Panthers sign rookie LB on Thursday

The Panthers signed rookie LB Aaron Beasley on Thursday.

The Carolina Panthers kept themselves busy on Thursday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has signed rookie linebacker Aaron Beasley. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound defender joins the roster after completing a workout earlier in the day.

Beasley, a Franklin Ga. native, played all five of his collegiate seasons at the University of Tennessee. Over 56 games between 2019 and 2023, he recorded 238 total tackles (32.5 for a loss), 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception and seven passes defensed.

To make room for Beasley, the Panthers waived/injured offensive lineman Badara Traore. Traore, who first joined the team last December, played 25 snaps in this summer’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots—with 11 coming at left tackle and 14 at right tackle.

Carolina also pulled the trigger on a trade with the Seattle Seahawks just hours before the addition of Beasley—acquiring cornerback Michael Jackson in exchange for 2024 seventh-round pick and rookie linebacker Michael Barrett. Beasley could see action in Saturday’s preseason finale with the departure of Barrett.

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Aaron Beasley previews Vols’ defensive matchup against Iowa’s offense

Aaron Beasley previews Tennessee’s defensive matchup against Iowa’s offense.

Senior linebacker Aaron Beasley appeared in every contest for Tennessee during the 2023 regular-season.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker recorded 67 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one interception, four pass deflections and one fumble recovery in 12 games.

Beasley met with media on Friday ahead of the Vols’ matchup against Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. He discussed competing against the Hawkeyes’ offense.

“I think they do well up front,” Beasley said. “I think the o-line does a really good job working together. I feel like they will show us some stuff that we really have not seen this year. They run a lot of 13-personnel and 12-personnel, and they will stay in that all game. I feel like that is a little bit different, stuff we really have not seen, but overall, I feel like they work well together and they do a good job for sure.”

Vols defeat UConn for homecoming victory

Tennessee defeats UConn for homecoming victory.

No. 16 Tennessee (7-2, 3-2 SEC) defeated UConn (1-8), 59-3, Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

It was a homecoming victory for the Vols. who led, 35-3 at halftime.

Tennessee led, 7-0, on its second offensive play as Jaylen Wright scored on an 82-yard run.

After the Huskies kicked a field goal, the Vols scored 28 unanswered points before halftime. Joe Milton III completed a 60-yard touchdown pass to Ramel Keyton and scored on a six-yard touchdown run.

Later in the second quarter, Milton III completed an 82-yard touchdown pass to Squirrel White with 4 minutes, 34 seconds left until halftime. Tennessee’s defense scored before the end of the first half as Tyler Baron returned a UConn fumble to the end zone.

In the third quarter, Jaylen McCollough and Aaron Beasley had interception returns for scores to give Tennessee a 42-3 advantage.

Nico Iamaleava entered the game at quarterback for Tennessee and completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to McCallan Castles.

Milton III completed 11-of-14 passing attempts for 254 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. He also recorded seven rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

Wright had eight rushing attempts and totaled 113 yards and one touchdown.

White recorded two receptions for 94 receiving yards and one touchdown.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football wears Summitt Blue against UConn

Aaron Beasley named to Bednarik Award preseason watch list

Tennessee linebacker Aaron Beasley named to Bednarik Award preseason watch list.

Tennessee senior linebacker Aaron Beasley was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list.

He is one of 85 players on the list released by the Maxwell Football Club.

The award is presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year and named after Chuck Bednarik, an All-American at Pennsylvania.

Beasley is one of 12 Southeastern Conference players named to the list.

As a junior in 2022, Beasley recorded 75 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, three sacks, nine quarterback hurries and three pass deflections.

Beasley was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team after recording 12 tackles, four tackles for a loss and two sacks in the Orange Bowl.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 13. Three finalists will be determined Nov. 28.

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10 former Jaguars on 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot

Paul Posluszny, Kevin Hardy, and eight other former Jaguars players are among the nominees for the College Football Hall of Fame.

The College Football Hall of Fame released its list of candidates for the Class of 2024 and the Jacksonville Jaguars are well-represented on the ballot.

Ten players who spent time with Jacksonville during their respective NFL careers are among the list of nominees (years with Jaguars):

Aaron Beasley, cornerback, West Virginia (1996-2001)
Justin Blackmon, wide receiver, Oklahoma State (2012-2013)
Marco Coleman, defensive end, Georgia Tech (2002)
Jarett Dillard, wide receiver, Rice (2009-2011)
Vaughn Dunbar, running back, Indiana (1995)
Deon Figures, cornerback, Colorado (1997-1998)
Toby Gerhart, running back, Stanford (2014-2015)
Kevin Hardy, linebacker, Illinois (1996-2001)
John Jurkovic, defensive end, Eastern Illinois (1996-1998)
Paul Posluszny, linebacker, Penn State (2011-2017)

The 18 players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame last year included Tim Tebow, a former Denver Broncos and New York Jets quarterback who spent one offseason at tight end with the Jaguars.

Beasley, Blackmon, Dillard, and Hardy were all drafted by the Jaguars. Posluszny stands as the franchise’s all-time leading tackler and Beasley is second in team history in interceptions.

Voting for the Class of 2024 will happen through the remainder of June, but the inductees won’t be announced until January of next year.

Tennessee football’s highest-graded returning defensive players in 2023

A look Tennessee football’s highest-graded returning defensive players ahead of the 2023 season.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel. Heupel has compiled an 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record with the Vols.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee football: 2023 post-spring game-by-game predictions

As the 2023 season approaches, Vols Wire looks at the highest-graded returning defensive players for Tennessee.

All grades were gathered using the Pro Football Focus (PFF) database and grading system. Data compiled represents a player’s overall offensive grade from the 2022 season, including postseason games.

Student-athletes who played 20 percent of the minimum number of snaps in 2022 were included.

Below are Tennessee’s top-10 highest-graded returning defensive players entering the 2023 season.

2020 UT football player card: Aaron Beasley

Aaron Beasley, linebacker (No. 24)

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6-1

Weight: 215

Hometown: Franklin, Georgia

High School: Heard County

Beasley appeared in nine games for the Vols in 2019, primarily as a contributor on special teams. The former 3-star recruit has good size for his position, and will be a key piece of Tennessee’s depth at linebacker.

2020 Tennessee football schedule

Sept. 5 vs. Charlotte (Knoxville)
Sept. 12 at Oklahoma (Norman)
Sept. 19 vs. Furman (Knoxville)
Sept. 26 vs. Florida (Knoxville)
Oct. 3 vs. Missouri (Knoxville)
Oct. 10 at South Carolina (Columbia)
Oct. 17 OPEN DATE
Oct. 24 vs. Alabama (Knoxville)
Oct. 31 at Arkansas (Fayetteville)
Nov. 7 vs. Kentucky (Knoxville)
Nov. 14 at Georgia (Athens)
Nov. 21 vs. Troy (Knoxville)
Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt (Nashville)

5 interesting stats from Jets’ Week 11 win over Redskins

The Jets won their second consecutive game of the season, beating the Redskins 34-17 in a rather convincing fashion.

The Jets played their most complete game of the season on Sunday, beating the Redskins, 34-17.

After turning in a 34-27 win over their roommates to halt a three-game losing streak last week, the Jets delivered their first road win of the season in Washington, improving to 3-1 against the NFC East this season. Sam Darnold and Jamal Adams both had career days, while Adam Gase and Gregg Williams executed flawless gameplans despite deficiencies.

Let’s take a look at some interesting stats from Gang Green’s third win of the season.

Career Day for Griffin

Ryan Griffin had a career day, as he’s done an excellent job filling in for Chris Herndon, who is out for the season with broken ribs.

Griffin entered the day with a single-game career-high of 85 receiving yards. He recorded the first 100-yard receiving game of his career, catching five passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win.

Per Michael Nania, Griffin’s 109 receiving yards were the most by a Jets tight end since Dustin Keller posted 115 in Week 2 of 2010 against New England. Griffin’s 100-yard game is the first since Keller had 101 in Week 2 of 2011 against Jacksonville.

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