Latest news with #FreshmanAll-America
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Auburn star Ike Irish signs deal with Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles wasted little time agreeing to terms with its first round selection. Friday, Jim Callis of reported that the Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with former Auburn star Ike Irish. Irish signed with the Orioles organization for a signing bonus of $4.4M, which nearly matches the slot value for the No. 19 overall selection. Irish will now begin his professional career after three wonderful years at Auburn, where he improved with every year. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2023 by starting all 58 games and recording 50 RBI and a .361 batting average. He served as the Tigers' primary designated hitter as a freshman, but he also made 11 starts at first base and one start at catcher. His amazing rookie campaign ended with four Freshman All-America nods and a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. Irish showcased more power in his sophomore and junior seasons by combining to hit 33 home runs and slugging over .627 in both seasons. His final season at Auburn saw him log 19 home runs, 58 RBI, and a .364 batting average. Irish was a versatile player at Auburn, so how will he fit in within the Orioles' organization? Nick Ziegler of the Baltimore Orioles on Sports Illustrated suggests that Irish could become a full-time outfielder due to the depth the organization has at catcher. No matter where he ends up, expect Irish to make a quick impact within the organization. Irish is the 10th Auburn Tiger to be drafted by the Orioles, joining the likes of Gregg Olson, Chase Allsup, and Trace Bright. He also joined the likes of Auburn legends that include Casey Mize, Frank Thomas, and Josh Donaldson by being the 10th Tiger to be drafted in the first round of the MLB draft. Irish is the Tigers first first round selection since Casey Mize went No. 1 overall in 2018 to the Detroit Tigers, and is the fifth player in Auburn history to be selected within the first 20 picks of the draft. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: MLB draft 2025: Orioles agree to terms with first round pick Ike Irish
USA Today
19-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn star Ike Irish signs deal with Baltimore Orioles
Irish's time in Auburn is officially over as he signed a deal with the Orioles on Friday. The Baltimore Orioles wasted little time agreeing to terms with its first round selection. Friday, Jim Callis of reported that the Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with former Auburn star Ike Irish. Irish signed with the Orioles organization for a signing bonus of $4.4M, which nearly matches the slot value for the No. 19 overall selection. Irish will now begin his professional career after three wonderful years at Auburn, where he improved with every year. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2023 by starting all 58 games and recording 50 RBI and a .361 batting average. He served as the Tigers' primary designated hitter as a freshman, but he also made 11 starts at first base and one start at catcher. His amazing rookie campaign ended with four Freshman All-America nods and a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. Irish showcased more power in his sophomore and junior seasons by combining to hit 33 home runs and slugging over .627 in both seasons. His final season at Auburn saw him log 19 home runs, 58 RBI, and a .364 batting average. Irish was a versatile player at Auburn, so how will he fit in within the Orioles' organization? Nick Ziegler of the Baltimore Orioles on Sports Illustrated suggests that Irish could become a full-time outfielder due to the depth the organization has at catcher. No matter where he ends up, expect Irish to make a quick impact within the organization. Irish is the 10th Auburn Tiger to be drafted by the Orioles, joining the likes of Gregg Olson, Chase Allsup, and Trace Bright. He also joined the likes of Auburn legends that include Casey Mize, Frank Thomas, and Josh Donaldson by being the 10th Tiger to be drafted in the first round of the MLB draft. Irish is the Tigers first first round selection since Casey Mize went No. 1 overall in 2018 to the Detroit Tigers, and is the fifth player in Auburn history to be selected within the first 20 picks of the draft. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USC Football: 2025 Trojans Season Preview and Prediction
USC Football: 2025 Trojans Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Lincoln Riley's fourth season at USC and second in the Big Ten is critical for a program that hasn't tasted the College Football Playoff. Riley likes the development of both lines and quarterback Jayden Maiava's potential with potentially elite wideouts in Lemon and Lane. After going 1-4 on the road in 2024, USC faces difficult trips to Oregon, Notre Dame, Illinois and Nebraska. The Trojans also must fare better in close games. Advertisement [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | Washington | Wisconsin USC 2025 Season Preview and Prediction Previewing USC's Offense for 2025 Head coach Lincoln Riley wants to build at the line of scrimmage and has an offensive front with several homegrown prospects (Elijah Paige, Alani Noa) mixed with transfers (J'Onre Reed, DJ Wingfield). Paige earned Freshman All-America honors in 2024, while Wingfield's versatility and intelligence have stood out to Riley. Advertisement Quarterback Jayden Maiava went 3-1 after replacing Miller Moss and went through the offseason as the clear-cut starter. Riley saw 'a lot of tremendous plays' from Maiava in 2024 and now wants to see the junior balance aggressiveness with ball security. He will have two gifted targets in junior wide receivers Makai Lemon (764 receiving yards) and Ja'Kobi Lane (12 touchdowns). Boise State transfer Prince Strachan will also be part of the wideout rotation. Lake McRee once again leads the tight ends. After two successful SEC transfers at running back (MarShawn Lloyd, Woody Marks), USC turns to one of its own in Bryan Jackson, who shined in the bowl win against Texas A&M. New Mexico transfer Eli Sanders and junior-college transfer Waymond Jordan round out the group. Related: Big Ten Predictions for 2025 USC QB Jayden Maiava | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Previewing USC's Defense for 2025 USC has gotten much bigger along the line, which Riley expects to be a team strength. There's a good veteran core in Devan Thompkins, Braylan Shelby and Anthony Lucas, intriguing transfers like Keeshawn Silver and a splashy recruit in Jahkeem Stewart. 'Across the board, interior, on the edge, the size, the strength, just the quality of depth and competition, you definitely feel that,' Riley says. Advertisement Eric Gentry returns to lead the linebackers after concussions forced him to redshirt in 2024. First-year linebackers coach Rob Ryan will oversee a group that includes promising sophomore Desman Stephens II. The secondary has some question marks outside of safety Kamari Ramsey, but transfers DJ Harvey (San José State) and Bishop Fitzgerald (NC State) will be factors. Trojans coach Lincoln Riley | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Previewing USC's Specialists for 2025 USC will have a new kicker in Caden Chittenden, a Freshman All-American at UNLV, and a new punter in Sam Johnson, who replaces Ray Guy Award winner Eddie Czaplicki. Lemon handled kickoff returns in 2024 and might take over punt returns. Advertisement National Ranking: 34 More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | Washington | Wisconsin Related: Big Ten Football 2025 Predictions Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025 Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn Tigers football: Jay Crawford 2025 player profile
Crawford was one of Auburn's top defenders as a true freshman. How will he progress this season? Auburn freshmen played the third-most snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and cornerback Jay Crawford was in the middle of the scrum. Crawford was one of eight Tigers to put in at least 500 snaps last season, putting in 503. His snap total was the eighth-highest among Auburn defenders, and the second-most among Auburn freshmen on the defensive side of the ball, trailing just Kaleb Harris (608). Crawford made the most of his time on the field, as he was very effective in overall defense and tackling. His 76.6 defensive grade, which ranked No. 5 among players who appeared in at least 10 games last season for Auburn, and his 77.5 coverage grade, which was No. 2 among players who appeared in at least 10 games, led him to receive Freshman All-America honors from Pro Football Focus. Crawford missed just five tackles last season, and had a catch rate of 40%. How much will he grow in 2025? Here is a look at Crawford's player profile ahead of the 2025 season. Jay Crawford's personal profile Jay Crawford as a recruit Jay Crawford's career numbers Jay Crawford's PFF report card The best photos of Jay Crawford's career Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Greg McElroy Didn't Hesitate When Naming The Best Defense In College Football
Greg McElroy Didn't Hesitate When Naming The Best Defense In College Football originally appeared on Athlon Sports. ESPN analyst and former national champion quarterback Greg McElroy believes one defense sits above the rest ahead of the 2025 college football season. Advertisement The Ohio State Buckeyes fielded the top defense last season on the way to their ninth national championship and first under head coach Ryan Day. That group will look differently this season, though, with multiple NFL draft departures and the transition at coordinator from Jim Knowles to Matt Patrica. McElroy is still high on the Buckeyes, ranking them at No. 2 on his list of the top-10 defenses after spring practice and before fall camp. Leading the country, according to the former Alabama quarterback, is the Texas Longhorns. Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski instructs players during practice Austin American-Statesman-USA TO "This group has a ridiculously high ceiling this upcoming season," McElroy said Monday on "Always College Football." "I don't think there's a group in the country that can get after the quarterback better. That's what makes the Texas Longhorns the number one defense in the country heading into the 2025 season." Advertisement Texas and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski had some holes on the interior after NFL draft departures, leading to some notable pickups via the transfer portal like Maraad Watson (Syracuse), Hero Kanu (Ohio State), Travis Shaw (North Carolina) and Cole Brevard (Purdue). The Longhorns return two of the top pass rushers in the country in linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and EDGE Collin Simmons. Hill racked up eight sacks, 17 tackles for loss and earned First-Team All-America honors as a sophomore last season while Simmons posted nine sacks, 14 tackles for loss and took home Freshman All-America honors. McElroy tabbed Hill as the best linebacker in the nation and referred to Simmons as the most feared pass rusher outside of South Carolina's Dylan Stewart. Advertisement "The guy's a complete superstar," McElroy said of Hill. "I think he's the best linebacker in the country. Ridiculously athletic, amazing against the run and the pass, and he's versatile enough to win a third down situation." "I'm not sure there is a more feared pass rusher in the SEC outside of maybe Dylan Stewart, but he's expected to take on an even bigger role here in 2025," McElroy said of Simmons. In the secondary, Texas returns star safety Michael Taaffe alongside experienced cornerback Malik Muhammad. Jelani McDonald returns at nickel and Derek Williams Jr. is back after missing most of the 2024 season due to injury. High expectations surround the Longhorns' defense after finishing third nationally in scoring (15.3 points per game) last season. Advertisement However, It appears that there is enough talent and experience for a third consecutive College Football Playoff berth. That's if, of course, new starting quarterback Arch Manning can keep the offensive success rolling. Related: Updated Recruiting Rankings Feature New No. 1 Team After 5-Star Prospect's Commitment Related: SEC Powerhouse Emerges As Leader For Nation's No. 1 DL This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
