Tag: rookie

Brandon Miller named as Eastern Conference Rookie of the month for the second time

Former Alabama superstar Brandon Miller named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month

At 15-46 on the year, and third to last in the Eastern Conference, not many eyes are on the Charlotte Hornets right now. However, don’t let that take away from the fact that former [autotag]Alabama[/autotag] superstar [autotag]Brandon Miller[/autotag] has been absolutely sensational this year.

Miller has started 48 games for the Hornets in 54 appearances averaging nearly 32 minutes a game. He’s been insanely efficient averaging 16.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 2.4 apg and is shooting 44% from the field and 37.7% from beyond the arc. However, the month of February was Miller’s coming out party as he averaged 20.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 2.5 apg. His efforts earned him an Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month accolade, Miller’s second of his rookie campaign.

Any other year, and Miller be running away with the Rookie of the Year award, unfortunately though, he just happened to be in the same class as [autotag]Victor Wembanyama[/autotag] who was widely regarded as the best prospect ever – and so far has lived up to the billing.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

NFL analyst says Saints’ 2023 draft class made a poor first impression

This NFL analyst graded the New Orleans Saints’ 2023 draft class a C+, saying that they made a poor first impression:

Looking back on it now, the biggest critique of the 2023 New Orleans Saints draft class was overall inactivity. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee was the only draftee you can point to who played significant time, so it’s not difficult to see why NFL.com’s Eric Edholm gave the draft class a C+ grade. Jordan Howden also filled in at safety due to injuries, but he spent half of the season only coming in for specific packages. It’s just difficult to grade a class high when most of the players didn’t see the field often.

Defensive end Isaiah Foskey, offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri and quarterback Jake Haener were absolute non-factors in 2023. Haener was a third-string quarterback, as expected, so there’s no problem there. Foskey and Saldiveri, however, were disappointments this year. The Saints’ pass rush struggled so badly that defensive end is still looked at as a priority to many this offseason. Despite that, Foskey barely saw the field. The health of the offensive line was depleted, but there was still no Saldiveri, who ended the year with his own injury.

The grade is fair but still tough to swallow. New Orleans’ rookie draft class was disappointing in their debut season, but that doesn’t mean they can’t improve. Howden, wide receiver A.T. Perry and running back Kendre Miller all flashed the potential to be quality players with more snaps. Time will tell if Foskey or Saldiveri make an impact, but it feels as if they’ll be pushed down the depth chart this offseason. The only sure thing the Saints have from their draft class is Bresee. Hopefully he can continue to dodge the injury bug that trailed him in college and make plays for the defensive line.

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Former Alabama LB Will Anderson named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Houston Texans Will Anderson Jr awarded as NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

With the Super Bowl just days away, it leaves a bitter-sweet feeling. Sweet in the sense that we get the most highly anticipated game of the year, bitter because it means football is gone for seven months. However, it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all, and the 2023 football season was special.

The NFL Honors show was on Thursday evening as Lamar Jackson was unveiled as the league MVP for the second time in his career. For Alabama fans, the exciting part of the evening came as [autotag]Will Anderson Jr.[/autotag] was announced as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson becomes the first former Alabama player to win the award since his current head coach, DeMeco Ryans, last did it in 2006 with the Houston Texans as well. Anderson was a monster all season long as he finished the year with 45 tackles, seven sacks and 10.5 stuffs in 15 games.

Ryans and Anderson is a match made in heaven and is only getting to get better by the year. CJ Stroud and the Texans offense took up most of the headlines in Houston all year long, but the defense was the unsung heroes of the year. The Texans are beginning to look like geniuses for moving up to No. 3 in the draft to get Anderson a year ago.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski selected to the 2024 NBA Rising Stars team

The rookie will represent the Warriors at All-Star weekend in Indiana.

Before the reserves are announced for the upcoming NBA All-Star game in Indiana, the NBA revealed the players selected for the Rising Stars game between rookies and sophomores at All-Star weekend.

2024 No. 19 overall pick out of Santa Clara, Brandin Podziemski, will represent the Warriors in the NBA’s Rising Stars game.

Via @NBAAllStar on Twitter:

The former first-round pick is averaging 9.2 points on 46.2% shooting from the field to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 24.2 minutes per game.

Podziemski will be the first member of the Warriors to play in the Rising Stars game since Jonathan Kuminga in 2022. Other Warriors like Mychal Mulder, James Wiseman, and Eric Paschall have recently made appearances in the Rising Stars game at All-Star weekend.

The Rising Stars game is scheduled for Friday, February 16 at Indiana’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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NBA Rookie Ladder: Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski lands just outside top-5 in latest rookie rankings

The Golden State rookie landed just outside the top-5 in the latest NBA rookie rankings.

Throughout the Golden State Warriors’ up-and-down season, 2024 first-round pick Brandin Podziemski has provided a much-needed spark in Steve Kerr’s lineup. With injuries to Chris Paul and Gary Payton II, Podziemski has shined with an increased role alongside Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in Golden State’s rotation.

The rookie out of Santa Clara is averaging 9.2 points on 45.7% shooting from the field, with 39.1% shooting from beyond the arc to go along with 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 24.4 minutes per game.

In the latest round of the NBA’s Kia Rookie Ladder from NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner, Podziemski is beginning to earn recognition for his impressive campaign. Podziemski landed just outside the top five at No. 6 in the set of rookie rankings. Aschburner ranked the young Golden State guard in front of top-five picks Scoot Henderson and Ausar Thompson.

See the rest of the rankings here.

Podziemski recently matched his career-high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field with 10 rebounds and three assists in a homecoming performance against the Milwaukee Bucks. Podziemski’s effort against the Bucks was the third time this season he’s notched 20 or more points and his second double-double of the season.

Podziemski will have the chance to build on his solid rookie campaign on Wednesday when the Warriors host the Atlanta Hawks at San Francisco’s Chase Center.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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Chiefs OC Matt Nagy breaks down WR Rashee Rice’s weekly improvement

Kansas City #Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy broke down WR Rahee Rice’s improvement during comments to the media this week.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Navy has dealt with adversity regarding the sub-par performance of his group. A significant bright spot in his offense has been the emergence of rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is already being targeted heavily on pass plays.

Nagy spoke with reporters on Thursday about his talented rookie and the growth he’s experienced this season.

“It was probably around mid-season. I can’t say an exact time,” Nagy explained. “There were some sprinkled plays where I think you’d see the explosiveness of how he is on a play, and sometimes it’s not always just one or two plays.

“There are five catches that he has for 100 yards; it might be more so of us feeling, Hey, this is clicking with him with the there’s not a lot of mental mistakes. When we get together Monday morning and watch the tape, we’re seeing it’s clean. And so, as a coach, when you have guys that don’t make the same mistake twice. You love that, and that’s what he’s done.”

Rice continues challenging franchise records as a rookie while his targets increase weekly. The trust he’s earned in the offense has gone a long way in helping to right the unit’s ship.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice set two franchise postseason records in win vs. Dolphins

Rashee Rice earned two spots in the #Chiefs’ franchise record books after his breakout postseason performance against the #Dolphins.

The Kansas City Chiefs needed impressive showings from their receivers against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night, and rookie Rashee Rice answered the call, hauling in eight catches for 130 yards to help the defending Super Bowl champions advance in the playoffs.

His breakout postseason performance wasn’t just fun to watch for fans in attendance at frosty Arrowhead Stadium. After lighting up the stat sheet, Rice cemented his role in Chiefs history by setting Kansas City’s franchise records for receptions and receiving yards by a rookie in the postseason.

These outstanding accomplishments were a long time in the making for Rice, who has been among the Chiefs’ most consistent pass-catchers all season.

Even as a rookie, Rice has displayed mettle beyond his years in Andy Reid’s notoriously difficult offense, and has quickly become one of Patrick Mahomes’ go-to options on passing plays.

Expect the Southern Methodist University product to get plenty of looks in Kansas City’s next playoff matchup.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice ended 2023 regular season with fifth-best PFF grade among rookies

#Chiefs rookie WR Rashee Rice earned the fifth-best PFF grade of any rookie for his performance during the regular season.

Rashee Rice has been a godsend for the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense in a year that the unit has struggled to move the ball with its once-elite passing game.

Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes did his best to make the most of his receiving corps over the course of Kansas City’s 17-game schedule, but wasn’t able to get players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson, or Skyy Moore in rhythm.

Rookie pass catcher Rashee Rice, however, has made a huge impact and has developed into one of Mahomes’ most consistent targets in his first games in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, Rice’s 85.4 grade for the 2023 season is the fifth-highest of any rookie.

While there remains plenty of room for Rice to grow, these marks are impressive, especially given his status as a second-round pick. Expect Mahomes to look for Rice against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday as Kansas City seeks to earn a playoff victory in absolutely brutal weather conditions at Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC’s Wild Card round.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has earned outstanding PFF grades in 2023

#Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has earned outstanding grades from Pro Football Focus for the performances he has put together as a rookie in 2023.

Rashee Rice has been one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ most reliable offensive weapons in 2023. His contributions as a rookie have been a crucial part of Kansas City’s success and earned him a significant amount of attention from Pro Football Focus, which has him graded as the Chiefs’ best wide receiver this season.

Rice has also managed to earn the second-best grade of any rookie in the 2023 draft class, a feat which is particularly impressive given his status as a second-round pick.

While PFF grades are a great way to quantify a player’s performance, the raw stats he has accumulated over the course of his first 14 games in the NFL are equally impressive.

This season, Rice has caught 68 passes for 754 yards and seven touchdowns and blossomed into Kansas City’s second-most valuable pass catcher behind All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce.

Expect the rookie phenom to be heavily involved in Andy Reid’s game plan in Kansas City’s Week 16 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas day.

Saints use NFL’s third quarterback loophole for the first time in 2023

The Saints are taking advantage of the NFL’s third quarterback loophole for the first time in 2023. Jake Haener is available to play in a pinch:

It’s taken longer than maybe expected, but the New Orleans Saints are taking advantage of the NFL’s third quarterback loophole for the first time in 2023. Jake Haener is available to play in a pinch. He was listed with the emergency quarterback designation for Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers.

But it’ll have to be an emergency. Haener will be wearing his uniform and have his helmet in case he’s needed, unlike the other inactive players this week, but he can only get into the game if both Derek Carr and Jameis Winston are unable to play due to injuries. Carr is returning from a concussion with an injured rib and banged-up throwing shoulder. He’s had to exit three games this year with injuries and in each case Winston has has gotten the nod to lead the huddle.

And, just in case you missed it, Haener switched from his No. 14 jersey to the No. 3 worn after the preseason once Wil Lutz was traded to the Denver Broncos. The rookie fourth-round draft pick out of Fresno State has not appeared in a game for the Saints this season; in preseason, he completed 38 of 72 passes for 395 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions, taking two sacks.

So why now? Taysom Hill is inactive after suffering injuries to his foot and non-throwing hand a week ago, which means the Saints are down to just three quarterbacks, not four — satisfying the letter of the rule. It’s unlikely Haener will hit the field on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome, but he’ll be ready if the Saints need to call his number.

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