How Staley’s endorsement of Floyd sold 49ers’ Kocurek on free agent originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area SANTA CLARA — Leonard Floyd, who signed a two-year, $20 million 49ers contract this offseason, appears to be set for a significant role on San Francisco’s revamped defensive front. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek explained Wednesday why the veteran pass rusher was …

A major turning point in college athletics came to fruition Thursday when the NCAA Board of Governors and every Power Five conference agreed to settlement terms in the landmark House v. NCAA lawsuit. The resolution promises to change the college athletics enterprise forever by effectively ending its long-standing amateurism model.  For the first time, schools will directly share a portion …

USATSI While he likes Justin Fields’ potential, Jerome Bettis does not see him beating out Russell Wilson as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new starting quarterback.  Fields created a buzz during Day 1 of the Steelers’ OTAs when he said that he is “definitely” competing with Wilson, whom Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has given the “pole position” to. Bettis, a Hall of …

Attempting to add more future talent, the Colorado Buffaloes will welcome class of 2025 offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden to Boulder for an official visit from June 21-23. Gooden is a four-star recruit and the No. 19 OL in his class, per the 247Sports composite. At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, he has been a talented member of Lipscomb Academy’s (Tennessee) offensive …

DJ Moore reflects on pre-draft throwing session with Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bears organized a throwing session between rookies Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, and Bears veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. The throwing session was a little nebulous for the veterans; but not, at the …

Michigan State football has extended an offer to a big-time defensive lineman prospect from Texas. Smith Orogbo of Houston, Texas announced earlier this week that he’s received a scholarship from the Spartans. Orogbo is a four-star defensive lineman in the 2025 class. Orogbo ranks as the No. 15 defensive lineman and No. 132 overall prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings for …

Justin Fields reverts to natural footwork with Steelers, reversing Bears’ changes originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago When Justin Fields first arrived in Chicago in 2021, he was used to placing his right foot forward in the shotgun formation, flipping it back upon receiving the ball to get ready to throw. In Year 2, Luke Getsy and the Bears taught …

Go back to 2017. Lincoln Riley, well before he came to USC, made the College Football Playoff at Oklahoma. That year, he coached Baker Mayfield to the Heisman Trophy, and came within an eyelash (overtime in the playoff semifinals) of competing in the national championship game. Kyle Whittingham and Utah had not yet made a single appearance in the Pac-12 …

A member of Bill Parcells’ coaching tree, Sean Payton is known to mimic his former boss by offering a notable line or two during interviews. Payton was at it again Thursday when he used an interesting metaphor to sum up his quarterback room that consists of rookie Bo Nix, Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham.  “They’re all orphan dogs,” Payton said, …

The 2024 season is an interesting one for the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who at some point in the year will play on every day of the week except Tuesday. It is no surprise that the back-to-back champs were selected for so many prime-time and holiday games as they look to be the first team to three-peat. …

Last week, Ohio State football put out an offer to Ziyare Addison, a highly-rated offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class. The Buckeyes are in the mix to land Addison as on Thursday he named his top nine schools, a list that included the Scarlet and Gray. Addison is rated as a four-star recruit by all four main recruiting resources. …

Carmen Vitali NFC North Reporter The dirty little secret about the NFL is that there is no true offseason.  That’s especially true for rookies coming into their first year in the league. The NFL does a great job staying relevant all year long and honestly, if you’re a player, you need to stay in shape year-round to keep up, regardless …

Peyton Manning has just one request for the crop of recently drafted quarterbacks. He wants them to surpass his worst record. The former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback spoke about the rookie class, featuring a record-tying six first-round quarterbacks, while accepting the Mizel Institute 2024 Community Enrichment Award on Wednesday. Jokingly (we think), he said he hopes one of …

Most Ohio State fans will remember Corey Smith from his targeting ejection during the 2014 Big Ten Championship game against the Wisconsin Badgers. Smith was a receiver for the Buckeyes from 2013 through 2016 and finished his Ohio State career with 31 receptions for 351 yards. Big things were expected of Smith as he was the first Junior College addition …