Latest news with #SouthAlabama
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
South Alabama signee Jamaurion McQueen, a Brandon star, picked by Texas Rangers in MLB Draft
Former Brandon baseball star and South Alabama signee Jamaurion "Jay" McQueen was selected No. 595 overall by the Texas Rangers in the 20th round of the 2025 MLB Draft on July 14. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior helped Brandon reach the MHSAA 7A state championship game for he second consecutive year after the Bulldogs won it in 2024. McQueen was named to the Clarion Ledger All-State first team and was a 2025 Dandy Dozen selection. McQueen, who plays outfield and is a pitcher, was rated as the No. 16 player in Mississippi and No. 5 outfielder from Perfect Game's high school recruit rankings. McQueen joins four Mississippi high school players drafted in 2025, including JoJo Parker, Landon Harmon, Talon Haley and Jacob Parker. Jamaurion McQueen stats McQueen appeared in 38 games in 2025. .435 batting average .503 on-base percenatge 54 hits 39 RBIs 2.98 ERA 40 strikeouts Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@ or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jamaurion McQueen, a Brandon star, selcted by Texas Rangers in MLB Draft
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where do UNC quarterbacks land in preseason ACC rankings?
Who wins UNC's starting quarterback gig this fall? For the second-straight year, your North Carolina Tar Heels will enter their football season with a quarterback competition. Max Johnson and Conner Harrell both played in the 2024 opener at Minnesota, but Arkansas transfer Jacolby Criswell ended up starting most of the season. This year, Johnson goes up against the likes of South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez and 4-star, class of 2025 signee Bryce Baker. Though Johnson is UNC's most-experienced option, he's working his way back from a broken leg sustained at Minnesota. Lopez is the most exciting option, throwing for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 465 rushing yards and seven more scores. Baker threw for 6,605 yards and 79 touchdowns during his two season as East Forsyth's (Kernersville, N.C.) starter, so he's another viable choice. USA TODAY Sports thinks that either Johnson or Lopez will be the starter for North Carolina. In their preseason ACC quarterback rankings, USA TODAY Sports ranks the Johnson-Lopez duo 17th amongst likely conference starters. "Johnson's season was over before it really got started when he was injured in last year's opener at Minnesota, and he was still unable to participate in spring drills for new Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick," Eddie Timanus wrote. "That might give the edge in the competition to Lopez, who transfers in from South Alabama, where he led the Jaguars to the program's first bowl win." Johnson and Lopez are one spot behind Virginia's Chandler Morris, plus one spot ahead of Louisville's Miller Moss. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik leads the ACC preseason QB rankings. If NIL money plays any part in who starts for the Tar Heels, Lopez has the upper hand. As part of Lopez' commitment to UNC, he obtained a 2-year, $4 million NIL contract. Johnson has 5,923 career passing yards, 47 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions. North Carolina's QB competition is one to watch as the season approaches, beginning with a September 1 date against TCU under the Kenan Stadium Lights. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
19-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bill Belichick's (likely) first UNC QB is impressing — with his 'violent' golf game
Bill Belichick's (likely) first UNC QB is impressing — with his 'violent' golf game CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Christo Kelly hasn't blocked for Gio Lopez or seen the South Alabama transfer make plays in a practice setting for UNC football. But Kelly, a Holy Cross transfer and veteran offensive lineman, can vouch for Lopez's golf game and the 6-foot, 200-pound lefty's aggressive willingness to win. "Gio's a great competitor, and obviously he had a great career at South Alabama. He's a pretty good golfer, too. Very good club head speed,' Kelly said June 10 during a summer press conference at the Kenan Football Center. BLOCKING THE NOISE: Bill Belichick ignores off-the-field 'noise', describes what he's seen from UNC football Described by Kelly as a golfer who is 'violent with the hips' and 'hits it very hard' – evidenced by their shared experience at Topgolf during a long-drive competition – Lopez comes to Chapel Hill as the favorite to be the Tar Heels' starting quarterback in UNC's debut season under head coach Bill Belichick. "Just like everything, everything's a competition, day in and day out. Everyone's really just focused on taking it one day at a time. No one's really viewing anything as a starter or non-starter, whatever that is,' Kelly said. 'Guys were brought in here to compete. And the message has been sent that you're going to earn everything every day. So you've got to come with your A-game, and iron sharpens iron. So it's good to be in this position where you have so many great players in the quarterback room. And really, all the rooms in general, where guys are just going to be pushing each other every day." Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Shipp threw a jab at Lopez's accent, but went on to praise the QB's presence around the team. "Gio's a great guy outside of ball. I haven't had a rep with him in pads yet, but I still feel like my trust in him is just as high as everybody else. We can plug-and-play any quarterback. All of them are good. All of them can ball. All of them can play. So I feel good with anybody,' Shipp said. "But off the field, Gio's a great guy. He comes from a great family. He's from Alabama, so he throws that accent in a little bit. But I love Gio, and I'm excited for what he's going to bring to the program." Bill Belichick discusses Gio Lopez, UNC football quarterback competition In just under 50 days, UNC will begin preseason practice in preparation for the Tar Heels' season opener against TCU on Labor Day. But who will be taking first-team reps at quarterback on the first day of training camp in Belichick's first season? There are three candidates to be that guy on Aug. 1, the date of the first practice, and Sept. 1, the date of the first game: freshman Bryce Baker, veteran Max Johnson and Lopez. 'Bryce is the only one that was here in the spring. Max was here, but wasn't able to participate much (because of his recovery from a leg injury). And, of course, Gio is new. So I think, as we see the offense evolve, it'll obviously be reflective of how those quarterbacks do and how that position shapes up,' Belichick said on June 10 during a summer press conference at the Kenan Football Center. 'So I think we have good competition there, and our offense is our offense, and we'll be able to adapt to whoever it is. … But we'll see how it all plays out. So right now, that position is one that we just don't have a lot of on-field experience with. And again, even though Max was here, he just wasn't able to participate in any of the team drills. So you know, it kind of also includes him, even though he's a very experienced player." There isn't a lot of clarity, but there seems to be a clear choice as the favorite: Lopez. Five days after UNC's open practice on April 12 at Kenan Stadium, Lopez committed to the Tar Heels. Lopez finished with 2,559 passing yards and 25 total touchdowns, completing 66% of his passes with 18 passing TDs in 11 starts last season with the Jaguars. He also showed an ability to make plays out of the pocket, logging 465 rushing yards and seven TDs on the ground. In his lone start against a high-major program, Lopez had 173 yards and a TD in a loss at No. 14 LSU. "Gio was really productive at South Alabama. He's a dual-threat quarterback. He's had plenty of production, yardage, both running game and passing game experience. Tough kid, played well against some good competition, teams like LSU,' Belichick said. 'So, looks like he's definitely ready for this level. And we're excited to work with him, as we are with everybody else. … We'll see how it all plays out, honestly.' Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UNC football coach Bill Belichick gives early thoughts on the transfer quarterback
During the time period this offseason when many fans were evaluating the idea that the UNC football team could sign ex-Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava, South Alabama transfer QB made himself available and became the Tar Heels' target. Lopez committed to North Carolina and immediately entered a quarterback battle with Max Johnson and freshman Bryce Baker. The 6-foot-0 QB from James Clemens HS in Madison, Alabama, was a three-star prospect out of high school and a three-star prospect, just a two-point differential in rating, according to 247Sports. Advertisement However, Belichick loves the underrated player that he believes can evolve to something better than anyone else believes he is. Now, coach has had time to evaluate that decision and spoke on on what he thought of Lopez. Quoted via Inside Carolina, this is what Belichick had to say when asked about what he thought about Gio Lopez: "Gio was really productive at South Alabama. He's a dual-threat quarterback. He's had plenty of production, yardage, and both running game and passing game experience. Tough kid, played well against some good competition, teams like LSU. So looks like he's definitely ready for this level. And we're excited to work with him, as we are with everybody else." Last season, in Lopez's freshman year at South Alabama, he threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns with five interceptions. He finished the season with a 150.8 QB rating and a 66% completion percentage. He averaged 8.2 yards per throw on the mid-major squad. Advertisement Lopez will now enter Power 4 territory and could have the opportunity to be the first starting quarterback under the Bill Belichick era. There is still plenty of practice to go between now and the opening kickoff against TCU in September. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Bill Belichick gives early thoughts on UNC QB Gio Lopez
The Sun
11-06-2025
- The Sun
Death row killer made chilling last hand gesture before being suffocated to death & left convulsing in 4 minute ordeal
A DEATH row killer was seen making a chilling last hand gesture before being executed by nitrogen gas. Gregory Hunt, 65, was strapped to a chair with a blue-rimmed mask covering his entire face before he was put to death at a south Alabama prison. Hunt, who was convicted of killing a woman in 1988, did not give any final words. However, he appeared to give a thumbs-up sign and a peace sign with his fingers shortly before prison authorities blasted nitrogen at his face. The method involves forcing an inmate to breathe pure nitrogen gas, depriving them of the oxygen needed to stay alive. Hunt was left convulsing for four minutes before authorities declared him dead. He briefly shook, gasped and raised his head off the chair. He then let out a moan and raised his feet. The killer took a series of gasping breaths with long pauses in between before dying. Prison authorities said the movements throughout the four-minute ordeal were expected. Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said: "What I saw has been consistent with all the other nitrogen hypoxia executions. There is involuntary body movement." But critics say they show that the execution method does not provide a quick death. Hunt killed 32-year-old Karen Lane inside her own apartment in 1988 after dating her for about a month. Louisiana puts man to death in state s first nitrogen gas execution Prosecutors said that after becoming enraged with jealousy, he broke into Lane's apartment and sexually abused her and beat her to death, inflicting 60 injuries on her body. Jurors convicted him in 1990 and recommended a death sentence by an 11-1 vote. Lane's family, who also witnessed the execution, said that the night was not about Hunt's life but rather her horrific death. They said Hunt showed her no mercy in 1988 and savagely took Lane away from them. They added: "This is also not about closure or victory. This night represents justice and the end of a nightmare that has coursed through our family for 37 years." Hunt was among the longest-serving inmates on Alabama's death row. The US Supreme Court denied Hunt's request for a stay about three hours before the execution began. Hunt argued that prosecutors misled jurors about the evidence of sexual abuse, a claim the Alabama attorney general's office called meritless. On the day of his execution, he had a lunch tray that included bologna, black-eyed peas, carrots and fruit punch, prison officials said. Hunt declined to have a dinner meal. Last year, Alabama became the first state to carry out an execution with nitrogen gas. The method has now been used in six executions, five in Alabama and one in Louisiana. Hunt selected nitrogen over the other options, lethal injection or the electric chair, before Alabama developed procedures for the method. Hunt's was one of two executions carried out Tuesday in the country. In Florida, Anthony Wainwright, 54, died by lethal injection for the April 1994 killing of 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart, a nursing student and mother of two young children, in Lake City. US death penalty laws THE death penalty in the United States is governed by both federal and state laws. Its legality and application can vary depending on the jurisdiction. The federal government allows the death penalty for certain crimes such as terrorism, espionage, treason, large-scale drug trafficking, and murder of a federal official or law enforcement officer. The Federal Death Penalty Act (1994) provides the legal framework for death penalty procedures in federal cases, outlining offenses that are eligible for capital punishment and procedural protections for defendants. As of now, 24 states permit the death penalty, while 23 have abolished it or have moratoriums. Each state has its own laws regarding which crimes are punishable by death, usually limited to first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances (e.g., multiple murders, killing a police officer, or murder during a violent crime like robbery). Lethal injection is the most common method of execution across the U.S., but some states have alternative methods, such as the electric chair, gas chamber, hanging, or firing squad, as secondary options or by choice of the condemned. Some states have imposed moratoriums (temporary halts) on executions, such as California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, even though the death penalty remains legal in those states. There has been a growing trend toward abolition, as public opinion has shifted, concerns about wrongful convictions have arisen, and the costs of death penalty cases have increased. Death penalty cases involve a complex and lengthy appeals process, which includes automatic appeals to higher courts. This process is designed to ensure that convictions are accurate and that no constitutional rights were violated during the trial. Defendants in capital cases are afforded specific protections, such as the right to effective legal counsel and mental health evaluations.
