The Huskers became aware of the 6-7 257-pound Hoffken at a satellite camp in Houston, Texas. Sean Callahan (subscription required) from Husker Online reports that Hoffken committed to Nebraska on the spot after receiving an offer.
Hoffken will join a 2024 class that features offensive prospects Grant Brix, Gibson Pyle, Preston Taumua, Landen Davidson, and Jake Peters. The unit also added former Florida Gator and interior offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua.
The Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Tuesday that former wide receiver N’Keal Harry would be transitioning to tight end.
Now that offseason activities are underway, teams are starting to implement their systems for the 2024 season. Now is the time to get new players integrated into the system, get the rookies learning how the pro game works and getting exposure to the system, and – in some cases – get players to learn an entirely new position.
That’s the position the Minnesota Vikings and (former) wide receiver N’Keal Harry find themselves in this summer. Harry, formerly a wide receiver and largely thought of as an NFL draft bust, is going to be learning a new position this summer and hoping to make a contribution to the Vikings as a tight end. A move that both Harry and head coach Kevin O’Connell seem excited about.
N’Keal is really fired up about it. He’s attacked the process long before we ever got started in the off-season program, but you’re hoping to see the receiving traits kinda lead the way early on, as they’ll get a little bit more comfort in maybe having their hand down, being a part of run schemes, the different kind of run schemes that were implementing and N’Keal shown that.
His routability, his ability to be explosive contested catches, different variations where we’re hoping we’re really developing, even at this stage and his caree,r position changes always unique. We’re hoping we’re developing a guy that can grow into a real weapon Redzone weapon with his skill set.
While things haven’t panned out for Harry as a wide receiver, he should be able to use some of those traits as he transitions to his new position. The position change should mitigate some of the struggles Harry has had at the pro level, too, namely his struggles against press coverage and more physical defensive backs.
How much Harry can contribute remains to be seen, but with some uncertainty still lingering around starting tight end T.J. Hockenson and his knee injury, the added depth at the position is certainly helpful.
Bitonio believes there are some benefits to the NFLPA’s proposal
Last week, a proposal to potentially overhaul the offseason workout schedule, eliminating voluntary OTAs in favor of longer training camps with a ramp-up period in mid-June or early July. This would do away with the summer break that currently takes place after mandatory minicamp leading up to camp at the end of the month.
During the Browns’ annual golf event on Monday, guard Joel Bitonio discussed the proposal’s benefits for players’ bodies.
“I do think there is some science behind like a better ramp up period. I think science like in a ramp up period and training in the off season all those things seem like it’s a smart move.”
This is one of the first people I have heard speaking positively about this proposal and I totally get Bitonio’s point. He also talked about the change of schedules break wise might not be what many organizations want but it was nice to hear his perspective.
In the end, I still don’t think this proposal will ever get approved, but it is clear that some people do agree with some aspects of it.
The Cleveland Browns have waived kicker Lucas Havrisik for the second time this off-season. The team waived him on May 14th before signing him back to the roster on May 20th. Cleveland carried three kickers on the roster: Dustin Hopkins and former draft pick Cade York, who is back for his second stint with the team.
Havrisik also spent time on the Browns practice squad last year before the Rams snatched him up for their active roster in 2023. It was interesting to see the team carry three kickers in camp, so it makes sense that they have trimmed it back down to two.
Cleveland now has an empty roster spot, with OTAs continuing this week and mandatory minicamp next week. One area that could be added to is the tight end room, which lacks much outside of David Njoku. Some added depth at linebacker could also make sense, with some interesting names still available in free agency.
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The Cubs battled back from 5-0 and 6-5 deficits to beat the Sox 7-6 in Tuesday’s opener and will go for the sweep of the two-game series tonight behind right-hander Jameson Taillon. Righty Erick Fedde, who has been the South Siders’ most consistent starter, will pitch for the White Sox. You can refer to BetMGM for odds and use the BetMGM Illinois bonus code SBWIRE to make an initial wager and receive the first-bet offer up to $1,500.
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The three-star defensive lineman is 247Sports’ No. 698 player in the class of 2025, No. 72 defensive lineman and No. 93 recruit from the state of Florida. He is set for an official visit to Wisconsin the weekend of June 7, which comes on the heels of a visit to West Virginia on May 31.
Of note, Telemaque’s list of final four schools differs significantly from his group of six finalists from April, which included Colorado, Florida, LSU, West Virginia, Missouri and Minnesota. Wisconsin and Georgia Tech have jumped into the mix, while Colorado, LSU, Missouri and Minnesota are no longer being considered.
Tuesday’s announcement also includes a decision date: June 18. He figures to make his commitment after visits to each of his four finalists.
Top 4️⃣ schools for four star DL Wilnerson Telemaque (‘25)! 👀
He will choose between WVU, Florida, Wisconsin, and Georgia Tech!
Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 16 in the nation with 13 commitments. The program is off to a hot start to June with recent commitments from three-star CB Rukeem Stroud and four-star OT Logan Powell.
Luke Fickell and his staff are working to grow the class with official visit season underway.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.
The coastal town of Lutsen, Minn., is a four-hour drive and a world away from the hustle and bustle of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Set hard against Lake Superior, intersected by historic MN-61, it’s a year-round resort destination and the perfect place …
The coastal town of Lutsen, Minn., is a four-hour drive and a world away from the hustle and bustle of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Set hard against Lake Superior, intersected by historic MN-61, it’s a year-round resort destination and the perfect place for a group of women looking to break away from the city for a few days of golf and other activities.
Why Lutsen? In part because it’s Minnesota’s closest meeting of golf land, water and mountainous terrain, and in part because it’s just a lovely town to spend a few days.
Sunrise on Lake Superior from Lutsen area. Every morning seems to be different on the big lake.
Lutsen is home to Superior National Golf Course, the best place to savor the pure physical beauty of Northeast Minnesota – the lake, the highlands, the raging river. You’ll find it all here. It’s a 27-hole public course with A1 views of Lake Superior and repeated interactions with the Poplar River during your round.
You’ll first want to play the River 9 and Canyon 9, both of which underwent a $4.6 million facelift by architect Jeff Brauer – remember that name – within the past decade. The course is bracketed by the lake to the east and the Sawtooth Mountains to the west, so there isn’t a bad view on the course.
“Very few golf courses are as blessed with nature as Superior National,” Brauer said when he was doing the renovations. “You’ve got the views of the lake, you’ve got the views of the mountains, you’ve got one of the prettiest rivers in the world running right through the golf course.”
After your round at Superior National, make the short drive to North Shore Winery, which was founded in 2013 but feels like it’s been there for multiple decades. When was the last time you visited a winery that had a sauna? Well, welcome to the good life in Minnesota, along Lake Superior. The winery often has live acoustic entertainment in the barrel room, which guests can enjoy with a glass of Syrah or a Bluefin Bay blend.
Speaking of which, the Bluefin Bay family of resorts, located just south of Lutsen, offers three lodging options that share the same key trait: to-die-for views of Lake Superior, which in some cases are just a short putt away from your balcony. Take your pick: single rooms, homes or log cabins, depending on what fits your group’s needs. Bluefin Bay’s Waves of Superior Spa, which also has a lap pool and fitness center, offers everything you could want in terms of exercise or relaxation.
Bluefin Bay also offers several convenient dining options. The Bluefin Grille combines a relaxed yet elegant lakeside setting with a menu ranging from casual lunchtime fare to classic Minnesota dinner entrees such as pan-fried walleye. The Waves Café patio overlooking the lake is a great spot for breakfast or lunch, and Coho Café & Bakery is open throughout the day for indoor/outdoor dining or takeout. The cozy Coho Café has an eclectic menu offering something for everyone, from breakfast staples and sweets to some of the best pizza in the North. Coho Café is also just across the highway from Clearview General Store if you need to pick up any necessities during your vacation.
At this point, it’s easy to imagine enjoying a long weekend in and around Lutsen. You could take the Summit Express gondola up Lutsen Mountain to savor the views of the coastline while having lunch on the deck of the Summit Chalet.
However, if you want to explore the best Minnesota golf has to offer, consider making the two-hour drive east to the Iron Range.
Don’t rush – take a travel day and stop first at Tettegouche State Park, just south of Lutsen. The park sits on one mile of lakefront, with rocky cliffs and the Baptism River waterfall.
Giants Ridge unquestionably is the best two-course public facility in Minnesota and among the best in the nation. It’s unlikely you’ll find any other resort in the country that has sister courses as different as the options at this resort – the Quarry and Legend courses. Interestingly, both were designed by Brauer, who has shaped much of the golf ground in this part of the state.
Brauer once described the Legend course, which opened in 1997, as “the most natural” course he’d ever designed. Ranked No. 5 in the state and sometimes referred to as “the Gentle Giant,” it’s everything one would expect from golf in Northeast Minnesota – rolling fairways framed by dense stands of birch trees, punctuated by memorable lakeside holes.
The 17th, a par 3 played across Sabin Lake, might be the best-known hole in the region. At roughly 125 yards from the forward tees, it’s a lovely respite on the way to 18, not unlike the par-3 11th, which evokes the iconic 12th at Augusta National. From the back tees, however, the 17th is a 226-yard, all-carry brute.
The Quarry, ranked No. 1 in the state, opened in 2003 and is a true destination course for those who want to test themselves against one of the toughest tracks in the North. The Z-shaped par 5 might remind some of one of Brauer’s architectural influences, the late Larry Packard.
Variety is a consistent theme at the Quarry, making it difficult yet fascinating for players of all skill levels. Consider the short par-4 eighth hole, where long hitters can take a direct route to the green – so long as they can clear the pond guarding the dogleg – or take the conservative route to the right. From the elevated tee at the brilliant 13th, players have at least five targets for their drives. There’s also a wonderful sense of place, as when players reach the fairway on difficult 18, having to carry the edge of the Embarrass Mine Pit.
If time allows, consider making the 20-mile drive north to Fortune Bay Resort Casino in Tower. For some, the main attraction is the casino, but for golfers, it’s the chance to play The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, another Brauer design that Golfweek ranks No. 3 in the state.
Like his other designs, Brauer made creative use of the natural terrain – for example, using the rock outcroppings at the first, fourth and 16th holes to build split fairways that allow for more strategic options. Perhaps the best stretch of The Wilderness comes at the par-3 12th, played across water to a peninsula green, and the 13th, which wraps around Lake Vermillion.
Post-round, grab a table on the patio at The Wilderness Grill and enjoy lunch while watching players finish their rounds on the closing hole.
Does Tatum need to be the stereotypical alpha scorer, putting up huge stat totals? Or do the Celtics need him to give the game what it needs?
Who does Jayson Tatum need to be for the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals? Does Tatum need to be the stereotypical alpha scorer, putting up huge counting stat totals? Or do the Celtics need the St. Louis native to give the game what it needs when it needs it, and to trust and empower his talented Boston teammates?
To talk that aspect of the looming series over, CLNS Media reporter Bobby Manning welcomed NBC Sports Boston broadcaster Drew Carter to a recent episode of “The Garden Report” podcast, as well as to preview the ’24 NBA Finals more generally.
Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.
“You get the right talent, and the right coaching and you end up having something,” Sean Payton said of Joe Collier’s “Orange Crush” squad.
The Denver Broncos elected safety Steve Foley and tight end Riley Odoms to their Ring of Fame last week. Foley and Odoms played during the “Orange Crush” era in Denver, helping the team reach their first Super Bowl in 1977.
Foley played under late defensive coordinator Joe Collier, the mastermind behind the “Orange Crush” squad that produced six Ring of Famers (and a Pro Football Hall of Famer in linebacker Randy Gradishar).
After a practice session last week, current Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked about his memories of the team’s “Orange Crush” era.
“There were so many different names,” Payton said. “Back then the one challenge was what you were served television-wise. You didn’t have access like we do today. Depending on where you lived, you might just get the Monday Night Football highlights from Howard Cosell. You didn’t have the ESPN rundown, or Red Zone or pay per view. So there was a stretch where there were eight or 10 defenses that got nicknames. That was one of the early teams that had a nickname.
“I don’t know where they sat relative to the ‘Purple People Eaters.’ There were a handful of teams where defenses got nicknames. Obviously they played out of an Okie front. Collier was so far… When you listen to [Bill] Belichick and [Bill] Parcells and coaches that we know of today talk about his impact as a defensive coach, you get the right talent, and the right coaching and you end up having something.”
Foley, the team’s all-time leaders in interceptions, joins Louis Wright, Tom Jackson, Billy Thompson, Paul Smith and Gradishar as the sixth member of that 1970s defense that Collier put on the map. It’s a well-deserved honor for Foley and the entire “Orange Crush” squad.
