Tag: usa today sports

SEC, ACC dominate 1st half of MLB draft’s 1st round on Sunday night

Another fine showing for the SEC on the opening night of the 2024 MLB draft.

The first round of the 2024 MLB draft is in the books and the Southeastern Conference — as well as the Atlantic Coast Conference — dominated the top half of the opening round.

USA TODAY Sports writer Gabe Lacques penned up his five takeaways after the dust settled, noting that the SEC and ACC were a significant presence among the top picks.

“After Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana was picked No. 1 overall, 11 of the next 14 players selected hailed from either Southeastern or Atlantic Coast Conference schools,” Lacques begins.

“That tracks with the most recent College World Series, in which the field was comprised entirely of ACC and SEC teams.

“Wake Forest had three players taken in the top 10, giving the Demon Deacons five first-rounders the past two years. And the SEC had 16 of the top 60 picks.”

Does it truly just matter more?

“The SEC is the best of the best. You got guys like Paul Skenes coming out, [autotag]Brandon Sproat[/autotag] coming out, Friday night guys who are top-round picks,” says Tennessee infielder Christian Moore, taken eighth overall by the Los Angeles Angels.

“It definitely prepares you for pro ball. I don’t know what it’s like, but I hope it’s fun,” he added.

“Telling that Moore would lump Sproat, a second-round pick of the Mets out of Florida in 2023, in the same breath as Skenes, who leaped from 1/1 in 2023 to starting the All-Star Game in 2024,” Lacqeus continues.

“While Sun Belt schools always had a weather advantage, the same advantages that lure high school kids to college – NIL, excellent facilities, pro-level coaches – are exacerbated in the SEC and ACC.

“Yes, the rich will continue to get richer.”

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Grant Holloway a USA TODAY Sports winner from U.S. Olympic track & field trials

The pride of Florida’s track and field team appears to still be well in his prime with his recent performance at the U.S. Olympic track & field trials.

The U.S. Olympic track and field trials had a memorable final four days of competition, which included a statement performance from former Florida Gators star runner Grant Holloway.

USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon dropped his winners and losers column to start the month and included Holloway among his former group. He appears to still be in his prime, competing at the level he did the last time the Olympics rolled around.

“Holloway sent a message to the Paris Olympic participants in the men’s 110-meter hurdles. Holloway looked unbeatable at the Olympic trials,” Dragon begins.

“The three-time world champion saved his best for the final. Holloway ran a world-leading time of 12.86 seconds to win gold. It’s the second-fastest time he’s ever run.

“Holloway looks to be on a mission this year for his first Olympic gold. He placed second at the Tokyo Olympics.”

Before the final, Holloway was the only man to run a sub-13-second 110-meter hurdle this year. Freddie Crittenden (12.93) and Daniel Roberts (12.96) both joined that list and are headed to Paris on the Olympic team after medaling in Eugene.

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Florida’s two-way standout among USA TODAY Sports’ future stars in Omaha

Unsurprisingly, Caglianone is one of the top players to watch in this year’s College World Series.

The 2024 College World Series is just about to begin as the final eight teams in the NCAA Tournament get set to face off for the national title. Among the schools represented in Omaha, Nebraska, this month are some of the top prospects in the upcoming 2024 MLB draft.

One particular standout is Florida’s first baseman/starting pitcher [autotag]Jac Caglianone[/autotag], who is one of the most coveted players in the upcoming selection process. The lefty is expected to go No. 7 overall by Baseball America while MLB Pipeline puts him at No. 3.

USA TODAY Sports writer Gabe Lacques recently offered up his top players participating in the CWS who will be in the MLB draft this July. Of course, Caglianone was among this group of elite players.

“Sure, we gave Caglianone some love before the regional round, but the young man is so dynamic, it’s tough to keep up,” Lacques begins. “The Gators barely squeezed into the tournament and now they refuse to leave, winning a 13-inning epic at Clemson to once again reach Omaha.

“Naturally, Caglianone’s two-way impact was felt all over the super regional, as he homered in both games and pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs, in the clincher,” he continues. “The offensive numbers are insane: Thirty-three home runs for a second consecutive year, a .411 average and 1.392 OPS.”

It is also worth noting that Cags tied an NCAA record by homering in nine consecutive games this season.

“The pitching metrics are startling if unpolished: A 100-mph fastball but a 4.71 ERA as he hones his command three years removed from Tommy John surgery,” Lacques concludes.

Florida and the Texas A&M Aggies face off in the College World Series opener on Saturday in Omaha with a start time of 7 p.m. ET slated.

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‘I’m comfortable with my actions’, Billy Napier comments on lawsuit from Georgia’s Jaden Rashada

Bill Napier believes he’s in the clear despite lawsuit from Georgia football QB Jaden Rashada…

Florida head coach Billy Napier commented on the lawsuit filed by Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada on Tuesday at the SEC’s spring meetings.

“I’m comfortable with my actions,” Napier said, according to On3’s Jesse Simonton. “‘I’m thankful for the university’s support and we’re going to keep it at that and let the process take it’s course.

Napier went on to state that he couldn’t comment specifically about the details of the ongoing lawsuit.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reportedly gave the Arizona State transfer “his blessing” to move forward with the suit that claims Rashada was lied to in an effort to get him to flip his commitment from Miami to Florida in 2023. Rashada reportedly signed a $13.8 million NIL deal and flipped to the Gators before backing out of his letter of intent after the first payment wasn’t fulfilled.

Napier is named in the suit, along with one of the top Gator boosters, Hugh Hathcock, and former staffer Marcus Castro-Walker.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was also asked for his thoughts on the Jaden Rashada suit on Tuesday. He thinks there will be more of its kind down the road.

“I’m not a fan of lawsuits,” Sankey said. “That’s what I think. It’s not the only lawsuit involving a coach in the last year. It won’t be the last. We have a legal system and people have a right to pursue whatever they view as grievances.”

Where is Rutgers football in the USA TODAY college football re-rank?

USA TODAY ranks the top college football teams in the nation in their spring re-rank.

There is some respect from Rutgers football, who are middle of the pack in the Big Ten in the latest update of the NCAA re-rank from USA TODAY Sports.

At No. 47, Rutgers football is in a solid spot within the Big Ten and the Power Five as a whole.

Following the end of the regular season, USA TODAY ranked Rutgers as No. 63 in their rankings. The ranking was before Rutgers played in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. Following their bowl win over Miami, Rutgers moved up to No. 55 in the final rankings from USA TODAY.

Interestingly, Virginia Tech is No. 20 on Paul Myerberg‘s ranking, underscoring the importance of that game for Rutgers’ football’s bowl hopes this year.

Georgia is the top-ranked team in the rankings followed by Ohio State. Texas is third and Oregon is fourth.

The lowest ranked Big Ten programs are No. 95 Purdue and No. 100 Indiana.

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There is reason for optimism that Rutgers can take the next step this season. The Scarlet Knights return their core from a top-20 defense that should be among the best in the nation this fall.

In addition, the offensive line is experienced and the offense returns Kyle Monangai, the top rusher in the Big Ten last season.

 

USC No. 17 in USA TODAY Sports college football re-rank after spring

USC can be found in at least one analyst’s preseason top 20.

The USC Trojans are not found in a lot of top-25 rankings lists before the 2024 college football season. However, Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports is more sold on the Trojans than most. Myerberg has USC at No. 17 in his post-spring re-rank of the teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Notable in this is that Myerberg has Michigan ranked just three spots ahead of USC at No. 14, putting the two teams on relatively even footing.

Myerberg had this to say about Michigan, whom USC faces on Sept. 21 in Ann Arbor in the Trojans’ first official Big Ten Conference game:

“The Wolverines remain talented enough to win the Big Ten and get back into the College Football Playoff but enter the summer with question marks: How well can they replace J.J. McCarthy? Will there be a seamless transition from Jim Harbaugh to Sherrone Moore?”

Find out where the other big names in college football are ranked after spring ball. Ohio State and Oregon are widely viewed as the two favorites to make the Big Ten Championship Game and play for the conference championship. Read the article to also see where LSU — USC’s Week 1 opponent in Las Vegas — is ranked.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

Florida cracks top 35 in USA TODAY Sports’ NCAA too-early re-rank

The Gators’ USA TODAY Sports re-rank standing is significantly better than where they were at the end of last season.

The start of the 2024 college football campaign is over three months away but with the conclusion of the spring practice season as well as the transfer portal window, the sports media is already submitting its prognostications for the coming fall.

USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg submitted his re-rank 1-134 on Wednesday, placing the Florida Gators at No. 33, sitting between the No. 32 Boise State Broncos and No. 34 James Madison Dukes.

The Orange and Blue were ranked No. 73 in the final tally last fall, wedged between the No. 72 California Golden Bears and No. 74 Marshall Thundering Herd.

The Georgia Bulldogs hold the top spot in the re-rank, followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes, Texas Longhorns, Oregon Ducks and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, respectively, in the top five. The LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida State Seminoles, Clemson Tigers and Penn State Nittany Lions round out the top 10.

Florida opens up its 2024 regular-season schedule in the Swamp against the Miami Hurricanes on Aug. 31. Kickoff time is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

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USA Today gives Tampa Bay a ‘B’ for Graham Barton pick

Tampa Bay gets a “B” grade for drafting Graham Barton.

The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone, and here we are examining how each team that had a first-rounder did.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton with the 26th overall pick, and in many ways, that pick is a perfect blend of need and upside for the Bucs at that spot.

Barton began his Blue Devils career at center in 2020 and then started 34 games at left tackle over the last three seasons of his collegiate career. His positional flexibility was alluring to many teams, but his work at the center appeals most to the Buccaneers.

USA Today handed out grades for every single first-round pick last night, and here’s what they decided for Tampa Bay.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, C, Duke – Grade: B

In an offseason that could have been a disaster for the Buccaneers, Jason Licht found a way to keep everything together. His solid effort extends to the draft, as Tampa Bay addressed its shaky interior with Barton. A left tackle for the last three seasons at Duke, the 6-5, 313-pounder exhibits the strength, smarts and smooth movements to slide back to the pivot, where he started his career with the Blue Devils. He should help lead the charge for improving a run game that averaged a league-worst 3.4 yards per carry in 2023.

Giving Tampa Bay a “B” for their efforts feels reasonable. The Bucs were in a tough spot because if they traded down, there was a chance Barton would not have made it past the Dallas Cowboys, who also coveted Barton’s versatility.

With Barton in the fold, he will likely take over for 2023 starter Robert Hainsey. Barton posted the highest RAS of any center since 1987. His athleticism at center is unprecedented. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who just signed a three-year, 100 million dollar deal, will be thrilled to have this level of protection and football IQ protecting him up the middle.

Pearsall pick one of USA TODAY Sports’ most questionable in first round

While the Gator Nation cheered on Pearsall’s good fortune, many among the sports media were critical of the pick.  

The first round of the 2024 NFL draft had a few surprises, some of which were well-received while others were not. One former Florida Gator received the late call on Thursday night in a shocking leap into the Day 1 docket.

The San Francisco 49ers selected wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] with the 31st pick, which was around 20 slots earlier than most mocks had him. While the Gator Nation cheered his good fortune, many among the sports media were critical of the pick.

USA TODAY Sports writer Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz penned his list of the seven most questionable picks in the first round, and listed the Pearsall pick last.

“The name no one saw coming on Day 1 was Pearsall, who claimed his first-round space ahead of some more high-profile pass catchers,” he begins. “With his quick cuts and knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage, he figures to be the kind of slot target who could thrive in a Kyle Shanahan offense.”

Middlehurst-Schwartz continues by breaking down the 49ers’ receiver room situation.

“Justifying this draft spot, however, will be tricky as Pearsall competes for passes with Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. While his arrival provides some flexibility for the future as Aiyuk heads into the final year of his contract while seeking an extension, he might be a bit of a luxury for a team that appears so close to finally reaching the Super Bowl summit. And given the abundance of promising receivers still yet to hear their names called, San Francisco might have been wise to look elsewhere with its top choice or trade back.”

The second round kicks off on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, and the draft concludes on Saturday starting at noon ET. NFL Network, ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes will carry the event; coverage is also available to stream live on NFL+.

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Zach Goodall returns to Jacksonville as Jaguars Wire Managing Editor

Welcome letter: Zach Goodall returns to Jacksonville as Jaguars Wire Managing Editor.

Five years ago this week, I stepped away to try something new. It’s only fitting that NFL Draft week marks my return to the hometown beat.

My name is Zach Goodall, and I’m thrilled to announce that I have assumed the Managing Editor duties of Jaguars Wire, part of USA Today’s Sports Media Group’s Wire network.

I started my sports media journey covering the Jaguars part-time, beginning as a junior in high school from 2015 through April 2019. I worked my way up the ladder in Jacksonville, exclusively interviewing a free-agent signee and an assistant coach via my own connections before earning the team’s trust and receiving an offseason media credential after graduating.

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My final act was tipping the Jaguars’ entire 2019 draft class.

I’ve spent the past half-decade down I-10 and U.S. 301, in Gainesville, sharpening my skills as a beat reporter, on-air personality, and photographer and videographer while covering Florida football, recruiting and basketball full-time.

I also covered the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their Super Bowl LV run and the subsequent season with my previous outlet.

With a demand for quality stories and analysis, the collaboration with and advice of amazing journalists around me, and my formative years in this industry involving the professional-influenced evolution of college football, I believe my last stint prepared me to dedicate my coverage focus to an NFL team around the clock.

When such an opportunity arose with the NFL Wire network, in the city where I began my sports writing career, I jumped at it.

Given the Jaguars’ current status, with a franchise quarterback and crucial supporting pieces in place entering a pivotal campaign, the team’s 30th, the timing couldn’t have been better either.

At Jaguars Wire, you’ll find consistent and engaging content documenting every step of the way and beyond. Stories will be published daily by myself and, eventually, fellow contributors.

I’ll offer a full-time presence on the beat, with one press conference under my belt already and a short drive to Jacksonville scheduled for the upcoming NFL Draft.

Although this welcome story marks my official launch with Jaguars Wire, articles began to run last week. Find some of those works below.

2024 NFL Draft: Trent Baalke previews Jaguars’ first-round approach

Jaguars cap space entering the 2024 NFL Draft

Jaguars, QB Trevor Lawrence Begin Contract Extension Conversations

2024 NFL draft: Jaguars’ biggest positional needs

Jaguars NFL Draft prospect profiles: CB Terrion Arnold

Jaguars NFL Draft prospect profiles: WR Rome Odunze

Jaguars NFL Draft prospect profiles: CB Quinyon Mitchell

Jaguars NFL Draft prospect profiles: WR Malik Nabers

Jaguars NFL Draft prospect profiles: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

Trevor Lawrence ‘expecting’ Press Taylor to call Jaguars plays in 2024