Latest news with #OklahomaState
USA Today
34 minutes ago
- Sport
- USA Today
New 49ers linebacker shows tremendous grit after suffering injury in workout
The San Francisco 49ers lost two key contributors in their linebacker room this offseason, with Dre Greenlaw landing with the Denver Broncos and De'Vondre Campbell remaining unsigned on the free-agent market months into the new league year. Knowing that, San Francisco added two veteran linebackers, Luke Gifford and Chazz Surratt, in free agency, but they also used their third-round pick on Oklahoma State's Nick Martin. Martin, 22, entered the team's offseason program with a legitimate shot to contend for a starting job alongside Fred Warner, and those in attendance have said that he looks solid in practices open to the media. However, it was revealed on Thursday that Martin suffered a broken thumb in an offseason workout a few weeks ago. Since then, Martin has shown some impressive grit, as he hasn't missed a practice or workout. The San Francisco Chronicle's Noah Furtado also reported that he won't need surgery and is expected to be fully healthy for the start of training camp next month. Martin was a three-star recruit out of Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas, before he joined the Oklahoma State program for the 2021 season. In his four years with the Cowboys, he appeared in 35 games and recorded 203 tackles (24 for a loss), seven sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered. He also earned first-team All-Big 12 honors once (2023). Earlier this offseason, 49ers director of player personnel Tariq Ahmed talked up Martin's communication skills and stated that he could wear the green dot if four-time All-Pro Fred Warner, who has been exceptionally durable in his career, was forced to miss time due to injury. At this point, 2023 sixth-round pick Dee Winters is slated as the other starting linebacker next to Warner, but if Martin is fully healthy and performs well in camp, that job very well could be his in the season opener. More 49ers: 49ers receiving corps ranked surprisingly high ahead of 2025 season
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Predicting the 10-man United States roster for the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point
The 50th Walker Cup at Cypress Point is around the corner. On Friday, the top three Americans in the World Amateur Golf Ranking secured their spots on the U.S. squad for the biennial competition between the top amateurs from the United States against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland. The full 10-man roster will be announced following the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur, set for Aug. 11-17 at Olympic Club in San Francisco. That means the clock is ticking for golfers to play their way onto the team. With a majority of the major amateur events still on the calendar, there is plenty of time for those on the bubble and on the outside looking in to show captain Nathan Smith why they deserve a chance to wear the red, white and blue. Here's a look at predictions for who will round out the 10-man U.S. Walker Cup team (WAGR ranking in parentheses). On the team Jackson Koivun (No. 1) Ben James (No. 2) Michael La Sasso (No. 3) The trio earned their spots on the team thanks to their WAGR rankings Friday. James will be the only returning member on the U.S. team, having gone 1-2-0 at St. Andrews in 2023, helping the U.S. win at the home of golf. Koivun swept national Player of the Year honors in 2024 and maintained a high level of play this season for Auburn, and La Sasso won the NCAA individual title at Omni La Costa last month, putting an exclamation mark on a stellar junior season. Locks Tommy Morrison (No. 5) Ethan Fang (No. 7) Preston Stout (No. 8) It's hard to see Morrison (OK, not really, he is 6-foot-9), Fang and Stout not making the team. All are proven match-play golfers, with Fang and Stout helping Oklahoma State take the NCAA Championship last month at Omni La Costa. Morrison made match play last summer at the U.S. Amateur, the Amateur Championship and won the European Amateur. Expect to see these three donning red, white and blue in September. Fang and Morrison also made match play at this week's Amateur Championship. Mid-Am representative Evan Beck (No. 18) Beck, who won the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur, is almost guaranteed to get the mid-am spot on the team, barring a late run from Stewart Hagestad, who is 55th in WAGR. On the bubble Jase Summy (No. 9) Jack Turner (No. 11) Josiah Gilbert (No. 14) Wells Williams (No. 17) Jacob Modleski (No. 20) Max Herendeen (No. 22) Bryan Lee (No. 23) With three more spots up for grabs, there's a good chance those names come from this list. Jase Summy could be considered a lock, but as far as WAGR points, he's closer to this group than he is Morrison, Fang and Stout, but he has a big advantage on the rest of the group, especially with a strong summer leading into the U.S. Amateur. As for the rest of the group, it's open season. Have a big summer, and Smith could have no choice but to select you for a spot on the team. Don't play well, and that door slams shut. Outside chance Connor Williams (No. 24) Cameron Tankersley (No. 26) Miles Russell (No. 28) Lance Simpson (No. 30) Ryder Cowan (No. 33) The most intriguing name in this group is Russell, the 16-year-old junior phenom whose name has been floated around all year as a player who could be selected. He would become the youngest Walker Cup participant ever if Smith selected him. This spring, he won four of five junior starts, including the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. If his strong play continues, it may be worth selecting him. As for the others, if they could win an Elite Amateur Golf Series event this summer and make a run in the Western Amateur or U.S. Amateur, they may have a tee time at Cypress Point in September.
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Travelers leader admits PGA Tour shock and taking inspiration from Euro hero
Austin Eckroat motivated by the magic of ex-landlord and Euro Ryder Cup ace Austin Eckroat admits the inspiration of Euro pal Viktor Hovland remains key in overcoming the shock and enormity of the PGA Tour. The 26-year-old displayed his obvious prowess by matching Scottie Scheffler's opening 62 at the Travelers Championship. Eckroat is a two-time winner on the main circuit having turned pro five years ago, but says he still has pinch-me moments amongst the elite. Progressed through Oklahoma State College, he and Ryder Cup Hovland are big pals and he used to rent a room from the Norwegian in his house. Eckroat explained: 'It's funny, a lot of Wednesdays I've felt really good going into the tournament and then Thursday comes around and it hasn't been there. I don't know if it's just the stress of playing in a PGA Tour. 'I wouldn't say they were role models, but my team-mates came out here immediately and had success, Viktor and Matt Wolff, and they kind of gave me the confidence going in at the time that I knew compete with them so I knew I could compete out here. 'But it's a different ball game out here. Week in, week out, you're having to grind. The mental aspect of it with playing in front of people with cameras and all that stuff, I'd say I was aware of it just because I had two buddies that had just done it, but it's still a shock when you get out here. 'This is one of my favorite events of the year outside of that, but then add in on top of that they gave me a sponsor exemption, gave me an opportunity to play with the best players in the world back in 2021 and just really thankful for Travelers and everybody involved in this event to give me that opportunity. I played well that week. I just have great memories coming back here, and it's definitely one of my favorite stops of the year. 'It's funny, the weeks that we play, they all run together now, but I remember doing a little media thing for Travelers and every now and then it'll pop up on my social media, like come back around. I don't have any logos on my shirt, I'm wearing just standard clothing. It's funny just looking back on what's happened since then. It's pretty cool. 'My college coach when I was at Oklahoma State used to always say, when you're off, you're never that far from playing good golf. And whenever you're on, you're not that far from playing bad golf. You're playing on a fine line and confidence plays a huge part in it. 'I've felt close all year and that's why I kept playing. I felt like a week was coming and it was just all going to click. I just needed one good round and I was going to be good. It just hadn't happened yet.'
San Francisco Chronicle
19 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
49ers third-round pick Nick Martin broke his thumb, but won't need surgery
San Francisco 49ers rookie linebacker Nick Martin suffered a thumb fracture a few weeks ago, but did not miss any subsequent practices or workouts, a source familiar with the injury told the Chronicle. Martin, the team's third-round pick, won't need surgery and is expected to be fully healthy by training camp in July. After star offensive tackle Trent Williams said in a YouTube video that Martin had broken his thumb during a workout, many 49ers fans on social media assumed the worst. Martin had missed most of his final season at Oklahoma State with a knee injury that likely affected his drafted stock. Pro Football Focus ranked Martin, an All-Big 12 first-team selection in 2023, as the 307th prospect on its big board. The 49ers selected him at No. 75, a vote of confidence by general manager John Lynch, who compared Martin to Dre Greenlaw for his 'run-and-hit' style and similarly long arms as an otherwise undersized linebacker. At 6-foot and 221 pounds, Martin's arms were measured during the NFL Combine at 31 ¾ inches, only a half-inch shorter than Greenlaw. 'Just our type of player all over,' Lynch said in a press conference after Day 2 of the draft. 'Swarms to the football and you feel him on the field. Not the biggest guy but has long arms that kind of mimics Dre in a lot of ways. That's high praise and he's got a long way to go to show that he can be like that.' Martin, 22, appears in line to compete with linebacker Dee Winters for early playing time next to All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. 'I thought they were the dynamic duo,' Martin said of Warner and Greenlaw. 'And being able to come in and be that piece, it's going to be a fun thing for me.' While at Oklahoma State, Martin proved adept as a blitzer with sideline-to-sideline speed to be disruptive, a credit to his notable athleticism. At this year's combine, Martin ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, did 26 bench-press reps and recorded a 38-inch vertical jump. 'I'm very athletic — I like to use that to my advantage,' Martin said after being drafted. 'I'm relentless, with the way I always go for the kill shot, with maximum effort or punishing the person with the ball. Just figuring out ways to change the tone of the game.'
USA Today
a day ago
- Climate
- USA Today
Austin Eckroat opens Travelers with 62 to grab early lead at TPC River Highlands
Austin Eckroat opens Travelers with 62 to grab early lead at TPC River Highlands The former Oklahoma State standout has been close to shooting low scores for months, and Thursday at TPC River Highlands, he broke through. CROMWELL, Conn. — Austin Eckroat has been waiting all season for one round to go right. On Thursday morning at TPC River Highlands, it all finally did. Eckroat fired an 8-under-par 62 to grab the early lead in the 2025 Travelers Championship, setting the tone on a soft, gettable layout that rewarded confident swings and clean putting. It marked his career-low score on the PGA Tour. 'I wasn't fearing the left ball today, which is huge,' said Eckroat, who came into the week having struggled with a persistent miss to that side. 'It was just a really solid day, and I felt confident, which it was nice to feel that this season. It's been a while.' The 25-year-old former Oklahoma State standout made his first PGA Tour start here in 2021 as a sponsor exemption. On Thursday, he looked every bit the seasoned pro, carding six birdies and an eagle in a round that seemed to signal a mental and physical breakthrough. 'I've felt close all year, and that's why I kept playing,' Eckroat said. 'I felt like a week was coming and it was just all going to click.' The fix wasn't radical. After two weeks off, some tweaks and tips from friends and family – and one small but meaningful grip change – helped him get back in control. By weakening his right hand slightly, Eckroat said he was finally able to release the club properly and stop worrying about that big miss. 'You want it to be something dramatic, but sometimes it's just one little thing,' he said, laughing. 'That's what's frustrating.' Wyndham Clark sits two shots behind at 6 under after an early-round 64, while Davis Riley, Jason Day, Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, Max Greyserman and Tommy Fleetwood all posted 66s to finish the morning wave at 4 under. With temperatures expected to climb well into the 90s by the weekend, players were mindful of the importance of recovery and hydration. But Eckroat wasn't in a rush to change routines after such a clean start. 'I'll go out and do a quick practice, hit a few shots, hit a few putts – I call it a cool-down – just to take my mind off what happened that day,' he said. 'Then hydrate. No cold plunges yet, maybe another time.' Thursday's round held added meaning for Eckroat, who reflected on returning to the site of his first taste of professional golf. 'This is one of my favorite events of the year,' he said. 'They gave me a sponsor exemption back in 2021 and a chance to compete with the best players in the world. I'm really thankful for that.' Four years later, he's back in Connecticut — older, wiser, and at least for one round, in full control of his game.
