Penn State is expecting a big week with the opening of the early signing period on the college football recruiting calendar, but the Nittany Lions added to the program with an addition from the transfer portal on Saturday. Punter [autotag]Riley Thompson[/autotag] announced on his Twitter account on Saturday he has committed to Penn State and will join the program in 2023.
The Australian native kicker will have one final year of eligibility left to use at Penn State despite being listed as a freshman on FAU’s roster in the 2022 season. That is because his eligibility actually started in Australia before moving to FAU.
Thompson will be a top candidate to handle Penn State’s punting duties in 2023 after losing [autotag]Barney Amor[/autotag], who proved to be a reliable asset following [autotag]Jordan Stout[/autotag]. Penn State has one of the top punters in the Class of 2022 with [autotag]Alex Bacchetta[/autotag] to look forward to as well, but Thompson is coming off a solid season at FAU.
Thompson had the 10th-best punting average this season with an average of 45.75 yards per punt according to CFBstats.com.
I am honoured to announce that I have committed to Penn State University.
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Penn State was close to having to find a new defensive coordinator.
Florida Atlantic fired head coach Willie Taggart just five days ago and they have already found his replacement. In a process that involved Penn State defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag], FAU announced that they have hired former Houston and Texas coach Tom Herman.
Diaz in his first year as Penn State’s defensive coordinator coached a scrappy defense that included five players making All-Big Ten teams. He furthered the development of both [autotag]Joey Porter Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Ji’Ayir Brown[/autotag] specifically.
Diaz did all this after a short stint as the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes where he had a record of 21-15 in three season. Much like Herman at Texas, Diaz struggled to bring his hometown team back from the shambles they had played in recently.
Despite all that he still was a finalist for the FAU job.
Former Texas & Houston coach Tom Herman has been hired as FAU’s new coach, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Herman was 54-22 in 6 seasons – 32-18 at Texas & 22-4 at UH. Herman’s teams were perfect 5-0 in bowl games, including 2 New Year’s 6 bowls
While Diaz missed out on the FAU job it shows that he does have the urge to be a head coach once again and that the [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] coaching tree may be expanding once again. Despite that job being gone Diaz does have another chance to return to the sunshine state, perhaps before winter sets in at State College, with the USF job still open.
While he isn’t officially reported to be interviewed or even interested, it seems no school or team may be off the board for Diaz. Especially a return to his home state.
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It had to happen at some point, but few expected Florida’s first loss of the Todd Golden era to come against FAU.
The Florida Gators fell to the Florida Atlantic Owls, 76-74, on Monday, which marks the first loss of the [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag] era at UF.
FAU dominated from beyond the arc all game but they were especially hot in the first half. Florida had few answers for the Owls’ shooters and it cost them the game in the long run.
[autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] once again scored 30 points (and posted his first double-double of the year with 12 rebounds), but the Gators’ offense was weak any time anyone had the ball. In fact, it seemed like there were very few plays in tonight’s playbook that ended with anyone other than Castleton shooting the ball. The Gators have tons of work to do on both offense and defense if tonight is indicative of the team’s true skill.
True, Florida is coming off a pair of wins, but Stony Brook hardly put up a fight and the signs were there against Kennesaw State. In truth, it’s unsurprising to see Florida stumble this early in the season against a non-conference opponent, and it will be interesting to see how the team responds following its first loss of the season.
Here are five thoughts from Florida’s ugly loss to FAU on Monday night.
There were some major conference realignment changes made, but the Big Ten still has no reason to make more moves.
The American Athletic Conference is certainly no stranger to conference realignment changes. After all, this is essentially a re-branded Big East football conference that is the product of seismic shifts in prior rounds of massive conference realignment changes around the country. After losing some key members to the Big 12, the AAC has officially added a half dozen teams from Conference USA.
It was truly a milestone day for The American as they formally welcomed their six newest members; UAB, Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, and UTSA. The expansion move by the AAC brings the conference’s total projected membership up to 15 members in total, and 14 participating members in football and basketball. Navy is a football-only member of the AAC and Wichita State is a basketball-only member.
The American recently learned it was about to lose three key members to the Big 12 with Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF opting to leave the conference and join the Big 12, along with BYU. The Big 12, of course, is going to be losing Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC.
The timing of all of these conference realignment changes remains to be determined, and the timeline of these changes may be influenced by just how quickly Oklahoma and Texas can bolt and get playing in the SEC.
Naturally, these moves is a devastating blow to the status of Conference USA, and the hits may continue to come for Conference USA. In a stunning show of how much the times have changed, the Sun Belt Conference could be poaching a few other Conference USA members in due time. Southern Miss, Marshall, and Old Dominion are on the Sun Belt’s radar, as is FCS powerhouse James Madison.
Sources: The Sun Belt is examining expansion. The league is considering adding up to four schools. Among those targeted are Southern Miss, Marshall, ODU and James Madison. Also, Conference USA is exploring additions. Those include Liberty and James Madison.
As for the Big Ten, there are still no rumblings that would suggest the conference is looking to expand its current membership. The idea the Big Ten could add a team or two from the Pac-12 always felt out of place, so unless Notre Dame calls up Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and says they want in, all should remain calm on the Big Ten expansion front.
Plenty of names will be visiting Gainesville this week. Here’s who the Gators are hosting.
The Florida Gators will host several recruits this weekend on unofficial visits for the Florida Atlantic game, according to 247Sports.
2022 five-star cornerback Jaheim Singletary and 2023 five-star safety Sonny Styles will visit and meet with Florida’s new defensive back coaches, Jules Montinar and Wesley McGriff. Styles is making his first trip to the Swamp and Singletary decommited from Ohio State at the beginning of August.
2023 five-star cornerback Cormani McClain wants to attend the game but the travel back from his high school game in southern Georgia may be too much to add a trip to Gainesville the next day. McClain recently named Florida in his top five and has been in constant contact with the Gators over the summer.
A pair of 2023 four-star prospects will also be visiting this weekend: linebacker Grayson Howard and receiver Bryson Rodgers. Both in-state prospects have received an offer from the Gators, and Rodgers has named Florida in his top 10.
2022 three-star offensive tackle Elijah Zollicoffer should be at the game if his ride can pull through. 2023 quarterback Tyler Jefferson (unrated by 247Sports) looks to get another major offer after landing one from Florida State in January.
A few of Florida commits will be there to help them with the recruiting process, including three-star offensive tackle David Conner, three-star linebacker E.J. Lightsey and four-star receiver Chandler Smith.
James Franklin says Penn State will only add a quarterback from the transfer portal if the right fit is available. So what’s available now?
Penn State has been active in the transfer portal this offseason. But if things do not develop as James Franklin hopes, it is possible Penn State could still target at least one more player out of the transfer portal to fill the depth at various positions, including at the quarterback position.
Franklin made it known what his preference is for the quarterback position on the roster at the beginning of the spring. While Franklin would consider moving forward with three scholarship players, he would really like to move into the fall with four or five. Sean Clifford is entrenched as the team’s starting quarterback after two years as the team’s starter, but the experience behind him is raw. With the transfers of Will Levis and Michael Johnson Jr., Penn State has just Taquan Roberson and true freshman Christian Veilleux currently on scholarship.
This makes the transfer portal all the more intriguing for Penn State if the need for another quarterback is pressing at the end of the spring. But Franklin made note that his program won’t add a quarterback out of the transfer portal just for the sake of numbers. Whatever quarterback is potentially pulled from the portal ahs to be the right fit for the Nittany Lions.
What qualifies as the right fit may be open to some interpretation, but this much we know. Penn State has hired Mike Yurich as the new offensive coordinator, and his offenses have tended to operate with quarterbacks lining up under center far more often than Penn State fans have grown accustomed to seeing in recent years. One of Penn State’s first recruiting victories since the hiring of Yurcich was the commitment of pro-style quarterback Drew Allar, suggesting Penn State is ready to move with a player more prone to a pro-style offense.
So, with all of that in mind, what are some potential options still lurking in the transfer portal? There are some interesting names to potentially keep an eye on, just in case. Here’s a look at who is still currently available.
Note: Source for updated transfer portal data comes from 247 Sports, as of March 28, 2021.
A low-scoring pitching duel started by Garrett Milchin finally came to an end in the 10th inning, as UF couldn’t answer and fell 3-2.
Florida’s five-game winning streak came to an end in its lone midweek matchup against Florida Atlantic on Wednesday night, as the No. 21-ranked Owls handed the Gators their third loss of the season. A low-scoring pitching duel finally came to an end in the 10th inning, as UF couldn’t answer and fell 3-2.
Garrett Milchin took the mound for Florida (6-3) his second appearance of the season after undergoing back-to-back Tommy John surgeries. Though his outing finished as a solid one, it was shaky early on. FAU (7-1) rattled off back-to-back singles to lead off the game, and a sac-fly later in the inning gave it an early 1-0 lead.
Its starter, T.J. Stuart, didn’t allow any damage in the first, but he let one get away from him in the second. Colby Halter hit a two-run homer to retake the lead for Florida, though that wouldn’t last very long. Milchin gave up an RBI single in the third and would have allowed another run were it not for an excellent defensive play from Jacob Young.
He got the third out on a throw-out to home from left field with no cutoff, ending the threat and keeping the score tied 2-2. Milchin was pulled after the inning, allowing five hits and two runs in three innings of work.
Those were the last runs scored before extras. Hunter Cooley and Mike Entenza closed out the game without allowing any more runs. Cooley allowed two hits while Entenza allowed none. For the Gators, a committee of Trey Van Der Weide, David Luethje, Jordan Butler and Timmy Manning pitched through the ninth. Both teams stranded a handful of runners, but neither mounted a significant threat.
But at the beginning of extras, Franco Aleman entered the game for Florida, and he continued what has been a rough start to the season. After a single and a fielding error, he put runners at the corners with two outs. He gave up another single that allowed the go-ahead run to score. The Gators didn’t give up anymore, but going into the bottom of the 10th, they needed their first run since the second inning to avoid a loss.
It wasn’t meant to be, though. Halter struck out looking, and after a Jordan Carrion fly-out, UF was down to its final out with Young at the plate. Etenza’s fourth strikeout of the game put it away as Florida Atlantic earned a huge win against the Gators,
Florida returns to action this weekend for a three-game series against Florida A&M at Florida Ballpark. First pitch for the series opener on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. EST.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with FAU tight end prospect Harrison Bryant
Playing tight end in today’s NFL is one of the most complex and difficult positions a player can choose. It requires versatility, physicality, athleticism and intelligence, all things that FAU’s Harrison Bryant brings to the table.
One of the most complete prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft’s tight end class, Bryant recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his growth as a football player throughout his career, his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, and what kind of player he’ll be at the next level.
JM: You played some offensive tackle in your past. You also spent some time playing defense. What was the transition to tight end like for you?
HB: I played on the defensive line growing up. Really, I spent my whole life, including a portion of my high school days playing offensive tackle and on the defense. Things didn’t change until my senior year of high school. I really enjoyed that. I actually caught two touchdowns as an eligible tackle during my junior year of high school (laughs). That was in the state finals.
My high school coach had a lot of experience and he told me that my best shot to further my career was to actually play tight end on a full-time basis. He thought that was my best shot to land a full scholarship. Naturally, I had to lose some weight to make it happen. I went through a maturation process and played tight end during my senior year of high school.
I feel like it was a smooth transition. I always felt like I could catch the ball well. The biggest transition was learning how to run routes. It took a few years for me to really grow into the position. It really wasn’t until my sophomore or junior year in college that I really started to master the position. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a lot to learn and work on, but things definitely changed for me during the early part of my college career.
JM: You flashed your potential as a sophomore when you earned 2nd-team all-conference honors. You took things further as a junior, earning 1st-team all-conference honors. In 2019, you earned 1st-team AP All-American honors and won the John Mackey Award as the best tight end in the nation. What changed for you as the years went by?
HB: I just had a lot to prove. Just like you said, I got better every year. There was a big difference between my sophomore and senior seasons. The biggest thing for me was how I started to mature physically. Things changed for me as I continued to get bigger, stronger and faster. I received a lot of help from our strength staff, and the training staff as a whole. I continued to work on my craft. I started to improve as a route runner. I worked on my blocking ability. There’s a lot that went into it. It was all about self-development. That’s what lead to the improved success each passing year.
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
JM: What’s your favorite part about playing the tight end position?
HB: I can’t pinpoint one specific area as my favorite. I’m able to do a little bit of everything. I feel like my biggest strength is my versatility. I pretty much lined up at every position on the field on our offense this year, besides the quarterback and running back positions. I feel like I had a lot of success this year. I was able to put a lot of good things on tape.
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
HB: It was a cool experience. They switched up the format a little bit this year. We didn’t really have a lot of inside information into how the process would go. In years past, our agents would usually have the schedule down to a tee but even they were left in the dark with this year’s event. It was the first of it’s kind. I was just happy to be there. I just went with the flow really. It was a lot of fun. Getting a chance to interact with the different teams and general managers was such a cool experience. I enjoyed meeting all of the other tight ends. We’re all in this thing together. It was a great experience.
JM: Taking every aspect of the combine into account, the interviews, the on-field testing and the medicals, what do you think is the overall impression that you left out there?
HB: I feel like I left a good impression out there. I wish I could have gotten a few of those testing result numbers a little lower or jumped a little higher but it is what it is. I went out there to compete and show what I can do. My medicals couldn’t have gone any better. I was in and out. I knew that my medical checks would check out perfectly. My interviews went really well. I feel like I left a great impression. The teams can go back to my film now and put it all together. I think the tape speaks for itself.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
HB: I was waiting for one of those strange questions, but it never came. I didn’t have anything that you would classify as weird or strange. I’m not sure why I didn’t get any of those. Every question I was asked was about football. I had a few questions about my family and personal life, but it was mostly football.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
JM: I know that you’re keeping the teams private at this time, but have you met with many teams via FaceTime and Zoom through this unique process?
HB: I’ve had several FaceTime and Zoom meetings. I was actually able to head down to Boca Raton and work out privately for two NFL teams before COVID-19 shut everything down. It’s definitely been a cool and unique experience so far. It’s obviously been different for us than any other draft class really. Usually, we’d by flying around the country right now and meeting with several teams, but we’ve had to handle everything virtually instead. People might ask me for some insight into the process down the road, and I won’t have anything to tell them (laughs). It’s just been so different and unique for us.
JM: Do you have a favorite route to run?
HB: I would probably say that the corner route is my favorite. You can do a little bit of everything with it. I can take it high or flatten it out. I personally feel like nobody should be able to cover me on a corner route. There’s so many different ways that you can run it.
JM: If you could catch a pass from one NFL quarterback, who would it be and why?
HB: Every NFL quarterback is an extremely talented one. If I had to choose one, it would be Tom Brady. That’s still the GOAT right there. He’s the best to ever do it. Catching a pass from him would be amazing. He’s just down the road in Tampa now (laughs). There’s a lot of teams here in Florida but I’m gonna be thrilled to go wherever I end up. I’ll be extremely thankful.
JM: When a team uses one of their draft picks on Harrison Bryant, what kind of guy are they getting?
HB: They’re gonna get a versatile playmaker that’s happy to do whatever’s asked of him. I’m gonna produce at a high level. Off the field, I’m gonna do everything I can to improve the culture in the locker room. My teammates can count on me. I’m a big believer in relationships. I’m gonna bond with all of the guys and have fun with it. I’m enjoying the process.
Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Florida Atlantic tight end prospect Harrison Bryant
Harrison Bryant | TE | Florida Atlantic
Elevator Pitch
Bryant was a high-volume receiver for Florida Atlantic. He is a matchup piece, line him up outside and let him battle it out with smaller defenders. His upside is all in the passing game. Over his time at FAU, he hauled in 148 passes for 2,137 yards and 16 touchdowns. Harrison Bryant has drawn comparisons to George Kittle by NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein. High praise to be compared to one of the two best tight ends in the NFL.
Immediately what stands out for Bryant is his hands. Despite them not being as big as some of the other tight ends, it doesn’t hinder his ability to come down with the ball. Despite that he is known for the focus drop, he will be a reliable target.
Looks more like a big wide receiver when running routes. Can attack up the seam or at the second and third level of a defense. He will do a good job of getting behind linebackers and will sit down in a vacated zone. Shows good burst coming out of breaks.
Despite the fact that he isn’t the most physical of tight ends, can catch through contact. Doesn’t lose balance either with a good base and footwork. Best option for Bryant is to work as a “big” slot or H-Back role until he develops a bit more to play inline.
Weaknesses
His frame could use some filling out. Adding weight could help with his functional strength. Shows good technique in blocking but seems to get overpowered with bigger defenders he is tasked with blocking. His lack of strength is pretty apparent all over his film.
For someone whose game is based on athleticism, his short area quickness is average at best. As evident with his 7.41 three-cone performance at the NFL Combine. Finished 11th among tight ends who participated. Will have to win on technique over god-given ability.
Previewing Saturday’s Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl betting odds between the SMU Mustangs and FAU Owls, with betting picks and tips.
The SMU Mustangs (10-2, 6-2 AAC West) and Florida Atlantic Owls (10-3, 8-1 C-USA East) square off in the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday. We analyze the SMU-FAU odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
SMU vs. FAU: Three things you need to know
1. While the Owls are technically listed as the ‘away’ team, they’ll be playing on their home field on their own campus. FAU went 5-1 straight up and 4-2 against the spread at home, including 3-0 SU/ATS in the final three outings.
2. The Mustangs went 2-2 SU in their final four games, and 1-4 ATS in the final five regular-season games, although they won and covered in their season finale against Tulane, a bowl team.
3. SMU ranks ninth in the country with 495.3 total yards per game, 12th in passing yards per game (309.3) and seventh in points (43.0) per contest. Defensively, the Mustangs allowed 31.8 PPG to rank 100th in the country.
FAU (+125) is listed as a short dog at home. The Owls are an attractive play because they’re on their home field, as well as the fact they’re 3-0 all-time in bowl games.
FAU (+3.5, -121) is catching three and a hook at home, making it an attractive play. While SMU (-3.5, +100) can sling it on offense, it’s poor defensively, and the Owls have plenty of talent to pile up the points. They will be playing their first game since head coach Lane Kiffin bolted for Ole Miss, but the Owls were focused in the Conference USA Championship game despite the rumors swirling, and they’ll be focused with interim coach Glenn Spencer at the helm before Willie Taggart takes over.
The OVER 69.5 (-110) is worth a roll of the dice. In SMU’s past six against non-conference teams, the Over is a perfect 6-0. The Over is 9-3 in the past 12 overall, and 6-2 in the Mustangs’ past eight as a favorite. The Over is 5-1-1 in FAU’s past seven as a dog, too.
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