The Wisconsin Badgers’ defensive line ranks No. 11 out of the 18 teams in the expanded Big Ten entering the 2024 season, according to 247Sports. Its ranking is led by Ohio State at No. 1, Michigan at No. 2, Penn State at No. 3, Oregon at No. 4 and Iowa at No. 5. It is no coincidence that those top …
Read More »Monthly Archives: June 2024
Wisconsin football trending toward landing top 2025 iOL Hardy Watts
Wisconsin football is trending toward landing four-star class of 2025 interior offensive lineman Hardy Watts, as five last-minute 247Sports crystal ball predictions were logged on Saturday for him to choose the Badgers. Those predictions come from 247Sports Wisconsin insiders Evan Flood and Nick Osen, Michigan insiders Steve Lorenz and Sam Webb, and national analyst Brian Dohn. They are posted just …
Read More »Why Oklahoma State commit Adam Schobel wanted to be a quarterback ‘ever since I was little’
STILLWATER — One might look at Adam Schobel’s football lineage and wonder how he became a four-star quarterback recruit. The son of Matt Schobel, who played 99 games over seven seasons as an NFL tight end, and the nephew of Aaron Schobel, who made two Pro Bowls in his nine-year career as a defensive end, Adam might’ve seemed more destined …
Read More »Is OU football prepared for SEC? Sooners may be better than people think
OU football coach Brent Venables lines up with his team before the Alamo Bowl against Arizona on Dec. 28, 2023, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. NORMAN — Nearly three years ago when OU football, along with its archrival Texas reached out to the Southeastern Conference about joining forces, the Sooners’ national reputation wasn’t in line with a traditionally tough, defensive …
Read More »Football: Topeka-area helps East secure first Kansas Shrine Bowl victory in 6 years
EMPORIA — It’s been years since Hayden’s Carter Charvat played the center position. He’s a linebacker that recently graduated and is headed to Benedictine College to play on the defensive side of the ball. Charvat didn’t mind his cameo on the offensive line. He played nearly every snap in Saturday’s 51st Kansas Shrine Bowl game inside Emporia State’s Welch Stadium. …
Read More »62 days until it is football time in Tennessee
Tennessee will kick off its 2024 football season in 62 days. The Vols will open its upcoming campaign on Aug. 31 against Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12:45 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the contest. 2024 will be the fourth season for Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel. In his first three seasons, Heupel is 27-12 and guided …
Read More »Staff profile: Meet The Columbus Dispatch’s Joey Kaufman, Ohio State football beat writer
(Editor’s note: This article is part of a new weekly series featuring Columbus Dispatch journalists and their work in our community.) Joey Kaufman has covered Ohio State football for The Dispatch since he joined the paper in 2019. He answered a few questions about his job below. Why I became a journalist Since childhood, I’ve loved newspapers. I grew up …
Read More »Buzz from the NHL draft: Celebrini, Stamkos, Guentzel, more
Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterJun 30, 2024, 07:00 AM ET CloseKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN. The 2024 NHL draft saw many teams select players who have instantly jumped to the top of their prospect pipelines. And for the San Jose Sharks, not only did they get a new top-six center in Macklin Celebrini, but a long-term …
Read More »Lancaster senior Cole Dickerson named 2024 Eagle-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year
Lancaster senior Cole Dickerson, who excelled in football and wrestling, is the 2024 Eagle-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year. LANCASTER — Being a multi-sport athlete can be challenging, but it also has its rewards, especially when you are the best at what you do. There were several area male athletes who had standout seasons, but one stood out above the …
Read More »From Ravenna-Roosevelt to Rootstown-Mogadore, 15 Portage County football games to watch
Kent Roosevelt’s Jaiden Portis catches a 54-yard pass and scores on Aug. 18, 2023. The Rough Riders will play Ravenna on Aug. 23 in one of the 2024 season’s 15 must-watch games. Here are 15 must-watch Portage County high school football games in 2024: Ravenna at Roosevelt (Aug. 23) For years, it must have felt like Ravenna’s Jim Lunardi and …
Read More »How are Texas, Oklahoma celebrating SEC move? Pitbull, pep rallies and more
The celebrations for joining the SEC just mean more for Oklahoma and Texas. After agreeing to join the league three years ago and negotiating a settlement with the Big 12 to leave one year early July 1 is the official day the Sooners and Longhorns join the SEC. Both schools are going all out to mark the occasion. Texas is …
Read More »A blue-chip WR chose Michigan football. The rise of one NFL star is among the reasons why
When Ron Bellamy made his recruiting pitch to Jacob Washington, he showed him clips of Nico Collins. Long before he became a budding star and earned a lucrative contract extension from the Houston Texans in May, Collins sparked intrigue in Ann Arbor. At 6 feet 4, he was a tall, rangy receiver who had a penchant for making plays. But …
Read More »Top recruit in the state of Nebraska commits to Florida State
In the recruiting world, things can change at a moment’s notice. A little over a week ago, Cornhuskers Wire reported that Chase Loftin, the top high school player in Nebraska, was projected to commit to the Cornhuskers. That changed Saturday evening when Loftin announced his commitment to the Florida State Seminoles. He chose FSU over Nebraska, Missouri, and Texas A&M. …
Read More »Tom Allen and D’Anton Lynn are part of a fascinating Penn State-USC storyline
When Penn State and USC meet on the football field this October, they will both have new defensive coordinators. Tom Allen is the new man for the Nittany Lions, while D’Anton Lynn is the new defensive guru for the Trojans. The two men might be able to share some stories about the similarities in how they are perceived by the …
Read More »Marquette King lobbies for NFL punting job after All-UFL season
Several players have gone directly from the inaugural season of the United Football League to NFL rosters. Marquette King is not one of them. King was named the All-UFL punter for his work this spring with the Arlington Renegades, but that hasn’t landed him an NFL job, and he’s publicly asking for one. King posted a video of one of …
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