Latest news with #Alabama
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three Predictions: Alabama, Louisville, Rivals Five-Star
Jeff McCulloch/ Rivals national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. has predictions on an SEC program going on a strong run in recruiting, Louisville adding a surprise commitment and an unexpected headliner at the Rivals Five-Star. Advertisement RIVALS FIVE-STAR EVENT: Roster | Big Ten programs in the spotlight | SEC programs in the spotlight | Key QB storylines | Key RB storylines | Key WR storylines | Key TE storylines | Key OL storylines | Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy MORE PREDICTIONS: Rivals Five-Star, Illinois, Oregon CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State THE ALABAMA RUN HAS JUST BEGUN With a big quarterback flip of Elite 11 recruit and blue-chipper Jett Thomalla, Alabama is poised to go on one of the nation's biggest runs in the middle of the summer months. Official visit windows wrap up this week and it coincides with plenty of big fish the Crimson Tide are chasing relative to visits and/or commitment windows. Advertisement Among them are five-stars Cederian Morgan, Jireh Edwards and Tank Jones, with Morgan and Jones being in-state targets. Throw in running back Ezavier Crowell and fellow Yellowhammer State native Xavier Griffin inching closer to decisions, and the foundation of Kalen DeBoer's next great class in Tuscaloosa would appear all but set. Alabama should be on the plus side of more of these decisions than not. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ALABAMA FANS AT DJ WILLIAMS SURPRISES WITH LOUISVILLE COMMITMENT With Ole Miss grabbing the final official visit of DJ Williams' June tour, there has been some buzz for the Rebels to strike with the two-way talent. But as the decision date draws closer, it's the first official visit destination that may have set the bar so high others could not catch up. Advertisement Williams began his visits at Louisville the very first open official visit window of June and the offensive-minded staff views him as a game-breaking pass catcher at the next level. Word is Williams prefers to play wide receiver and that is one of the reasons the Cardinals now go into the announcement window as the program to beat. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LOUISVILLE FANS AT A 2028 PROSPECT WILL STEAL THE SHOW AT THE RIVALS FIVE-STAR The Rivals Five-Star is just days away from kicking off in Indianapolis and throughout the preview content we've built up at Rivals, there is an intriguing name that continues to pop up – Eric McFarland. The athlete has chops at both running back and wide receiver, and he has become one of the stars of the college football recruiting offseason with his blistering production at various events. This will be the most competitive to date, but McFarland has risen to every challenge sent his way thus far, so it's foolish to assume he would slow down despite the dozens of fellow blue-chip recruits that will line up on the other side of the ball with hopes to. The IMG Academy product will be the talk of the event by dinner time on June 24.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL analyst predicts New York Giants' Evan Neal 'won't bust' after slow career start
NFL analyst predicts New York Giants' Evan Neal 'won't bust' after slow career start New York Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal is running out of time to solidify is NFL career. The No. 7 overall pick from the 2022 NFL draft was the second selection of general manager Joe Schoen's tenure with the Giants, taken just two spots after edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. Between injuries and a lack of development at right tackle, it's been a rough start to his career for Neal, whose fifth-year option was declined by the team this offseason. With that said, Neal still has some believers. When looking at a handful of NFL players who are running out of time to prove themselves, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports predicted Neal will eventually shake the bust label. In many ways, Neal has been the face of the New York Giants' mostly porous offensive front since his arrival from Alabama, which initially brought plenty of promise. Injuries have torched his year-to-year availability, limiting him to 27 starts in his first three seasons, but he also made waves with frustrated fans in 2023 by suggesting he was above criticism. Neal apologized later, but his switch from tackle to guard ahead of 2025 indicates he's on his last opportunity to help Big Blue turn things around in the trenches. Why he will bust: He's not even guaranteed a starting gig while competing with veteran Greg Van Roten at he won't: He was a promising starting right tackle before; you don't just lose that degree of NFL traits up front. Our prediction: Won't bust Neal was finally moved off the right tackle position and is now competing at guard, taking reps on both sides of the line. Neal has yet to put it together as a pass protector during his short time in the NFL. During the 2024 season, he allowed two sacks and 17 total pressures on 314 pass-blocking snaps while committing six penalties, per Pro Football Focus. He did grade out with a pretty strong run-blocking grade (80.8), however. Time is certainly running out for the Alabama product, but if he can make the most of his opportunity at guard, there's still a path for him to have a solid career.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Why Alabama's 2026 class is set to skyrocket up recruiting rankings
Why Alabama's 2026 class is set to skyrocket up recruiting rankings If you were to take a look at the Alabama Crimson Tide's current position in the 2026 team recruiting rankings, then it might not be something you necessarily expected to see in mid-June. As to why, that is because Alabama's 2026 recruiting class currently sits at No. 45 nationally according to the latest 247Sports Team Rankings with only seven commitments, as of Tuesday, June 17. However, do not be surprised if that ranking changes in the very near future, as things are certainly in place for the Crimson Tide to skyrocket up the class rankings over the next two-to-three weeks. As mentioned previously, Alabama's 2026 recruiting class currently holds only seven commitments, which is among the fewest of any SEC team. Of those seven, one is a five-star prospect in cornerback Jorden Edmonds, while the remaining six are all considered four-star's. Lying ahead for the Crimson Tide however are numerous upcoming commitment decisions that will be made in the coming weeks from some of the nation's elite prospects, many of which have Alabama among their list of finalists. For example, here are a few of the top Alabama targets who are announcing their commitments in the next two-to-three weeks, along with their rating and position, according to the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings. Alabama football recruiting decisions to watch during June, July 4-star RB Ezavier Crowell - June 26 4-star IOL Deacon Schmitt - June 28 5-star LB Xavier Griffin - June 29 5-star WR Cederian Morgan - July 2 5-star S Jireh Edwards - July 5 4-star LB Nick Abrams II - July 16 With the Crimson Tide trending for some of these prospects as well, it certainly is shaping up to be a loaded late-June and early-July for Alabama, something that you could say has already started with a pair of recent four-star commitments in offensive lineman Sam Utu and quarterback Jett Thomalla. Will it continue in the coming days and weeks for the Crimson Tide? Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia football's 2025 schedule after latest kickoff time announcements
We are less than three months away from the Georgia Bulldogs' 2025 season opener against the Marshall Thundering Herd on Aug. 30. The Bulldogs will have a new feel this fall with redshirt junior Gunner Stockton projected to start at quarterback. Stockton and Georgia have a manageable start to the 2025 season. The Bulldogs open the year with back-to-back home games against non-Power Four opponents in Marshall and Austin Peay. Georgia's first real test comes in Week 3 as the Dawgs hit the road to play the Tennessee Volunteers. Advertisement Following a recent announcement from the Southeastern Conference, we now know the kickoff time (or approximate time) for all 12 of Georgia's regular season games. The Bulldogs start the season with three straight 3:30 p.m. ET games before hosting the Alabama Crimson Tide at home for a night game (7:30 p.m. ET) in Week 5. Overall, the Bulldogs have three noon games (includes one 12:45 p.m. kickoff), five 3:30 p.m. games, two night games and a pair of flex games (could be afternoon or night) this fall. Georgia's schedule features great home games against Texas, Ole Miss and Alabama. The Dawgs have a manageable road slate with contests at Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi State. Georgia plays seven home games, three road games and two neutral site games (Florida and Georgia Tech). Georgia football's 2025 schedule Night kickoff time (at Auburn): 6 to 8 p.m. start. Flex kickoff time (versus Texas, Ole Miss): afternoon (3:30 to 4:30 p.m.) start or night (6 to 8 p.m.) kickoff. This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Updated Georgia Bulldogs football 2025 schedule
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
SEC propaganda blitz for College Football Playoff speaks to need for more Big Ten games
If you're explaining, you're losing. I thought about that old Ronald Reagan quote last week at the SEC spring meetings while the conference launched a days-long propaganda campaign explaining why it deserved more respect from the College Football Playoff committee. Advertisement The SEC's best programs lost too often the past few years. Alabama's four losses last season marked its most since 2007. Georgia lost just twice in three seasons from 2021-23 before losing three times last year. LSU hasn't lost fewer than three times in a season since 2019. That 2019 season also marks the last time Florida won more than eight games. The less said the better about Auburn's past five seasons. We can debate whether the playoff committee would have been wiser to select a three-loss SEC team rather than SMU, but there's no arguing this: A Big Ten team won the national championship each of the past two seasons, and the SEC didn't even advance a team to the title game in those years. The SEC's consecutive seasons without a champion mark its longest drought since Florida State and Ohio State won the titles in 2013 and 2014. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) looks to throw during his team's game against Southern California on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. It's not that the SEC came unglued. It remains a deep league with few weaklings, but the SEC's cream wasn't as sweet as the Big Ten's last season. Advertisement That left the SEC to explain its mightiness with rhetoric and graphs, rather than pointing to the national championship scoreboard. 'This (league) is not like any other,' SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said on the final day of his conference's propaganda blitz in Miramar Beach, Florida. Sankey paired that quote with a packet of paper several pages in length that sought to explain the SEC's greatness. NO CUPCAKES: If SEC wants playoff respect, it needs tougher games BIG DECISION: SEC's Greg Sankey can be hero or villain in playoff debate While several SEC coaches and administrators tried to prop up the league with their words, LSU coach Brian Kelly broke ranks and spoke some plain truth. Advertisement 'Look, the Big Ten right now holds it on the SEC,' Kelly said. 'They won the last two national championships. That's the reality of it.' Here's more reality: Big Ten teams went 6-4 in games against SEC opponents last season, including postseason results. Kelly, a skilled orator, didn't compliment the Big Ten for no reason. He paired his praise by challenging the SEC and Big Ten athletic directors and commissioners to come to agreement on more interconference matchups between these two super leagues. Count Kelly among those who favor a Big Ten-SEC challenge. 'As (SEC) coaches – and I can speak for the room – we want to play Big Ten schools,' Kelly said. 'You've got to get a partner. You've got to get a partner who says, 'We're in for that, too.' We've made our voice clear. Our ADs know that, as well.' Advertisement Kelly exaggerated when he said he spoke for the room of SEC coaches. In truth, some other SEC coaches sounded more squeamish about the idea of an annual game against a Big Ten foe. Kelly is smart to push the envelope, though, because the SEC needs this interconference challenge more than the Big Ten does. The SEC ruled the four-team playoff, but the conference up north scored the early advantage in the expanded playoff, both in number of qualifiers and bracket advancement. The SEC might be deeper in number of robust teams, but a 12- or even 16-team playoff works well for the Big Ten's quest to qualify its top quartet, even if the conference wavers down ballot. This season, SEC newcomers Texas and Oklahoma will play Ohio State and Michigan, respectively. Alabama's game against Wisconsin is the only other Big Ten-SEC matchup. Advertisement 'We want to get challenged (by Big Ten opponents),' Kelly said, in what amounted to chiding a heavyweight belt holder to step into the ring. The SEC's most authoritative path to gobbling up at-large playoff spots would be to repeatedly beat Big Ten teams in non-conference clashes. Consider the SEC's basketball uprising. It dominated the non-conference schedule last season, including a 14-2 record in the ACC-SEC challenge. Come Selection Sunday, an NCAA record 14 SEC teams qualified for March Madness. The SEC didn't need to explain itself, because it owned the scoreboard. Not too many years ago, that was true of SEC football, too. Advertisement This little Big Ten revolution spurred the SEC to double down on talking points. Anyone that spends that much time explaining must be losing a bit too much for comfort. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SEC needs Big Ten in College Football Playoff propaganda blitz
