Cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. has encountered his share of talented young receivers at Ohio State, covering wave after wave of them during practices over the last four years.
But he thinks there's something different about this year's class of freshmen.
"It's probably the best freshman class I've seen," Mathews said. "The freshmen are nice."
Mathews' comments during preseason training camp added to the buzz surrounding the group led by Brock Boyd and Chris Henry Jr.
While their backgrounds are varied, Boyd and Henry have stood out since spring practices in March and April. They were the first freshmen at any position to lose their black stripes, a milestone for newcomers to the program.

#class #cornerback #jermaine

Like so many joint practices before it, a collaboration between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins quickly escalated into a melee. Thursday's joint practice between the two teams in Miami got physical fast, with a large number of players getting involved in multiple scrums and having to get separated by coaches.
Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!
Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson and Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor were both reportedly ejected from practice after throwing punches. Giants backup quarterback Jameis Winston was reportedly also involved in the fight, and was taken out for a few plays.
Jackson, who was reportedly kicked out after punching Giants linebacker Arvell Reese in the helmet, later returned to Miami's offensive line for the final series.
It was the second NFL joint practice to break out into a fight this week: The Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints ended up in multiple skirmishes in a practice on Tuesday. The league went on to fine the teams $500,00 each.

#jackson #involved

The New England Patriots have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran offensive guard Greg Van Roten, the former New York Giants starter who anchored the right side of the line for the past two seasons.
Van Roten, 36, started all 34 regular-season games for the Giants in 2024 and 2025 after joining the team in free agency. He arrived in 2024 amid an injury-driven reshuffle that moved Jermaine Eluemunor to right tackle and Jon Runyan Jr. to left guard, creating a stable unit with Andrew Thomas, Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Van Roten and Eluemunor. Reliable and durable, he provided consistent play without flash.
Under new head coach John Harbaugh, the Giants elected not to re-sign the journeyman, prioritizing younger and more physical options at the position.
Van Roten, an undrafted free agent out of Penn who entered the league with the Green Bay Packers in 2012, previously spent time with the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders. He owns 105 career starts across more than 140 games.
The Patriots turned to Van Roten after injuries depleted their offensive line depth in the preseason, including a leg injury to backup Ben Brown. He is expected to serve as a veteran presence behind the starting guards.

#roten #york

Jets activate 366-pound defensive monster ahead of 2026 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Jets are finally getting an opportunity to see one of their biggest offseason acquisitions on the practice field.
Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat was activated from the active/non-football injury list Saturday, clearing the way for the 366-pound nose tackle to begin working with New York after a hamstring issue kept him sidelined for the opening portion of training camp.
Sweat arrived in New York through one of the Jets' more notable offseason moves, with the team acquiring him from the Tennessee **** ans in exchange for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson.
At 6-foot-4 and 366 pounds, Sweat gives the Jets a massive interior presence capable of occupying blockers and strengthening their run defense.

#sweat #offseason #tackle #preferred

Tennessee ****** ans coach Robert Saleh announced that third-year defensive end Jaylen Harrell and rookie tight end Jaren Kanak will both be put on season-ending injured reserve with injuries sustained in the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 13.
Harrell, who logged 4.5 sacks for the ****** ans as a rotational outside linebacker in 2025, tore his ACL and Kanak, the ****** ans' seventh-round pick in 2026, tore his pectoral muscle.
Without Harrell, the ****** ans' depth pieces off the defensive edge don't have too much name recognition. Veteran free agent adds Malik Herring and Earnest Brown IV are possibilities to fill the spot Harrell leaves behind. The ****** ans did fill the room with new blood atop the depth chart, though, with Jermaine Johnson II, Jacob Martin and first-round pick Keldric Faulk joining former second-round pick Oluwafemi Oladejo as the heart of the rotation.
Kanak had been getting play as a rotational tight end with the second- and third-team offenses and also played multiple positions in the backfield like fullback and H-back. Most of Kanak's use was expected to be on special teams. Without Kanak, the ****** ans' options at tight end behind starters Gunnar Helm and Daniel Bellinger include David Martin-Robinson, Kylen Granson and Joel Wilson.
In other injury news, defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers and Jackie Marshall returned to practice on Aug. 15 for individual drills after missing time. Neither participated in team activities.

#kanak #round #pick #without

For sophomore cornerback Devin Sanchez, every snap he lines up against star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State's preseason camp is an opportunity to improve.
"Going out there, guarding JJ for every practice, matching up with him every time, that's uncomfortable," Sanchez said Aug. 6. "I feel like you've got to be a real stud to go out there and do that."
Following a self-described "OK" freshman year, Sanchez is embracing the challenging moments in practice, which have mainly included Smith standing directly across the line of scrimmage.
Sanchez joined the Buckeyes last season as a five-star recruit out of Houston and secured a spot in the rotation behind starter Jermaine Mathews Jr. by the season opener against Texas. However, with Mathews and Davison Igbinosun slotting in at cornerback for the majority of plays, Sanchez was limited to an average of just over 31 snaps across 13 games, recording 15 tackles.
Igbinosun's departure from Ohio State – he is now with the Buffalo Bills – opened a starting position that has essentially belonged to Sanchez since spring practice.

#sanchez #across #season

The New England Patriots are hosting former New York Giants guard Greg Van Roten for a workout, per a report from Ian Rapoport.
Van Roten, 36, spent the last two years as the Giants' right guard, joining Jermaine Eluemunor in coming to New York from the Las Vegas Raiders. While certainly not an elite guard, Van Roten comported himself well once he became established in 2024 and carried that into 2025. And despite being an older lineman, Van Roten was a steady presence for the Giants and started all 34 games for them over the last two years.
The Giants opted to move on from Van Roten after the 2025 season, adding Daniel Faalele as well as retaining Evan Neal and Joshua Ezeudu in free agency. There was some thought that the trio could compete to fill the right guard spot next to Eluemunor, or at least there was until Dexter Lawrence demanded his trade and the Cincinnati Bengals sent the 10th overall pick to New York. That pick turned into Sisi Mauigoa, who is in line to lock down the right guard spot and hopefully upgrade the position.
It remains to be seen whether the Patriots will sign Van Roten, but he should still at least be able to be a good depth piece at guard and center.

#york #right #years

The New York Giants are intentionally building a physical identity under head coach John Harbaugh, and veteran offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor already sees the early foundation taking hold on the practice field.
After the first day in full pads, Eluemunor highlighted a shift in approach that started months earlier. In prior seasons, teams often waited until pads arrived before digging into the run game. This year, the Giants opened it up sooner.
"You can't wait until the pads come on to really dig into that," Eluemunor told reporters.
Without the need to deliver heavy contact, the offense worked extensively on footwork, technique, and keeping heads in the right place. Defenders refined their block-shedding angles, reads, and gap discipline at the same time. That detailed preparation now allows the group to focus on the bigger physical elements once the pads are on—shedding blocks, creating movement along the line of scrimmage, and finishing plays with authority.
"I think that the practice we put in is going to help us in the long run," Eluemunor added.

#practice

The Tennessee **** ans totally revamped their defensive line this offseason. They hired Robert Saleh to be the new head coach. Saleh came in and reimagined the defensive line in his vision.
It started when the **** ans traded for Jermaine Johnson II. They signed John Franklin-Myers, Jordan Elliott, and Jacob Martin in free agency. Mike Borgonzi also traded for Solomon Thomas. Saleh coached all five of these players in New York and San Francisco.
Of course, they're joining Jeffery Simmons, who inked a historic extension with the **** ans earlier this offseason. Saleh will attempt to develop sophomore Femi Oladejo. The **** ans also drafted Keldric Faulk with a first-round pick. Faulk was another Saleh-approved addition, given his similar length and build to Arik Armstead. The aforementioned eight players will essentially be the **** ans' defensive line rotation this season.
Coach Saleh is expected to field an aggressive, attacking-style defense. That's the focal point of his defense. It should lead to impressive sack numbers for the **** ans' defense. Expectations are high.
Given the **** ans' lack of talent at EDGE last season, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson actually did an excellent job manufacturing pressure. An All-Pro season from Simmons helped. The **** ans ranked 12th (tied) in the league in sacks with 42. That exceeded preseason expectations.

#saleh #season #defense #faulk

The first week of Tennessee **** ans training camp is in the books, and while it's still early, several players have already begun separating themselves from the pack. Between Robert Saleh's demanding practices, Brian Daboll's new-look offense, and a handful of standout performances, week one provided plenty of reasons for optimism. It also provided a few areas of concern.
Here are the biggest winners and losers after the **** ans' first three practices of training camp.
It's hard to ask for a better start to camp for the young wide receivers. Tate has consistently been one of Cam Ward's favorite targets throughout offseason training, making contested catches and finding the end zone in red-zone drills. He has looked every bit like the impact receiver Tennessee hoped it drafted with the fourth overall pick.
Second-year wideout Elic Ayomanor arguably made the best catches of the day in each of their final two practices of the week. He might have fallen in the depth chart this season, but his impact is destined to be bigger following a promising rookie season.
Jeffery Simmons continues to dominate, while newcomers John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson have helped generate consistent pressure. Robert Saleh's defensive philosophy is already showing up with an aggressive front that has disrupted the offense throughout the week.

#practices #robert

One of the biggest moves of the Tennessee ******* ans' offseason was trading T'Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets to reunite Robert Saleh with edge rusher Jermaine Johnson and bolster the edge position. Through two days of training camp, it appears like that was a home run.
Johnson has looked the part, has had some solid reps against left tackle Dan Moore, and is taking advantage of his opportunity playing alongside Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers.
After Day 2, Johnson met with the media and made it clear that this is only the beginning, and both the intensity and physicality will ramp up next week, saying, "They don't know what's coming when we get the pads on."
The sentiment has been echoed through the first three days of training camp, with Saleh hinting that this could be some of the players' most intense training camp of their careers. Couple that with a new-look defense that appears to have embraced the attacking style, and it is shaping up as a competitive and entertaining training camp.
This article originally appeared on ******* ans Wire: ******* ans' Jermaine Johnson ready for padded practices to begin

#johnson

We knew Taysom Hill could run and pass, but he proved he could catch on this 45-yard touchdown reception against the Carolina Panthers. That's an easy choice for our New Orleans Saints Play of the Day.
Hill may have scored on this play, but it was Drew Brees' day to remind everyone just how lethal he could be so late in his career. The future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback cruised to 253 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon, going 19-of-30 and completing passes to eight different players.
With that said, this play was all Hill's doing. The versatile playmaker ran a crossing route and lost the defender trailing him to get wide open short of the first down marker -- then he cut upfield to pick up 20 yards. A timely block by his teammate Tre'Quan Smith cleared a lane to get Hill to the 5-yard line before the Panthers defense closed in, but he fought through tackles by Tre Boston and Jermaine Carter Jr. for the score. Watch it for yourself right here.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Taysom Hill's 45-yard touchdown catch is the Saints Play of the Day

#hill #yard

Too Hot to Handle alum Hannah Brooke Sanders and NFL player Jermaine Johnson II wed in a romantic oceanfront ceremony in Laguna Beach on July 17
The couple's son delivered the rings and Johnson's daughter was the flower girl
Among the 130 guests were many influencers and pro athletes
Too Hot to Handle alum Hannah Brooke Sanders and NFL player Jermaine Johnson II have tied the knot!
The Netflix star and the pro athlete, both 27, said "I do" on Friday, July 17, and they announced the news on Instagram three days later. The couple's "timeless" and "romantic" ceremony took place on the oceanfront lawn of the luxury resort Montage Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California.

#hannah #brooke

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content and our ”Burning Questions” articles here.
If there’s one man to be confident in going into the 2026 Season, it’s the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Admittedly, I didn’t think I would feel this way about him when he was hired in the Winter of 2025. But after what Patricia did last year with the Buckeyes’ defense, following tremendous turnover from that great 2024 National Championship defense, Patricia and the Buckeyes’ defense are poised to answer the question of whether they will be the force they’ve been for the last two seasons.
There’s still talent on this defense. Much like last year, it’s going to be about guys from the previous season stepping into larger roles. We saw those guys last year step into those larger roles and thrive. It’s a confidence boost that can happen again this season.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Beau Atkinson, Eddrick Houston, Payton Pierce, Jermaine Mathews Jr., and Devin Sanchez; those are household names. That’s a good place to start in keeping this defense atop the college football ranks.
The one question within this burning question is: Who is that star player the Buckeyes’ defense can build around? For the last two seasons, that was Caleb Downs. But it wasn’t just him. Heck, Downs wasn’t even the first Buckeye defensive player drafted this past April. He was the third. That tells you how great the whole Buckeyes’ defense was and how deep they were.

George Kittle and Trent Williams crossed paths long before becoming San Francisco 49ers teammates, according to a story Kittle shared on the "New Heights" podcast.
Kittle said his father coached college football and had ties to former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, which gave a teenage Kittle sideline access to Sooners games — including one featuring a since-loaded Oklahoma offensive line. Kittle remembered being a high school sophomore on the sidelines during the El Paso Sun Bowl alongside Williams and former Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham.
A decade later, the two ended up on the same roster after San Francisco traded for Williams in 2020. Kittle said he brought up the encounter as soon as they met as teammates.
"It was one of the first things I told Trent Williams when we got him in 2020. I was like, 'We hung out like 10 years ago.'"
Williams and Kittle have been two of the biggest anchors for the 49ers top-flight offense during Kyle Shanahan's time as head coach. Kittle is one of the best overall tight ends in the NFL as both a blocker and receiver, while Williams has kept 49ers quarterbacks upright during him time with the team and remained a staple of the offensive line.

The New York Giants are building momentum as they aim to return to playoff contention under head coach John Harbaugh, and veteran offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor stands as a quiet cornerstone of that effort.
Recognized by Bleacher Report as one of the NFL's most underrated players entering the 2026 season, the 31-year-old has evolved into a reliable anchor for the Giants' offensive line.
The 31-year-old was a late bloomer, suiting up sporadically for three different franchises over his first half-decade in the league. He finally became a regular starter for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, parlaying a successful two-year run with the club into a modest free-agency contract with the G-Men in 2024.
Eluemunor has been a revelation since joining Big Blue, starting all but three games for the club while becoming one of the most important pieces in the offensive trenches.
During his first season in the Big Apple, he seamlessly transitioned from the right guard position he was expected to man to right tackle following an injury to Evan Neal. He thrived as a bookend to Andrew Thomas, holding up especially well in pass protection.

Seven individuals with ties to the University of Tennessee were inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame.
Honorees included ******* istant football coach John Chavis, wide receiver Jermaine Copeland, softball coaches Ralph Weekly and Karen Weekly, All-American distance runner Brenda Webb, basketball player Clarence Swearengen and tennis player Michelle DePalmer-Williams.
Since 1982, the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony has celebrated Knoxville sports. Each year, local individuals are inducted into the hall of fame for their accomplishments in athletics, coaching, sports administration, media and officiating.
Chavis played for the Vols from 1976-78 and served 20 years on the Tennessee's coaching staff. He was defensive coordinator from 1995-2008 and helped Tennessee win the 1998 BCS national championship and four SEC ******* les.
Copeland also won a national championship 1998. He played in NFL Europe and the Canadian Football League.

The Tennessee ******* ans are wrapping up minicamp and will completely turn their attention to the start of training camp and the regular season.
The ******* ans have had a transformational offseason, which included a complete rebrand, a coaching staff overhaul, and a roster that looks nothing like it did in 2025, and appear to have the foundation to take a step forward and rise from the AFC South basement.
Will it happen? No one knows, but one ******* yst, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports, believes that is a possibility, and he breaks it down in his best and worst-case scenarios for the ******* ans in 2026.
Tennessee ******* ans
Best-case: The new leadership in Nashville works. Robert Saleh's second stint as a head coach proves far more successful than his first with the Jets. Cam Ward thrives with Brian Daboll as his offensive coordinator, especially with first-round wideout Carnell Tate exploding out of the gate. Ward enjoys a strong Year 2 leap after flashing that potential during the second half of last season. With better coaching, Ward's emergence and a defense improved by key offseason additions like Jermaine Johnson II and Alontae Taylor, Tennessee becomes a wild-card team in the AFC playoff picture.

There is a buzz building around the Tennessee ****** ans, and a hope that they can change their fortunes in 2026.
While there are still many hurdles and practices to go before the start of the regular season, there is an excitement around the facility, and the arrow definitely appears to be pointing in the right direction. In fact, some ****** ysts, including Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com, are starting to believe that the ****** ans even have a puncher's chance at making the playoffs.
Rank 5 - Tennessee ****** ansLast playoff season: 2021
The new-look ****** ans will boast more than a fresh set of unis in 2026. Former New York head coaches Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll have found new homes in Nashville as head coach and offensive coordinator, respectively, and both veteran shot-callers have imported familiar faces (DE Jermaine Johnson II, WR Wan'Dale Robinson) to build around 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. Add in this year's fourth overall selection, WR Carnell Tate, and the ****** ans are flush with enough talent to make a run at the AFC South. It helps that Tennessee's .476 strength of schedule ranks 25th in the league. But the franchise has been in a rut in recent years, experiencing its worst stretch since the forgettable Munchak-Whisenhunt-Mularkey journey in the early 2010s. That run was followed by four playoff appearances. Could the Saleh hire and Ward selection inspire a new era of winning ****** ans football? Perhaps, but it'll be tough to break through in their first year together while competing against AFC South rivals Jacksonville and Houston, who have postseason experience, along with another established team in the division (I'll have more on that squad at No. 3 on this list).
Yes, there is a chance that Tennessee could take a significant step forward and make the playoffs in 2026; a smaller step forward this season is a more likely outcome. The ****** ans have made major changes during the offseason and infused the roster with much-needed talent, but they still have questions to answer before they can be considered true contenders.

As Longhorns football continues preparing for the 2026 campaign, they are also busy on the recruiting front. This weekend, they are welcoming five-star recruit Jalen Brewster to campus. The best defensive lineman has already committed to Texas Tech, but he has not closed the door on other schools.
Currently, Brewster is ranked as the top defensive lineman in the 2027 class by 247Sports. They also rank the Cedar High star as the sixth-best player in the nation and the second-best player from Texas. That ranking is partly why he has received offers from some of the top programs in the nation, such as Miami, LSU, Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Florida.
Over the last few months, Brewster has been busy visiting schools nationwide. He has made trips to LSU and Indiana. The Longhorns target has also taken a few unofficial visits to Florida. Shortly after he visits Texas, Brewster is expected to return to Texas Tech on June 19th.
If the Longhorns can flip Brewster, their 2026 class would get a massive boost. At the moment, it includes one five-star recruit in Jermaine Bishop. He will be joined by multiple four-star prospects such as Dia Bell, Tyler Atkinson, Kosi Okpala, Richard Wesley, Derek Cooper, and Samara Matthews. That group already has high expectations, even though their college careers haven't started yet.
Although this weekend marks Brewster's first official visit, he is no stranger to the Longhorns. He made two trips to Austin last year before committing to Texas Tech. Now, head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff will have another chance to make their best pitch. They hope it ends with a commitment from the game-changing lineman.

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament's return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world's biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year's global event.
The United States men's national team has put up some very memorable goals over the years. Up there near the top is Landon Donovan's iconic rebound to save the U.S. from elimination in 2010. But also high on the list is from four years later, when Jermaine Jones sent in an absolute blast from outside the box.
In the second game of the group stage at the 2014 World Cup, the U.S. was trailing against Portugal, 0-1, after conceding a goal just five minutes in. But in the 64th minute, Jones equalized with a gorgeous, powerful shot that curled through the box and into the right side netting.
Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament
That goal was one of just four that Jones scored for the U.S. And what a goal it was, with so much speed and power on it that Portugal goalkeeper Beto could only just stand and watch as it went in.