017, they debuted 'fan-first' pricing at concessions, featuring hot dogs, drinks and popcorn for $2, beers for $5 and pizza for $3. Advertisement The Atlanta Hawks made a similar move shortly after. The Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club have adopted similar policies in recent years. The Phoenix Suns also cut concession prices this season. The Falcons said the move resulted in a 30 percent rise in concession sales.