Latest news with #HeismanTrophy-winning
The Herald Scotland
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Shedeur Sanders speeding ticket: Browns rookie QB can't make mistakes
Rather than avoiding an NFL spotlight that's sparked so many off-field wildfires over the years, Sanders instead provided fresh kindling for a legion of critics waiting to pounce - cited by police for driving 101 miles per hour after midnight ET Tuesday in suburban Cleveland. The listed speed limit where he committed the infraction was 60 mph. Maybe you're thinking this isn't a big deal, easy enough to ascribe this mistake to youthful intemperance. And Sanders, 23, didn't cause an accident. He wasn't driving under the influence. His maximum legal exposure for a fourth-degree misdemeanor is a $250 fine. The Browns haven't issued a public statement. Nor has Sanders. And why should they? This incident - if it's even that - pretty plainly speaks for itself. "I just feel like in life and everything, it's just me versus me, you know?" Sanders said following Cleveland's rookie minicamp last month. "I can't control any other decision besides that. So, I just try to be my best self at all times." Obviously, he fell short of that Tuesday morning. Still, it would be silly to suggest that this is or should be a fireable offense. However it's certainly an (another?) unforced error from a player whose judgment outside the lines has drawn far more scrutiny in recent months than his generally reliable decision-making on the field. And it's fair to say a guy who's been running with the fourth stringers is further distinguishing himself in the Browns' crowded competition to be QB1 in 2025 - and that is not a compliment. There are three men ahead of Sanders on Cleveland's depth chart. Grizzled veteran Joe Flacco is a former Super Bowl MVP who also revitalized the Browns into a playoff squad in 2023. Kenny Pickett didn't pan out as a 2022 first-round pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he does have a 15-10 record as a starter in the NFL and earned a Super Bowl ring of his own last season as a backup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Like Sanders, Dillon Gabriel is a rookie. Gabriel was also drafted 50 spots ahead of Sanders following a distinguished college run that saw him start the most games ever (64) by a Division I quarterback while accounting for an FBS record 190 career touchdowns. He led the University of Oregon to a No. 1 ranking last year and a berth in the College Football Playoff. Sanders (somehow?) got his No. 2 - a digit the Browns didn't even see fit to let him select - retired by the University of Colorado, which went 13-12 during his two seasons and didn't win a bowl game. Despite his unremarkable physical skill set, he was unequivocally one of the country's better college quarterbacks - though it also helped to play with Heisman Trophy-winning receiver Travis Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick of this year's draft. Nevertheless, neither Flacco, Pickett nor Gabriel has been ticketed for excessive speeding ... or drawn flak for anything else of note in their personal lives. Meanwhile, Sanders needs to prove he's a superior option to a trio of other ones who have reputations as sterling citizens and, in one context or another, solid quarterbacks. And don't forget, there are also quite a few notable players behind Sanders. Just since 2012, the year Jimmy Haslam became the club's owner, the Browns have spent first-round picks on the likes of Brandon Weeden and Baker Mayfield, the top pick in 2018. Cleveland traded back into Round 1 in 2014 for Johnny Manziel, then gave up the farm and a fully guaranteed $230 million contract to acquire troubled Deshaun Watson eight years later. (Remarkably - or maybe not since we're talking about the Browns - neither Watson nor Manziel ever led Cleveland in passing yards in a season even once.) It didn't take Haslam long to lose patience with Weeden or Manziel, who didn't last two years in the league thanks to his pitiful play and off-field transgressions. (And, as of June 2025, no one should be comparing Manziel's brand of hubris or very serious personal issues to anything Sanders has done, allegedly or otherwise - though the latter also isn't the must-see, dual threat football talent "Johnny Football" once was.) Mayfield often played well - and frequently through pain when he doubtless would have been better off anywhere but a football field - for a fairly flawed team yet was still unceremoniously dumped in favor of Watson, who only remains on the roster due to his onerous contract. And these were all guys the Browns were heavily invested in. Though Sanders was widely expected to go in the first round of this year's draft, more than one pundit suggested the son of legendary Hall of Famer and Buffs coach Deion Sanders would more likely be a Day 2 pick if his name was Shedeur Jones. Turns out, apparently since his name is Shedeur Sanders, who was never the kind of generational talent who'd blind teams with scintillating gifts, he became a fifth-round flier - the type of player who doesn't even need to give a team a reason to cut him. Asked about his approach after Cleveland finally ended his highly scrutinized draft free fall in April, Sanders said this: "Get there and handle my business. Do what I have to do, whatever role that is. I'm just thankful for the opportunity. So that's all I could ask for. "The rest is on me." Yep. Sanders should heed his own advice. If he's not more careful, the next ticket he's served with could be the one-way variety - to football exile. All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
CBS Sports ranks Caleb Williams as one of the most impactful transfers in portal era
CBS Sports ranks Caleb Williams as one of the most impactful transfers in portal era It is no secret that the NCAA transfer portal has drastically affected the landscape of college football. Since the portal was created back in 2018, college football roster construction has turned into a very different endeavor than it was prior. Recently, CBS Sports released their ranking of the most impactful college transfers of the portal thus far. Former USC quarterback Caleb Williams made the list, coming in at No. 5. Here is what they had to say about Williams: 'Williams achieved nearly everything possible during his two years at USC, except a conference title and a College Football Playoff berth,' writer Cody Nagel wrote. 'That caveat tempers his status among top transfers of the portal era. After following Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma, Williams delivered a Heisman Trophy-winning campaign in 2022. His off-script playmaking ability set him apart, but he also put up eye-popping numbers: 8,170 passing yards, 72 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions, along with 21 rushing touchdowns. Williams raised the ceiling for USC's offense, but without the overall team success to match, his legacy as a transfer remains more individual than program-altering.' Williams certainly had plenty of highlight reel plays during his time at USC. Ultimately, however, the lack of team success that the Trojans had on the field during his time in Cardinal and Gold—even though much of it was not his fault—somewhat detracts from Williams's college football legacy, pushing him down to No. 5 on the list.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
A glimpse at Florida football's blue-chip quarterback ahead of 2025 Elite 11 Finals
A glimpse at Florida football's blue-chip quarterback ahead of 2025 Elite 11 Finals The 2025 edition of the Elite 11 Finals — a showcase of 20 soon-to-be high school senior quarterbacks who travel to Los Angeles for three days of competition against other top quarterback talents — kicks off on Tuesday, and the list of participants includes one of Florida football's top-rated prep prospects. Quarterback Will Griffin, a four-star gunslinger out of Tampa (Florida) Jesuit, is one of three Sunshine State products included in the event as well as one of a trio of recruits committed to a Southeastern Conference school. 247Sports' Andrew Ivins provides a quick breakdown of the Gators' future under center ahead of the Elite 11 Finals start. "Enters senior year with 46 varsity starts under his belt, making him one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the class. Built like Tim Tebow, but wants to win more times than not with his arm. Finished regional on a high note as he was lights out in the red zone." Ivins notes that Griffin reminds him most of former Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers, who played college from 2020 to 2022 in Ames and signed with the New Orleans Saints after college as an undrafted free agent. 2025 Elite 11 finalists by state California - 3 Texas - 3 Florida - 3 Ohio - 1 Nebraska -1 Indiana - 1 Georgia - 1 Utah - 1 New Jersey - 1 North Carolina - 1 Arizona - 1 Tennessee - 1 2025 Elite 11 finalists by conference committed ACC - 5 SEC - 3 Big Ten - 3 Big 12 - 3 Elite 11 History 16 of the last 17 QBs to win the Heisman Trophy attended Elite 11 finals or regionals The last three Heisman Trophy-winning QBs were Elite 11 finalists Twelve of the last 13 QBs to go No. 1 overall in NFL draft attended Elite 11 finals or regionals 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.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Anthony Muñoz in focus
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Anthony Muñoz in focus The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 77 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we take a look back at one of the greatest offensive linemen to ever play the game of football, Anthony Muñoz. Position: Offensive line Years played at USC: 1976-1979 Career highlights: Muñoz played at USC from 1976 through 1979. However, he unfortunately dealt with injuries throughout his USC career, and was forced to miss time in three of his four college seasons. Despite this, he was still named a second-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-10 as a junior in 1978. During the first game of his senior season in 1979, Muñoz suffered a knee injury that required surgery and was widely expected to end his season. However, Muñoz defied the odds returning in time for the Rose Bowl against Ohio State. The Trojans won, 17-16, with Heisman Trophy-winning running back Charles White leading the way, spoiling the Buckeyes bid for a perfect season and likely AP national championship. After USC: Sadly, Muñoz did not accomplish much after graduating from USC. All that he did—after being selected third overall in the 1980 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals—was play 13 professional seasons, be selected to 11 Pro Bowls, earn nine first-team All-Pro honors, and win the 1991 NFL Man of the Year (now known as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year) award. So yeah, a very disappointing resume. Muñoz was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2019, he was named to the league's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Muñoz is widely considered to be one of the greatest, if not the single greatest, offensive linemen of all-time.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oregon Makes Major Marcus Mariota Announcement on Monday
Oregon Makes Major Marcus Mariota Announcement on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's no doubt that throughout their history, the Oregon Ducks have produced a number of legendary college football players, but maybe none as recognizable as quarterback Marcus Mariota. Advertisement Of course, throughout his four years with the Ducks, he established himself as not only one of the best players in program history, but also produced one of the most impressive seasons ever for a quarterback. Now, his time with the Ducks will forever be enshrined in history, because on Monday, they announced Mariota is set to be inducted into the Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025. From 2012 to 2014, Mariota appeared in 41 games, completing 779-of-1,167 passes for 10,796 yards, 105 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 171.8 passing efficiency rating, while also rushing for 2,237 yards and 29 touchdowns. Advertisement His Heisman Trophy-winning junior season is what truly makes him legendary with Oregon, completing 304-of-445 passes for 4,454 yards, 42 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 181.7 passing efficiency rating, with 770 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. What makes all of this even more special is that he entered college with relatively low expectations, as 247Sports Composite rankings had him as a three-star recruit and the No. 512 player in the nation as part of the 2011 recruiting class. Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8).Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Though Oregon never won it all with Mariota, he did help them reach the national championship, his junior season, which was the first year of the College Football Playoff, where they fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes, losing 42-20. Advertisement Of course, his impressive collegiate career led him to be the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft to the Tennessee Titans, where he played for five years, and has since bounced around, currently serving as a backup on the Washington Commanders. Related: Nation's No. 1 Recruit Sends Clear Message to Former Tennessee Commit This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
