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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Five Gators crack The Athletic's top 35 SEC players ahead of 2025 season
The SEC is often regarded as the toughest conference in college football, and whether or not it's true, there's no doubt the sport's most polarizing conference is a pipeline for NFL talent. The best 35 players in the SEC aren't necessarily the top 35 draft prospects, but a good chunk of them are bound to be Day 1 or 2 picks. Rosters are mostly set with spring practice and the second portal period out of the way. Summer workouts are good to get freshmen on the same page, and fall practice is the dry rehearsal for the real deal, which starts in just about 60 days. So, The Athletic's Manny Navarro broke down the best the SEC has to offer heading into the 2025 season. Five Florida Gators made the list, which goes up to 35. Quarterback DJ Lagway and All-American first team center Jake Slaughter are the two obvious selections, but a fifth-year defensive lineman also made his way into the top 25. Each member of the top 25 received a blurb to break down the selection and can be found below. The Nos. 26-35 players on the list don't have any attached elaboration but are considered "10 others to watch." Offensive tackle Austin Barber (No. 33) and defensive lineman Caleb Banks (No. 35) are in that group. No. 10 C Jake Slaughter Slaughter graded out as one of the best overall centers in the game from Week 1 last season. He earned the All-American nod and likely could have gone in the third round or higher in the most recent draft. Instead, he's returning to anchor the first true year of Florida football with DJ Lagway leading the charge. A Gator through and through, there's first-round potential if everything goes right for Slaughter. "The first-team Associated Press All-American enters his fifth season in Gainesville and is considered by most to be the best center in college football," Navarro said. "He's a big reason Florida allowed 19 fewer sacks last season than it did in 2023 and why the Gators should have one of the top offensive lines in the nation in 2025." Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor is the only other offensive lineman ahead of Slaughter on this list. No. 22 QB DJ Lagway Perhaps it's surprising to see Lagway at No. 22, but he's still relatively unproven and needs to stay healthy. He could very well end the year at the top of this list, but it's only responsible to keep him in the 20s until a midseason update at the earliest. "The sophomore from Texas went 6-1 as a starter in 2024, tying Chris Leak for the most wins by a true freshman quarterback at Florida. He completed 59.9 percent of his attempts for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing 51 times for 101 yards. He missed the spring recovering from shoulder and hamstring injuries." No. 1 LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), No. 7 Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), No. 13 John Mateer (Oklahoma) and No. 16 Arch Manning (Texas) are the four quarterbacks ranked ahead of Lagway, making the Florida sophomore the de facto No. 5 signal caller in the SEC. No. 24 DL Tyreak Sapp Sapp has championship prestige coming out of South Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, and he's looking to see the rebuild at Florida through before taking a shot at a pro career. He could have gotten his NFL journey started after last year, but he's another guy who chose to return to Florida instead. "The fifth-year senior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., led the Gators with seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss last season and can line up anywhere on the defensive line. Sapp was one of four Florida players who received the Tim Tebow Leadership Award this spring. Jake Slaughter, No. 10 on this list, was another." No. 33 OT Austin Barber and No. 35 DL Caleb Banks Barber recently received a first-round mock draft projection from ESPN's Matt Miller, as did Sapp. He struggled at times last season while dealing with some injuries, but he still put up career-best grades as a run blocker and only allowed 13 quarterback pressures. He can be an elite SEC tackle if healthy in 2025. Banks is another Gator with first-round projections. His stock was highest at the end of last season after he went on a tear, getting into the backfield, but he still enters 2025 as one of the SEC's most intimidating defensive linemen. Banks is primed for a breakout year as the co-leader of Florida's defensive line. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Today in Chicago History: City cheers Vietnam veterans during a 5-hour parade — 11 years after the war
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 13, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 95 degrees (1956) Low temperature: 40 degrees (1985) Precipitation: 4.64 inches (1976) Snowfall: Trace (2022) 1888: For the sum of $3,000, Lincoln Park Zoo bought an 8-year-old female elephant — the zoo's first — later named 'Duchess,' one camel, one lioness, one Bengal tiger, two leopards, one zebu, one llama and one ibex from the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Today, the zoo does not sell any animals, and nearly all acquisitions are noncommercial. 1940: The Chicago Cubs faced the Boston Red Sox in the inaugural Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown, New York. The Cubs defeated the Red Sox 10-9 in a seven-inning game that was shortened by rain as 3,500 fans looked on. Ironically, the traditional game's effort in 2008 — Cubs vs. San Diego Padres — was also upended by rain. 1957: Most baseball fights produce a little shoving, occasional hugging, some dancing and pulled powderpuff punches. This one was an exception. The benches cleared after New York Yankees pitcher Art Dittmar threw close to the White Sox's Larry Doby, and some big-time punching followed. In the center of things was veteran Yankee outfielder Enos Slaughter, who broke into baseball with some pretty tough guys playing for the old St. Louis Cardinals' Gashouse Gang. Never one to walk away from a rumble, Slaughter went after the biggest opponent he could find, Sox first baseman Walt 'Moose' Dropo, a 6-foot-5-inch, 240-pound former college tight end. When peacemakers finally pried apart Slaughter and Dropo, Slaughter had his jersey ripped, but Dropo had taken the more telling punches. Unofficial grandstand judges awarded Slaughter the decision. Once again, the Yankees had bested the Sox. 1986: A nearly five-hour parade dedicated to Vietnam veterans marched through downtown Chicago — 11 years after the war ended. 1994: Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg retired, saying he wanted to devote more time to his family and adding that he had 'lost the edge it takes' to play. After resolving matters in his personal life and remarrying, the future Hall of Famer returned to the Cubs after the 1995 season and hit 25 home runs with 92 RBIs in his comeback year. Sandberg, who unveiled a statue of his likeness outside Wrigley Field in June 2024, announced in December of that year that his prostate cancer had relapsed and spread to other organs. 1997: The Chicago Bulls won their fifth NBA championship. 2006: Former Chicago City Clerk James Laski was sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty earlier to one count of bribery in the federal probe of the city's Hired Truck Program. He served about one year in prison. 2022: On Flag Day, Cook County officials unveiled a new flag known as the 'I Will Banner.' Created by Glenbrook South High School student Drew Duffy, the new flag features a circle of seven-point red stars on the left and a sideways blue, green and white Y-shaped stripe to the right. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@
Chicago Tribune
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Today in Chicago History: City cheers Vietnam veterans during a 5-hour parade — 11 years after the war
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 13, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 1888: For the sum of $3,000, Lincoln Park Zoo bought an 8-year-old female elephant — the zoo's first — later named 'Duchess,' one camel, one lioness, one Bengal tiger, two leopards, one zebu, one llama and one ibex from the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Today, the zoo does not sell any animals, and nearly all acquisitions are noncommercial. 1940: The Chicago Cubs faced the Boston Red Sox in the inaugural Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown, New York. The Cubs defeated the Red Sox 10-9 in a seven-inning game that was shortened by rain as 3,500 fans looked on. Ironically, the traditional game's effort in 2008 — Cubs vs. San Diego Padres — was also upended by rain. 1957: Most baseball fights produce a little shoving, occasional hugging, some dancing and pulled powderpuff punches. This one was an exception. The benches cleared after New York Yankees pitcher Art Dittmar threw close to the White Sox's Larry Doby, and some big-time punching followed. In the center of things was veteran Yankee outfielder Enos Slaughter, who broke into baseball with some pretty tough guys playing for the old St. Louis Cardinals' Gashouse Gang. Never one to walk away from a rumble, Slaughter went after the biggest opponent he could find, Sox first baseman Walt 'Moose' Dropo, a 6-foot-5-inch, 240-pound former college tight end. When peacemakers finally pried apart Slaughter and Dropo, Slaughter had his jersey ripped, but Dropo had taken the more telling punches. Unofficial grandstand judges awarded Slaughter the decision. Once again, the Yankees had bested the Sox. 1986: A nearly five-hour parade dedicated to Vietnam veterans marched through downtown Chicago — 11 years after the war ended. 1994: Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg retired, saying he wanted to devote more time to his family and adding that he had 'lost the edge it takes' to play. After resolving matters in his personal life and remarrying, the future Hall of Famer returned to the Cubs after the 1995 season and hit 25 home runs with 92 RBIs in his comeback year. Sandberg, who unveiled a statue of his likeness outside Wrigley Field in June 2024, announced in December of that year that his prostate cancer had relapsed and spread to other organs. 1997: The Chicago Bulls won their fifth NBA championship. 2006: Former Chicago City Clerk James Laski was sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty earlier to one count of bribery in the federal probe of the city's Hired Truck Program. He served about one year in prison. 2022: On Flag Day, Cook County officials unveiled a new flag known as the 'I Will Banner.' Created by Glenbrook South High School student Drew Duffy, the new flag features a circle of seven-point red stars on the left and a sideways blue, green and white Y-shaped stripe to the right. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic FTC Commissioner Quits—But That Doesn't Mean He's Dropping His Lawsuit
Alvaro Bedoya, former commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), formally resigned on Monday after he and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, the other Democrat-appointed commissioner, were fired by President Donald Trump in March. Bedoya and Slaughter have challenged the president in court, with Slaughter arguing that the firings violated "the plain language of a statute and clear Supreme Court precedent." Although Bedoya and Slaughter will continue pursuing their legal challenge to the firings, Bedoya's pressured resignation represents a major blow to the security of independent agency executives. The Supreme Court precedent invoked by Bedoya and Slaughter is Humphrey's Executor v. U.S. (1935), which was prompted by then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's attempted firing of FTC Commissioner William E. Humphrey, who former President Herbert Hoover had appointed to serve a second, seven-year term on the commission in 1931. The Court unanimously ruled against Roosevelt, finding that the president is not free to fire officers of those "quasi legislative or quasi judicial agencies" created by Congress without cause. The president's ability to fire such officers at will "threatens the independence of a commission…as an agency of the legislative and judicial departments," thereby undermining the separation of powers codified in the Constitution. (The existence of executive agencies that simultaneously wield legislative and judicial powers is itself a blatant violation of this principle.) On Monday, Bedoya filed a supplemental declaration to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (the court hearing his and Slaughter's case against the Trump administration) providing his reasons for formally resigning. Bedoya explained that he has been denied his wages as FTC commissioner following his firing and that, to comply with rules and regulations, he has not accepted other employment opportunities. Since Bedoya can "no longer afford to go without any source of income for [his] family," he resigned "out of an abundance" to pursue paid employment outside the agency. Former FTC Chair Lina Khan credited Bedoya with reviving the Robinson-Patman Act, which outlaws price discrimination, and thanked him for "his remarkable tenure" as an FTC commissioner and "his outstanding public service." She described Bedoya's resignation as "a huge loss." FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson and Commissioner Melissa Holyoak—both of whom are named as defendants in Bedoya and Slaughter's lawsuit—have not yet spoken publicly about Bedoya's resignation, nor has the more recently appointed commissioner, Mark Meador. The partisan divisions between FTC commissioners belie claims of the very independence that the Supreme Court regarded as "essential [so] that the commission should not be open to the suspicion of partisan direction" in Humphrey's Executor. Regardless of the partisanship of the FTC and the constitutionality of Humphrey's Executor, the now-resigned commissioner is "still suing the President! Not dropping out of the lawsuit," Bedoya emphasized on X. The post Democratic FTC Commissioner Quits—But That Doesn't Mean He's Dropping His Lawsuit appeared first on
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CDC employees wonder if they can return to work after judge rules against mass layoffs
Laid-off federal employees in metro Atlanta are applauding a judge's ruling that blocks mass layoffs at federal agencies, but they don't know whether that means they can return to their jobs. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston barred several agencies from making drastic job cuts, saying the White House needs consent from Congress. The ruling stems from a lawsuit by unions, nonprofits and local governments against the Trump administration for the drastic reduction in the workforce to downsize government. It names President Trump, Elon Musk and 21 federal agencies as defendants. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'I'm hopeful,' said Summer Slaughter, a public health analyst for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who's on administrative leave and set to be terminated June 2. 'I'm not really sure what it all means and so I'm hoping we do get some guidance.' Bree Danner, an injury and overdose prevention project officer for the CDC, told Channel 2's Bryan Mims she lost her job in February. 'I'm trying not to get my hopes up about it, but we're all just mission-driven folks and regardless still have a passion for the work we're doing,' Danner said. Both employees plan to continue looking for other jobs. 'I find myself in a position, wondering 'Should I continue to do job searching?' Because it could come out that we could still be separated June 2, so I don't want to lose steam,' Slaughter said. RELATED STORIES: CDC safety workers worry job cuts could hurt workplace protections everywhere 'We regret to inform you:' Now-ex CDC workers say they're upset with cuts after years of service Layoffs begin at Atlanta-based CDC, other US health agencies The judge's ruling stopped short of requiring agencies to bring back people who are already laid off or on administrative leave. The Trump administration appealed the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Friday, and it's asking the court to pause the order pending the outcome of the appeal. 'Don't celebrate too early just to be disappointed again,' Slaughter said. 'I'm definitely happy to hear about the ruling, but still remaining cautious about getting my expectations too high.' Brian Sutherland, a civil rights and employment discrimination attorney in Atlanta, said the ruling shows the checks and balances among the branches of government are working. 'The judges and our court system are very strong and are gonna look closely at this to find out whether or not the federal government went too far, did something that it wasn't supposed to do,' he said. He said the decision also shows that people have the power of the judicial branch to challenge a president's actions. 'They can go to the federal court and ask the federal court to enjoin, or put a pause on whatever that action is in order to get a full hearing and analysis of whether or not it's lawful for what the federal government is trying to do,' he said. For now, CDC employees wait to learn how the ruling affects their job status, if at all. 'There's been so much back and forth, it's hard to know what it's gonna mean in the end,' Danner said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
