Latest news with #HeismanTrophy-winning
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Shedeur Sanders is in tough spot in Browns' QB competition even as he shines
Shedeur Sanders is doing his part early in training camp for the Cleveland Browns, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he's gaining ground on the starting role. Multiple insiders reported Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is impressed with third-round pick Dillon Gabriel early on, adding that the Oregon rookie is picking up the offense very quickly despite a lot being thrown at him. 'Browns coaches did not ask Sanders to integrate the same volume of playbook during minicamp as his counterparts,' ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on 'NFL Live.' Advertisement 4 Shedeur Sanders will have to impress the Browns enough to force them to cut bait with Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett. Getty Images ESPN Cleveland aggregated the four quarterbacks' combined OTA and minicamp stats, with Sanders having by far the highest completion percentage, coming in at 77.3 percent, well above Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Fowler adds that Sanders, who fell to the fifth round in the 2025 NFL Draft after previously expecting to be a first-round pick, did not receive any first-team reps throughout Browns camp; thus, the level of competition he faced was significantly lower than that of the other three. Advertisement Sanders was 41-for-53 with nine touchdowns (most) and one interception through OTAs and minicamp. NFL media's Judy Battista noted that Stefanski has consistently valued processing speed and decision-making. 4 Kevin Stefanski has valued 'processing speed' from his rookie quarterbacks. AP Battista added that Gabriel has had more put on his plate because he has absorbed so much information thanks in part to the 24-year-old playing six years in college football for Central Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon. Advertisement Tom Pellissero adds that the Browns will almost certainly not be carrying four quarterbacks through final roster cuts, so one of Sanders and Gabriel will likely be forced to start on the practice squad or they would need to cut Flacco or Pickett. 4 Dillon Gabriel playeyd six years of college football. AP 'It will almost be like a second draft for Shedeur,' Pellissero adds if Sanders is put on the practice squad and able to be scooped up by other teams. Advertisement The most important part of the summer for the two rookie quarterbacks will undoubtedly be the preseason, where Sanders and Gabriel will get the chance to impress against other teams. 4 Dillon Gabriel gears up to throw a pass during Browns minicamp. Getty Images If that does happen, Sanders could climb up the Browns' depth chart or separate himself enough to get a chance on another team. Sanders starred for Jackson State before transferring to Colorado Boulders, where he became a polarizing figure for the school. He, alongside Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, led the Boulders to a 13-12 record under head coach Deion Sanders. Sanders put up 4,134 yards in 2024 with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on a 74 percent completion rate in his second and final season in Boulder.
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football picks up projection to land Class of 2027 four-star QB Peyton Houston
While USC football is still continuing to put together its top-ranked 2026 recruiting class, it is never too early to start thinking about 2027. It seems Lincoln Riley and Chad Bowden have been doing that. On Monday, the Trojans picked up a projection from Steve Wiltfong and Sam Spiegelman of Rivals to land four-star class of 2027 quarterback Peyton Houston. Houston plays high school football in Cotton Valley, Louisiana. Per the On3 Industry rankings, he is the No. 78 overall player and the No. 8 quarterback in the class of 2027. If USC is able to land Houston, it would mark the third consecutive recruiting cycle that the Trojans secured a QB ranked among the top 100 players in his class. USC signed five-star Husan Longstreet this past year, and currently hold a commitment from four-star Jonas Williams in the class of 2026. It is easy to see why quarterbacks are lining up to play for Riley. Across his time at USC and Oklahoma, he has produced three Heisman Trophy-winning QBs, all of whom went on to be selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. A fourth, Jalen Hurts, was the 2019 Heisman runner-up, and just led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl championship. If all three quarterbacks stick with the Trojans, it could set up a potentially loaded QB competition down the line. For now, however, USC enters the 2025 season with Jayden Maiava as the expected starter, with Longstreet and Sam Huard also competing for the job.
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Never mind Steve Spurrier's quip on Arch Manning. Remember Danny Wuerffel?
Steve Spurrier played the quarterback who gave his Florida Gators the best chance to win, and if his opinion on the matter changed, he'd change quarterbacks. Sometimes, his opinion would change from one play to the next, and he'd carousel the Gators' quarterbacks. 'There is nothing wrong with playing two quarterbacks, nothing at all,' Spurrier explained last year on an ESPN Radio station in Gainesville. So, when Spurrier made headlines recently with a quip about Texas quarterback Arch Manning's Heisman Trophy odds, I interpreted the Head Ball Coach's quote as a bit of a dig at Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian, too. 'They've got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman,' Spurrier said on 'Another Dooley Noted' podcast. 'My question is, if he was this good, how come they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year? And (Ewers) was a 7th-round pick.' Sounds like a shot at Manning, right? Yes, but don't miss what Spurrier said next. 'You only have to ask Coach Sark, how come you played that one instead of this one?' Spurrier continued. If Manning lights it up with the Longhorns, we'll all be wondering that question: Did Sarkisian flub by staying loyal to Ewers last season, when Texas lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinals? Would the Longhorns have had a better chance at reaching the national championship with the more mobile but less experienced Manning? Which quarterback would Spurrier have played? We can only speculate on the answers to these questions, but I suspect Manning would have received more snaps last season if Spurrier had been his coach. Sarkisian is no dummy. Just the opposite, he's an excellent quarterback developer and a skilled offensive schemer. Alabama's Mac Jones finished third for the Heisman in 2020 while Sarkisian coordinated the Tide's offense. Why do you think Manning chose Texas? The Manning family has a history of aligning itself with college coaches or coordinators who will grow their skills and prepare them for the NFL. Sarkisian's coaching chops are an asset for Manning, not a liability. Sarkisian followed conventional wisdom last season by dancing with the one who brought him. Manning started two games while Ewers was injured, and Sarkisian inserted Manning in special packages thereafter as an offensive wrinkle, but Ewers remained QB1, and he delivered one of his best performances in a playoff quarterfinal victory against Arizona State before struggling against a fierce Buckeyes defense. Spurrier, himself a former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, made his coaching career zigging where others zagged. He didn't give a hoot about conventional wisdom. Interestingly, it's better for Texas and Sarkisian if Manning casts doubt on Sark's handling of the 2024 quarterback situation by winning the Heisman Trophy this season. Manning leads all players with 6-to-1 Heisman odds on BetMGM. As open as Spurrier was to playing two quarterbacks, he also knew when to ride with the star. Danny Wuerffel threw for more than 3,600 yards and 39 touchdowns while winning the Heisman for Florida's 1996 team that won the national championship. Earlier in his career, Wuerffel split time with Terry Dean. If Wuerffel was so good, why did he share time with Dean? Well, because he wasn't as good as a freshman and a sophomore as he became during his junior and senior seasons starting for Spurrier. As for Dean? Well, he went undrafted. 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
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"The moment he tried to pull the trigger": Johnny Manziel opens up about gun misfire and mental health battle after Browns exit
'The moment be tried to pull the trigger': Johnny Manziel opens up about gun misfire and mental health battle after Browns exit (Image via Getty) Former star for Texas A & M and NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel has revealed one of the darkest events of his life in a heartbreaking and very private confession. Fans have been emotionally and surprised by the news. Once considered football's following major star, Johnny Manziel is noted for his energetic playing approach and Heisman Trophy-winning university career. He was battling silently, though, beyond the glitter and celebrity. His story became public when a new Netflix documentary revealed his mental health problems after a career change. What happened and how did he got by? Johnny Manziel says he tried to take his life after being cut by the Cleveland Browns Released in August 2023, the Netflix film Untold: Johnny Football Johnny Manziel said that in 2016, after being released by the Cleveland Browns, he attempted suicide. Johnny Manziel claims he purchased a pistol at a time he was sinking into severe drug addiction and sadness. 'I had planned to do everything I wanted to do … and then take my life.' The moment he tried to pull the trigger, the gun didn't fire. 'The gun just clicked,' he said. 'Still to this day, I don't know what happened.' Picked in the first round in 2014 by the Cleveland Browns, Johnny Manziel had a brief and tumultuous NFL career. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Refrigerator Sale 2025 – Discover Big Discounts on Trusted Brands! Refrigerators | Search Ads Search Now Undo A fast drop in his performance resulted from off-field problems like partying, legal problems, and unsuccessful drug tests. Johnny Manziel claims he descended further into addiction and loneliness following his March 2016 release. He lost more than 40 pounds and consumed OxyContin and cocaine daily during this period. Johnny Manziel later received a bipolar disorder diagnosis and began healing After the failed attempt on his life, Johnny Manziel returned to his home in Texas. It was during this period that doctors diagnosed him with bipolar disorder. 'The wires in my head seemed to be very twisted,' he said while explaining his mental state. His father, Paul Manziel, also spoke in the documentary, saying, 'It's been a long, long road, but we're blessed. He's still with us.' Though the trip was difficult, Johnny Manziel's frankness about his mental health has raised knowledge of the difficulties many athletes silently face. His story now comprises survival, honesty, and forward action. Also Read: Johnny Manziel And Josie Canseco Break Up—Here's What Went Down Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
NBC Sports
21-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Matt Leinart was "so embarrassed" as his career ended after five days with the Bills
Matt Leinart was a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at USC and a Top 10 NFL draft pick, but his pro career didn't amount to much. And he says the way his career ended was particularly tough for him. Leinart played for the Cardinals from 2006 to 2009, the Texans in 2010 and 2011, and the Raiders in 2012. Then the Bills signed him in the 2013 preseason, put him on the field for one bad game, and cut him after five days. He said recently on his Throwbacks podcast that final preseason game in Buffalo was particularly difficult to live with. 'My last game in Buffalo, preseason Game 4, I threw three interceptions in the first half,' Leinart said. 'I stood on that sideline like someone passed away in my family. I kept my helmet on so no one could see my face. I was embarrassed. I didn't cry, I was so embarrassed that that was going to be my last time ever on a football field. I just knew it.' Leinart said that in only five days in Buffalo, he came to admire the passionate Bills fan base and felt badly that he couldn't give them anything to cheer for. 'The sad part is they were so fired up that I was there, they were like, 'Yeah! Revive your career here!' I was like, 'Guys, they need an arm,'' Leinart said. 'I saw firsthand Buffalo, Bills Mafia, how awesome their fans were. They treated me great for the first couple days. That's why I was like, 'I love Buffalo.''
