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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
DeVonta Smith left off a ranking of top talent from the 2021 NFL Draft
It seems like it was just yesterday, the 2021 NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles were trying to put a 4-11-1 finish to the previous season behind them, and they owned a selection in the top half of Round 1. It was the dawn of the Nick Sirianni era. Everyone hoped DeVonta Smith would be the choice in Round 1, but there was some controversy. Some fans and media members hoped the Eagles might go with Micah Parsons or Justin Fields. Advertisement Parsons obviously would have given the Birds some defensive punch. Fields would have provided another option at the quarterback position if Philadelphia had determined they weren't sold on Jalen Hurts yet. Things worked out as they should have. DeVonta with the Eagles, and it's hard to imagine him in another jersey. It's also hard to figure out why he continues to be slighted when we discuss some of the game's great players. Eagles fans are tired of seeing DeVonta Smith disrespected. No one will ever forget where they were when DeVonta Smith hauled in that bomb from Tua Tagovailoa in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game or that beautiful toss from Jalen Hurts in Super Bowl 59. He's a former Heisman Trophy winner who also grabbed the Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, Fred Biletnikoff Award, and Paul Hornung Award during his final run with the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2020 college football season. Advertisement As a rookie, he set an Eagles franchise record for most receiving yards in a single season. He's now a Super Bowl champion and one of the best players at his position, but he has yet to land on a Pro Bowl roster. He is also consistently left off lists like the following: DeVonta and A.J. Brown were both named on Pro Football Focus's list of the top 32 wide receivers in the NFL, but they couldn't have been further apart. A.J. found his way near the top of the list, and even though DeVonta should have been around the same area, he was fixated on the list's bottom half. That was noticeable (and controversial), but this FOX ranking felt like the last straw. Fans aren't having it. They've taken to social media to complain. Sure, this is (and fellow Eagle Landon Dickerson is also deserving of a mention), but it does beg the question. Where is DeVonta? Advertisement The answer to that question derives from something else that is rarely mentioned. Smith isn't often given the credit he deserves because Philly is home to elite wide receivers. Fans don't want to vote two Eagles receivers to the Pro Bowl every season. They don't want to name two Eagles as All-Pros. If Smith is placed on most of the NFL's other rosters, he's the top guy on the depth chart, but playing on a roster with so many great players sometimes means he'll be overlooked. That's just how it goes sometimes. Let's get back to FOX's list. Sure, most who are mentioned are deserving, and that begs the question. Who would be removed if DeVonta is added? That's a debate that would require another 1,000 words or so, but here's where we can begin the discussion. Let's start by giving Smith Trevor Lawrence's spot. What has he ever done to be ranked so high? This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: DeVonta Smith gets slighted in a ranking of talent from the 2021 draft
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
DeVonta Smith left off a ranking of top talent from the 2021 NFL Draft
DeVonta Smith left off a ranking of top talent from the 2021 NFL Draft Fox Sports ranked the top 10 players from the 2021 NFL draft and Eagles WR DeVonta Smith was left off the list as an obvious snub It seems like it was just yesterday, the 2021 NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles were trying to put a 4-11-1 finish to the previous season behind them, and they owned a selection in the top half of Round 1. It was the dawn of the Nick Sirianni era. Everyone hoped DeVonta Smith would be the choice in Round 1, but there was some controversy. Some fans and media members hoped the Eagles might go with Micah Parsons or Justin Fields. Parsons obviously would have given the Birds some defensive punch. Fields would have provided another option at the quarterback position if Philadelphia had determined they weren't sold on Jalen Hurts yet. Things worked out as they should have. DeVonta with the Eagles, and it's hard to imagine him in another jersey. It's also hard to figure out why he continues to be slighted when we discuss some of the game's great players. Eagles fans are tired of seeing DeVonta Smith disrespected. No one will ever forget where they were when DeVonta Smith hauled in that bomb from Tua Tagovailoa in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game or that beautiful toss from Jalen Hurts in Super Bowl 59. He's a former Heisman Trophy winner who also grabbed the Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, Fred Biletnikoff Award, and Paul Hornung Award during his final run with the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2020 college football season. As a rookie, he set an Eagles franchise record for most receiving yards in a single season. He's now a Super Bowl champion and one of the best players at his position, but he has yet to land on a Pro Bowl roster. He is also consistently left off lists like the following: DeVonta and A.J. Brown were both named on Pro Football Focus's list of the top 32 wide receivers in the NFL, but they couldn't have been further apart. A.J. found his way near the top of the list, and even though DeVonta should have been around the same area, he was fixated on the list's bottom half. That was noticeable (and controversial), but this FOX ranking felt like the last straw. Fans aren't having it. They've taken to social media to complain. Sure, this is (and fellow Eagle Landon Dickerson is also deserving of a mention), but it does beg the question. Where is DeVonta? The answer to that question derives from something else that is rarely mentioned. Smith isn't often given the credit he deserves because Philly is home to elite wide receivers. Fans don't want to vote two Eagles receivers to the Pro Bowl every season. They don't want to name two Eagles as All-Pros. If Smith is placed on most of the NFL's other rosters, he's the top guy on the depth chart, but playing on a roster with so many great players sometimes means he'll be overlooked. That's just how it goes sometimes. Let's get back to FOX's list. Sure, most who are mentioned are deserving, and that begs the question. Who would be removed if DeVonta is added? That's a debate that would require another 1,000 words or so, but here's where we can begin the discussion. Let's start by giving Smith Trevor Lawrence's spot. What has he ever done to be ranked so high?
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where did ESPN rank Brent Venables as a player?
Where did ESPN rank Brent Venables as a player? The time of year when college football fans are hankering for college football but have little recruiting or transfer-portal news to keep up with always produces some engaging offseason content. Way off-season. Over at ESPN, college football analyst Adam Rittenberg put together a tier list of every FBS coach ranked by how good that coach was in college. More specifically, he put coaches into tiers that appear largely unranked, then capped the list with a top 30. So, where does Oklahoma's Brent Venables fit in? Not as high as Tennessee's Josh Heupel, but not in a bad landing spot. The Sooners coach slotted into the "Pre-portal transfers" tier. That tier ranks sixth of eight, though, again, differentiating between the middle tiers is a matter of perspective. Venables fit there because he began his career at Garden City Community College, becoming a JUCO All-American in 1990. From there, he transferred in-state to play for his mentor, Bill Snyder, at Kansas State. In Manhattan, Venables earned All-Big Eight honorable mention status his senior year after logging 114 tackles. No other SEC coach was among the nine remaining in that tier. The top-30 rankings yielded five Southeastern Conference head coaches. At the top, of course, former Sooners Heisman Trophy winner Josh Heupel. He immediately made his presence known in 1999 with 3,850 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. Heupel then led the Sooners to a national title in 2000, recording 3,606 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. He was named AP Player of the Year, won the Walter Camp Award and consensus All-America honors, and was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. - Rittenberg, ESPN Oklahoma and Tennessee meet on the field with Heupel and Venables roaming the sidelines in Knoxville on November 1 this fall. Last year, Heupel's Volunteers won the matchup in Norman, 25-15. For those with a curious bit of state pride, four coaches with ties to the Sooner State ranked in the top 30. Purdue's Barry Odom (Ada) ranked 24th, Arkansas' Sam Pittman (Grove) ranked 21st, and Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy (Midwest City) ranked fifth. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jaguars make announcement about Travis Hunter ahead of rookie minicamp
The Jacksonville Jaguars got a steal when they traded up to get Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. He became the highest drafted cornerback and second-highest drafted wide receiver in NFL history Hunter arrived in Duval on Friday for rookie minicamp, which was 24 hours after participating in the commencement ceremony in Boulder. Advertisement There was more news coming from the Jaguars on Friday. Hunter will retain his college number and wear No. 12 starting this year. With the details set in stone, 'Saucy-T's jersey will likely be an NFL top-seller, like his CU teammate Shedeur Sanders, who ironically took the same number from the Cleveland Browns Hunter has worn No. 12 nearly his entire life. He carried it from Jackson State to Colorado and now in the NFL. There's a little luck for the Heisman Trophy winner who will look to make his number famous at the next level. Related: Browns make final training camp decision on Shedeur Sanders Now, Hunter joins a Jaguars franchise looking to make strides towards being an AFC contender. He's expected to be a rare asset on both sides of the ball. Jacksonville was one of the only NFL teams who expressed willingness to have Hunter at wide receiver and cornerback. Advertisement Related: Travis Hunter's graduation attire is turning heads on social media Hunter became the most decorated player in college football history last year being named the consensus national player of the year by winning the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award and both the AP and Sporting News Player of the Year honors. He was also repeated as the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player) while winning the Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy as national defensive player of the year and the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver regardless of position.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Reacts to Major Travis Hunter News on Thursday
It's been a remarkable six months for Travis Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. After wrapping up an incredible collegiate career with the Colorado Buffaloes, Hunter walked away with college football's highest individual honor — the Heisman Trophy. In addition to the Heisman, Hunter also earned the Walter Camp Award and was named the Associated Press Player of the Year. His dynamic play on both sides of the ball made him one of the most electrifying players in the country. Advertisement The Buffaloes finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record, though their year ended on a disappointing note with a loss to Brigham Young University in the Alamo Bowl. Hunter recently celebrated another significant milestone — graduating from the University of Colorado. The NFL acknowledged his achievement with a congratulatory message on social media: ".@TravisHunterJr is getting his college degree today" This academic accomplishment adds to the list of accolades for the 21-year-old star. Hunter is set to report to Jacksonville on Friday to begin rookie minicamp with the Jaguars. Former Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Lee-Imagn Images The Suwanee, Georgia, native played his high school football at Collins Hill High School before committing to Jackson State University to play for Deion Sanders. When Sanders took the head coaching job at Colorado, Hunter transferred with him. Advertisement During his two seasons in Boulder, Hunter was a two-way sensation. Offensively, he hauled in 153 receptions — including 96 during his junior year — and scored 20 receiving touchdowns. He also added one rushing touchdown to his résumé. Defensively, he played in 22 games, tallying 66 total tackles. Last season, he led the team with 11 pass deflections and recorded four interceptions, showcasing his elite skills as a cornerback. While the full NFL schedule has yet to be released, the Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to open their 2025 campaign on Sunday, September 7. The team is coming off of 4-13 season and has made major changes, including the dismissal of head coach Doug Pederson. Liam Coen, formerly the offensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will begin his first season as Jacksonville's head coach. Hunter is expected to play a major role in turning the franchise around. Advertisement Related: Simone Biles' Behavior Toward Jonathan Owens at Met Gala is Turning Heads Related: Fans Notice Paige Bueckers Being Treated Differently Than Caitlin Clark During WNBA Debut
