Latest news with #FootballFocus
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Three Florida football linemen earn spots on prestigious 2025 award watch lists
Florida football saw three of its linemen earn early recognition for two of the sport's most coveted postseason honors. On Tuesday, the Gators placed a pair of offensive linemen–center Jake Slaughter and tackle Austin Barber–on the 2025 Outland Trophy watch list, an award honoring the top interior lineman in college football. Slaughter started all 13 games at center last season for the Orange and Blue and led Florida's offensive line in offensive snaps with 800. He led the Gators in Pro Football Focus' offense, pass-block and run-block grades. Pro Football Focus also regarded Slaughter as the SEC's top offensive player heading into the 2025 season. Barber, a left tackle, also started all 13 games last season for the Gators. He logged a total of 729 offensive snaps with a run block grade of 70.0 according to Pro Football Focus. He was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week during Week 4 after scoring his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks picked up his own preseason nod, landing on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. The Nagurski is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player, regardless of position, and has been one of the highest marks of individual defensive excellence in the sport. Last season, Banks logged 21 tackles (10 solo) that included seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a recovered fumble in 10 starts. He also set a career-high in snaps played (56) against Tennessee. The Outland field will be narrowed to six or seven semifinalists on Nov. 19, with three finalists named on Nov. 25. The winner will be revealed during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12. For the Nagurski, four finalists will be announced in mid-to-late November before the trophy is presented on Dec. 8. Both honors fall under the umbrella of the National College Football Awards Association and stand as benchmarks of elite play in the sport. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
UPI
2 days ago
- Sport
- UPI
Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou out for season with knee injury
1 of 5 | Cornerback Kader Kohou (L) appeared in 15 games last season for the Miami Dolphins. File Photo by Laurence Kesterson/UPI | License Photo July 30 (UPI) -- Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou is out for the 2025 season because of a right knee injury he sustained during training camp, coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday. Kohou sustained the injury during practice Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla. This is a major hit to the Dolphins' cornerback depth, as they traded away star defender Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers in June. Kohou, who joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2022, missed four games over his first three seasons. He is to hit free agency next off-season. The 5-foot-10, 197-pound defender totaled 45 combined tackles, eight passes defensed, three tackles for a loss, a career-high two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 15 appearances last season. Pro Football Focus gave Kohou the 44th-best defensive rating among cornerbacks who were in for at least 50% of the maximum snaps played at the position last season. He received the 28th-best coverage rating among qualifiers. Kohou received the 45th-best defensive rating and 51st-best coverage grade in 2023, when he started a career-high 16 games and appeared in all 17. Jack Jones, Storm Duck, Mike Hilton, Cam Smith, Jason Marshall Jr., Ethan Bonner, Kendall Sheffield, B.J. Adams and Cornell Armstrong are the other cornerbacks on the Dolphins' roster. McDaniel did not rule out the possibility of signing another cornerback. The Dolphins will continue training camp practices this week and head to Chicago next week for joint practices with the Chicago Bears. They will take on the Bears in their preseason opener Aug. 10 in Chicago.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2026 mock draft: Saints miss out on Arch Manning, still draft a local favorite
It's Mock Draft Monday, and this time we're checking out a projection from Bucs Wire's Andrew Harbaugh to see how the New Orleans Saints get better in 2026. Using the projected win totals from Pro Football Focus, Harbaugh had a decision to make with the Saints picking third overall and Arch Manning, a local product and star quarterback prospect for the Texas Longhorns, expected to be the first player off the board. Should the Saints trade up for him? What would it cost? Would it be worth it? In the end, Harbaugh has the Saints getting outbid for the first pick (owned by the New York Giants) after the Pittsburgh Steelers traded up from No. 15. With the draft appropriately held in Pittsburgh next spring, the Steelers gave up their second- and third-round picks in 2026 as well as their 2027 first- and third-round picks to move up 14 spots and select Manning. That feels like an underpay to go from No. 15 to No. 1 in any year, but especially with the Giants needing a quarterback and having the nephew of their two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning on the board. Either way, it wasn't a deal the Saints could match, at least in this scenario. So who did they draft instead? Harbaugh has the Saints staying put at No. 3, where they selected LSU Tigers passer Garrett Nussmeier. Here's what Harbaugh had to say about that pick: The connection between New Orleans and the Nussmeier family is going to be hard to ignore this season, even with the contract that the Saints just gave Tyler Shough. The Saints' offense aims to be more dynamic and electric in the passing game, as Moore's offenses have demonstrated in the past. He's right about that: if the Saints are bad enough to be picking top-three in 2026, it'll be because Shough wasn't good enough to lead them to wins or even hold down the starting job, and his contract won't keep them from rolling the dice on another quarterback. Obviously Nussmeier's fraternizing with Kellen Moore at minicamp and, you know, his father being the team's offensive coordinator are going to drive speculation. But will it really matter on draft day? We'll see. Stranger things have happened in the NFL. Let's just hope the Saints beat these expectations and are closer to a playoff berth than a top-three draft pick in Moore's first year on the job.
USA Today
17-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nebraska linebacker ranked as one of the Big Ten's best
Nebraska football linebacker Marques Watson-Trent was named one of the top-graded linebackers in the Big Ten, according to Pro Football Focus. Trent comes to Nebraska after putting together a productive three years at Georgia Southern. He was the 2024 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and recorded three seasons of 100-plus tackles. The 2024 season was just another instance of his production. He tallied 120 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one pass breakup. This was similar to his production overall. At Georgia Southern, he recorded 365 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, and six forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus had him with an 80.9 grade. This was second to Oregon's Bryce Boettcher. It will be fascinating to see what he will be able to do in the Huskers' defense. There is no doubt that he is an explosive defender and a consistent playmaker. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Trey Smith signs 4-year, $94M extension as Chiefs focus on protecting Patrick Mahomes
Trey Smith seals $94M deal with heartfelt call and Mahomes' support (Image via: Getty Images) The Kansas City Chiefs didn't hesitate this offseason, zeroing in on their most urgent need—protecting Patrick Mahomes . After allowing a career-high 36 sacks in 2024, the front office made it clear: shoring up the offensive line wasn't optional. And locking down right guard Trey Smith was at the top of that priority list. Trey Smith extension: Chiefs' smartest move of the offseason Kansas City's offensive line issues were exposed on the biggest stage—Super Bowl LIX. Mahomes was sacked six times, and the front office took the message loud and clear. With Smith entering his prime at just 26, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on him for $23.4 million, but everyone knew a long-term deal was the goal. Letting him walk in 2026 or tagging him again for $28.08 million wasn't sustainable. The Chiefs finally secured their anchor in the trenches, handing Smith a four-year, $94 million extension with $70 million guaranteed—making him the highest-paid interior lineman in NFL history. Smith, a sixth-round steal in 2021, has started 80 of 81 career games, including deep playoff runs and two Super Bowl wins. His durability, leadership, and elite pass protection are now locked in through 2029. Why Trey Smith's extension is about more than just money Per Pro Football Focus, among linemen with 2,500+ pass-blocking snaps since 2020, Smith is one of just five to allow fewer than 10 sacks. He was also among the top four right guards in total snaps last season, proving both effectiveness and availability—two traits that make him invaluable. Kansas City's retooled O-line now boasts Smith and fellow All-Pro Creed Humphrey up the middle, Jawaan Taylor at right tackle, and potential breakout names like Jaylon Moore and Kingsley Suamataia on the left. With Mahomes under center, protecting the pocket is non-negotiable. Smith's presence ensures just that. Behind $94M deal: Smith's heartfelt call and Mahomes' endorsement show what the deal truly means The emotional weight of the deal wasn't lost on Smith, who credited his parents for their sacrifices during a heartfelt phone call after signing. His father's words reflected the journey—one of faith, dedication, and unshakable work ethic. Also Read: Antonio Brown trolls Joy Taylor in offensive post after her Fox Sports firing Minutes after the deal was announced, Mahomes voiced his approval on social media, reinforcing what everyone already knew—Trey Smith is worth every penny. For the Chiefs, this was more than a contract. It was a declaration: the MVP's protection remains priority No. 1. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
