Month: July 2024

Nebraska offensive line target to announce commitment on July 5

Class of 2025 prospect SJ Alofaituli will announce his official decision on July 5. 

A four-star offensive line prospect plans to announce his commitment later this week. Class of 2025 prospect SJ Alofaituli will announce his official decision on July 5.

The 6-foot-3, 290-pound lineman will decide between Miami, Michigan, and Nebraska. He recently visited all three schools, traveling to Ann Arbor on June 7, Lincoln on June 14, and Miami on June 21.

Multiple recruiting services project the Hurricanes as the front-runner for Alofaituli’s commitment. The lineman has also announced that he will play in the 2025 Under Armour All-America Game and the 2025 Polynesian Bowl.

He has also confirmed that he will enroll early at whichever school he commits to. SJ Alofaituli will announce his commitment on YouTube on July 5 at 11:00 a.m. CT.

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

Cam Taylor-Britt, Bengals CB room spotlighted as 2024 x-factor

A premium position is one of the top x-factors for the Bengals in 2024.

The Cincinnati Bengals have plenty of things that could classify as x-factors in 2024.

One key area of the defense that does seem to fly under the proverbial radar in these types of conversations, though, is cornerback.

There, Dax Hill has joined the fray on the boundary opposite Cam Taylor-Britt. It’s a situation that was highlighted recently by ESPN’s Seth Walder:

Cornerbacks Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner II. They allowed 2.0 and 1.7 yards per coverage snap last season, per NFL Next Gen Stats, the second and eighth most, respectively, among outside CBs with at least 300 coverage snaps. With Chidobe Awuzie gone in free agency, these two young DBs will have to step up.

Going into his sophomore year, Turner’s job is very much at risk with Hill coming over from safety and already seeing a ton of work with the starters this spring.

And when it comes to Taylor-Britt, while he’s obviously got massive No. 1 upside, he only played 12 games and 86 percent of the snaps last year, so his ability to stay healthy will be key.

An improved pass-rush up front will help the secondary too. But the trio of corners on the boundary will need to hold up better and remain on the field in 2024 for Lou Anarumo’s unit to have the best chance of reaching near-elite heights again.

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59 days until it is football time in Tennessee

Countdown to the season: 59 days until it is football time in Tennessee

Tennessee will kick off its 2024 football season in 59 days.

The Vols will open its upcoming campaign on Aug. 31 against Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12:45 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the contest.

2024 will be the fourth season for Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel. In his first three seasons, Heupel is 27-12 and guided the Vols to three bowl games.

The Vols finished 9-4 (4-4 SEC) last season.

With 59 days remaining until the start of the 2024 football season, Vols Wire looks back at Tennessee student-athletes who wore No. 59.

All time players to wear No. 59 at Tennessee:

Allen Ramsey (1937)

Calvin Sexton (1938)

Eugene Young (1940)

Andy McClutcheon (1944)

Chan Caldwell (1945-47)

Hazen Kreis (1949)

Bob Ball (1951-52)

Jack Reynolds (1957)

Mike Costello (1959)

Jim Bates (1965-67)

James Woody (1968)

Carl Johnson (1969-72)

Dave Brady (1974-76)

Joe Gibson (1977)

Alan Lynn (1978-79)

David Scandrett (1981-83)

Mark Hovanic (1984-87)

Mike Stowell (1989-91)

Sam Pinner (1994-97)

Judd Granzow (1999)

Victor McClure (2001-02)

Adam Miles (2003-05)

Nick Guess (2008-11)

Matt Giampapa (2012-2015)

Gregory Greico (2012-14)

Jake Yelich (2018-19)

John Mincey (2018)

Jake Yelich (2019)

Dominic Bailey (2020-21)

Caleb Williams (2023)

*Source: 2023 Tennessee Football Media Guide

PHOTOS: Reed Sheppard joins Houston Rockets via 2024 NBA draft

Sharpshooting Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard is now a member of the Rockets after being drafted at No. 3 overall in the NBA’s 2024 first round.

Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard, who connected on than 52% of his 3-pointers during one extremely efficient collegiate season with the Wildcats, is now a member of the Rockets. The 20-year-old was Houston’s draft choice at No. 3 overall in the 2024 first round.

A 6-foot-2 sharpshooter, Sheppard joins a Houston squad in need of more 3-point shooting. In the recently completed 2023-24 NBA season, the Rockets ranked near the top 10 in 3-point attempts, yet they ranked among the 10 worst teams in accuracy.

“I’m super excited,” said Sheppard, as relayed by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “They have a really good thing going in Houston. The coach [Ime Udoka] is really good. Like you said, Jalen [Green]. They have a bunch of really young, athletic guys, and we’ll be able to play fast. It’s going to be fun. I’m super excited to get out there and learn and take it all in, so I can’t wait.”

Sheppard will put on a Rockets jersey for the first time when Houston competes in the NBA’s 2024 summer league, which starts July 12 in Las Vegas. Until then, here is a look at Sheppard’s initial days with the organization, headlined by the June 26 draft.

Check out these highlights of Broncos rookie WR Devaughn Vele

Broncos rookie Devaughn Vele will aim to impress this summer in a crowded WR room. Here are his highlights from college.

With their second-to-last pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos selected wide receiver Devaughn Vele in the seventh round.

Vele (6-4, 210 pounds) played college football at Utah, drawing comparisons to Broncos receiver Tim Patrick.

“I’ve heard things even while at Utah,” Vele said of the comparisons to his new teammate. “[He’s] a great player, and I try to model my game after all of the greats. It’s good to have someone that I can look up to and get under his wing.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton has praised Vele for his steady hands and ability to bring down contested catches. The rookie will have positional flexibility in Patyon’s offense.

“We have visions relative to when we see him as a guy who can play big outside [at] ‘X,’ and then come in in the slot,” Payton said.

Check out highlights from Vele’s time at Utah below:

Competing in a crowded WR room, Vele won’t be a lock to make the active roster this summer, but he should be able to make the practice squad. The rookie receiver is set to report for training camp on July 17.

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Texas A&M alumnus Tyrece Radford to play for San Antonio Spurs during NBA Summer League

Following three years at Virginia Tech and two at Texas A&M, shooting guard Tyrece “Boots” Radford has taken his talents to the next level.

Following three years at Virginia Tech and two seasons at Texas A&M, shooting guard Tyrece “Boots” Radford has taken his talents to the next level.

Radford is starting his professional career this weekend as a member of the Spurs. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana will compete for San Antonio during the NBA Summer League this month in the Golden State’s Capitol and Sin City.

The action begins this weekend with the California Classic held at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Radford will make his Spurs debut against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. CT on NBA TV.

On Sunday evening, San Antonio will face the host Kings at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. The Spurs conclude the Northern California event Tuesday at 7 p.m. on NBA TV versus the Chinese National Team.

Radford was an All-SEC second team selection following the 2022-23 season. That play earned him a 2023-24 preseason All-SEC second team nod. The McKinley High School graduate received SEC Player of the Week on Feb. 12.

The NBA 2K25 Summer League will take place in Las Vegas from July 12-22.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Armando Bacot tells story of how Tyler Hansbrough sent him to the hospital

Tyler Hansbrough once sent Armando Bacot to the hospital after a pickup game.

The annual Summer scrimmage games during the North Carolina basketball camps are usually pretty epic battles between the current team and former players. Each year, campers get the chance to watch these games as players showcase their skills for those in attendance.

And usually, they get very competitive.

On Tuesday, Armando Bacot appeared on Theo Pinson’s “Run Your Race” podcast to talk about his time at North Carolina. He mentioned the Summer pickup games on campus with former players back and how the experience was for him. That brought him to a story about facing off against a UNC legend in Tyler Hansbrough and how he had to go to the hospital after the game.

“I was playing against T-Hans [Tyler Hansbrough] and I ain’t, obviously I know he was a great player but I didn’t know he was that physical,” Bacot said. “I went and blocked his shot, then the next play he like went right through me. And then I had to go to the hospital, stitches and all that. He didn’t say sorry, or nothing. He just kept going [laughter].”

Ouch.

Bacot has seen Hansbrough since then as he broke his all-time rebounding record and the two were happy to see each other. I’m sure Hansbrough eventually apologized but in the end it might have helped Bacot to go through that in his UNC career.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

 

Bernhard Langer to make ’emotional’ 513th and final start on the DP World Tour this week in Germany

It’s the end of an era.

It’s the end of an era.

Bernhard Langer, the most succesful male German golfer of all time, is playing in the BMW International Open in Munich for the last time this week. In fact, this event marks his 513th and final start on the DP World Tour.

Langer, 66, won 42 DP World Tour titles (in addition to his three PGA Tour and 46 PGA Tour Champions wins). He was originally planning to make the 2024 Masters his final trip to Augusta National but suffered an Achilles injury in February and has since since that 2025 will be his final time playing the Masters.

Langer’s return to Munich will be his first since 2012.

2012 BMW International Open
Bernhard Langer of Germany in action during the third round of the 2012 BMW International Open at Gut Larchenhof in Cologne, Germany (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

“I don’t know yet (how I will react),” he said. “I’ve never said goodbye to anything so far in terms of golf, this is going to be a first experience and I have a feeling it’s going to be very emotional.”

This is the 35th year of the BMW, Germany’s longest-running pro golf tournament. John Daly holds the mark for lowest score – 27 under – in 2001.

“I grew up about 45 minutes from here,” Langer said. “I worked as an assistant professional 30 minutes from here at Munich Country Club. I have a lot of friends, some relatives and just people that have been with me, supported me for many, many years in the game of golf, and obviously I’ve played this tournament many times. It’s the only one I haven’t won yet in Germany. So it was always tricky, but I’m glad to be back.”

This is the fourth of five tournaments on the DP World Tour’s European Swing but the sixth and final of those events that count towards the Race to Dubai Ranking. Also on the line this week is a spot in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon for those not already in the field.

Robert Meachem’s 67-yard TD catch is the Saints Play of the Day

Here’s your Saints Play of the Day. Robert Meachem and Drew Brees connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass against the Detroit Lions in 2011:

There are only 67 days left on the calendar until the New Orleans Saints open up their 2024 regular season, which makes this highlight our Saints Play of the Day. Robert Meachem and Drew Brees connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass against the Detroit Lions back in 2011 that you could still put against any scoring play in today’s game.

The Saints were red-hot. They had beaten the New York Giants (eventual Super Bowl champions) 49-24 a week earlier on “Monday Night Football” and then were tasked with hosting the Lions on the following “Sunday Night Football” feature. New Orleans had won three in a row going into this matchup, and they didn’t slow down.

Already up with a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter, Brees took advantage of the time bought by play action to step up in the pocket and read the field. And he found Meachem waiting for him downfield, wide open against single coverage deep inside Detroit territory. Meachem caught the pass in front of Lions defensive back Eric Wright and put him in a tough spot, outmaneuvering the defender and turning him around while sprinting to the end zone. Meachem scored, celebrated with his teammate Pierre Thomas, and a quick John Kasay extra point gave the Saints a 17-0 lead.

And the good times didn’t stop there. The Saints put the Lions away 31-17 in prime time and went on to win their next five games, breaking an assortment of NFL records along the way. Depending on who you ask it was arguably the greatest season in franchise history. It’s just unfortunate how the 2011 year ended, with the Saints coming up short in one of the greatest divisional round playoff games of its generation against the San Francisco 49ers. But we’ll always have these memories.

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