Tag: DL

Top class of 2025 DL lists Wisconsin football as one of top four schools

Top class of 2025 DL lists Wisconsin football as one of top four schools

Wisconsin football class of 2025 DL target Maxwell Roy has Wisconsin as one of his four finalists, according to a report from 247Sports’ Brian Dohn.

As of May 18, Rutgers, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin are the four schools Roy will prioritize.

In February, the four-star listed the Badgers as one of his top six potential destinations. Those original six were Wisconsin, Michigan, Duke, Ohio State, Rutgers and Oregon.

247Sports has Roy as the nation’s No. 15 defensive lineman in the class of 2025, No. 2 recruit from Pennsylvania and No. 101 overall player in his class. Its crystal ball has yet to release a prediction for where the 6’3,’’ 270-pound defender will land.

Representing St. Joseph’s Prep High School, Roy has received 17 total offers. The most notable include Oregon, Georgia, USC, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State.

Roy is also an experienced high school wrestler with a combined 74-17 record as a freshman and sophomore in the 285-pound weight class, per 247Sports.

Wisconsin has had success with recruiting St. Joseph’s Prep as recently as this past year, securing three-star cornerback Omillio Agard as a part of their class of 2024 commitments.

Receiving a commitment from a DL this recruiting cycle would be nothing short of monumental for UW. The program has seen top DL transfer targets C.J. West, Jay’Viar Suggs and Khurtiss Perry committed elsewhere during the spring window and is currently working to flip class of 2025 Michigan Wolverines commit Bobby Kanka.

Six-time Pro Bowl DL, Calais Campbell, calls out Patriots quarterback Mac Jones

Falcons Pro Bowler calls Patriots quarterback Mac Jones “kind of disrespectful.”

Whether or not you love New England Patriots quarterback [autotag]Mac Jones[/autotag], you have to admit the guy is a competitor. Part of the disdain some fans have for Jones is the fact that he played his college ball at Alabama before getting drafted to the Patriots, arguably two of the most polarizing dynasties in the history of their respective leagues. Jones has also had some run-ins on the field with defenders where some have questioned his motives.

While I don’t believe Jones is a dirty player, I would agree that he wears his emotions on his sleeve and gets caught up in the heat of the moment at times. At the NFL level, I feel like every team needs to have a quarterback who is willing to get in the face of defenders, who’s going to push his teammates, who is going to challenge his coaches to be better and who is going to play with emotion.

Quarterbacks tend to not partake in as much trash talk as other positions, but Atlanta Falcons DL, Calais Campbell, says that isn’t the case with Jones. Campbell, a six-time Pro Bowler and a former First-Team All-Pro signed with the Falcons this offseason but had spent the previous three seasons with the Ravens. In a matchup with the Patriots last season, Campbell and Jones got into a verbal exchange that led to Campbell calling the New England QB “kind of disrespectful.”

The Falcons DL hazily recalls the event saying, “I don’t even remember now [what Jones said]. Just trash-talking to the highest level. But it was just, ‘You don’t trash talk me.’”

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Quinnen Williams agrees to massive contract extension with the New York Jets

New York Jets and Quinnen Williams agree on new four year $96 million deal

Former Alabama defensive lineman, Quinnen Williams, and the New York Jets have finally reached terms on a massive contract extension. The new deal has been in the work for months, but both sides finally agreed on a four-year deal worth $96 million, $66 million of which will be guaranteed. Outside of future Hall of Famer, Aaron Donald, Williams becomes the highest-paid player at the position ever surpassing Jeffery Simmons of the Titans deal which was four years and $94 million.

Williams has been the anchor of the Jets’ defense since being selected No. 3 overall in the 2019 NFL draft. He was a First-team All-Pro in 2022 and had a breakout season as he paved the way up front with 55 tackles and 12.0 sacks. Williams now becomes the first player the Jets have selected in the first round of the draft to sign a second contract with the team since Muhammad Wilkerson who was picked in 2011.

The Jets are thought to be playoff and even Super Bowl contenders after signing Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Locking up Williams for the near future was the next piece in solving their Super Bowl puzzle.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Alabama football flips three-star in-state DL recruit from Utah Utes

Alabama lands in-state DL prospect, Isaia Molofaha Haga

After an official visit that took place earlier this month, Nick Saban and the Alabama coaching staff were able to successfully flip three-star defensive lineman, Isaia Molofaha Faga. He is a top-35 player in the state of Alabama in the 2024 recruiting cycle coming out of Central High School in Phenix City, AL.

It is very rare that Utah accepts early commits from SEC territory, so it speaks volumes about the kind of prospect Faga is. Faga had also visited Texas earlier in the month, and as June progressed, it started to become a two-horse race between the Crimson Tide and the Longhorns with Alabama eventually prevailing.  At 6’2 and 275 pounds, Faga will spend his time playing interior DL positions attempting to clog the running lanes. In 2022, Faga posted 29 totals tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks

Alabama’s 2024 recruiting class is small at the moment with Faga being only the ninth commitment. The current size of the class is a large reason why Alabama has the 26th-ranked recruiting class per 247Sports, however, the Tide has the highest average ranking with three five-stars and four four-stars. Faga is the second DL Alabama has landed in the 2024 class alongside four-star Jeremiah Beaman.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Jets HC Robert Saleh: A deal with Quinnen Williams is ‘going to get done’

Quinnen Williams is expected to earn a major contract extension from the New York Jets.

Quinnen Williams has been a stellar defensive lineman for the New York Jets since the team selected him No. 3 overall in the 2019 NFL draft. He has since turned into a leader on a blossoming Jets team that many expect to make a push for the playoffs in 2023.

Recently, the head coach of the New York Jets, Robert Saleh, spoke with media members regarding the contract extension talks and appeared very optimistic that a deal is on the horizon.

“I speak for everyone — I probably speak for Quinnen — in that we all want get done sooner rather than later,” Saleh before practice. “I’ll let the business guys handle all that stuff, but it’s going to get done. He’ll be here for camp. He’ll be ready to roll and once he is, I’m sure it’ll be the same guy who was here.”

The 2022 season was Williams’ best, as he amassed career highs across the board. He played in 16 games and 55 total tackles, 12 sacks, four passes defended and two forced fumbles.

There’s an expectation that his new contract will be one of the highest in the league but will not surpass Aaron Donald’s. If a deal does not get done, however, he will be an unrestricted free agent heading into the 2024 season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Williams and other former Alabama players now in the NFL.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM. 

15 prospects to watch if the Eagles trade down in the 2023 NFL draft

We’re looking at 15 prospects to watch if the Philadelphia Eagles trade down in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The 2023 NFL draft is fast approaching, and even with the Eagles retooling during the first wave of free agency, the organization is doing its due diligence on potential prospects.

Thanks to some draft night moving and shaking from Howie Roseman, the Eagles traded the No. 16 overall pick, No. 19 overall pick, and a 2022 sixth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for the No. 18 overall pick, a 2022 third-round pick, a 2022 seventh-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-round pick.

Philadelphia is slotted to have just six picks, and the Eagles’ GM could look to add more assets by trading down from the 10th pick or No. 30 overall.

With the selection process just three weeks away, we’re looking at 15 prospects to watch if the Birds trade down.

10 NFL draft prospects for the Eagles to watch at the HBCU Legacy Bowl

With the Scouting Combine fast approaching, we’re looking at 10 NFL draft prospects for the Eagles to watch at the HBCU Legacy Bowl

HBCUs have played a vital role in the development and popularity of the NFL, and as we head toward the NFL draft, some of college football’s top athletes will be on display this week.

On Monday, 47 NFL Draft hopefuls from HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) will participate in a Combine at the New Orleans Saints practice facility.

Then, practices will begin on Tuesday before the HBCU Legacy Bowl (Feb. 25, 4 p.m. ET, NFL Network).

Fayetteville State head coach Richard Hayes Jr. and North Carolina Central head coach Trei Oliver will coach Team Gaither (named after legendary Florida A&M coach Jake Gaither) at the Legacy Bowl. In contrast, Benedict College head coach Chennis Berry and Southern head coach Eric Dooley will lead Team Robinson (named after legendary Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson).

Last year, four HBCU prospects were drafted, including Fayetteville State’s Joshua Williams, who won a Super Bowl ring with Kansas City, and Jackson State’s James Houston, who had eight sacks as a Lions rookie.

With the Eagles having a limited amount of draft picks, we’re previewing 10 players to watch at the HBCU Legacy Bowl.

2022 4-star in-state DL Justice Finkley names Alabama in top 3

Alabama is in the top-3 for one of the top in-state recruits!

Nick Saban continues to have success on the recruiting trail. Today, the Crimson Tide was named as a top-3 option for Justice Finkley, a 4-star defensive lineman from Trussville, Alabama.

Finkley listed Alabama along with Colorado and Texas in his final three.

The Crimson Tide’s 2022 recruiting rank currently sits at No. 13 national and No. 4 within the SEC, according to 247Sports.

He is being recruited by Freddie Roach and defensive coordinator Pete Golding.

There’s no telling where he would go, with three programs in three different conferences, it’s anyone’s guess as to what his final choice will be. A final commitment date has also not been set yet for Finkley.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Finkley and other 2022 top recruits.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.