Latest news with #MorrisTrophy
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Pittsburgh Steelers OT Troy Fautanu placed on NFL All-Breakout Team
Former Washington Huskies star offensive lineman Troy Fautanu didn't see the field much during his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After the 2023 All-Pac-12 First Team honoree and Morris Trophy winner was selected in the first round at No. 20 overall, the organization had big plans for him to step in as their left tackle while moving 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones to right tackle. However, those plans didn't last long. After a knee injury forced him to miss the majority of the preseason and sidelined him for Week One, Fautanu made his first career start in Week Two and performed admirably, not allowing any sacks or pressures. Then, in practice the following week, he suffered a dislocated kneecap that required surgery to correct and forced him to miss the remainder of the season. After such a brief rookie season, analyst Bucky Brooks included Fautanu on his list of the 2025 NFL All-Breakout Team alongside his college teammate, wide receiver Rome Odunze. "He has a chance to earn Pro Bowl consideration as a first-time starter, thanks to his exceptional talent and polished technique," Brooks wrote. "He is a natural edge blocker with the balance, body control, and lateral quickness to effectively shadowbox pass rushers in space. With Aaron Rodgers poised to throw the ball all over the yard behind a young and dynamic offensive line, the second-year tackle could reap the rewards from dominating his matchups in the spotlight." With Rodgers at the helm and a new batch of playmakers around him in running back Kaleb Johnson and wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, Fautanu is gearing up to try and bring the Steelers to an AFC North title after they came up two games short of his former bookend, Roger Rosengarten and the Baltimore Ravens. Before his injury, Fautanu had earned a lot of praise during training camp from several of his teammates, including one of the NFL's best pass rushers, his teammate, TJ Watt. 'I think he's done a great job," Watt said in August 2024. "He's done a great job of changing up his sets and doing different things. It's always fun when you get a new tackle to go against because it's not necessarily the same technique that you're used to seeing day in and day out. It's been a great competition.'
USA Today
13-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Tuli Tuipulotu in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 49 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we look at former USC All-American defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu. Position: Defensive line Years played at USC: 2020-2022 Career highlights: Tuipulotu emerged as an immediate contributor on USC's defensive line as a true freshman in 2020. That year, he played alongside his older brother, Marlon. With Marlon off to the NFL in 2021, the younger Tuipulotu stepped up to help fill the void, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors. In 2022, however, Tuipulotu took things to an entirely new level. That season, he recorded a remarkable 13.5 sacks, the most of any player in the country. In addition, he had 46 total tackles and two forced fumbles. Tuipulotu was named a Unanimous All-American and won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Morris Trophy (given to the top lineman in the Pac-12 Conference, and the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award. After USC: Following the 2022 season, Tuipulotu declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, where the Los Angeles Chargers selected him in the second round. It has not taken Tuipulotu long to emerge as a star at the professional level. After being named the PFWA All-Rookie team in 2023, he followed it up with an 8.5-sack campaign in 2024. Still just 22 years old, Tuipulotu appears to be one of the league's brightest young stars on the defensive line.
USA Today
28-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff: Roy Foster in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 65 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we take it back to the early 1980s and look at former USC All-American offensive lineman Roy Foster. Position: Offensive line Years played at USC: 1978-1981 Career highlights: Foster earned first-team All-American honors at offensive guard for the Trojans during both the 1980 and 1981 seasons. In 1980, he was the first ever winner of the Morris Trophy, given to the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12 Conference. The following year, Foster repeated as the winner, becoming one of just three offensive linemen to win the award twice. After USC: The Miami Dolphins selected Foster with the 24th overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft. He would go on to play 12 seasons in the league—the first nine with Miami and the last three with the San Francisco 49ers. Foster was named to the Pro Bowl following both the 1984 and 1985 seasons.
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Two former Oregon Ducks land on NFL's Top 25 Under 25 rankings
The Oregon Ducks football program has long been a stepping stone towards the NFL and never more so than in recent years, as they've churned out dozens of pro prospects within the last five years. Among those are two players who were featured on CBS Sports' most recent Top 25 Under 25 rankings. Coming in at 19th on the list is former Ducks cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who, despite fighting through injuries that limited him to just four games in his rookie season, has made himself into a dependable cover man after being drafted 17th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Appearing in 16 games last season, he recorded 59 tackles -- 50 of which were solo -- and 11 passes defensed to go along with two interceptions. Gonzalez began his collegiate career as a member of the Colorado Buffaloes for two years before transferring to Oregon ahead of the 2022 season. He blossomed as a member of the Ducks' secondary, recording 51 total tackles and notching career-highs in passes defensed (seven) and interceptions (four). He was named to the Pac-12's First-Team All-Defense for his efforts. Further up on the list at No. 3 is former Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who quickly established himself as one of the top young tackles in the league after being drafted seventh overall to the Detroit Lions. Now four seasons into his career, the hulking 6-foot-5, 335-pounder is coming off a second consecutive first-team All-Pro honor and has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons. The accolades were aplenty during Sewell's time in Eugene as well, as he was awarded the Outland Trophy (given to the best interior lineman in college football) during his sophomore season in 2019. He also collected the Morris Trophy as the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12 that same year. In 1,376 career snaps for the Ducks, he gave up just a single sack. Both Gonzalez and Sewell's successes at Oregon have continued in the pros, catching the attention of the national media and setting the stage for the next batch of Ducks in the NFL. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
22-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Tyron Smith in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 70 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we take a look at former USC offensive lineman Tyron Smith. Position: Offensive line Years played at USC: 2008-2010 Career highlights: Smith served as a backup offensive tackle as a true freshman in 2008. As a sophomore, he earned the starting right tackle job. During his junior season, Smith was named first-team All-Pac-12 and won the Morris Trophy as the top lineman in the conference. After USC: Following his junior season, Smith declared for the 2011 NFL draft, where the Dallas Cowboys selected him with the ninth overall pick. Smith would go on to play 14 seasons in the league—13 with Dallas, and one with the New York Jets. During his career, Smith was named to eight Pro Bowls, and made either first or second-team All-Pro five times. Smith announced his retirement from the NFL in April. He is surely headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he is eligible.
