Tag: LSU

Former Wisconsin football top class of 2022 target enters transfer portal

Former Wisconsin football top class of 2022 target enters transfer portal

LSU redshirt freshman edge rusher Jaxon Howard plans to enter the transfer portal when the spring window opens later this month, according to 247Sports.

Howard was 247Sports’ No. 131 player in the class of 2022, No. 20 edge rusher and No. 1 recruit from his home state of Minnesota.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s incoming transfers by expected impact in 2024 season

Wisconsin was one of the many top programs to offer the former four-star recruit coming out of high school. His loaded offer sheet included Michigan, in-state Minnesota, Wisconsin, Alabama, Miami, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Tennessee and Washington.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota native played in just five games for the Tigers in 2023, during which he recorded only two total tackles.

Howard should be heavily-pursued once the spring portal window opens. There was a connection with the previous Wisconsin staff, so it may be a long shot for the Badgers to get involved.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Clyde Edwards-Helaire on staying with Chiefs: ‘K.C. literally is home’

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire told reporters that he stayed with the #Chiefs because he has built a life for himself in Kansas City.

The importance of a hometown for an NFL franchise can’t be underestimated, especially with players constantly moving in trades and free agency. The Kansas City Chiefs have created an inviting culture for players since the start of the Andy Reid head coaching tenure, and it proved its value this offseason.

Edwards-Helaire opened up about some of the determining factors that kept him in Kansas City, and they didn’t have much to do with football. He spoke to reporters on Monday during his Zoom press conference.

“K.C. literally is home,” Edwards-Helaire explained. “I left Baton Rogue, Lousiana, where I was born and raised. Drafted to the middle of the country where everyone was telling me it was the best place on earth. The only thing I could do was embrace it.

“I was doing the thing I love, playing football, and I grew the most in these last five years. I got engaged and actually figured out what life is: buying homes, helping my mom with things, helping my parents. It’s just somewhere that I felt like I became a man.”

Since being drafted by the Chiefs in 2020, the former LSU National Champion has played multiple roles for the team in contributing to two Super Bowl titles. He has dealt with criticism and overcome it in front of Chiefs Kingdom with appreciation and humility.

“I was 20 years old, leaving college not really knowing what was going on,” Edwards-Helaire said. “Prior to that, I was still just a Baton Rouge, Louisiana kid at LSU just doing the thing I want to do was play football. Then, before you know it, snap of a finger, I was moving, 12 hours away from home, so this is literally my next spot, and it’s home. I want to continue to do still the things that I love.“

The Kansas City lifestyle has become an influence for players, and Edwards-Helaire seems to be enjoying his time in Western Missouri on and off the field.

Angel Reese announced she is declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft with an amazing Vogue photoshoot

This was such a cool move from Angel Reese.

After winning a title last season, LSU star Angel Reese is turning pro.

Reese, however, didn’t just make the announcement with a post on Twitter or Instagram like many other basketball prospects. Instead, she announced her plans with a photoshoot in Vogue.

She also tweeted some of the images included in the article with a caption quoting “Dip” by Nicki Minaj. It was a strong statement from Reese, who will hear her name called as one of the first picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Reese explained that she was inspired by Serena Williams, who announced her retirement from tennis in 2022 with a fashion photoshoot (via Vogue):

“I’ve done everything I wanted to in college,” Reese says: “I’ve won a national championship, I’ve gotten [Southeastern Conference] Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be a pro—and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I’m ready.”

She added that she didn’t want to be basic with her announcement.

The 2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player led her team back to the Elite Eight this season.

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2024 NFL draft: Chargers hosting WR Malik Nabers on visit

The Chargers are hosting the dynamic wide receiver on a pre-draft visit.

The Chargers are hosting LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers on a pre-draft visit on Wednesday, according to NFL Media’s Cameron Wolfe.

Nabers is visiting the Cardinals, who have the No. 4 overall pick, on Tuesday.

Nabers has been pegged to Los Angeles at No. 5 overall in mock draft since the beginning of the pre-draft process.

The Bolts will be looking to add to their wide receiver room after the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and Nabers could be a welcomed addition.

Nabers is a dynamic playmaker whose release, play speed and run-after-catch ability make him a home-run threat each time he touches the ball.

Nabers is coming off his most productive season for the Tigers, which included 89 receptions for 1,569 yards (17.6 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns. Seventeen of those catches went over 30 yards.

Insert Nabers into the Chargers’ offense and he and Justin Herbert would do wonders together.

Jaguars reportedly met with LSU receiver Malik Nabers before pro day

Could the Jaguars be interested in trading up high enough in the draft order to land LSU’s Malik Nabers?

The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of a handful of teams that met with LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers a day before his pro day workout Wednesday, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.

Nabers is widely expected to be a top 10, perhaps even a top five, selection in the 2024 NFL draft. The other five teams listed by Wolfe that met with Nabers — the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and New York Jets — all own top 10 selections.

For the Jaguars, owners of the No. 17 pick in the first round, to land Nabers, they would likely need to make a big trade to move high up the draft order.

It’s not a far-fetched scenario for Jacksonville, which has been aggressive in its efforts to turn a roster with back-to-back 9-8 seasons into a Super Bowl contender. The Jaguars made several moves in free agency, including the addition of former Bills receiver Gabe Davis, but was unable to retain wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

That has left the receiver position in need of some additional work and hunting for a mid-round player to fill that void might not do the trick.

The Jaguars’ interest in Nabers isn’t the first indication that the team could be interested in a big swing to upgrade their receiving corps. Earlier in March, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Jaguars were showing interest in Washington’s Rome Odunze, another receiver expected to land in the top 10 selections.

Nabers finished the 2023 season with 1,569 receiving yards and 14 touchdown receptions.

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Former Wisconsin starting defensive lineman commits to an SEC power

Former Wisconsin starting defensive lineman commits to an SEC power

Former Wisconsin starting defensive lineman Gio Paez committed to LSU Tuesday afternoon.

The former Badger entered the transfer portal earlier this month. He played four seasons at Wisconsin after joining the program as a three-star recruit in the class of 2019. His Wisconsin career ends with just 33 total games played, 35 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Related: If Wisconsin decides to move on from Greg Gard, who could it target as its next head coach?

The 2023 season was Paez’s best as a Badger. He made six starts along the defensive line for Luke Fickell’s defense, totaling 22 tackles.

Paez joins an LSU program that defeated the Badgers 35-31 to close the 2023 season. Brian Kelly will enter his third year at the helm in 2024 looking to make a big step forward after consecutive 10-win seasons.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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2024 NFL draft: 7 most realistic options for the Ravens in the first round

We’re looking at the seven most realistic 2024 NFL Draft options for the Baltimore Ravens in the first round

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Baltimore has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 30) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits will likely simulate 100s scenarios for all seven rounds, with realistic options starting to take shape.

With Top 30 visits increasing, we’re looking at the seven most realistic options for Baltimore at pick No. 30.

2024 NFL draft: 7 most realistic options for Eagles in the first round

We’re looking at the seven most realistic options for the Philadelphia Eagles at Pick No. 22 overall in the first round of the NFL draft

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a strong start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits will likely simulate 100s scenarios for all seven rounds, with realistic options starting to take shape.

With visits to the top 30 starting to increase, we’re looking at the seven most realistic options for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

2024 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks, wide receivers dominate first five picks

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated first round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

The 2024 salary cap is set at $255.4 million.

The Ravens will look drastically different on both sides of the football field after undergoing massive changes in player personnel and the coaching staff.

Eric DeCosta started the off-season with urgency, signing Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore landed Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million.

However, the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re reviewing an updated first-round mock draft.

2024 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks, wide receivers dominate first five picks

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated two round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated two-round mock for all 32 NFL teams.