Latest news with #BigTenOffensiveLinemanoftheYear
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: LeCharles Bentley is the Saints Player of Day 65
A look back at the career of LeCharles Bentley, our Saints Player of the Day The New Orleans Saints are a 65-day wait away from the 2025 regular season opener. New Orleans will host the Arizona Cardinals to kick off this season, their 59th in the NFL. They'll do it under new head coach Kellen Moore after a 5-12 record in 2024. There is no current player wearing No. 65 on the Saints roster. Therefore, we've dubbed former offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley as our Saints Player of the Day and taken a look back at his career here. An all-state selection at the famed St. Ignatius High School in Ohio, Bentley merely trekked across the state for his collegiate destination. He was an instant contributor and a letterman in all four years with the Buckeyes. Bentley received second-team All-Big 10 recognition in 2000 before going on to essentially sweep the offensive line awards as a senior. In 2001, he was first-team All-Big 10, a consensus All-American, Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, and the recipient of the Rimington Award given annually to the best center in college football. New Orleans selected Bentley with the 12th choice in Round 2 and the 44th overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft. He'd win a starting guard spot in training camp and started 14 games as a rookie, getting named to the 2002 All-Rookie Team. Bentley started 13 games in 2003, earning the first Pro Bowl of his career. The following season, Bentley was moved to his collegiate position of center. He'd be at that spot for the Saints for the next two years, starting 30 games in the middle and earning another Pro Bowl in 2005. After ending the 2005 campaign on injured reserve, Bentley would hit free agency and vowed his refusal to return to the Saints. He'd instead sign a six-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. Bentley wouldn't play a down in 2006 after injuring the patellar tendon in his knee during training camp. Complications after surgery, including a near diagnosis of amputation of the leg, resulted in Bentley also missing the 2007 season. As it turned out, he'd never play football again. LeCharles Bentley's last down of football came in a New Orleans Week 15 loss to the Carolina Panthers during the 2005 season. Bentley played four seasons with the Saints, starting all of his 57 games played. He is tied with Senio Kelemete as second only to Chris Naeole (67) in games played for the Saints in number 65.
USA Today
20-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
79 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No.79?
The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we're counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast. Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let's take a look at who has won No. 79 since the inaugural season in 2002. Texans players to wear No. 79 No. 79 currently belongs to rookie offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery. The Texans believe he can be the long-term replacement for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil following his trade to the Washington Commanders earlier this offseason. Ersery, who was drafted 48th overall, was considered the best offensive lineman prospect of Day 2. During his three years as the Golden Gophers' starting left tackle, the Kansas City native only allowed just five sacks and 11 QB hits in over 1,400 pass-blocking snaps in Big Ten games. Ersery was also named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2024 and a third-team AP All-American. "He's steadily gotten better at the things off the field, of finding his routine, and also on the field, just seeing his footwork, his pad leverage, is getting better, it's improving," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said earlier this month. "So, I can't wait to see him actually put pads on and have to block [Danielle] Hunter and [Will] Anderson, that's going to be a really good challenge for him." Since Ersery hasn't played a snap yet, it's hard to envision him as the No. 1 option ever to wear No. 79. That could change in the coming years, but there's really only one option who should be fighting over G.O.A.T. status entering fall camp. Best Player: Brandon Brooks Brooks is the only legit option since Allen ended up becoming a bust. While his best years came in Philadelphia, the three-time Pro Bowler was a part of two playoff-bound teams during his tenure in Houston. That's enough to make the list on a short-term.
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens urgency grows after another glowing evaluation of Tyler Linderbaum
Ravens urgency grows after another glowing evaluation of Tyler Linderbaum Ravens may want to expediate their plans for Tyler Linderbaum's extension after yet another stellar review. It doesn't typically take long to distinguish 'special'. There's a reason why some prospects receive first-round grades and others don't. The Baltimore Ravens saw something in Tyler Linderbaum before making him the 25th player taken during the 2022 NFL Draft. Then again, everyone did. It isn't typical to discuss the Iowa Hawkeyes and revel in things they are doing on offense. Tyler changed that, for a season at least, but after shining during his final collegiate seasons, every NFL team was on notice as he declared he was ready to conquer the next level, football's highest. 2021 was the crowning jewel as he racked up a lot of hardware for the shelf. In addition to a First-Team All-Big Ten nod (his second), he won the Rimington Trophy and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors. He was also named a Unanimous All-American. No one doubted his talent would translate to the NFL, but just in case there was someone who might have, Mr. Linderbaum has certainly extinguished any concern in which he is mentioned. Consecutive Pro Bowl nods followed a spot on the 2022 Pro Football Writers Association's All-Rookie Team nods after the 2023 and 2024 Ravens seasons. Now comes the obligatory question about pay. When might an extension come? The Ravens may want to quicken their plan for Tyler Linderbaum after PFF's recent mention As seasons pass and the pages of the calendar turn, salaries get more exaggerated and expensive. Don't look now, but time has flown. Tyler Linderbaum enters year four of his rookie contract, and so far, there's been no news of an extension. By being a first-round draft choice, a fifth-year club option is baked into his deal, but the Ravens seemingly don't want to wait too long to get him squared away. As time passes and he adds to his resume, his price tag is only going to get larger. Public perception also plays a role in things sometimes, and if Pro Football Focus is right in its assessment, Tyler may be staring at a jackpot payday. PFF stacked the NFL's top 32 centers, and Tyler ranked second, behind only Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs. Mason Cameron, the writer of this one, offered his explanation. "After three seasons of excellent production at the heart of Baltimore's protection scheme, Linderbaum has proven to be one of the NFL's premier run blockers. The Ravens center is particularly adept as a zone blocker, where he has earned a 91.7 PFF run-blocking grade on zone concepts across his career, placing him in the 91st percentile at the position." Postseason accolades and being viewed as the game's second-best center are some stellar weaponry to take to the negotiating table. Neil Cornrich of NC Sports is Linderbaum's agent, and he has to be licking his chops. Eric DeCosta is one of the best in his field. There is no doubt that he'll get a deal done, but he may have a lot to think about in this case. Following Rashod Bateman's recent extension, several other Ravens need new deals of their own. Linderbaum is among that number, and now he has leverage and growing momentum. We'll see what happens during the coming months.
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Hawkeye football legend Brandon Scherff elected to Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame
Former Hawkeye football legend Brandon Scherff elected to Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame The list of Iowa Hawkeyes legends that dominated inside Kinnick Stadium and across the Big Ten continues to grow as another former star joins a list of his peers being immortalized. Former Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Brandon Scherff has been elected to the Iowa Hawkeyes Class of 2025 Hall of Fame. The Iowa guard spent 2010-2014 with the Hawkeyes, and in that time, he left a huge impact on the Iowa football program. Brandon Scherff was the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2014, a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2013 and 2014, the Outland Trophy winner in 2024, which goes to college football's best offensive lineman, and a Unanimous All-American in 2014. Following his time at Iowa, Brandon Scherff went on to be selected No. 5 overall in the 2015 NFL draft by Washington, where he spent 2015-2021. Following that, Scherff signed a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars for $49.5 million. A model of longevity in the NFL, Scherff has appeared and started in 140 games over 10 years. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
USA Today
10-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New Texans OT Aireontae Ersery vows to protect C.J. Stroud from here on out
New Texans OT Aireontae Ersery vows to protect C.J. Stroud from here on out There's only one goal in mind for Houston Texans new offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery when he takes the field come Week 1. It'll be the same goal he has for the next 10-plus years in Houston if he's lucky: Protect C.J. Stroud. Everything else is just an added bonus. "I take pride in protecting my quarterback," Ersery said Friday following Texans' rookie minicamp. Ersery, the former Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and the No. 48 overall pick in last month's 2025 NFL draft, isn't blocking for any team next season. He's protecting one of the league's rising stars on a roster that's won 20 regular-season games in two years with a pair of division titles. The Texans need stability at tackle now with five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil gone. Cam Robinson, a veteran from Jacksonville and Minnesota, is expected to start the season at left tackle, but his inconsistent play could make his tenure in Houston short-lived, especially if Ersey picks up the speed in Nick Caley's system before the end of training camp. And for now, he plans on staying at tackle. While open to a position switch, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the plan is to leave Ersery on the outside rather than having him learn a new position. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound lineman played both guard and tackle in college, but was an All-Big Ten selection playing outside rather than in. "He moves well for his size, big man, strong guy and he did a great job today in his drills," Ryans said. While not a Day 1 pick, most draft analysts believe that Ersery was the top target on Day 2 for most teams. Now, he's in Houston as a potential building block for the new franchise. While a mauler on the field, Ersery considers himself a "gentle giant" of sorts off it. Ersery fits the traditional Gentle Giant archetype in his first meeting with Houston media early Friday afternoon. It doesn't take much to set him off — mainly the sound of a whistle. "It's a switch," Ersery said. "When we getting after it, we getting after it." The Texans return to NRG Stadium for minicamp next weekend.
