Welcome to the USA TODAY Network’s recruiting ladder, a statewide feature from reporter Joe Hughes highlighting 10 prospects on the rise each week of the 2024 high school football season. Anyone is eligible for consideration, whether it be an unranked player who had a career game, a recruit with mid-level offers, or four- and five-star standouts adding to their personal …

Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase missed 20 total practice sessions dating to the start of training camp. He returned from his hold in Wednesday, the first full practice of Week 1. Chase will speak to the media on Friday, he said, but Joe Burrow addressed Chase’s return Wednesday. “Great to have him back. Great player. A guy that we need …

Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Matthew McCoy (78) celebrates with fans after defeating the Gators during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun] Leave it to Gainesville, Florida — the birthplace of Tom Petty — to become …

The NFL season kicks off on Thursday night with a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills.Composite: USA Today Sports; Getty Images This will be the year of … Who else? Patrick Mahomes, pretty much like he has been the last five seasons, will be the NFL’s main focal point. Mahomes, entering his eighth NFL season, has …

Tennessee football quarterback Nico Iamaleava was sensational in his second collegiate start on Saturday, leading the Vols to a 69-3 win over Chattanooga in the season opener. Iamaleava, who completed 22 of 28 passes for 314 yards with three touchdowns in the win, even garnered high praise from a three-time national championship coach for his performance. REQUIRED READING: Overreacting to …

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the preseason is too small a sample size to make any sweeping judgments about the new kickoff rule, but we’ve seen enough to know it’s going to be good for the offense. Goodell emphasized in an interview with Pat McAfee that the starting field position for the offense after kickoffs will surely be higher, both …

Like the two offseasons before it, the biggest story and question surrounding Iowa football following the conclusion of 2023 was how much could its offense improve? The Hawkeyes hired former Western Michigan head coach and Green Bay Packers analyst Tim Lester as its new offensive coordinator to replace Brian Ferentz. The first impression of Iowa’s new offense under Lester was …

Marcus Mariota won’t start for the Commanders on Sunday. That job belongs to rookie Jayden Daniels. The question is: Will he back up Daniels against the Buccaneers? Mariota is on Wednesday’s practice report with a chest injury that limited him. Jeff Driskel is the team’s third quarterback. All 53 players practiced for the Commanders, with Mariota one of four who …

Indiana football hosts Western Illinois on Friday night at Memorial Stadium in the first matchup between the schools. The Hoosiers beat FIU, 31-7, in their opener with a new-look coaching staff and roster that featured more than 50 newcomers. The transfers coach Curt Cignetti over with him from James Madison were in the spotlight — running back Ty Son Lawton scored …

Pittsburgh running back Jaylen Warren is dealing with an injury, but he said he’s still expecting to play in the season opener against the Falcons. Warren was limited on Wednesday with a hamstring issue, according to Pittsburgh’s injury report. “It feels good,” Warren said, via Teresa Varley of the team’s website. “We’re going to take it slow. I’ll be ready …

LSU running back John Emery has a torn anterior cruciate ligament that will sideline him for the rest of what is his sixth season with the No. 18 Tigers, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because LSU has not announced the injury, which occurred during practice in …

Panthers running back Miles Sanders injured his finger in Wednesday’s practice when he hit it on a helmet. Sanders had his finger wrapped afterward and was headed to get it examined but expects to be ready for the season opener, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports. “Sucks this happened before Week 1,” he said. Coach Dave Canales also said …

It’s looking more and more like Florida football freshman quarterback DJ Lagway will make his first career start when the Florida Gators host Samford on Saturday at The Swamp (7 p.m., SEC Network Plus). Lagway was listed as the starter at quarterback on the depth chart on Wednesday, while starter Graham Mertz, who suffered a concussion against Miami on Saturday, …

Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey has been out of practice recently, but the team did not have to disclose what’s been keeping him off the field until Wednesday. Ramsey landed on the first injury report of the season as a non-participant and he’s listed with a hamstring injury. Head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t say whether Ramsey is at risk of missing …

Aug 31, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) gestures against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports It’s been a busy week of headlines surrounding this Florida Gators football program, to say the least. From head coach Billy Napier’s comments about criticism and basements in …