Latest news with #WalterCamp
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Travis Hunter is all over social media for decision before Jaguars training camp
Travis Hunter left Colorado as one of the best two-way players in college football history. The unprecedented athleticism on both sides of the ball is why the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to snag him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The franchise has already said Hunter will be featured at both wide receiver and cornerback. But before he embarks on his NFL journey in Duval, he has one final business matter to handle in Boulder. Advertisement Hunter will return to Colorado for graduation this week, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. "From what I'm told, Travis Hunter will walk his graduation stage on Thursday at Colorado," Wolfe said. "Friday, he'll head to Jacksonville, where he'll have rookie minicamp." Hunter was a star on the football field and also in the classroom. He carried a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout the season and revealed his final GPA was around 3.8. Related: Browns make final training camp decision on Shedeur Sanders One of only three college football players to win eight major awards, Hunter was also a unanimous first-team All-American, earning seven first-team (and eight overall) honors from the five publications the NCAA uses to determine unanimous and consensus honors. He is the first player in the history of the Walter Camp All-America team, the nation's oldest, to earn two first-team honors, and is the first known player to earn two first-team and three overall honors on the AP team.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Travis Hunter's graduation attire is turning heads on social media
Travis Hunter didn't just graduate. He did it in a way only he could pull off. Underneath the traditional black robe during Thursday's University of Colorado commencement ceremony, the No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick rocked Jacksonville Jaguars pajama pants. That's right. Hunter repped his new NFL team before he even stepped on the practice field for rookie minicamp. If there's one thing Colorado fans have learned about Hunter, it's that he does things his way. The Jaguars-themed PJs weren't just quirky, but they were peak Travis. Coming just one day before he's set to report to Jacksonville, the look was part fashion statement and part forecast of what's to come. In true 'Saucy-T' fashion, he made his NFL loyalty known without saying a word. Advertisement Hunter became a first-generation college graduate and crossed the stage after one of the most decorated careers in college football history. The two-way phenom won eight major awards, earned unanimous All-American honors, and became the first player ever to receive two first-team honors on the Walter Camp All-America team. And he did all of that while being named Academic All-American of the Year for Division I Football. Related: Browns make final training camp decision on Shedeur Sanders Just two weeks ago, the Jaguars traded up to draft Hunter, calling him a 'generational' player. Now, he's bringing his two-way brilliance to Duval County, already winning over fans with his mix of humility and swagger. The pajama pants? They're just another example of the Hunter brand. Wait until he gets a custom Jaguars full PJ suit to dance around in. Related: Former Colorado player arrested during game at Folsom Field last year, per report Related: Did Shedeur Sanders script his own 'legendary' comeback story?
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football great Maurkice Pouncey inducted into 2025 Florida Athletics Hall of Fame
Florida football great Maurkice Pouncey inducted into 2025 Florida Athletics Hall of Fame The University of Florida announced its 2025 Florida Athletics Hall of Fame 2025 inductees on Wednesday and included offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey among the seven student-athletes to earn the honor. Originally from Lakeland, Florida, appeared in 41 games for the Gators while starting 39 of them from 2007-2009. His efforts as an All-American right guard and center helped lead the Gators to their last SEC and national title in 2008. He became the first Gator in program history to win the Rimington Trophy — awarded annually to the nation's best center — in 2009. He also collected First-Team All-America honors from Walter Camp, Sporting News and the FWAA following that season, and was a unanimous First-Team All-SEC selection on top of all that. Maurkice Pouncey's NFL career Pouncey was selected in the first round (16th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL draft, beginning a 10-year career that kept him in the Steel City for a full decade by finishing third in the Rookie of the Year award vote. He started all 134 games he appeared for the Steelers and was a two-time First-Team All-Pro, a three-time Second-Team All-Pro, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team. Full 2025 Florida Athletics Hall of Fame Class Theresa Andrews, swimming (1981-83) Charlotte Browning, track and field/cross country (2008-10) Kitty Cullen, lacrosse (2010-13) Marquis Dendy, track and field (2012-15) Lauren Haeger, softball (2012-15) Kytra Hunter, gymnastics (2012-15) Maurkice Pouncey (2007-09) Florida Athletics Hall of Fame Class induction info Inductees will be honored at the UF athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, scheduled for Oct. 17, ahead of Florida's home football game the following day against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Boston Globe
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Patriots have fourth pick in NFL Draft, and with Scouting Combine upon us, here are the players to watch
Let's take an early look at the possibilities for the Patriots . . . ⋅ Edge rusher Abdul Carter (Penn State): It's hard to envision Carter falling to No. 4, but the Patriots should draft him if he somehow does. Advertisement The 6-foot-3-inch, 255-pound Carter generated pressure on 18.5 percent of his pass-rush snaps as a senior last season, registering 10 sacks and 24½ tackles for a loss. His incredible explosiveness and body control would be a welcome addition to New England's ineffective pass-rush unit that finished 32nd in the league in sacks last season. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Carter could go No. 1 overall, which would pair him with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in Tennessee. Even though the rebuilding Titans need an upgrade at quarterback, the potential of that duo would be tantalizing. 'It's such a premiere position,' NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said Thursday on a conference call. 'When you look at the pieces already on that defensive line and you go out and you get Abdul Carter, I think you've got a chance to have one of the best units in the league. That's a good foundation to build off of.' Should the Titans pass on Carter, Cleveland would likely scoop him up at No. 2. Myles Garrett requested a trade. ⋅ Cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter (Colorado): Chances are Hunter will be off the board at No. 4, too. The 6-1, 185-pound Hunter is one of the more intriguing prospects because of his ability to play on both sides of the ball. He finished with 96 catches for 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior last season, in addition to four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and 36 tackles. His dynamic performance earned several accolades, including the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp award, Paul Hornung (most versatile) award, Fred Biletnikoff (best receiver) award, and unanimous first-team All-America honors. Advertisement 'Travis Hunter is like someone went to the Philadelphia Eagles, took DeVonta Smith and Darius Slay , spun them around in a circle, and they came out as the same human being,' Jeremiah said. 'He's unique.' Hunter was on the field for 86.8 percent of Colorado's offensive snaps and 82.9 percent of the team's defensive snaps last season, but it's doubtful that split can carry over to the NFL. Hunter, who has expressed interest in continuing to play both sides, is listed as a cornerback headed into the combine. The Patriots are in need of another outside cornerback to play opposite Christian Gonzalez , LSU's Will Campbell looks like the strongest offensive line prospect in the draft. Matthew Hinton/Associated Press ⋅ Offensive tackle Will Campbell (LSU): The Patriots will have to assess whether they want to take the best player available or commit to addressing a glaring weakness. The 6-6, 320-pound Campbell is the top offensive tackle prospect, yet using the No. 4 pick on him would be considered a slight reach. Perhaps the Patriots could swing a trade to move back a few spots and still draft Campbell. If not, do they still take him at No. 4? Advertisement Campbell started 12 games at left tackle last season, allowing only two sacks in 557 pass-blocking snaps. He started 38 games during his three years at LSU, including a 24-game stretch in which he didn't surrender a sack. That extensive experience against high-caliber SEC talent, along with his strength and agility, make him a compelling prospect. At the combine, teams will be paying attention to Campbell's arm length. If the measurement comes in at shorter than 33 inches, some teams would classify Campbell as a guard instead. Tackles can still operate below that cutoff point, but they have to compensate in other areas, such as their footwork. 'If you can touch a guy from a distance, it's always helpful, like how boxers want to touch a guy from a distance,' said Scott Peters , who is the Bengals offensive line coach after one season with the Patriots. 'If you don't have the length, then you have to have the feet. Ideally, you have both. When you look at the position, for a guy at tackle, I would agree 33 is probably the cutoff point. It's not a deal breaker, but it's an ideal. 'Given the speed and some of the issues you face with some of these rushers, it's always beneficial to have guys that are long. There's a premium on using your hands, using length to attack them as opposed to letting them get into your body.' ⋅ Defensive tackle Mason Graham (Michigan): If the Patriots stay put at No. 4 and pass on Campbell, then Graham likely would be their best option. The 6-3, 320-pound Graham touts the quickness, experience, and versatility to be an immediate impact player in the NFL. Graham is a dominant force as a run stopper but can also contribute to the pass rush, recording 3½ sacks and nine quarterback hits as a senior last season. His disruptive presence on the interior would complement Christian Barmore — Advertisement Graham's wrestling background is apparent in his playing style, as he was a two-time Trinity League (Southern California) heavyweight champion in high school. 'He's got crazy, elite leverage, balance, and instincts,' Jeremiah said. 'He's just never on the ground. He gets underneath guys.' Defensive tackle may not be one of New England's most pressing needs, but ⋅ Trading back: The ideal scenario for the Patriots is that the stocks of the two first-round quarterback prospects — Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) and Cam Ward (Miami) — skyrocket. Six of the teams picking in the top 10 have openings at that position. If two of the three teams picking ahead of the Patriots — Titans, Browns, Giants — decide to draft a quarterback, then New England would be able to take Carter or Hunter. If one of the teams picking behind the Patriots — Raiders, Jets, Saints — have interest in moving up to select a quarterback, then New England would be able to amass more draft capital. Players at positions of need expected to go later in the first round include wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas), and right tackle Armand Membou (Missouri). Tennessee is open to trading the No. 1 pick, which would have ripple effects on the Patriots. Advertisement 'Usually, the combine is when you'll start hearing some buzz if somebody falls in love with a quarterback,' Jeremiah said. 'That's where the trades happen, and that will be interesting. To me, if I'm Tennessee, I'm not going past three unless I get an enormous haul, and I don't think you're going to get that in this draft.' Playing catch-up Could WR Tee Higgins become a Patriot? Tee Higgins is the biggest potential name on the WR free agent market. Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press The Patriots are expected to have the most cap space in the league, working with more than $125 million. The next closest teams are Las Vegas (approximately $100 million) and Washington (approximately $80 million). So, how might the Patriots spend their money? Wide receiver Tee Higgins is the biggest name to watch. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been extremely vocal about keeping the receiving core of Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase together. The cap increase could help the team juggle new deals for Higgins and tight end Mike Gesicki , as well as extensions for Chase and defensive end Trey Hendrickson . Higgins and Chase now share the same agent, Rocky Arceneaux , which may facilitate negotiations. The Bengals are slated to have approximately $50 million in room for the 2025 season. If they are unable to come to an agreement, then Higgins will play on a one-year deal worth a minimum of $26.2 million or request a trade. Other wide receivers scheduled to become unrestricted free agents include Keenan Allen , Amari Cooper , Stefon Diggs , and Chris Godwin . The soon-to-be 29-year-old Godwin is the youngest of the bunch, but coming off a dislocated ankle suffered in Week 7 last season. Premier wide receivers rarely hit free agency. New England's poor draft history at the position, coupled with the franchise's decline in recent years, has now put the Patriots in a situation where they may have to overpay lesser talent to rectify previous personnel mistakes. The 26-year-old Higgins is the best of the bunch, but, if he does become available, are the Patriots willing to offer him a contract with an annual value of $30-plus million? That seems unlikely, even given their salary cap space and the state of their receiver room. Pursuing a trade seems like a better — and more realistic — use of resources. Deebo Samuel and Cooper Kupp are expected to be moved, while D.K. Metcalf is another player to watch. The Patriots need to bolster their receiver room, ideally with both a reliable, productive veteran and a young star. Beyond wide receiver, the Patriots desperately need to shore up their offensive line. Michael Onwenu at right guard). The Patriots should commit significant resources to signing a veteran tackle. Ronnie Stanley is the best option and should be atop their list. The 30-year-old Stanley bounced back to play all 17 games in 2024 after missing time with injuries in each of the previous four seasons. There are also a couple of free agents with ties to the new coaching staff. Offensive line coach Doug Marrone was Jacksonville's head coach when the Jaguars drafted left tackle Cam Robinson 34th overall in 2017, while Mike Vrabel worked with tackle Jedrick Wills during his season consulting for the Browns last year. Extra points Mike Vrabel and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will speak at the combine. Vrabel is on the schedule for 10:15 a.m. Tuesday and Wolf is on for 1 p.m. Wednesday. Last year marked the first time in nearly a decade that the Patriots had a representative speak at the combine, as former coach Bill Belichick typically opted against it . . . Coming off an eventful week in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson continued their slew of public appearances by attending Nicole Yang can be reached at
