Packers RB a good luck charm for Wisconsin in win over Maryland

Packers RB a good luck charm for Wisconsin in win over Maryland

Wisconsin basketball improved to 18-9 on the season and 10-6 in Big Ten play with a 74-70 win over Maryland Tuesday night.

The win signals a possible end to the Badgers’ February woes. Greg Gard’s team was 1-5 in the month entering the contest, including road collapses against Nebraska, Michigan and Iowa and a deflating home loss to Purdue. Well, the team could finally be turning a corner with just four games remaining in the Big Ten regular season.

Related: Which Big Ten football team has the toughest conference schedule in 2024?

The reason Wisconsin defeated Maryland is simple: the Badgers made 28 of their 31 free throws, good for a 90.3% clip. That includes nearly every free throw late in the game as well, even when the Terrapins seemed to hit every three-pointer to extend the game.

College basketball teams win when they make free throws. It’s that simple.

Or maybe Wisconsin’s win was due to something else, such as the presence of Packers starting running back A.J. Dillon sitting courtside.

Dillon’s wife is a Wisconsin alumnus, and his sister-in-law is on the Wisconsin cheerleading team.

I’m not going to create a cause-and-effect discussion here. But Wisconsin is now 1-0 in games Dillon is sitting courtside this season. That is a trend worth monitoring if he shows up at any games before the end of the year.

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Report: Georgia WR George Pickens visiting pair of Super Bowl contenders

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver George Pickens is visiting the Packers and Chiefs ahead of the draft

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver George Pickens is one of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL draft. Pickens is healthy after tearing his ACL ahead of the 2021 college football season.

The former Hoover High School star has elite ball skills and proved his speed at the 2022 NFL combine. George Pickens is visiting numerous NFL teams ahead of the draft.

Notably, Pickens is expected to visit with the Kansas City Chiefs on April 6 and the Green Bay Packers on April 7. The Chiefs and Packers are both Super Bowl contenders with superstar quarterbacks that are in the market for a wide receiver.

Kansas City traded star receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins and are looking to draft a receiver early. The Chiefs have the No. 29 and No. 30 picks of the first round. If Kansas City wants to draft George Pickens, then they should target him with one of those selections. Pickens will likely be gone before pick No. 50, which is their next selection.

George Pickens is currently ranked as the No. 7 wide receiver in the 2022 draft. The former Georgia star is ranked similarly to receivers like Ohio State’s Chris Olave, North Dakota State’s Christian Watson, Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, and Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore.

The Green Bay Packers are in a similar situation to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers traded their top receiver, Davante Adams, to the Oakland Raiders. Green Bay will have a chance to select Pickens with pick No. 22 or No. 28.

Aaron Rodger or Patrick Mahomes throwing to George Pickens would be a treat to watch on Sundays.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Pickens’ visits to the Chiefs and Packers:

Green Bay Packers add former UGA WR

The Green Bay Packers have added former Georgia WR Jayson Stanley to their practice squad. Stanley converted to DB in the NFL.

The Green Bay Packers have added former Georgia wide receiver Jayson Stanley to their practice squad. The Packers immediately placed Stanley, who has converted to defensive back in the NFL, on the COVID list.

Stanley went undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft. He was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad in 2019, but was cut before the season began. The former UGA receiver had stints with the Dolphins’ and Jaguars’ practice squads in 2019 and 2020 before landing with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020.

Stanley played a few games for the Seahawks in 2020.

The NFL has gone through a record number of players in 2021 due to new practice squad rules and a surge in positive COVID-19 tests.

Green Bay is currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Stanley has an excellent opportunity with the Packers. He joins another Georgia defensive back, Eric Stokes, in Green Bay.

Stanley was a four-star recruit in Georgia’s 2015 recruiting class. He appeared in 25 games during his time in Athens.

Tom Silverstein announced the Packers’ roster moves via Twitter:

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Packers star Davante Adams praises rookie Eric Stokes

Packers star WR Davante Adams praises former Georgia Bulldog DB and NFL rookie Eric Stokes

Green Bay Packers star wide receiver Davante Adams dominated NFL cornerbacks last season. Adams caught 115 passes for 1,374 yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 2020.

Now, Davante Adams is praising Green Bay’s 2021 NFL draft first-round pick, Eric Stokes. Stokes attended the University of Georgia and intercepted four passes in 2020 before entering the NFL draft. Adams compares Stokes to Green Bay cornerback Jaire Alexander.

Jaire Alexander is one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. Alexander was recently rated as the No. 41 player in the entire league, so it is high praise to compare Stokes to Alexander.

The Green Bay Packers drafted Eric Stokes to complement Jaire Alexander. Packers fans saw their weakness at the No. 2 cornerback position exposed in the NFC Championship Game against Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Eric Stokes was dominant in the SEC in 2020. Can he contribute in the NFL? Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

First-team All-Pro (2020) wide receiver Davante Adams certainly considers Eric Stokes to be a potential solution to Green Bay’s issues at the cornerback position behind Jaire Alexander.

“He’s the closest thing to Jaire (Alexander) as far as mentality and ability, from what I’ve seen so far. The kid is fast as hell. He can get beat and recover kind of like how Sam Shields would do,” said Adams.

NFL rookies can’t expect to win every battle against top wide receivers in the league, but Stokes’ ability to recover and contest a catch has stood out to Davante Adams. Adams additionally compared Stokes to former Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields, who helped the Packers win a Super Bowl and made a Pro Bowl.

Adams and Stokes have faced off several times in practice. Stokes has held his own a few times, which contributed to Adams’ respect for Stokes.

“I like what I see from him… he really can go,” claimed Adams.

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Former Georgia CB Eric Stokes gives grandma new home

Former Georgia Bulldogs cornerback and Green Bay Packers 2021 first-round draft pick Eric Stokes has bought his grandma a house

Former Georgia Bulldogs cornerback and Green Bay Packers 2021 first-round draft pick Eric Stokes has bought his grandma a house. Stokes came through on his promise to get his grandma a home.

Eric Stokes shared a video of his emotional surprise to his grandma via his Instagram account:

You always love to see a great story like this.

Eric Stokes became a first-round pick, All-American, All-SEC cornerback after being ranked as a three-star running back recruit out of Covington, Georgia. Stokes had humble beginnings, but now he’s giving his grandma her dream house.

Stokes captioned his video on Instagram: “Since I’ve been 14 years old I promised my grandma id get her out of the projects, where she’s lived for over 30 years, and into her dream home. Words can’t describe how good it feels to finally check this off the list!! Forever luv grandma”

Eric Stokes was selected with the No. 29 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. His four-year rookie contract is reportedly worth almost $12 million guaranteed.

Stokes is a great player and person to represent the “G” in college and in the NFL.

May 14, 2021; Defensive backs Eric Stokes (21) and Shemar Jean-Charles are shown during the first day of Green Bay Packers rookie minicamp Friday, May 14, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

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