Latest news with #Mickens
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame coach Mike Mickens is coming in for high praise
The Fighting Irish secondary is in good hands Mike Mickens is earning high praise for his recruiting skills. The Notre Dame defensive backs coach is also getting praise for his coaching skills. Combine the secondary's play in 2024 and the Fighting Irish recruiting haul from this offseason, it's clear to see why. Mickens is seen as being responsible for bringing DB recruits Joey O'Brien, Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, Chaston Smith and Nick Reddish. We all know how dominant the 2024 secondary was, even after Benjamin Morrison got hurt. What Xavier Watts, Leonard Moore and Christian Gray did en route to the national title game was a sight to behold. Mickens will be a coach to watch in 2025. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Tim on X: @tehealey
Fox Sports
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Defenders' monster TDs highlight top plays from UFL Championship Game
The 2025 UFL season is complete, and the DC Defenders are your new league champions. The Defenders went off in Saturday's championship game against the Michigan Panthers, scoring a league-record 58 points in their victory. But the Panthers brought plenty of excitement as well, dropping 34 points in the 58-34 loss. As there was a lot of high-flying action in Saturday's championship game, here are the 10 best plays from the tilt. 10. Defenders' special teams unit forces the fumble After taking a 15-13 lead in the second quarter, the Defenders got the ball back immediately after forcing a fumble on the kickoff return. Micah Baskerville ripped the ball out of Xavier Malone's grasp, allowing Willie Drew Jr. to recover the ball at the Panthers' 7-yard line. 9. Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu and WR Jaydon Mickens link up for huge gain During one of the few moments that the Defenders were trailing in Saturday's game, Ta'amu and Mickens helped chip away at the Panthers' lead after connecting for a 66-yard reception. The play got the Defenders down to the Panthers' 9-yard line, setting them up for a field goal early in the second quarter. 8. Ta'amu and Mickens connect for their first big play Ta'amu dropped a dime to Mickens for a 26-yard touchdown on a third-and-10 play in the middle of the first quarter. 7. Panthers WR Malik Turner spins his way for six The Panthers kept fighting late in Saturday's game despite trailing 52-19. After hauling in a pass from QB Bryce Perkins, Turner ran downfield and spun out of a Defenders' tackler to reach the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown. 6. Defenders WR Seth Williams makes a big grab Plenty of Defenders' playmakers got in on the fun in Saturday's game. Williams was among them, making a long 46-yard reception on a deep pass from Ta'amu late in the third quarter. 5. Defenders WR Chris Rowland backflips his way into the end zone DC poured it on until the end of Saturday's title game, with Rowland rushing for a 19-yard touchdown before showing off some acrobatics to put the finishing touches on the win. 4. Defenders run "Philly Special" on two-point conversion After scoring a touchdown late in the first half, the Defenders dialed up some trickery. Mickens took his turn to throw a completion to Ta'amu, finding his quarterback in the end zone after getting the ball on an end-around to complete the two-point conversion and extend their lead to 31-13. 3. Panthers RB Nate McCrary dashes away for six Michigan got the first big play of the game when McCrary rushed for a 35-yard touchdown, grabbing a 6-0 lead. 2. Turner takes off for long TD Right after the Defenders ran the "Philly Special" to add to their lead, the Panthers found the end zone with a long touchdown. Perkins lobbed a pass to Turner, who turned a 10-yard completion into a 71-yard touchdown by breaking multiple tackles and dragging a Defenders player with him into the end zone. 1. Ta'amu throws another deep TD to cap off wild first half The back-and-forth scoring between the Defenders and the Panthers in the final two minutes of the first half of Saturday's game concluded with Ta'amu throwing a deep 73-yard touchdown to Ty Scott. The score gave the Defenders a 37-19 lead with 27 seconds remaining in the first half. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League DC Defenders Michigan Panthers recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chargers sign seven of nine draft picks among other moves
The Chargers signed seven of their nine draft picks Friday, the team announced. Oregon defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell (third rounder), South Carolina edge rusher Kyle Kennard (fourth), Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (fifth), Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II (fifth), Pittsburgh offensive lineman Branson Taylor (sixth), Clemson safety R.J. Mickens (sixth) and Florida cornerback Trikweze Bridges (seventh) now are under contract. Advertisement Caldwell, the 86th overall pick, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition for Oregon in 2024 after starting all 14 games for the Ducks. He set a career high in 2024 with 29 tackles and added three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Kennard, the 125th overall selection, ended his college career at South Carolina by winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy that recognizes college football's top defensive player. He earned named Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year honors after making 11.5 sacks. Lambert-Smith, the 158th overall choice, earned second-team All-SEC honors last season with 50 catches for 981 yards and eight touchdowns. His 19.6-yard receiving average last season was the best in the country among players with at least 45 catches. Gadsden, the 165th overall pick, ended his Syracuse career as the program's all-time record-holder for receptions (141) and receiving yards (1,970) by a tight end. He earned third-team All-America honors and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after setting the school's single-season receptions record by a tight end with 73 catches for 934 yards and seven touchdowns. Advertisement Taylor, the 199th overall choice, appeared in 45 games and made 21 starts over his five seasons at Pitt. Taylor started the first six games of 2024 at left tackle. Mickens, the 214th overall selection, started 30 of the 60 games he played over a five-year career at Clemson, becoming the 10th player in program history to participate in 60 career contests for the Tigers. He was voted by his teammates as a team captain in 2024 and ranked third on the team with a career-high 85 tackles. Bridges the 256th overall choice, played 2024 at Florida after a four-year career at Oregon. Bridges led the Gators with a career-high 70 tackles, two interceptions, six pass breakups, a tackle for loss and a pair of forced fumbles last season. The Chargers also announced they waived outside linebacker Chris Collins. In addition, the Chargers signed 18 undrafted free agents, Illinois defensive lineman TeRah Edwards, Virginia Tech defensive lineman Josh Fuga, Kansas wide receiver Luke Grimm, Western Kentucky outside linebacker Kylan Guidry, Virginia Tech safety Jaylen Jones, Texas State guard Nash Jones, Maryland center Josh Kaltenberger, Iowa State tight end Stevo Klotz, Bowling Green State cornerback Jordan Oladokun, Iowa State cornerback Myles Purchase, Baylor outside linebacker Garmon Randolph, Oregon cornerback Nikko Reed, Rutgers cornerback Eric Rogers, South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders, Purdue tackle Corey Stewart, Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, Syracuse tackle Savion Washington and Syracuse linebacker Marlowe Wax will compete for roster spots.
NBC Sports
09-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Chargers sign seven of nine draft picks among other moves
The Chargers signed seven of their nine draft picks Friday, the team announced. Oregon defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell (third rounder), South Carolina edge rusher Kyle Kennard (fourth), Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (fifth), Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II (fifth), Pittsburgh offensive lineman Branson Taylor (sixth), Clemson safety R.J. Mickens (sixth) and Florida cornerback Trikweze Bridges (seventh) now are under contract. Caldwell, the 86th overall pick, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition for Oregon in 2024 after starting all 14 games for the Ducks. He set a career high in 2024 with 29 tackles and added three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Kennard, the 125th overall selection, ended his college career at South Carolina by winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy that recognizes college football's top defensive player. He earned named Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year honors after making 11.5 sacks. Lambert-Smith, the 158th overall choice, earned second-team All-SEC honors last season with 50 catches for 981 yards and eight touchdowns. His 19.6-yard receiving average last season was the best in the country among players with at least 45 catches. Gadsden, the 165th overall pick, ended his Syracuse career as the program's all-time record-holder for receptions (141) and receiving yards (1,970) by a tight end. He earned third-team All-America honors and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after setting the school's single-season receptions record by a tight end with 73 catches for 934 yards and seven touchdowns. Taylor, the 199th overall choice, appeared in 45 games and made 21 starts over his five seasons at Pitt. Taylor started the first six games of 2024 at left tackle. Mickens, the 214th overall selection, started 30 of the 60 games he played over a five-year career at Clemson, becoming the 10th player in program history to participate in 60 career contests for the Tigers. He was voted by his teammates as a team captain in 2024 and ranked third on the team with a career-high 85 tackles. Bridges the 256th overall choice, played 2024 at Florida after a four-year career at Oregon. Bridges led the Gators with a career-high 70 tackles, two interceptions, six pass breakups, a tackle for loss and a pair of forced fumbles last season. The Chargers also announced they waived outside linebacker Chris Collins. In addition, the Chargers signed 18 undrafted free agents, Illinois defensive lineman TeRah Edwards, Virginia Tech defensive lineman Josh Fuga, Kansas wide receiver Luke Grimm, Western Kentucky outside linebacker Kylan Guidry, Virginia Tech safety Jaylen Jones, Texas State guard Nash Jones, Maryland center Josh Kaltenberger, Iowa State tight end Stevo Klotz, Bowling Green State cornerback Jordan Oladokun, Iowa State cornerback Myles Purchase, Baylor outside linebacker Garmon Randolph, Oregon cornerback Nikko Reed, Rutgers cornerback Eric Rogers, South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders, Purdue tackle Corey Stewart, Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, Syracuse tackle Savion Washington and Syracuse linebacker Marlowe Wax will compete for roster spots.
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where every Clemson player landed so far after the 2025 NFL Draft
Where every Clemson player landed so far after the 2025 NFL Draft The 2025 NFL Draft has wrapped up, and several Clemson Tigers now know where their professional journeys will begin. While this year didn't feature a first-round pick for Clemson like in some previous drafts, the Tigers once again showed the program's ability to develop players who are ready for the next level. From early selections to late-round picks and likely undrafted free agent signings, the Tigers are continuing a proud tradition of sending talent into the NFL. Clemson has built its reputation on producing players who not only get drafted but also make an impact once they arrive. This year's group brings a mix of versatility, leadership, and toughness — traits that NFL teams value highly. Whether they heard their names called early or had to wait until later rounds, these players are getting a chance to chase their dreams and represent Clemson at the next level. For a program that prides itself on development and preparing athletes for life after college, this next step is a major accomplishment. Now it's up to these former Tigers to carve out their roles and make a name for themselves in the NFL. Here is where every Tiger has landed after the 2025 NFL Draft so far. Barrett Carter Position: Linebacker NFL Draft Pick: No. 4th round, 119th overall Team: Cincinnati Bengals There were no questions about who the first Tiger off the board would be. The Bengals love their Clemson players, and they select Carter at great value. He needs time to develop, but his ceiling is one of the highest of any Day 3 selection. R.J. Mickens Position: Safety NFL Draft Pick: 6th round, 214th overall Team: Los Angeles Chargers I love this landing spot for Mickens, who, like Carter, has potential if he develops in the right situation. The Chargers secondary does need serious help and while I don't think Mickens is an immediate impact player, learning from Derwin James could do wonders for him. Phil Mafah Position: Running Back NFL Draft Pick: Phil Mafah: 7th round, 239th overall pick Team: Dallas Cowboys Every single Clemson player who found a home in the NFL landed in a great situation, especially Mafah. The Cowboys need help on the ground, even if Rico Dowdle showed some promise late in the season. Mafah has a clear path to playing time here, but clear doesn't mean easy. Jake Briningstool Position: Tight End NFL Draft Pick: UDFA Team: Kansas City Chiefs Before the draft, I discussed how Briningstool is more of a slot wide receiver than a tight end. You know who's the same? Travis Kelce. This is a match made in heaven.
