Tag: Toledo

Chargers four-round 2024 NFL mock draft

Here is our latest four-round projections that sees the Chargers addressing both sides of the ball, starting with a dynamic offensive weapon.

With two weeks left in the season, the attention surrounding the Chargers has completely shifted to who will be their new general manager and head coach, and who they will add in the offseason.

We will supply you with in-depth coverage from now until Los Angeles is on the clock to inform you who they could target in this upcoming draft.

Here is my latest four-round projections that sees the Bolts addressing both sides of the ball, starting with a dynamic offensive weapon.

Notre Dame all-time vs. MACtion

Who doesn’t love a little #MACtion on an October Tuesday night?

For the sixth time in program history Notre Dame will take on a member of the Mid-American Conference, better known as the MAC, on Saturday.

The Irish are 5-0 all-time against current MAC schools and welcome Central Michigan to South Bend for the first time this weekend.

Here is how Notre Dame has fared all-time against the folks that have blessed us all these years with weeknight MACtion as well as which MAC teams show up on Irish schedules in future seasons:

A look at promotions for Notre Dame’s 2023 home volleyball matches

Want some free stuff?

As hard as it is for some to believe, there will be other sports at Notre Dame this fall besides football. Volleyball will play its home matches at Purcell Pavilion as it always does. No, Purcell Pavilion doesn’t only host basketball. It’s only fitting that on of the other indoor collegiate sports play at home there.

The Irish are hoping for big fan support as they try to improve on their 10-18 record from a year ago. And short of winning, there’s no better way to get people to come out to your matches than giving things away or having themes. That’s exactly what the Irish will be doing with their promotional schedule for the 2023 season.

Given that virtually all of you are coming to this site right now for football coverage, you’re probably reading this wondering why you would even think or care about volleyball. Well, if you like fun and free stuff, you might want to look at this:

Catching up with the Boston Celtics’ 2023 NBA draft workouts Part IV

Let’s dive into who the Celtics might be targeting at No. 35.

Even with the offseason here in earnest, the Boston Celtics have plenty on their plate regarding their future as they continue to work out prospects projected to go in the second round of the ’23 NBA draft.

With the Celtics likely to need cheap depth in the future, look for prospects who are either polished enough to get some real minutes in their rookie campaign or who might be okay with a season or two stashed abroad while the team makes decisions about how it will use the new two way player slot added to rosters in the latest collective bargaining agreement recently adopted by the league.

Adding to our previous reporting of the team’s known workouts comes a new wave of prospects Boston has been working out — let’s dive into who the Celtics might be targeting at No. 35.

Seahawks sign former Vikings running back Bryant Koback

The Seattle Seahawks signed former Minnesota Vikings running back Bryant Koback to the roster ahead of the team’s rookie minicamp this week.

The Seahawks announced a personnel move Wednesday afternoon, Seattle signed running back Bryant Koback to the roster.

Koback first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent last season, spending his rookie year on the Vikings practice squad.

He now joins veterans Kenneth Walker III and DeeJay Dallas as well as draftees Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh, brining Seattle’s running back tally to five.

Koback will be in town to participate in the Seahawks’ rookie minicamp over the weekend.

The Seahawks have now reached their 90-man roster limit.

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2024 shooting guard recruit Cole Certa commits to Notre Dame

This latest commitment is for the future, not this coming season.

Lately, the focus for Notre Dame has been on filling out the upcoming season’s roster. This week has seen just that with three players who were set to play at Penn State joining [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] instead. That doesn’t mean the Irish aren’t looking at the 2024-25 season though. They now can do that after shooting guard recruit [autotag]Cole Certa[/autotag] announced his commitment to the program:

Certa, currently at Bloomington Central Catholic in Illinois, had nearly every prominent program in his home state after him. Illinois, Northwestern, Loyola Chicago, Bradley and Illinois State all made offers. He also received offers from Butler, Nebraska, Toledo and Penn State while Shrewsberry was there. The Irish were the last program to offer him, and that came after Shrewsberry went to the Irish. As it turned out, the best had been saved for last.

247Sports had Certa as the highest-rated uncommitted 2024 recruit in Illinois. That no longer is the case as Certa has made his decision. It also will be interesting to see if during his collegiate career, there will be a prominent game against North Carolina involving him and Tar Heels commit James Brown, the highest-rated Illinois recruit in that class. It sure is fun to think about.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Former Toledo TE Jamal Turner invited to Saints and Chiefs rookie minicamps

Former Toledo Rockets tight end Jamal Turner invited to try out at Saints and Chiefs rookie minicamps:

Here’s another player who has been invited to try out at New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp, per KPRC 2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson: former Toledo Rockets tight end Jamal Turner was invited to try out for both the Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs, so he may have to make a tough decision if both teams hold minicamp on the same three-day weekend (the NFL has not yet released the schedule for those workouts, which are staggered to help avoid this exact situation).

A sixth-year senior who spent most of his career blocking for one of the stronger rushing offenses in the MAC, Turner is very strong in that area of his game but lacks the agility skills and raw speed to be much of a factor as a receiving threat — he posted a mediocre 2.62 Relative Athletic Score and timed the 40-yard dash in 4.84 seconds, which is pedestrian at best by pro standards. Turner caught 29 of his 44 career receptions last season as well as 377 of his 563 total yards and 8 of his 9 touchdown catches.

Still, if he can prove he can hang with NFL talents and sustain blocks to open up rushing lanes, he’ll have a chance. That’s all undrafted rookies can ask for.

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2023 NFL draft: Rams make Toledo’s Desjuan Johnson Mr. Irrelevant with 259th and final pick

The Rams had the 259th and final pick in the 2023 NFL draft and chose Toledo’s Desjuan Johnson as Mr. Irrevelant

The Los Angeles Rams swung a deal with the Houston Texans for the 259th pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.

That would be the final choice in this process and it makes DesJuan Johnson, a defensive tackle from Toledo. Mr. Irrelevant.

Johnson is a 6-foot-2, 285-pound senior for the Rockets.

UTRockets.com offers the information on Johnson:

2022
Named pre-season First-Team All-MAC by Athlon.

2021
Second-Team All-MAC…70 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 12.5 TFL…Named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week for performance vs. WMU…Six tackles, 2.0 TFL,  one sack, one QBH and forced a fumble that was taken in for a TD…Six tackles, 2.5 TFL vs. Ball State…1.5 sacks vs. EMU……Four tackles, one forced fumble vs. Notre Dame…11 tackles, 2.5 TFL, one QBH vs. NIU…On the preseason watch list for two national defensive player of the year awards, the Bednarik Award and Bronko Naguski Trophy.

2020
Second-team All-MAC…Fourth on the team with 27 tackles… Led team with 8.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks…Nine tackles vs. Ball State…2.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks vs. EMU.

2019
32 tackles, 7.0 TFL, and five QB hurries…Career-high 3.0 tackles for loss vs. Central Michigan…Four tackles against Northern Illinois…Six tackles vs. BYU, including one sack, a tackle for loss, another tackle for no gain and a QB hurry.

2018
Played in 11 games, making 17 tackles…Season-high four tackles vs. Fresno State.

High School
Three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247 Sports…Helped East English Village Prep to an MHSAA Division II district final appearance as a senior and a 9-2 record…High school coach was Rod Oden.

Personal
Full name is Desjuan Renarl Johnson…Parents are Dion Johnson and Lacreasia Stegar…Father played football at Kansas…Has three brothers, Dion, Dejon and Derion, and two sisters, Dionjanae and Darelle…Interdisciplinary studies major.

Every Mr. Irrelevant

 

Year Name Team (Pos.) Game Appearances
2022 Brock Purdy 49ers (QB) 9
Year Name Team (Pos.) Game Appearances
2019 Caleb Wilson Cardinals (TE) 5
2018 Trey Quinn Redskins (WR) 15
2017 Chad Kelly Broncos (QB) 1
2016 Kalan Reed Titans (CB) 7
2015 Gerald Christian Cardinals (TE) 3
2014 Lonnie Ballentine Texans (S) 4
2013 Justice Cunningham Colts (TE) 4
2012 Chandler Harnish Colts (QB) 0
2011 Cheta Ozougwu Texans (DE) 9
2010 Tim Toone Lions (WR) 0
2009 Ryan Succop Chiefs (K) 166
2008 David Vobora Rams (OLB) 40
2007 Ramzee Robinson Lions (CB) 26
2006 Kevin McMahan Raiders (WR) 0
2005 Andy Stokes Patriots (TE) 0
2004 Andre Sommersell Raiders (LB) 0
2003 Ryan Hoag Raiders (WR) 0
2002 Ahmad Miller Texans (DT) 0
2001 Tevita Ofahengaue Cardinals (TE) 0
2000 Michael Green Bears (DB) 104
1999 Jim Finn Bears (RB) 106
1998 Cam Quayle Ravens (TE) 0
1997 Ronnie McAda Packers (QB) 0
1996 Sam Manuel 49ers (LB) 0
1995 Michael Reed Panthers (DB) 0
1994 Marty Moore Patriots (LB) 112
1993 Daron Alcorn Buccaneers (K) 0
1992 Matt Elliott Redskins (C) 63
1991 Larry Wanke Giants (QB) 0
1990 Demetrius Davis Raiders (TE) 0
1989 Everett Ross Vikings (WR) 0
1988 Jeff Beathard Rams (WR) 0
1987 Norman Jefferson Packers (DB) 14
1986 Mike Travis Chargers (DB) 0
1985 Donald Chumley 49ers (DT) 0
1984 Randy Essington Raiders (QB) 0
1983 John Tuggle Giants (RB) 16
1982 Tim Washington 49ers (DB) 2
1981 Phil Nelson Raiders (TE) 0
1980 Tyrone McGriff Steelers (G) 36
1979 Mike Almond Steelers (WR) 0
1978 Lee Washburn Cowboys (G) 0
1977 Jim Kelleher Vikings (RB) 0
1976 Kelvin Kirk Steelers (WR) 0

 

Chiefs hosted Toledo DL Desjuan Johnson on top-30 visit

The #Chiefs hosted a defensive lineman on a top-30 visit who they previously met with at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs recently hosted a defensive lineman for a top-30 visit who they previously met with at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, the Chiefs had Toledo defensive lineman Desjuan Johnson in town for a top-30 visit. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, Johnson posted a highly-productive season for the Rockets in 2022, culminating in a First-Team All-MAC selection. Johnson recorded 65 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 36 stops, 5.5 sacks, 42 pressures and one interception on the season.

What stands out most about Johnson is his explosive first step. During Toledo’s pro day, he posted a 1.7 10-yard split, which would have ranked second to only Pittsburgh DT Calijah Kancey at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

His height and weight suggest that Johnson could be a bit of a tweener at the NFL level. He has the ability to play on the edge, but also positional flexibility to play in the B-Gap. In Kansas City, I suspect they’d look at him as a two-down base defensive end with the ability to reduce down to the interior on third and fourth down.

Johnson currently projects as a Day 3 draft pick or priority undrafted free agent signing. Remember, the Chiefs often use top-30 visits as a recruiting tool should high-value prospects become undrafted free agents.

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NCAA Tournament: Kellie Harper recaps Lady Vols’ second-round win versus Toledo

NCAA Tournament: Kellie Harper recaps the Lady Vols’ second-round win versus Toledo

No. 4 seed Tennessee (24-11, 13-3 SEC) defeated No. 12 seed Toledo (29-4, 16-2 MAC), 94-47, Monday at Thompson-Boling Arena in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

The Lady Vols advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

Following the contest, Lady Vols’ head coach Kellie Harper recapped Tennessee’s win.

“So excited to be going back to the Sweet 16 and am really proud of our team and how we played in the first two games,” Harper said. “I think we’ve played really well top to bottom, starters and our bench. I’m really proud. I will say that right now there’s a lot of excitement on Rocky Top, obviously with our men in the Sweet 16 as well. Just a lot of fun, great vibes. Love the crowd and the energy here in Thompson-Boling Arena.

“Then the other thing right now, just love watching the tournament and pulling for the SEC teams. I’m also proud that we’re one of four teams continuing on.”

PHOTOS: Kellie Harper through the years

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