Tag: Quentin Johnson

Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor take their battle to Chargers joint practices

Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor’s competition for the starting job will heat up while guarding several talented Chargers receivers | @southexclusives

We recently discussed the most anticipated matchups from New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers joint practice, focusing on players competing with each other from both teams, but one of the biggest battles is between two Saints. Paulson Adebo-versus-Alontae Taylor didnโ€™t make the list but they should be heavily monitored this week.

Last week, the Saints faced Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. That was only for a single drive. The Saints will see Justin Herbert and a much better receiving corps for two days straight. Instead of seeing Adebo versus the first-team and Taylor versus the second-team or vice versa, you can compare how Adebo and Taylor look against the same receivers.

The starting cornerback battle still remains close. These next two days of practice gives both players a good chance to separate themselves. Adebo and Taylor will line up against Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in multiple different game-like scenarios throughout practice. The Chargers also have a first-round draft pick at receiver in Quentin Johnston and some impressive backups like Josh Palmer who will test the Saints secondary.

Adebo received the start in the first preseason game, and Taylor will likely start the upcoming game this Sunday as the Saints continue to give both guys those opportunities. Regardless of the starting lineup on Sunday, expect their performance in these joint practices to play a part in the final decision.

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Oklahoma Sooners shut out of first round in USA TODAY Sports mock draft

No Oklahoma Sooners were selected in a recent USA TODAY Sports mock draft.

If there’s going to be one Oklahoma Soone r who hears his name called on day one of the NFL Draft, it’s probably going to be offensive tackle Anton Harrison. However, in this mock draft from Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY, not one Sooner is projected to be selected in the first round.

The first Big 12 player taken in this mock was Tyree Wilson of Texas Tech. Middlehurst-Schwartz has him taken at fifth overall to the Seattle Seahawks. TCU’s Quentin Johnson and Texas’ Bijan Robinson were the only other players from Big 12 schools present in this mock draft.

Three offensive tackles are mocked to be selected in this mock draft, with Paris Johnson Jr. of Ohio State being the first from the position to be taken. Peter Skoronski of Northwestern and Broderick Jones of Georgia were the other two tackles taken in this mock.

Harrison could very well fall through the entire first round, or he could end up being selected between 10-20. This offensive tackle class lacks a true top dog, but has several very good options.

Sooners fans might have to wait until day two to hear one of their players’ names called.

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4 draft prospects the Panthers should target with 2023’s 9th overall pick

If the Panthers stick with the 2023 draft’s ninth overall pick, here are four prospects they should be targeting.

There has been quite a bit of noise, and even more after Tuesday’s introductory press conference for head coach Frank Reich, about the Carolina Panthers moving up to draft a quarterback this spring. But that, of course, may not end up being the case.

So if general manager Scott Fitterer and the Panthers stick to their guns and stay at the ninth overall pick, there are still a handful of intriguing prospects that’ll be there for them to scoop up. Here are just four of them.

 

TCU staggers Michigan with 2 quick touchdowns

TCU with two quick touchdowns in the third quarter

TCU appeared to be on the ropes after Michigan had scored 13 straight points in the Fiesta Bowl.

Foolish to question the Max Duggan and the Horned Frogs.

The Big 12 champs saw their 21-3 lead evaporate to 5 points and momentum was with Michigan.

Duggan dug in and led TCU on a six-play, 75-yard touchdown march.

One of the big plays was a 46-yard connection with Quentin Johnson.

The TD came on a short run by Emari Demercado, and the Horned Frogs were back up by 12 points after the PAT with time ticking down in the third quarter.

The Horned Frogs then got their second pick-six of the game as Dee Winters intercepted a J.J. McCarthy pass and returned it 29 yards.

TCU led 34-16 with two touchdowns in 1:33 of the third quarter. The PAT was no good as the snap was botched.

Michigan had given up 13 points off turnovers all season; the Wolverines gave up 13 points against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

McCarthy led a TD drive on the next Michigan drive and it was 34-22 with 1:47 left in the third quarter. A 2-point conversion failed.

The winner of the game faced the winner of the Peach Bowl between Georgia and Ohio State in the CFP Championship.

 

2023 NFL draft: 5 potential Chargers targets to watch in Fiesta Bowl

Here are a few players in the Fiesta Bowl that could be on the Chargers’ radar for next year’s draft.

The arrival of the College Football Playoffs allows fans to watch not only four of the best teams clash but the top players as well.

In the first game at 1:00 p.m. PT, the Michigan Wolverines will take on the TCU Horned Frogs in the Fiesta Bowl.

Plenty of NFL evaluators, including the Los Angeles Chargers, will have these players that are going to be in the 2023 NFL draft under the microscope today.

With that, here are a few players that could be in the blue and gold when next April rolls around.

Six points with David Dorey (2023 Rookie Edition)

Taking an early look at the top rookies for 2023, where they rank and the schedule for 2022-2023 NCAA Bowl Games with mentions of which future fantasy players to watch.

We’re turning the corner into fantasy playoffs and most teams in every league are on the outside looking in. There will still be developments and happenings left to see that will play into next year, but everyone should start to think about the annual turning of the NFL soil known as the draft.

Below are the current consensus best players getting ready to hear their names called from the big stage. This is a good time to turn your attention to the college ranks, because Bowl Season is here and you can watch those players in their biggest game perform. Consider it research with beer and nachos,

The players ranking below will no doubt change by April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, but here’s where they currently rank by consensus from several sources.

Quarterbacks

1. Bryce Young (5-11, 194 pounds, 4.8/40) Alabama
2. C.J. Stroud (6-3, 215 pounds, 4.7/40) Ohio State
3. Will Levis (6-3, 232 pounds, 4.7/40) Kentucky
4. Tanner McKee (6-6, 230 pounds, 4.8/40) Stanford
5. Anthony Richardson (6-4, 236 pounds, 4.5/40) Florida

Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are expected to be Top-10 picks and maybe Top-5.ย  Will Levis is a first-round pick but likely later in the round. All three should end up with teams looking to start a rookie quarterback at least at some point during the season, if not Week 1.ย  McKee and Richardson are expected to be taken in the first two rounds and potentially the first round. Their performances in bowl games and the NFL Combine will impact their draft slot.

Running Backs

1. Bijan Robinson (6-0, 214 pounds, 4.48/40) Texas
2. Jahmyr Gibbs (5-11, 200 pounds, 4.5/40) Alabama
3. Zach Charbonnet (6-1, 220 pounds, 4.5/40) UCLA
4. Kenny McIntosh (6-1, 220 pounds, 4.5/40) Georgia
5. Zach Evans (5-11, 195 pounds, 4.49/40) Ole Miss
6. Blake Corum (5-8, 210 pounds, 4.5/40) Michigan
7. Devon Achene (5-9, 185 pounds, 4.55/40) Texas A&M
8. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (5-11, 209 pounds, 4.55/40) Kentucky
9. Chase Brown (5-11, 209, 4.55/40) Illinois
10. Kendre Miller (6-0, 220 pounds, 4.5/40) TCU

Bijan Robinson is the running back that will go in the first half of the NFL draft and probably end up a second or third-round fantasy pick depending on where he ends up. He is “the guy” by every analyst out there. Jahmyr Gibbs could go in the first or second round, depending on how badly a team wants a new starting running back.

Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh, and Zach Evans currently project as a second or third round pick. But remember, last year there was no first round running back and yet plenty of great picks in the first three rounds – Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Rachaad White and Brian Robinson. Dameon Pierce was the 4.02 pick.

Those backs from No. 6 to No. 10 can impact their draft slot with bowl game performances, the NFL Combine and Player Days at their schools.

Wide Receivers

1. Quentin Johnston, (6-4, 201 pounds, 4.5/40) TCU
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6-0, 197 pounds, 4.45/40) Ohio State
3. Kayshon Boutte (announced return to LSU)
4. Jordan Addison (6-2, 175 pounds, 4.5/40) USC
5. Cedric Tillman (6-3, 215 pounds, 4.5/40) Tennessee
6. Zay Flowers (5-10, 180 pounds, 4.45/40) Boston College
7. Andrei Iosivas (6-3, 200 pounds, 4.5/40) Princeton
8. Xavier Hutchinson (6-3, 210 pounds, 4.6/40-time) Iowa State
9. A.T. Perry (6-5, 206 pounds, 4.55/40) Wake Forest
10. Jalin Hyatt (6-0, 180 pounds, 4.45/40) Tennessee

There is less consensus about where wideouts fall than any other fantasy position. This class is not considered as deep as 2022, but the top receivers are expected to be contributors as rookies.

Quentin Johnston, Jaxon Smith-Njigba,ย  and Jordan Addison are strongly considered as the Top-3 and a level above the rest of the class. Each may end up as a first-round pick. The 40-times shown are estimates and the NFL Combine will hopefully clear up how fast they really are regardless of what their University P.R. machine says.

All of the other receivers listed above are currently expected to be second or third-round picks, but again – beyond the Top-3 there is little consensus and each could experience dramatic swings in outlook by the time the NFL draft takes place in April.

Tight Ends

1. Michael Mayer (6-4, 251 pounds, 4.7/40) Notre Dame
2. Luke Musgrave (6-6, 250 pounds, 4.7/40) Oregon State
3. Darnell Washington (6-7, 265 pounds) 4.75/40) Georgia
4. Sam LaPorta (6-3, 250 pounds, 4.69/40) Iowa
5. Dalton Kincaid (6-3, 241 pounds, 4.7/40) Utah

The position does little as rookies and Michael Mayer is the only tight end that may be taken in the late first or early second round. He’s the next Cole Kmet coming out of Notre Dame. None of the rest is expected to go prior to the third round.

2022-2023 College Bowl Schedule with 2023 fantasy rookies to watch

Friday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl: UAB vs. Miami (OH), 11:30 a.m., ESPN
Cure Bowl: Troy vs. UTSA, 3 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 17
Fenway Bowl: Louisville vs. Cincinnati 11 a.m., ESPN
New Mexico Bowl: BYU vs. SMU, 2:15 p.m., ESPN
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl: Wash. State vs. Fresno State, 3:30 p.m., ABC
LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Rice, 5:45 p.m., ESPN
Las Vegas Bowl: Florida vs. Oregon State, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Oregon State: TE Luke Musgrave
Florida: QB Anthony Richardson
Frisco Bowl: North Texas vs. Boise State, 9:15 p.m., ESPN

Monday, Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Marshall vs. UConn, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: San Jose State vs. Eastern Michigan, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Liberty, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 21
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama, 9 p.m., ESPN

Thursday, Dec. 22
Armed Forces Bowl: Baylor vs. Air Force, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Dec. 23
Independence Bowl: Houston vs. Louisiana, 3 p.m., ESPN
Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri vs. Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Wake Forest: WR A.T. Perry

Saturday, Dec. 24
Hawaii Bowl: San Diego State vs. Middle Tennessee, 8 p.m., ESPN

Monday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. New Mexico State, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 27
Camellia Bowl: Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern, 12 p.m., ESPN
First Responder Bowl: Utah State vs. Memphis, 3:15 p.m., ESPN
Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina, 6:45 p.m., ESPN
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State, 10:15 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 28
Military Bowl: Duke vs. UCF, 2 p.m., ESPN
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs. Kansas, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Texas Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss, 9 p.m., ESPN
Ole Miss: RB Zach Evans

Thursday, Dec. 29
Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse vs. Minnesota, 2 p.m., ESPN
Cheez-It Bowl: Florida State vs. Oklahoma, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Alamo Bowl: Texas vs. Washington, 9 p.m., ESPN
Texas: Bijan Robinson

Friday, Dec. 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Maryland vs. NC State, 12 p.m., ESPN
Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. UCLA, 2 p.m., CBS
UCLA: RB Zach Charbonnet
Gator Bowl: South Carolina vs. Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Notre Dame: Michael Mayer
Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs. Wyoming, 4:30 p.m., Barstool
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Tennessee 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Tennessee: WR Jalin Hyatt, WR Cedric Tillmanย 

Saturday, Dec. 31
Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky, 12 p.m., ABC
Iowa: TE Sam LaPorta
Kentucky: QB Will Levis, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Kansas State, 12 p.m., ESPN
Alabama: QB Bryce Young, RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Fiesta Bowl CFP: Michigan vs. TCU, 4 p.m., ESPN
Michigan: RB Blake Corumย 
TCU: WR Quentin Johnson, RB Kendre Miller
Peach Bowl CFP semifinal: Georgia vs. Ohio State, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Georgia: RB Kenny McIntosh, TE Darnell Washington
Ohio State: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, QB C.J. Stroud

Monday, Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Illinois, 12 p.m., ESPN2
Illinois: RB Chase Brown
Cotton Bowl: USC vs. Tulane, 1 p.m., ESPN
USC: WR Jordan Addison
Citrus Bowl: LSU vs. Purdue, 1 p.m., ABC
LSU: WR Kayshon Boutee
Rose Bowl: Utah vs. Penn State, 5 p.m., ESPN
Utah: TE Dalton Kincaid

Caleb Williams, Kennedy Brooks lead Sooners to 52-31 win over TCU Horned Frogs

In the first start of his Sooners’ career, true freshman Caleb Williams rose to the occasion to help lead OU to a 52-31 win over TCU.

The biggest storyline heading into the Oklahoma Sooners matchup with the TCU Horned Frogs was what Lincoln Riley was going to do at the quarterback position. As speculation ran rampant during warmups, it was revealed that true freshman Caleb Williams would make his start for the Sooners.

It was a debut for the ages that went about as well as it could for Caleb Williams and the Oklahoma Sooners offense that started with 14 unanswered points and never looked back offensively, putting together their best offensive performance from start to finish.

In what turned out to be a 52-31 win for the Oklahoma Sooners, Caleb Williams was 18 of 23 for 295 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Williams added 66 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, including the 41-yard dash late in the third quarter.

Kennedy Brooks followed an incredible 200-yard performance against the Texas Longhorns with 153 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

After jumping out to a 14-0 lead, the Sooners and Horned Frogs would play a tight game through most of the first half. With 20 seconds to play, the Sooners would extend their lead to 24-14 on Caleb Williams second touchdown pass of the night, this time to Jadon Haselwood.

It was one of three touchdown receptions by Haselwood, the first time since 2019 that a Sooners wide receiver had three touchdown catches. That time, it was CeeDee Lamb carving up the Texas Longhorns on the way to his incredible day.

In the second half, the Sooners and Horned Frogs would continue their offensive show, but TCU would never get closer than 10 points as Williams, and the offense answered every Horned Frogs touchdown with a score of their own.

After the Horned Frogs cut the lead to 10 on Quentin Johnson’s big 75-yard catch and run for a touchdown, Gary Patterson and TCU would attempt an onside kick. Oklahoma would catch the kick and pick up 15 yards on a kick-catching interference call. The Sooners would then go three plays for 33 yards for Jadon Haselwood’s third touchdown of the night.

Johnson would torch the Sooners for much of the night with his size and speed combination. He finished with seven receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns. Max Duggan threw for a career-high 346 passing yards and four touchdowns. Duggan added 45 yards rushing on the ground on eight carries.

Though it was a game with several momentum swings, every time the TCU Horned Frogs looked like they were mounting a comeback, the defense would get a timely stop, or the offense would respond with a touchdown.

Caleb Williams was excellent on the evening, showing incredible arm strength and accuracy, attacking the TCU secondary downfield. Williams hit nine different receivers on the night, averaging a tremendous 12.8 yards per attempt in his first start for the Sooners.

TCU isn’t the toughest defense the Sooners will face this year, but Caleb Williams did everything he wanted in his first start helping the Oklahoma Sooners improve to 7-0 on the season.

Next up for the Oklahoma Sooners is a date with the Kansas Jayhawks while TCU (3-3) heads home to take on West Virginia.

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