The New York Giants are completing their 53-man roster by signing wide recever/special teamer Dalen Cambre to the active roster from their practice squad, a source confirms. The move was initially reported by Art Stapleton.
The Giants had been carrying just 52 players after releasing wide receiver Darius Slayton earlier in the week.
Cambre, a former undrafted free agent, played in seven games almost exclusively on special teams for the Giants last season.
His presence means the Giants now have five wide receivers on their roster. They are also elevating wide receiver Braxton Berrios from the practice squad to be the punt returner and part of the kickoff unit, and linebacker Malik Harrison.
Here is #NYG coach John Harbaugh on 2nd-year WR Dalen Cambre, who had another good day on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/gg0FqWCuql

#roster #dalen #squad

Britain Covey will be available to handle punt-return duties when the Philadelphia Eagles open their season against the Washington Commanders. Philadelphia elevated Covey from the practice squad Saturday after placing rookie tight end Eli Stowers on injured reserve. The standard elevation allows Covey to play Sunday before reverting to the practice squad after the game.
Covey was listed as Philadelphia's primary punt returner on its first unofficial depth chart, but he needed to be elevated because he was not on the 53-man roster.
Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon worked extensively as a punt returner during training camp, even while recovering from a hamstring injury. Special teams coordinator Michael Clay expressed confidence in Lemon's development while acknowledging the Eagles had other options available.
We have downgraded TE Eli Stowers to out for tomorrow’s game with quadriceps and hamstring injuries. He has been placed on the Injured Reserve List. We have also elevated WR Britain Covey for the game. pic.twitter.com/4hGlWIiBY6
Covey gives Philadelphia an experienced and dependable alternative.

#philadelphia #game #stowers

In two weeks, USC faces Oregon in the Trojans' game of the year, the one which will shape the rest of their season. Oregon's outlook after the Boise State game is marked by concern and optimism. The concern comes from how poorly the Ducks played. The optimism comes from being able to win in spite of the below-par performance. Ducks Wire noted the good and bad performers from the game. Here are one of each:
Ducks Wire liked what it saw from linebacker Dylan Williams:
"The biggest riser on the defense in my mind was linebacker Dylan Williams, who played a huge role in this game, stepping up alongside Jerry Mixon and Devon Jackson in that linebacker room. While his stats don't jump off the page, Williams was flying around the field and had a huge impact on this game, earning some high praise from Dan Lanning when all was said and done. Expect to see a lot more of Williams this year."
Ducks Wire did not like what kick returner Evan Stewart brought to the table:
"As a wide receiver, Evan Stewart was great on Saturday, with eight catches for 72 yards. As a punt returner, though, Stewart left a bit to be desired. He had a trio of mistakes: a fair catch at the 3-yard line and two ****** ed punts, one of which was recovered by Boise State. In the end, Oregon was still able to get the win, and Lanning expressed support of Stewart after the game, but it's clear that this operation needs to clean up going forward for the Ducks, or we may see someone else back there in the return game."

#game #stewart #oregon #dylan

A controversial replay call late in the first quarter quickly became a major talking point in No. 4 Notre Dame's matchup against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, sparking criticism from fans and ***** ysts, including former Wisconsin star J.J. Watt.
The game was tied 3-3 late in the first quarter when Wisconsin kicker Porath sent a kickoff toward Harrison Bortolotti.
The returner appeared to have a chance at securing the ball, but it sailed through his hands, bounced several times, and eventually landed in the arms of Notre Dame's Kahanu Kia.
Kia recovered the ball at the Wisconsin 13-yard line, but officials initiated a replay review to determine whether he had established possession before going out of bounds.
After reviewing the play, officials upheld the ruling on the field and gave Notre Dame possession deep inside Wisconsin territory.

#late #possession

The New England Patriots have plenty of questions to answer before the season opener; however, one of them is hiding in plain sight. Who actually wants the kickoff return job?
Special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer is not ready to give anyone the ***** le. The Patriots have several players capable of handling returns, and Springer made it clear that the final decision could come down to something as simple as who is active on game day.
Aug 13, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches from the sideline during the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Springer was asked about the Patriots' kickoff returner and refused to put a name on it. Instead, he pointed to the number of options on the roster and said the decision will depend partly on the active list each week. That keeps one of the team's special-teams jobs unsettled heading into the regular season.
That answer is pretty telling. The Patriots are not necessarily looking for one player to handle every kickoff. With roster spots changing from week to week, the Patriots can afford to keep the competition open and choose from multiple return-capable players depending on the matchup and overall game-day personnel.

#Patriots #springer

Starting safety Brenden Jordan was a late scratch from the Texas Tech football team's starting lineup against Abilene Christian, the team announcing he would miss the first two games of the season just before kickoff.
The initial news release said Jordan's absence was non-injury related reasons. Joey McGuire explained after the game that Jordan has been issued a suspension for a violation of team rules.
"He'll be back," McGuire said. "He's in good standing. He was on the sideline tonight and we expect him back. He won't play these first two games."
Jordan was the veteran returner in Tech's secondary, entering his fourth year with the program and had started 15-straight starts at the end of last season.
Peyton Morgan and Malik Esquerra started at the safety positions for Texas Tech in the 33-10 win over ACU.

#jordan #season

Jared Curtis has entered Vanderbilt football's season opener against Austin Peay on Sept. 5 at FirstBank Stadium.
He entered with 1:32 to go before halftime with the Commodores leading, 15-9, as a loud cheer went up.
Curtis was a 5-star recruit who was the No. 2 quarterback in the class of 2026 who flipped to Vanderbilt from Georgia. He is an in-state product from Nashville Christian School. He battled with returner Blaze Berlowitz for the starting job throughout the preseason, but Berlowitz was tagged to start the opener.
That doesn't mean the competition is over, though. Coach Clark Lea didn't commit to Berlowitz starting any games beyond Austin Peay, saying instead he would decide the starting quarterback on a week-to-week basis as both quarterbacks would play in the opener.
Berlowitz was 8-for-11 passing for 127 yards. He also rushed seven times for 31 yards and a touchdown.

#vanderbilt #austin #entered #quarterback

Northwestern cross country is gearing up for its first race of the season on Friday, and the team has plenty to be confident about. NU is fresh off one of its most successful seasons in program history. The 'Cats finished 18th at the 2025 NCAA Championships, which marked the program's best finish of the modern era. As the Wildcats strive to continue building on last year's record-breaking campaign, NU enters this season ranked No. 11 in the Preseason National Coaches' Poll, joining three other Big Ten schools in the national rankings.
Here's a comprehensive preview of everything to know about the Wildcats' runners in 2026.
Returners: Maddy Whitman (Gr.), Skye Ellis (Gr.), Erin Boler (Sr.), Ava Criniti (Sr.), Anna Delgado (Sr.), Jackie Holman (Sr.), Maddy Powers (Sr.), Lydia Sommer (Sr.), Kailey Zagst (Sr.), Cary Drake (Jr.), Katherine Klimek (Jr.), Olivia Capala (So.), Allegra Massey (So.), Marley McCullough (So.), Jaya Simmons (So.), Bentley Thomas (So.)
Losses: Ava Earl, Serena Frolli, Mallory Grubb, Anna Hightower, Mia Mraz, Holly Smith, Samree Dishon, Delilah Helenhouse
Additions: Sophie Magson (Gr.), Katie Clute (Sr.), Eliza Nicholson (So.), Kyla Babb (Fr.), Sofia Balistreri (Fr.), Zoe Carroll (Fr.), Ella Goodsell (Fr.), Natalia Guaresimo (Fr.), Elyse Henricksen (Fr.), Isabelle Mahoney (Fr.), Emma Patrick (Fr.), Lauren Virmani (Fr.), Marella Virmani (Fr.), Isabelle Yttre (Fr.)

#maddy #anna

"So that's who's going to be the Buffalo Bills punt returner this season," the thoughts of many fans after the report and subsequent team announcement of the Greg Dortch signing on Monday.
With 99 career punt returns in the NFL, which includes a hefty 11.6 yards-per-return average in 2025, Dortch's presence on the Bills (practice squad) roster does in fact mean Buffalo now has an experienced punt returner.
And for as much as this signing feels like a savvy move born from special-teams desperation, I'm sneaky into Dortch as a supplemental receiving weapon within the Bills offense this season.
The first move of the Joe Brady era was trading for D.J. Moore. Clearly, the new regime deemed it most vital to upgrade a receiver room that, frankly, was one of the least dynamic in football last year. Couple the original relative lack of premier talent with an unusually high amount of injuries… and the Bills were forced to lean on Tyrell Shavers, Gabe Davis, Mecole Hardman, and Brandin Cooks, the latter two signed in November, down the stretch. And it just so happened that Josh Allen's final two targeted throws of Buffalo's 2025 season were to Hardman and Cooks, neither of which were completed, of course.
Because Moore and fourth-round pick Skyler Bell were the only two receivers of genuine importance added to the Bills receiver contingent this offseason… heck yeah I'm intrigued by the possibilities of a newly signed veteran wideout with 145 career catches on his NFL resume to date.

#season

When Greg Dortch signed with the Detroit Lions in March, he seemed destined to spend the duration of the 2026 season with the team.
At the time, he was seen as a one-for-one replacement for Kalif Raymond, the scrappy slot receiver and return specialist who had just defected for the Chicago Bears at the dawn of free agency.
He also had a history of working under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who called the plays during the final three seasons of Dortch's tenure with the Arizona Cardinals.
Throughout training camp and the preseason, the 5-foot-7, 183-pound Dortch appeared to be the leading candidate for the fourth receiver role and was among the top players under consideration to serve as the Lions' primary punt returner. Then, just like that, he was dumped Sunday when the team trimmed the roster to 53 men.
After resurfacing on the Buffalo Bills practice squad earlier this week, he told a group of reporters he was blindsided by the Lions' decision.

#team #greg #raymond

Kalen DeBoer has Alabama football's initial plan for the return game on both punts and kickoffs.
The Crimson Tide coach said Alabama plans to run "a combination of" wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, running back Trae'Shawn Brown, defensive back Dijon Lee Jr. and wide receiver Rico Scott at kickoff and punt return in 2026.
"There's some other guys in our kickoff return that are back there that can rotate in as well, but those are the guys you want to have touching the football," DeBoer said on the SEC Football Coaches Media Teleconference Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Lee had two punt returns for 32 yards in 2025, while Scott had three kickoff returns for 35 yards.
Cole Adams, who transferred to Vanderbilt, was Alabama's leading punt returner in 2025. Lotzeir Brooks was Alabama's leading kickoff returner.

#punt #scott #Football

Texas A&M will open up the season against the Missouri State Bears at Kyle Field on Saturday night. It's always difficult to judge a team in these matchups, where talent alone can carry you, but you can still learn a lot about your players.
In this game, I don't think there will be a true X‑factor, but the defensive line needs to show pure dominance, two‑deep, for fans to feel comfortable heading into Week 2 against the Arizona State Sun Devils. It's not completely new faces, but with most of last year's production headed to the NFL, the question is how good this group can actually be in 2026.
Returners T.J. Searcy, D.J. Hicks, and Marco Jones have all flashed high potential, and with the addition of Anto Saka, they now have another legitimate speed rusher off the edge.
They also beefed up the middle by adding C.J. Mims and Angelo McCullom. How much will this unit actually play on Saturday? Who knows, but when they're on the field, it needs to be obvious they are leagues better than the offensive line across from them.
Below is a breakdown of what we would like to see from each of these players.

#players #actually #missouri

For the second year in a row, the Cleveland Browns double-dipped early at a key offensive position in the NFL Draft. In 2025, Cleveland took Quinshon Judkins in round two and took Dylan Sampson in round four. This year, Cleveland took wide receiver KC Concepcion in round one and followed up with Denzel Boston in round two. Similarly to 2025, a 2026 rookie has seemingly locked down a starting role in this offense.
The staff over at ESPN went through and gave the rookie outlook for all 32 NFL teams, and noted that Concepcion is going to be a real weapon for this offense and wants to get him the ball early and often:
Concepcion has been a dynamic addition to the Browns' offense. Coach Todd Monken is using Concepcion in a role similar to the one he created for Zay Flowers in Baltimore, with plenty of motion and a variety of touches. Monken envisions a versatile role for Concepcion as a rookie -- possibly as a punt returner, too. "We've got to find a number of ways to get him the ball with his explosiveness, his quickness, his contact balance," Monken said. "He's going to be a real weapon for us."
Boston also got plenty of praise, with ***** ysts saying his "contested-catch ability and reliable hands" should have him playing the X receiver next to Concepcion. Overall, there is a lot to like about what Cleveland is building on offense.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns rookie WR seems to have locked down a starting role

#Browns #rookie #took

The practice squad does not always carry excitement in terms of additions from other teams, but in 2026, it did for the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills have had issues at the punt returner position this summer and that bled into the preseason, and that role has suited Greg Dortch well in his career. Not only that, Buffalo only five wide receivers on their 53-man roster instead of six.
There is a clear pathway for Dortch, who was cut by the Detroit Lions, to playing time with the Bills.
That's on paper, at least. There are decision makers involved and those folks have spoken.
"We have a healthy group of guys that can go out there," Buffalo head coach Joe Brady said. "Still don't play for two week so that's going to be part of the process."

#bills

True to his DNA as a longtime high school coach, UTSA's Jeff Traylor said the Roadrunners will tailor the 2026 offense to the strengths of their personnel.
New offensive coordinator Rick Bowie has six years of high school experience in his roots, too, understanding the need for adaptability and experimentation through the preseason as the unit takes shape.
UTSA at least has a few standout returners to work with on offense, while the defense was largely overhauled, bringing back just two players who started more than half of last season.
READ MORE: 'I'm still Will': How UTSA's star running back keeps true to himself
Whether to gain a tactical advantage or because of true uncertainty, Traylor has stopped short of highlighting potential standouts on defense, and he's keeping the expected shape of the Roadrunners' offense a mystery, too.

#true #traylor #shape #back

When the Buffalo Bills officially announced their initial practice squad ahead of the 2026 NFL season, one name stood out like a sore thumb: Greg Dortch.
The Bills have had issues at the punt returner position this summer and that bled into the preseason. While Ray Davis is an All-Pro kickoff returner, the punt duties he held led to a ******* during a game and that's a concern.
That role has suited Dortch well in his career, and not only that, the Bills only kept five wide receivers on their 53-man roster instead of six. There is a clear spot for Dortch in Buffalo, but there appears to have been one with the Detroit Lions too.
If the reactions from Lions fans are any sign, the Bills are getting a decent player. People in Detroit were unhappy about Dortch heading to Buffalo.
With that, here is Bills Wire's roundup of reactions from Lions fans on losing Dortch:

#reactions

Greg Dortch's NFL career has new life.
And it's where his life began.
The Buffalo Bills are signing the veteran wide receiver and return specialist to their practice squad, according to multiple reports.
Dortch was born in Rochester in 1998 before his family moved to Virginia when he was young.
He's returning to western New York with a chance to help solve one of the Bills' biggest special teams problems: returning punts. Buffalo didn't have an experienced punt returner on its initial 53-man roster.

#bills #life #virginia #Career

It was a bit of a surprise when the Seahawks waived wide receiver and return man Emmanuel Henderson yesterday, as he was a sixth-round pick who looked good in the preseason. But Henderson remains in the Seahawks' plans.
Henderson cleared waivers today, and the Seahawks are planning to bring him back to the practice squad.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said during the preseason that he wanted Henderson thinking about being a great NFL wide receiver and an All-Pro kick returner. The Seahawks love his potential, even if they don't think he's ready to contribute in Week One.
Henderson is accustomed to having to bide his time before making a big contribution: He spent three years at Alabama but didn't get on the field much before transferring to Kansas last year. In his one year at Kansas, Henderson was chosen by the Big 12 coaches as a first-team All-Big 12 returner and a third-team All-Big 12 receiver. Now the Seahawks will hope Henderson can once again take some time to develop and turn into a significant contributor.

#receiver #returner

One day after somewhat surprisingly leaving him off their initial 53-man roster, the New York Giants are signing veteran wide receiver/return man Braxton Berrios to their practice squad.
With Calvin Austin having suffered a season-ending torn ACL, Berrios figures to be the primary punt returner and part of the primary kickoff return duo with Deonte Banks. Teams can elevate players from the practice squad three times before having to add them to their 53-man rosters, and the Giants figure to do that with Berrios.
The Giants cut the 30-year-old Berrios on Sunday, enabling them to keep second-year tight end Thomas Fidone rather than exposing him to waivers in an effort to get him to the practice squad.
Entering his eighth season, Berrios has averaged 11.3 yards on 100 career punt returns, 24.9 yards on 91 kickoff returns, and has 140 career pass receptions.
Follow our practice squad tracker for all of the moves this afternoon as the Giants build their practice squad, and perhaps adjust their 53-man roster.

#season

The Giants released Braxton Berrios on Sunday, but there was word that the team planned to have the veteran wide receiver and kick returner back in the fold ahead of Week 1.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the avenue for Berrios's return will be via the practice squad. As Berrios is a vested veteran and did not have to go through waivers, a signing can take place right away.
Berrios signed with the team after Gunner Olszewski tore his Achilles this spring and he can be elevated to fill a returner role for the Giants when they face the Cowboys in the opening week of the regular season.
Berrios was an All-Pro returner for the Jets in 2021 and has career averages of 11.2 yards per punt return and 24.9 yards per kickoff return.

#berrios #return #braxton #sunday

Before he established himself at the professional level, Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean was a superstar for the Iowa Hawkeyes. DeJean was primarily an outside cornerback, but he also played the cash/hybrid DB positions, and was also was a very dangerous punt returner.
He was in Iowa City during some of the leanest years of the Brian Ferentz offenses, so having DeJean to sometimes get them six points off of special teams was a huge difference maker for those teams. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, Iowa's special teams and defense simply just had to be a critical component of the formula to score points. DeJean was a second round pick (40th overall) in 2024, and he was first team All-Pro last season.
In redshirt junior Zach Lutmer, Iowa has another star player at the cash position, who is set to return punts. Lutmer, whose versatility is a major ******* et, will shift over to free safety this year, and take over the punt returning duties from the departed Katen Wetjen.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has not exactly compared Lutmer to DeJean, but he has pointed out their similarities.
"Cooper gave me a lot of knowledge my freshman year and helped me out in a lot of different ways," Lutmer said at Media Day.

#cooper #cash #points

After the Chicago Bears' preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, there were questions about how they would respond in their preseason finale against the Tennessee **** ans. They answered that question very quickly with a 97-yard score.
That 97-yard touchdown was the start of an incredible night for rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas and quarterback Tyson Bagent. Bagent only had one incompletion out of 17 pass attempts and threw two touchdowns. Thomas had 140 receiving yards and another 39 yards on a punt return and 22 yards on a kick return.
With the preseason wrapped up and roster cuts on deck, head coach Ben Johnson was satisfied with how Chicago played in their final preseason game this year.
"I thought they brought it tonight," Johnson said. "Defense did a great job playing [the] physical brand that we pride ourselves on and to see a few of those three and outs there in the second half, that was great to see. And then offensively, when Tyson starts the game like that, I think he had one incompletion, 16 to 17. He was on fire. And so you felt like our offense was really rolling when that happened. It was good to see a guy like Zavion get some time and have some production from it, both in the receiving game but also as a punt returner. And then the other guy I highlighted to the team was Maurice Alexander. Just a guy that's selfless."
Wide receiver Maurice Alexander's performance probably flew under the radar with how well Thomas did. But, how Alexander played may prove to be more significant. Bagent and Thomas were not in danger of getting cut, but with how deep Chicago's wide receiver room is, Alexander was not guaranteed a spot on the team and this performance gave him a fighting chance to make the roster.

#bagent #wide #receiver

The FSU Seminoles beat the New Mexico State Aggies 34-17 to start the season, which means one Florida State player was given the honor of breaking the rock after the game. There was a clear choice after the game, with Samuel Singleton Jr. being chosen after an excellent game.
He showcased his ability to affect the game in multiple ways, making explosive plays as a runner, receiver, and returner. The senior finished with a game-high 164 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns, and head coach Mike Norvell admitted he was proud of him after the game.
"Sam's a guy that's a really talented football player," Norvell said. "He's growing, just in all areas. I was proud of him to see his impact in all three phases of it. The return game had a big kickoff return. Obviously, you had some good runs, but then you're also catching the ball out of the backfield was great to see and to see his confidence growing and what we do."
"It was a great start for him to this season, and we're expecting big things as we continue to move forward," he added.
Singleton has improved each year he has been at FSU, and while there is a long way to go, his senior year is off to an excellent start.

#game #start #season

The Chicago Bears have officially wrapped the preseason and are now faced with trimming the roster to 53 players by Sunday night's deadline.
Every year, there are some surprising additions and surprising cuts on initial 53-man rosters across the NFL, and we've seen that with the Bears in the past. While there are a number of players deserving of a spot on the 53-man roster, not everyone can make it, especially in position rooms that are already stacked.
There have been some standout performances for Chicago during training camp and preseason. But will it be enough to earn a coveted roster spot? With roster cuts looming, here are some potential surprise cuts for the Bears.
Kaden Davis has been the preseason darling for Chicago this summer, and it certainly feels like he's earned himself that final wide receiver roster spot. Davis has impressed in the passing game and has even garnered looks as a returner, which indicates he could be primed for a roster spot. But there have been some other standout performances at receiver, including Maurice Alexander, JP Richardson and Ray-Ray McCloud. Davis certainly feels like one of the safest bets on this list, but there's also a chance that the Bears only carry five wideouts.
Roschon Johnson, entering a contract year, has been forgotten in the running back room, but he's made a strong impression in the race for the RB3 spot. Johnson's work with the third-team offense, standout preseason performances and special teams contributions certainly make him the favorite for the spot. But Salvon Ahmed has had a standout training camp and preseason and could challenge for that spot. But it certainly feels like Johnson earned himself a spot on the 53-man roster with an impressive performance in the preseason finale.

#spot #standout #certainly #performances

With just days ahead of a flight to Melbourne, Australia for their season-opening showdown with the Rams, several 49ers stars descended upon St. Francis High School in Mountain View to watch Kyle Shanahan's son play.
George Kittle and his wife Claire, Kyle Juszczyk and his wife Kristin, Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and Mac Jones were all in attendance for the first St. Francis game of the season with a field-level view against Manteca High School. Instagram Stories posts by Kristin Juszczyk and Claire Kittle show the pair en route to and in attendance at a high school football game, and the group of 49ers can be seen sitting underneath the scoreboard on the school's livestream of the game.
While there were many games going on across the Bay Area on Friday night, the connection with their coach's family appears to be a big reason why all the 49ers went to the Mountain View private school for a game. Shanahan's son, Carter, is a junior this year who takes after his dad, who was a wide receiver at the University of Texas, and plays the same position for the Lancers. Carter Shanahan was a starter on Friday night as the Lancers beat Manteca, 31-23, and even was the team's primary kick returner.
The 49ers ties at St. Francis run deeper than just the coach's kid, too. Former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and Hall of Fame defensive lineman Bryant Young were hired as ******* istant coaches for the varsity team over the summer, and both are in their first seasons on the Lancers' staff. And two former St. Francis players are currently with the 49ers: the team signed defensive end Villami "Junior" Fehoko Jr. last week and employs Michael Lauck, a former quarterback at the school, on the 49ers' video team. Other former 49ers stars have also sent their kids to St. Francis in the past, including Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott and former head coach Steve Mariucci, and were frequently seen at the school's sporting events.
It isn't the first time the 49ers have made their presence felt on the St. Francis football field, as Shanahan also attended his son's junior varsity game last season after his team's Week 5 dramatic win against the Rams.

#school #high #view

The Baltimore Ravens drafted LaJohntay Wester because they were fans of what he could do with the ball in his hands. A skilled returner and 2023 First-Team All-American, he landed on Eric DeCosta's radar, resulting in the former Colorado Buffaloes star's 2025 sixth-round selection.
He stacked 198 yards on 16 punt returns and another 246 on ten kick returns. It's now year two, and throughout training camp and the preseason, he has shown he may offer much more than just explosive special teams play. Head coach Jesse Minter recently went as far as to praise him publicly.
Three preseason games are in the rearview mirror. Every week brought another sign that Wester was climbing the organizational ladder. More opportunities followed. More praise arrived. More importantly, more production and trust were earned.
That trust was no longer subtle. Wester's stock is rising. He capped Baltimore's 41-3 preseason finale victory over the Washington Commanders with a touchdown reception, continuing a summer that has steadily strengthened his case for a meaningful role heading into the regular season.
Speaking with the media after Friday night's win, head coach Jesse Minter again tipped his cap to Wester, highlighting the progress Wester has made since arriving in Baltimore.

#minter #head

Head coach Lane Kiffin put together a talented roster ahead of his first season leading LSU football. Six of those players, returners and transfers, were recognized as being among the best in the game on ESPN's top-100 college players list.
LSU signed the nation's top transfer portal class, bringing in over 40 transfers. The new crop includes the portal's top player in quarterback Sam Leavitt and the top offensive lineman in Jordan Seaton. Kiffin also brought Princewill Umanmielen and others over from Ole Miss, where he coached for six seasons.
The Tigers also retained some of their biggest weapons from last year. Tight end Trey'Dez Green and linebacker Whit Weeks will run it back as well as freshman All-American cornerback DJ Pickett. The future NFL stars will attempt to take LSU back to the postseason for the first time since 2019, when Joe Burrow led the program to the national championship.
Offseason buzz puts LSU among the best programs in the nation with College Football Playoff expectations. Whether it can knock off some of the SEC ****** ans on its schedule remains to be seen but the talent on the team is undeniable.
Here are the six players named to ESPN's top-100 college football players list.

#Football #first #back

North Carolina A&T vs. Morgan State channel, time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Saturday college football game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's Week 0 for college football, with Morgan State set to visit North Carolina A&T in a season opener matching teams looking for an upward trajectory in 2026.
The Aggies are coming off a 2-10 campaign, while the Bears went 4-7 a year ago, but a new year brings a fresh slate and each will look to start on a positive note.
The player to watch Saturday will be Morgan State quarterback Cameron Edge, who played three years at Maryland and spent last season at Eastern Michigan but did not see action. On the opposite side, the Aggies' star is receiver and punt returner Elijah Kennedy, a preseason HBCU All-American.
It should be a good one from Greensboro. Here's how to watch all the action.

#state #north #Football

Whew. The New Orleans Saints may have found a sixth-round steal in rookie draft pick Barion Brown, a wide receiver out of LSU and Kentucky. He's a special athlete, and the Saints are having some fun finding ways to get him involved. His first touch in Friday's preseason game with the Dallas Cowboys was a handoff around the left end of the formation that gained a dozen yards before he was driven out of bounds. His second opportunity was a rush around the right side, and this time he scampered 7 yards into the end zone. That touchdown gave New Orleans the lead. Opponents are learning to respect Brown's speed -- he set up that touchdown by forcing a Cowboys defender into illegal contact, drawing a penalty that gave the Saints a fresh set of downs.
Brown was drafted for his skills on special teams; he was a dangerous kick returner during four years in the SEC, but his production as a receiver proved he could do more than make plays in the game's third phase. With first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson expected to miss some time to start the season, the Saints will be counting on Brown to help the offense stay on schedule through a tough opening gauntlet.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: WATCH: Speedy Saints rookie Barion Brown scores 7-yard rushing TD

#saints #cowboys

Crocs, Pokemon cards and kendamas never go out of style in Hawaii. And neither does the Warriors' four-wide offense, In video sessions with offensive newcomers, receivers coach Jared Ursua shows old footage of the Warriors' passing game. "We've been doing this since January," Ursua said of clips of former UH QBs Dan Robinson, Nick Rolovich, Timmy Chang, Colt Brennan, Bryant Moniz and Cole McDonald. "We are who we are, we do what we do, and this system has always worked." QB1 Micah Alejado has been starring in recent remakes, deciphering defenses ahead of the snap, releasing passes within 2.2 seconds, and throwing to targeted areas on the receivers' routes. "Micah's a special quarterback," said Chang, the UH head coach who calls the offensive plays. "He understands our offense, and he understands what teams are trying to do against us." Ursua has implored the receivers to read the coverages correctly "so Micah can throw at a high level based on our indicators, which is what the run-and-shoot is based off." Alejado has shown toughness, playing through injuries to his right ankle last season. He did not participate in contact drills ahead of the Hawaii Bowl, during which he completed 69.6% of his throws for 274 yards and three TDs. Last season, the Warriors scored on 46.1% of Alejado's full drives. Slotbacks Blaze Kamoku, Tama Uiliata, Audric Harris, Kainoa "Kaikai" Carvalho, ******* an Lacaden and Koa Eldredge are reliable inside receivers. Devin Alves, Tre' Griffiths and Carson Brown are tall and fast wideouts. With running back Landon Sims' graduation, Cam Barfield will get the bulk of the reps. Barfield did not fumble while averaging 9.1 touches as a running back, receiver and returner. Left tackle Boogie Henderson's emergence enabled Dean Briski to move to the right side. At 6-6 and 345 pounds, Oregon transfer Lipe Moala is mobile on pulls.
Three years ago, in his first season as UH's defensive coordinator, Dennis Thurman kept intact the 4-2-5 scheme the Warriors ran under Corey Batoon in 2019 and Jacob Yoro in 2023. In 2024, Thurman incorporated some of the attacking schemes he used when he was an ******* istant coach with the Baltimore Ravens and DC with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. "Once we clicked his second year, he let it all loose," mike linebacker Wynden Ho'ohuli said of Thurman. Kona Moore, who has overcome a variety of injuries, and Matagi Thompson are succeeding safeties Peter Manuma and Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen. "Main focus is staying healthy," said Moore, who relies on stretching as part of his prehab. Ho'ohuli and Jamih Otis have switched linebacker jobs. Ho'ohuli is now the middle, often working in tandem with nickelback Elijah Palmer. As the renamed dime linebacker, Otis often has isolation ******* ignments, which enable him to use his speed in the flats and to break off for direct aim at running backs. Ho'ohuli and Otis will take turns as play-callers. The Warriors will miss Jackie Johnson III's pass rushing, but Leste