Tag: Awards

Bryan Bresee recognized as NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Bryan Bresee was recognized as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He made the play of the day with a blocked field goal, but his whole game was impressive:

Congratulations are in order for Bryan Bresee, who was recognized as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. The New Orleans Saints defensive tackle made the play of the day with a blocked field goal, but his whole game was impressive against the New York Giants.

Bresee was credited with a sack, two quarterback hits, a tackle for loss and two pass deflections on the afternoon, on top of his field goal block. That’s a really strong day for an interior lineman.

So good for him. That Bresee capped his afternoon with a game-winning effort on special teams just made his performance that much more exciting.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Former Saints quarterback on why Taysom Hill is one of a kind

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Steve Walsh shared his take on what he feels Taysom Hill brings to the table, and why Hill is ultimately one of a kind:

Taysom Hill has been on an absolute tear as of late, reaching multiple milestones as he’s been a pivotal part of the New Orleans Saints snapping a seven-game losing streak and replacing it with a two-game winning streak.

He’s a jack-of-all-trades that has never fully been able to be replicated, despite several NFL teams’ desperate efforts to do so. At the same time, it’s often said that a player like Hill is not to be invested in as a pure quarterback for the long-term.

That experiment has also been tried and failed as a part of a trend that ultimately faded away. Former Saints quarterback Steve Walsh is among those who shares that line of thinking.

“A guy like Taysom Hill is not going to last. You’re not going to invest 40 million dollars in a guy and let him run QB power, because those 10 million-dollar linebackers know how to hit you, and they know how to hurt you,” Walsh told me an interview for RG.org. “So you’re just not going to survive.”

A player like Hill is also, from a dollars and cents perspective, not going to be smart to go all in on for NFL teams.

“The economics don’t make sense in that type of quarterback. Now, is that somebody you like as your backup or your number three guy that can give you a change of pace?” Walsh continued. “Cam Newton played best when he was running QB power because that’s just how he played. But, he wasn’t going to be able to do that for an extended period of time; like a 15-year career.”

Quarterback or not, there is no denying the wave of success Hill has recently experienced.

Hill tallied 138 rushing yards on seven carries and 50 receiving yards from eight catches injury the Saints’ 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns.

That wasn’t all he did to earn him the title of FedEx Air and Ground player of the week, though, either.

He also threw a pass for 18 yards and got some special teams action with 42 yards on a kick return. Very few players can put together a three-way performance quite like that.

How he and the Saints continue to build upon the new era they seem to have begun will be something to keep an eye on in a season that could ultimately be much more interesting that it looked like it would be just weeks ago.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Former Saints draft pick spreading his wings with the Eagles

Zack Baun is spreading his wings with the Eagles. It’s hard to call the NFC Defensive Player of the Week a draft bust when the Saints didn’t know how to use him:

Credit where it’s due: Zack Baun is flying high with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former New Orleans Saints draft pick switched teams in free agency, and that decision has paid off. Baun just won recognition as the NFC Defensiive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

Baun was integral to the Eagles’ dismantling of the NFC East-rival Dallas Cowboys; he totaled 8 tackles (3 solo, with a tackle for loss) plus two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in their 34-6 win. So why wasn’t he putting up those kind of numbers in New Orleans?

For one thing, the Saints didn’t have much of a plan in mind when they traded up to draft Baun back in 2020. To move up from No. 88 to No. 74 (and getting back a seventh rounder in the process), the Saints traded their third rounder in 2021, which wound up falling at No. 91. And once they acquired Baun they didn’t know what to do with him. He weighed in at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, which was too light for Dennis Allen to stomach at defensive end, where Baun lined up in college. The coaching staff and scouting department were not in lockstep.

They spent the next few years trying to teach him to drop back in coverage and work in space, but Allen and his coaching staff never developed much confidence in him. After trading up to draft him the Saints picked another  linebacker in both 2021 (Pete Werner, at No. 60) and 2022 (D’Marco  Jackson, at No. 161). He never got a chance in New Orleans, playing almost twice as many snaps on special teams (1,293) as on defense (660) through his 62-game Saints career.

Now the Saints are scrambling for answers at linebacker. Demario Davis isn’t getting younger and the injury bug bit him earlier this year. Pete Werner signed a contract extension this summer but hasn’t proven he can stay on the field either. The Saints already decided Baun couldn’t be part of their solution, but the Eagles have figured out how to get the most out of him. Now we have to wait and see how New Orleans moves next.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Hannah Hidalgo added to another key award watch list

Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo is being watched for a prestigious award.

Notre Dame sophomore guard [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] is on the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Wade Watch List. She’s among 15 players being watched as a potential winner of the oldest, most prestigious player of the year award.

She was a Region I finalist for the 10-member WBCA Division I Coaches All-American team last season. Hidalgo is averaging 23.5 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, and 6 steals per games through two games so far this season.

She had 28 points against the Purdue Boilermakers on Sunday, which lead the Fighting Irish in scoring during their victory.

Hidalgo has already been named an AP Preseason All-American and the Preseason ACC Player of the Year.

If Hidalgo keeps it up, her trophy case could look mighty full when it’s all said and done.

Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo adjusts her headband during an exhibition game against Davenport on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend. Notre Dame won 101-41.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Xavier Watts named as semifinalist for major award

Xavier Watts is one of 20 semifinalists for a major award.

Notre Dame safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] is a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award.

Watts has been one of the best, if not the best, defensive players for the No. 8 Fighting Irish, and now he might get rewarded for it.

The Bednarik award, named after Chuck Bednarik, was founded in 1995 by the Maxwell Football Club and given to the best defensive player in college football.

Watts has 35 tackles — 22 solo — one forced fumble and three interceptions so far this season.

Other semifinalists include Iowa’s Jay Higgins, South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard, and Jahdae Barron and Anthony Hill Jr. from Texas. There are 20 semifinalists overall.

Xavier Watts could be headed for another national award this fall
Oct 19, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts (0) celebrates after an interception against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Gators RB earns Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week nod

Jadan Baugh’s five touchdowns against Kentucky last week earned him some national recognition as one of college football’s top freshman performers.

Florida true freshman running back [autotag]Jadan Baugh[/autotag] was named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week following a five-touchdown performance against Kentucky on Saturday.

Baugh tied a school record with his five scores and added 106 rushing yards in his first SEC start.

“Youth is being served in Gainesville, where the Gators are feeling a sense of optimism entering their bye week,” the Maxwell Football Club press release reads. “Florida hammered visiting Kentucky Saturday, 48-20, using an all-true freshman backfield of Baugh and QB [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag]. Starting for the first time this season in place of injured Montrell Johnson, the 6-1, 227-pound Baugh ran 22 times for 106 yards and five touchdowns. The five scores tied the single-game school record at Florida.”

The Maxwell Football Club supports former Alabama star Shaun Alexander in naming the top college freshman each year. Baugh is the first running back to win the weekly award.

2024 Weekly Freshmen of the Week

  • 10/22/24 – Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
  • 10/15/24 – Ryan Browne, QB, Purdue
  • 10/8/24 – Koi Perich, DB, Minnesota
  • 10/1/24 – Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
  • 9/24/24 – Josiah Trotter, LB, West Virginia
  • 9/17/24 – Eli Holsten, QB, Pittsburgh
  • 9/10/24 – Nick Marsh, WR, Michigan State
  • 9/4/24 – Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina

“The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football. Named after Shaun Alexander since 2018, this award recognizes the exceptional performance and impact made by these players on their respective teams throughout the season.

“The Alexander Award is dedicated to championing future legends and evaluates players based on Talent, Character, Ambassador and Legend”

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard named a Manning Award Star of the Week

Riley Leonard’s performance from Saturday gets recognized.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard has been named a Manning Award Star of the Week for his performance against Stanford.

Leonard completed 16 of 22 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns and ran six times for 31 yards and a touchdown with a long of 18 yards. He had a quarterback rating of 94.6 in the 49-7 win over the Cardinal.

Fans can now vote for the quarterback of the week. Leonard is up against Luke Altmyer from Illinois, Evan Bullock from Louisana Tech, Dillon Gabriel from Oregon, Cade Klubnik from Clemson, Jordan McCloud from Texas State, Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, and E.J. Warner from Rice.

Voting closes at 9 a.m. Central time on Wednesday and you can vote here.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) jumps into the end zone for a touchdown during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Florida’s Austin Barber named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week

Gators left tackle Austin Barber earns the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week award after not allowing a sack and recording a touchdown vs. Mississippi State.

Florida football left tackle Austin Barber was awarded the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after the Gators 45-28 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Week 4.

Barber, a redshirt junior who is in his fourth season with the Gators, was excellent in pass protection, not allowing a sack all game. Barber even recorded a touchdown, jumping on the football after quarterback DJ Lagway fumbled in the end zone.

Barber talked about the touchdown after the game.

“My coach always tells us to chase the ball,” Barber said. “When you see the ball, you get on the ball… So I just saw it on the ground and did my best to get on it as fast as I can.

“I had it (the ball) the whole time. I had it the whole time,” Barber said about having possession of the ball at the bottom of the pile.”

https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1838247201132200281

Pro Football Focus (PFF) uses a grading scale from 0 to 100 and according to PFF, Barber was graded an 85.3 in pass blocking and 63.3 in run blocking.

The whole offensive line played great for Florida and they look to keep up their great play after the bye week.

Up next for the Gators

The Gators will be out of action for Week 5 due to their bye week. Florida’s next opponent will be the UCF Knights on Oct. 5 at 7:15 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

PHOTOS: How each of the NBA trophies looks like

Each year, the National Basketball Association presents several individual and team awards. The most relevant are the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, the Bill Russell Finals MVP award, and the Michael Jordan Award, formerly known as the Maurice Podoloff Award, for the best-performing player of the NBA regular season.

Check out all the NBA awards below:

Sooners’ Kinzie Hansen named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year

Oklahoma softball’s Kenzie Hansen is the new Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12.

Oklahoma Sooners’ softball catcher [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] has been named the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12. The OU Softball account announced the recognition on Wednesday morning via social media.

The graduate senior and three-time national champion has been a leader behind the plate for [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag]’s team. Hansen leads the Sooners with a .415 batting average and has hit eight home runs along with 28 RBIs. She also has six doubles and 14 walks on the season.

Hansen has been a vital part of this four-year run, in the latest installment of the Gasso dynasty. In her time at Oklahoma, she’s hit 57 career home runs, 246 career hits and national championship rings from 2021, 2022 and 2023.

 

Hansen celebrated senior day along with her teammates last week, and the Sooners enter the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 2 seed this week. Oklahoma will face off against either Houston or Kansas on Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.