Tag: Troy

Chargers highlight: Kimani Vidal’s first NFL touch is a touchdown

Kimani Vidal’s first NFL touch goes for 6.

A vocal contingent of fans has been clamoring for rookie Kimani Vidal to see the field. A healthy inactive for the majority of the season behind JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Hassan Haskins, Vidal has been waiting for his opportunity since Los Angeles drafted him in the sixth round this April.

With Edwards on injured reserve with an ankle injury, that opportunity arrived this week, and Vidal instantly took advantage.

After two long runs by Dobbins, the Chargers lined up for a first and 10 on the Broncos 38 yard line. Justin Herbert dropped back and waited as Vidal beat his defender on a wheel route. Herbert put the throw on the rookie, who had to extend for the ball, accelerating down the sideline and beating two Broncos defenders to the end zone.

The play gave LA a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and gave fans a glimpse of what could be to come for the sixth rounder out of Troy.

Tennessee baseball announces two fall exhibition games

Tennessee baseball will play two fall exhibition games in 2024.

Tennessee won its first baseball national championship in school history during the 2024 season.

Tony Vitello enters his eighth season as the Vols’ head coach. He also guided Tennessee to three College World Series appearances, two Southeastern Conference Tournament championships and two SEC regular-season titles.

In preparation for Vitello’s eighth season in 2025, Tennessee will play two fall exhibition baseball games.

The Vols will play Western Kentucky on Oct. 25 at First Horizon Park in Nashville, Tennessee, home of the Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate Nashville Sounds.

Tennessee will also play Troy on Oct. 27 at Jackson Baseball Stadium, home of the Prospect League’s Jackson Rockabillys, in Jackson, Tennessee.

Game times and ticket information for both games will be announced at a later date.

PHOTOS: Tony Vitello through the years

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Which players we’re most excited to see in Chargers training camp

Highlighting the players we’re most excited to see in Chargers training camp.

Today marks the first day of Chargers training camp at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA, where there will be plenty of action for the last couple of weeks.

While there are plenty of storylines to follow, we’re focusing on the players and the ones we’re most excited to see.

Here are Chargers Wire’s staff thoughts on who we want to see the most and why.

Gavino: CB Tarheeb Still

There will be a competition for the starting slot cornerback spot and Still will be in contention for it alongside third-year Ja’Sir Taylor. Luckily for the fifth-round pick out of Maryland, he’s already made a case after a strong showing in minicamp, where he deflected multiple passes and picked off Justin Herbert once. I expect Still to continue to make plays in camp and push Taylor for the job.

Alex: RB Kimani Vidal

Usually, getting excited about a sixth-round pick projected to be a third-stringer would be reserved for only the most deranged training camp viewer, but there’s a real shot that Vidal carves out a role in this offense. Greg Roman’s scheme has lent itself well to late-round or UDFA backs before, including presumed starter and former Raven Gus Edwards. Edwards has always been more of a committee back and JK Dobbins is coming off an Achilles tear. The momentum for Vidal could come steaming through the hole sooner than later, just as it did with Baltimore UDFA Keaton Mitchell a season ago.

Valentina: WR Joshua Palmer

Many question marks have surrounded the wide receiver position since Keenan Allen and Mike Williams left the team. Palmer is perfectly poised to take the lead. He has the most chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert and this is his opportunity to have a breakout season. Palmer has shown flashes of greatness, and if he can find consistency with those moments, he will be poised to lead the wide receiver crew this year.

Chargers and Ladd McConkey, Kimani Vidal among draft’s best scheme fits

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar laid out his favorite scheme fits from the 2024 NFL draft on the offensive side of the ball.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar laid out his favorite scheme fits from the 2024 NFL draft on the offensive side of the ball and mentioned two players the Chargers selected: Ladd McConkey and Kimani Vidal.

Starting with McConkey, Farrar highlighted his route-running prowess and ability to get open to all areas of the field, adding that he will quickly become Justin Herbert’s best friend because of his skill set.

Love the speed, 4.38 [40-yard dash], but he plays to it. Harbaugh said of McConkey. He plays to that 4.38 every single play. You can see it in the way that he rages off of the ball, and once he has the ball in his hands.

Me and Joe [Hortiz] were talking about him, he’s very [Raiders TE] Brock Bowers-like with the way that he gets yards after the catch,” Harbaugh added. “Competitor, big-time. Those things. He catches the ball. A terrific route-runner. He has the quickness, he has the speed that is going to be great for our offense. I love the guys that can run in the 4.3s.

The Chargers want to run the ball at a high level under new offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

They began the building process with the signings of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins and Vidal, the team’s sixth-round selection.

Troy’s Kimani Vidal is one of my favorite backs in this class, and the Chargers got him with the 181st overall pick in the sixth round. Greg Roman loaded up on Pocket Hercules runners in Baltimore when he was the OC there, and Vidal is exactly that type of guy. Last season, the 5′ 7⅞”, 213-pound Vidal gained 1,661 yards and scored 14 touchdowns on 295 carries, with 94 forced missed tackles (by far the most among all backs in this class), and 19 carries of 15+ yards. He’s a do-it-all back in a package the Chargers seem to like.

Vidal will have to fend off Isaiah Spiller. But he has the skillset with the explosiveness, vision, contact balance, lateral agility, and passing game impact to do so and contribute early on.

Chargers RB Kimani Vidal lauded as Day 3 pick who could surprise

The Chargers got great value with Kimani Vidal in the sixth round.

The Chargers have made it clear that they will run the ball a lot, which meant bringing in the right group of guys to make it happen.

After signing Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in free agency, they selected Kimani Vidal in the sixth round.

Despite being drafted late, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler believes Vidal could surprise this upcoming season.

The Chargers added J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, but I expect Vidal to play a meaningful role almost immediately. He might not be a home run-hitter, but he is the type of running back Jim Harbaugh appreciates — someone who gets the singles and doubles and can be trusted to stay on the field in any situation.

Vidal was Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a third-team All-American in 2023 after he rushed for the second-most yards in the FBS (1,661). He left as Troy’s all-time leading rusher with 4,010 yards.

There’s a good chance that a player with that type of production in college will have the opportunity to crack the rotation in Year 1, which is why I expect Vidal to get his.

Vidal will have to fend off Isaiah Spiller. But he has the skillset with the explosiveness, vision, contact balance, lateral agility, and passing game impact to do so and contribute early on.

2024 NFL draft: Chargers pick RB Kimani Vidal with No. 181 overall selection

The Chargers added to the running back room with the selection of Kimani Vidal.

The Chargers selected former Troy running back Kimani Vidal with the No. 181 overall pick.

Los Angeles was likely to add to the backfield at some point in the draft, and they did so by getting Vidal, who should complement Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins.

Vidal was Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a third-team All-American in 2023 after he rushed for the second-most yards in the FBS (1,661). He left as Troy’s all-time leading rusher with 4,010 yards.

At 5-foot-8 and 215 pounds, Vidal has the explosiveness, vision, contact balance, lateral agility and passing game impact to be a key piece of the Bolts’ backfield committee early on.

2024 NFL draft: Chargers showing interest in Troy RB Kimani Vidal

The Chargers are looking to bolster the running game ahead of next season.

The Chargers are looking to bolster the running game ahead of next season, and a piece to the puzzle could be Troy running back Kimani Vidal.

According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, Vidal garnered interest from Los Angeles at the Senior Bowl last month.

Vidal was Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a third-team All-American in 2023 after he ran for a school record of 1,661 yards. He left as Troy’s all-time leading rusher with 4,010 yards.

At 5-foot-8 and 215 pounds, Vidal has the size, vision, contact balance, lateral agility and passing game impact to be a part of a backfield committee at the next level.

With Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley slated for free agency, that leaves Isaiah Spiller as the only player who makes up the positional room, so the Chargers will be seeking a few to fill it out.

Vidal projects as a Day 3 selection.

Trooper Taylor wins first game as head coach

Former Tennessee assistant Trooper Taylor wins first game as head coach.

Duke (8-5) defeated Troy (11-3), 17-10, on Saturday in the Birmingham Bowl.

The contest was played at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.

Trooper Taylor served as Duke’s interim head coach against Troy in the Birmingham Bowl. He was an assistant coach at Tennessee from 2004-07, overseeing running backs, wide receivers and as assistant head coach.

Taylor took over as the Blue Devils’ interim head coach following the departure of Mike Elko. Elko served as Duke’s head coach from 2022-23. He was hired in the same capacity at Texas A&M on Nov. 27.

Manny Diaz was hired as Duke’s head coach on Dec. 7, replacing Elko.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football head coaches through the years

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame football: Marcus Freeman statement on Gerad Parker

Freeman has spoken.

Some truly shocking news came down Monday for Notre Dame football as offensive coordinator Gerad Parker is gone, headed to Troy to become their head coach.

Parker was at Notre Dame for two seasons.  2022 saw him coach the tight ends before he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023.  This 2023 season had some highs and lows.

We here at Fighting Irish Wire will have plenty on the search for Notre Dame’s next offensive coordinator.  Whoever the next one is will be the fourth in as many years for the Fighting Irish.

In the meantime, Marcus Freeman released a statement on Parker taking the Troy job.  Check it out below:

Stay tuned to Fighting Irish Wire as the search for Notre Dame’s next offensive coordinator gets underway.

Volleyball dispatches Troy on Saturday morning

Arkansas continues to stack up volleyball wins in the early season, as they finished off a 3-0 road trip to Bowling Green and the University Plaza Invitational.

Arkansas’ No. 17 volleyball team capped off a 3-0 road trip with a four-set win over the Troy Trojans on Saturday.

The Razorbacks (7-2) had defeated College of Charleston and Bowling Green on Friday before taking out Troy.

Jill Gillen led the Razorbacks with 19 kills on 40 swings for a .400 hitting percentage. She also finished her 10 digs for a double-double and had two service aces.

As a team, the Razorbacks finished the match with 13 total blocks, the second double-digit blocking performance for them in as many contests. Arkansas also had 15 service aces, which ties the program record for second-highest in a match, last recorded in 2003.

Next up for the squad is a trip to the Big Apple, where the Razorbacks will face Buffalo, St. John’s and Bryant.