That noise you hear isn’t a dump truck at a nearby construction site but Brandon Marcello of 247Sports backing away from his recent thoughts on Notre Dame football in 2024.
In case you missed it, Marcello released his summer rankings of college football’s top 30 teams on Wednesday and Notre Dame wasn’t on the list. He tried to justify that but his reasons for Notre Dame not being there could very easily have applied to seemingly half the teams he did rank.
Marcello released a short video on Thursday further discussing the Notre Dame matter. It’s posted below but to paraphrase it for you, he pretty much says Notre Dame could very easily win 10 games (which would give them a great chance to be in the College Football Playoff) and that his preseason rankings will change (where he’ll get a chance to make up for leaving Notre Dame off this list).
Notre Dame is gonna win at least 10 games this fall once Riley Leonard is healthy and gets to work full speed with his new OC and receivers. pic.twitter.com/DLwsYJex1g
Vols offer a scholarship to 2026 prospect Katrell Webb.
Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2026 athlete prospect Katrell Webb.
“I am blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee after a great day in Knoxville,” Webb said.
Webb unofficially visited Tennessee for a spring practice on April 11.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound athlete prospect is from Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia. He plays defensive end, tackle and tight end in high school.
There are not recruiting rankings currently for Webb from Rivals, 247Sports, On3 or ESPN.
The Vols are the seventh Southeastern Conference school to offer Webb. LSU was the first SEC school to offer a scholarship to Webb on April 23, 2022.
Webb has scholarship offers from Tennessee, USF, Georgia State, Charlotte, Indiana, Arkansas, Marshall, Florida State, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Missouri, Michigan, Louisville, UCF, Arkansas State, Ole Miss and LSU.
Tennessee football offers a scholarship to 2026 safety prospect Julian Burns.
Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2026 safety prospect Julian Burns.
“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee,” Burns said.
The 6-foot-2, 197-pound three-star safety prospect is from Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana. Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks is recruiting Burns.
Burns is the No. 404 prospect in the class of 2026. He ranks as the No. 29 linebacker and No. 12 player in Louisiana, according to 247Sports.
The Vols are the third Southeastern Conference school to offer Burns. Arkansas was the first SEC school to offer a scholarship to the safety on Aug. 22, 2023. Vanderbilt also offered Burns on Feb. 3.
Burns has scholarship offers from Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Baylor and Arkansas.
Tennessee football offers 2026 linebacker prospect DaQuives Beck.
Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2026 linebacker prospect DaQuives Beck.
“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee,” Beck said.
The 6-foot, 190-pound four-star linebacker prospect is from Carthage High School in Carthage, Texas.
Beck ranks as the No. 123 linebacker in the class of 2026. He ranks as the No. 12 linebacker and No. 12 player in Texas, according to 247Sports.
The Vols are the third Southeastern Conference school to offer Beck. Texas A&M was the first SEC school to offer a scholarship to the linebacker on Jan. 31.
Beck has scholarship offers from Tennessee, TCU, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, North Texas, Baylor and Texas Tech.
Tennessee football offers a scholarship to 2026 wide receiver prospect Ryan Mosley.
Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2026 wide receiver prospect Ryan Mosley.
“Extremely grateful and blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee,” Mosley said.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound wide receiver prospect is from Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia.
There are not recruiting rankings currently for Mosley from Rivals, 247Sports, On3 or ESPN.
The Vols are the sixth Southeastern Conference school to offer Mosley. Texas A&M was the first SEC school to offer a scholarship to the wide receiver on Nov. 1, 2023.
Mosley has scholarship offers from Tennessee, Austin Peay, USF, Louisville, Florida State, UAB, Georgia Tech, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Florida Atlantic, Tulane, Georgia Southern, UCF, South Carolina, Miami, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Indiana, SMU, Texas A&M, Washington State and Arkansas State.
Meet the HSSA’s 2023-24 ALL-USA Offensive Football Team.
The nominees for National Offensive Football Player of the Year highlight just how great—and competitive— the 2023 high school season was, with the 25 players listed below each creating headlines every Friday night, Saturday afternoon, or any time the team stepped onto the gridiron.
A literal Super 25, the All-USA HSSA Team has big-name talents who have moved on to top college programs, plus a few from the Class of 2025 to keep an eye on this season.
From this list of top performers across the country, the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards will choose one Player of the Year in August — a perfect pregame celebration ahead of the anticipated 2024 season.
Micah Alejado, QB, Bishop Gorman High School (Nevada) — SR
Brandon Baker, OL, Mater Dei High School (California) — SR
Jason Brown Jr., RB, O’Dea High School (Washington) — SR
Navi Bruzon, QB, Liberty High School (Arizona) — SR
Terry Bussey, ATH, Timpson High School (Texas) — SR
Cam Coleman, WR, Central High School (Alabama) — SR
Kahnen Daniels, RB, West Point High School (Mississippi) — SR
Caden Durham, RB, Duncanville High School (Texas) — SR
Ike Garcia, OL, Corner Canyon High School (Utah) — SR
Jeremy Hecklinski, QB, Walton High School (Georgia) — SR
Alvin Henderson, RB, Elba High School (Alabama) — JR
Ju’Juan Johnson, QB, Lafayette Christian Academy (Louisiana) — SR
DJ Lagway, QB, Willis High School (Texas) — SR
Isaiah Marshall, ATH, Southfield A&T High School (Michigan) — SR
Jaylen Mbakwe, DB, Clay-Chalkville High School (Alabama) — SR
Aaron Philo, QB, Prince Avenue Christian School (Georgia) — SR
Josh Ringer, RB, East Central High School (Indiana) — SR
Ben Roebuck, OL, St. Edward High School (Ohio) — SR
David Sanders Jr., OL, Providence Day School (North Carolina) — JR
Keelan Smith, TE, Liberty North High School (Missouri) — SR
Josiah Thompson, OL, Dillon High School (South Carolina) — SR
Nitro Tuggle, WR, NorthWood High School (Indiana) — SR
Ryan Williams, WR, Saraland High School (Alabama) — SR
Elyiss Williams, TE, Camden County High School (Georgia) — JR
Aneyas Williams, RB, Hannibal High School (Missouri) — SR
From the HSSA
Nominees for both the regional and national programs are posted as they are selected. Regional nominees represent the best in their respective areas, while national nominees are recognized as the top high school athletes nationwide.
Sign up for email updates for your region or nationally to keep up with nominee selections, the awards programs and special announcements.
A Steelers insider revealed what the team could have to surrender in a trade for Broncos WR Courtland Sutton.
Forget the San Fransisco 49ers. That ship has all but sailed. It also appears the ship has sailed on acquiring Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton. But as we’ve seen in the past, when we think a potential deal is dead, something comes together.
What could a deal between Pittsburgh and Denver for Sutton look like? The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly speculates that it wouldn’t be much.
“Maybe a third-rounder, but the extension would have to be worked out before a deal would be made,” Kaboly wrote.
What’s interesting about Sutton, aside from his 1,601 yards and dozen touchdowns off now-Steelers QB Russell Wilson‘s arm, is that he has an existing relationship with Pittsburgh’s wide receivers coach, Zach Azzanni. Azzanni was Sutton’s position coach for all seasons but 2023 when he was with the New York Jets.
Something has to come together for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a top-tier receiver. They absolutely cannot go into the season with George Pickens, a rookie and a slew of average wideouts and expect to be competitive.
Najee Harris’ chances of suiting up for the Steelers beyond 2024 are slim.
In this day and age, running backs are a dime a dozen. A league that was run-heavy for decades now focuses on making plays through the air. It’s not something that’s lost on Najee Harris. He knows his time in Pittsburgh is about to run out (pun intended), especially since the Steelers chose not to pick up his fifth-year option.
According to The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly, Harris’ chances of suiting up for the Steelers beyond 2024 are slim.
As for the extension, that’s not going to happen. It’s difficult to come up with a legitimate scenario in which he comes back next year. If he puts up another good year, he’ll test free agency and get paid a decent salary. If he doesn’t produce this year, why would you want him back? That’s what you have to consider when you decide not to pick up the fifth-year option.
How will Harris respond off the field? Kaboly says it could go one of two ways.
I can see him taking it in stride, or I can see him making noise over it. You never know with him. I’m sure he feels disrespected, but it won’t benefit him if he dwells on it.
How will Harris respond on the field?
2024 is essentially an audition for Harris. He’ll want to perform to his highest potential to earn a big payday from his future team—north of what Pittsburgh wants to pay him. Expect Harris to have a career year, which will require consistently putting up 4+ yards per attempt and finding paydirt when the opportunity strikes.
Last season, Harris was at his statistical best in both categories. With his fewest attempts (255), he managed eight touchdowns and averaged 4.1 yards per carry. Overall, nine games produced an average above four YPC.
This is no slight on Harris, as he has no say in the schedule of defenders, but his best YPC outings were versus the Cincinnati Bengals (6.60 YPC; 29th-ranked run defense) and the Green Bay Packers (5.13 YPC; 22nd-ranked run defense). Against the 16th-ranked Jacksonville Jaguars, Harris carried the ball just seven times for 13 yards (1.86 YPC).
The decision not to pick up his option appears to favor third-year running back Jaylen Warren. An undrafted player, Warren has outperformed his $2.56 million contract and will expect to be paid accordingly before it expires in 2025.
Former Vol Alex Ellis by the numbers against San Antonio in the UFL.
D.C. (3-3) defeated San Antonio (4-2), 18-12, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. during Week 6 of the inaugural UFL season.
Former Vol and D.C. tight end Alex Ellis recorded two receptions for 22 yards. He was targeted two times.
Ellis played for the Vols from 2011-15 under head coaches Derek Dooley and Butch Jones.
He played in 26 games at Tennessee, including one start, recording 14 receptions, 232 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Ellis was not selected in the 2016 NFL draft.
D.C. will next play on Sunday against Michigan at Audi Field in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff between the Defenders and Panthers is slated for 11 a.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN.
