Latest news with #SecondTeamAll-American
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Luther Burden III (No. 25)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Next up at No. 25 is wide receiver Luther Burden III, who could serve a key role as a rookie in Ben Johnson's offense. Background Position: Wide receiver Age: 21 Experience: 1st season 2025 cap hit: N/A 2024 recap Luther Burden III had a career year in his sophomore season at Missouri, where he totaled career highs in receptions (86), yards (1,212) and touchdowns (9) en route to being a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist and Second Team All-American. His production took a dip in the final year of his college career, but he had a team-best 61 receptions for 676 yards and six touchdowns, as well as nine rushes for 115 yards and two scores. He also had four punt returns for 31 yards. Still, Burden was named First Team All-SEC for the second consecutive year. Following his career year in 2023, Burden was projected to be a top-10 pick. But his dip in production was part of the reason why he fell to the Bears in the second round. 2025 outlook The Bears landed a huge steal in Burden in the second round of the NFL draft, which gives Ben Johnson another weapon to utilize on offense. While Chicago already has its top two receivers in DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, Burden has the potential to make a significant impact as a rookie if utilized to his full potential. Johnson has talked about the importance of the slot receiver in his offense, as that's where the ball typically goes. While Johnson will move guys around, it's worth noting that Burden ran 88% of his routes from the slot over the past two seasons at Missouri. Burden is a speedy, explosive receiver who can line up inside, outside or even out of the backfield. Big Question: How will Burden factor into Ben Johnson's offense? The Bears have no shortage of weapons to utilize as Ben Johnson steps into his first year as head coach and offensive play caller. The only problem is there's just one ball to go around, which is a great problem to have. Between DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, along with a 1-2 punch at tight end with Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland, the question is how much Burden will factor in on offense. Given Burden's massive upside and playmaking ability -- which has garnered comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown -- Chicago will look to get him as involved as possible. Burden thrived in the slot during college, and that figures to be the position where he can inflict the most damage to opposing defenses. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
USA Today
29-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje reacts to his NBA Draft selection
What a moment for him Former Wisconsin Basketball star John Tonje witnessed his NBA dreams come true on Thursday evening. Surrounded by friends and family, Tonje looked on as NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announced the Utah Jazz's selection with the 53rd pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. Immediately afterwards, his loved ones erupted in joy, eliciting a giant smile from Tonje. Here's the moment Tonje realized his NBA aspirations morphed into a reality: Tonje's journey is arguably one of the more memorable of any recent player to represent the Badgers. After playing just eight games before being sidelined for the entire 2023-24 season at Missouri due to injury, Tonje burst onto the scene as Wisconsin's most prolific offensive option. The 6-foot-5 wing began the season with a 41-point barrage against No. 9 Arizona -- a performance that included a baffling 21 made free throws -- to set the tone for what Wisconsin would accomplish during the 2024-25 slate. Tonje would then secure 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off Tournament MVP nods with strong outputs in wins over UCF at Pittsburgh in UW's mid-November tournament, roughly three months before dropping 32 points in a signature triumph over No. 7 Purdue on the road. In the postseason, Tonje also registered 32 points against No. 7 Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship semifinal and 37 tallies against BYU in the Badgers' NCAA Tournament round of 32 loss. At the season's end, he was named a 2025 Second Team All-American, 2025 Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist and member of the 2025 All-Big Ten first team. The three-level scorer will now join former Rutgers star Ace Bailey and Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr., who pocketed an NCAA title with the Gators in April, in Salt Lake City. The 2024-25 iteration of Utah went 17-65, the worst record in the entire NBA. Tonje's professional journey will begin in Utah's summer league action from July 5-7. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
North Bay Haven's Goodpaster named All-American
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – North Bay Haven junior Kaylee Goodpaster capped off one of the most impressive single-season performances ever by a Bay County athlete this spring, and now she's being recognized on the national stage. Goodpaster, a Florida State softball commit, has been named a Second Team All-American by Prep Softball. The honor places her among the top 18 high school softball players in the nation and among the top six outfielders. She finished her junior season with a .600 batting average, 51 hits, a state-high 61 RBIs and 12 home runs, a mark that ranks in the top 10 across Florida. Goodpaster's dominance was on full display in the state finals, where she hit two home runs off a future Division I pitcher. She said she hopes to deliver North Bay Haven and Bay County its first softball state title before she heads to Tallahassee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Dylan Sampson college highlights and what he brings to Browns
WATCH: Dylan Sampson college highlights and what he brings to Browns Dylan Sampson is a Cleveland Brown — CHANNEL TN (@CHANNEL_TN_) April 26, 2025 On their first pick of day three, the Browns drafted Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson with the 126th overall pick. Sampson got his first chance as the full-time starter in 2024 and averaged 5.78 yards per carry to earn Second Team All-American honors and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands, making tremendously sharp cuts with great acceleration. In a year where the Browns could go back to pulling linemen more, Sampson has a great understanding of tempo and angles to best utilize pullers. At five-foot-eight, 199 pounds, Sampson is a bit undersized relative to the prototypical NFL back. He is capable in pass protection and as a receiver, but could use a bit more consistency with his technique to be a three-down back. While he isn't the most violent, bruising runner, he brings an element of speed and finesse that should be a seamless fit with Quinshon Judkins, the 36th overall pick. Sampson led the SEC in rushing with 1,491 yards and added 22 touchdowns and 143 receiving yards. PFF graded Sampson as the sixth-best running back among those with at least 20 percent of 313 rushing attempts. #Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson Instinctual runner (can find creases of daylight). Sudden mover with short-area burst. Low red zone/GL production. Upside as a receiver in a pro offense. Excellent spin move (below). — Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) February 17, 2025 Cleveland desperately needed a revamped running back room to return to their run-based identity. With Judkins and Sampson adding to Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr., the outline for an improved run game is set.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft: Watch new Browns DT Mason Graham highlights
NFL Draft: Watch new Browns DT Mason Graham highlights The Browns moved back from pick number two overall to five overall for a haul of picks and ended up selecting Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. Graham is a three-technique defensive tackle who has the strength and quickness to win against the run and pass. He was a Consensus All-American in 2024 and a Second Team All-American in 2023 due to his strong instincts and quick hands and feet, which help him defeat blockers and penetrate the backfield. Some work could be done to make his body 100 percent NFL-ready, which would help make him hold up better against double teams. To most people scouting the class, Graham is a high-floor interior option who has the versatility to wreak havoc in both phases of the game. In his two years as a starter at Michigan, Graham totaled 14.5 tackles for loss, including 7.5 sacks. PFF had him graded as the top run defender among interior defensive linemen, as well as the 14th-best pass rusher. Overall, the Browns are getting a talented and smart defensive lineman to help solidify their front alongside Myles Garrett. Following a season where general manager Andrew Berry's former team won a Super Bowl on the strength of their defensive front, he follows suit in hopes of replicating the success the defense saw in 2023.
