15 days ago
This one is going to be one of the more impossible opponent previews you'll see, as the ECU Pirates have nearly turned over their entire team after a nice 9-4 record last year under coach Blake Harrell. Guys like running back London Montgomery and safety Ja'Marley Riddle (two of their top players last year) have made the jump up to join the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs, and even starting QB Katin Houser transferred to Illinois. Ultimately, the Pirates lost 24 players to the transfer portal, and the best I can tell, wide receiver Brock Spalding and linebacker DJ Johnson Jr. are the only returning starters on the team.
Not only was there major roster turnover for the Pirates, but they also lost both of their coordinators. Offensive coordinator John David Baker, who's taken a promotion up to be the OC for Ole Miss, was replaced with North Texas OC Jordan Davis. Davis was the OC behind the Mean Green's nation-leading 44.8 points per game offense in 2026. It was an up tempo, air raid-like offense and there's a lot of reason for ECU fans to be excited – however, Davis comes with a big caveat: he was the OC in name only, as UNT's head coach Eric Morris was actually the playcaller.
Eric Morris runs many of the same concepts he learned from being a player. He has expanded the run game using a lot more gap runs. WSU and MSST under Leach used mostly inside and outside zones with some DART (backside tackle pulls and leads) to change things up.
How much will Davis's iteration of this offense at ECU look like the Morris offense at UNT? We'll just have to see, so this will be an experience for everyone.
Defensively, the Pirates lost DC Josh Aldredge to USF, and replaced him with Memphis's DC, Jordon Hankins. Memphis was decent on defense under Hankins the last couple of years, and generally ran a 3-high safety look
#offense #morris #eric #hankins
Not only was there major roster turnover for the Pirates, but they also lost both of their coordinators. Offensive coordinator John David Baker, who's taken a promotion up to be the OC for Ole Miss, was replaced with North Texas OC Jordan Davis. Davis was the OC behind the Mean Green's nation-leading 44.8 points per game offense in 2026. It was an up tempo, air raid-like offense and there's a lot of reason for ECU fans to be excited – however, Davis comes with a big caveat: he was the OC in name only, as UNT's head coach Eric Morris was actually the playcaller.
Eric Morris runs many of the same concepts he learned from being a player. He has expanded the run game using a lot more gap runs. WSU and MSST under Leach used mostly inside and outside zones with some DART (backside tackle pulls and leads) to change things up.
How much will Davis's iteration of this offense at ECU look like the Morris offense at UNT? We'll just have to see, so this will be an experience for everyone.
Defensively, the Pirates lost DC Josh Aldredge to USF, and replaced him with Memphis's DC, Jordon Hankins. Memphis was decent on defense under Hankins the last couple of years, and generally ran a 3-high safety look
#offense #morris #eric #hankins
1 month ago
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) -- As the second week of fall camp gets started, Corey Parker is as excited about his room as ever.
Parker returns strong athletes like Matthew Bailey and Jaheim Clarke, who are poised to teach newbies like Jakwon Morris and Nick Hankins the ropes, something Parker says his returners can do well with their different backgrounds and leadership styles.
"They understand that every day is a new day," Parker said. "I can't get too high, can't get too low, and with great leadership in a room like Jaheim Clarke, you have that. And so you see younger guys coming along really, really good, because he doesn't let one rep go by that he's not talking to them when they're coming off the field."
Clarke returned to illinois this season after starting in eight games with 21 solo tackles..
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
#parker #jaheim #room #leadership
Parker returns strong athletes like Matthew Bailey and Jaheim Clarke, who are poised to teach newbies like Jakwon Morris and Nick Hankins the ropes, something Parker says his returners can do well with their different backgrounds and leadership styles.
"They understand that every day is a new day," Parker said. "I can't get too high, can't get too low, and with great leadership in a room like Jaheim Clarke, you have that. And so you see younger guys coming along really, really good, because he doesn't let one rep go by that he's not talking to them when they're coming off the field."
Clarke returned to illinois this season after starting in eight games with 21 solo tackles..
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
#parker #jaheim #room #leadership
1 month ago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 24: Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders waits to take the field for a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Allegiant Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 33-22. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 24: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders and Johnathan Hankins #90 react to watching a review of a play during the first half in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Allegiant Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images) Getty
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs off the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) Getty
One player the Philadelphia Eagles have been consistently linked to during the 2026 NFL offseason is Maxx Crosby.
The Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher is clearly a trade block candidate for the struggling franchise, and the Eagles have always shown plenty of interest in taking on top edge rushers when they are available.
#philadelphia #Eagles #getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 24: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders and Johnathan Hankins #90 react to watching a review of a play during the first half in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Allegiant Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images) Getty
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs off the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) Getty
One player the Philadelphia Eagles have been consistently linked to during the 2026 NFL offseason is Maxx Crosby.
The Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher is clearly a trade block candidate for the struggling franchise, and the Eagles have always shown plenty of interest in taking on top edge rushers when they are available.
#philadelphia #Eagles #getty
2 months ago
The Las Vegas Raiders are switching to a 3-4 defense in 2026, which puts them in need of a nose tackle. They have brought in three players to help out in that area, adding Benito Jones and drafting Brandon Cleveland, as well as Gary Smith II as an undrafted free agent.
Since the departure of mainstay Jonathan Hankins, the Silver and Black have been missing that pure run stuffer in the middle. However, news recently broke that Vita Vea has demanded a trade, with contract talks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at a stalemate. He wants to join the Raiders, according to Ted Nguyen of The Athletic, and would be a great option for the team.
In this week's SB Nation Reacts, we ask Raider Nation if they should trade for Vita Vea. The results are in, and Raiders fans are almost split on the decision. Only 54% of Raiders fans believe they should trade for Vita Vea.
Most Raiders fans are realistic about the season, and they see this as the beginning of a rebuild. A trade for Vita Vea is a win-now move that might not fit what the football team is supposed to accomplish right now. While it would upgrade the roster, giving up draft picks might be too steep a price.
#benito
Since the departure of mainstay Jonathan Hankins, the Silver and Black have been missing that pure run stuffer in the middle. However, news recently broke that Vita Vea has demanded a trade, with contract talks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at a stalemate. He wants to join the Raiders, according to Ted Nguyen of The Athletic, and would be a great option for the team.
In this week's SB Nation Reacts, we ask Raider Nation if they should trade for Vita Vea. The results are in, and Raiders fans are almost split on the decision. Only 54% of Raiders fans believe they should trade for Vita Vea.
Most Raiders fans are realistic about the season, and they see this as the beginning of a rebuild. A trade for Vita Vea is a win-now move that might not fit what the football team is supposed to accomplish right now. While it would upgrade the roster, giving up draft picks might be too steep a price.
#benito
2 months ago
A former Ohio State Buckeye is retiring from the NFL after 12 seasons in the league. Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, better known as "Big Hank," is calling it a career.
Hankins earned a starting spot in the trenches by his sophomore year at OSU. The **** e eater tallied 67 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and three sacks. In his junior season, Hankins totaled 55 tackles with four tackles for loss and one sack. He would enter the NFL draft and become a second-round pick of the New York Giants.
Over the course of the next 12 years, Hankins would play with a total of five different teams, including the Colts, Raiders, Cowboys, and Seahawks. He racked up 433 tackles with 44 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 13 pass breakups in 169 games. He finished his career with Seattle, although he would miss the entire 2025 season due to a back injury. After being waived in December, Big Hank decided to hang it up for good.
Hankins earned All-Big Ten and All-American honors while wearing the Scarlet and Gray.
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#hankins
Hankins earned a starting spot in the trenches by his sophomore year at OSU. The **** e eater tallied 67 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and three sacks. In his junior season, Hankins totaled 55 tackles with four tackles for loss and one sack. He would enter the NFL draft and become a second-round pick of the New York Giants.
Over the course of the next 12 years, Hankins would play with a total of five different teams, including the Colts, Raiders, Cowboys, and Seahawks. He racked up 433 tackles with 44 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 13 pass breakups in 169 games. He finished his career with Seattle, although he would miss the entire 2025 season due to a back injury. After being waived in December, Big Hank decided to hang it up for good.
Hankins earned All-Big Ten and All-American honors while wearing the Scarlet and Gray.
Contact/Follow us BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion.
#hankins
2 months ago
Jul. 10—Illinois quarterback Carson Boyd, a Cardinal Ritter (Mo.) product originally from O'Fallon will throw out the first pitch ahead of a 7:15 p.m. start on Friday in the series-opening game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Boyd, Brandon Henderson, Nick Hankins Jr. and Jacob Eberhart — Illinois' St. Louis and Metro East contingent — will also sign autographs starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Ford Plaza in center field.
Illinois Hall of Famer Scott Spiezio, now a Cardinals broadcaster, spent the final two years of his 12-year MLB career in St. Louis and was part of the 2006 World Series team that beat the Detroit Tigers in five games. The former Illini also played with the Athletics, Angels and Mariners in the majors.
Big Ten athletes, coaches and administrators, including Illinois athletes Reece Ihenacho, Summer Clancy, Audrey Cavaliere and Kayla Duran, will spend this weekend in Oregon as part of the conference's "Big Life Series: Pacific Northwest" trip. The annual event was created to provide an understanding of a region's history, culture and community. Previous trips have explored Selma, Ala., and Mount Vernon, Iowa.
will get a shot at his old team as the Bucks open Summer League play in Las Vegas (3 p.m., Friday, Prime). The former Illini guard was dealt by the Heat ahead of the draft in the trade.
Boyd, Brandon Henderson, Nick Hankins Jr. and Jacob Eberhart — Illinois' St. Louis and Metro East contingent — will also sign autographs starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Ford Plaza in center field.
Illinois Hall of Famer Scott Spiezio, now a Cardinals broadcaster, spent the final two years of his 12-year MLB career in St. Louis and was part of the 2006 World Series team that beat the Detroit Tigers in five games. The former Illini also played with the Athletics, Angels and Mariners in the majors.
Big Ten athletes, coaches and administrators, including Illinois athletes Reece Ihenacho, Summer Clancy, Audrey Cavaliere and Kayla Duran, will spend this weekend in Oregon as part of the conference's "Big Life Series: Pacific Northwest" trip. The annual event was created to provide an understanding of a region's history, culture and community. Previous trips have explored Selma, Ala., and Mount Vernon, Iowa.
will get a shot at his old team as the Bucks open Summer League play in Las Vegas (3 p.m., Friday, Prime). The former Illini guard was dealt by the Heat ahead of the draft in the trade.
