Tag: Specialist

Wisconsin football offers talented multi-sport class of 2025 specialist

Wisconsin football offers talented multi-sport class of 2025 specialist

The Wisconsin Badgers extended an offer to class of 2025 long snapper Kallen Cosper on Tuesday.

Ranked a 4.5 star via Rubio Long Snapping, the 6-foot-5, 200-pounder has also received an offer from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. The outlet also ranks the Texas native as the No. 26 long-snapper recruit in his class.

Cosper, who also represents Kingwood Park High School on the hardwood and volleyball court, would become the first long snapper to commit to Luke Fickell’s class of 2025. In-state kicker Erik Schmidt, who offered his pledge on June 26, is the only other specialist to join UW thus far.

Despite being a rising senior, Cosper’s frame and size, coupled with his mobility showcased in basketball and volleyball, make him an appealing recruit for potential suitors.

Wisconsin recent transfer addition Cayson Pfeiffer currently captains UW’s long snapper room

 

247Sports ranks Wisconsin’s current class of 2025 at No. 16 in the nation with 22 commitments. After securing Hardy Watts on Monday, Fickell and his staff will prioritize top uncommitted targets Muizz Tounkara, Kade Pietrzak and Byron Louis.

Saints release backup kicker Austin Seibert, giving Blake Grupe the green light

Saints release backup kicker Austin Seibert, giving Blake Grupe the green light to continue kicking in black and gold:

Here’s a good sign for Blake Grupe moving forward. The New Orleans Saints released backup kicker Austin Seibert from the practice squad this week, giving Grupe the green light to continue kicking in black and gold.

Seibert was signed after a group tryout last week in the wake of Grupe’s groin injury. He’s been limited in practice but made all of his kicks (four extra point attempts and five kickoffs, two of which were touchbacks) last Sunday against the Detroit Lions. He’ll be up again for this week’s game with the Carolina Panthers.

Hopefully Grupe’s injury issues are behind him. The rookie has had an up-and-down NFL debut — he’s connected on 24 of 30 field goal tries for a success rate of 80%, which ranks 23rd among 34 qualifying kickers. On the upside, he’s hit all 23 point-after attempts. Grupe is one of 10 kickers who have scored 100% of their extra points this season. And 53 of his 62 kickoffs have been touchbacks (85.5%, which ranks 9th-best).

He just needs to be show more consistency on field goals. Some of Grupe’s misses have been due to a poor setup by his holder, rookie punter Lou Hedley, but he’s missed from a variety of distances. If he can bounce back from this injury and nail that down, the Saints decision-makers who have stuck by him — Dennis Allen and Mickey Loomis — will be feeling vindicated.

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Pete Carroll is counting on Jadeveon Clowney making it back Week 13

Although he won’t practice Wednesday, coach Pete Carroll is counting on defensive end Jadeveon Clowney to be ready to face the Vikings.

The Seattle Seahawks have seen a vast improvement in their pass-rushing capabilities with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney on the field.

Clowney, who was inactive Week 12 against the Eagles with a hip/groin injury, saw a specialist ahead of the matchup in Philadelphia. Likely a sports hernia, Clowney isn’t facing surgery at this time, but will need to prove he’s healthy enough to play ahead of Monday night.

Coach Pete Carroll said Clowney won’t practice on Wednesday, but the team is counting on him to be ready to face the Vikings.

“Not a whole lot more other than we’re counting on him getting back,” Carroll said Wednesday. “We are – we are counting on him getting back, but he’s still gotta make it. So that’s the twinge of optimism there again.

“But he feels good about and he wants to go and he’s going to try to make it.”

The Seahawks have Thursday off for Thanksgiving but will practice Friday and Saturday to prepare for Minnesota.

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Pete Carroll optimistic Jadeveon Clowney will play next Monday night

Following a hip procedure in Philadelphia, the Seahawks are hopeful defensive end Jadeveon Clowney can play Week 13 against Minnesota.

The Seattle Seahawks were without one of the key members of their defense Sunday against the Eagles as defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was inactive and watched from the sidelines.

Clowney has been battling a sore hip and underwent a procedure with a specialist in Philadelphia ahead of the Seahawks matchup.

Coach Pete Carroll is hoping Clowney will be available next week when Seattle squares off against the Vikings for “Monday Night Football.”

“I would think, I – I’m optimistically, I think so,” Carroll said after the win. “Yeah. He had some stuff that he had to go through here and it just set him back a little bit because of the treatments, they were going to set him back a couple days. And it could have and it did.

“So he should likely be coming out of that and we’re hopeful he’ll be better off by the week next week.”

With Clowney out, Ziggy Ansah stepped up big time for the Seahawks, logging four tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble.

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