College Football

The Baltimore Ravens found a diamond in the rough with fullback Patrick Ricard. Initially a defensive lineman, Ricard played a hybrid defense-offense role for the team before transitioning full-time to fullback, where he’s become an All-Pro. There were many questions about Ricard’s role in 2023 when Baltimore switched from Greg Roman to Todd Monken at the offensive coordinator position. However, …

It’s always nice to see current and former Ohio State football players being active in the community, especially those that we thought wouldn’t be in Columbus any longer. Take running back TreVeyon Henderson for example. Most of us believed that he would be off to the NFL after last season but he decided to come back with a lot of …

Rutgers football landed a commitment from an elite athlete at the defensive end position in four-star 2025 prospect Chase Linton. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound edge rusher from North Atlanta High School in Georgia, Atlanta, is extremely athletic.His commitment in early June gives Rutgers yet another elite athlete in this recruiting class. When Linton reports to campus in 2025, he can be …

The Georgia Bulldogs have second highest-rated defense in EA Sports’ College Football 25 video game. Only the Ohio State Buckeyes have a higher defensive rating (96) than Georgia (94). The Oregon Ducks have an defensive rating of 90 along with the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers to round out the top-five defenses. Georgia also has the best offensive rating …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

(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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …