Shanahan lauds 49ers rookie Pearsall’s fight throughout 2024 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area Kyle Shanahan loves the fight 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has shown in his first season with the team. The San Francisco coach explained the turbulent start to the season that Pearsall endured. “What people don’t know about Ricky is he got about …

Jan. 3—Three southeastern Oklahoma high school football players, including a senior from Hartshorne, will represent the Choctaw Nation during the 2025 Native American All-Star game next week in Frisco, Texas. The game, sponsored by the Native American Athletic Foundation in partnership with the NFL and Nike, recognizes Indian Country’s top 60 high school football players “who maintain their grade point …

The Saints ruled out quarterback Derek Carr for Sunday’s season finale against the Buccaneers. The team didn’t put Carr on injured reserve, hoping he could return before the end of the season. But this will be the fourth game Carr has missed since fracturing his non-throwing hand in a Dec. 8 game against the Giants. Spencer Rattler again will start …

The Texas Tech football team has hired the first of two new coaches to lead the Red Raider secondary. Tech announced Friday the hiring of Rob Greene as the team’s new safeties coach. Greene will be reunited with new Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood after the pair served on staffs together at Wofford in 2017 and Tulane in 2023. …

The Texans won’t have a pair of defensive linemen for Sunday’s regular-season finale. Defensive end Denico Autry (knee) and defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (ankle) will sit out against the Titans. Cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion) and offensive guard Shaq Mason (knee) also are out. Linebacker Christian Harris (ankle) and linebacker Jamal Hill (hamstring) are questionable. The Texans added Hill to the …

While Arizona State saw its secondary reinforced with the return of safety Xavion Alford, it also saw the departure of a key member as defensive back Shamari Simmons announced his intention to declare for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft in April. There was a chance potentially that Simmons, a graduate student, could return next season with the recent new waiver …

Quarterback Jalen Hurts is officially out for the Eagles’ regular season finale. Hurts will miss his second straight game due to the concussion he suffered in a Week 16 loss to the Commanders. With the Eagles locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC, Hurts likely would have sat out the game even if he were healthy and his …

Jan. 3—PULLMAN — New Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers has now filled both coordinator spots on his staff. Rogers is hiring Jesse Bobbit as the Cougars’ new defensive coordinator, a source confirmed to The Spokesman-Review on Friday, bringing over his former South Dakota State DC of two years. Bobbit was also a GA with the Cougars from 2020-21. ESPN was …

Shanahan expects Dobbs’ preparation to pay off in 49ers’ season finale originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan believes quarterback Joshua Dobbs will shine against his former Arizona Cardinals to end the 2024 NFL regular season. Dobbs, of course, is San Francisco’s starter in place of Brock Purdy, who is recovering from a right elbow contusion …

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football has landed a verbal commitment from Ohio State tackle Zen Michalski, according to multiple reports. It’s an in-state pickup of sorts for the Hoosiers. Michalski was a highly regarded prospect in the 2021 signing class out of Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs. The four-star offensive lineman was the No. 306 overall ranked recruit in the …

Two hundred and fifty-six down. Sixteen to go. And while most of the postseason field has been decided, five teams are alive for two remaining spots in the playoffs. More importantly, three division titles are still up for grabs — including the Sunday night showdown for the NFC North and the top seed in the NFC. 3-13 Browns at 11-5 …

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gophers coach P.J. Fleck opted to wear a white quarter-zip for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday. The color choice won’t contrast too much with the off-white mayonnaise to be dumped over his head after a 24-10 win over Virginia Tech at Bank of America Stadium on Friday. Minnesota rode a 21-point second quarter to its eighth …

Bengals receiver Jermaine Burton’s rookie season has come to an early end. Cincinnati announced Burton will not travel to Pittsburgh and has been downgraded to out for the Week 18 matchup due to a coach’s decision. Burton, a third-round pick in the 2024 draft, was inactive for a game earlier this season after missing a walk-through. He’s caught just four …

The mayo bath has, unfortunately or gloriously — depending on your perspective — become a staple of college football’s bowl season. Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck was the recipient of the mayo bath this year after his Golden Gophers defeated Virginia Tech 24-10 Friday night in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. It was largely domination from Minnesota, which went down 7-0 toward …

The Ravens will have tight end Charlie Kolar available for Saturday’s game against the Browns. Kolar was activated from injured reserve on Friday. Kolar has missed the last four games with a forearm injury. Kolar had nine catches for 131 yards and a touchdown in 12 games before getting hurt. The Ravens made space for Kolar on the active roster …