Latest news with #Heisman-caliber
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
5 Longshot 2025 Heisman Bets That Could Actually Hit
The Heisman Trophy is usually a quarterback award, and is usually reserved for the favorites. But every so often, a name pops up that nobody saw coming. Think Johnny Manziel. Think Robert Griffin III, or even DeVonta the pieces fall into place, these five under-the-radar quarterbacks could make serious noise in the 2025 Heisman race. Don't be surprised if one of them crashes the party by November. Kaidon Salter – Colorado Salter arrives in Boulder after flashing real dual-threat ability at Liberty. Now, he'll be working under NFL veteran Pat Shurmur in an offense that should simplify reads and create opportunities for chunk plays. Salter's 2024 numbers weren't eye-popping-1,886 yards and a 15:6 TD–INT ratio-but that came in just 11 games and under constant pressure. At Colorado, with upgraded weapons and national visibility under Deion Sanders, Salter is a textbook "system + spotlight" breakout Colorado wins early, his name will surface pretty fast. Sawyer Robertson – Baylor Robertson quietly had one of the best seasons in the Big 12 in 2024. He threw for 3,071 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions while leading Baylor on a six-game win streak. His top-5 QBR (83.7) tells the story that this guy was flat-out efficient. Jake Spavital's system fits him like a glove, and with most of the offensive core returning in Waco, Robertson has the tools and the structure to post Heisman-caliber numbers. He's not a name being tossed around yet-but that could change quickly. Kevin Jennings – SMU SMU's offense under Rhett Lashlee has quietly become one of the most productive systems in the country and Kevin Jennings is right in the middle of 2024, Jennings completed 65% of his passes for 3,245 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while leading SMU all the way to the College Football Playoff in the program's first year as a Power 4 team. Jennings also added mobility as a runner and proved he could go toe-to-toe with big-time defenses down the stretch. Now entering 2025 with a playoff run behind him and the spotlight of the ACC schedule ahead, Jennings is poised to take another step. If he can clean up the turnovers and lead SMU to another 10+ win season, he could follow the Michael Penix Jr. blueprint-efficient, experienced, overlooked until suddenly in the thick of the Heisman conversation by November. Marcel Reed – Texas A&M Reed is one of the most interesting breakout candidates in the country. The former top-15 dual-threat QB out of Nashville saw action in 10 games as a sophomore at A&M last season, going 121-of-198 (61.1%) for 1,864 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He also showed flashes as a runner, keeping defenses honest. What stood out is his composure and decision-making for a young quarterback. With a good offensive system under Collin Klein and a clear path to the starting job, Reed could explode, especially if A&M's talent finally clicks in the SEC. Jalon Daniels – Kansas When healthy, Daniels is electric. That's always been a question. Still, his leadership, and ability to create off-script give him legitimate Heisman upside. With a strong O-line, talented receivers, and a creative staff, Kansas is built to win shootouts under new offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski. Daniels has posted multiple 300-yard games against top-tier Big 12 he stays upright and the Jayhawks stay hot, he's the kind of experienced, stats-heavy quarterback voters love. Related: 5 Transfer Quarterbacks Who Could Impact the College Football Playoff in 2025 Related: 5 College Football Quarterbacks Who Could Lose Their Starting Job Early in 2025 © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Washington State Football Preview 2025: Cougars Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players
Washington State Cougars Key to the Season Get that ground game not that Washington State didn't have a rushing attack over the years. It just wasn't emphasized as much as the high-octane passing game, especially when you have Cam Ward under center. John Mateer went off, but the running backs now have to become a bigger a pivot for a program that didn't hit the 2,000-yard rushing mark in over a decade, and then had a fantastic 2025. By the way, South Dakota State ran for over 3,500 yards last season. So … X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN2025 Washington State PreviewWashington State Offense BreakdownWashington State Defense Breakdown Washington State Cougars Key Player Angel Johnson, RB Kirby Vorhees, and Maxwell Woods. Washington State didn't get South Dakota State's star rusher Amar Johnson - he's a Green Bay Packer now - but it brought in three other terrific Jackrabbit the Cougars ran well last year - at least for them - and again, the quarterback was the most dangerous option. This year's offense needs Johnson and the rotation of runners to take over. Washington State Cougars Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss Top Transfer In: Caleb Franci, LB of all the terrific players coming in from South Dakota State, Franci should be the most productive new star. He's only 6-1 and 190 pounds, but he's a big hitter with wonderful range, making 78 tackles with seven broken up passes and 11 tackles for loss last Transfer Out: John Mateer, QB Jr.A whole slew of players followed former Cougar head coach Jake Dickert to Wake Forest, including offensive tackle Fa'ailili Fa'amoe, guard AJ Hasson, and receiver Carlos Hernandez. But Mateer was a Heisman-caliber playmaker last year who led Wazzu in rushing and was one of the nation's most effective passers. Now he's about to be a superstar at Oklahoma. Washington State Cougars Key Game Washington, Sept. 20There's no Pac-12 Championship to play for, and it's not getting into the College Football Playoff with a few too many tough road games, but beat the arch-rival for the second year in a row, and the year is made in before October.- 2025 Washington State Schedule Breakdown Washington State Cougars Top 10 Players 1. Caleb Franci, LB Sr.2. Zevi Eckhaus, QB Sr.3. Tucker Large, S Sr.4. Josh Meredith, WR Sr.5. Colby Humphrey, CB Sr6. Keith Brown, LB Sr.7. Angel Johnson, RB Sr.8. Matt Durrance, S Sr.9. Christian Hilborn, OT Sr.10. Jeremiah Noga, WR Sr. Washington State Cougars 2024 Fun Stats - Onside Kicks: Opponents 2-of-3, Washington State 0-of-0- Field Goals: Opponents 19-of-23, Washington State 8-of-13- Washington State Scoring: 3rd Quarter 66, 4th Quarter 126 Washington State Cougars 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen Just how quickly can the new coaching staff make this work?This might not be the Washington State you're used to, but the starting 11 on defense should be terrific, and an improved running attack will make up for a toned-down passing Cougars will get off to a hot start, but a run of four road games in five dates from September 13th to October 18th - and a home game against Washington for the fifth game - will be an issue. Including the first of two games against fellow Pac-12 brother Oregon State, six road games in nine will be too much to overcome. But it'll still be a bowl season, it'll be a good first year for the new regime, and then it'll be on to life in the new The Washington State Win Total At … 6Likely Wins: Idaho, Louisiana Tech, San Diego State50/50 Games: at Colorado State, at James Madison, at North Texas, Oregon State, at Oregon State, Toledo, at VirginiaLikely Losses: at Ole Miss, Washington 2025 Washington State PreviewWashington State Offense BreakdownWashington State Defense Breakdown © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers Sending Strong Message to NFL in 2025
Panthers Sending Strong Message to NFL in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Carolina Panthers were written off early in 2024. Now, just months later, one NFL analyst believes they're quietly building a team no one wants to play. Advertisement In a league where narratives can shift overnight, Aaron Leming of Windy City Gridironlisted Carolina as one of the NFL's most improved teams heading into the 2025 season, joining a group of rebuilding squads that all lost 12 or more games last year. But Leming didn't include the Panthers out of sympathy. He pointed to concrete roster upgrades and a rejuvenated quarterback as reasons for real optimism in Charlotte. 'They went from an easy win to a team nobody wanted to face down the stretch,' Leming noted, referencing Carolina's improved play late last season. Indeed, after a disastrous 1-7 start in 2024, the Panthers finished the year by winning four of their final nine, including a dramatic overtime victory over Atlanta in Week 18. That turnaround was sparked by the resurgence of quarterback Bryce Young, who showed flashes of his Heisman-caliber talent after early-season struggles and a temporary benching. Under new head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan, the Panthers attacked the offseason with urgency. They added high-upside youth through the draft, highlighted by No. 8 overall pick Tetairoa McMillan, an explosive wide receiver with WR1 potential, and edge rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales with Ian Thomas (80) in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium.© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The front office also turned to free agency to reinforce the defense, signing disruptive linemen Patrick Jones II, Tershawn Wharton, and Bobby Brown III. On the back end, safety Tre'Von Moehrig and rookie Lathan Ransom will help anchor what was a porous secondary. Advertisement 'The Jones, Wharton, and Brown additions will complement the high-round selections of Scourton and Umanmielen,' Leming explained. 'Add in Moehrig and Ransom… that should be enough to help get the Panthers' defense closer to league average.' That might not sound glamorous, but for a team that ranked bottom-five in nearly every defensive metric last year, average could be transformational. On the offensive side, retaining Adam Thielen's veteran presence and drafting McMillan give Young a stronger supporting cast. With running backs Chuba Hubbard and new addition Rico Dowdle forming a thunder-and-lightning backfield, Carolina may finally be able to control the tempo. Health will be crucial. The offensive line's ability to keep Young upright is perhaps the biggest variable standing between another lost season and a potential playoff push. Advertisement Leming put it plainly: 'Assuming the Panthers' offensive line can stay healthy, the offense has a quality ceiling.' It's still early. The Panthers are months away from taking a snap that counts. But with roster upgrades on both sides of the ball, a quarterback with something to prove, and a coach known for QB development, Carolina may not just be improved, they may be dangerous. Panthers fans, it's time to watch closely. The rebuild may finally be taking root. Related: Former Panthers Franchise Player Sparks Buzz with Bold Business Move Related: Panthers Join Savannah Bananas for Historic Weekend in Charlotte This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN names Jaguars vs. Texans as one of 2025's most 'interesting games'
ESPN names Jaguars vs. Texans as one of 2025's most 'interesting games' While the AFC South might feel like a one-team race entering the 2025 season, there's one game that could define the month of September. The Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars' rivalry reached a new peak following last season's hit from linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on quarterback Trevor Lawrence. A brawl ensued on the field and led to the eventual suspension of the Texans' captain. ESPN believes given the outcome of Week 13's showdown in 2024, that will be one of the better games to kickstart a new season under Jaguars' first-year head coach Liam Coen. "I didn't realize this until I saw Jaguars reporter Michael DiRocco's note in our full schedule preview: The Jaguars and Texans haven't played since the Azeez Al-Shaair hit that ended Trevor Lawrence's 2024 season and incited a bench-clearing brawl," ESPN's Ben Solak wrote. "Well, they'll play in Week 3. Expect some pregame shenanigans and first drive tone-setting." The Jaguars' revamped offense might have something to do with this game being one of the better early-season matchups. Brian Thomas Jr. was one of the top breakout stars after leading all rookies in receiving yards (1,297) and touchdowns (10). He'll be paired up with No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter, who is expected to play both ways to begin his NFL career after a Heisman-caliber season at Colorado. But the Texans could combat a new high-flying passing game with a top-five secondary. Second-year standouts Calen Bullock and Kamari Lassiter are two rising stars at cornerback and safety following promising rookie debuts. Earlier this offseason, the Texans also traded former first-round bust Kenyon Green to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for do-it-all defender C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Since 2022, Gardner-Johnson has totaled 13 interceptions and 23 pass breakups. He's also been an anchor for an Eagles' defense that made it to a pair of Super Bowl appearances, including a victory in New Orleans last February. Jacksonville is projected to finish third in the division behind a first-year coordinator and head coach. Houston is projected to win its first AFC South title, but an early-season loss could flip the script for both sides.
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Stanford Football Preview 2025: Transition Year Ahead for the Cardinal
The drop off the map was swift, brutal, and it keeps was a real, live college football powerhouse from 2009 to 2018. There were Rose Bowls, high draft picks, Heisman-caliber talents, and that was when playing in the Pac-12 meant after a 9-4 2018, the program suffered six straight seasons with four wins or fewer - the 2015 team won as many games as Stanford won combined over the last four years. After two years at the helm, head coach Troy Taylor was fired following a report of alleged mistreatment of staff members - and now Stanford is scrambling. General Manager Andrew Luck is looking for a full-time head coach - Frank Reich still has the interim tag - the 2025 team is traveling to Hawaii, Virginia, Dallas, Miami, and Chapel Hill, and …Other than that, things are going great. But there is Oregon State and Washington State, Stanford got the call to the ACC last season, it's still a Power Four program, and considering there's a not-that-awful starting 22 likely in place, there are enough winnable games on the slate to maybe, possibly, potentially come up with one of its best seasons in years. (Even if that means just five wins.) Stanford Cardinal Preview 2025: Offense X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN- It was a rough year for the offense. There were too many turnovers, not enough third down conversions, and it all started with a line that couldn't keep anyone out of the backfield. There should be an improvement.- There isn't enough proven depth, but the starting five up front should be okay. Tackle combination of Kahlil House and former UCLA Bruin Niki Prongos is good enough. Sacramento State transfer Nathan Mejia is new, but guards Simione Pale and Jack Leyrer are back. - The running backs need more room, but they're okay. Micah Ford was second on the team with 309 yards and Chris Davis was third averaging over five yards per carry, but all 11 touchdowns came from former quarterbacks Ashton Davis (Auburn) and Justin Lamson (Montana State).- Elijah Brown is a promising young quarterback, freshman Bear Bachmeier is the future, and between the two they'll let it rip. They need receivers, though, with star target Elic Ayomanor now a Tennessee Titan and Emmett Mosley now at Texas. Tiger Bachmeier is fine for the slot, but it's up to CJ Williams (Wisconsin) and a slew of transfers to take over. Stanford Cardinal Preview 2025: Defense - The defense was among the worst in the ACC. The pass rush was fine, but star David Bailey is now at Texas Tech. The run defense wasn't bad, but the pass D was among the worst in America. But there's hope.- Collin Wright is a keeper at safety. He led the team with three picks to go along with his 45 tackles, and big-tackling safeties Scotty Edwards and Mitch Sinclair are strong. The corners are thin, though, needing Dartmouth transfer Jordan Washington to be an instant factor.- The defensive backs had to make too many stops. The linebacking corps is at least experienced with Matt Rose good for the inside and Tevarua Tafiti a factor in the backfield. The line is also full of veterans, and it's one area with enough depth to expect a production boost. Stanford Cardinal Key to the Season Come up with third down one's expecting a brick wall, but the Cardinal front six/seven is far too experienced to struggle so much on key downs. It wasn't quite this simple, but it's not far won three games last season. Those were the three teams the defense didn't allow teams to convert more than 40% of their third down tries. Stanford Cardinal Key Player Kahlil House, OT O line has to come up with a stronger season and it starts with the tackles. The 6-4, 285-pound tackle was thrown into the mix as a true freshman. It wasn't always smooth, but the potential, talent and athleticism are there to be the main man up front. Stanford Cardinal Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss Top Transfer In: CJ Williams, WR was hard to show off too much in the weirdly-bad Wisconsin offense, but last year Williams averaged over 15 yards per catch on his 16 grabs. He might not be a volume catcher, but he's got the talent to stretch the field a bit from the Transfer Out: David Bailey, EDGE not like he played like the next Lawrence Taylor, but he cranked up 14.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in his three seasons, growing into more of a wrecking ball in Year Three. Arguably the top pass rusher in the portal, now he's at Texas Tech. Stanford Cardinal Key Game Boston College, Sept. 13The Cardinal start early at Hawaii, get a date at BYU, and then the ACC season opens up when Boston College comes to Palo Alto. It's a winnable home game if everything goes right, and with Virginia and San Jose State to follow, it's possible to match last year's three-win total before October.- 2025 Stanford Cardinal Schedule Breakdown Stanford Cardinal Top 10 Players 1. Collin Wright, S Jr.2. Tevarua Tafiti, LB Sr.3. Sam Roush, TE Sr.4. Scotty Edwards, S Jr.5. Micah Ford, RB, RFr.6. Elijah Brown, QB Soph.7. Emmet Kenney, PK Sr.8. Anthony Franklin, EDGE Sr.9. Kahlil House, OT Soph.10. Tiger Bachmeier, WR Jr. Stanford Cardinal 2024 Fun Stats - Penalties: Opponents 81 for 742 yards, Stanford 65 for 588 yards- Tackles for Loss: Opponents 104 for 394 yards, Stanford 63 for 236 yards- Interceptions: Opponents 17, Stanford 9 Stanford Cardinal 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen The schedule is easy enough to be a real opportunity for a good season, but can Stanford take advantage of it?There's no Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, or Virginia Tech to deal with - and no Duke, Syracuse, and Wake Forest, either - but there are enough landmines to make it tough in the SMU, Florida State, at Miami - October will be rough. There will be a few other forget-about-it games when the Cardinal aren't even close - at BYU might be that, and so will Notre Dame - but there should be a few shockers to flirt with a decent season. It might not be a bowl run, but considering the circumstances, it'll be an okay The Stanford Cardinal Win Total At … 3.5Likely Wins: No Sure Thing Wins50/50 Games: Boston College, Cal, at Hawaii, at North Carolina, Pitt, San Jose State, at VirginiaLikely Losses: at BYU, Florida State, at Miami, Notre Dame, at SMU © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
