The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to bolster their cornerback room ahead of the 2026 season. The Buccaneers have agreed to terms with cornerback Chase Lucas on a one-year deal, adding another depth piece.

Lucas, a former seventh-round pick, brings experience from stops with the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers. He’s appeared in 33 career games, including 15 last season, giving the Buccaneers a player who can be plugged in and play immediately if needed and not need any growing pains along the way. Lucas immediately brings value on special teams, logging over 200 snaps in the 2025 season.

That alone gives him a legitimate path to making the roster, especially under new special teams coordinator Danny Smith, who will look to turn around one of the worst units in the league.

In Todd Bowles’ system, defensive backs are expected to be versatile. Lucas checks several of those boxes, having played in different schemes while showing a willingness to contribute wherever needed. At minimum, he provides depth insurance in a cornerback room that still has plenty to prove heading into training camp. Of course, there’s a reason Lucas was available at this stage of the offseason. He has yet to record an interception in his career and has primarily been a depth contributor rather than a difference-maker on defense.

If he’s going to stick or even carve out a larger role, he’ll need to show more consistency in coverage and find ways to create turnovers.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs add cornerback from the 49ers in Chase Lucas

The Cleveland Browns have a massive hole on their offensive line with no real starting-caliber left tackles on the roster heading into the 2026 NFL draft. One name that has popped up lately for the Browns is Alabama left tackle Kadyn Proctor, with multiple draft analysts and insiders, including Todd McShay, saying he could be the pick at six overall.

In this week's podcast, we talked about Kadyn Proctor, his strengths and weaknesses, and if we would be happy or angry if the Browns took him. Another question that comes up with Proctor is: are you more comfortable with him later in the draft if you plan to move him inside to guard?

He is a polarizing prospect, with many people who think he can play tackle and just as many who think he has to move inside to guard. Then we talk about the tackle class and the only guys who can play left tackle that are worth a first-round pick. You can hear a more in-depth analysis on these topics and more in this week's episode by clicking here.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Kadyn Proctor debate and a look at tackle class

Lavonte David isn’t the type to stir up drama, which is exactly why his latest story caught so many off guard.

Appearing on a recent episode of The Arena podcast, the longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker opened up about a personal clash with former offensive coordinator Todd Monken during the 2017 season, one that had nothing to do with play-calling or on-field frustration, but instead stemmed from a situation in practice

According to David, the situation escalated after Monken called him a name during a heated moment, telling him to go back to the other side of the field and calling him a name we cannot type, but the post shares. What followed wasn’t just a quick exchange, as it turned into real tension between two strong personalities in a locker room already dealing with a disappointing season.

David admitted the situation nearly became physical.

For a player known around the league as one of the most level-headed leaders, that alone speaks volumes. But what made the story even more telling was what came after. David said the two had genuine “beef,” going weeks without speaking to each other as the tension lingered inside the building. That kind of silence between key figures, especially a respected defensive captain and a coordinator, is not something that's heard of often, if at all. Over time, David and Monken were able to hash things out and move forward, putting the issue behind them.

It’s a reminder that even in professional environments, personalities can clash.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Lavonte David reveals real 'Beef' with Todd Monken

Needing a spark at the plate, Oregon Ducks coach Mark Wasikowski made some changes to the lineup this week, inserting a couple of freshmen who had typically come off the bench into the starting lineup. Brayden Jaksa thrived at the top of the lineup, but it was Naulivou Lauaku Jr. who came away with conference honors.

Lauaki was recognized as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his performance in Oregon's four games this week, all of which he started. Lauaki served as the designated hitter in all four games, replacing Dominic Hellman, who has been the typical designated hitter this season. Hellman has slumped, leading to Lauaki's extra chances at the dish.

He made the most of them, slashing .471/.471/1.176 with a 1.647 OPS after collecting eight hits during the week. Lauaki belted his first career home run in a midweek loss at Portland, and followed that up with two more big flies on Saturday against Nebraska. He also had three doubles and six RBI during the week.

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐡@junior_lauaki rewarded with @bigten Freshman of the Week honors after leading Ducks' to a ranked series win. #GoDucks

Press Release | https://t.co/6xa29g8w9dpic.twitter.com/wQQzosiPwX

— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) April 13, 2026

Lauaki took a redshirt for the Ducks last season and has been a steady force off the bench throughout this season. The slugger from Springville, Utah, has regularly pinch-hit and been featured as the designated hitter and first baseman at different points this season.

The Ducks have been collecting conference awards routinely this season, but this is their third Freshman of the Week honor. Angel Laya, who broke the Oregon freshman home run record on Sunday, has won the award twice this season. Ducks catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus also won the award once last year.

Hellman won Big Ten Player of the Week on March 23 after a big week at the plate, and left-hander Miles Gosztola won Pitcher of the Week on March 30 after a stellar midweek outing against UC San Diego.

Lauaki's recent success at the plate has given the Ducks a boost at the bottom of the order, and he is likely to remain in the lineup as the Ducks get set to battle rival No. 6 Oregon State on Tuesday.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon DH Naulivou Lauaki Jr. claims weekly Big Ten freshman award

This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have offered Benjamin Coleman a scholarship.

Coleman is an offensive lineman and tight end at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Ill. The class of 2028 product is listed at 6'5" and 285 pounds.

The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers have also put an offer out to Coleman.

Notre Dame tends to build its offenses around a stout offensive line and productive tight-end play, so Coleman could be a good fit should he accept and end up in South Bend.

Had a great time at @NDFootball on Friday. After a great talk with @CoachJoeRudolph and @Marcus_Freeman1, I’m happy to share that I’ve received a full scholarship offer!@CelticsFootball@Tyler_Plantz@CoachNissen5@EDGYTIM@DeepDishFB@mikeclarkpreps@michaelsobrienpic.twitter.com/6lZAH6xlY5

— Benjamin Coleman (@BenjaminCo38637) April 13, 2026

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame extends offer to OL Benjamin Coleman

Texas A&M big man Jamie Vinson has decided to stay in Aggieland for his junior season, per Luke Evangelist of TexAgs.

An Austin, Texas native, Vinson began his collegiate career at Texas, where he saw limited action on an overall disappointing Longhorn squad. When head coach Rodney Terry was fired and Texas acquired two big men in the portal, Vinson left for College Station.

Vinson didn’t get much burn during his sophomore season; his 6.7 minutes a night ranked 12th on the team. When the Aggies faced off against a pair of physical teams in the NCAA tournament, however, Vinson’s playing time jumped to 9 and 11 minutes against St. Mary’s and Houston, respectively.

He thrived against Houston, picking up 6 rebounds against a UH side that thrived on the glass. Per Hoop Explorer, Vinson was also the only Aggie to leave a positive defensive impact, and he posted a game-high 1.2 net points generated by defensive rebounds.

While his limited playing time clouds his statistical impact, Vinson played like one of the best defensive big men in the country this season. He ranked top-90 in the country in defensive box impact, top-110 in defensive rebounding influence, and top-150 in defensive RAPM and offensive rebounding influence. Put into English, the Aggies were a significantly better team on defense and on the glass when Vinson was in the game.

The Aggies will lose star small-ball five Rashaun Agee, who has exhausted all five years of eligibility. This leaves Federiko Federiko and incoming freshman Josh Irving as the presumed competition for the starting center spot. While Federiko earned more regular-season playing time and starting nods, Vinson outperformed him in just about every measure, particularly as a defender and rebounder (his block and defensive rebounding rates are nearly double Federiko’s). While Irving is an elite prospect, his 6'11, 200-pound frame pales in comparison to Vinson's 245 pounds at the same height. Irving is also listed as a forward by the Aggies, potentially hinting at a combo-big role that could work alongside Vinson.

Vinson could be primed for a breakout season with a clear pathway to an increased role and another year of experience playing for Bucky McMillan, whose fast-paced offense is perfectly suited for a mobile, high-flying, rim-running big like Vinson.

BREAKING:

Texas A&M forward Jamie Vinson will return to Texas A&M next season, he tells me @TexAgs 👍

The 6-foot-11 sophomore showed flashes against Texas, Alabama, and St. Mary’s.

Averaged 3.5 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 6.6 MPG last year. He has 2 years of eligibility remaining. pic.twitter.com/dAvcDpTf6i

— Luke Evangelist (@lukeevangelist_) April 13, 2026

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Sam on X:@Smallred25

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M F Jamie Vinson to return for junior season

Falkirk will review ticketing arrangements for their final game of the season against Rangers after allegations away fans obtained tickets for the home end when the two teams met at the weekend.

Rangers ran out 6-3 winners on Sunday, but Falkirk say supporters complained about incidents involving fans of the Ibrox club in the home end, including injury to a steward.

Falkirk also say they received multiple complaints from fans about alleged sectarian singing in the away end.

Rangers return to the Falkirk Stadium for the final game of the Premiership season. The Bairns say they already had a "robust plan" in place for that fixture, but will now consider "the implications of [the weekend's] incidents".

The result took Rangers to within one point of Hearts at the top of the Premiership and the next meeting of the sides could be decisive in the destination of the title.

Hearts travel to third-placed Celtic - who are two points behind Rangers - on the final day.

BBC Scotland have contacted Rangers for comment.

• Visit our Falkirk page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views

Falkirk statement in full

"Following yesterday's match, many Falkirk fans have contacted us about away fans obtaining tickets for the home end and the behaviour of these fans, which included a steward requiring medical attention.

"We have also received complaints about sectarian singing from a large proportion of away fans.

"Football is passionate, but none of this is acceptable. We condemn all of the aforementioned incidents.

"We therefore apologise to our fans for the deeply unpleasant experience they were subjected to.

"Falkirk FC will work with Police Scotland, stewarding partners, our colleagues at other clubs, the SPFL and SFA, and endeavour to improve the experience for our fans.

"The club already had a robust plan in place for the final game of the season, with enhanced measures in place given the potential significance of the fixture.

"We are now considering further the implications of yesterday's incidents for future matches against Rangers, including security and ticketing arrangements, and will inform our fans once a decision has been taken."

In an additional post on X, Falkirk chief executive Jamie Swinney said: "We apologise profusely to our fans for what occurred within our ground yesterday.

"I assure all of our fans that lessons will be learned & that we will consider a variety of measures to control what we can control for future games."

It’s been an offseason of change for the UCF women’s basketball program.

Miami native Gabe Lazo takes over as the Knights’ new coach, replacing Sytia Messer, who was let go after four losing seasons.

Lazo faces a complete roster rebuild after more than a handful of players enter the transfer portal, including starters Leah Harmon (15.7 points per game), Khyala Ngodu (11 ppg.) and Summer Yancy (6.5 ppg.).

Here is the latest:

COMMITTED

G KEY ROSEBY

Vitals: 6-0

Resume: Roseby averaged 10.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 26.5 minutes in 70 games in two seasons at Stephen F. Austin. She shot 42.4% from the field, including 33.8% from 3-point range, earning her a spot on the All-Southland Conference first-team.

Role: The sophomore started all 35 games for the Ladyjacks, who earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Southland Tournament.

Outlook: Roseby becomes the second guard to commit to the Knights this offseason.

G MIKAYLA JOHNSON

Vitals: 6-1

Resume: Johnson averaged 13 points and 5.1 rebounds in 28 games for Pittsburgh last season. She transferred to Pittsburgh for the 2024-25 season, stepping into the starting small guard role and averaging 10.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 32 games with 27 starts.

Role: The junior started 27 of the team’s 31 games, averaging nearly 32 minutes per game for a Panthers team that finished 8-23, including a 1-17 mark in the ACC.

Outlook: Johnson fills an immediate need at guard, giving the Knights veteran leadership.

LEAVING

G LEAH HARMON

Vitals: 5-6

Resume: The sophomore led UCF in scoring with 15.7 points per game while appearing in just 20 of the Knights’ 30 games this season.

Role: Harmon was the team’s starting point guard before injuries limited her time on the court.

C KHYALA NGODU

Vitals: 6-3

Resume: The junior averaged 7.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in 84 games in three seasons with the Knights. She was seventh in the Big 12 in blocks per game (1.3) and 10th in overall blocks (35).

Role: Ngodu started 24 of the 27 games, averaging a career-high 10.8 points and 7 rebounds per game.

G SUMMER YANCY

Vitals: 5-11

Resume: Yancy spent two seasons at UCF, appearing in 50 games while averaging 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds.

Role: The sophomore started 16 games for the Knights this season, averaging 6.4 points. 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

C SAVANNAH SCOTT

Vitals: 6-4

Resume: Scott arrived at UCF following one season at Auburn, where she averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds for the Tigers.

Role: The sophomore appeared in every game this season, while starting in 5 games, averaging 5.0 points and 3.6 rebounds. She scored in double-digits in four games for the Knights.

G KAYANNA COX

Vitals: 5-10

Resume: Cox was another offseason addition for the Knights, arriving after playing one season at SMU, where she averaged 2.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in just 13 appearances.

Role: The sophomore appeared in 25 games, primarily as a backup, averaging a career-high 3.8 points and 1.2 rebounds.

G LOGAN REED

Vitals: 6-0

Resume: Reed transferred to UCF after redshirting her freshman season at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Role: The redshirt freshman had 8 blocks and 2 field goals and a steal in just 28 minutes of action in 6 games this season.

G AUDREONIA BENSON

Vitals: 5-7

Resume: The Alabama native transferred from Pensacola State College, where she spent her first three seasons before arriving at UCF.

Role: Benson averaged 3.1 points per game in just 104 minutes of action last season. She had a season-high 10 points against Florida A&M on Nov. 21.

G SAMARI BANKHEAD

Vitals: 6-0

Resume: Bankhead signed as part of UCF’s 2026 recruiting class from Los Angeles. She appeared in 30 games for the Knights, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds.

Role: Averaged at least 20 minutes in nine games last season as a primary backup.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

Besides having WWE's biggest stars competing in the ring, WrestleMania is known for its celebrity involvement, and it won't be any different in 2026.

WrestleMania 42 will have some notable stars in the ring, including two viral sensations in Logan Paul and IShowSpeed. It's no surprise to see Paul in WWE, as he has been wrestling for more than four years and has become a full-time talent in recent months, but it may be a shock to see IShowSpeed there. One of the most popular streamers in the world with 50 million YouTube subscribers, he's had a few appearances with WWE, but WrestleMania 42 will mark his first official match, and it will happen with Paul on wrestling's biggest stage.

WrestleMania 42 ticket prices: Why fans are upset with WWE

Why are Logan Paul, IShowSpeed at WrestleMania?

The two will actually be teaming together.

Paul has been part of The Vision since November and is currently one half of the World Tag Team Champions alongside Austin Theory. The group won the titles from Jimmy and Jey Uso and have been feuding with the Usos for months.

IShowSpeed had a hand in the titles changing hands. In late March when Danhausen "cursed" him, and he inadvertently hit LA Knight during the championship match that led to The Vision winning. The group celebrated with IShowSpeed, and a few days later, Knight appeared in his stream and attacked him.

The following week, IShowSpeed again got in the way of a match between Theory and Knight, and it was announced he would join The Vision in a tag team match against The Usos and Knight at WrestleMania 42.

When is Logan Paul, IShowSpeed WrestleMania 42 match?

Paul, IShowSpeed and Theory will face The Usos and Knight on WrestleMania 42 night one on Saturday, April 18.

Logan Paul WWE history

WrestleMania 42 will be fifth time Paul will compete at the event. He currently owns a 3-1 WrestleMania record.

During his time in WWE, Paul has won the United States Championship in addition to his current tag title.

IShowSpeed WWE history

This will be IShowSpeed's biggest match yet in his WWE career. He actually has somewhat teamed with Paul before, dressed as a Prime bottle at WrestleMania 40 to help him against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. His first official action came at the 2025 Royal Rumble as a surprise entrant, where he had a viral moment of taking a spear from Bron Breakker.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Logan Paul, IShowSpeed are competing at WrestleMania 42

For a second straight year, Rory McIlroy is a Masters champion. And for a second straight year, the six-time major winner was presented the green jacket. It just didn't go quite the way he imagined, after joking last year that he couldn't wait to come back and present himself the jacket.

"I wasn't quite correct, because the chairman did it," McIlroy joked Sunday. "But I did want to come back here and prove last year wasn't a fluke." Mission accomplished.

Before you ask, no, McIlroy didn't get a new green jacket. Multi-time winners at Augusta keep their original jacket unless their size changes. Which obviously wasn't the case for McIlroy, who became just the fourth player ever to win in back-to-back years and first since Tiger Woods in 2001-02.

Good stuff.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Rory McIlroy 2026 Masters green jacket ceremony didn't go as planned

The New York Jets firmly have interest in Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.

According to ESPN's Jordan Reid, Cooper has taken a top-30 visit to New York prior to the upcoming draft:

Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. is on a 30 visit with the Jets today, per source. In need of WR help, he’s been a popular pairing with the team at No. 16 overall. pic.twitter.com/92oIvSmn21

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) April 13, 2026

Cooper's draft stock is a bit up in the air. Most consider him as a first-round selection, but could New York try to roll the dice in that regard?

The Jets have three picks in the first 33 selections at the 2026 draft at Nos. 2, 16, and 33. Cooper's stock appears to be somewhere between those 16 and 33 selections that Gang Green currently holds.

Could that mean the Jets would want to trade back up from No. 33 to secure Cooper in the back of the first round? What about waiting for a drop? Or the option of just securing Cooper at No. 16? All those appear to be on the table since Cooper has visited One Jets Drive.

Cooper's dynamic ability helped Indiana win the National Championship last season, and he could help Garrett Wilson at wideout on the Jets offense moving forward. In 16 games played last year, Cooper had 69 catches, 937 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 offseason.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Round 1 receiver prospect has top-30 visit with Jets

Pittsburgh, PA, will host the NFL Draft starting on April 23rd, and so far, 16 draft prospects have confirmed their attendance for the festivities.

Three of college football's most notorious schools will have the most players on site: Ohio State with five, Alabama with two, and Miami with two. The Big Ten Conference will lead all conferences by having six prospects in attendance. Followed by the SEC with five, and the ACC with two.

The Draft begins with the first round on Thursday night, April 23, and continues Friday, April 24, with Rounds 2-3. The Draft will conclude on Saturday, April 25, with Rounds 4-7.

The NFL Draft is being hosted in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1948.

Below are the players who will attend.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: 16 Prospects confirmed for NFL Draft Night in Pittsburgh

Former Duke Blue Devil and recent No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel capped off a tremendous rookie campaign Sunday night, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block against the New York Knicks. Knueppel also knocked down three three-pointers.

As a result, Charlotte's sharpshooter finished the season with 273 made three-pointers, just ahead of his Hornets teammate LaMelo Ball, who finished the year with 272. This shattered the previous rookie record (206) set by Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings) in the 2022-23 season. It also marked the first time that a rookie ever led the league in three-pointers made.

Looking ahead, Knueppel and the Hornets will host the Miami Heat Tuesday in a Play-In Tournament elimination game, looking to get one step closer to the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Kon Knueppel sets new NBA record in Hornets regular season finale

FOXBOROUGH, Mass — Despite the focus being on the 2026 NFL Draft, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf couldn't escape being asked about the possibility of trading with the Philadelphia Eagles for wide receiver A.J. Brown.

Specifically, Wolf was asked if the door is still open for this potential move.

"As far as players on other teams, again, gonna keep the door open to anything that we think may improve our roster," Wolf said. "Whether that's with the player you mentioned or other players."

This has been the same answer Wolf has repeated throughout the offseason when asked about any trade, and the widespread belief is that Brown will be a Patriot before the start of the 2026 season. There's the possibility that New England and the Eagles can agree on a trade before the draft next week, but it seems more likely that things will hold off until after June 1 due to the dead money hit Philadelphia will have to take.

The biggest question that now remains is what the Eagles' exact asking price is and whether the Patriots will be willing to meet it.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots aren't closing the door on potential A.J. Brown trade

It has been a good week for Sean Miller and the Texas Longhorns men's basketball program. The Horns have signed two strong players from the NCAA transfer portal and now have the No. 2 portal class in the nation, according to 247Sports.

On Saturday, we learned Texas had secured the commitment from Colorado Buffaloes point guard Isaiah Johnson. Coming off an impressive freshman year, where he averaged 16.9 points per game, Johnson is known as a prolific finisher at the basket. The Valley Village, CA native is also a solid three-point threat, shooting 37.8% on 4.6 threes per game. He is considered to be a strong replacement for fellow lefty guard Tramon Mark,.

Sunday, TCU Horned Frogs power forward David Punch gave his pledge to Texas. The 6-foot-7 sophomore started every game this season and averaged 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Punch had a strong postseason. The Killeen, Texas native averaged 25 points on 58.6% shooting, 8.5 rebounds and three blocks in two Big 12 Tournament games. He also had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds in TCU’s 66-64 win over No. 8 seed Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Texas now has the No. 2 transfer portal class in the country this offseason after landing David Punch, per 247Sports' rankings. pic.twitter.com/qCmVkRkFXI

— Zach Dimmitt (@ZachDimmitt7) April 13, 2026

Miller has more work to do, but he's building off his Elite 8 appearance with a strong start to the transfer window.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Longhorns basketball has No. 2 transfer portal class in nation

Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall is a target for Chelsea and Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United eye RB Leipzig defender David Raum, Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen considers future.

Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the chase to sign Newcastle's Lewis Hall, 21, but the Magpies will not let the left-back leave easily. (Caught Offside)

Liverpool and Manchester United are keen on RB Leipzig captain David Raum having been impressed with the 27-year-old Germany left-back during scouting missions this season. (Teamtalk)

Brighton's Bart Verbruggen might leave the Seagulls this summer with the Netherlands goalkeeper, 23, considering various options over his future. (Florian Plettenberg)

Chelsea would also like to add Porto's Brazilian winger William Gomes, 20, to their attacking options for next season. (Sport Witness)

Liverpool are set to evaluate handing a new contract to 33-year-old Brazil goalkeeper Alisson next season. (Football Insider)

Former Liverpool and Paris St-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is keen to make a return to the Premier League next season, with the 35-year-old Dutchman's contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq expiring this summer. (Sky Sports)

Swansea have placed a £15m price tag on Slovenia striker Zan Vipotnik, 24, who leads the Championship goalscoring charts and has attracted interest from Brighton. (Football Insider)

Newcastle's hierarchy are continuing to include boss Eddie Howe in discussions on transfer plans for the summer despite uncertainty over his future at St James' Park for the first time. (The I)

Real Madrid will listen to offers for Spanish forward Gonzalo Garcia, 22, this summer but spurn any interest in 19-year-old Brazil striker Endrick, who is currently on loan at Lyon. (The Athletic - subscription required)

Juventus will seek to immediately sell forward Lois Openda, 26, after being obliged to sign the Belgian this summer at the end of his loan from RB Leipzig. (Fabrizio Romano)

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Heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, Duke star Cooper Flagg was a runaway favorite for the No. 1 overall pick after a stellar season with the Blue Devils.

Flagg won the Wooden Award in college, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

As the NBA Draft Lottery approached, it was just a question of where he'd end up.

In a recent podcast appearance, Flagg opened up about his thoughts on the night of the lottery.

"Dallas was never a thought. I never thought about coming to Dallas. There was a lot of teams in the mix; I never even thought about them (Mavericks) getting the pick."

Going into the draft, Dallas had just a 1.8% chance to receive the first pick after finishing 10th in the Western Conference the season prior.

The three teams with the highest chance at the No. 1 overall selection (Washington, Utah and Charlotte) all fell out of the top three.

Although the team hasn't found much success during the 2025-26 season, Flagg is holding up his end of the bargain and is among the favorites for the NBA Rookie of the Year award with five regular season games remaining.

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Cooper Flagg reveals his thoughts after Dallas won the draft lottery

Drew Hill: I asked Kleiman on Memphis criticisms and the lack of organizational response 1/3: "We want to win here. We love being here. We take a major pride in doing what we do to put the best possible product on the court here.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Zach Kleiman on criticism of Memphis: We love being here, the goal is to win here

Drew Hill: "What I can say is that we are in the middle of a lease negotiation, and I see people involved in that space. The focus is on action. We could put out a hollow statement that doesn't mean anything, but that's not a good use of anyone's time and it's not actually constructive.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "What I can say is that we are in the middle of a …

Drew Hill: "I have enough of a lens into this to see that the people who are working with the city are focused on improving downtown and putting everything in a position where are in the best possible spot in Memphis going forward. That is the goal. The goal is to win here."

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: That is the goal. The goal is to win here."

Jake Gadon: Zach LaVine with a big summer decision with a player-option "I will go back and look at the best course of action and ask what is most important to me right now"

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I will go back and look at the best course of action …

Anthony Slater: Steve Kerr said he thinks Steph Curry can stretch to at least 30 minutes in the play-in game on Wednesday night vs Clippers and “hopefully more.” He said last night Curry wouldn’t play 40. Curry said Friday he thinks he will be able to push for a few more than planned.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Steve Kerr said he thinks Steph Curry can stretch to …

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was sent off after 56 minutes for pulling the hair of Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Old Trafford.

Martinez, 28, was shown a straight red card and will now face a three-match suspension .

United were trailing 2-0 after Noah Okafor's first-half double when the Argentine tried to stop the Leeds attacker by holding his hair.

Referee Paul Tierney was instructed to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR) before sending off Martinez.

"After review, Manchester United 6 is guilty of pulling his hair - violent conduct. Final decision is red card," Tierney announced to the stadium.

The Premier League Match Centre posted on X: "After VAR review, the referee issued a red card to Martinez for violent conduct."

Martinez was making his first Premier League start for United since a 1-1 draw against West Ham on 10 February, after recovering from a calf injury.

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Dick Vitale's latest biopsy has brought some bad news.

In a statement shared by ESPN's PR account on X (formerly Twitter), the legendary college basketball analyst announced on Monday, April 13 that results from his biopsy last week confirmed a diagnosis of melanoma in both his lung and liver cavity.

REQUIRED READING: College basketball's most underpaid coaches: Who is nation's biggest bargain?

"I've beaten melanoma. I've beaten lymphoma. I've beaten vocal cord cancer. I've beaten lymph node cancer. I'm four-for-four and I'm fully confident I'm going to make it five-for-five," Vitale wrote in the statement.

Vitale said he'll soon be starting immunotherapy treatment and plans on "winning" this latest health battle of his. He also said he is "feeling fantastic" amid the diagnosis. Last week, Vitale shared that he underwent a biopsy at a hospital in Sarasota to look into some of the "abnormalities" that his doctors found on a series of recent routine tests, which included a PET scan, a CAT scan and two MRIs.

He shared in a social media post late Sunday night that he hasn't been able to sleep recently, he has been "so worried about the report," adding that his PET scan last week "shocked" him.

Vitale has had multiple health issues, including several types of cancer, over the last few years. He was declared cancer-free last year and made his return to broadcasting, most recently in the First Four game between Texas and North Carolina State.

"I am truly overwhelmed by the love, support, prayers and messages I've received from so many people," Vitale said in his statement on Monday. "I'm incredibly blessed to have my family beside me, and my ESPN family — led by Chairman Jimmy Pitaro — has been absolutely terrific. Their support has inspired me to keep fighting and I will do everything in my power to win another battle."

Dick Vitale health update

Here's a look at Vitale's full health update statement:

Sharing a health update on behalf of @DickieV

Your ESPN family is with you every step of the way, Dick ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Uvoiv6dedN

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 13, 2026

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dick Vitale confirms latest health battle with melanoma diagnosis

The NBA regular season is over, which means many teams are shifting their focus entirely to the 2026 NBA Draft.

With nearly half of the teams done with games for the season, their scouts and front office executives will soon determine which future pros they may add to their roster for next year. After an exciting March Madness tournament won by the Michigan Wolverines, several prospects showed exactly what they can offer in the league.

As many collegiate players announce their intention to declare early entry to the 2026 NBA Draft, we can start to develop a more clear picture of what this class may look like.

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which will determine the order of picks one through fourteen, will be held May 10 in Chicago, followed immediately that week by the draft combine, also in Chicago.

Our draft order is based on Tankathon.com and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa

• TEAM: BYU
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Massachusetts
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA and would benefit tremendously from a lottery win. They had the second-worst offense in the league and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged a stellar 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. 

2. Indiana Pacers: Cameron Boozer 

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year honors. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the "preferred selection" for the Pacers because of his "potential fit" alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set. More importantly, he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking last-second loss.

3. Brooklyn Nets: Darryn Peterson

• TEAM: Kansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets had the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season. 

4. Sacramento Kings: Caleb Wilson

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Kings need the best player available regardless of fit, and that is North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson, who unfortunately missed the NCAA Tournament with a broken thumb. Wilson, who also suffered a hand fracture earlier in the season, did more than enough to earn this placement. According to Bart Torvik, before the injury the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach thresholds of 2.5 percent for both block and steal percentage while also notching a defensive rebound percentage above 20.0 percent.

5. Utah Jazz: Kingston Flemings 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Texas
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Jazz had the worst defensive rating in the Western Conference and could potentially improve that by selecting Houston freshman Kingston Flemings to join Keyonte George in their backcourt. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Flemings helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night.   

6. Memphis Grizzlies: Yaxel Lendeborg

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: New Jersey
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 23

Keep an eye on the Grizzlies as a potential suitor for Yaxel Lendeborg, who showed on his way winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. The Grizzlies have selected players with similar trajectories like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward. They are also not afraid to draft away from consensus and have shown a willingness to pick older, more experiences players like Zach Edey.

7. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Darius Acuff Jr. 

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Michigan
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Hawks need a guard like Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. after trading away Trae Young, using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. He led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but playing alongside Dyson Daniels would help cover that problem. 

8. Dallas Mavericks: Keaton Wagler 

• TEAM: Illinois
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Kansas
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Mavericks had the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference and could benefit from a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role to help the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. 

9. Chicago Bulls: Brayden Burries 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: California
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble. Burries would make a great pick for whatever new executives take over the front office for the Bulls.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr. 

• TEAM: Louisville
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Milwaukee Bucks, potentially heading toward an ugly Giannis Antetokounmpo divorce, must simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness.

11. Golden State Warriors: Labaron Philon 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Alabama
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Warriors will be seeking more reliable players in the backcourt and could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Aday Mara

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Spain
• HEIGHT: 7-3
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder could add even more lottery-caliber talent, like Michigan center Aday Mara, in the 2026 NBA Draft. While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim.

13. Miami Heat: Koa Peat 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Arizona
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to the organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. Arizona played at a significantly faster pace (3.9 extra possessions) when Peat was on the floor relative to when he was not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miami’s fastest-paced offense in the NBA. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. 

14. Charlotte Hornets: Braylon Mullins 

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Indiana
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald's All-American, was a breakout star in the NCAA tournament after hitting one of the most improbable 3-pointers in March Madness history. Mullins continued to show a winning mentality, helping the Huskies earn a spot in the national championship game. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup. He is a useful off-ball threat, too, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level. 

15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Nate Ament

• TEAM: Tennessee
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Chicago Bulls will receive this pick if the Portland Trail Blazers advance in the play-in tournament. After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament started to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking near the lottery.

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic): Joshua Jefferson 

• TEAM: Iowa State
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Nevada
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Grizzlies will have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade. A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the Iowa State forward was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. The All-Big 12 forward got injured during the first round of the tournament, but Iowa State still earned a spot in the Sweet 16.

17. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns): Jayden Quaintance

• TEAM: Kentucky
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets. But health may cause some concern for evaluators.

18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Karim López

• TEAM: International (Australia)
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Mexico
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Thunder have drafted multiple players from Australia’s NBL and could dip into this well again by selecting Karim López with their pick from the Philadelphia 76ers. While the Mexican-born forward still needs some development, he is physically gifted and widely seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30. Even if he is a draft-and-stash player, that is ideal for a team with a rotation as crowded as the Thunder.

19. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Hannes Steinbach

• TEAM: Washington
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Germany
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

German big man Hannes Steinbach is a name worth watching in the 2026 NBA Draft. While his team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten post is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, the center is one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He shined during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads. Steinbach could make an excellent backup to Victor Wembanyama. 

20. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz 

• TEAM: Iowa
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Raptors need another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa. 

21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Christian Anderson 

• TEAM: Texas Tech
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 20

While they are one of the best teams in the league this season, the Pistons are still struggling from the perimeter and will want more talented 3-point shooters on their roster. A simple fix would be drafting Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson, who had the most unassisted 3-pointers (61) among high-major players, per CBB Analytics. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. 

22. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Patrick Ngongba II

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Many teams might benefit from a big like Patrick Ngongba II, who is an above-average passer for his position. His assist rate is the highest among underclassmen listed at 6-foot-11 or taller, per Bart Torvik, and he is at the top of his game when passing to a driving perimeter player. The big man, who helped Duke earn a spot in the Elite Eight, is a big-bodied prospect who can carve out space as one of the more prolific cutters in college basketball. He is on an encouraging development track, displaying legitimate year-over-year improvement from his freshman to sophomore campaign.

23. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Allen Graves 

• TEAM: Santa Clara
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

One of the most under-the-radar prospects in all of college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who was nearly a March Madness hero. It was hard not to notice the WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after he scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 years old who held a higher box plus-minus, via Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. He declared early entry for the 2026 NBA Draft but also entered his name in the transfer portal.

24. New York Knicks: Chris Cenac Jr. 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 19

It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston. He did, however, got hot at the perfect time. During his first game in the Big Dance, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds, while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. Then in the Round of 32, he showed off more scoring with some impressive cuts to the basket, dropping 17 points against Texas A&M. He was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still managed 10 rebounds. 

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Morez Johnson Jr.

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Illinois
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to win the NCAA championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level.

26. Denver Nuggets: Thomas Haugh 

• TEAM: Florida
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Pennsylvania
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

After winning a national championship with Florida last season, Thomas Haugh was instantly regarded as one of the most interesting players who elected to return to college. The All-SEC forward had one of the top motors in the NCAA this season before an early elimination from March Madness. While he did not score efficiently in a set offense this year, he does not need the ball in his hands very often to make a difference on the floor for his team. He can serve as a glue guy for a contending team looking to win an NBA title like the Nuggets. 

27. Boston Celtics: Cameron Carr 

• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Minnesota
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 21

One of the players who improved his draft stock the most this season was Baylor junior Cameron Carr. The All-Big 12 wing brings athleticism and shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA. 

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Ebuka Okorie 

• TEAM: Stanford
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: New Hampshire
• HEIGHT: 6-2
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie is an interesting early entry candidate in the 2026 NBA Draft. The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the Timberwolves. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least. 30points. Okorie could also return to school but should earn serious first-round buzz if he turns pro.  

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Dailyn Swain  

• TEAM: Texas
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders. 

30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Tarris Reed Jr.

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 23

UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner rather than later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA mock draft: First round picks before NBA playoffs begin

The best NFL defenses often have one quality in common with the world's best cellular service carriers – great coverage.

And just like a phone plan, you can add on all the bells and whistles you want. Pass-rushers, linebackers, run stuffers and more mean nothing if the back end of the defense is nonexistent. Luckily for teams looking to upgrade their coverage, there will be no shortage of options in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Littered with quality talent at cornerback and safety, they are two of the strongest positions in the class headlined by Ohio State's Caleb Downs.

It's a group that will bring youth and an infusion of new talent into the league and that will be music to the ears of teams with needs in the secondary

Considered one of the top position groups in this year's draft, here's a look at the top DB prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, with scouting reports and rankings provided by USA TODAY Sports' Ayrton Ostly.

NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE: USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast

2026 NFL Draft: Ranking top DB prospects

1. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Scouting report: Downs won't go No. 1 overall because of the position he plays. The Buckeyes' star defensive back is one of the best safeties in recent memory. He offers impressive athleticism, coverage skills, run defense and general football IQ to be a true defensive weapon in multiple ways. He raises the floor of a secondary while moving up the ceiling for a creative playcaller.

2. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Scouting report: Don't let his lean frame (6-foot-1, 187 pounds) fool you. Delane is a technician at the cornerback spot with impressive savvy for a player his age. Quarterbacks actively avoided him in the SEC; he was targeted just 35 times in 11 games and allowed just 13 receptions for 147 yards all season. There are concerns about his frame in run defense but the coverage acumen is off the charts.

3. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Scouting report: Teach-tape level tackler with impressive speed and football IQ. May need to bulk up at the NFL level but improved in both coverage and run defense in 2025. Alignment versatile prospect who can line up in the box, nickel or deep safety without cause for concern. Ideal vision and coverage acumen. Athleticism translated to field drills at the NFL combine.

4. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Scouting report: McCoy didn't play in 2025 due to an ACL tear in January and that could impact where he lands if medicals do not check out. If he's cleared, he'll be potentially the first cornerback off the board. His fantastic athleticism is paired with ideal outside cornerback size (6-foot, 195 pounds) and scheme versatility. His ball skills should translate to the NFL as well.

5. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Scouting report: Terrell, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, is another Clemson defender who could hear his name called in the first round. He's slightly undersized at 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds but makes up for it with a tenacious, disruptive mentality. He didn't record an interception in 2025 but that's not his limit as a turnover creator: he recorded a career-best five forced fumbles.

6. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Scouting report: Don't overlook his small school career. Johnson is scheme-versatile with ideal size for outside cornerback, great vision, and NFL-caliber athleticism. Fluid hips to keep in position at all times. Willing tackler in the running game. Great ball production in 2025; allowed just a 16.1 passer rating when targeted. 

7. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Scouting report: Took on a bigger role with teammate McCoy sidelined with injury in 2025. Solid size at outside corner. Understands positioning and leverage in man coverage. Explosive enough to make plays on the ball when taking chances. Performs best in Cover 2 for zone schemes. Improved his tackling immensely in 2025.

8. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Scouting report: Elite athleticism and traits to be a versatile safety at the NFL level. Sure tackler who dishes out hits in run defense, but could use a better understanding of fits. Not proven as a solo single-high defender. Very good ball production (11 PBUs, 5 INTs in three seasons).

9. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Scouting report: As expected at South Carolina, Cisse is an outstanding athlete at 6-foot and 190 pounds. That elite athleticism will give him a high floor to overcome lapses in coverage. He broke out in his lone season with the Gamecocks with just 18 receptions on 38 targets in 2025. He did allow 20.1 yards per reception in coverage, though.

10. D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

Scouting report: Small frame may keep him off the board completely for some teams but he plays much bigger than that. Competitive attitude and a tough mentality keep him in contention. Ideal closing speed and great athleticism for the position. Allowed just one touchdown in coverage compared to 5 INTs and 13 PBUs over his last two seasons (more than 900 coverage snaps).

11. Kamari Ramsey, S, USC

Scouting report: Outstanding play recognition for the position with ideal mirroring abilities to maintain proper position in zone coverage. Versatile enough to play in multiple spots with the athleticism to recover. Needs to improve tackling consistency. Lacks elite lateral burst, limiting his man coverage ceiling.

12. A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU

Scouting report: Near-linebacker size with good athleticism to hold up in coverage. Tallied 8 INTs and 10 PBUs in his last two years (2024 with Houston, 2025 with LSU). Excellent instincts in zone coverage. Can line up in multiple spots thanks to his size. Is an older prospect and lacks lateral quickness which can come up in man coverage assignments.

13. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State

Scouting report: Elite athlete for his size who brings a thumping presence in run defense. Took a step in coverage in 2025 with zero TDs allowed and a sub-50% catch rate allowed when targeted. Great ball production (4 INTs, 19 PBUs in four years). Best in man coverage and press to utilize his physicality. Needs to improve his discipline with penalties and off-coverage understanding to work in zone.

14. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State

Scouting report: Latest Penn State safety to be a top option in his draft. Notable presence in run defense with a thumping attitude. Improved notably in coverage in 2025 with just a 69.2 passer rating when targeted. Great ball production in 2024 on more targets. Best as a single-high safety to use his instincts and trigger correctly.

15. Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State

Scouting report: One of the best contested catch cornerbacks in the class. Alignment versatile with a track background to help him outside or at the nickel. Good footwork with a physical playing style. Can get a bit grabby and that may hurt him more in the NFL.

16. Genesis Smith, S, Arizona

Scouting report: Ideal length and coverage sense for modern NFL safety. Will be a good fit in Cover 1 or Cover 3 schemes that can utilize his length as a centerfielder-type of coverage safety. Great ball production for a safety (5 INTs, 10 PBUs as a two-year starter). Struggles to bring consistency in run defense which lowers his ceiling. Not a reliable tackler.

17. Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke

Scouting report: Undersized corner who outplays his stature with a thumping presence in run defense and aggression in coverage to trigger on throws. Experienced playing outside but may be best in the slot. Took a slight step back in coverage efficiency in 2025 but had a stellar 2024. Teams may feel confident that's more of what he is.

18. Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona

Scouting report: Spent six years with the Wildcats and will be a 25-year-old rookie. Spent two years at cornerback before switching to a hybrid role as slot corner/box safety. Allowed zero TDs on 39 targets in coverage with 4 INTs and 6 PBUs in 2025. Versatile run defender who tallied two sacks in 2025 as well. Age and injury history will be his knocks (ACL in 2024).

19. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami (FL)

Scouting report: Transferred to Miami from Auburn and took a leap forward as a defender in 2025. Primarily operated in the slot with a physical playing style. Can be used as a blitzer (five sacks in 2025). May struggle against stronger wide receivers due to slight frame. Age (24) will be a knock as well.

20. Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas

Scouting report: Ideal anticipation and feel for what opposing receivers are trying to do against him. Technique keeps him in position both in man and zone coverage assignments.  Footwork and athleticism keep him in position throughout routes, much to the annoyance of opposing receivers. Lean frame brings some run defense concerns.

21. Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina

Scouting report: Impressive athlete who is at home either at nickel or safety. Length and physicality show up in run defense. Solid coverage abilities with good ball production (8 INTs, 18 PBUs in three years). Coverage is more instinct than technique at this point. Can waste steps in transitioning to close on receivers which will show up more in the NFL.

22. Michael Taaffe, S, Texas

Scouting report: Smaller frame may limit him to a coverage specialist in the NFL. He excels at it with impressive ball production (7 INTs, 10 PBUs in college). Football IQ to diagnose plays pre- and post-snap and flies to the football. Physical at the catch point despite lean frame. Anticipates throws well.

23. Tacario Davis, CB, Washington

Scouting report: Longest wingspan of any cornerback at the NFL combine and that shines in press coverage. Disrupts opposing wide receivers with his long arms and speed. Wingspan also helps with tackling in run defense, where he's better than many lean cornerbacks. Transitions can leave him vulnerable to good route-runners. Can get a bit grabby in coverage.

24. Devin Moore, CB, Florida

Scouting report: Outstanding length which shows up in press coverage. Fights hard in contested catch scenarios. Good tackler in run defense despite a leaner frame. Tracks the ball well. Hips aren't as fluid as you'd like. Injuries affected his 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons. Can leave too much space in zone coverage.

25. Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M

Scouting report: Ideal frame for outside corner with the strength to excel in press coverage systems. Great ball production  (16 PBUs in the last two years alone). Hard hitter in run defense. His awareness in zone is lacking. Can get grabby in coverage which may show up more in the NFL.

26. Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas

Scouting report: Ideal size for the outside cornerback position with the burst to handle myriad assignments. Physical at the catch point. Consistent tackler. Good processor who transferred from Fresno State to Arkansas and held up despite an increase in competition. Lacks elite speed, can be overly aggressive in coverage, and needs to improve footwork consistency. 

27. Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami (FL)

Scouting report: Thomas plays an aggressive brand of football with the physicality and athleticism to be deployed as a robber or blitzer as well as manning up a tight end in coverage. Five INTs, six PBUs alone in 2025. Can be too aggressive at times and relies too much on reading the quarterback's eyes.

28. TJ Hall, CB, Iowa

Scouting report: Strong cornerback who is best in press coverage, mirroring opposing wide receivers. Stays tight on his assignment throughout the play. Solid ball production (12 PBUs, 2 INTs in 2024-2025 combined). Plays faster than his timed speed. Doesn't always locate the ball, leaving him vulnerable to penalties. Lacks the long speed to hang with vertical routes.

29. Bud Clark, S, TCU

Scouting report: Older prospect who played six years for the Horned Frogs. Experience in multiple coverages and positions; went from box focus to a slot-heavy role in 2025. Good ball production (20 PBUs, 15 INTs from 2022-25) thanks to awareness, instincts and extra gear to close on passes. Play recognition is good but he can play a little overaggressively. Age means he's more of a finished product with a higher floor but low ceiling.

30. Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia

Scouting report: Long, athletic cornerback with the speed and size to hang in man coverage in the NFL. Mirrors well with feet and is capable of jumping routes.  Came up with interceptions in big-time games. Grabby as a defender and speed doesn't translate well to recovery in coverage. Open-field tackling is average at best.

31. VJ Payne, S, Kansas State

Scouting report: Do-it-all safety who played snaps in the box, slot, and free safety in 2025. Athletic enough to hang with mismatch weapons on offense (e.g. Baylor TE Michael Trigg) with the play recognition to anticipate in coverage. Good size to handle man coverage assignments. Okay as a run defender despite his size. Arm tackles too often.

32. Hezekiah Masses, CB, California

Scouting report: Transferred to Cal from FIU and his ball production took off (9 PBUs, 5 INTs on 61 targets). Mirrors well with his long levers and has adequate speed to defend downfield. Has a playmaking mentality to attack the ball. Size will call his run defense into question. Can get grabby instead of using technique to stick with assignments. Long legs can hinder transitions.

33. Louis Moore, S, Indiana

Scouting report: Takes away deep routes and makes plays on the ball with great experience but his short arms and limited athleticism will hurt him in NFL coverage.

34. Jadon Canady, CB, Oregon

Scouting report: A lock for nickel at the NFL with physicality, versatility and play recognition but an undersized, short-armed frame could limit him.

35. Bishop Fitzgerald, S, USC

Scouting report: Alignment-versatile, ballhawking (12 PBUs, 10 INTs) safety with great closing burst but can struggle to keep speed in transition and needs improvement as a tackler.

36. Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington

Scouting report: Long, tall corner with long speed and awareness who uses length in press but doesn't transition well in breaks for coverage, plays very upright and lacked ball production in college.

37. Jalen Stroman, S, Notre Dame

Scouting report: A strong run defender who works best in the box, firing on intermediate routes and runs but lacks ball production and coverage acumen outside of Cover 2 or quarters.

38. Thaddeus Dixon, CB, North Carolina

Scouting report: Adequate size and athleticism to be scheme versatile with smooth footwork but can play upright, especially in off coverage, and allows big plays over the top too often.

39. Xavier Nwankpa, S, Iowa

Scouting report: Ideal athleticism for his size and plays well in run defense with adequate range in coverage but doesn't have ideal play strength or instincts. 

40. Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo

Scouting report: Good athlete with smooth transitions at prototypical size but can be grabby in coverage.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL Draft position rankings: Best available DB prospects

The Chicago Bears are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, where edge rusher is sure to be a focal point to overhaul the roster.

The Bears had just 35 sacks as a team last season, 40 in 2024, and 30 in 2023. The production has been inconsistent, and even when general manager Ryan Poles traded for Montez Sweat, it sure bolstered the production, but it hasn’t been enough. 

Chicago saw positive growth from their former fifth-round draft pick Austin Booker. After starting the season on injured reserve, Booker finished the season with 4.5 sacks, 35 tackles, and five tackles for loss, leaving a lot of room for growth coming into his third season. 

The Bears also had just eight games of Dayo Odeyingbo after he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He still has two years left of his initial three-year deal and Chicago is looking to see more production from him as well.

Not addressing edge rusher in free agency or in the trade market for high-end guys like Maxx Crosby or Trey Hendrickson, Poles elected to keep the draft capital the Bears currently have, and by the looks of it, are looking to address the edge rusher position via the draft. Here are six suitable prospects that the Bears could potentially select come late April. 

Zion Young, Missouri 

• Measurables: 6-foot-6, 263-pounds

As I said in my first mock draft, Zion Young is a guy the Bears would love to draft with their first pick. With 33-inch arms and a fiery competitiveness, Young is the standard size of an edge rusher who has power, knows how to attack based on blocking schemes, and can counter tackles with an inside move. He impressed during his Senior Bowl performance and finished his senior season with 13 games played, 42 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Young continues to draw attention from teams, as his projection now sits late first round, early second round. But this spot at No. 25, if Chicago stays put, is interesting, because defensive tackles will be there, so will edge rushers, and potentially safeties 

Keldric Faulk, Auburn 

• Measurables: 6-foot-6, 276-pounds

Keldric Faulk may be the most interesting edge rusher of the draft class because he has the physical tools at 6-foot-6, 34 ⅜ inch arms, but he offers versatility. He took 30% of his snaps this past season in the interior of the defensive line as a 2-4 tech. He needs to figure out a plan when it comes to attacking as a pass rusher, winning just 11.4% of his one-on-one battles, but he also possesses lots of great production as a run stopper. But this is athleticism, strength, and effort that he plays with – Faulk should hear his name called in the first round because of what he can do. 

Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL) 

• Measurables: 6-foot-3, 259-pounds

Akheem Mesidor is a prospect who has played so much college football, and at the age of 25 comes in as someone who can start Week 1. His first two years at West Virginia, he played both defensive end and nose tackle. He moved to nose tackle during his sophomore season, finishing with 38 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Mesidor is as good at the feel for the game as any edge in the draft and has an array of moves to get to the quarterback. His frame gives him the ability to bend at the edge, which is a problem for the guard if moved inside, and he often gets into the backfield. The only real knock for Mesidor is his height and length, the fact that he is 25 years old. 

Cashius Howell, Texas A&M 

• Measurables: 6-foot-3, 253-pounds

Cashius Howell has a burst – he’s quick, fast, has a good bend to get around tackles, which is why he had 11.5 sacks this season with 14.0 tackles for loss, but his small frame and inability to use his hands at the point of attack leave so much meat on the bone. On obvious passing down, Howell is so good at attacking the tackle's outside shoulder and getting around, but not being great against the run doesn’t quite make him a three-down defender right away. This is someone Chicago could target in a scenario where they end up trading back, and Howell is still available, but in Dennis Allen’s scheme, they are targeting large human beings who can play the run. 

Gabe Jacas, Illinois 

• Measurables: 6-foot-4, 260-pounds

Gabe Jacas is a prospect that won’t be picked in the first round, but is a round pick, and if Chicago is to go elsewhere at No. 25, Jacas is certainly in play at No. 57 or No. 60. Jacas, since his freshman season, has been in a starting role. He has 50 games played in four seasons and has 27 career sacks, including 11.0 this past season. Jacas possesses tremendous power with his hands and drive from his legs. He has a good build with length, and has shown to pursue in the run game, and looks to create turnovers. The only knock against Jacas is that his scheme, when rushing, can become predictable. 

Malachi Lawrence, UCF 

• Measurables: 6-foot-4, 253 pounds,

Like Jacas, Malachi Lawrence is another edge that won’t be drafted in the first round, but he's primed to hear his name called in the second round and early third round. At 253 pounds, Lawrence and power he loses because of his weight, he makes up with his explosive get-off and array of attacking setups. Lawrence is an athlete and tested well at the combine. He ran a 4.52 40-yard dash and had a 1.59 10-yard split. 

The stragety for the Bears at No. 25 will be best availble, which means it could go anywhere from, defensive back, offensive tackle, edge rusher or defensive tackle. But if Chicago chooses to pass up on edge in the first round, there are a nunber of options in the late second round.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears should target one of these edge rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft

Marc Stein: The Lakers’ Luka Dončić, I’m told, is scheduled to rejoin the team in Los Angeles on Friday in advance of the Lakers’ first-round series against Houston after his recent trip to Madrid for treatment of his Grade 2 hamstring strain.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Luka Doncic scheduled do return from Europe on Friday

Dustin Dopirak: Was still going through Tyrese Haliburton stuff and he said he will NOT be at the draft lottery (His emphasis) in May because he felt like he wasn't good luck the last time he went in 2023. The Pacers didn't get a top four pick that year in the Wembanyama draft, but got Jarace Walker.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Was still going through Tyrese Haliburton stuff and he …

Going from one NBA home to another, Isaiah Hartenstein's journeyman start to his career could've hardened his heart. Cynicism could've usurped any goodwill. After all, he saw firsthand just how cold and calculated the results-oriented basketball conglomerate is.

When he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder, Hartenstein could've taken a mercenary approach — sign a life-altering three-year, $87 million contract; arrive; morph into a double-double machine; help them bring home an NBA championship and then dip for an even bigger payday.

But nope. That's not in Hartenstein's DNA. Instead, the seven-footer stretched out his pterodactyl-esque wingspan and wrapped his arms around the small-market fanbase for a squeezing hug. Even though he's only in his second season with the Thunder, he quickly accommodated himself to his latest home — to the point that his foundation has become a staple in the OKC community.

In some parts of the city, Hartenstein is known as a philanthropist first and an NBA player second. While every player does the occasional community work during the regular season, he's gone out of his way to add even more onto his plate under his own accord.

The latest example? Helping make a 14-minute documentary about the tragic Oklahoma City bombing. On the cusp of the 31st anniversary, the Hartenstein Foundation funded the mini-film that highlights the 'Oklahoma Standard' — the values of service, resilience and community that emerged from what happened on Apr. 19, 1995.

The Oklahoma City bombing was a domestic terrorist attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. American anti-government extremist Timothy McVeigh's makeshift bomb resulted in the deaths of 168 people and injured 684 more. Over 30 years later, it remains the biggest act of domestic terrorism in United States history.

So what caused Hartenstein to bring this project to life? While there are countless documentaries about the national tragedy, he didn't feel like any really captured the intangible strengths of those directly impacted. We know what happened, but we don't really know how people moved forward with their lives after such a traumatic event.

"Before we did this, we watched a couple of documentaries about it before. A lot of them were focused on the negative part and so little on what made Oklahoma and Oklahoma City so special, which was how they responded," Hartenstein said. "Me and the director wanted to come down and say, 'How can we teach the new generation and the people who maybe don't know much about it, about the Oklahoma Standard?'"

Since the Thunder arrived in 2008, they've proudly embraced that darkest chapter of OKC's history. The tragedy's aftermath saw an entire county work together to help the city recover. To honor the victims, rescuers and everybody affected, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum opened up.

Every Thunder player has paid a visit to it. It's a tradition that Sam Presti and the rest of the organization have held up high in their nearly two decades of existence. Every year, newbie players tour the OKC National Memorial & Museum.

In one of the final stops of the museum's emotional tour, you can spot OKC's 2019-20 City Edition uniform on full display. The grey-and-gold jersey featured several symbolic elements reflective of what happened.

Speaking from personal experience, there's a sickening beauty to the museum. It does such an impeccable job at immersing visitors into what happened and the aftermath of the tragedy. To the point that you feel a lump in your throat by the end of it and unlock a level of appreciativeness to even the ugliest chapters of life.

Sadly, time has caused the national tragedy to fall into the background. Most folks around the country remain unaware of it — or have obscurely heard about it. As we get further away from what happened, newer NBA players first learn about it when they arrive in OKC. But as long as the Thunder are around, they won't let it get lost in the passage of time.

Now, Hartenstein has done his part to do the same. The 14-minute film — coined 'The Oklahoma Standard' — aims to help educate a new generation of Oklahomans about the Standard’s origin. It explores how those principles continue to shape Oklahoma today and inspire acts of kindness and unity across generations.

Hartenstein recently showed a special screening of the documentary. It will be publicly available to watch on his YouTube channel on Sunday, Apr. 19 — which marks the anniversary of the tragedy. Consider it appointment viewing before OKC hosts the eighth seed in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA playoffs.

"Doing it on the anniversary, I think so many people have been through such a rough time. There's a certain meaning behind it," Hartenstein said. "Now, so many people are being impacted by what came out of it. So many people's lives have changed by it. I know it's a hard time for people who were impacted by it, but just kinda giving them a little hope that it's really changing people's lives."

We'll see what happens with Hartenstein's future. The Thunder have a $28.5 million team option for the 2026-27 season. But regardless of whether he stays or goes, his lasting legacy in OKC will equally be about being a starter on a championship team and going all out to help people across the state.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Why Isaiah Hartenstein's OKC documentary is must-watch

The first high-ranking member of the New England Patriots has now addressed Mike Vrabel's situation − sort of − nearly a week after photos of the club's head coach with NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort were published by the New York Post.

Asked during the team's April 13 pre-draft news conference about Vrabel's involvement with player evaluations over the past week, Pats vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said: "Very involved. Business as usual. He’s been in there with us a little more than he was last year."

And that was pretty much it. Wolf didn't talk about Vrabel before he began taking questions, then only got one remotely acknowledging the controversy his coach currently finds swirling about him.

Vrabel, who addressed reporters the week prior to last year's draft, did not do so Monday but was never scheduled to, either. He and Wolf both met with the national media at this year's annual scouting combine. Vrabel also spoke to reporters at the NFL's annual league meeting in Phoenix on March 31, just days after he'd been photographed at a posh Arizona getaway with Russini, The Athletic's NFL insider but before those pictures surfaced.

The photos, which were published on April 7, show Vrabel and Russini in bathing suits poolside as well as hugging on a rooftop at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, days before the league meeting. Both Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, are married to other people with whom they have children.

"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Vrabel told the Post, which published the photos, in a statement last week.

"This doesn’t deserve any further response."

Vrabel will likely speak publicly during the NFL draft, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. That person was granted anonymity because the Patriots have not scheduled any news conferences during the draft. And New England, which holds the penultimate pick of the first round, might not even choose anyone on the first night if the team trades back from that 31st overall selection − the one organically conferred to the previous season's Super Bowl runner-up.

Vrabel, Wolf and VP of player personnel Ryan Cowden all addressed reporters at various points during the 2025 draft, Vrabel doing so on the night of the first round following the selection of former LSU left tackle Will Campbell with the fourth overall selection.

Russini, who worked for ESPN prior to joining The Athletic in 2023, covered Vrabel while he was the coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023. Though she initially received a statement of support from The Athletic (also effectively the New York Times' sports section) after the release of the photos, her conduct is now being investigated by The Times. She won't be reporting in the interim.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Vrabel role addressed by Patriots VP after Dianna Russini photos

The NFL draft has seen countless players through the years. What colleges have seen their players taken most often in the first round?

The list is full of college football powers. The dynamic has changed, especially with NIL giving those with deeper pockets being able to woo the top talents to either sign out of high school or hit the transfer portal and shift their way.

Big Ten schools are at the top of the list and they are joined by those in the SEC. That would include some schools that have recently made their way into conferences through realignment.

A look at the schools that have produced the most first-round NFL picks.

20. Auburn

First-round picks: 32

19. Nebraska

First-round picks: 34

18. Michigan State

First-round picks: 36

t-17. UCLA

First-round picks: 37

t-17. Texas A&M

First-round picks: 37

15. Clemson

First-round picks: 40

14. Penn State

First-round picks: 44

13. Florida State

First-round picks: 47

12. Tennessee

First-round picks: 48

11. Oklahoma

First-round picks: 51

10. Georgia

First-round picks: 52

9. LSU

First-round picks: 53

8. Michigan

First-round picks: 55

7. Texas

First-round picks: 58

6. Florida

First-round picks: 59

5. Miami (FL)

First-round picks: 68

4. Notre Dame

First-round picks: 71

3. Alabama

First-round picks: 84

2. USC

First-round picks: 86

1. Ohio State

First-round picks: 95

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Schools producing most NFL first-round draft picks

The NBA regular season ended Sunday and the first order of business for teams that fell short of making the playoffs was to evaluate their head coach. Hall of Famer Doc Rivers, wasn't spared the scrutiny.

He agreed to depart from the Milwaukee Bucks after winning 16 fewer games this season than last. Rivers has one year remaining on the $40 million contract he signed in January 2024 and will be paid for the final season.

The Bucks were 32-50 this season largely because superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo played in only 36 games because of injuries. Antetokounmpo, who expressed frustration talking to reporters Sunday, might be next out the door.

If so, the Lakers undoubtedly would be interested. They are projected to have about $60 million in salary-cap space and three first-round draft picks they can use — 2026, 2031 and 2033 — to try to make a deal this offseason.

Read more:Lakers beat Jazz in finale, will host play-in game against Timberwolves

Despite his insistence that he was healthy fairly soon after he suffered a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise March 15, Antetokounmpo didn't play in the last 15 games of the season.

"To my understanding, I had to play 3-on-3 to be able to be available to play," he said. "I did that multiple times. I've never in my life denied participation of practice. Whoever came up with that is disrespectful toward what I’ve done for this team and the way I carry myself."

The decision was likely made to ensure the trade value of the two-time Most Valuable Player wasn't diminished by another injury. Antetokounmpo, 31, is under contract for 2026-2027 and has a player option of $62.7 million for 2027-28.

The Lakers — and other trade partners — would be more than willing to give him an extension. The contracts of LeBron James ($52.6 million), Rui Hachimura ($18 million) and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) expire after this season, giving the Lakers the cash to toss in Antetokounmpo's direction.

The Bucks floundered without him and the coach paid the price. Rivers, 64, hadn't had a losing full season since 2006-2007, a span that included an NBA title with Boston in 2007-2008, seven seasons with the Clippers and three with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Read more:Elliott: Doc Rivers should be remembered for what he accomplished, and what he didn't do

“I have truly loved my time in Milwaukee,” said Rivers, who played college basketball at Marquette. “Coming back to where I got my start, to a city that has always embraced me, has been a privilege. I am disappointed that things did not turn out the way any of us hoped, but I am deeply grateful for this experience, the relationships built, and unwavering support from our fans and the community.”

Rivers began coaching after a 13-year NBA playing career and has a 1,194-866 record (.580) with five teams across 27 seasons. His regular-season wins are the sixth most in NBA history and he will be enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this year.

The Bucks discussed with him an advisory role in the organization, but Rivers is taking his time deciding what to do next. Asked how long he envisions coaching, Rivers mentioned his grandchildren.

“I won’t answer that, but I have grandkids that I want to see,” Rivers told reporters. “I’ll let you figure it out from there. I have seven grandkids now, and they’re all 8 years and under, and it kills me every time I miss grandparents day with each one of them in school. It’s probably time to go see them more, so I’ll let you figure out the rest.”

His seven consecutive winning seasons with the Clippers are part of the franchise's current streak of 15 consecutive seasons with a winning record, the longest active run in the NBA and fourth-longest in league history.

Other NBA coaches on the hot seat include Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic and Brian Keefe of the Washington Wizards. Portland Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter also might be replaced.

Splitter took over for Chauncey Billups, who has pleaded not guilty to charges he profited from rigged poker games involving several Mafia figures and at least one other ex-NBA player.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

New Kentucky Wildcats football coach Will Stein has already made an impact in Lexington, putting together a solid group of transfers to upgrade the talent level. Now, he's putting together a recruiting class for 2027 that keeps getting better.

Over the weekend, the Wildcats got a commitment from quarterback Jake Nawrot, a top 50 player overall in the class. Now, they're closing in on Antwoine Higgins, a four-star edge rusher out of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Higgins is a 6'3", 215 lb linebacker who is rated four stars, and ranks as the No. 388 overall player in 247Sports composite rankings. On3 ranks him in their top 300. He would be another big recruiting win for Stein and the Wildcats coaching staff.

Steve Wiltfong of On3 reports (subscription required) that Kentucky and Indiana are currently the two main contenders, but that the Wildcats lead the way. As such, he has made an official prediction for Kentucky to land Higgins.

Though he hasn't set an official decision date, a commitment could come soon. He does have a visit scheduled to Lexington on Jun. 12.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky football gets prediction for 2027 edge Antwoine Higgins

Oklahoma basketball added its second portal commitment of the day on Monday. After Jennie Baranczyk and the women's team added Keeley Parks, Porter Moser and the men's team broke the ice this portal cycle with the commitment of Louisville transfer forward Khani Rooths.

Rooths just completed his sophomore season with the Cardinals. In two seasons, he's played in 66 games. Last season, he started two games for Louisville and averaged 15.9 minutes per game. As a sophomore, he averaged 5.3 points per game on 44.9 percent from the field. He also averaged 4.3 rebounds, one assist, 0.5 blocks, and 0.6 steals per game last season.

At 6-foot-10, Rooths provides the Sooners with good size in the front court. He's an athletic, versatile wing player who can get above the rim on lobs and run the floor very well.

The Sooners need Rooths to provide key minutes at forward after they lost Mohamed Wague, Tae Davis, and Kirill Elatontsev, who are out of eligibility.

Here’s a look at new #Sooners wing Khani Rooths, who has great positional size and moves extremely well for his height. There’s a ton of potential and upside here. pic.twitter.com/WdYOxX9165

— Brody Lusk (@BrodyLusk) April 13, 2026

OU men’s basketball 2026-27 roster outlook

Exhausted eligibility

• Redshirt senior guard Nijel Pack (30.5 minutes per game)
• Senior forward Tae Davis (29.6 minutes per game)
• Senior center/forward Mohamed Wague (22.4 minutes per game)
• Redshirt senior guard Jadon Jones (20.1 minutes per game)
• Senior center Kirill Elatontsev (13.8 minutes per game)
• Senior guard Reid Lovelace (1 minute per game)

Transfer portal departures

• Redshirt senior guard Jeff Nwankwo (11.4 minutes per game)
• Redshirt freshman forward Andreas Holst (0 minutes per game)

Players with remaining eligibility

• Junior guard Xzayvier Brown (32.4 minutes per game)
• Sophomore forward Derrion Reid (27.5 minutes per game)
• Sophomore guard Dayton Forsythe (17.2 minutes per game)
• Redshirt freshman forward Kuol Atak (12.4 minutes per game)
• Freshman center/forward Kai Rogers (8 minutes per game)
• Freshman guard Jake Hansen (1 minute per game)
• Freshman forward Finley Keefe (0 minutes per game)

Incoming recruits

• 4-star Power Forward Gage Mayfield

BREAKING: Louisville transfer forward Khani Rooths has committed to Oklahoma, @JoeTipton reports⭕️https://t.co/Rixuhqfzakpic.twitter.com/5zcVjLSQ9s

— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) April 13, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from athletic big man Khani Rooths

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This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Chris Brazzell Dynasty Rookie Profile and Fantasy Outlook

Anthony Davis: Anthony Davis met with the D.C. media on Wizards cleanout day. I asked if he’s committed to playing in Washington next season. “I’m under contract,” he said. “I love my money.” He said it with a smile. But he also said he’s intrigued by some of the off-court infrastructure that the front office has put into place. Also impressed by the work ethic of the young core. In particular, he liked the answers/thought process from Kyshawn George. Really likes Bub Carrington’s game.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Anthony Davis on staying with Washington next season: “I’m under contract, I love my money”

David Aldridge: Anthony Davis still wants to speak “sooner rather than later” with management about its plan to raise the Wizards to contender status. He said, hypothetically, that his questions about his future here could be answered in one offseason.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Anthony Davis still wants to speak “sooner rather than …

Adam Lichtenstein: At Heat practice before they travel to Charlotte for their play-in matchup. Everyone practiced besides Nikola Jovic, Dru Smith and Pelle Larsson. Larsson is going through a separate, individual workout after missing Sunday’s game with a leg bruise.

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Damichael Cole: GG Jackson says he already has a relationship with Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa. He mentioned he texted Keaton Wagler the other day after the Illinois standout followed him back.

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Monday is becoming a busy day for Michael Malone and the North Carolina Tar Heels' basketball program. After landing a commitment from former Virginia Tech wing Neoklis Avdalas, they are now adding to their coaching staff.

Per Inside Carolina, the Tar Heels have reached an agreement to hire Kim English as an assistant coach under Malone's staff. It's the latest coaching staff addition after they also added Chuck Martin while retaining three former coaches for the staff.

The 37-year-old English is a former head coach, spending time at George Mason and Providence. Most recently, he spent three seasons at Providence as the head coach, posting a 48-52 record overall and a 23-37 record in Big East Play.

He was fired on March 13 following a season-ending loss in the Big East Tournament.

With the addition of English, North Carolina's staff includes Martin, Sean May, Pat Sullivan and Eric Hoots as of right now. There could be another addition coming as Malone is rounding out the staff.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Tar Heels add Kim English to coaching staff

No. 10 UCLA softball swept Illinois in their series with an 18-0 shutout in the finale at Eichelberger Field in Urbana-Champaign, Ill on Sunday. The impressive wins moves the Bruins to 37-5 on the season as we head towards the end of the regular season.

Illinois scored their only run of the series in a 10-1 win for the Bruins in their second game, which followed UCLA's 17-0 shutout against Illinois was a 17-0 win in their series opener. In the finale, sophomore right-handed pitcher Brynne Nally was the only Bruin to step on the mound and gave up five hits and a walk, but no runs in her five innings. Meanwhile, UCLA's batters had a field day with 18 runs off of 18 hits and three walks.

Explosive start

In the top of the first, UCLA scored their first two runs off of a single. The Bruins continued to pile up runs with a three-run homer struck by redshirt freshman infielder Aleena Garcia. Sophomore center fielder Sofia Mujica and freshman utility Jolyna Lamar followed up with home runs of their own to put the Bruins in the driver seat with a 7-0 start five hits into the game.

No seconds

UCLA was unable to match the success they had in the first with a double play cutting their second inning short. Nally gave up two hits to start the bottom of the second, but didn't allow the Fighting Illini's baserunner to get home from third with three consecutive outs to close out the inning.

Defensive third

In the top of the third, the Bruins couldn't get a runner on base but Illinois found better success in the inning. A walk, a double and a hit by a pitch had the bases loaded, but Nally and the defensive unit once again prevented Illinois from making it home to keep their 7-0 lead intact.

Doubling the score

The Bruins experienced their second seven-run inning in the top of the fourth with the first run coming off of a throwing error. Senior utility Megan Grant followed up the first run with a two-run homer and a couple batters later, Garcia struck her second three-run homer of the game. The Bruins seventh hit in the fourth led to UCLA's last run of the inning off of a single to put them up 14-0.

A few more in the fifth

UCLA added four more runs in the top of the fifth with two of those runs came off Mujica's two-run homer. The Bruins were up 18-0 and with the Fighting Illini being unable to get home in the bottom of the fifth, the run rule was initiated.

The Bruins will return home to Easton Stadium in Los Angeles to play their midweek game against Cal Baptist on Tuesday with an anticipated start time of 6 p.m. PT.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Bruins softball sweep Illinois with with shutout in series finale

There is another high-level transfer portal center that Michigan State has been linked to on Monday.

Jeff Goodman, a college basketball insider for The Field of 68 / On3, reported a list of schools that are in the mix for Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam, with Michigan State included. Other schools mentioned by Goodman includes St. John's, UConn, Gonzaga, Arkansas, Duke, Kansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee and UCF.

Thiam has started all 65 games he's played in his first two seasons at Cincinnati, averaging double-digits in scoring in both seasons. This past year, he averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

Thiam is listed at 7-foot-2 and can clearly make an impact on both ends of the floor -- hence why so many big-name programs are in pursuit of his talents in the portal. Michigan State has been linked to a number of center prospects, but this was the first time Thiam had been connected to the Spartans. This could be a player we monitor more and more, especially as we anticipate a decision looming from fellow portal target Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell. If the Spartans are unable to land Sherrell, then I would anticipate they go all-in on someone like Thiam.

In addition to St. John's, Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam is also considering the following, per source:

UConn
Gonzaga
Arkansas
Duke
Kansas
Michigan State
Texas A&M
Tennessee
UCF https://t.co/miMHbO4fD6

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 13, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU basketball reportedly in mix for Cincinnati transfer C Moustapha Thiam

The 2026 NBA draft is two months away. BYU star AJ Dybantsa is the likely No. 1 pick. Now that the NBA regular season has ended, we can see which teams ended up at the bottom of the standings, all while Adam Silver and the league wrestle with how to create a better, stronger anti-tanking plan. This is a discussion which is both familiar and frustrating. Let's try to make sense of it, keeping in mind the always-changing realities of college basketball and how the college game shapes each year's draft.

Not all NBA draft situations are equal

NBA analysts say this, and they're right: Not all drafts are equal. Some give Tim Duncan, AJ Dybantsa, Zion Williamson, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, or Derrick Rose as a No. 1 pick. Other drafts produce Michael Olowokandi, Kwame Brown, Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Bennett, or Markelle Fultz as a top pick. The incentives for tanking aren't the same each year. An anti-tanking plan has to make sense in a larger context beyond one year's NBA draft dynamics.

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards went 17-65, the worst record in the NBA this season. Should they have the best odds for the No. 1 pick (Dybantsa), in a year when the top of the draft board is viewed as being relatively strong? That's a very important question. Should a team be incentivized to lose more -- 65 times compared to 55 or 50 times -- in pursuit of a top pick?

Don't reward losing too much

Obviously the non-playoff teams should get first dibs on the next year's best college players, but it shouldn't be a race to the bottom -- first to 65 losses wins. That's where the NBA has to think of something creative which improves the league product or, at the very least, is fan-friendly.

Reward fans of losing teams, not the teams themselves

If owners pinch pennies or do things to not make their team fully competitive, that's not a fan-friendly approach. Anti-tanking plans should not view wins and losses as irrelevant, but not as the be-all and end-all.

An anti-tanking plan -- inspired by Charles Barkley's point that sub-.500 teams should not be allowed to raise ticket prices for the following season -- would be to reward teams with lower average ticket prices with a higher draft pick. A non-playoff team with 30 wins gets preference over a team with 20 wins if the 30-win team has a lower average ticket price. Wouldn't that be an incentive for owners to adjust?

Playing players

NBA teams can have 15 players on a roster. The NBA should be even better at limiting the number of back-to-backs teams play, but that point aside, the point of rostering 15 players -- or any number of players -- should be to have all players play and make meaningful contributions to the team. NBA teams which play more players at least 10 minutes a game -- more than just a two-minute garbage-time cameo appearance -- could receive first-in-line NBA draft priority over other teams, even if they win more games.

Change of mindset

The natural inclination has been to let NBA teams with more losses pick first. The change in mindset should be to reward teams which do fan-friendly and player-friendly things during the season. The two ideas above are examples. Other similar ideas could flow from those and govern a new anti-tanking plan.

AJ Dybantsa

AJ Dybantsa of BYU has consistently been viewed as the best player in the 2026 NBA draft. The buzz surrounding him isn't new or recent; it has been there all along. When a draft has a possible top pick who has regularly stood at the forefront of the conversation, the incentive to tank becomes greater. The NBA has to get away from creating situations where teams lose in pursuit of a prospect such as Dybantsa.

International imports in college basketball

We have seen international players become top picks several times this century. We are also seeing college teams such as Arizona and Illinois lean into international recruiting and have success with it. Both Arizona and Illinois made the Final Four this year. If teams really love a specific international star, they should be rewarded with a chance to draft him not because they lost more games, but because they exhibited good internal governance and operational behavior.

Good business practice

This is the solution to the idea that tanking incentives aren't the same every year, due to some drafts having very weak No. 1 picks and other drafts having future Hall of Famers as the top pick. An anti-tanking plan which works every year can't bend to the particularities of each draft class. The focus in the NBA should move to which organizations exhibit the best business practices and treatment of both fans and players. That's where the incentive structure should move to; it isn't there now.

Contact/Follow@College_Wire on X and@College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions. 

This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: NBA draft anti-tanking plan must work for AJ Dybantsa and others

NEED TO KNOW

• Rueben Bain Jr., a projected top 2026 NFL Draft pick, was involved in a deadly car accident in 2024, according to multiple reports
• Bain was at the wheel when his SUV crashed on a South Florida highway early on the morning of March 17
• One of Bain's passengers, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, later died from injuries she sustained in the wreck

One of the top edge rushers in the upcoming NFL Draft has been linked to a deadly 2024 crash in Florida, according to multiple reports.

Rueben Bain Jr., a standout defensive end at national championship runner-up Miami who is projected to be a top 10 pick at the draft later this month, was at the wheel of an SUV on a South Florida highway when one of his passengers died in a crash, according to court documents obtained by The Read Optional and OutKick and cited by ESPN.

Bain, 21, was driving a 2021 Land Rover on Interstate 95 north in Miami in the early morning hours of March 17, 2024 when he allegedly rear-ended another car, hit a concrete barrier and then ricocheted into another barrier before the SUV came to rest on the shoulder, according to the crash report, per the outlets.

Three other passengers — fellow Hurricanes players Wesley Bissainthe and Nyjalik Kelly, as well as Destiny Betts, 22, of Georgia — were inside the vehicle.

Betts, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was seriously injured and transported to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, according to The Read Optional. 

Betts was in a coma for nearly three months before she died from her injuries on June 13, 2024, the outlet reported.

According to the police report, per the outlet, Bain was cited for operating the SUV “in a careless or negligent manner.”

The charges were later dropped, according to The Read Optional. At the scene of the accident, no field sobriety tests were administered, according to the crash report.

A year later, Bain was cited for careless driving but was not charged due to a “defective citation,” PEOPLE confirmed.

Multiple teams are aware of the accident, OutKick reported, but it is unknown how it could affect the first-team All-American player’s status at the draft, which begins April 23.

Read the original article on People

The New England Patriots are inching closer to the 2026 NFL Draft, and a recent mock draft has the team getting quarterback Drake Maye another offensive weapon.

The Ahletic’s Nick Baumgardner predicts that the Patriots will take Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields with the 63^rd overall pick in the second round of the draft.

This is one of the deeper draft classes at the receiver position, and the Patriots could choose to wait until Day 2 to address that position. However, Fields would be an intriguing selection due to his impressive physical stature. The 6-foot-4 and 218-pound wideout can dominate on the outside in contested catch situations.

He could serve as a solid complement for veteran wide receiver Romeo Doubs on offense. The 22-year-old recorded 35 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns last season, averaging a team-high 17.5 yards per reception. Fields' size could come up big for the Patriots in red zone situations at the next level.

There is still a possibility that the team could look to trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown after June 1, but they obviously can't afford to view that move as a certainty. They have to continue to find ways to improve offensively, even if it means making a move in the draft.

Perhaps selecting a big and powerful playmaker like Fields would be the right move to make.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots save WR pick for Day 2, land physical freak in mock draft

The Indianapolis Colts are doing their homework on the quarterback position in the 2026 NFL draft.

According to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Colts are hosting North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton on an official pre-draft visit. Indianapolis has also had LSU's Garrett Nussmeier in for a visit as well.

During the pre-draft process, each NFL team can have up to 30 draft prospects take an official visit. These visits can be with first-round prospects all the way to UDFAs.

Let's take a closer look at what Payton could bring to the Colts.

Colts 2026 NFL draft prospect to watch: QB Cole Payton

The 2025 season was Payton's first as a full-year starter. He completed 71% of his 226 pass attempts, averaging a whopping 12.0 yards per pass attempt with 16 touchdowns to four interceptions.

Among all FCS quarterbacks, Payton ranked first in yards per pass attempt by a wide margin, according to PFF. He also took care of the ball with a turnover-worthy play rate of only 2% and ranked first in big-time throw rate as well, showcasing his ability to make downfield and tight-window throws.

Payton is the 112th-ranked prospect overall on the consensus big board.

Cole Payton's athletic profile

Cole Payton is a QB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.87 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 15 out of 1111 QB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/7xavaCW8dnpic.twitter.com/jCf0wiRpUg

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 1, 2026

Cole Payton's NFL draft profile

Here is what NFL.com's Lance Zierlein had to say about Payton in his pre-draft report:

"Payton is a dual-threat, single-season FCS starter with good size. He’s a lefty with shoddy mechanics and subpar arm talent, but he still manages to deliver throws with touch to all three levels. He lacks drive velocity to dot throws into tight windows and might not have the timing needed to outfox pro zone defenders, though. He’s not shifty but excels when short yardage is needed and has build-up speed for explosive runs once he gets rolling. Payton projects as a QB3 and will require packaged plays to take advantage of his rushing ability until he proves himself a functional pocket passer."

What is the Colts' need at quarterback?

With Daniel Jones under contract, the need here is low. The Colts put all of their offseason eggs in the Daniel Jones basket, believing that the success that he had through the first half of last season can be repeated and sustained, even with him coming off a major injury.

Assuming the Colts do find a trade partner for Anthony Richardson, that still leaves them with Riley Leonard as the team's backup. Leonard impressed during his Week 18 start against Houston last season, showcasing that he is ready to fill that backup role.

Perhaps later in the draft or afterward in undrafted free agency, the Colts will make an addition to compete with Seth Henigan for the third quarterback spot on the depth chart. Before the Colts can bring in another developmental quarterback, there are more pressing needs to tackle.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Colts hosting NDSU QB Cole Payton on visit

Auburn baseball takes a step forward in the polls this week after taking two of three games from Kentucky over the weekend.

The latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll has placed Auburn at No. 11 in this week's rankings, up one spot from No. 12 in last week's poll. The Tigers rose in the polls after going 2-2 in last week's action, dropping a midweek contest to Jax State and the middle game to Kentucky on Saturday by a run. Both the Gamecocks and Wildcats received votes in this week's USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

Auburn is one of 10 SEC teams in this week's coaches poll, joining Texas, Georgia, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Oklahoma in the top 15. Texas A&M made a giant jump in the ranking after taking two games from Texas and former head coach Jim Schlossnagel over the weekend; the Longhorns fell from No. 2 to No. 4 after losing the series to their in-state rival. Auburn's next opponent, Florida, jumped six places to No. 18 after winning a road series at Georgia. The Bulldogs, however, suffered minimal damage by falling one space to No. 5.

Here is a look at this week's USA TODAY Coaches Poll:

Schools Dropped Out

No. 16 UCF; No. 23 North Carolina State;

Others Receiving Votes

North Carolina State 74; UCF 49; Jacksonville State 33; Miami (FL) 15; Tennessee 14; California Baptist 13; Missouri State 6; Wake Forest 5; Kentucky 4; UC Santa Barbara 3; Vanderbilt 2; UTSA 2; LSU 2; Liberty 1; Dallas Baptist 1;

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn baseball jumps to No. 11 in USA TODAY Coaches Poll

Joan Beringer registered his first double-double on Sunday and joined Kevin Garnett in franchise history, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a win in their regular-season finale.

Beringer recorded a career-high 24 points, 13 rebounds, seven blocked shots and two assists in a 132-126 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Earning his third start, Beringer finished by shooting 9-of-12 from the field in 31 minutes, 16 seconds of action.

The 17th overall pick tied Garnett for the most blocks by a rookie in a single game in franchise history. He also became the youngest player in history to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots in a game (19 years, 152 days).

"There is a lot to polish there, but the motor is high," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said of Beringer. "We've said from Day 1 that he is pretty fearless. He has got to keep learning on the job. He did a good job the last two games of staying out of foul trouble but still being a big presence defensively."

THROW IT DOWN, JOAN. pic.twitter.com/o9vlQZQ51D

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 13, 2026

Beringer played sparingly this season with the Timberwolves, averaging 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 66.3% from the field in 40 appearances. He had the chance to log 20 or more minutes over their last three games after they clinched a playoff berth on April 7.

The Frenchman also spent time in the G League with the Iowa Wolves, averaging 14.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 11 games. He registered seven double-doubles, including an 18-point, 19-rebound effort on March 16 in a win over the Salt Lake City Stars.

Beringer has spent the year mostly in a developmental role, showcasing his ability as a rim-roller and rebounder in a limited sample size. The team is excited about his potential as he continues to expand his overall game on both ends of the court.

"It was a great year," Beringer said of his rookie campaign with the organization. "I learned a lot, so a great year. I'm on a good team, so everything is great."

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Timberwolves news: Joan Beringer ties Kevin Garnett after recent game

Rothesay County Championship, Division Two, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury (day four)

Northamptonshire684-2 dec: Procter 261*, Harrison 153, Vasconcelos 127, McSweeney 101*

Kent 178 & 253-5: Compton 114*; Conway 2-59

Kent (8 pts) drew with Northamptonshire (16 pts)

Match scorecard

Northamptonshire were frustrated by the rain on the final day of their County Championship match with Kent at Canterbury, which ended in a draw.

The visitors took two early wickets in the morning session to reduce Kent to 179-5, but they were unable to make further inroads before rain stopped play at 12.30pm. When play finally resumed Ben Compton and Daniel Bell-Drummond batted for 14 overs to secure the draw.

The visitors' Harry Conway finished with match figures of 7-95. Compton was unbeaten on 114 at stumps, while Bell-Drummond was 36 not out.

Kent's chances had looked slim when they resumed on 162-3 overnight, with Compton unbeaten on 70 and the night-watcher Singh on 0.

Singh was the first to go, trying to fend off a Conway bouncer and gloving it behind for two. Sanderson then removed Tawanda Muyeye, lbw for four, but Bell-Drummond joined Compton and batted through until the rain forced an early lunch, with Kent on 231-5.

Compton was stranded on 99 and play didn't resume until 5.05pm, with 60 overs lost.

When the match finally did get back under way Compton looked vulnerable to the first three deliveries he faced, but after he took a single from Harrison to reach three figures there were few serious alarms. The players shook hands on the draw at 5.55pm.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.

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What should fans expect from the Houston Texans entering 2026?

The AFC South franchise is fresh off its 12-win season since 2012, following a dominant run from the defensive front. The only problem? The Texans are 0-3 in divisional round playoff games since the run of the DeMeco Ryans era started in 2023.

Houston seems to be all-in for the 2026 season with Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud entering a prove-it year as QB1. Offseason moves made included shoring up the offensive line with Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller and Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith. They also traded for David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions and restructured his deal.

Defensively, Houston brought back Sheldon Rankins for the defensive line and bolstered the secondary with the arrival of Reed Blankenship from Philadelphia. They also signed Logan Hall from Tampa Bay to bolster the run defense while bringing back E.J. Speed as linebacker depth.

So, what does the roster look like headed into the draft?

Let's dive in and see the newest additions, plus how they will fit into the lineup.

Quarterback

Starter: C.J. Stroud

Backups: Davis Mills, Graham Mertz

Running Backs

Starter: David Montgomery

Backups: Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan, British Brooks

Wide Receivers

Starters: Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Tank Dell

Backups: Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, Justin Watson

Tight End

Starter: Dalton Schultz

Backups: Brevin Jordan, Foster Moreau, Cade Stover

Offensive Tackle

Starters: Braden Smith, Aireontae Ersery

Backups: Trent Brown, Blake Fisher

Offensive Guards

Starters: Wyatt Teller, Ed Ingram

Backups: Evan Brown, Jarrett Patterson, Jarrett Kingston

Center

Starter: Jake Andrews

Backups: Jarrett Patterson

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans updated offensive depth chart following ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

Over the weekend, Texas Longhorns football was busy on the recruiting trail. They welcomed three-star 2027 recruit Travion Washington to campus for an unofficial visit. While Washington has not set a commitment date, he made his interest in Texas clear and got a preview of what his future in the burnt orange could hold.

While the Longhorns would get a boost with Washington in the mix, they are not the only program interested in his services. The talented linebacker has received offers from some of the top programs in the nation, including Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Alabama. That list could continue to grow the longer Washington is on the market. 

After an amazing visit, I am blessed to receive an offer to @TexasLonghorns@CoachNansenUT@CoachSark@CoachWMuschamp@TexasFootball@Coach_Drew1@CoachMidd34@Coach_Adams94@shayhodge3@DemetricDWarren@ReggieBuchanan@Coach_CJBailey@MacCorleone74@ChadSimmons_@SWiltfong_… pic.twitter.com/h3EvIAS3vD

— Travion “Tray” Washington (@TravionWas24901) April 11, 2026

The heavy interest comes as no surprise, given how Washington is viewed by scouts. He is ranked as the 13th-best linebacker in his class by 247Sports Composite. They also rank the Longhorns' recruiting target as the fifth-best player from Mississippi and the 165th-best player in the nation. That is partly why programs such as the Longhorns have made Washington a target. 

If the Brandon High star were to begin his career at the Forty Acres, he would be part of a talented 2027 class. The Longhorns have secured commitments from four-star recruits Easton Royal and Cameron Hall. They will be joined by three-star recruits Keyon Hemphill-Woods, JT Geraci, Karnell James, Cade Huag, and Jackson Cook. That group is currently ranked 11th in the nation.

Sophomore End of Season Top Highlights
120 tackles
25 TF
8 Sacks
29 QB hurries
7 PD
1 TD (at RB)@Coach_Drew1@shayhodge3@DemetricDWarren@Coach_CJBailey@MacCorleone74@ChadSimmons_@SWiltfong_@adamgorney@TomLoy247
@samspiegs@BillyEmbodyhttps://t.co/oUU6IZ4ulR

— Travion “Tray” Washington (@TravionWas24901) February 11, 2026

As Washington continues to weigh his options, the Longhorns will be a team to watch. They have only one commitment from a linebacker in the 2027 class and could use more depth at the position. That is one of the many reasons Washington would be a welcome addition. 

With plenty of holes to fill, the Longhorns are far from done filling out their roster, and Washington is their latest target. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Busy Texas Longhorns recruiting weekend includes LB Travion Washington

Florida baseball was on the upswing this week, earning a trio of victories over a pair of top-10 teams in four tries to move up six spots to No. 18 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Baseball Coaches Poll. The Gators now sit between the No. 17 Arkansas Razorbacks and No. 19 Oregon Ducks.

The week began with the completion of a season sweep of the then-sixth-ranked Florida State Seminoles on Tuesday night with a 4-3 win in Tallahassee. Kevin O'Sullivan's squad moved on to Athens, where they opened the weekend with an 8-2 victory over the then-fourth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Friday night, followed by a 5-1 loss on Saturday afternoon, and then concluded with a 13-7 slugfest triumph on Sunday afternoon that sealed the deal on the series win.

Next up for the Orange and Blue are the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, who travel to Gainesville for a Tuesday night midweek matchup starting at 6:30 p.m. ET inside Condron Family Ballpark. The homestand continues into the weekend, with the No. 13 Auburn Tigers arriving in town for a trio starting on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET.

SEC schools in USA TODAY Sports Baseball Coaches Poll Week 9

The Texas Longhorns remain the top-ranked SEC team but fell two spots to No. 4 overall, followed by Georgia (No. 5) and the Texas A&M Aggies (No. 7), both of whom also sit among the top 10. The Auburn Tigers (No. 11), Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 13), Oklahoma Sooners (No. 14), Mississippi State Bulldogs (No. 16), Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 17), Florida (No. 18) and Ole Miss Rebels (No. 23) round out the conference's representation among the top 25.

The Tennessee Volunteers earned 14 votes, while the Kentucky Wildcats got four, and the Vanderbilt Commodores and LSU Tigers both appeared on two ballots this week.

USA TODAY Sports Baseball Coaches Poll top 25 for Week 9

Schools Dropped Out

No. 16 UCF; No. 23 North Carolina State

Others Receiving Votes

North Carolina State 74; UCF 49; Jacksonville State 33; Miami (FL) 15; Tennessee 14; California Baptist 13; Missouri State 6; Wake Forest 5; Kentucky 4; UC Santa Barbara 3; Vanderbilt 2; UTSA 2; LSU 2; Liberty 1; Dallas Baptist 1

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida baseball gets boost in Coaches Poll after wins at FSU, Georgia

How many people will be at WrestleMania 42?

It's no secret WrestleMania is WWE's biggest event of the year, now annually held in NFL stadiums. It consistently has filled up the venue, but it's been a struggle in 2026.

Back at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, attending WrestleMania 42 has been a hot topic in the wrestling world, as fans have been frustrated with the cost of attending it. There are a multitude of factors contributing the unhappiness, and it's resulted in WWE trying several late pushes in hopes of getting people in the stands − and not having to deal with empty seats.

The clock is ticking on selling tickets with the event less than a week away, so what's going on with WrestleMania 42 tickets? Let's explore what's causing the controversy.

What's the deal with WrestleMania tickets?

There are multitude of factors at play, including WWE keeping WrestleMania in Las Vegas for the second straight year. However, the main issue has been the price.

WWE ticket prices have risen exponentially since the company merged with UFC in September 2023 to form TKO Group Holdings. It's been a consistent talker for years, causing pain for what has long been advertised as a family event. The cost finally reached a breaking point with WrestleMania 42, with ticket packages noticeably higher than previous years. When tickets first released, the get-in price to attend both night one and night two were over $850.

Not only is the cost high, but fans have felt the match card isn't worth the price, with frustrations felt in storytelling and quality of fights. Last year's ticket cost was also high, but it was fueled by the demand to see John Cena's final WrestleMania match.

The issues have become such a talking point, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk advocated for lower prices during his pipebomb on the April 6 edition of Raw, targeting Pat McAfee.

"You want to talk about ticket sales, do me a favor: call up that agent that was foolish enough to shoehorn you into this business and this show and tell him to lower the ticket prices," Punk said. "Lower the ticket prices because I want all these families to come and watch me stand on Roman Reigns' throat at WrestleMania."

WrestleMania 42 tickets sales

The frustrations have been shown in ticket sales. As of April 10, there have been just over 40,000 tickets distributed for night one and 42,000 for night two, respectively, according to WrestleTix.

While it's a good portion considering each night is set up for 45,000 seats, it's a major drop from the 60,000 tickets WWE had last year. The announced attendance of WrestleMania 41 night one was 58,538, while night two was 60,103.

Allegiant Stadium also has a capacity near 70,000 for non-football events.

WWE pushes for WrestleMania discounts

In an effort to get people in seats, WWE has run several promotional discounts. The first major one came on March 16, in honor of Stone Cold Steve Austin Day, with a 31.6% discount on prices.

Another effort came on the April 10 episode of SmackDown, when Pat McAfee announced a 25% discount on tickets for night one, which features the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes against Randy Orton, who McAfee is controversially backing up.

How much are WrestleMania tickets?

With some late pushes and discounts, WrestleMania 42 ticket prices have dropped considerably as the event gets closer. Of course, the cheaper tickets will be further away from the ring and off to the sides or behind the stage, making it harder to see entrances.

Ticketmaster is the official seller of WrestleMania tickets, and here are get-in prices as of Monday, April 13:

• WrestleMania 42 Saturday only tickets: $164.
• WrestleMania 42 Sunday only tickets: $215.
• WrestleMania 42 two-day combo tickets: $405.

WrestleMania 42 tickets can also be found on the secondary market. Here are the prices on a few markets:

WrestleMania 42 Saturday only tickets

• StubHub: $153.
• SeatGeek: $158.
• TickPick: $144

WrestleMania 42 Sunday only tickets

• StubHub: $241.
• SeatGeek: $200.
• TickPick: $185.

WrestleMania 42 two-day combo tickets

• StubHub: $300.
• SeatGeek: $295.
• TickPick: $287.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE WrestleMania 42 ticket prices controversy explained

Deebo Samuel in Las Vegas? The idea seems more and more plausible. The veteran receiver is still lingering in free agency this spring. Making him one of the best players remaining in the open market at this juncture of the offseason.

The Raiders could certainly use the help. Las Vegas's receiving unit did not produce a single pass-catcher who went for more than 700 yards in 2025 and added just Jalen Nailor this offseason. Tre Tucker played well last season. He recorded 696 yards on the year. Nevertheless, Las Vegas has need for a dynamic wide receiver to elevate their offense.

The 2026 NFL Draft will give the Raiders the opportunity to select out for a top prospect at wide receiver as early as the second round, with Indiana’s Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza being a foregone conclusion to land in Las Vegas at No. 1 overall. Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr., Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields, as well as Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II are among the best players anticipated to be in range for the Raiders to begin day 2 of the draft.

But best not to pin their hopes on landing a top receiver in this draft. So, there’s still room for Samuel in the Raiders offense.

Samuel is compatible for Las Vegas through and through. He went for 727 yards as well as five touchdowns in 2025 with the Washington Commanders. And the 30-year-old showed that he can still handle the ball in the ground game, despite a drastic reduction in carries last season.

The Raiders’ offense needs dynamism in 2026. Even if it’s taking the slightest bit of pressure off of Ashton Jeanty, who got the lion's share of carries in the ground game last season with 266, Samuel has the ability to do that in his role. Is he still a secondary wide receiver? His output proves that he is capable of being that in Vegas next season.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Is Deebo Samuel the best remaining FA for the Raiders in 2026?

Former Tennessee Titans cornerback Chris Payton-Jones has died in a car crash in Florida, his family confirmed to the New York Post.

Payton-Jones played four years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He first joined the Detroit Lions as a practice squad member, but was later signed by the Arizona Cardinals, where he played from 2018 to 2020.

In 2020, he also spent time on the Lions' active roster, as well as the Minnesota Vikings. In 2021, he played the entire season with the Titans, and in 2022, he landed on the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.

He joined the XFL in 2023 and transferred to the UFL when the XFL and USFL merged.

Everyone who knew Payton-Jones loved him. He was well-respected and very well liked among his peers, coaches, and mentors.

Payton-Jones was driving his sedan when he was hit head-on by a truck and did not survive the collision. The truck's three passengers suffered minor injuries.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Ex-Tennessee Titans CB Chris Payton-Jones dies in car crash

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Trent Bridge (day four)

Nottinghamshire 279: Haynes 100 & 311-9 dec: Clarke 136; Gorvin 3-55

Glamorgan 113 & 285: Tribe 85; Patterson-White 3-13

Notts (20 pts) beat Glamorgan (3 pts) by 192 runs

Match scorecard

Nottinghamshire closed out their first win of the County Championship season as Glamorgan, tasked with scoring 478 to secure a highly improbable victory, were bowled out for 285.

Asa Tribe, unbeaten on 82 overnight, was dismissed in the third over of the morning but promoted Glamorgan at least demanded patience and perseverance of the defending champions, who collected 20 points to go second in the early-season Division One table, winning by 192 runs.

Starting on 132-2, Glamorgan were 200-7 at lunch but kept Nottinghamshire in the field until just before 16:00 BST, thanks to a show of defiance led by Mason Crane, their leg-spinner, who batted two-and-a-half hours for his 39.

Crane was last man out, leg before to left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White, who finished with 3-13. There were two wickets for all-rounder Lyndon James, who did not start this match but came in as a last-day replacement after Australian bowler Fergus O'Neill dropped out with a rib injury.

O'Neill had taken five wickets in the match and played an important role with the bat too, his first-innings half-century helping Nottinghamshire recover from 103-6 to 279 all out after being put in on a difficult pitch.

Jack Haynes led that fightback with his first century of the season, matched by Joe Clarke in the second innings, whose 136 was key to giving his side a commanding lead after Glamorgan had been dismissed for 113.

Glamorgan went into the final day theoretically needing 346 more to win. Surviving 96 overs nine down or fewer was a more realistic target, so losing three wickets in the first five overs of the day was not the kind of start that was needed.

The news that O'Neill would miss the remainder might have been a source of comfort but Hutton and Dillon Pennington, who had combined effectively on the third evening after 52 overs were lost to rain, continued where they had left off.

Pennington struck first, having Kiran Carlson caught behind with a fine ball that took the outside edge of the Glamorgan captain's defensive bat, before Hutton landed two major blows in the space of nine deliveries.

The bigger of the two came first as Tribe, who had survived a fierce test of his technique and temperament before Sunday's close, shaped to play square into the off side only to bottom-edge into his stumps.

Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, who had been standing up when Tribe was facing Hutton, went back for Colin Ingram and profited almost immediately as the 40-year-old Glamorgan stalwart could only connect with the edge as he went to drive.

James, the all-rounder, came in for O'Neill as the second injury replacement of the match.

Sean Dickson, the first of the substitutes after Ben Kellaway dropped out on day one, joined Chris Cooke in the middle and the pair mounted some resistance. Had they been able to sustain it beyond lunch, then Glamorgan might have felt they still had a chance of effecting an escape.

But James, on after a brief spell from Josh Tongue at the Stuart Broad End, removed each of them in consecutive overs, Cooke leg before and Dickson caught behind square, both pulling. Lunch saw Glamorgan 200-7.

To their credit, Glamorgan refused to roll over.

Timm van der Gugten and Crane dug in for another hour before the former was leg before to Patterson-White.

Crane found another durable partner in Andy Gorvin, who almost made it through 21 overs to tea, only to lose concentration just two balls from the scheduled interval time, dragging on a delivery from Patterson-White to be bowled, the ninth wicket delaying tea just long enough for the left-arm spinner to finish the job.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – Driver for show, and putter for $4.5 million of dough. That was the winner's purse at the Masters, and Rory McIlroy is taking home the top prize, with the green jacket back on his shoulders.

Why did he win? Because, he was very good on and around the greens at Augusta National.

McIlroy bombed his driver throughout the week, but he hit the fairway off the tee just 55% of the time. To wit, he missed the fairway to the right on his final hole. As he did throughout most of the week, McIlroy avoided disaster. He needed a bogey on No. 18 to win at 12-under, and so bogey was what he carded.

Why does he still rule the Masters? It's obvious. His putting was dialed in, particularly during his sizzling Round 2, when he needed just 24 putts. He had only two three-putts throughout the 72 holes.

Toppmeyer: Rory McIlroy is Masters king and major royalty, a choke artist no more

Lessons from Augusta: Rory McIlroy reveals what Masters has taught him

That included a three-putt on No. 4 of his final round for his lone Sunday double-bogey.

McIlroy got his round back on track with a 7-footer for birdie on No. 7, then made another 7-footer for more red ink on the par-3 No. 12, kicking off back-to-back birdies in a tour through Amen Corner that won the Masters for McIlroy.

Asked to grade his tournament in the various facets of his game, here's how McIlroy saw it:

Rory McIlroy's driving at Masters

McIlroy's grade: B-

What he said: "I didn't drive the ball great. I drove it better (in the final round)."

McIlroy's irons at Masters

McIlroy's grade: B

What he said: "My irons were really good, Thursday, Friday, and (Sunday) I felt like I hit some better iron shots. (Saturday) was really poor."

McIlroy's short game and putting at Masters

McIlroy's grade: A+

What he said: "My scrambling and my short game and my putting, that's what won me the tournament this week."

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rory McIlroy grades 2026 Masters performance: See what got an A+

North Carolina coach Bill Belichick caught a stray during a recent segment on Run It Back, when Michelle Beadle, Lou Williams, and Chandler Parsons discussed the hiring of former NBA champion Michael Malone as North Carolina's new basketball coach.

The cast was asked if they thought that Malone would be more successful at North Carolina than Belichick.

Last season was clearly a disappointment for Belichick's Tar Heels, who went 4-8 in their first season under the former New England Patriots' six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach. In addition to losing football games, there was also the off-the-field noise emanating from Belichick's relationship with his 25-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.

"The logical hiring of Michael Malone out of nowhere to be their new head coach, although he hasn't coached in the college ranks since 2001. But then again, they did hire Bill Belichick with a whopping 4-8 record," said Beadle. "So, talk to me. He's gotta be better than Belichick, right? Gotta be."

Both Williams and Parsons agreed that Malone would be more successful at North Carolina than Belichick.

To be fair, Malone is 54 years old in comparison to the 73-year-old Belichick. So there's a good chance that he will have more time on his hands to turn things around.

He might also be set up with a better situation overall considering the Tar Heels' perennial success as a basketball program. One would assume that Malone will have significantly more to work with than Belichick did upon arrival.

"Michael Malone will have a lot more success at North Carolina than Bill Belichick," Parsons quipped.

Belichick has certainly received his fair share of criticism for his first season at Chapel Hill. There's hope that he can start to turn things around after his first full season with the program. However, it's also clear that the legendary coach has his work cut out for him to get the team on the right track.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Bill Belichick catches stray after UNC's latest coaching hire

The Pittsburgh Steelers offseason kicked off with the resignation of Mike Tomlin and hasn't let up since. Now the Steelers are less than two weeks to the start of the 2026 NFL Draft and there's still more work to do. The team has made some huge changes on the roster via free agency and trade which forced us to make some changes in our top four draft needs.

One big caveat here. No quarterback in our top draft needs. With Aaron Rodgers eventually showing up and Will Howard having the support of head coach Mike McCarthy, we've taken quarterback off our list completely.

1 - Offensive guard

Replacing Isaac Seumalo was a top priority heading into the offseason and the Steelers didn't address it. We aren't opposed to Spencer Anderson starting the season at left guard, but long-term, his value is as a reserve who can play multiple spots. The top of the draft has four guards who we see could come in and start Week One to address this need.

2 - Wide receiver

You might think trading for Michael Pittman Jr. fixed the wide receiver issues but it didn't at all. NFL teams need at least three starting-caliber receivers, which is why we have a wide receiver here. In terms of draft order, we won't be at all surprised if a receiver is the target in the first round.

3 - Tight end

The Steelers lost two of their top four tight ends this offseason and without Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward and must be replaced. This draft is filled with prospects who offer value as both receivers and blockers and with three third-round picks, look for one of them to come off the board there.

4 - Offensive tackle

The future of starting left tackle Broderick Jones is currently up in the air. There are concerns he won't be ready to start the season, and if he misses a significant chunk of the year or struggles, hemight not get a new contract at the end of the year. This why we view drafting a player who might be able to replace him sooner rather than later this high.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers updated 2026 NFL Draft needs

Take notice, Esports world. Florida State is one game away from its second national championship in collegiate Splatoon. On Sunday, the team defeated UC Santa Cruz 5-4 in a best-of-nine set, advancing to the Collegiate Cephalopod Association's Division 7 National Championship.

FSU Goldies started by dropping the first game to UC Santa Cruz in Splat Zones, but responded by taking the next three games in a row in Tower Control, Rainmaker, and Clam Blitz. With a 3-1 lead, the Seminoles let UC Santa Cruz back in as they won their second Splat Zones game and another game in Tower Control.

A 3-3 tie brought it to match point on Clam Blitz in the Museum d'Alfonsino map, but UC Santa Cruz would push it to a game nine, with it being all on the line in Splat Zones on Shipshape Cargo Co. In a thrilling game nine where FSU brought it to one point away from a knockout, the Goldies allowed UC Santa Cruz to score 81 out of the 100 points to clinch the match.

In the last 10 seconds, FSU painted the zone and ran out the clock to punch its ticket to the national championship. FSU Splatoon advances for just the second time to the National Championship game in the CCA league. The last time they were there in 2023, they won it all.

Commentator inker2_ on the Twitch livestream was quoted as saying, "That set really had it all. No hyperbole to it. That was absolutely everything you could possibly want in a best-of-nine. FSU, knowing that they had a problem in Splat Zones, [they needed] to overcome [their] greatest challenge to deserve the finals. They are definitely deserving of their finals spot to go and take it home."

Kyon, the other commentator, also spoke on the match's intensity, "That was a fun one to watch," he said.

Player Revolution on advancing to the national championship put it best: "To be able to be out there representing Florida State, it’s amazing, but it can get pretty intense. There was a lot of pressure in this match, and there’s going to be more in the finals, but when it’s game time, you just have to clear your head out of all the noise and stay focused. That’s what I did here, and I think it made the difference in a few places for everyone to stay focused and go for the win."

Clover added to this, saying, "I’m really glad to be here for this. We’ve worked really hard and improved a lot since the start of the season, so this is a big testament to our growth. I’ll do my best to treat this next match like any other, since I always try to stay level-headed in a high-pressure match. Just watching the game back has my heart pounding. We really worked hard to make it work."

In his postgame interview, team captain Ghast told Kyon and Inker about saving the game, "It's always me telling myself that it's not over till it's over. No matter what the score is, always try your best."

The Goldies will play the University of Houston in a rematch of the group 3 championship game in the national championship. The championship game will be held on Sunday, March 19th at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can stay updated by following @FSUSplatoon on X.

WE'RE GOING TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!! #GoGoldiespic.twitter.com/yPXio12uCT

— Florida State Splatoon (@FSUSplatoon) April 12, 2026

Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jacob on X at @jsmith_sports.

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Esports: Splatoon team advances to CCA National Championship

Outgoing Hull FC head coach John Cartwright says he has not been given a reason for why they have opted to part ways with him at the end of the season.

The Black and Whites announced last week they would not be renewing the 60-year-old Australian's contract.

Cartwright took over on a two-year deal after the 2024 season, when the team won just three of 27 matches, and led them to seventh in 2025.

"It wasn't mutual, put it that way," he told BBC Radio Humberside when asked why he was leaving the club.

"I still haven't been given one (a reason), I have asked and I expect to be able to sit down with someone in the not too distant future.

"When people know the facts they can make their own mind up but for me I feel a bit betrayed and disrespected."

In a candid interview Cartwright said he had not had a "major" fallout with the board prior to them making the decision.

It has been widely reported that former England and Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara will be coming in as his replacement.

Cartwright confirmed that he expects the Warrington assistant to take over at MKM Stadium at the end of the year.

"I believe it's done. The information was leaked and I found the timing of that awkward," he said.

"I've got nothing against Steve McNamara at all, it's just the business we're in, but I thought the timing could have been handled better."

'A training session wouldn't have been of any value'

Cartwright led the Black and Whites to a seventh-placed finish, three points off a play-off place, last season.

He said that they had cancelled last Tuesday's training session after he told the team about his exit.

"There was a pretty emotional meeting when I addressed the players," he said.

"The coaches left the room and the players decided to stay. In all honesty it wasn't the type of atmosphere where a training session would have been of any value so I decided to call the day off.

"They needed to go and chat amongst themselves. I haven't asked what was said, it's not my business. I think they had some grievances that they wanted to talk about and I don't know if they have been addressed either."

The former Gold Coast Titans head coach said that despite his own situation he would not allow the season to be "wasted".

"We've got to make sure we win as many games as we can," he said.

"It's ridiculous to waste a season. We're sitting two points out of the top six."

Ninth-placed Hull FC next welcome Challenge Cup semi-finalists St Helens on Thursday.

The NBA’s regular season is over, and it was an up-and-down one for former UConn players. Some are thriving, like Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan, while others are just trying to hang on to a roster spot and ensure they’ll be in these rankings next season.

Here’s a look at how the former Huskies fared in the NBA this year.

1. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

After a season in which he averaged 16.7 points, 7.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds, Castle is one of the most important players on a possible championship team, as the Spurs enter the playoffs with high hopes. San Antonio finished with the second-best record in the league at 62-20, and is the No. 2 seed out West to start the playoffs. They also had the top-seed Oklahoma City Thunder’s number, winning four of five matchups in the regular season. You throw out the records when you get to the playoffs, but it’s clear the Spurs match up well with the defending champs. Another thing is clear, too–Castle could be a name casual NBA fans get to know well as the Spurs are in a position to contend for a long time.

2. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

The Bristol big man quietly had an excellent season, averaging a double-double–12.1 points and 11.6 rebounds, while starting 77 games and shooting 52 percent from the floor. He even increased his 3-point percentage to 34 percent, and is averaging over a make per game. Clingan is a key reason why Portland has steadily improved over the last two seasons– from 21 wins in 2024 to 36 last year, to 42 this season and a spot in the West Play-In. The Blazers will take on the Suns in the 7-8 game on Tuesday (10 p.m.)

3. Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies

Is Cam trending toward becoming an Austin Reaves-level star in the NBA? Before you push back, think about this: Spencer finished third in the entire league in 3-point shooting percentage this season, at 44.9 percent. He trailed only the Lakers’ Luke Kennard and the Bucks’ Bobby Portis. He also shot 47.3 percent overall– fantastic for a guard. He started 20 games for the Grizzlies this season and averaged 11.1 points and 5.6 assists in 23.8 minutes. If you adjust those stats for consistent starter’s minutes (per-36 minutes), he’s averaging 16.8 points and 8.4 assists, truly impressive numbers. Spencer is clearly in the team’s plans, as he signed a four-year contract last offseason worth $10.5 million.

4. Andre Drummond, Philadelphia 76ers

Drummond will look to help the 76ers get out of the Play-In Tournament in the East starting Wednesday. Philly is the No. 7 seed, taking on the Magic in Round 1. As it almost goes without saying at this point, they’ll be without Joel Embiid, who came down with appendicitis and is out indefinitely. The 32-year-old Drummond averaged 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 47.2 percent this season.

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5. Liam McNeeley, Charlotte Hornets

McNeeley is now a G League champion, as his Greensboro Swarm swept the playoff bracket to take home the title. The former Husky scored 21 points in the clincher, and averaged 19.6 through 18 G League games. Sure, it’s not the NBA, but McNeeley proved he’s elite at the level below, and now he’ll hope for a chance to contribute as Charlotte embarks on its NBA playoff run, beginning Tuesday night at home vs. the Heat (7:30 p.m.). The Hornets are the No. 9 seed in the East, but have one of the league’s best records in the second half of the season, making them dangerous this spring.

6. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans

Hawk saw his role diminished greatly this season, as he went from averaging 23.6 minutes per last year to just over 13 minutes this season. He posted just 4.9 points per game while shooting 37 percent, numbers well below what UConn fans know he’s capable of. The team has an option on his contract for next season, and a fresh start elsewhere seems like the best outcome.

7. Tyrese Martin, Philadelphia 76ers

It wasn’t quite the year Martin had hoped for, as he was waived by the Brooklyn Nets in February and signed to a two-way contract with Philadelphia. He hasn’t been able to make much of an impact with the Sixers, averaging just nine minutes in nine games. Martin will look for a more permanent role, either in Philly or elsewhere next season.

8. Andre Jackson Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

Jackson didn’t make much of an impact this season, averaging just 2.4 points in 8.5 minutes per game. The team has an option on his contract for next season, and it seems unlikely he’ll return. The hope is that another team saw enough in him to allow him to compete for a roster spot next season.

The New York Giants have agreed to terms with veteran quarterback Brandon Allen, adding experienced depth to their quarterback room as the team prepares for the upcoming season.

Allen, 33, brings 10 years of NFL experience as a reliable backup and occasional starter.

Brandon Allen signing with #Giants per league source, reunites him with Brian Callahan, his coach with #Titans, who is now New York quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator #NFLhttps://t.co/7JaaZn6zj0

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 13, 2026

Originally a sixth-round draft pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016 out of Arkansas, he has suited up for multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, and most recently the Tennessee Titans.

Across 19 career games with 10 starts, he has completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 1,882 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

With Jaxson Dart entrenched as the starter and Jameis Winston serving as the primary backup, Allen is expected to fill the QB3 role or compete for the position during training camp.

The move reunites Allen with new Giants quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan, who previously served as head coach in Tennessee and worked with Allen during their shared time with the Bengals.

Allen's familiarity with Callahan's should help accelerate his integration into the offense. The signing provides the Giants with a steady veteran presence behind their young core as they build for the future.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants signing QB Brandon Allen

Fantasy expert consensus rankings (“ECR”) are starting to pop up across the Internet, giving managers an early glimpse into how the market might value hundreds of players this summer. As we look ahead to the 2026 season, here are the biggest Falcons bargains based on ECR.

There might not be a more top-heavy offense in the league. Bijan Robinson (RB1 ECR) and Drake London (WR8 ECR) have almost nowhere to go but sideways or down. Robinson is elite. London is near-elite. Playing at their full potential, they can both dominate.

Yes, there’s Kyle Pitts (TE8 ECR). As noted earlier, he has historically underperformed when his alpha WR is on the field. We need to dig a lot deeper, with the understanding that Atlanta’s highest-producing fantasy QB last year (Michael Penix) was the QB30, while the second-best fantasy WR (Darnell Mooney) was the WR90. Yeah. Yikes.

So the hard part for managers is whether any Falcon can be viewed as a “bargain.” I’m willing to bet on Brian Robinson at his RB58 ECR price point. A departing Tyler Allgeier last season managed RB50 numbers, and we’ve seen him do better than that despite playing behind Bijan Robinson. Assuming he locks down the handcuff role in camp (and assuming this team doesn’t draft an RB who might compete for the backup role), Brian Robinson should outperform expectations.

Whoever starts at quarterback will also be a clear-cut bargain. Not surprisingly, Penix’s ECR is QB30, while Tua Tagovailoa’s is QB34, which is somehow behind Shedeur Sanders and Geno Smith. One of the Falcons’ quarterbacks can be a QB24 or better in points per game, thanks to a strong core of high-end playmakers.

Also, keep an eye on which wideout (or “wideouts”) Atlanta drafts. It would be inconceivable for them to roll with London, backed by Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus. If I’m mistaken and they stand pat, then Dotson (unranked) or Zaccheaus (WR114 ECR) should top Mooney’s 2025 production and finish in the top 80. But if this team invests in a starter-ready wide receiver, that rookie would be primed for top-60 numbers.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Early 2026 fantasy expert consensus rankings: Falcons edition

In nine nerve-wracking minutes, Christian Fuchs admits he lost a few years.

Now the man who was part of Leicester City's 5,000-1 Premier League win could be just a week away of securing an unlikely EFL survival as the numbers start adding up for his Newport County side.

The Exiles were bottom of League Two and four points from safety when the ex-Austria international was appointed in his first crack at management.

It had been looking bleak for some time for the Amber Army, wondering if their 13th season at this level would have proven an unlucky one.

But, after enduring nine minutes of injury time, the weekend's 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Harrogate Town has pushed Fuchs' men four points clear with three games remaining.

"As you can imagine, it was a huge one," said Fuchs on the importance of a win secured when defender Joe Thomas turned unlikely hero with an eye-catching first goal of the season.

"We knew the importance of the game, obviously, and it was very important for the players to understand that all the feelings that you have around this game are completely normal.

"We knew what was on the line, what can be with either outcome, but the boys showed the right response.

"But I definitely lost a couple of years of my life!"

• The Premier League winner fighting for League Two survival
• Thomas gives Newport vital relegation win over Harrogate
• Latest Newport County news, analysis and fan views

Fuchs, 40, cannot relax yet but there is a chance Newport can seal survival this weekend should rivals Barrow slip up when they play their game in hand against Oldham Athletic on Tuesday.

Defeat for Sam Foley's side would mean Newport would head into Saturday's game at Cheltenham Town knowing three points would be enough to retain EFL status should the sides below them lose.

Fuchs, though, is not calculating any targets.

"We're just going into every game to win it," he said. "That has to be our mentality. It's not, 'Okay, let's sit back, let's see the next game out and see what happens'.

"We need to be on the front foot and being a nuisance for the opposition - when we do that, that's definitely playing to our strengths."

• Newport County

Oscar Delp got the chance to visit the New England Patriots’ facility this offseason as one of their favored prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class.

According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, New England had Georgia tight end Oscar Delp in for a top-30 visit prior to the draft.

Delp recorded 20 receptions for 261 yards and a touchdown in 2025. The 22-year-old averaged no less than 17.7 yards per reception in any of his previous three seasons at Georgia from 2023-25. He has exceptional speed in the open field for a tight end, and his pass protection has also steadily improved.

With Hunter Henry turning 31 years old and Austin Hooper leaving in free agency, the Patriots are expected to make another move at tight end. The team signed veteran blocking tight end Julian Hill in free agency. However, they still have room for another dual-threat option at the position.

Delp joins the list of prospects that the Patriots have in consideration for this year’s draft. The Patriots have the option to host up to 30 prospects at their facility before the draft commences on April 23.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots reportedly hosted rising TE prospect for top-30 draft visit

The 2026 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, which means teams are putting the final touches on their boards and analysts are putting together the last of their mock drafts. The Los Angeles Rams' top need has become clear from the outside looking in, with wide receiver jumping to the forefront after the team's big additions at cornerback.

That doesn't mean it's certain the Rams will take a wide receiver with their first pick, though. Offensive tackle is on the table, and cornerback remains an option, too. No matter which direction the Rams go, they're going to add a talented rookie to their offense or defense in Round 1.

With just over a week to go until the main event, we rounded up the latest mock draft projections from experts. While there isn't a unanimous prospect for the Rams, one player has become the most popular at No. 13: Makai Lemon out of USC.

Here are the latest mock draft projections from NFL draft experts.

USA Today: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

A one-year starter who's probably still a bit of a project, Freeling might not necessarily make sense for a Rams team looking to cash in its chips for another title push with Matthew Stafford at the helm. Yet with both of the top receivers off the board, Los Angeles might have to make the best of things. Freeling could take over at some point for right tackle Warren McClendon Jr., who is entering the final year of his deal.

CBS Sports: WR Makai Lemon, USC

Many a mock draft has paired Makai Lemon with the Rams, and we'll continue that here. A Puka Nacua/Davante Adams/Lemon trio would be a tremendous advantage for Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay in 2026, and Lemon could step into a bigger role in 2027, should Adams leave after this year.

PFF: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Tyson’s draft slot feels difficult to pinpoint, even at this stage in the cycle. Although injuries could cause a fall, his twitchy releases, wide catch radius and clutch playmaking will attract a slew of teams. The Rams seem likely to add another dynamic playmaker in what could be Matthew Stafford’s final season, and Tyson would assemble a ludicrous trio next to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

FOX Sports: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

Let me be clear: Any receiving corps that includes Puka Nacua and Davante Adams is not actually in need. Inside linebacker and right tackle qualify better in the traditional sense of "need." But Les Snead has attacked this offseason with a Super Bowl-or-bust mentality. Concepcion scored 28 touchdowns in 38 college games. He drops the ball more than he should, but the ones he holds onto have a way of making it into the end zone, whether as a receiver, runner or returner. I think he could give the Rams a similar jolt to the one Rashid Shaheed provided the Seahawks last year. 

Pro Football Network: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

Mauigoa brings an intriguing blend of size, strength, and versatility that would immediately bolster the Rams’ offensive line. Whether it’s at tackle or potentially sliding inside depending on the team’s needs, he has the tools to compete for a starting role right away. His physicality in the run game, paired with his ability to anchor in pass protection, makes him a valuable addition for a team looking to stay balanced offensively.

Yahoo Sports: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

This is a clean fit for both parties involved. Longtime right tackle Rob Havenstein retired this offseason, opening the door for the Rams to grab a talented right tackle prospect in Lomu. He would be a perfect fit in Sean McVay’s running game, routinely showing off ideal power and athleticism that prototypical tackle prospects possess in the NFL.

FOX Sports (Colin Cowherd): WR Makai Lemon, USC

This is a clean fit for both parties involved. Longtime right tackle Rob Havenstein retired this offseason, opening the door for the Rams to grab a talented right tackle prospect in Lomu. He would be a perfect fit in Sean McVay’s running game, routinely showing off ideal power and athleticism that prototypical tackle prospects possess in the NFL.

ESPN (Peter Schrager): WR Makai Lemon, USC

Lemon fits with a lot of what the Rams do on offense. And taking the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner would be a sign that the Rams are truly all-in to win in 2026, potentially Matthew Stafford's final season. But this pick would also have the long term in mind, with Davante Adams entering the final year of his deal and turning 34 in December.

SB Nation: WR Makai Lemon, USC

SB Nation didn't provide a write-up of its selection but in this mock, the Rams pass on Kenyon Sadiq and Jordyn Tyson in favor of Lemon, who's becoming the clear-cut favorite for Los Angeles in mock drafts.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL mock drafts: Latest expert projections for LA Rams

With the 2026 NFL draft near, we will be taking a position-by-position look at where things stand with the Indianapolis Colts.

The draft will take place from Apr. 23-25. The Colts have a modest seven draft picks at the moment, including just two in the top 100. GM Chris Ballard, however, has hinted strongly at wanting to gain additional capital. That, in part, could come from trading Kenny Moore.

Up first in our draft preview are the quarterbacks.

Colts' quarterbacks under contract

• Daniel Jones
• Anthony Richardson
• Riley Leonard
• Seth Henigan

Colts' offseason departures at quarterback

None -- as of now. The Colts are attempting to trade Anthony Richardson.

What is the Colts' need at quarterback?

With Daniel Jones under contract, the need here is low. The Colts put all of their offseason eggs in the Daniel Jones basket, believing that the success that he had through the first half of last season can be repeated and sustained, even with him coming off a major injury.

Assuming the Colts do find a trade partner for Anthony Richardson, that still leaves them with Riley Leonard as the team's backup. Leonard impressed during his Week 18 start against Houston last season, showcasing that he is ready to fill that backup role.

Perhaps after the draft, the Colts will sign a UDFA to compete with Seth Henigan for the third quarterback spot on the depth chart. Given the needs on the roster elsewhere, and that Ballard is in a must-win season, he may not have the luxury of using a draft pick -- even a late round selection -- on this position group.

The Colts have reportedly had LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton in on official draft visits.

Top quarterback prospects in 2026 NFL draft

With help from the consensus big board, here are the top quarterbacks available in this year's draft:

• 1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
• 31. Ty Simpson, Alabama
• 82. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
• 112. Cole Payton, NDSU
• 116. Drew Allar, Penn State
• 124. Carson Beck, Miami
• 150. Taylen Green, Arkansas
• 195. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
• 225. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
• 237. Luke Altmyer, Illinois
• 279. Joe Fagnano, UCONN
• 295. Jalon Daniels, Kansas

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Where Indianapolis Colts stand at quarterback

We’re soon going to learn where the UCLA Bruins star basketball players land at the next level. The WNBA Draft will occur Monday night in New York City and we’ll see how many members of UCLA’s national championship team will hear their name called.

The entire team made the trip out to New York for the draft, where as many as six UCLA players could get selected. The Bruins have four consensus first round picks in Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice and Gianna Kneepkens. Both Angela Dugalic and Charlisse Leger-Wallker have developed games and will likely garner draft consideration as well.

pic.twitter.com/9WCk9RGHPI

— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) April 12, 2026

The WNBA released Prospect Media Availability responses from WNBA Draft attendees. Of the 15 players in attendance, UCLA had five players selected as a part of the group. Here’s their questions and answers.

Angela Dugalic

Q: How do you think your style of play translates to the WNBA?

A: “My versatility. I’m able to pull people out with my shooting ability but also as a low post presence – so I can pick and choose how I want to score. I also feel like I’m a pretty good passer. That passing role has been my role the past few years playing with UCLA … And then defensively, I can switch really well so I can guard one through five.”

Gabriela Jaquez

Q: What will it be like playing against your former UCLA teammates?

A: “It’s going to be a little weird. I played against Gianna [Kneepkens] before. I played against [Charlisse Leger-Walker] before, and Lauren [Betts] when she was at Stanford. But obviously we’re teammates for life. So, it will be a little weird, especially Kiki [Rice] because we've been teammates for four years. We were even thinking like, dang, we need to learn new plays now and go to a new team. We’ve been running the same system for four years. So, it will be an adjustment, but it'll be fun and really competitive.”

Gianna Kneepkens:

Q: How does it feel to go through this moment with your UCLA teammates?

A: “It’s been incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation. It’s cool to see the behind-the-scenes of what they have done and the work they’ve put in. To see them get to this point and be able to do it alongside them has been really special.”

Kiki Rice:

Q: We’re two days out from the WNBA Draft; can you describe your emotions?

A: “Just excited. This is a moment I’ve been dreaming of for a very long time. So, finally to be in New York, to be at the Draft, is honestly really exciting [and] a little bit surreal. I’m really just excited to see where I end up and get to the new organization and meet my teammates.”

Lauren Betts:

Q: Who are you most excited to match up with?

A: “I think any of my [UCLA] teammates. Once I see them in their W jerseys, I’m probably going to cry after the game just because I’m so proud of them. I feel like that’s going to be a surreal experience, seeing everyone on their different teams.”

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Hear from five UCLA WNBA Draft prospects from their media availability

Tottenham are in advanced talks over a free transfer for Liverpool defender Andy Robertson this summer.

Robertson confirmed last week he is leaving Anfield after nine years at the club when his contract expires this summer.

Spurs have a long-term interest in the 32-year-old left-back and tried to sign him during the January transfer window but Liverpool were not prepared to let him leave.

Tottenham remain committed to signing the Scotland captain and while sources insist a full agreement is yet to be reached, discussions are understood to be at an advanced stage.

Any deal, however, is contingent on Spurs staying in the Premier League.

They are 18th in the table and in the relegation zone, two points adrift of 17th-placed West Ham.

• Robertson to leave Liverpool at end of the season
• End of a fruitful era...

Tottenham want to add experience and leadership to their squad this summer and view Robertson as a key target before manager Roberto de Zerbi's first full season in charge.

Meanwhile, club captain Cristian Romero will have tests on Monday to determine the extent of the knee injury sustained in Sunday's loss to Sunderland.

Romero looked visibly upset as he limped off after a collision with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, raising concerns the centre-half may have picked up a serious injury which could rule him out of Tottenham's final six games of the season.

Any long-term injury would also have an impact on the 27-year-old's involvement in Argentina's World Cup squad.

• Will Romero's tears become the enduring image of Tottenham's season?
• Latest Tottenham news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Tottenham - what do you want to know?

Fullcourtpass: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Doc Rivers walking back to the Bucks locker room after the last game of the season (Via @JClarkNBCS, h/t @CourtsideBuzzX)

x.com

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Doc Rivers walking back to the Bucks locker room after the last game of the season

(Via @JClarkNBCS, h/t @CourtsideBuzzX) pic.twitter.com/oNnqkBf3ZK

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 13, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Doc Rivers walking back to …

Regarding the NBA Europe project, Garbajosa confessed that basketball has a "great challenge which is the commercialization of television rights, sponsorships... There are very important clubs that have to make extremely large investments to compete at the highest level and then the returns they get are not up to par." The FIBA ​​president explained how the NBA wants to contribute to changing that model, saying, "If basketball in Europe has a problem, we can contribute something in the commercialization of sports rights . They have decided that a boost to the economic rights of basketball in Europe will have a positive impact on the general good."

elespanol.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Regarding the NBA Europe project, Garbajosa confessed …

Regarding the business model of this competition, the executive highlighted "the credibility that the NBA has" because "they guarantee the ability to generate a business that has not been seen in Europe until now." That's why they're looking to combine "the sporting passion found in European arenas with commercialization." Garbajosa acknowledged that one of the challenges is diversification. Always keeping the fan in mind, they want to give them "a finished product that is understandable, easy, and entertaining. We believe that one plus one will equal three."

elespanol.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Regarding the business model of this competition, the …

Ian Begley: Jalen Brunson ranked No. 3 on jersey sales and Knicks ranked No. 1 on team apparel sales for 2025-26. Numbers are based on online sales from NBA and its partners:

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jalen Brunson ranked No. 3 on jersey sales and Knicks …

Chase Elliott had a rough NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. After winning the Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Elliott came home with a 22nd-place finish at Bristol as the last driver one lap down. The driver of the No. 9 car caused the second-to-final caution after spinning out by himself, avoiding the wall.

However, Elliott's race took another turn for the worst in NASCAR overtime. Coming off of Turn 4, the Hendrick Motorsports driver spun out again, collecting Ty Dillon. NASCAR kept the race green, as Elliott got his car straight and crossed the start-finish line.

Here you can watch Elliott's No. 9 car onboard camera during his second self-spin at Bristol on Sunday afternoon.

Something everyone missed, including myself: There was a crash on the last lap. Chase Elliott self spun coming to the white flag and collected Ty Dillon.

NASCAR let the race go green with Elliott out of harm's way on the inside of Turn 1. pic.twitter.com/yx7XiKjGx3

— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) April 12, 2026

Elliott had a tough race at Bristol, and he will be happy to see that Kansas Speedway is next on the NASCAR schedule. After all, the driver of the No. 9 car won the last time NASCAR competed at Kansas in 2025.

More: 5 NASCAR drivers on the 'Hot Seat' during 2026 Cup Series season

This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Watch Chase Elliott's onboard during self spin on final lap at Bristol

Former Sunderland captain Gary Bennett says the Black Cats' mantra of "keeping going and making it to 40 points" this season is credit to head coach Regis le Bris and his players.

Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle following Sunderland's 1-0 win over Tottenham at the Stadium of Light, Bennett said: "It was a fantastic result yet again. It is a big three points.

"We have just got to look forward to the next six games now, let's see where they take us. We keep surprising people, don't we?

"Tottenham looked good at times but it isn't just about looking good, it's also about getting results.

"From Sunderland's point of view, it is another clean sheet and another three points. Who knows what could happen from here?

"I remember all the talk about maybe needing 40 points for survival this season. However, we did say it would be enough when we got to 33 points.

"But it is credit to the manager and the players because we kept going and made it to 40 points to guarantee our safety.

"Now we're wondering if we can push on and maybe get another six or nine points [in the remaining games]. Imagine where that would take us!"

Listen to the full post-match chat on BBC Sounds

Explore more Sunderland content on BBC Sounds

Former England captain Wayne Rooney says Manchester City "will have the edge" psychologically in the Premier League title race.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, he said City "know how to win the title" and "have a manager who knows how to do it".

"I think City will have the edge on that, just purely the manager and players they've got. They will be able to stay a little calmer than the Arsenal players," said Rooney.

"They will be worried because when you go on a run and lose a few games, you start thinking 'where's the next goal, the next win going to come from?' That negative mindset really has an impact on your performance."

Manchester City beat Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday to take advantage of Arsenal slipping up with a 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday.

Rooney said that whoever wins Sunday's "title decider" in Manchester will be favourites to win the league.

He added that he thinks a draw will be a "good point" for Arsenal, who may need to "play dirty".

Rooney added Mikel Arteta's side must "be tough to break down, make sure there's no gaps between the lines and try to hit them on the break".

He added: "Whether the fans like that type of football or not, they have to do anything to stop City winning. They need to be resilient enough to stop City from scoring."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Former England captain Wayne Rooney says Manchester City "will have the edge" psychologically over Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, he said City "know how to win the title" and "have a manager who knows how to do it".

"I think City will have the edge on that, just purely the manager and players they've got. They will be able to stay a little calmer than the Arsenal players," he said.

"They will be worried because when you go on a run and lose a few games, you start thinking 'where's the next goal, the next win going to come from?' That negative mindset really has an impact on your performance."

Manchester City beat Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday to take advantage of Arsenal slipping up with a 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday.

Rooney said that whoever wins Sunday's "title decider" in Manchester will be favourites to win the league.

He believes a draw will be a "good point" for Arsenal, who may need to "play dirty".

Rooney added Mikel Arteta's side must "be tough to break down, make sure there's no gaps between the lines and try to hit them on the break.

"Whether the fans like that type of football or not, they have to do anything to stop City winning. They need to be resilient enough to stop City from scoring."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

He's the Championship's top scorer enjoying the season of his life.

So much so, that not even Harry Kane can touch the clinical nature of Swansea City's Zan Vipotnik's 2025-26.

England captain Kane may have hit 31 Bundesliga goals for Bayern Munich to leave him clear in the Golden Shoe charts.

But that's what you would expect from a world-class striker getting world-class service.

For Vipotnik, and his 21 goals in a mid-table Swansea side, it's a different story.

Indeed, according to Opta's Expected Goals (xG), the 24-year-old Slovenia international should not have scored as half as many as he has.

Because Vipotnik is out-performing an xG of 11.61 by 9.39 goals. In other words, he's scored at least nine more goals than statistics would suggest.

• Swansea would only sell Vipotnik for 'proper money'
• Vipotnik strike deepens Leicester's relegation fears
• Latest Swansea City news, analysis and fan views

For comparison Kane's xG is 24.34 compared to his actual tally of 31.

He is still the biggest over-performer in the Bundesliga on that metric.

Leading the Premier League, Wales forward's Harry Wilson's 10 goals for Fulham against an xG of 5.12 underlines his superb season.

Take penalties out of the equation, and Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo leads the way with his 14 goals comparted to an xG of 8.57.

But only one player in Europe's top five leagues and England's EFL betters Vipotnik with Reading's former Wrexham striker Jack Marriott boasting 16 goals against an xG of just 6.54.

Freak or fluke?

It does pose the question whether Vipotnik's season is freakish or a fluke.

Signed on a free from Bordeaux in the summer of 2024, the powerful number nine only managed seven goals in his debut campaign.

But while he took his time to adapt to British football, observers at Swansea would often cite his consistently impressive finishing in training.

He has displayed it and then some this season, goals of all types despite a team that have struggled to create, offering a significant presence at the top end of the pitch.

And while there have been some spectacular strikes – a thunderous free-kick against Sheffield Wednesday a good example – his xG anomaly is not purely a result of scoring from range or the types of goals that are likely to have contributed to Wilson and Semenyo's over-performance. There have been headers, tap-ins and instinctive finishes aplenty for a player nominated for the Championship's player of the season.

Which is why plenty are likely to be taking an interest in his services.

'He's done it by himself'

Former Swansea midfielder turned BBC Wales pundit Andy Robinson suggested it was "imperative" the club keep the striker and end a recent trend of selling top players to plug financial losses.

"He's done it by himself because the creativity has been inconsistent all season," Robinson said. "The board have shown a little bit of ambition this season and let's hope it continues."

There are some warnings from history, if you consider the xG. While Liverpool's signing of Mo Salah was reportedly based on xG, Manchester United's signings of xG over-performers Bryan Mbuemo and Matheus Cunha are yet to bring real rewards.

Regardless, West Ham United have been among those linked, but Swans boss Vitor Matos did warn last week that it would take "proper money" if Vipotnik was to leave given he only last month signed a fresh contract until 2030.

After an eye-catching counter-attack goal was enough to beat Leicester City at the weekend, Vipotnik reiterated his happiness and eyed more goals; he is only four shy of bettering the likes of Michu, Wilfried Bony and Fernando Llorente and becoming the first Swansea player to score more than 24 in a season since Alan Curtis in 1978.

"I need to say thanks to the people in the club who believed in me and the result is here," he said. "I know how tough it is because last year I was struggling and I'm just happy that I'm here to help the team with the goals.

"We will see in the summer what will happen but I am happy here and it was not a tough decision [to sign a contract]."

Vipotnik added that he "recognised the project" Swansea are trying to build as the former Premier League club look to continue improvements under Matos and aim towards a sustained promotion bid next season.

If he can continue to over-perform, then you would expect them to have a chance.

Analysis - brute force with razor-sharp accuracy

Away form has held Swansea back this season, but in downing ailing Leicester they showed once again some great promise under Vitor Matos - a head coach who will demand more next season.

The goal that settled the contest at the King Power Stadium owed so much to a desperately misguided free-kick from Leicester's Divine Mukasa and the home side's inability to defend the resulting burst upfield, but my goodness Swansea stole the eye with their skill and composure in the build up.

Led by Jisung Eom, who was in sole charge of that burst, sprinting from box to box, maintained balance and presence of mind to set up Zan Vipotnik.

The Slovenian striker - the Championship's leading scorer with 21 goals now - hit his shot with such brute force it underlined how confident he is in front of goal.

And he's not a bad defender either - as a superb goal-line block to deny Oliver Skipp suggested at a crucial moment just before half-time.

Swansea need to hold on to these protagonists. Eom and Melker Widell both tormented Leicester from midfield and Vipotnik almost lurks in the background - but to great effect. He can finish with razor-sharp accuracy.

The Welsh side look to be on the right path after a solid win in the East Midlands. There's no doubt they have a basis of talented players to build around this summer if they can.

Tottenham Hotspur ended the weekend sitting in the relegation zone, following their defeat at Sunderland and West Ham's win against Wolves.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney felt Spurs' performance was "a bit flat" in the north east, which prevented them being able to have a new-manager bounce in Roberto de Zerbi's first game in charge.

"Sometimes you get a bounce but I think you get that when a new manager comes in and you are front-footed and aggressive on the ball," he said on The Wayne Rooney Show. "I thought they were a bit in between."

The ex-Premier League striker added that De Zerbi "needs to find some answers quickly" and that dropping to the Championship would be disastrous for the club.

"It will be a disaster for them if they do go [down]," said Rooney. "I think that's where some of those players probably are looking at it thinking if they go down they can move on and go to a different club.

"If they don't get back in the Premier League in the first year, that will be an absolute nightmare for them."

Tottenham have not won a Premier League match in 2026 and their next game is at home to Brighton on Saturday 17:30 evening.

Rooney feels they must figure out a way to win to help boost their confidence.

"If they can do that then they give themselves a chance. The longer it goes without winning is difficult for them."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Tottenham Hotspur fan Hollie Agombar says the club are in a "mess" at the moment and doesn't believe the team has it in them to "fight" in their bid to stave off a shocking drop to the Championship.

The 1-0 loss against Sunderland was Spurs' fifth defeat in six Premier League games and leaves them two points adrift in the relegation zone after West Ham thrashed Wolves to leapfrog their London rivals.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Hollie was asked about Roberto de Zerbi's first game in charge: "It's just the same old, same old, isn't it? I know I said a few weeks ago we're already going down and I think that's cemented. We can't even get a new manager bounce at the moment, either.

"It is just a mess to be brutally honest. I think he's alluding to a mentality thing as well because we've heard managers over the years say that, and I 100% get that, but I don't think they've really got it in them to fight and that's what we've seen in recent weeks.

"It's a very strange time at Spurs at the moment."

The state of the WR position is extremely solid in terms of talent and health for the Lions. Could a top WR talent still tempt the team in the upcoming draft? Jordyn Tyson is considered possibly the top WR prospect. However, he has an active medical concern that could drop him in the draft.

Here is the excerpt from my medical report on Jordyn Tyson:

(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)

Jordyn Tyson, WR (22) - Arizona State

Projected round 1. #21 on Daniel Jeremiah big board March 5.

Concern level 6/10

• Hamstring prevented NFL Combine and pro day workouts.
• 2025: 9/13 games. Lingering hamstring during season.
• 2024: 12/14 games. Collarbone fracture.
• 2023: 3/12 games. Missed games recovering from knee injury.
• 2022: 9/12 games. Season-ending knee ACL, MCL & PCL.

A hamstring that has been lingering for multiple months raises a lot of questions for Tyson. Is the hamstring hiding a more serious injury? Is the hamstring just an excuse to hide poor athletic testing numbers? Are there any work ethic or motivation issues that could have prolonged the recovery?

He reportedly has a private pro day scheduled on April 17 where he will be doing positional work only. A limited workout can only partially assuage concerns.

The other main issue is his major knee injury in 2022 which could have residuals due to cartilage damage. The collarbone fracture is of minimal concern with likely no residuals.

Tyson finished college with 158 receptions for 2282 yards.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions NFL Draft Injury Report: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson says Sunday's defeat at Crystal Palace has made things "an awful lot more difficult" for head coach Eddie Howe.

The Magpies conceded twice in the final 10 minutes to fall to 14th in the Premier League, making a late push for Europe seem more unlikely.

"It's not about performances, it's about results and this result is damaging, there's no doubt about it," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport after the match.

"It's definitely not the result or performance Eddie Howe was looking for. It looked like it would finish 1-0 so the late turnaround is hard to take. But that's football. You have to keep working and doing the right things. We didn't do that today, we gave away a silly penalty and defended better at the end.

"These last seven games was a mini-league and it's a bad start. Yet again, we can't keep clean sheets. We were a team who were built on keeping clean sheets and not giving goals away and now we're finding it so hard to keep the opposition out.

"You've got to reset, prepare for Bournemouth next week, and you have to go again.

"This result has made things an awful lot more difficult."

Let us know whether you think Newcastle stick with Howe next season

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

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Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II will visit the Green Bay Packers this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Brazzell has several late pre-draft visits scheduled, with trips to Green Bay, Washington and San Francisco this week after making three visits last week.

Brazzell, a Tulane transfer, caught 91 passes for 1,350 yards and 11 touchdowns over two seasons at Tennessee. He was an All-AAC selection during his final season at Tulane in 2023 when he caught 44 passes for 711 yards and four scores. In 2025, Brazzell was a first-team All-SEC selection and third-team All-American after catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine scores. He led the conference in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and was a Biletnikoff semifinalist.

Brazzell ranks as the No. 54 overall player on the consensus big board, making him a possibility for the Packers -- who traded away Dontayvion Wicks last week -- at No. 52 in the second round. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks Brazzell as the 17th best receiver in the draft class and the No. 96 overall player, so it's also possible Brazzell is a third-round option at No. 84.

Brazzell measures 6-4 and 198 pounds, and he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the combine. He chose not to do any of the other testing. But with his speed and length (80" wingspan), Brazzell is a menacing big-play threat who could provide speed, vertical ability and red zone value to an NFL offense.

From Brugler's draft guide: "Overall, Brazzell still has a long way to go before becoming a complete receiver, but he is a long-striding athlete and dangerous vertical threat with surprising savvy for his size. He has the talent to become a team’s No. 2 or No. 3 option."

Per PFF, Brazzell dropped only two passes in 2025 and had a career drop rate of 8.2 percent at the collegiate level. However, he offers little after the catch and is a non-factor as a run blocker, and his lack of a route tree run during his collegiate career will mean a steep developmental curve in the NFL.

Packers Wire is tracking all of the team's pre-draft visitors here.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers hosting All-American Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II on pre-draft visit

Britain's Jack Draper had to retire in the third set of his first-round match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Barcelona Open because of a knee injury.

Draper, playing his first match of the clay-court season, won the first set against Argentina's Etcheverry 6-3 but began to have difficulty with his movement and lost the second set 6-3.

The 24-year-old received attention from a physio and had tape applied to an area below his right knee shortly before the deciding set started.

Draper's serve was broken twice by Etcheverry in the third set and, after struggling to get around the court, he conceded the contest at 4-1 down.

Draper, ranked 28th in the world, has been cautious during a return from an arm injury and pulled out of the recent Monte Carlo Masters before the tournament.

He was absent for six months because of a bruised bone in his left serving arm, before returning to competitive action in February.

The Barcelona Open was Draper's fourth event since he made his comeback.

Etcheverry said Draper is a "great competitor" and is keen to see him back on court again in the near future.

"I like how he plays. He's a great fighter," he said. "Hopefully he can recover as soon as he can to get back on tour because the tour likes him."

Cameron Norrie, who replaced Draper as British number one last month, faces Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka in the first round later on Monday.

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The Ravens saw 13 players depart in Free agency, but thanks to elite use of the compensatory picks system and comparable drafting, Baltimore will be able to maintain a talented roster while adding just six players on the open market. The biggest name is sack master, Trey Hendrickson, but John Simpson returns at one of the offensive guard spots on a three-year, $30 million deal, and Jaylinn Hawkins shores up the third safety spot after agreeing to a free agent deal.

The Ravens made several notable moves in free agency as they look to contend in a loaded AFC. But which new additions have the most potential to move the needle in 2026? We ranked every Ravens free agent signing by expected role and upside, breaking down which pickups could prove to be the most valuable as Baltimore chases another deep playoff run.

Baltimore added six players in free agency, and here's a full breakdown of how each signing fits the Ravens roster, positional needs, and overall defensive and offensive schemes heading into the 2026 season.

Trey Hendrickson, OLB

Fit: Starting edge rusher

Hendrickson, 31, was coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons and four straight Pro Bowls before contract frustrations and core muscle surgery in December limited him to four sacks in seven games in 2025. He got a one-year, $29 million deal from the Bengals last year, but was uncertain to draw as much this time around. The four-year deal averages out to $28 million per season and keeps the pass rusher in the AFC North. Hendrickson needs 19 sacks to reach 100 for his career and could take this defense to another level.

Jaylinn Hawkins, S

Fit: Starting safety

 Baltimore primarily plays three safeties, and Hawkins will team with Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks to give the Ravens the most versatile and athletic trio at the position. Last season, Hawkins had a breakout performance, recording 71 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a team-high four interceptions for the Patriots. The 28-year-old started all 15 games in which he played and logged 836 defensive snaps last season, marking the second-highest total of his career. In his second year with the Patriots, Hawkins proved to be a crucial part of the secondary, leading the team in interceptions and ranking fourth in passes defended.

John Simpson, OL

Fit: Starting offensive guard

Simpson started every game for the Jets the last two seasons, but returns to a Ravens team with a new head coach and questions at both guard spots. 

Durham Smythe, TE

Fit: Backup tight end

Smith spent 2025 with the Bears, seeing action in all 17 games and catching four passes for 25 yards on six targets. He totaled 13 receptions over the last two seasons while serving primarily as a blocking tight end.

Jovaughn Gwyn, OL

Fit: Backup offensive guard, Center

Gwyn has spent two seasons on the Falcons' practice squad and reunites with former Atlanta offensive line coach and new Ravens run game coordinator Dwayne Ledford.

Danny Pinter, C

Fit: backup center

In 2024, Pinter appeared in 14 games and started at center in Weeks 13 and 15, earning a career-high 82.9 Pro Football Focus overall grade as a starter in the Colts' Week 13 win over the New England Patriots. In 2025, Pinter played just 139 snaps in a reserve role, earning a 56.5 PFF grade in six appearances last season.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens free agency haul: six additions and how they fit

One of Alaska’s most popular cruise destinations is off-limits for the 2026 season, and the list of affected sailings keeps growing.

Tracy Arm Fjord, a narrow 30-mile passage in southeast Alaska known for its glaciers, waterfalls and wildlife, has been closed to cruise ship navigation following a massive landslide on August 10, 2025.

The slide originated above the South Sawyer Glacier near the head of the fjord, sending water surging more than a quarter mile up the opposite mountain wall. No ships were in the fjord at the time and no injuries were reported, though kayakers camped nearby lost gear to the rushing water.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates the slide displaced as much as 100 million cubic meters of debris into the fjord and has warned that the area remains unstable.

Continued rockfall and smaller-scale slides from the exposed landslide scar are expected, with the potential to trigger future localized tsunamis.

163 Tracy Arm calls cancelled across five cruise lines

Here is where the cancellations stack up at the time of reporting. With MSC Cruises confirming this week that the MSC Poesia will skip all 20 of its planned Tracy Arm calls during its inaugural Alaska season, the total number of cancelled fjord visits for 2026 has reached at least 163 across five cruise lines and 11 ships.

Carnival Cruise Line has the highest number of cancellations with 53 calls cancelled across three ships: Carnival Spirit and Carnival Miracle, both sailing round-trip from Seattle with 21 calls each, and Carnival Luminosa operating from San Francisco with 11 calls.

Holland America Line follows with 46 cancelled calls across four ships. The Koningsdam, sailing round-trip from Vancouver, accounts for 24 of those, including two sailings that had Tracy Arm listed twice on the same itinerary. The Zaandam adds 19 Vancouver-based calls, while the Eurodam and Westerdam account for two and one call respectively.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled 31 confirmed calls, with the Serenade of the Seas dropping 16 calls from its Vancouver schedule and the Voyager of the Seas dropping 15 from Seattle.

Notably, the Royal Caribbean announcement covering those two ships did not address the Anthem of the Seas, which has 12 Tracy Arm calls on its Seattle schedule. Whether those sailings will also be affected has not been confirmed.

Virgin Voyages rounds out the list with 13 cancelled calls on the Brilliant Lady, sailing round-trip from Seattle.

Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier are the alternative

All cruise lines redirecting away from Tracy Arm are substituting scenic cruising at Endicott Arm, located roughly 20 miles south, with views of the actively calving Dawes Glacier.

Endicott Arm has served as an occasional backup to Tracy Arm in past seasons when ice conditions made the fjord unsafe.

The 2026 Alaska cruise season is set to begin April 21 in Ketchikan, with ships arriving in Juneau the following week.

Scientists are continuing to study the causes of the landslide and monitoring for additional hazards in the broader Tracy Arm fjord network. Whether ships will be able to return in 2027 remains an open question.

Read More

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Carnival’s ‘Year Of Food’ Continues As New Lunch Menu Is Tested On Several Ships

The UFC is back in Canada this week and in the province of Manitoba for the first time in more than eight years.

Here's how to watch UFC Fight Night 273, where lightweight standouts headline in Winnipeg.

Broadcast and streaming info

UFC Winnipeg has a main card that streams at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+. The prelims stream on Paramount+ at 5 p.m. ET.

Stay tuned to MMA Junkie for additional broadcast details later this week.

Main event: Gilbert Burns

• Record: 22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC
• Opponent: Mike Malott (13-2-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
• Division: Welterweight
• Key wins: Jorge Masvidal, Neil Magny, Stephen Thompson, Tyron Woodley, Demian Maia, Gunnar Nelson, Olivier Aubin-Mercier
• Misc.: Burns seems to be a far cry from his title shot, now more than five years in the rearview mirror. That loss to Kamaru Usman snapped a six-fight streak, and he’s just 3-5 since then – with four straight losses. Those setbacks have come to some of the elite in the division, though: ex-champ Belal Muhammad, ex-champ Jack Della Maddalena, Sean Brady and, 11 months ago, Michael Morales by first-round knockout – leaving Burns without a win for more than three years.

Main event: Mike Malott

• Record: 13-2-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC
• Opponent: Gilbert Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC)
• Division: Welterweight
• Key wins: Kevin Holland, Charles Radtke, Trevin Giles
• Misc.: After he got his deal on DWCS in 2021, Canada’s Malott started his UFC tenure with three straight finishes. He was upset by Neil Magny in early 2024, but has rebounded with three high-profile wins, including Radtke and Holland – each of whom picked up big wins this past Saturday at UFC 327.

Co-main event: Charles Jourdain

• Record: 17-8-1 MMA, 8-7-1 UFC
• Opponent: Kyler Phillips (12-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC)
• Division: Bantamweight
• Key wins: Davey Grant, Ricardo Ramos, Lando Vannata, Doo-ho Choi
• Misc.: Montreal’s Jourdain has found it hard to put together much consistency. He’s been two fights up, then two fights down for 10 straight fights. Right now, he’s on the two-fights-up swing after wins over Grant and Victor Henry, which might give Phillips reason to be hopeful Saturday.

Co-main event: Kyler Phillips

• Record: 12-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC
• Opponent: Charles Jourdain (17-8-1 MMA, 8-7-1 UFC) vs. Kyler Phillips (12-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC)
• Division: Bantamweight
• Key wins: Pedro Munhoz, Raoni Barcelos, Song Yadong
• Misc.: Phillips is badly in need of a rebound, and he’ll have to do it in enemy territory. His three-fight winning streak was snapped in 2024 by a decision loss to Rob Font, and he dropped a second straight points setback to Vinicius Oliveira this past July, marking the first skid of his career. 

UFC debut: Mandel Nallo

• Record: 14-3
• Opponent: Jai Herbert (13-6-1 MMA, 3-5-1 UFC)
• Division: Lightweight
• Misc.: After years in Bellator, where he made eight walks, and on the regional scene, Canada’s Nallo made it to the big show through DWCS this past September. The 36-year-old, formerly known as “Rat Garbage,” has all 14 of his pro wins by stoppage.

UFC debut: Marcio Barbosa

• Record: 17-2
• Opponent: Dennis Buzukja (12-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
• Division: Featherweight
• Misc.: The 27-year-old Brazilian has stoppages in 16 of his 17 pro wins, and they’ve all come in the first round. His knockout of Damon Wilson this past August on DWCS punched his ticket to the UFC.

UFC debut: Julien Leblanc

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• Record: 10-2
• Opponent: Robert Valentin (10-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC)
• Division: Middleweight
• Misc.: The 34-year-old from Quebec has five straight wins, including a middleweight title win for Samourai MMA a year ago.

UFC debut: Gokhan Saricam

• Record: 11-2
• Opponent: Tanner Boser (22-10-1 MMA, 5-5 UFC)
• Division: Heavyweight
• Misc.: The 35-year-old from Turkey went 5-2 in several years with Bellator, where he established himself as an up-and-coming heavyweight. He’s won seven of his past eight fights.

UFC debut: Mark Vologdin

• Record: 12-4-1
• Opponent: John Castaneda (21-8 MMA, 4-4 UFC)
• Division: Bantamweight
• Misc.: Vologdin is a rare case of a fighter who got a UFC deal despite a loss on DWCS. He dropped a decision to Adrian Luna Martinetti this past October, but the 25-year-old, who trains with Alexander Gustafsson and Khamzat Chimaev at Allstars Training Center in Sweden, got a contract, anyway. 

UFC debut: Jamie Siraj

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• Record: 14-3
• Opponent: John Yannis (9-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
• Division: Featherweight
• Misc.: Siraj was out for years with a rare brain infection, but his comeback over the past few years, including a Tuff-N-Uff title, caught the UFC’s attention. Now the Canadian gets a big show home debut.

UFC Winnipeg lineup

MAIN CARD (Paramount+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott
• Charles Jourdain vs. Kyler Phillips
• Jai Herbert vs. Mandel Nallo
• Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva
• Thiago Moises vs. Gauge Young
• Marcio Barbosa vs. Dennis Buzukja

PRELIMINARY CARD (Paramount+, 5 p.m. ET)

• Julien Leblanc vs. Robert Valentin
• Tanner Boser vs. Gokhan Saricam
• Melissa Croden vs. Daria Zhelezniakova
• JJ Aldrich vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth
• Allan Nascimento vs. Mitch Raposo
• John Castaneda vs. Mark Vologdin
• Jamie Siraj vs. John Yannis

UFC Winnipeg main card betting odds

• Burns +380, Malott -500
• Jourdain -175, Phillips +145
• Herbert +135, Nallo -155
• Jasudavicius -270, Silva +220
• Moises +110, Young -120
• Barbosa -400, Buzukja +340

UFC Winnipeg preliminary card betting odds

• Leblanc -110, Valentin -110
• Boser +135, Saricam -160
• Croden -185, Zhelezniakova +155
• Aldrich +180, Horth -210
• Nascimento -270, Raposo +240
• Castaneda +118, Vologdin -135
• Siraj -110, Yannis -110 

UFC Winnipeg preview videos

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Winnipeg: How to watch Burns-Malott, lineup, odds, videos, more

Going into the 2025 college football season, the position with the most youth was the linebackers for the Auburn Tigers. Now, for 2026, it is one of the more experienced groups on the roster. The Tigers will return some key members on the defense from a year ago, with Xavier Atkins, Demarcus Riddick, and Elijah Melendez. They are also the unit on that side of the ball that is coached by defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. Head coach Alex Golesh has praised Durkin and the defense and expressed the joy he has working with him.

Overall, the defense has much more experience than the offense. While they did have some portal departures, they also had some key players return to the team. The return of Xavier Atkins is the biggest return for the linebackers. In his first season with Auburn, he led the team with 84 tackles and nine sacks. He also had one interception and two forced fumbles. Pairing Atkins with Melendez and Riddick gives Auburn a good foundation at the position. Coming into the season last year, Riddick was the most experienced linebacker on the team.

Auburn did have some departures by way of the transfer portal. Robert Woodyard Jr. left for Missouri, and Caleb Wheatland will be playing for Michigan State this fall. They did add Michael Mathews-Canty from Hampton in the transfer portal.

Here is a look at the linebackers for Auburn as spring practice continues with the annual A-Day Game this Saturday.

Xavier Atkins

• Number: 17
• Measurables: 6-0, 210 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Previous school: LSU
• Career Stats: 87 tackles, 9 sacks

Elijah Melendez

• Number: 9
• Measurables: 6-0, 228 pounds
• Class: Sophomore
• Career Stats: 29 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 sack

Demarcus Riddick

• Number: 6
• Measurables: 6-2, 228 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Career Stats: 40 tackles, 4 sacks

Antonio Melendez

• Number: 45
• Measurables: 5-11, 237 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Career Stats: N/A

Coleman Granberry

• Number: 42
• Measurables: 5-11, 206 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Career Stats: 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss

Michael Mathews-Canty

• Number: 51
• Measurables: 6-3, 215 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Previous school: Hampton
• Career stats: 102 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks

Bryce Deas

• Number: 16
• Measurables: 6-1, 210 pounds
• Class: Sophomore
• Career Stats: 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss

William Grier McDuffie

• Number: 52
• Measurables: 6-1, 217 pounds
• Class: Sophomore
• Career stats: N/A

Shadarius Toodle

• Number: 24
• Measurables: 6-3, 235 pounds
• Class: Freshman
• Career stats: N/A

Adam Balogoun-Ali

• Number: 44
• Measurables: 6-2, 215 pounds
• Class: Freshman
• Career stats: N/A

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Phillip on Twitter @PJordanSports

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football spring preview: Linebackers

Nebraska baseball (27-9, 12-3) clashed with No. 21 Oregon (26-10, 10-5) on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the top 25 series. The Ducks claimed the series, slipping past the Huskers with a 5-4 win.

Nebraska held a 4-2 lead over Oregon by the top of the third and held the Ducks scoreless through the next three innings. But Oregon broke through in the sixth, adding three runs off four hits, including a solo home run, to take the lead. The Huskers, meanwhile, got shut down after the third, earning just three hits across the final six innings.

Nebraska finished the day with eight hits, while Oregon earned just seven hits. Case Sanderson and Jeter Worthley each posted two hits and two RBIs in the loss. Sanderson batted 2-for-3, hitting a solo home run and an RBI single. Worthley finished 2-for-5, earning both his RBIs on a double. 

Grant Cleavinger (0-1) took the loss after surrendering a run in the sixth. Cooper Katskee started the game for the Huskers and pitched 5.1 innings. He delivered six strikeouts and allowed four runs on five hits. Gavin Blachowicz took over after Oregon got the lead and held the Ducks scoreless in his 2.1 innings pitched while striking out four. Tucker Timmerman recorded the final out in the bottom of the eighth.

Nebraska returns home for its next matchup, hosting in-state rival Creighton for the second bout between the teams this season. The game is set for Tuesday night at 6:02 p.m. CT on BTN.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska baseball drops series finale against Oregon 5-4

If there was any doubt about Taylor Harwood-Bellis' importance to Southampton, the past week has removed it entirely.

Across recent victories over Arsenal, Wrexham and Derby, he has delivered performances that define not just matches, but momentum.

At a stage of the season where pressure intensifies and margins tighten, Harwood-Bellis is stepping forward as the leader this side needs.

Saturday's win over Derby felt particularly significant as, with the game finely poised, it was Harwood-Bellis who rose highest to score the winner.

That was a moment that underlined both his defensive authority and growing influence in the opposition box - it was not just a goal, it was a player taking responsibility when it mattered most.

There is now a real composure to his game, when pressure builds he does not panic instead he controls, organising those around him and ensuring Southampton remain structured.

Speaking after the Arsenal win, Harwood-Bellis made it clear that this unbeaten run is no accident, it is built on belief, detail and the work of the manager.

That shift in mentality has been crucial, but it is backed by tactical precision.

From going direct into forwards, to winning second balls and exploiting space, Southampton now play with a clear and consistent identity.

Those details are making a difference. He is winning more first contacts, making smarter decisions and playing with a calmness that was not always there before.

There is no doubt this is the best we have seen of him in a Southampton shirt, he has developed massively, with his vision and composure now central to how Saints build from the back.

As the promotion race intensifies, Harwood-Bellis is not just contributing, he is defining it.

You can find more of Martin's thoughts regarding Saints on his YouTube channel.

Former LSU women's basketball guard Bella Hines transferred to TCU, per a report from On3's Talia Goodman on Sunday. The move comes after her lone season in Baton Rouge.

Hines was part of the top signing class in the 2026 recruiting cycle. She averaged 4.2 points per game, shooting 44% from the field. Most of her shots came from beyond the arc, helping stretch the floor for LSU's playmakers.

Early in SEC play, Hines saw few meaningful minutes but that changed in February. She played over 10 minutes five out of the seven games LSU played that month, upping her game as a scorer and defender.

Hines' decision to transfer came as a surprise, considering her strong finish to the season. She would've been in the running to start or be one of the first two players off the bench, but instead, she'll head to the Big 12.

NEWS: LSU transfer Bella Hines has committed to TCU.

The 5-10 freshman averaged 4.2 ppg this season.

TRACKER: https://t.co/wYv1Ze6704pic.twitter.com/pwN9Rg1fGY

— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) April 12, 2026

TCU developed a reputation for scoring big pickups in the transfer portal. Last season, head coach Mark Campbell secured a commitment from former Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles and former Tiger Hailey Van Lith ahead of the 2024-25 season.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Former LSU women's basketball guard reveals transfer destination

After a few days in the transfer portal, Aaliyah Crump has found a new home. The former Longhorn committed to Duke on Sunday, officially putting an end to her time in Austin. Although her time in burnt orange did not go as planned, she still showed flashes of why she was one of the top recruits in her class.

During her only season as a Longhorn, the Minnesota native averaged 7.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. While the talented guard missed some time due to injury, she was lethal from three-point range, shooting 31.5 percent from beyond the arc. Against some of the top programs in the SEC, Crump held her own while adjusting to a new system. 

BREAKING: Texas transfer Aaliyah Crump has committed to Duke, sources told @On3.

The 6-1 freshman averaged 7.9 ppg this season and was a 5-star recruit out of high school.

TRACKER: https://t.co/wYv1Ze6704pic.twitter.com/jWWXKtPNUP

— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) April 12, 2026

In Crump, the Blue Devils are getting a former five-star recruit who showed in high school that she could take over a game with her scoring ability. That was not on display during the 2025-2026 campaign, partly due to being part of a roster that already had established scorers in Madison Booker, Rori Harmon, and Jordan Lee. With more playing time, she should be able to fill up the box score. 

While replacing Crump will be no easy task, she is not the only player Texas has said goodbye to. They lost Justice Carlton, Lee, and Alliyah Moore to the portal. The Longhorns will also be without Rori Harmon next year because she has exhausted her eligibility. That is a lot of scoring for head coach Vic Schaefer to replace. 

Minnetonka alum Aaliyah Crump will transfer to Duke. She averaged 7.9 PPG at Texas in her freshman season.

The former 5⭐️ prospect won a state championship with the Skippers in 2024 and was also named Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior. She played her senior… https://t.co/rTcdNFvMmopic.twitter.com/fLBNpXEMbP

— And-One Films (@AndOneFilms) April 12, 2026

Although Duke is expected to make further roster changes, Crump has an opportunity to play a key role. She now knows what it takes to be successful in college and is no stranger to playing for a big program. That should make the transition to a new team easier. 

For the Texas now shifts to replacing Crump and finding another player with a ceiling similar to hers. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Lady Longhorns super recruit Aliyah Crump to Duke via transfer portal

Now that the NBA regular season has come to a close, the big question in Milwaukee is: Has Giannis Antentokounmpo played his last game in a Bucks uniform?

Not even he knows the answer.

"That's a very good question," Antetokounmpo said after a 126-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, March 12. "I don't know. It's not up to me. We'll see."

In a 10-minute session with reporters, the two-time league MVP repeated his frequently expressed frustrations with the state of the Bucks franchise, but he also didn't rule out the possibility of signing an extension with the team either.

Report: Doc Rivers out as Milwaukee Bucks coach

If they don't trade him this offseason, the Bucks do have the option of signing Antetokounmpo to an extension this fall, something owner Wes Edens did tell ESPN was a possibility last month.

However Antetokounmpo said there's been no movement on that front.

"We'll see when we get there," he said. "But somebody has to offer you that, for you to sign. I haven't been offered an extension. So, if that is on the table, then I will try to make the best decision for me and my family."

Antetokounmpo can be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The 10-time All-Star also expressed frustration with the team not clearing him to play after he suffered a hyperextension of his knee and a bone bruise last month − even though he says he's healthy.

"I don't have control," he said. "(M)y understanding was I had to play 3-on-3 to be able to be available to play. I did that multiple times ...

"I don't know who said that, who came up with that, but that's disrespectful towards what I've done for this team and the way I carry myself my whole career, pretty much.

"But I did what I was supposed to do."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis Antetokounmpo says future with Bucks 'not up to me'

Former Tennessee women's basketball player Shelley Sexton Collier retired as Lenoir City High School's (Lenoir City, Tennessee) girls head basketball coach.

Former Lady Vol Shelley Collier retired as Lenoir City High School's (Lenoir City, Tennessee) girls basketball head coach.

She announced her retirement from coaching at a Lenoir City Schools Board meeting on Thursday. The former Lady Vol will remain with the school system as the district's athletic director. She was a basketball coach for 39 years.

Collier graduated from Anderson County High School (Clinton, Tennessee) in 1983 after attending Lake City High School, which merged with Norris High School to create Anderson County.

Collier was a two-time All-State player in high school and an All-American as a senior after averaging 23 points per game. She scored 1,945 points during her high school career. Collier was a member Anderson County's first graduating class and was inducted into the school's athletics hall of fame on Oct. 2, 2025.

Prior to coaching the Lady Panthers, she served as the head girls basketball coach at Webb School of Knoxville for 25 years. She guided the Lady Spartans to six state championships and 10 appearances in the state championship game. Collier also served as head coach at Clinton High School (Clinton, Tennessee) and Karns High School (Knoxville, Tennessee). She served as an assistant athletic director at Webb, and was named Lenoir City's athletic director in 2025.

Collier played for the Lady Vols from 1983-87 for head coach Pat Summitt. She was the Most Valuable Player on Summitt's first national championship team in 1987.

Collier won a national championship as a player and graduate assistant coach Summitt at Tennessee. She played at Tennessee from 1983-87 and advanced to NCAA Tournament Final Four three times.

More: Former Lady Vol to be inducted into Anderson County High School Sports Hall of Fame

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Shelley Collier retires from coaching

The Mark Pope era of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team has not gotten off to the start fans would have liked. After a promising first season, things went downhill quickly due to injuries and poor roster construction. Now, year three is pivotal, and Monday might be the most important day Pope has had in Lexington.

Last offseason, Pope was able to bring in some big names from the transfer portal, and a couple of high-level recruits from the high school ranks. However, the 2026 recruiting class has eluded him, and fans are getting restless with the lack of portal moves.

On Monday, Kentucky is set to host two big names, one transfer and one recruit, who could change Pope's fortunes.

First up is Rob Wright III, formerly of BYU. He is the top-rated point guard available in the portal, coming off a season where he averaged over 18 points and 4 assists per game. After last season's trouble at point guard, adding such a talent would be a massive win for Pope.

Also visiting Monday is the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class, Tyran Stokes. Kansas is though to be in the driver's seat with him, but Pope will get one last shot to sell him on the Wildcats.

Pope needs wins. There are still plenty of talented players left in the portal, and guys who are difference makers. Wright and Stokes, though, would be a homerun regardless of what else happens. It's a big day, and one that could change the course for Kentucky, and certainly for Pope.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope has big Monday ahead

Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh is leaving the school for a position in the Big Ten office, according to multiple reports.

McIntosh had been Wisconsin's AD since 2021, when he took over for Badgers legend Barry Alvarez. He made significant moves during his time leading the department, headlined by the hire of Luke Fickell to take over the football program in November 2022.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, McIntosh is leaving to become the Big Ten's deputy commissioner for strategy.

McIntosh's departure is significant news. Specifically, it creates a major subplot for Wisconsin's upcoming football season. The next athletic director won't have the same ties to Fickell, which could heighten the pressure on the fifth-year coach. That storyline will lead headlines as Wisconsin makes its new hire and as the Badgers work to return to their first bowl game since 2023.

Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh will join the Big Ten as deputy commissioner for strategy, sources confirm to ESPN. Per sources, the move gives the Big Ten another practitioner in the conference office. He’d been the AD at Wisconsin since July of 2021. Wisconsin State Journal first… pic.twitter.com/x9oM2ZEDwD

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 13, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh takes new job with Big Ten

On January 14, Oregon Duck fans celebrated when quarterback Dante Moore announced that he would turn down a likely first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft and return to Eugene for one more season. A day later, Duck fans again celebrated as veteran wide receiver Evan Stewart announced that he, too, would return to Eugene for another year.

It may not have been clear at the time, but those two announcements were intrinsically connected.

You see, without Moore's return to Oregon for one final season, it's unclear whether or not Stewart would have come back as well. As a player with one year of eligibility remaining and, as he says, a "do or die" attitude, Stewart needed to make sure he was playing alongside an elite QB as he looks to make a statement to NFL scouts in this final opportunity.

So, as long as Moore was back, Stewart knew he would be there as well.

“It was a very big factor, honestly, because Dante is a very good quarterback," Stewart said on Saturday after the Ducks' first spring scrimmage of the year. "In my eyes, I'm waiting for him to make a decision, because, like, 'I think we could do it if you come back.'"

While Stewart and Moore don't have any pass connections in live games during their Oregon career, the relationship between the two goes back several years. Stewart says he was well aware of Moore during high school as a fellow 5-star, though the two were in different classes. They finally connected in Eugene, both transferring to Oregon during the same offseason, and quickly bonded as they worked to learn the offense together.

Though Dillon Gabriel was the starter, it was often Moore and Stewart who found each other on the practice field.

"The way that he was throwing me the ball in practice, I've never really gotten used in that type of way, like from a quarterback perspective," Stewart said of his early experience with Moore. “Dante is very mobile. He can keep his eyes down the field and see his defenders for scramble drills and stuff like that. And so, you know, having a quarterback that can keep the play alive and can make all types of throws over the field, especially with me being a speedster, me getting down the field quick, and he can lob it on my hat and run over. Like, that's nice too."

While the relationship started on the field, it quickly grew into more. Stewart says that the two hang out often, whether it's going to breakfast together or finding time for worship at church. It's not rare for quarterbacks and wide receivers to be close, but Stewart learned during his injury last year how much his teammate cares about him.

The injury, a torn patellar tendon, occurred during an offseason routes session in which Stewart and Moore were going through 1-on-1 drills. After taking what he felt like was just a "bad turn," Stewart went down, and when he couldn't put any weight on his leg, he went to the trainers. He was later told the news and admitted he needed to sleep on it for a couple of days before accepting it.

His quarterback, though, was brought to tears by the injury, convinced he played a part in it.

"They told him the news, and after, I looked over and seen him crying, because basically he was kind of like, thinking it was his fault. He was saying he should have put the ball further; it could have been a better ball," Stewart said. "Like, the fact that you shed a tear, that really means a lot to me."

Now healthy, Stewart is ready to get on the field for real with Moore and show the world what he's capable of with one of the top QBs in the nation airing it out in his direction. While their first connection this fall will technically go down as the first of their career together, make no mistake, there's a long history and deep friendship between these two.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Dante Moore played key role in Evan Stewart’s Oregon Ducks return

The Denver Broncos received two compensatory draft picks in 2026, and that trend could continue in 2027.

After losing defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers and safety P.J. Locke during NFL free agency last month, Denver's projected to receive fourth- and seventh-round comp picks for the 2027 NFL draft next spring.

This year, the Broncos received a pair of seventh-round comp picks after losing running back Javonte Williams and punter Riley Dixon in 2025. Those picks are Nos. 256 and 257, the final two selections in this year's draft.

"We have two compensatory picks this year," general manager George Paton said at the NFL's annual league meeting in Arizona last month. "Mr. Irrelevant, and we have Mr. Irrelevant runner-up. So it’s going to be cool… Then next year, we should get the [fourth-round pick] and then maybe a seven. That’s what you want to get to. It took us a while to get here, where we can get compensatory picks. You see other teams do it, and I like that we’re doing it.”

Those picks at the end of the draft may not seem very valuable, but Paton's seventh-round selections have included wide receiver Devaughn Vele, outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper and center Alex Forsyth. Holding picks at the end of the draft also gives the Broncos an edge over teams looking to sign potential undrafted free agents.

“It’s great," Paton said. "You may not be able to get a guy [as an UDFA]. The price gets higher sometimes than the picks in the free agent world. It’s crazy, the chaos. If we’re not going to get a guy… That happened with Jonathon Cooper, believe it or not. He was going to go to Jacksonville with Urban Meyer. Let’s just take him. Let him walk out, and we took him. Those sevens, we got Vele in the seventh, ‘Coop’ in the seventh. There are probably more, but all of those picks are important.”

The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh from April 23-25.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL draft: Broncos projected to receive 2 comp picks in 2027

Is Deebo Samuel the answer for the Tennessee Titans in free agency this offseason?

Samuel’s versatility offers the Titans plenty in the open market. As a wide receiver, he makes plays in all three phases of the field. His production has remained consistent over the last four seasons as a secondary receiver who blends seamlessly into Tennessee’s offense.

Samuel recorded 727 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions in 2025 with the Washington Commanders. He was used less in the ground game last season, though his production per touch was not far off from his career averages.

The Titans need a reliable pass-catcher for quarterback Cam Ward to target when plays break down. Samuel offers a strong solution in short-yardage situations as well as in the intermediate areas of the field.

Tennessee already has Calvin Ridley as its No. 1 receiver on the outside. Ridley, along with Elic Ayomanor, serves as the Titans’ primary deep threats. Wan’Dale Robinson gives Tennessee a 1,000-yard receiver from 2025 who has the skills to take pressure off Ward in short yardage when the pocket collapses.

On paper, Samuel would complete the Titans’ passing attack. The former first-team All-Pro remains available for Tennessee to sign in free agency.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Deebo Samuel’s versatility could fit perfectly with Tennessee Titans

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe wrapped up his first NBA regular season on Sunday as he scored nine points with 11 assists and seven rebounds in a 126-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at home. He played in 75 games and averaged 16.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 43.8% from the floor and 35.4% from deep.

Edgecombe averaged 25 minutes per night and had quite a few big games for the Sixers as a rookie. He was impressive in all facets of the game, and it felt like he never really went through the vaunted "Rookie Wall" in his maiden NBA season.

"I really don't understand what this rookie wall is," Edgecombe said after the win on Sunday. "I'm being so honest with you because I don't know if it's I'm not scoring the same or, you know? I've had games where I scored single digits. Tonight, I scored single digits. I'm not too sure what the rookie wall is, but I don't think I hit it. I just try to stay the same and continue just getting better every day."

That "Rookie Wall" is normally when rookies begin to understand what it's like to be in the NBA. A collegiate season is somewhere around 35 to 40 games. An NBA season is twice that and then some as the games come fast as compared to the college game where games can sometimes be once, maybe twice a week.

"I'm not too sure what the rookie wall is," he continued. "Maybe someone can explain it to me, but I mean, obviously, the season had its ups and downs. I've had my ups and downs. I just try to keep building daily. Just to make sure I’m bringing my best foot forward every day."

While Edgecombe may not have met the "Rookie Wall", he will be meeting postseason basketball for the first time when the Sixers play host to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday in the 7 vs. 8 play-in game. The winner advances to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed to face the Boston Celtics while the loser will then face the winner of the 9 vs. 10 game for the right to earn the No. 8 seed and face the Detroit Pistons.

Playing on a team with a slew of veterans who have a ton of playoff experience to lean on, Edgecombe isn't sure what to expect, but he keeps hearing about one thing: physicality.

"I'll probably say the physicality," Edgecombe explained. "Probably the physicality. Every possession matters. I mean, that's what you hear about a lot about the playoffs. Every possession matters. I think it’ll be that for sure. Just where every possession matters. Can't give us a layup or can't give up anything. Just go out there and play balls to wall and play hard."

A player who relies a lot on watching film and working hard to prepare for certain matchups, Edgecombe is about to endure what it's like to prep for big moments such as the postseason. He gave his thoughts and guesses on what he thinks Philadelphia will do to prepare for such a moment.

"To be honest, I have no idea," he finished. "I'll be so honest with you, but I'm assuming there's gonna be more film, more attention to details, but other than that, I’m just gonna do the same recovery."

The Sixers and the Magic will face off on Wednesday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' VJ Edgecombe talks Rookie Wall, upcoming first postseason game

It was a big recruiting weekend for Notre Dame football, as they hosted some big time prospects on campus.

One of them was 2027 defensive back Karnell “Greedy” James, who is currently committed to the Texas Longhorns. The 6-foot and 175-pound prospect spoke to On3 following his visit, and it looks very promising for the Irish.

The nation’s No. 475 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite told Mike Singer that “meeting with head coach Marcus Freeman was a highlight. He was phenomenal,” giving him plenty of thoughts about switching his commitment. This was James’ first visit to South Bend, and it seems like it was a very good one.

Currently Notre Dame has one commit at the position in Khalil Terry, but they’re always interesting in bringing in multiple players at safety each class. If another visit is made by James, the Irish could very well be on the verge of flipping him from the Longhorns.

Texas defensive back commit Greedy James is fresh off his first visit to Notre Dame 👀☘️

“Meeting with head coach Marcus Freeman was a highlight. He was phenomenal.”

More: https://t.co/zji4Nhuifzpic.twitter.com/phUYZ1RuVH

— Mike Singer (@MikeTSinger) April 12, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame visit has Texas S commit thinking of a flip to the Irish