Tag: BYU

Jets sending big guns to Zach Wilson’s pro day

General manager Joe Douglas is among the Jets’ contingent attending BYU’s pro day to watch Zach Wilson.

Joe Douglas will get his first in-person look at BYU quarterback Zach Wilson on Friday.

Wilson will throw at BYU’s pro day, and Douglas will be in attendance. Jets head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur will be there as well, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Douglas is high on the BYU quarterback, but he’s not finished with his evaluations yet, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

The medical check between April 8-10 in Indianapolis is key, too. Wilson had his throwing shoulder surgically repaired after his freshman season. The Jets will also get the opportunity to interview Wilson over Zoom.

Wilson’s numbers and tape speak for itself, though. He threw for 3,692 yards, 33 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2020 to go along with a 73.5 percent completion percentage.

Wilson’s pro day could go a long way in determining if he is the Jets’ next quarterback. If he wows Douglas, then the Jets could pivot quickly to trading Sam Darnold and drafting Wilson second overall. If Wilson underperforms, the Jets may have to consider keeping Darnold or drafting another quarterback.

Next on Douglas’ watch list is Ohio State’s pro day on Monday, where Justin Fields will get his chance to showcase his skills.

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A BYU player got stuck in an Indianapolis elevator ahead of Cougars’ first-round game

Yikes!

Oh man, this was scary.

But Jesse Wade — a junior guard for the BYU Cougars — is just fine.

Wade got stuck in an elevator somewhere in Indianapolis ahead of BYU’s first-round game in the 2021 men’s NCAA tournament against UCLA on Saturday. But as video from his Twitter account showed, he was freed with the help of his teammates, who celebrated exactly as they should have.

And what’s even better is the Cougars had some fun with the way they lined up for their COVID-19 tests and Wade made reference to the elevator incident, to his teammates’ delight.

Here are the videos:

Yikes. Glad he’s OK!

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Report: Jags among several teams to meet virtually with BYU WR Dax Milne

The Jags have met virtually with Zach Wilson’s favorite target, who could be a late round option in April’s draft.

One of the positions many would agree is a strength of the 2021 NFL Draft is receiver, which is an area the Jacksonville Jaguars could use some help at. While they have D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault Jr., and Collin Johnson all set to return this season, they also have three players set to be free agents in Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole, and Chris Conley.

With that being the case, it wouldn’t be surprising to see their new front office utilize the draft for some mid to late-round prospects at the position, even if they acquire some help at the position in free agency. One target to keep in mind in a scenario where they add a late-round receiver is Brigham Young University’s Dax Milne, who the team has met with this offseason, per Justin Melo of the Draft Network.

Milne is a player who may be familiar to many due to being Zach Wilson’s favorite target in 2020. His 70 catches for 1,188 yards led the Cougars, while his eight touchdowns were the second-highest total for them. When looking at his strengths, draft analysts have raved about his hands and ability to catch in traffic, both of which are traits that could help him tremendously on the NFL level.

If the Jags wanted a developmental receiver, Milne is an enticing pick who could go undrafted, though some view him as a sleeper sixth or seventh-round pick. Even if that’s the case, the team has two seventh-round selections (No. 193 and No. 214) in April’s draft that could be used on the productive late-rounder who is looking to join his quarterback as an NFL player.

Texas Baseball: Horns win game two of BYU series

The Texas Longhorns baseball team followed up their game one defeat over BYU by stealing game two and taking the series to 2-0.

After defeating BYU in game one of the three game series on Wednesday, the Longhorns also stole game two from the Cougars on Thursday by a score of 12-6. Continue reading “Texas Baseball: Horns win game two of BYU series”

Philadelphia Eagles to attend Trevor Lawrence’s Pro Day

The Eagles are reportedly one of seven teams that will be in attendance at Clemson All American quarterback, Trevor Lawrence’s Pro Day on Friday.

Crazy things happen during the NFL draft and although Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is expected to go No. 1 overall to Jacksonville, the Eagles are doing their due diligence on the All-American.

Sports Illustrated is reporting that only seven teams will scouts in attendance at Lawrence’s upcoming Pro Day workout on Friday, and the Eagles will be one of them in addition to the Jaguars, Jets, Dolphins, Falcons, Broncos, and Panthers.

The expected No. 1 pick will be working off a 50-throw script that will show his ability to play under center and off play-action, and emphasize his pocket movement and proficiency throwing on the move, from screen passes to deep shots. Lawrence hasn’t had the run-up that most quarterbacks do ahead of a pro day, because of the timing of all this, but he and Lawrence did get in two weeks of work in Orange County, and had a dry run Wednesday in South Carolina.

And while the Jaguars are probably the only team that needs to be in attendance—I’m told that new Jacksonville coach Urban Meyer is credentialed for the event and is expected to be there—at least seven of the teams picking in the top 10 are slated to show up. The Jets, Dolphins, Falcons, Eagles, Broncos and Panthers will have scouts on the ground, too. One of those teams told me they felt like they had to be there, just to get the chance to see Lawrence throw and value him, just in case. (Yeah, I know.)

All 32 NFL teams will certainly be intrigued and with several news outlets television or streaming the workout, personnel will have eyes on the once-in-a-generation quarterback.

The Eagles sending personnel to the workout in person at Clemson would show that they are contemplating taking at quarterback at No. 6 overall and if they do up-close work on Lawrence, we can expect that they’ll also be in attendance for Justin Fields at Ohio State or Zach Wilson at BYU.

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Jags Wire 2021 NFL mock draft: Post-Super Bowl LV edition

With Super Bowl LV over, the Jags are now on the clock and Trevon Moehrig is an option they should consider after the No. 1 overall pick.

The 2020 NFL season is officially over as the Tampa Bay Bucs became Super Bowl champions this past Sunday. That means the Jacksonville Jaguars are officially on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick.

After going 1-15, there clearly will need to be a significant addition of talent to the roster if new coach Urban Meyer wants to put together respectable results out of the gate. Of course, they will be able to add several veterans in March through free agency, but long-term answers could come from April’s draft.

With draft season officially starting late Sunday night, now is as good a time as any for our first 2021 NFL mock draft for the Jags. With the help of Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, here’s a look at a full seven-round mock we completed for the Jags:

Falcons draft Zach Wilson over Justin Fields in ESPN’s new mock

In ESPN’s new mock draft, Todd McShay suggests moving back as an option for the Falcons, but points out that there are plenty of needs, including quarterback.

Now that the Atlanta Falcons have locked up the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the mocks have officially begun to pour in. After a college football season that was either cancelled or shortened for most schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s more uncertainty than normal surrounding this year’s draft class.

In ESPN’s new mock draft, Todd McShay acknowledges that the Falcons have plenty of needs and thus, different directions they could go in the first round, including quarterback.

The Falcons will need to address running back, parts of the offensive line and the secondary this offseason, so moving back and acquiring some extra picks might be the smart call. However, quarterback Matt Ryan will be 36 years old when next season kicks off, and his contract allows an out after 2022. The chance to draft an heir this high isn’t a guarantee in future years, so could Atlanta make the move here and now?

So which quarterback does McShay predict to eventually take the mantle from Matt Ryan? With the team’s fourth-overall pick in ESPN’s mock, Atlanta passes on Ohio State QB Justin Fields in favor of BYU’s Zach Wilson. McShay says it’s one of the toughest calls in this draft.

The decision between Wilson and Justin Fields would be close. It’s perhaps the toughest player vs. player debate in the class right now, at least for me. They both compete so well. But I’m going with Wilson’s toughness in the pocket and deep-ball prowess, giving the Falcons a signal-caller of the future.

There’s not much differentiating these two sure-fire first-round quarterbacks, but Fields has a chance to cement his status above Wilson when Ohio State faces off against Alabama on Monday.

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Watch: Top-3 QB prospect thinks he’d fit well with Panthers, Joe Brady offense

One of them is Zach Wilson from BYU, who thinks he would be a good fit in Joe Brady’s offense.

Teddy Bridgewater is a great guy by all accounts. Sadly, he underperformed in 2020 and the Carolina Panthers should be in the market for a new potential franchise quarterback this year.

The best place to find him will be in the draft, where there are four high-end prospects who could fill that role. One of them is Zach Wilson from BYU, who thinks he would be a good fit in Joe Brady’s offense. Watch (6:08).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=349&v=fKHX7aFBMVc&feature=youtu.be

Of course, there’s no guarantee Brady will be back with the Panthers next season. He’s interviewing with the Falcons, Texans and Chargers for their open head coach positions.

Wilson might also be out of reach, as there are a few other teams who also need a new QB that are picking ahead of Carolina.

The Jaguars and Jets will likely be selecting Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields with the top two picks in the draft. Wilson is the next-best quarterback in this year’s class. There’s a chance Atlanta takes him, banking on Wilson to replace the 35-year old Matt Ryan. Detroit is in a similar situation with Matt Stafford, who is 32.

Stafford and Ryan are both still pretty good at what they do, though. If the Falcons and Lions pass on Wilson he could land in the Panthers’ lap. If he doesn’t, Trey Lance of North Dakota State is also worth considering.

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BYU QB Zach Wilson thinks he’d fit in well with 49ers

BYU quarterback Zach Wilson mentioned the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan when asked what teams he thinks he’d fit with.

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The 49ers could very likely be in the market for a quarterback when the NFL draft rolls around in April. If they opt to address the position in the first round, BYU’s Zach Wilson could be a player they target at either the No. 12 pick or via a trade up.

Wilson spoke with BYU Sports Nation and mentioned the 49ers when asked about teams he thought he might fit with.

“I haven’t watched a ton of specifics with NFL teams as far as what offense they run. One just off the top of my head is the 49ers just because I’m very familiar with what Kyle Shanahan does and the system that they have in place and I think I’d fit in well there.”

While this doesn’t necessarily tie Wilson to the 49ers since the pre-draft process hasn’t started, it’s interesting that San Francisco and Shanahan were the first club to pop into his head. Given other quarterbacks’ success in his offense though it’s not a huge surprise that Wilson might like to start his NFL career in that system.

Wilson, a 6-3, 210-pound junior, showed good mobility and a big arm this year for the Cougars en route to the best year of his college career. He completed 73.4 percent of his throws for 3,699 yards, averaged 11.0 yards per attempt, and threw 33 touchdowns to just three interceptions.

The 49ers weren’t the only team that came to mind for Wilson though. He also mentioned the Panthers and their offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

Brady prior to this season was the offensive coordinator at LSU for Joe Burrow’s monster final season. Burrow and Wilson share an agent, and Wilson said because of that he’s studied a lot of Burrow’s tape in Brady’s offense.

However, Wilson told BYUSN that he’s not banking on going to any one or two teams.

“At that level you can make it work with any team you go with,” Wilson said. “I think there’s a lot of amazing coaches at any team you end up with.”

It remains to be seen where Wilson will land in what could be a loaded group of quarterbacks in this year’s draft class. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence figures to be the No. 1 overall pick. After that things get murky between Wilson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, Florida’s Kyle Trask and possibly Alabama’s Mac Jones who hasn’t yet declared.

We probably won’t know of the 49ers’ plans on Day 1 of the draft until they’re slated to pick. If they weren’t planning on taking a quarterback early, that could easily change if Wilson drops into their range at the No. 12 pick and they agree with the QB that he’s a good fit for their offense.

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Philadelphia Eagles land on a list of 5-teams that should trade up for a QB in the 2021 NFL Draft

Pro Football Focus believes the Philadelphia Eagles should trade up for a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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The Philadelphia Eagles have several pressing needs on their roster and the NFL Draft will be a prime opportunity to add playmakers to the roster.

One scenario that’s starting to pick up steam is the idea that the Eagles and more specifically, Howie Roseman, would consider trading up or targeting a quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick.

Pro Football Focus recently listed 5-teams who should make the jump and Philadelphia landed high on the list.

PICK NO. 6: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
What it Would Take
Eagles get picks: 4, 105

Eagles give picks: 6, 37, 148 + 2022 5th

If the Eagles are objectively evaluating what Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts did this season without rose-colored glasses on, it makes very little sense to go anywhere other than quarterback. The only way I could see otherwise is if the Eagles completely strip down their aging roster and hit reset. Even then, this quarterback class could be too much to pass up.

With reports that Wentz wants out after he was the fifth-lowest-graded passer among starters in the NFL this season, his uncuttable contract looks like one of the worst in the league. The worrisome thing is that for as much as the Eagles’ offense looked better with Hurts because of his legs, his passing grade was actually lower than Wentz’s. It will take a massive improvement from either will to put them close to competing in 2021.

You may be asking, “Why would the Eagles trade up if the Falcons and Bengals won’t take quarterbacks in front of them?” The answer is that there are four other teams on this list. If you look at the difference in compensation between what the Eagles have to give up and what the Broncos — who sit at No. 9 — can offer, you’ll see their Week 17 loss to the Football Team wasn’t inconsequential.

Still, the Eagles could likely stand pat and still get QB4 in this draft class, and that might be OK with them. That will likely be North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, who is a similar runner to Hurts and wouldn’t require a playbook change.

Quarterback is the most important position on the field, but the Eagles have greater needs on the roster and it’s hard to fathom the response from fans if Philadelphia takes a shot on a signal-caller, with Ja’Marr Chase, Patrick Surtain II, or DeVonta Smith all sitting on the board.

Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Zach Wilson figure to be selected in the first four picks, leaving Trey Lance as Philadelphia’s only option in such a scenario.

The optics of trading away one former North Dakota State star quarterback for the opportunity to draft the latest Bison’s star would prove polarizing for sports talk on radio stations around the city, but it’s not something Howie Roseman is likely to do.

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