Latest news with #Heisman-level
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Meet the HBCU Legend Behind the SEC's Most Dangerous QB
'He came to me on a mission.' That's how Ramon Robinson-HBCU legend, Benedict College Hall of Famer, and quarterback whisperer-describes the first time he met LaNorris Sellers. The future star was just a middle schooler back then. Now, he's the name lighting up SEC defenses and rewriting South Carolina football history. Sellers, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, is coming off a 25-touchdown season that sparked the Gamecocks to a 9-win campaign and serious College Football Playoff buzz heading into this fall. At just 20 years old, he's already being projected as a possible top-5 NFL Draft pick in 2026. But his journey? It didn't start under stadium lights-it started on a practice field with a South Carolina legend from the HBCU ranks. Ramon Robinson is one of South Carolina's most decorated quarterbacks. A three-sport phenom from Anderson, SC, Robinson made history as the first Black quarterback to start at T.L. Hanna High School, where he led the state in passing as a senior. He later etched his name into the Benedict College record books, still holding the all-time marks for passing yards and total offense. After his time at Benedict, Robinson became the first player from the school to sign a professional football contract, joining the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1999. His career spanned nearly a decade across the CFL and arena football before injuries forced his retirement. But that was only the beginning of his real impact. 2011 Robinson founded RR Elite QB Training, which later evolved into Elite Position Training (EPT), a nonprofit powerhouse for football development and mentorship in the Southeast. The same year, he started coaching a young LaNorris Sellers. 'He was a sponge to everything I was delivering,' Robinson said in an interview with WYFF4, an NBC affiliate out of Greenville, SC. Sellers was far from a blue-chip recruit. Despite leading South Florence to a 29-game win streak and a state title, most major recruiting outlets tagged him a 3-star prospect. Overlooked? Sure. But Robinson made sure that the underdog mentality stuck. 'I make sure he understands and continues to understand, 'you were overlooked, you're still overlooked. Keep that chip on your shoulder,' Robinson told WYFF4. 'He uses that energy to build on what he's doing right now. That's what his thing was, 'I want to go to South Carolina, I want to build my own legacy.'' And it's working. Last season, Sellers dazzled with arm talent, poise, and next-level athleticism. He's working with Robinson on throwing with even more anticipation this offseason-fine-tuning what could become a Heisman-level skillset. And with a loaded receiver room, a strong O-line, and sky-high expectations in Columbia, the Gamecocks might just shock the college football world this year. What makes this story even more powerful? Robinson's work doesn't end with Sellers. Over the last 15 years, Robinson and his EPT team-which includes standout coaches like Bobby McGowens (WR), ChaChi Sullivan (DB), and Rashaad Jackson (DL)-have helped over 100 players earn college scholarships. Seven QBs from his 2018 class alone signed with programs like Clemson, Temple, and Coastal Carolina. In 2021, Robinson was named CEO of The QB Legacy, a national coalition of elite QB trainers. He also serves as commissioner of the Post-Grad Football League (PGFL), continuing to create pathways for players who need a second chance to shine. His mission? Develop high-character athletes on the field, and better men off it. This July, Robinson returns home to host a youth football camp at the Anderson Rec Center, where he'll pour into the next wave of young talent, just like he did with Sellers. From Benedict College to the SEC spotlight, the connection between HBCUs and high-level football success is alive and well. Ramon Robinson proves that you don't need a Power Five pedigree to change the game-you just need passion, purpose, and patience. And if LaNorris Sellers keeps rising the way he's expected to? That HBCU legacy will likely be front and center on NFL Draft night. The post Meet the HBCU Legend Behind the SEC's Most Dangerous QB appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Heisman Trophy sleepers for college football's top award
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (8 1/2 -to-1), Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (9-to-1), Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (10-to-1) and Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (14-to-1) complete the top five of oddsmaker front-runners. Give me a three-pack of Heisman picks, and I'd take Manning, Smith and Nussmeier. Behind the front-runners are a few more quarterbacks and another wide receiver that stand out as Heisman sleepers. How do I define a sleeper? Their odds are worse than 15-to-1. Full disclosure: I am a Heisman voter. I do not wager on the award. Here are my top Heisman sleepers for the 2025 season: Prime Heisman Trophy sleeper candidates Carson Beck, Miami, QB BetMGM odds: 25-to-1 Beck headlined the shortlist of Heisman front-runners last summer. Since then, he threw twice as many interceptions (12) in 2024 as he did the previous season, then he transferred to a worse program, he had his expensive cars stolen, and he split with his model girlfriend. Ouch! Never mind all that. He still can make throws most other quarterbacks can't, and he should find ACC defenses to his liking. Cam Ward finished fourth for the Heisman after transferring to Miami before last season. Beck injured his elbow in December. He resumed throwing recently. If healthy, he retains Heisman-level talent. EXPERIENCE MATTERS: Familiar faces top Big Ten QB rankings TIME TO SHINE: Arch Manning headlines SEC QB rankings LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, QB BetMGM odds: 18-to-1 Few quarterbacks outclassed Sellers by the end of last season. Ask Missouri about Sellers' passing ability. Ask Clemson about his running ability. Dual-threat quarterbacks make for good Heisman contenders, and Sellers fits that billing. He's an efficient passer, but he must reduce his turnovers after a redshirt freshman season filled with fumbles. A neat story helps a Heisman campaign. How's this? Sellers signed with South Carolina as a three-star recruit who played in goggles. (He later switched to contacts.) His Heisman hopes will depend on the Gamecocks rekindling their 2024 success, when they reached the playoff's doorstep. Julian Sayin, Ohio State, QB BetMGM odds: 18-to-1 Coach Ryan Day churns out successful quarterbacks. Sayin, a former blue-chip recruit, is next in line. If Sayin outperforms Manning in a season-opening clash of top teams at "The Horseshoe," his Heisman stock will soar. Here's your buy-low opportunity. Sayin should benefit from throwing to one of the nation's best wide receiving corps. He might encounter Heisman competition from his teammate, Smith, but a big season for Smith probably also means a big season for Sayin. He played sparingly in 2024, but he's got the arm to be a star. Sayin exudes upside, with a great supporting cast around him. Long-shot sleeper to contend for Heisman Trophy John Mateer, Oklahoma, QB BetMGM odds: 25-to-1 Oklahoma needed a quarterback to lead a revival after the Sooners' dismal first season in the SEC. Insert Mateer, who starred at Washington State, like Ward before him. Mateer's offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, preceded him to Oklahoma, so there's no need for Mateer to learn a new system. Now, he just needs to prove himself in the SEC. He's a dual threat with a bundle of playmaking skills. Oklahoma's brutal schedule - it's perhaps the nation's toughest - will create a platform for Mateer to sink or shine. Hail Mary sleeper to contend for Heisman Trophy Ryan Williams, Alabama, WR BetMGM odds: 35-to-1 How's this for a Heisman narrative: Williams, at 18 years old, would be the youngest player to win the award. He introduced himself on the scene with a 177-yard receiving game against Georgia. He'll need to find more consistency as a sophomore to emerge as a contender. Alabama will have a new starting quarterback, and it's unclear whether that will help or hamper the pass game. Williams' Heisman hurdles include proving himself as the nation's best receiver within a landscape that includes Smith from Ohio State. Williams enjoys an advantage in playing for Alabama, which has produced four Heisman winners since 2009. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Heisman Trophy sleepers: Five unlikely contenders for college football's top award
While Arch Manning headlines the list of favorites for the Heisman Trophy, other quarterbacks like Miami's Carson Beck stand as sleepers to watch for college football's top award. Two out of the past five Heisman Trophy winners did not play quarterback, but smart money remains on a quarterback reclaiming the award this season. Quarterbacks won the Heisman in nine of the 10 years throughout the 2010s. The Heisman favorite wears one of football's most famous surnames on the back of his jersey. Texas quarterback Arch Manning enjoys 6-to-1 odds from BetMGM. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (8½-to-1), Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (9-to-1), Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (10-to-1) and Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (14-to-1) complete the top five of oddsmaker front-runners. Give me a three-pack of Heisman picks, and I'd take Manning, Smith and Nussmeier. Behind the front-runners are a few more quarterbacks and another wide receiver that stand out as Heisman sleepers. How do I define a sleeper? Their odds are worse than 15-to-1. Full disclosure: I am a Heisman voter. I do not wager on the award. Here are my top Heisman sleepers for the 2025 season: Prime Heisman Trophy sleeper candidates Carson Beck, Miami, QB BetMGM odds: 25-to-1 Beck headlined the shortlist of Heisman front-runners last summer. Since then, he threw twice as many interceptions (12) in 2024 as he did the previous season, then he transferred to a worse program, he had his expensive cars stolen, and he split with his model girlfriend. Ouch! Never mind all that. He still can make throws most other quarterbacks can't, and he should find ACC defenses to his liking. Cam Ward finished fourth for the Heisman after transferring to Miami before last season. Beck injured his elbow in December. He resumed throwing recently. If healthy, he retains Heisman-level talent. EXPERIENCE MATTERS: Familiar faces top Big Ten QB rankings TIME TO SHINE: Arch Manning headlines SEC QB rankings LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, QB BetMGM odds: 18-to-1 Few quarterbacks outclassed Sellers by the end of last season. Ask Missouri about Sellers' passing ability. Ask Clemson about his running ability. Dual-threat quarterbacks make for good Heisman contenders, and Sellers fits that billing. He's an efficient passer, but he must reduce his turnovers after a redshirt freshman season filled with fumbles. A neat story helps a Heisman campaign. How's this? Sellers signed with South Carolina as a three-star recruit who played in goggles. (He later switched to contacts.) His Heisman hopes will depend on the Gamecocks rekindling their 2024 success, when they reached the playoff's doorstep. Julian Sayin, Ohio State, QB BetMGM odds: 18-to-1 Coach Ryan Day churns out successful quarterbacks. Sayin, a former blue-chip recruit, is next in line. If Sayin outperforms Manning in a season-opening clash of top teams at 'The Horseshoe,' his Heisman stock will soar. Here's your buy-low opportunity. Sayin should benefit from throwing to one of the nation's best wide receiving corps. He might encounter Heisman competition from his teammate, Smith, but a big season for Smith probably also means a big season for Sayin. He played sparingly in 2024, but he's got the arm to be a star. Sayin exudes upside, with a great supporting cast around him. Long-shot sleeper to contend for Heisman Trophy John Mateer, Oklahoma, QB BetMGM odds: 25-to-1 Oklahoma needed a quarterback to lead a revival after the Sooners' dismal first season in the SEC. Insert Mateer, who starred at Washington State, like Ward before him. Mateer's offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, preceded him to Oklahoma, so there's no need for Mateer to learn a new system. Now, he just needs to prove himself in the SEC. He's a dual threat with a bundle of playmaking skills. Oklahoma's brutal schedule – it's perhaps the nation's toughest – will create a platform for Mateer to sink or shine. Hail Mary sleeper to contend for Heisman Trophy Ryan Williams, Alabama, WR BetMGM odds: 35-to-1 How's this for a Heisman narrative: Williams, at 18 years old, would be the youngest player to win the award. He introduced himself on the scene with a 177-yard receiving game against Georgia. He'll need to find more consistency as a sophomore to emerge as a contender. Alabama will have a new starting quarterback, and it's unclear whether that will help or hamper the pass game. Williams' Heisman hurdles include proving himself as the nation's best receiver within a landscape that includes Smith from Ohio State. Williams enjoys an advantage in playing for Alabama, which has produced four Heisman winners since 2009. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NFL dreams on pause? Arch Manning's surprising 2026 Draft decision could shake up NFL team strategies and college football rankings
Arch Manning reportedly snubs early NFL entry (Getty Images) Arch Manning has the name, the pedigree, and now, the opportunity. As he prepares to take over the reins as Texas Longhorns' starting quarterback following Quinn Ewers' departure to the NFL, the spotlight has never been brighter. Yet, for all the anticipation surrounding his potential, don't expect a quick leap to the pros. According to those close to the situation, Manning currently has 'no plans' to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, signaling a maturity beyond his years. Arch Manning reportedly wants more college time, sparking huge reactions over 2026 NFL Draft snub For fans and NFL scouts alike, that might come as a surprise. A source familiar with Manning's decision-making even stated they'd be 'stunned' if he declared early—unless he somehow pulls off a Heisman-level campaign this season. That possibility isn't off the table, but Manning doesn't seem to be chasing awards or headlines. His heart remains firmly planted in Austin. 'There's nowhere else I want to be,' Manning shared in an earlier interview. 'I want to be at Texas. I got friends here. Love this place. So I want to be the quarterback of the University of Texas. Sometimes it's worth the wait.' Those words don't just speak of loyalty; they reflect a player aware of both the expectations and the weight of the Manning legacy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo And if early assessments are to be trusted, he's more than capable of carving his own path. One NFL scout remarked, 'He has pretty similar arm talent, but the factor that separates him is his athleticism. Neither Eli nor Peyton had what he has when it comes to that.' The same scout even noted that Arch could be 'a better prospect' than both of his legendary uncles—a bold claim, but one grounded in what he's shown during practices and scrimmages. Still, national pundits like CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson remain grounded in their analysis. While Wilson acknowledges Manning's elite potential—'And, yes, Arch Manning is QB1 in the 2026 class'—he also cautions against overhyping. Instead, he believes Manning will stay in Austin through at least 2026, writing, 'History suggests he may not be in a rush to leave college for the NFL.' That timeline is music to the ears of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. With Manning under center for potentially two or more seasons, the Longhorns not only enjoy stability but also boast one of the nation's most promising quarterback situations. Coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, Texas is poised to contend, and Manning's development could be the final piece of the championship puzzle. Meanwhile, analysts are already projecting the hypothetical aftermath. If Manning does surprise and declare for the 2026 Draft, he's the undisputed No. 1 quarterback. But should he stay, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier is expected to take the top QB spot in that class, according to Wilson's current mock. For now, though, all signs point to a patient ascent. Arch Manning isn't just trying to live up to his last name—he's carving out his own journey, on his own terms. And that journey, at least for the foreseeable future, is happening in burnt orange. Also Read: Is Xavier Legette's steamy kiss with GloRilla a PR stunt or a real love story in the making?
Fox Sports
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
'It's not even a debate': Books say Arch Manning will be favored at No. 1 in 2026
With the first-round dust finally settled after day one of the 2025 NFL Draft, we are only 364 days away from the 2026 episode in Pittsburgh. I would love to strum up a hot take about next year's No. 1 overall pick, but it's shaping up to be one of the most obvious slam dunks of all-time. It's almost a certainty there will be a late-season tank-off next year among the league's worst teams for the gunslinger with the Hall of Fame last name. That player, of course, is Arch Manning. The Texas sophomore is unquestionably the top overall prospect, despite only throwing 95 passes and nine touchdowns at the collegiate level. Scouts have salivated over Peyton and Eli's nephew for years, and he'll finally get to show what he's made of as Steve Sarkisian's starter this coming fall. "It's not even a debate," one professional sports bettor told FOX Sports. "You're going to see a massive price on Arch when the market goes up. "Sportsbooks aren't stupid. They'll bloat the price and make you lay thousands to win a hundred. If I worked at DraftKings or FanDuel, I would open him -3000 to go first. There's no reason to give it away at anything less. "He's the guy if he comes out." I can only imagine the price if everything goes to plan down in Austin. Assuming Manning lives up to the hype and plays anywhere near a Heisman-level quarterback, he'll be astronomically expensive come mid-March when draft betting generally starts to heat up among the public. Remember, former No. 1 overall picks like Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams were being offered at -10000 or higher about a month before their respective drafts. And Cam Ward reached those levels in early April. Heisman Trophy odds via BetOnline Arch Manning: +600 (bet $10 to win $60 total)Grant Nussmeier: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Jeremiah Smith: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Cade Klubnik: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)Julian Sayin: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)LaNorris Sellers: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total) Nico Iamaleava: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total) I wrote a story three summers ago about Manning's gambling impact on Texas football and spoke to a slew of Las Vegas betting buddies for that story. The common theme was that Manning's arrival would be a magnet for surrounding talent. "[Arch's signing] speaks to the quality of recruits they're bringing in and the program being on the right track," college football wizard and former Circa Sports sportsbook director Matt Metcalf told me way back in July 2022. "I would be surprised if Sarkisian doesn't have success there, as he's a great offensive guy, and it shouldn't be difficult to get the pieces there." It should surprise nobody that Texas is one of the favorites (along with Ohio State) to win next year's College Football Playoff. The Horns are as low as +450 at the Westgate SuperBook and as high as +650 at FanDuel. And after reaching the national semifinals a season ago, expectations will be even higher with the former Isidore Newman superstar under center. Manning headlines a star-studded quarterback class that could also see LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State's Drew Allar and Miami's Carson Beck go in the first round next year. Only two quarterbacks — Ward and Jaxson Dart — were selected on Thursday night. Stay tuned. Sam Panayotovich is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and the BetMGM Network. He previously worked for WGN Radio, NBC Sports and VSiN. Follow him on Twitter @spshoot. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
