Several Trojans rank among top NFL players in latest statistical overview

Analyzing the best Trojans in the NFL reveals several standouts who are making a big impact on Sundays.

USC football has a lot of notable former players who have moved on to the NFL. From the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Caleb Williams, to the 112th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Amon-Ra St. Brown, former Trojans are making noise at the next level, specifically on the offensive side of the ball.

Through nine weeks of the NFL season, former USC quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Sam Darnold have the 5th-most passing yards and 4th-most passing touchdowns.

Similarly, former USC wide receivers are showing out at the next level. Former Trojans wide receivers have the 4th-most receiving yards with 2,091, behind 3rd-place Alabama with 2,404 and far ahead of 5th-place Ole Miss with 1,408. That list of former USC wideouts in the NFL includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Pittman Jr., and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

While this season may not be going the way Trojans fans hoped on Saturdays, the USC alumni are certainly some of the highest performers at the next level on Sundays.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, Ducks Wire, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Patrick Mahomes, Kareem Hunt listed on Chiefs’ Wednesday injury report

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and RB Kareem Hunt were listed on Kansas City’s Week 10 injury report on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs have dealt with injuries all season but have avoided any truly catastrophic losses to this point.

Though the absence of wide receivers Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown and Rashee Rice and running back Isiah Pacheco have hampered Kansas City’s offense, the defending Super Bowl champions are still undefeated through nine weeks of the regular season.

However, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and running back Kareem Hunt were listed on the Chiefs’ initial injury report for Week 10 on Wednesday, which could be a major issue for Kansas City heading into a matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, November 10.

Check out the Chiefs’ full injury report below:

 

Mahomes participated fully in Wednesday’s workouts, but Hunt was limited. Despite their participation, it remains unclear if they will be available to play in Kansas City’s AFC West showdown against the Broncos.

Stay tuned to see how the Chiefs starters progress through the rest of the week as Kansas City prepares for its next game.

Colorado MBB freshman Andrew Crawford to take redshirt

A talented Colorado freshman is electing redshirt this season

The Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team added a plethora of pieces to its 2024-25 roster, so it’s fair to assume that certain newcomers could get lost in the shuffle.

That assumption became a reality for freshman guard Andrew Crawford, who is now planning to redshirt this season, according to multiple reports. Head coach Tad Boyle noted that Crawford could become available down the line if injuries arise.

A native of Littleton, Colorado, Crawford was a four-star recruit at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch and the highest-ranked 2024 prospect in the state of Colorado. The 6-foot-6 combo guard was held in high regard throughout his recruiting process and adds in-state flair to a Colorado unit with seven new players.

Crawford saw the floor for seven minutes during CU’s preseason exhibition against Pomona-Pitzer and did not play in Monday’s season opener against Eastern Washington. The freshman will watch from the sidelines and preserve this year of eligibility.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

USC Trojans to start quarterback Jayden Maiava against Nebraska

Nebraska football will face a different quarterback when they take on USC next week.

The USC Trojans will start quarterback Jayden Maiava when they take on Nebraska on Nov. 16. This was reported by USCFootball.com’s Connor Morissette.

Maiava transferred from UNLV to USC in the spring. He has appeared in 11 games so far for the Trojans, going eight-of-11 for 66 yards. He also has shown an ability to run the ball, carrying the ball three times for 27 yards and a touchdown.

The quarterback replaces starter Miller Moss, who has thrown for 2,555 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and nine interceptions on the season. The Trojans come into next week’s contest averaging 291.5 yards per game through the air.

This could be a bit of a break for the Huskers as they look to rectify their passing defense. They come into the game allowing 308.1 passing yards defensively. Nebraska has allowed 219 yards through the air last weekend against UCLA. This quarterback change could give them the perfect opportunity to right the ship.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Michigan State safety gifted $40,000, trip to Disney, and car from Good Morning America

Good Morning America hooked up Armorion Smith and his family in a big way

At this point, I would think most people reading this know the story of Armorion Smith, the Michigan State football safety who has taken custody of his siblings after his family lost their mom this year. This week, Armorion was on Good Morning America, and they did some pretty awesome stuff for him and his family.

Host Michael Strahan showed Smith and his brother Armon a number of generous gifts, which included $40,000, a fully covered trip to Disney Land, and a brand new SUV. It was a great moment for someone who really deserved it.

You can watch the full video here.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Broncos release Wednesday injury report: 2 players return to practice

Broncos OL Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) returned to practice on Wednesday.

Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke (thumb) fully practiced on Wednesday after missing the team’s last two games. Devon Key filled in while Locke was sidelined.

Elsewhere on the injury front, Broncos center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) was designated to return from injured reserve and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) opened his 21-day win to return from the physically unable to perform list.

Wattenberg has three weeks to return from IR and Sanders has the same amount of time to return from the PUP list. If they do not return to the active roster within three weeks, Wattenberg and Sanders will remain on reserve for the rest of the season.

As for the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) fully practiced Wednesday after injuring his ankle in Week 9.

View the Broncos’ complete Wednesday injury report below.

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
DL D.J. Jones (knee) Full
DB P.J. Locke (thumb) Full
DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) Full
DE Zach Allen (NIR – rest) Limited
OT Mike McGlinchey (knee) Limited
LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) Limited
C Luke Wattenberg (ankle) Limited

The Broncos will practice again on Thursday and Friday before releasing a final injury report with game statuses for Sunday’s game in Kansas City.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Jaguars vs. Vikings: Initial injury reports

Jaguars vs. Vikings: Initial injury reports

Find Jacksonville and Minnesota’s initial injury reports for the Jaguars and Vikings’ Week 10 matchup below.

^ indicates player is designated to return from injured reserve

Jaguars injury report

  • RB Keilan Robinson^ (toe) — full
  • WR Devin Duvernay^ (knee) — full
  • QB Trevor Lawrence (left shoulder) — limited
  • RB Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) — limited
  • RB Tank Bigsby (ankle) — limited
  • WR Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) — limited
  • WR Gabe Davis (shoulder) — limited
  • DT Maason Smith (ankle) — limited
  • S Daniel Thomas (hamstring) — limited
  • S Andrew Wingard (knee) — limited
  • OL Ezra Cleveland (ankle) — did not participate
  • OL Brandon Scherff (knee) — did not participate

Analysis: As expected, Jaguars starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence was limited Wednesday as he nurses a sore non-throwing shoulder.

Lawrence was the only addition to Jacksonville’s injury report, with fellow starters in running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby, wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis, and offensive linemen Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff recovering from previous injuries.

Etienne, Bigsby, Thomas and Scherff each played hurt in Week 9.

Vikings injury report

  • TE Josh Oliver (wrist) — full
  • S Theo Jackson (hand) — full
  • LB Blake Cashman (toe) — limited
  • OLB Gabe Murphy^ (knee) — limited
  • CB Akayleb Evans (hip) — limited
  • C Garrett Bradberry (not injury related/rest) — did not participate
  • LB Ivan Pace Jr. (knee) — did not participate
  • OLB Andrew Van Ginkel (not injury related/rest) — did not participate

Analysis: Of Minnesota’s injured players, only linebackers Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. appear from the Vikings’ starting lineup. Center Garrett Bradberry and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel are first-teamers, too, but both were given the day off.

Lions add some familiar names and a newcomer to the practice squad

Lions add Chris Smith and Abraham Beauplan, plus a newcomer to the practice squad ahead of the Week 10 matchup with the Houston Texans

The Detroit Lions filled out all the vacancies on the team’s practice squad ahead of Wednesday’s practice session in Allen Park. With three spots open, the Lions brought back two familiar names and one new player–who has ties to this week’s opponent, the Houston Texans.

As expected, the Lions re-signed defensive tackle Chris Smith and linebacker Abraham Beauplan to the practice squad. The defensive duo had been on the practice squad all season before being signed to the active roster last week as Detroit dealt with an injury crunch. Smith played 10 snaps in the win over the Packers, while Beauplan didn’t get in on defense but played extensively on special teams while filling in for injured Malcolm Rodriguez.

The Lions also added veteran linebacker Ezekiel Turner to the practice squad. The 28-year-old spent the 2018 through 2023 seasons playing for the Arizona Cardinals, primarily on special teams. The Lions are his fourth team in 2024, with practice squad stints with the Texans and Seattle Seahawks during the regular season and offseason time with the San Francisco 49ers. He was on the Texans practice squad for the first four weeks of the season.

[lawrence-related id=114697]

NBA’s Most Historical Moments in the 2000s

Let’s just admit that fans don’t follow along purely for the love of the sport, but it’s a love for the players that also fuels the fire. Man, have there been some moments when they’ve made the NBA worth watching? From the rivalries to dunk shows …

Let’s just admit that fans don’t follow along purely for the love of the sport, but it’s a love for the players that also fuels the fire. Man, have there been some moments when they’ve made the NBA worth watching? From the rivalries to dunk shows and heartfelt moments, here are some of the most memorable moments from the 2000s in the NBA. 

  1. LeBron James and Bronny become first father-son duo 

The moment that many Lakers fans were waiting on finally happened! During the 2nd round of the 2024 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers made history and selected Bronny James as the 55th overall pick. Considering that LeBron James had to last 21 years in the league to be able to see this day, we’d say that finally seeing him and Bronny team up as the first father-son duo has been well worth the wait. 

  1. Dame waves goodbye to thunder

Another moment that will forever be cemented in the minds and hearts of NBA fans is when Damian Lillard waved goodbye to Russel Westbrook. Dame is arguably one of the greatest clutch players of all time in the NBA, and when the time was ticking, and everyone was wondering what he was doing in those last few seconds against Oklahoma City, he capped it off with a legendary shot and waved goodbye to Thunder and Westbrook’s legacy. 

  1. Steph Curry’s unstoppable shot

Steph Curry is known for his longshots, but he didn’t have to pull up from near halfcourt to prove himself against Thunder – but he did, and the NBA world thanks him for that unforgettable moment. It became clear that he didn’t just want the win, but he was definitely out to prove just how unstoppable he was. 

  1. Iverson’s step over Ty Lue

Some of the most memorable moments have nothing to do with the finesse of the game but have everything to do with the rivalries, and when Allen Iverson stepped over Ty Lue, it became a signature moment for his career. Looking back, Iverson mentions how he wasn’t a huge fan of it and thinks Lue deserves more respect for the defence he was putting up. That’s some high praise, and it’s safe to say that regardless of whether the act of stepping over Lue was intentional or not, it definitely made for one of the most memorable moments in NBA history in the 2000s. 

 

  1. LaVine and Gordon’s dunk contest

Who doesn’t love it when players pull out all the stops and go for the dunk? Well, many moments come to mind, but none quite like LaVine and Gordon’s dunk show of 2016. Both dunkers were out in full force and demonstrating their incredible creativity and physicality. Gordon pulled off a mind-blowing under-the-leg finish over the mascot, but Zach LaVine took the prize when he took off from the free throw line and did a between-the-legs jam. 

  1. The Legacy of Linsanity

How many people can say that they outplayed the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams? In 2012, Jeremy Lin, who was an undrafted, anonymous guard at the time, did just that, and the legacy of Linsanity still remains one of the most stupefying runs in NBA history. 

  1. Kobe’s finale

Staple’s Center, sixty points, 50 shots and an audience of 20,000 cheering fans. The final moments of Kobe’s NBA career could not have been more spectacular! Right up until the last few seconds, fans were constantly cheering for every attempt, and Kolbe was determined to end it off on a high note and gave everything he had. And what could be more legendary than his two-word signoff, “Mamba Out.”. 

 

Get in on the action

While you might not be on the court, and the players may be taking all the shots, you could be cashing in on more memorable moments in the future by betting on your favourite teams and players. In order to do that, you’ve got to get the latest NBA tips and keep your eyes peeled for the next greatest moments. 

Final Thoughts

If only we could go back in time and experience these moments all over again! Well, we can’t do that, but so we’ll just have to look forward to even more memorable moments in the future of the NBA, and we’re sure with the likes of James Duo and the next generation of NBA players hitting the court.

Kirk Ferentz describes Zach Ortwerth, how he ended up at Iowa

Zach Ortwerth was thrust into action and shouldered the load admirably. Kirk Ferentz described the Iowa Hawkeyes tight end’s demeanor.

Everyone says the “next man up” mantra all the time. The reality is, that situation and the ability to do so are much more difficult when push comes to shove and it is time to step up.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are extremely fortunate to have Zach Ortwerth on their roster as someone who can shoulder that ask and take it on while exceeding expectations.

With the injury to Luke Lachey, Ortwerth was thrust into starting action and has taken it on while making big plays. Kirk Ferentz described who Zach Ortwerth is and how he ended up at Iowa in his weekly press conference.

“I can’t say what prepared him for it, but his recruitment is kind of interesting. Gary Kornfeld was the coach down there, has since retired, but Gary was an assistant when I used to recruit down there in the ’80s, so I’ve known him a long time.

He called, I don’t know what year it would have been, maybe 10th grade, 11th grade for Zach and just said here’s a guy you ought to keep an eye on, and he doesn’t call very often, so we appreciated that. We were able to get in early with Zach and our message resonated with he and his family.

I can’t say enough about him, the way he’s stepped in. He just plays. He’s not a 4.4 guy or a 270-pound guy, but he’s a good football player, and he’s mentally tough. He has to be because he played last year as a freshman.

This year he’s all of a sudden now carrying a heavy load and it doesn’t seem to faze him at all. He’s been the same guy since he’s been here, which I think is impressive.

I have to throw in Johnny Pascuzzi and Hayden Large, too, because we’ve got a couple pretty good players out right now, and nobody has talked about it. We’re not making it a big deal, but those guys have really done a good job. That’s what you look for. That’s what you hope you have on a team, when guys are ready to go in there and take advantage of opportunity.

All those guys are doing a good job, but Zach has been really impressive with what he’s done so far,” Ferentz said about Ortwerth, his recruitment, and other tight ends.

Ortwerth was a three-star recruit out of St. Louis, Missouri in the class of 2023 when he committed to Iowa, per 247Sports.

Coming to Iowa, Ortwerth was listed as 220 pounds. Iowa now lists him as 240 pounds after getting in the weight room and developing.

With Lachey potentially sidelined once again this week, the duties will go to Ortwerth who has taken his chance and ran with it this year as he reeled in three receptions for 66 yards last week in his first start.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Riley on Twitter: @rileydonald7