Tag: BYU

Notre Dame jockeying for CFP position with Ohio State says ESPN experts

A solid road win against Boston College, a few of ESPN’s experts moved Notre Dame up one spot in their College Football Playoffs projections.

Notre Dame went on the road and defeated a very solid Boston College team yesterday afternoon, 45-31. It was enough for some of ESPN’s set of college football analysts to move the Irish up a spot, although their projected opponent, Ohio State, remains the same.

A total of six of their 13 analysts had the Irish second, the rest had Notre Dame as their 3rd team into the final four. Virtually everyone had Clemson as their 4th team, but Bill Connelly had the Cincinnati Bearcats. Their graphic says they have 14 analysts, but only list 13, the omitted one must have BYU in.

It’s nice to see that the Irish are gaining some respect among the pundits, as this year the look test will be much more important than in years past. The hope is that even with a bye week, the Irish are still in everyone’s minds.

The Irish have three games remaining, at North Carolina, hosting Syracuse and finishing the season at Wake Forest. Except the Irish to be favored in each of their last three contests.

Notre Dame out of Kirk Herbstreit’s top four

Notre Dame isn’t in Herbstreit’s top four teams as Clemson Week begins. Oddly enough, Clemson is ranked down a bit as well.

Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN releases his very own top four teams nationally each weekend after the games conclude.

Herbstreit didn’t release his latest top four until after noon on Sunday and with the Big Ten getting going the last couple of weeks, the former Ohio State quarterback no longer has Notre Dame ranked in his top four.

Instead, a team who has already suffered a loss takes the fourth spot despite a rather unimpressive win on Saturday.

So Herbstreit doesn’t only have Notre Dame not in his top four like both major polls do, but he also has Clemson rated third instead of first like both polls also do.

One loss Georgia then takes the fourth spot before the slight tip of the cap to both Notre Dame and BYU.

It’s easy to get upset and say Notre Dame is getting disrespected by this and I’m sure some will let it bother them.  But if Notre Dame takes care of business on the big stage Saturday, something they’ve failed to do so many times in recent memory, then we’ll all look back and laugh at this and plenty of other predictions and statements that were made ahead of the showdown.

Everything to know about NBA G League pre-draft evaluation process

Rookie Wire obtained every detail possible about the NBA G League pre-draft evaluation process, including all of the known invitations sent.

Rookie Wire obtained every detail possible about the NBA G League pre-draft evaluation process, including all of the known invitations sent.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many draft-eligible prospects not invited to the NBA combine have had trouble getting all of their information to team-decision makers in advance of the 2020 NBA Draft. To combat this, the NBA G League is offering a greater opportunity to be evaluated by team decision-makers.

This information included below was shared with USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire on the condition of anonymity because the person who shared the details was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

While the G League Elite Camp was canceled this year, a “select number” of participants were given the chance to share virtual evaluations through both shooting drills and an NBA pro day.

Prospects who agreed to participate will use HomeCourt, a mobile basketball training application, to record on-court workouts. The results will be shared with NBA team staffers through the app.

Players were encouraged to have two staffers with them in the gym to assist with the process. The coaches and trainers were required to wear a face mask and gloves during the workout.

NBA Evaluation: 8 Shooting Drills (based on previous editions of the Draft Combine)

  • Warm-Up/free-throws (50 shots)
  • Spot-Up shooting (50 shots)
  • Shooting off dribble/pull-up jumpers (30 shots)
  • Mid-Range/off the catch (20 shots)
  • 3-point drill /3-pointers off the catch (20 shots)
  • Side-mid-side/3-point jumpers on the move (2 minutes)
  • 3-point endurance/catch-and-shoot at game speed (5 minutes)
  • Cool down/free-throws (50 shots)

Each shooting drill can be completed a max of three times. Only the best score is uploaded into the NBA Player Evaluation platform for all NBA teams to access the data and video.

This is how the results look, as obtained by Babcock Hoops’ Derek Murray:

NBA Pro Day: 45-Minute Open Workout

  • This workout allows the draft prospect to share the unique
    aspects of his game through a 45-minute open workout.
  • Players are prohibited from partaking in live competition against any other draft-eligible and/or other players, including: informal scrimmages, pick-up games (e.g., 2-on-2), defensive drills (e.g., pick-and-roll coverage, post defense, etc.), offensive drills (e.g., Pick-and-Roll / Pop situations)
  • Pro Day must be a half-court workout.
  • Pro Day is an open workout for up to 45 minutes. If a player does NOT use the full 45 minutes, that is OK.
  • Must be completed on the same date as shooting drills. The player is allowed a 10-minute break in between.

KNOWN INVITATIONS

USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire was able to obtain a list of prospects invited to participate in this process. Note that others may have been included as well, though these were the names we can confirm at this time. 

Tres Tinkle, Oregon State

Malik Fitts, Saint Mary’s

Trevelin Queen, New Mexico State

Freddie Gillespie, Baylor

Jordan Ford, Saint Mary’s

Rayshaun Hammonds, Georgia

Jon Teske, Michigan

Emmitt Williams, LSU

Anthony Lamb, Vermont

Austin Wiley, Auburn

Isiaha Mike, SMU

Nate Darling, Delaware

Kamar Baldwin, Butler

Caleb Homesley, Liberty

Anthony Cowan, Maryland

Dwayne Sutton, Louisville

Steven Enoch, Louisville

Osasumwen Osaghae, Florida International

Kylor Kelley, Oregon State

John Mooney, Notre Dame

Xavier Sneed, Kansas State

EJ Montgomery, Kentucky

Quinton Rose, Temple

Jordan Bowden, Tennessee

Jake Toolson, BYU

Samir Doughty, Auburn

Terry Armstrong, South East Melbourne

Eli Pemberton, Hofstra

Kouat Noi, Cairns

Sacar Anim, Marquette

Jeff Dowtin, Rhode Island

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Tanking a no-go? Why BYU QB Zach Wilson might fit the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings might not be bad enough to land quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields in the draft. If that’s the case, BYU QB Zach Wilson works.

Regardless of opinions on Kirk Cousins, it’s becoming a common theme within the Vikings fan base to want the team to take Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Though both players have franchise-changing abilities, they will likely be selected in the top five. 

The Vikings have struggled out of the gate and sit in last place in the NFC North. Minnesota’s 1-5 record currently has it slated to get the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. If they landed a top three pick and had the option to select one of the two quarterbacks above, it would likely be a no-brainer. 

However, Vikings fans know that there are players and coaches that may be fighting for their jobs. Tanking isn’t really an option in the NFL and there’s still a legitimate chance the Vikings string together a few wins. 

If that’s the case, Zach Wilson out of BYU could be an option for the Vikings in the upcoming draft. 

Wilson has started to rise up big boards due to his performance this season and it’s likely going to continue given BYU’s easy schedule. Through his first six games of 2020 Wilson is completing 78.3 percent of his passes for 1,928 yards and 16 touchdowns. His BYU team is 6-0 and ranked 11th in the country. 

There will be people that criticize his strength of schedule, but that should also affect Trey Lance who only played one game this year against Central Arkansas and plays in the FCS. If BYU wins out, they will likely land a bowl game against another ranked opponent. 

Statistically speaking, Wilson has been an elite quarterback through his first six games this year. He is making throws that have drawn some comparisons to what Patrick Mahomes is doing in Kansas City. 

Wilson is the type of player that the Vikings need given Kirk Cousins’ contract. It’s unlikely that Cousins isn’t in Minnesota next year so why not do exactly what the Chiefs did with Mahomes and let Wilson learn the system behind a veteran quarterback?

The Vikings have lacked excitement at the quarterback position over the last decade. It has been a rollercoaster ride since Brett Favre’s miraculous season and it’s time to get a young gunslinger with mobility on the roster.

Badgers face a Big 12 foe in new USA TODAY bowl projections

After a 45-7 blowout victory of the Illinois Fighting Illini and an outstanding game from quarterback Graham Mertz, Wisconsin is on the m…

After a 45-7 blowout victory of the Illinois Fighting Illini and an outstanding game from quarterback Graham Mertz, Wisconsin is on the move upwards in both polls, moving from 14th to 11th in the Coaches Amway Poll and from 14th to ninth in the AP Poll.

The upward movement of Wisconsin in the rankings has to lead to an updated bowl projection by USA Today from the Fiesta Bowl against the tenth-ranked BYU Cougars of last week’s predictions to facing the fifth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Cotton Bowl. The projected College Football Playoff teams are Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, and Oregon.

Wisconsin won the only other Cotton Bowl it has played in a 24-16 victory against the Western Michigan Broncos in 2017.

Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) celebrates with the trophy after defeating Western Michigan Broncos 24-16 at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Cotton Bowl is the biggest Non-College Football Playoff Bowl game this season, and a projection for Wisconsin to be in it indicates that USA TODAY expects the Badgers to finish as the fifth or sixth-ranked team in the country. If the Badgers make the Cotton Bowl, it would be their second consecutive season just outside the reach of the College Football Playoff.

These are very high expectations, especially with the news reported today of Graham Mertz’s second positive test for COVID-19 that means he will enter the Big Ten protocol for at least the next 21 days. On Monday, it was also reported that backup quarterback Chase Wolf has tested positive for COVID-19 as well, which could leave Danny Vanden Boom as the starter for the next three games against Nebraska, Purdue, and Michigan.

As the situation with Wisconsin Football continues to develop, the extremely high projection for the Badgers will likely change. Stay tuned to Badgerswire for continued updates.

 

Kirk Herbstreit Updates Top 4 – Hello Notre Dame

Kirk Herbstreit updated his top four teams this weekend and Notre Dame has made it’s first appearance on the list this season.

Saturday was viewed by some as the first “Separation Saturday” of the fall as a top ten matchup between Clemson and Miami had a huge fallout in regards to the national perception of both.

After the Clemson destruction of the Hurricanes, the perception is that Clemson appears about as good as ever and Miami still has a lot of work to do before they’re a real College Football Playoff contender.

Kirk Herbstreit has been releasing his top four teams all season long (as long as said teams have played to date) and each week offers two who are close to joining that top four.

This week’s rankings went as follows:

  1. Clemson
  2. Georgia
  3. Alabama
  4. Notre Dame

Herbstreit also offered both North Carolina and BYU as his “Next 2” for the week.

It’s the first appearance Notre Dame has made in the top four for Herbstreit this season and speaks to how highly the Fighting Irish are being viewed not just in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY or the AP Top 25.

With Alabama and Georgia meeting next week in Tuscaloosa there is a great chance that the Irish will bump up another spot in a matter of days.

It all sets up for huge games down the road for Notre Dame who is set to host Clemson on November 7 and travel to North Carolina the day after Thanksgiving.

Irish included in ESPN CFP Projection, barely

After week 5’s action, ESPN has updated their College Football Playoff projections, with the Irish getting a little love.

It’s finally back to a game week and this weekend can’t come soon enough. A whole lot has happened since the Irish shutout South Florida, the SEC race is becoming clearer. The perceived Big XII College Football Playoff contenders Oklahoma and Texas each lost this weekend, for the Sooners that’s two losses in a row.

While the Irish watched the rest of the college football world start to take shape in this ever odd season, it seems like an out of sight, out of mind situation with ESPN’s latest CFP projections. Only one of their 14 experts has Notre Dame in the final four, Ivan Maisel.

Alabama and Clemson were unanimously picked, while Ohio State was close with 13 of the 14. Georgia and Florida received seven and five votes respectively, with BYU also getting a vote.

Both the Bulldogs and Gators won’t have easy roads in the SEC, although if Florida wins their head-to-head matchup, they could be undefeated going into the SEC title game. The Big XII most likely not having a team worthy enough of a playoff selection, and probably the same out west in the Pac-12, the Irish have a prime opportunity.

The schedule still has Clemson as the biggest challenge, but the Irish should be favored in every other contest. The opportunity is there to make an impression. With the Irish facing Florida State in South Bend this weekend, a convincing win should get Brian Kelly’s squad at the front of their minds.

BYU at Navy: Prospect preview and betting breakdown

BYU at Navy: Prospect preview and betting breakdown

We lost another one as Texas State appears to have made some drastic improvements from last season, but we are onto our Labor Day contest with the BYU Cougars and the Navy Midshipmen facing off. We’ll try to nail this nonconference matchup with another breakdown of the best prospects and a breakdown of the betting odds.

Top Prospects:

Matt Bushman, TE, BYU, 6-5, 240 pounds, Sr.: Unfortunately we will not get to see Bushman play as he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last week, but he is still a prospect to remember. He is one of the best tight ends in the school’s history with three years of starting experience under his belt. Bushman would have been an early draft pick had he decided to declare last year. He was on track to demolish multiple school records before the injury, but his impressive career stat line of 125 receptions for 1,719 yards and nine touchdowns should warrant attention.

Brady Christensen, OT, BYU, 6-6, 300 pounds, Jr.: Only a junior and unlikely to declare, but Christensen is an excellent tackle who is a dark-horse Outland Trophy candidate. He’s already got an impressive 26 starts under his belt.

Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU, 6-4, 321 pounds, Sr.: A playmaker at nose tackle for the Cougars, Tonga is a physical run-stuffer that will have plenty of opportunities to shine against a triple-option attack. He was another player that would have gotten some early-round attention has he declared, but if he wants to see his stock soar, his effectiveness as a pass rusher must show.

Betting Line: BYU -1.5 Navy

This was a much harder bet to make with Bushman being out, but that’s also why the line is so low. Even with the Bushman injury, this offense has a competitive experienced quarterback and an extremely impressive offensive line that has a ton of experience as well. This is a team that can be explosive and move the ball.

Navy should be coming back down to reality after completing one of the most impressive turnarounds in college football history going from 3-10 in 2018 to 10-2 in 2019, but the biggest reason for that turnaround was Malcolm Perry. Perry is gone now and he was one of the best ever to run that offense. The drop off from him is unknown, but I would be willing to bet its fairly dramatic. Prediction: BYU -1.5

BYU vs Navy: How to watch, odds and game picks

BYU and Navy are set to kick off on Monday night. Here are the latest odds, how to watch and game picks from the Longhorns Wire staff.

The first week of college football games at the FBS level wraps up on Monday night. This time Brigham Young University is set to face off against the Navy Midshipmen. BYU finished 2019 going 7-6 after losing to Hawaii by four in the Hawaii Bowl. This year with so many cancellations, the Cougars had to rebuild their entire schedule. It starts on Monday night with Navy.

Navy comes into 2020 after finishing ranked in the top 20 in 2019. They ended with a 11-2 record defeating Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl. They run a unique offense. Unique in the sense that they don’t throw it around much. They attack teams with the triple-option. So if you believe that running the football is your style, do we have a football game for you.

Game picks against the spread

BYU (-1) vs Navy BYU vs Navy Overall Record Overall Record ATS
Patrick Navy Navy 4-2 2-4
Griffin Navy Navy 5-1 5-1
Cami Navy Navy 5-1 3-3

How to watch Brigham Young vs Navy

Game Time: 7:00 pm CST

Network: ESPN

Stream: Watch ESPN App

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Ravens sign RB Ty’Son Williams

With a few of their other running backs banged up throughout training camp, the Baltimore Ravens signed former BYU RB Ty’Son Williams

Though the Baltimore Ravens are in pretty good health and should have everyone back at practice next week, a little extra depth never hurt anyone. According to the transactions list, the Ravens have signed undrafted free agent running back Ty’Son Williams.

The move comes with running backs Justice Hill and Kenjon Barner a little banged up and missing some practices this week. Though it’s unlikely Williams can even make Baltimore’s 53-man roster at this point, adding him to the 80-man roster will allow the Ravens to limit reps for their primary running backs ahead of the regular season. Williams will also have a chance to prove he’s worth keeping around on the practice squad or draw enough praise to get a shot on another team.

Williams bounced around in college, playing for North Carolina, South Carolina, and eventually finishing at BYU. He was on a good pace in 2019, rushing for 264 yards and three touchdowns on 49 carries before a torn ACL ended his season prematurely. Over his four years in college, Williams carried the ball 233 times for 1,120 yards and eight touchdowns, adding another 231 yards and a touchdown on 29 receptions.

The Ravens must have liked what they saw from Williams during the draft process and there’s plenty of reasons why. According to BYU, Williams put up a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, which would have ranked sixth among the running backs invited to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Though Baltimore was linked to Williams following the 2020 NFL Draft, he wasn’t among the UDFAs the team actually signed.

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