Tag: Stephen Johnson

3 McNeese State players to watch ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 2 matchup

Here are three McNeese State players to watch ahead of Saturday’s game

Texas A&M’s 2024 season began with a disappointing 23-13 loss to Notre Dame.

The game was tied 13-13 with just four minutes left in the fourth quarter, as Irish QB Riley Leonard led his team down the field for a go-ahead touchdown, virtually ending the game. Set to face FCS opponent McNeese State this weekend, Texas A&M’s offense will be under the microscope.

After passing for only 100 yards and two interceptions to open the year, Aggies starting quarterback Conner Weigman will look to find holes in the Cowboys’ secondary. At the same time, McNeese State’s offense will look to establish the run early and use the legs to their star QB.

Here are three McNeese State players to watch ahead of Texas A&M vs. McNeese State.

QB Clifton McDowell

Standing at 6-5 and 230 pounds, McDowell entered the transfer portal after spending last season with Montana, leading the Grizzlies to the FCS title game in 2023.

Finding a home in Louisiana with a Cowboys team needing a steady signal caller. Texas A&M’s secondary should keep him at bay, but his legs could give the defense issues after allowing Riley Leonard to rush for 63 yards last Saturday. In two games this season, McDowell has thrown for 273 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Note: Clifton McDowell is questionable to play in the game due to injury

LB Micah Davey 

McNeese State has some dudes on the defensive side of the ball, starting with junior linebacker Micah Davey, who accounted for 130 tackles, 70 solo tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections last season. Already netting 31 tackles and half a sack in two games, Davey will be all over the field against the Aggies.

DL Stephen Johnson

Like most FCS programs, utilizing the transfer portal is an absolute must, as McNeese State head coach Gary Goff went out and acquired former Auburn defensive lineman Stephen Johnson, who stands at a whopping 6-4 and 330 pounds. A powerful defender, Johnson didn’t see the field during his first season with the Tigers but has already recorded six tackles in two games. However, I expect A&M’s strong interior O-line to be prepared.

Texas A&M will host McNeese State on Saturday, Sept. 7, for an early kickoff at 11:45 a.m. The game will air on the SEC Network.

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Freshman defensive lineman Wilky Denaud enters the transfer portal

Wilky Denaud is the ninth Tiger to enter the transfer portal and the third along the defensive line.

After spending just one season on the Plains, defensive lineman [autotag]Wilky Denaud[/autotag] has decided to enter the transfer portal. He did not play as a true freshman.

Denaud was a four-star prospect coming out of Fort Pierce, Florida, and is the first member of Auburn’s 2023 recruiting class to enter the portal. He was the No. 417 overall player and No. 49 defensive lineman in the 247Sports composite ranking.

He is the ninth Tiger to enter the transfer portal since the end of the regular season and the third along the defensive line, joining fellow reserves [autotag]Stephen Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Enyce Sledge[/autotag]. You can keep up with all of Auburn’s outgoing transfers HERE.

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Michigan State DL Derrick Harmon to visit Auburn this weekend

A former teammate of Payton Thorne, Harmon recorded 40 tackles for Michigan State in 2023.

The Plains will be a busy place this weekend, as several members of the transfer portal are set to take a visit.

Michigan State defensive lineman [autotag]Derrick Harmon[/autotag] is set to be one of those according to a report by Auburn Undercover. He is one of four known prospects from the transfer portal set to visit Auburn over the weekend.

A former teammate of Auburn quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] in East Lansing, Harmon was a productive member of the Spartans defensive line in 2023. He made 40 stops for Michigan State this season, which was eighth-highest on the team. Among those tackles, 3.5 were for a loss and 1.5 were registered as sacks. Harmon also broke up a pass and forced a fumble.

According to Pro Football Focus data, Harmon was the third-highest-graded defensive player for Michigan State in 2023 with a 78.0, with his strong suit being run defense with an 80.5. He forced 18 hurries and missed just five tackles in 475 snaps.

Auburn has two senior defensive linemen on its 2023 roster who are out of eligibility: [autotag]Mosiah Nasili-Kite[/autotag] and [autotag]Lawrence Johnson[/autotag]. Two linemen, [autotag]Enyce Sledge[/autotag] and [autotag]Stephen Johnson[/autotag], are currently in the transfer portal.

Harmon is a redshirt sophomore and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

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Auburn tight end Tyler Fromm enters the transfer portal

Tyler Fromm spent five seasons on the Plains.

Veteran tight end [autotag]Tyler Fromm[/autotag] has entered the transfer portal, according to numerous reports. He appeared in 38 games during his five seasons on the Plains.

After redshirting in 2019, he appeared in one game during the 2020 season and cracked the tight end rotation in 2021, appearing in all 13 games. He caught 14 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown during his time at Auburn.

Starting tight end Rivaldo Fairweather is considering whether to enter the NFL draft or return to Auburn for one more season but Luke Deal, Micah Riley and Brandon Frazier are all expected to return next season.

He is the seventh Tiger to enter the portal, joining receivers [autotag]Omari Kelly[/autotag], [autotag]Jyaire Shorter[/autotag] and [autotag]Malcolm Johnson Jr.[/autotag], defensive linemen [autotag]Stephen Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Enyce Sledge[/autotag] and jack linebacker [autotag]Stephen Sings V[/autotag].

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Malcolm Johnson Jr. becomes third Auburn WR to enter the transfer portal

He joins Omari Kelly and Jyaire Shorter as Auburn wide reciever to enter the transfer portal.

Auburn’s wide receiver room is undergoing some massive renovations as three wideouts have entered the transfer portal. [autotag]Malcolm Johnson Jr.[/autotag] is the latest to enter, joining [autotag]Omari Kelly[/autotag] and [autotag]Jyaire Shorter[/autotag], according to a report from Auburn Undercover’s Nathan King.

Johnson signed with Auburn as a member of the 2020 recruiting class under Gus Malzahn. He was the No. 212 overall player and No. 38 wide receiver in the 247Sports composite ranking.

He redshirted in 2020 before appearing in 10 games in 2021, catching six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. He caught two passes for 28 yards in six appearances in 2022, appearing in every game last season, he snagged six passes for 89 yards.

The trio of Kelly, Shorter and Johnson are the only offensive players to enter the portal so far with defensive linemen [autotag]Stephen Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Enyce Sledge[/autotag] and Jack linebacker [autotag]Stephen Sings V[/autotag] having also entered.

You can keep up with all of Auburn’s departures with Auburn Wire’s Transfer Portal Tracker.

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EDGE Stephen Sings V has entered transfer portal

Sings joined Auburn as a transfer in 2023, following Hugh Freeze to Auburn from Liberty.

The transfer portal has officially opened, which will provide plenty of entertainment until bowl season arrives.

Ahead of the transfer portal opening, three Auburn players announced their intention to enter the portal. Monday, a fourth has officially announced that he will play elsewhere in 2024.

[autotag]Stephen Sings V[/autotag], an EDGE who followed Hugh Freeze from Liberty to Auburn during last season’s transfer portal window, has officially entered the transfer portal according to a report from On3.

Sings spent the first three seasons of his career at Liberty, where he recorded 48 total tackles with nine for loss and seven sacks in 29 games. He did not see the field as much as anticipated during his time on the Plains, as he played in just six games. According to Pro Football Focus, Sings participated in 75 plays this season. During his brief stay on the Plains, he recorded six tackles and two quarterback hurries.

Defensive linemen [autotag]Enyce Sledge[/autotag] and [autotag]Stephen Johnson[/autotag], as well as wide receiver [autotag]Omari Kelly[/autotag], have announced their intent to enter the transfer portal. Keep up with all of Auburn’s moves with Auburn Wire’s transfer portal tracker.

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Omari Kelly announces intent to enter transfer portal

Kelly hauled in five catches for 101 yards in 19 games.

The transfer portal window will officially open on Monday and the running total of Auburn players who are announcing their intent to enter the portal is up to three.

Sophomore receiver [autotag]Omari Kelly[/autotag] announced Friday that he will enter the transfer portal, joining defensive linemen [autotag]Enyce Sledge[/autotag] and [autotag]Stephen Johnson[/autotag] in announcing their plans to move on from the program.

Kelly signed with Auburn as a member of the 2022 recruiting class. He was a three-star athlete out of Hewitt-Trussville High School in metro Birmingham and was the No. 17 overall player from the state of Alabama.

He appeared in 19 games during his two seasons at Auburn, including seven games in 2023. He hauled in five total catches for 101 yards during his time as an Auburn Tiger. In 2023, he caught two passes for 45 yards in Auburn’s 45-13 win over Samford.

The transfer portal officially opens on Monday, Dec. 4, and will remain open until Tuesday, Jan. 2.

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Auburn flips another three-star recruit from SEC school

Auburn’s once-flailing 2023 class has shot up to No. 26 in the overall rankings.

Coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has wasted no time getting recruits to buy in to the new Auburn Tigers.

Freeze has carried out a series of flips over the past few weeks, and his staff pulled off another one on Sunday. This time, it’s defensive lineman Stephen Johnson, a three-star prospect out of Fayetteville, Georgia.

Johnson was initially committed to another Fayetteville; he had pledged to the Arkansas Razorbacks in June. That didn’t stop Auburn from pursuing, though, and Freeze ramped up his recruitment of Johnson in recent days. The Tigers offered Johnson on Dec. 13 and brought him in for an unofficial visit on Dec. 16. Johnson promptly decommitted from the Razorbacks and pledged to Auburn.

The flip continues Auburn’s massive rise in the class. The Tigers are 26th in 247Sports’ 2023 class rankings. What once looked to be an aimless class appears to have shaped up much more under Freeze, who may not be done before the year ends.

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Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler, Stephen Johnson earn Big 12 weekly awards

Oklahoma took care of business against Missouri State in a 48-0 win on Saturday night. With that performance will come some weekly awards.

Oklahoma took care of business against FCS-Missouri State in a 48-0 win on Saturday night. With that performance will come some weekly awards.

Spencer Rattler threw for 290 yards and had four passing touchdowns against the Bears. The Big 12 Conference named him the Newcomer of the Week on Monday after his impressive starting debut.

Joining him on the weekly award list was backup kicker Stephen Johnson. He hit field goals from 22-yards and 42-yards, as well as go 6-for-6 on extra points

It’s the first weekly award from the Big 12 for both. Oklahoma quarterbacks have typically taken home a weekly award for much of their careers.

Texas’ quarterback Sam Ehlinger was named the Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Week after his 429 passing yard and five touchdown performance against UTEP.

The Sooners are currently on a bye week. Oklahoma’s next game is on Sept. 26 at home against Kansas State at 11 a.m.. It is the Sooners’ first Big 12 game of the 2020 season.

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Oklahoma 2020 player card: No. 39 Stephen Johnson

Sooners Wire will be creating player cards for readers to be introduced to the 2020 roster. Here is No. 39 Stephen Johnson

There is a ton of momentum to having a 2020 college football season these days. No definite signs, yet, but the season would start less than 100 days from now.

Sooners Wire will be creating player cards for readers to be introduced to the 2020 roster.

Here is No. 39 on special teams for Oklahoma.

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Name: Stephen Johnson

Number: No. 39

Year: Redshirt junior

Position: Kicker

Hometown: Arlington, TX

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 187 pounds

Now a redshirt junior, Stephen Johnson joined Oklahoma as a walk-on in the spring of 2018. He was previously at Blinn College.

Johnson more than likely was apart of a position battle before the 2019 season, but the duties were eventually given to Calum Sutherland. After Sutherland was arrested and removed from the team just three games into the season, freshman Gabe Brkic stepped in and went 17-for-17 on field goals the rest of the season.

Oklahoma is set to begin their season on September 5 against Missouri State.

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