Tag: brian urlacher

Twitter reaction to Kennedy Urlacher committing to Notre Dame

Make anyone else feel old?

Notre Dame recruiting has been as hot as two rats…you know what, let’s pass on making an analogy about how hot the Irish have been on the recruiting trail.  Instead, just know that they’ve been red-hot and continue to be.

The latest commitment came from three-star safety [autotag]Kennedy Urlacher[/autotag] out of Chandler, Ariz.  Urlacher chose the Irish over Miami, Penn State, TCU, Illinois, and Kansas State.

As always is the case, college football fans took to Twitter to react to the news of the commitment.  It just so happens that a good amount of these fans are either Chicago Bears fans or NFL fans because their reactions were largely what you would expect many of them to be.

[lawrence-related id=72141,72140,72124,72122]

Notre Dame football: Kennedy Urlacher commitment announcement Monday night

Will it be another son of a Pro Football Hall of Famer soon heading to South Bend?

Over the weekend Notre Dame added a commitment from the son of a Pro Football Hall of Fame member when [autotag]Bryce Young[/autotag], the son of Notre Dame and San Francisco 49ers great [autotag]Bryant Young[/autotag], committed to the Irish.

Two days later [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] and company could add another commitment from … well, the son of a Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

[autotag]Urlacher[/autotag], a 6-foot-1 safety out of Chandler, Arizona, is set to announce his college choice at 6 p.m. ET Monday night.  Notre Dame is one of six finalists for the talented safety and, yes, the son of the Chicago Bears linebacking great.

[autotag]Urlacher[/autotag] recently told Irish Breakdown of Notre Dame:

 “Notre Dame brings a great education. I have built really good relationships with the coaches as well. My family and I had a great time on campus a couple of weeks ago.”

Urlacher is a three-star prospect by all of the major recruiting outlets, and he has been heavily pursued by the Notre Dame staff for some time. He was recently on Notre Dame’s campus for the spring game.

The finalists for his commitment aside from Notre Dame are Miami, Penn State, TCU, Kansas State and Illinois.

[lawrence-related id=72122,72096,71017,70612]

Changing of the guard in Green Bay: Can the Bears finally take advantage?

The Bears failed to capitalize the last time Green Bay moved on from their franchise QB. Here is why things could be different this time.

The Aaron Rodgers era is officially over for the Green Bay Packers as he’s finally heading east to the New York Jets in a trade that’s been in the works for weeks.

On Monday, it was announced Rodgers would be traded to the Jets involving a bevy of draft picks, giving the 39-year-old quarterback a new home after a period of uncertainty in Green Bay. With Rodgers’ departure comes the end of a dominant division run by the Packers in the NFC North for the last 15 or so years.

Since Rodgers became the full-time starter in Green Bay, the Packers have won the NFC North eight times and made the postseason as a wild card team another three times with varying degrees of playoff success. They also handled the Bears with ease, going 26-5 in the regular season and 1-0 in the postseason. But now with Rodgers gone and Jordan Love taking over, the rivalry is back to a level playing field with the future of the division potentially up for grabs as well.

It’s been 15 years since we’ve seen a changing of the guard in Green Bay, coming back in 2008 when Rodgers took over for Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. Even with a roster that was one overtime away from going to Super Bowl XLII, the Packers were in a similar transition period that next season and after a couple of up-and-down years, they defied the odds with Rodgers eclipsing Favre’s greatness.

Back then, the Bears couldn’t take full advantage of the small opening as Rodgers settled in. Even winning the NFC North in the 2010 season couldn’t stop him and the Packers as they defeated the Bears in the playoffs as a wild card team on their way to winning Super Bowl XLV.

This time, however, the Bears are more equipped to compete in the revamped NFC North for the foreseeable future thanks to an ascending quarterback, a young roster, and a front office that is getting players to buy into the process.

Notre Dame visit on tap for son of NFL legend

Will he end up in blue and gold?

We’re a long way from 2024 safety Kennedy Urlacher making his college decision but as it sits right now Notre Dame has to at least like their standing.  The Chandler, Arizona product is set to make his first visit South Bend this weekend.

Urlacher, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher, clearly thinks highly of Notre Dame.  He recently told Irish Breakdown:

“I expect Notre Dame to be one of my top schools for sure, and I’m excited to see all the coaches and facilities, I think I fit well into the Notre Dame program and that the relationships I’ve made with coaches over there have been great so far.”

Urlacher is listed at 6-1, 180-pounds.  He also told Irish Breakdown that he’s made visits already to Kansas, Kansas State, and Miami and that he also plans on visiting TCU.  He is listed as having 19 offers on 247Sports and is ranked as a three-star prospect.

[lawrence-related id=71017,70612]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz1mmy7gev0xbr player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

10 best first round picks in Chicago Bears history

Here’s a look at the 10 best first-round picks by the Bears in franchise history, a list that includes all Hall of Famers.

The Chicago Bears have had some memorable — and Hall of Fame — first-round picks during their storied 102-year history, with linebacker Brian Urlacher being the most recent.

Chicago hasn’t had much success in the first round in recent history — whether it was during the Jerry Angelo, Phil Emery or Ryan Pace eras. The hope is that changes with quarterback Justin Fields, who was the team’s last first-round pick in 2021.

After not having a first-round selection in three of the last four years, the Bears will pick in the top 10 in the 2023 NFL draft. They traded the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers for two first-round picks, two second-round selections and wide receiver DJ Moore.

But Chicago does have the No. 9 pick — which will be Ryan Poles’ first-ever first-round selection — something that worked out well for the franchise back in 2000.

Here’s a look at the 10 best first-round picks by the Bears in team history, a list that includes all Hall of Famers:

Every NFL team’s best pick using Round 1 order from 2023 draft

Take a look at every NFL team’s historically best pick at the positioning of the Round 1 order in the 2023 draft.

Ever wondered what every NFL team’s best pick was at a certain numerical slot?

The Carolina Panthers are picking No. 1 overall. No doubt Cam Newton comes to mind. Is he the best ever No. 1 overall pick the Panthers have ever had?

Who is the best No. 2 overall pick for the Houston Texans? Et cetera and so on.

Some teams won’t exactly be on the list, like the San Francisco 49ers, as they don’t have any first-round picks as of the publication of this list.

Don’t forget that the Miami Dolphins would have been picking No. 21 overall, but that was forfeited as part of their punishment from the NFL for tampering. So not only are they out, but they alter the draft history a bit at No. 21.

Here is a list of every team’s historically best pick at its 2023 draft positioning in the first round.

Chandler three-star safety Kennedy Urlacher to visit Notre Dame

Kennedy is a three-star safety who has managed to garner 16 offers already.

Kennedy Urlacher has an official visit set for Notre Dame this offseason, according to a report by Adam Gorney at Rivals.

Urlacher is the son of former Chicago Bears linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher.

As for Kennedy (6-foot-0, 185 pounds), he plays safety at Chandler (Ariz.), where he’s a three-star Junior who has managed to garner 16 offers already.

According to On3, that list includes Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado State, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Miami, Nebraska, New Mexico, Northern Arizona, Notre Dame, Penn State, Washington, Wisconsin and UNLV. Urlacher is apparently enjoying all the attention, telling Drew Schott at On3 that it’s “exciting to feel wanted.”

As you might expect if you watched his father’s career, Urlacher is billed as a physical defender and sure tackler. Rivals ranks him No. 27 at his position and No. 10 overall in Arizona. He has no national ranking as of yet.

More football stories

65 schools have offered this Alabama RB recruit

4-star Texas Athlete commits to Nebraska football

Exclusive offer for USA TODAY High School Sports readers:

$3 Off First Month of New NFHS Network Subscription with Code: USATODAY3

Friday Night Notes: National Signing Day watch, the latest commitments and more

A look at the latest recruiting news as National Signing Day awaits on Wednesday, February 1.

USA TODAY High School Sports‘ Friday Night Notes is a weekly high school recruiting recap that looks at the latest news from around the country—from the Class of 2023 to ’24 and beyond.

National Signing Day comes on Wednesday, February 1 – a major landmark for recruits in the class of 2023 to sign with their intended schools.

That means there are some big names that we will be watching over the next several days to see where they land. Here are the top-five remaining unsigned players in this recruiting cycle and where they might end up.

Archbishop Carroll (DC) Athlete Nyckoles Harbor

The best player who has yet to make a college decision is Harbor, who may be the most versatile prospect in the entire class. Harbor (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) plays edge and wide receiver and returns kickoffs, as well. He’s a hot candidate with 42 offers overall. Maryland, Michigan, Oregon and South Carolina are in the lead to get him to sign.

Pinnacle (Ariz.) Tight end Duce Robinson

Robinson (6-foot-6, 225 pounds) is the No. 1 tight end in the country and ranks No. 17 overall. 28 teams have made Robinson an offer. His most recent official visit was to Texas and Oregon is getting some late buzz, but right now Georgia appears to be the clear favorite.

Pittsburg (Calif.) Quarterback Jaden Rashada

After flipping from Miami to Florida and then getting released from his letter of intent, Rashada (6-foot-4, 175 pounds) is the biggest wild card left in the deck. He’s ranked No. 7 among quarterbacks in his class and is getting a ton of attention – including from several new schools. According to On3, TCU, Arizona State, Washington, California, South Carolina, Utah and Nebraska are now also in the mix for Rashada.

Junipero Serra (Calif.) Cornerback Rodrick Pleasant

Pleasant (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) is one of the top-10 cornerbacks in his class and is ranked No. 7 overall in California. 30 programs have extended offers to Pleasant, with Boston College, California, Oregon, UCLA and USC in the lead, per 247Sports.

Folsom (Calif.) Tight end Walker Lyons

Lyons (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) is the fifth-best tight end in the class of 2023, according to the composite rankings. He has offers from 33 schools; Georgia, BYU, USC, Utah and Stanford are all considered to be in the running.

Notre Dame football offers NFL Hall of Famer’s son

Will he have a similar career path as his father?

The [autotag]Notre Dame[/autotag] football staff loves offering players with [autotag]NFL[/autotag] bloodlines and this recent offer sure has the flavor. Head coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] has a previous relationship for [autotag]NFL Hall of Fame[/autotag] linebacker [autotag]Brian Urlacher[/autotag]. They were teammates in 2009, both of them in the same position group playing for the Chicago Bears.

The familiarity with the family has led the Irish to offer a scholarship to [autotag]Kennedy Urlacher[/autotag], Brian’s son. The younger Urlacher doesn’t play the same position as his father, Kennedy is a safety, which is the same spot his dad played with at [autotag]New Mexico[/autotag] before a transition to linebacker with the Bears.

The offer from Notre Dame isn’t Kenney’s first Power-5 offer but you can argue that it is his biggest up-to-date.

[listicle id=68300]

[lawrence-related id=68266]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz1mmy7gev0xbr player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

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

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

Celebrities dish on why they love golf, LPGA Tournament of Champions nerves and lessons learned from the best women in the world

“Again, that’s what I think everybody loves about this game. It brings out a different type of nerve.”

ORLANDO — The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions awards LPGA players who have hoisted trophies over the past two seasons. But it’s also billed as the biggest party on tour, with 56 celebrities playing alongside 29 LPGA pros. There’s a DJ next to the 18th green in the mega hospitality build, and nightly concerts are held in the shadow of the official player hotel.

This year there were 14 newcomers to the celebrity field, which features a blend of professional athletes and entertainers. Notables include past champions Mardy Fish (2021), Derek Lowe (2022) and John Smoltz (2019, 2020).

Here’s what some had to say about why they love this game, dealing with pressure and what they learn from the LPGA’s best: