The Saints may have suffered a major blow to their defense.
Defensive lineman Bryan Bresee left Wednesday's opening practice of training camp with a knee injury and NFL Media reports that the fear is that he tore his ACL. If that is confirmed, Bresee will miss the entire 2026 season and the Saints could be on the hunt for more help on their defensive front.
Bresee was a 2023 first-round pick in New Orleans and he started all 15 games he played during the 2025 season. He has 86 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 49 career games for the team.
The Saints exercised Bresee's fifth-year option this offseason, so he is under contract for next season.

#bryan #Media #suffered

The Seattle Seahawks may have Wednesday off from training camp practice, but they're busy looking at possible roster additions.
Former Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson is slated for a workout with Seattle, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It could be yet another former Cowboys defensive player reuniting with current Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde.
Wilson was drafted by the Cowboys in 2019 and started in five of his seven seasons with the team. He recorded 13 sacks, nine forced fumbles, and eight interceptions in his career, including (barring an un-retirement) the final interception of Russell Wilson's career.
When Dan Quinn was the defensive coordinator, Wilson as among the three safeties in Quinn's "big nickel" package, and his best season came in 2022 when he had a career-high five sacks and seven tackles for loss, earning him a three-year contract extension.
The Seahawks are currently without Nick Emmanwori, whose recent ankle surgery landed him on the PUP list. His status for Week 1 is unclear but it's not expected to be a long-term absence. In the meantime, the 30-year-old Wilson would be a possible veteran presence with a legitimate shot to make the roster. We'll see if the workout turns into an eventual signing.

#seahawks #workout

USC football plays Penn State this season. Nittany Lions Wire looked at PSU pass rusher Max Granville.
"Granville enrolled early at Penn State before a season ending injury caused him to miss the 2025 season. In his true freshman season however, he appeared in seven games, logging a tackle and a pass breakup. Since Granville can play in a hybrid role, many project that not only will he start at the "Leo" spot(off the edge/outside linebacker), but that he can rotate easily between both. He has the size and length to use his bend around offensive tackles but the lateral range to set the edge in a linebacker role. It is because of this versatility that Granville is expected to log double digit sacks."
Clearly, Max Granville is expected to be a high-impact player on the Penn State defense. What is tricky about USC's attempt to counteract him is that he could play different positions and line up at different spots on the field. Penn State can change up its defensive looks in an attempt to confuse USC quarterback Jayden Maiava. USC's offensive line ****** ignments need to be very clear. Communication at the offensive line before the snap has to be precise, consistent and well-integrated. USC is playing Penn State on the road, so the Trojans have to have a system in place for communicating signals which is reliable and won't create mix-ups. USC cannot allow Max Granville to make negative plays which throw a monkey wrench into the Trojans' offensive possessions.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC opposing player scouting report - Max Granville, Penn State

#state #offensive #line #pass

The Vita Vea sweepstakes could be heating up. With reports that the disgruntled Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle requested a trade and would prefer a team based in California, rumors are swirling about a potential San Francisco 49ers connection. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler added more fuel to that fire when he listed the 49ers among five potential trade fits for Vea.
San Francisco's pass-rush numbers make the interest easy to understand, as well as the team's salary cap situation. The 49ers had a league-low 20 sacks in 2025, and Vea has 11.5 sacks over the past two seasons. For his career, Vea has piled up 35 sacks, 34 tackles and seven tackles for loss last season alone, along with 13 quarterback hits, numbers that have made him a two-time Pro Bowler over his eight seasons in Tampa.
One wrinkle worth noting: the 49ers don't run a base 3-4 front like several of Vea's other reported fits, so his usage in Raheem Morris's scheme could look different than in Tampa Bay's system.
The 49ers are sitting on roughly $71 million in cap ****** e, and for the first time in a while, they aren't staring down a looming extension for a homegrown star, giving them room to be aggressive if they wanted to bid.
There's also a geographic pull. Vea grew up in the Stanford, California, area and played at Milpitas High School just miles from Levi's Stadium. Additionally, it would reunite Vea with ex-Buccaneers star Mike Evans. They played eight years together from 2018 to 2025.

#tampa #sacks #numbers #tackles

The Ravens' biggest offseason addition is ready to silence the doubters originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When the Baltimore Ravens take the field for training camp, one player will draw more attention than almost anyone else: newly acquired edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
After the Ravens missed out on trading for Maxx Crosby when a failed physical sent the star pass rusher back to the Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore quickly pivoted and landed one of the NFL's premier defensive playmakers. Now, expectations are high for Hendrickson as he prepares for his first season in purple and black.
The veteran edge defender enters camp looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2025 campaign that limited him to just seven games. While the shortened season slowed his production, it did little to diminish his reputation as one of football's most relentless pass rushers.
Just one season earlier, Hendrickson reminded the league why he is considered an elite defender. During the 2024 campaign, he led the NFL with 17.5 sacks while generating 65 quarterback pressures, consistently disrupting opposing offenses and changing games with his ability to collapse the pocket.

#sporting #baltimore

The 49ers are making an addition to their defensive line group.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that they will sign defensive end KJ Henry. Henry worked out for the team on Tuesday,
Henry was a Commanders fifth-round pick in 2023 and he was let go as part of their final cuts in 2024. He was claimed by the Bengals and later moved on to the Cowboys and Eagles before the year was out. Henry also spent time with the Browns and Steelers last season.
Henry appeared in 15 games across all of those spots. He has 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks for his career.

#mike #tuesday

The Jets moved wide receiver Tim Patrick back to the active roster on Tuesday, the team announced. Defensive end Joseph Ossai, though, was added to the active/physically unable to perform list.
Patrick, whose injury was undisclosed, went on the list Saturday.
He signed with the Jets in May after appearing in 16 games for the Jaguars last season. He totaled 15 receptions for 187 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.
Ossai, whose injury is undisclosed, signed with the Jets on March 12. A third-round pick of the Bengals in 2021, he has totaled 116 total tackles, 44 quarterback hits and 14.5 sacks.
In 2025, Ossai played a career-high 616 defensive snaps and logged 71 special teams snaps.

#patrick #list #injury

Jalen Carter has signed a four-year extension with the Philadelphia Eagles, the club said Tuesday, in a deal that reportedly makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.
Though the 2025 Super Bowl winners did not disclose financial terms, US media said the extension was worth $152 million (133.5 million euros), or $38 million per year, with $106 million guaranteed.
Carter, 25, is one of the NFL's most highly-rated young defenders, having been selected to each of the last two Pro Bowls.
He was drafted ninth in the first round in 2023, and became a cornerstone of the Eagles' vaunted defense.
Carter has 13.5 quarterback sacks and 108 tackles across his first three seasons with Philadelphia.

#carter #million #Eagles #jalen

Jalen Carter is no longer being paid for potential. The Philadelphia Eagles are compensating him like the centerpiece of a championship defense.
Carter agreed to a four-year, $152 million extension that reportedly includes $106 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history by annual value. That distinction brings more than financial security. It establishes a standard Carter will be expected to meet every week. The Eagles have already seen stretches in which Carter appears capable of controlling games from the interior. His first-step quickness, power and ability to collapse the pocket create problems that cannot always be measured through sacks. Quarterbacks are forced to move, running backs must alter their paths and offensive lines frequently commit additional help to his side.
Philadelphia's investment is based on the belief that those stretches can become the norm.
Record contracts invite record expectations. Carter will be evaluated against the NFL's elite defensive tackles rather than other young players at his position. Quiet stretches will receive more attention, while availability, conditioning, and discipline will become increasingly important factors in his performance. The extension also gives Carter an opportunity to **** ume a larger leadership role. Jordan Davis has received his own long-term deal, but Carter's contract makes him the financial centerpiece of Philadelphia's defense. Younger linemen will follow his example, and the organization will expect his preparation to match his talent.
None of that should be viewed as unfair. Carter earned the leverage that produced a historic agreement. The Eagles responded by making one of the largest commitments in franchise history.

#Eagles

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles are set to make two-time Pro Bowl selection Jalen Carter the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, a person with knowledge of the deal told The **** ociated Press on Tuesday.
The Eagles and Carter announced that they agreed to terms on a four-year extension through the 2031 season. The person, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because financial terms hadn't been announced, said the contract includes $106 million guaranteed.
The Eagles already had picked up the fifth-year option for the 2027 season for Carter, the ninth selection in the 2023 draft. His extension is one less distraction for the Eagles as they open training camp this week.
Carter was runner-up for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2023 to Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson. He has 13 1/2 sacks in 43 career games — he missed three games last season with injuries — and was a key contributor when the Eagles won the Super Bowl for the 2024 season.
The 25-year-old Carter won two national championships in college at Georgia, where he was involved in a crash that killed a teammate and a recruiting staffer. He was given probation and a fine.

#carter #person

The Chicago Bears are back at Halas Hall for the start of training camp, with the first practice set to take place on Wednesday. Before the players hit the field, though, general manager Ryan Poles met with the media on Tuesday to discuss a number of topics, including injuries, position battles, and more.
One notable topic is the possibility of extending right tackle Darnell Wright, who became eligible for a new deal this offseason. Wright has been the entrenched starter since coming into the league as the No. 10 overall pick in 2023 and is coming off his best season as a pro.
Poles acknowledged the Bears want Wright to be with the team long-term but stated it takes two sides to get a deal done and the window is limited. "There's a window to get a deal done. At some point, we have to go play football. So we will figure that out. Darnell is a guy we want here for the long term," Poles said via Bear Report's Zack Pearson. He also maintained that Wright needs to play with more consistency going into 2026. "We see the flashes and stacks of plays he puts together. He needs to be consistent day-in, day-out," he said via Shaw Media's Michal Dwojak.
Wright played in 16 games last season and allowed just three sacks, three QB hits, and 19 pressures. His main issue continues to be penalties, which he had 12 of in 2025. Still, Wright earned Second-Team All-Pro for his play on the offensive line and, at 24 years old, is just hitting his prime. The Bears did pick up Wright's fifth-year option, ensuring he remains with the Bears through the 2027 season. Hopefully the two sides come to an agreement sooner rather than later to keep him around longer than that.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears GM Ryan Poles discusses possible extension for Darnell Wright

#poles #team

When Florida State was preparing for the 2025 season, defensive tackle Kevin Wynn was looked at as one of the top incoming freshmen and a player who could have an immediate impact. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned for the former four-star prospect.
Wynn suffered an injury late in fall camp that held him out of FSU's win against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the season opener. He ended up playing in just four games last season and recorded one tackle. Now, Wynn is healthy, and he's also about 30 pounds lighter at 317.
According to defensive line coach Terrance Knighton, Wynn has made the most of his opportunities during the summer. He feels that Wynn has taken more strides than anyone.
"Juju, I think, had the biggest jump this summer. He's lost 40 pounds," Knighton said via Warchant. "He's moving well, which is helping his body with the day-to-day. Now, he's able to, like I said, focus on football. He's in great shape, and he's ready to show he can be an every-down player."
Wynn was an absolute force during his high school days at Greene County High School in Greensboro, Georgia. He racked up 84 tackles for loss and 14 sacks (seven as a senior). He displayed an incredible burst and great power, which is why he lived behind the line of scrimmage and became a top 100 recruit.

#season #defensive #four #pounds

LOS ANGELES -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be on the verge of losing another cornerstone player after star defensive tackle Vita Vea officially requested a trade, creating one of the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason and immediately sparking speculation that the two-time Pro Bowler could be headed back to the West Coast.
Vea, 31, is seeking a new long-term contract after negotiations with the Buccaneers stalled. His agent confirmed the trade request just before veterans were scheduled to report for training camp. Although Vea is expected to report to camp, his future in Tampa Bay has become increasingly uncertain as he enters the final season of his current contract, which carries a non-guaranteed base salary for 2026.
The request comes during a period of significant change for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has already seen longtime linebacker Lavonte David retire while franchise icon Mike Evans departed in free agency to sign with the San Francisco 49ers, leaving the organization facing one of its biggest roster transitions in years.
One of the league's most dominant interior defensive linemen since entering the NFL as the 12th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Vea has been the anchor of Tampa Bay's run defense and helped lead the franchise to a Super Bowl LV championship. Over eight seasons, he has totaled 256 tackles and 35 sacks while earning two Pro Bowl selections. Last season, he started all 17 games, recording 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits.
With Vea now on the trade market, oddsmakers at BetOnline Sports & Casino believe Southern California is the most likely destination.

#contract

The Chargers could be at the top of defensive tackle Vita Vea's list after he requested a trade from the Buccaneers.
Ted Nguyen of The Athletic shared the news after Vea requested a trade.
Nguyen added that Vea has a no-trade clause; however, he can choose to resign after this year.
The 31-year-old requested a trade from the Buccaneers after talks on a contract extension have stalled, his agent Collin Roberts told ESPN on Monday. Vea is entering the final year of his four-year, $71 million contract and is set to earn $17 million this season, but none of it is guaranteed.
Vea wants to enter the season with a new contract, and because the two sides haven't agreed on a deal, the Washington product wants to start fresh elsewhere. Last season with Tampa, Vea appeared in all 17 games and finished with 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits and 34 total tackles.

#year #buccaneers

Myles Garrett is heading into his 10th NFL season, and his first with the Rams. If he has the kind of big year the Rams are hoping for, he could break the NFL record for the most sacks ever in a player's first 10 seasons.
Through nine years, Garrett has 125.5 career sacks. The record for the most sacks in a player's first 10 seasons is 145, set by Reggie White in his 10th NFL season, in 1994. So if Garrett gets 20 sacks this season, he'll break White's record.
It's worth noting that the record has an asterisk: Official NFL records for a player's sack total have only been recorded since 1982. Deacon Jones has the unofficial record, with 155 sacks in his first 10 seasons.
Garrett set the NFL record for sacks in a season last year, when he had 23. So a 20-sack season is possible for him this year.
After Jones and White, Jared Allen has the next-most sacks through 10 seasons, with 128.5. Garrett will almost certainly get the 3.5 sacks he needs to surpass Allen.

#first #seasons

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football led the Big Ten with three players on the conference's annual preseason honors list.
Hoosiers defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker, wide receiver Charlie Becker and linebacker Rolijah Hardy made the 12-member team, as voted on by the media.
Tucker, the lone JMU transfer left on coach Curt Cignetti's roster, will be in Chicago this week representing IU for Big Ten Media Days. He jumped into the starting lineup last year and earned All-American honors, while anchoring one of the most disruptive defensive fronts in the country. Hardy, who started last year as well, led the Hoosiers in tackles (102) and sacks (8.0).
On offense, Becker emerged in the second half of last season as one of the country's most talented playmakers with 34 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns. He's generating buzz as a potential first round draft pick after his star turn in the College Football Playoff.
Here's a look at the Big Ten's full honor's list:

#hoosiers #becker #honors #defensive

Just before the Chicago Bears opened training camp this week, big news came out that could grab the attention of the front office with a position player they could use having requested a trade. According to several NFL insiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea, a former first-round pick in 2018, has requested a trade due to stalled contract negotiations.
While it could just be a ploy to get the franchise to bite into his favor during contract talks, Vea's trade request should immediately perk the ears of Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Coming into this season, the Bears really only have Gervon Dexter Sr. and Grady Jarrett as their production leaders at the defensive tackle but severely lack depth behind him, and Jarrett underperformed in his first season with Chicago last year.
The question now becomes if the Bears should entertain a trade for Vea, and if they do, what would that look like to acquire him, as there's no doubt he'd be a big upgrade to the defensive line as a whole. Here's our examination of a potential Bears pursuit of acquiring the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle.
A trade for Vea, at the very minimum, is going to likely start with a second-round pick, and another Day 3 pick going back to Tampa Bay, but the Bears may also want to consider dangling Gervon Dexter in return. The issue with potentially including Dexter is that he would be the youngest of the three between Vea, Jarrett, and himself, and he's a free agent after the 2026 season, so a contract is going to be on the table for both players. For Chicago, there would need to be a contract extension on the table for Vea, which could be very difficult with limited cap ******* e, especially with the veteran defensive tackle likely looking to get paid among the top players at his position, approximately over $20 million a season.
The Bears were one of the worst run defenses in the NFL last year, allowing 134.5 yards per game to opponents, as well as a 5.0 yard per carry average to opposing running backs. Over the last several seasons, Vea has been among the best run stoppers in the league, and in 2024 he had the best season of his career with 7.0 sacks and 10 tackles for loss on the year. If Chicago believes that Vea could lead the defensive tackle position, and improve their run defense, they should swing big if they can make it work from a financial fit, because he would most certainly be a big upgrade on the field.

#defensive #dexter

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider believes in rotating pass rushers. So does head coach Mike Macdonald. That's precisely why you knew the Seahawks would have a response to losing Boye Mafe in free agency.
The Seahawks did not draft a pass rusher. Instead, they signed veteran Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year contract worth just $2.5 million, with additional incentives. Fowler was a late-wave signing for the Seahawks, agreeing to terms with the franchise weeks after the draft on May 11th.
It turns out the Seahawks had been after Fowler for quite some time. The veteran pass rusher recently revealed that Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde attempted to sign Fowler last offseason. That makes sense, considering they worked together in both Atlanta and Dallas.
Fowler decided to re-sign with the Cowboys last offseason. This summer, Durde and Fowler's former teammate DeMarcus Lawrence put on the heavy push to sign him again. This time, Fowler was convinced to join the Seahawks.
Fowler registered just three sacks for the Cowboys in 2025, but had 10.5 sacks for the Washington Commanders in 2024. The 12th-year defensive end will play a rotational role for the Seahawks. Coach Durde believes Fowler has some pass-rushing juice left in the tank.

#fowler #pass #believes

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea has requested a trade from the team. Vea's agent, Collin Roberts, broke the news to ESPN on Monday.
Last month, Vea was a hold-in because of his contract situation during the Bucs mandatory mini-camp. At the time, head coach Todd Bowles said he was not concerned about it and that it was "part of the business." Now, after contract negotiations have stalled, Vea will look to end up elsewhere.
He will be entering his final year of a four-year, $71 million contract and is set to earn $17 million this season, with none of it guaranteed.
Last season, Vea appeared in all 17 games, finishing with 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits and 34 tackles. In his eight seasons with the Buccaneers, he has totaled 35 sacks. In the coming days, teams will be coming out of the woodwork wanting to sign Vea, who is considered a dominant run-stopping force on the interior line.
NFL veterans are scheduled to report to NFL training camps today.

#year #season #coming

The NFL received a huge shakeup following a superstar defender's decision to request a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And the Pittsburgh Steelers would be wise to pay close attention.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Buccaneers Pro Bowl defensive lineman Vita Vea has requested a trade out of Tampa Bay following failed contract negotiations. And considering the fact that the Steelers have prioritized upgrading their defensive line in recent offseasons, a trade for Vea could finally complete the process.
Vea, who was drafted by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, has spent the past eight seasons in Tampa Bay, recording 35 sacks and 256 combined tackles while cementing his place as one of the league's best run defenders.
A two-time Pro Bowler whose versatility allows him to impact the game as a nose tackle and defensive tackle, Vea could be the final piece of an otherwise Super Bowl-ready roster in Pittsburgh.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

#tampa #buccaneers #steelers #bowl

As we gear up for the 2026 football season, Aggies Wire is breaking down nearly every player on the Texas A&M roster. Throughout the preseason, each profile will highlight a player's background, recruiting rankings out of high school, and projected role under head coach Mike Elko.
Texas A&M's run defense left plenty to be desired at times last season, and just as Elko made it a priority to overhaul the secondary with length and speed, he approached the linebacker room with the same intentionality. The staff has done a strong job building a youthful foundation, but they needed a veteran presence who could step in and stabilize the unit immediately. Enter senior Tulsa transfer Ray Coney.
Coney's importance grew even further once projected starter Daymion Sanford suffered a lower‑body injury during the Maroon & White Spring Game, sidelining him for an unspecified portion of the 2026 campaign. In his lone season at Tulsa, Coney was one of the most productive linebackers in the American Conference, recording 129 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble. His breakout year earned him 2025 American All‑Conference First Team honors, 2025 Phil Steele's American Conference First Team recognition, and a spot on the 2025 East‑West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List.
There's real optimism inside the program about what Coney can become in Elko's system, and the Aggies will need that development to materialize quickly as they search for his running mate until Sanford returns to the lineup.
Hometown: Fairfield, Ohio

#coney #season #texas

Jaelan Phillips was already going to be shouldering a heavy load for the Carolina Panthers defense this year. The four-year, $120 million contract he signed in March was the biggest for player in free agency—even more than former sack champion Trey Hendrickson got from the Baltimore Ravens.
And now, after Thursday's news revealed that fellow starting outside linebacker Nic Scourton would miss the entire 2026 season due to an ACL tear, the pressure is even greater.
From Phillips' perspective, he's focused on turning his high pressure rate into more sacks. Here's what he told NFL Network national reporter Cameron Wolfe after the opening session of training camp:
Phillips entered the 2025 campaign with a career high of 8.5 sacks, which he posted during his rookie season in 2021. Last year, he managed just 5.0 while playing a full 17-game slate between the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The under-the-hood numbers, however, tell a bit of a different story. Phillips tallied 76 pressures in 2025, tied for the ninth-most in the league.

#phillips #sacks

On Wednesday, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, alongside quarterback Marcel Reed, safety Marcus Ratcliffe, and linebacker Daymion Sanford, spoke to the local and national media during SEC Media Days, and after suffering what looked like a serious lower-body injury during the Maroon & White Game, Daymion Sanford, who is entering his senior season, has already graduated from his walking boot after undergoing surgery this summer.
On track to potentially return to the field earlier than expected, Sanford stated on Wednesday that he is already running again, while his recovery was "more of a mindset thing" the required plenty of patience without affecting his return timeline, while steadfast support from Mike Elko, and knowing that the Aggie linebacker rotation is in good shape with transfer Ray Coney and rising sophomore Noah Mikhail leading the way before he returns.
"I think it's going to be pretty difficult," Sanford stated. "But it's more of a mindset thing that I've learned throughout this process. You have to celebrate the small wins every day and make yourself feel good. So I've been celebrating the small wins, like being able to walk again, being able to get out of the brace, being able to run, stuff like that."
During the first portion of his Q&A with the local Aggie media, Sanford was asked which defensive player on the roster is under the radar entering the 2026 season, and while a long list of returning players could have been named, Sanford chose Illinois transfer defensive tackle Angelo McCullom, who reportedly hit a new bench press personal record of 470 pounds.
While North Carolina transfer defensive tackle CJ Mims is expected to start at nose tackle, McCullom, who appeared in 12 games at nose tackle last season, recording 19 tackles and 2 sacks, will serve as his primary backup. Per Pro Football Focus, McCullom finished the year with a solid 70.3 run defense grade.

#season

The 2026 Shriners Children's East-West Bowl released its watch list on Thursday. The list contains six returning Huskers and five Nebraska transfers.
Returning Huskers to make the list included wide receiver Nyziah Hunter, tight end Luke Lindenmeyer, edge rusher Williams Nwaneri, defensive back Andrew Marshall, and offensive linemen Justin Evans and Elijah Pritchett. Transfers include quarterback Anthony Colandrea, edge rusher Anthony Jones Jr., defensive back Dwayne McDougle III and offensive linemen Brendan Black and Paul Mubenga.
Colandrea is the standout, playing in 33 games in his career with 31 starts at quarterback. The 2025 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year across three seasons completed 627-of-983 passes for 7,542 yards and 49 touchdowns. He also had 328 carries for 1,151 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Jones Jr. played one season each at Oregon, Indiana, Michigan State and UCLA before transferring to Nebraska. Jones has played in 37 games, totaling 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one pass breakup. McDougle III followed new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich from San Diego State.
McDougle III played in 40 games across four seasons and recorded 143 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 12 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Black and Mubenga combined for 56 games and 41 starts. Black played in 36 games across three seasons at Iowa State. Mubenga also played for three seasons, taking part in 20 games at LSU.

#played #black #state

This is the ninth in a 10-part series of questions facing the Buffalo Bills as they head into training camp at St. John Fisher University.
One of the many things the safety tandem of Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde delivered for the Buffalo Bills during their tenure together was their innate ability to make game-altering plays, namely in the area of turnovers.
They played side-by-side in Sean McDermott's defense for seven seasons and during that time they combined for 38 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and 10 recoveries, and there were another two picks, three forced fumbles and a recovery in the postseason.
This year, with veteran playmaker CJ Gardner-Johnson joining emerging Cole Bishop in the back end of new coordinator Jim Leonhard's defense, the Bills are hoping they can get a few more big plays from the safety position.
Bishop enjoyed a stellar second NFL season, his first as a full-time starter, when he made three interceptions, two sacks, broke up seven passes and was in on a team-high 85 tackles.

#seven

After losing four of five starters to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Texas A&M offensive line underwent major revamping in the offseason, as a slew of newcomers will play their first snaps for the Aggies this season.
Last year's group protected quarterback Marcel Reed extremely well, tying with Ole Miss for first in the SEC with only 19.0 total sacks allowed. The starting offensive line, featuring 161 combined starts from Mike Elko's first year at the helm in 2024, earned the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll, which recognized the nation's top offensive lines. They paved the way for the program to earn its first 11-0 start since 1992 and secure its first College Football Playoff bid last season.
Despite production lost during the offseason, Elko hauled in some impressive transfer talent and incoming freshmen who could make a big impact for Texas A&M's offense in 2026.
Here are some players to watch in the trenches in our overview of the unit for the upcoming campaign:
#65 Avery Morcho - Fr., 6'6", 284 lbs

#line #offseason

The Los Angeles Rams made a bold move to add star defender Myles Garrett, and it appears Garrett's value continues to rise.
Sports Illustrated ranked Garrett as the NFL's best edge rusher entering 2026.
"Without question, Garrett is the best edge rusher in the NFL—and perhaps even the best player in the game," wrote Sports Illustrated's Eva Geitheim. "This past season, Garrett made history, breaking the NFL's official single-season sack record, tallying 23 sacks during the season as he captured his second Defensive Player of the Year award. He also owns the record for most consecutive seasons with at least 12 sacks, having achieved this feat in six consecutive years from 2020 to '25."
"He has now been a first-team All-Pro in three consecutive seasons, and five times overall. He continues to make even the league's best offensive linemen lose sleep as he adds more signal-callers into his quarterback graveyard. In 2026, Garrett will take his talents to Hollywood—O.K., Inglewood—after the Browns traded him to the Rams. With the trade, he'll get the opportunity to add postseason success—and perhaps a ring—to his Hall of Fame résumé."
It means the Rams were more than justified in making the move for Garrett. There are rare situations in which a team should trade a Pro Bowl pass rusher before they've hit their prime, and if the Rams were to lose Jared Verse, Garrett is the only player that makes sense in the long run.

#rusher

Buffalo Bills training camp begins next week… what a fantastic sentence to write after the prolonged time spent away from football. For the Bills there are many different questions heading into camp that fans are waiting to see the answers.
One of the areas to look at is what to expect from the rookie class. It’s not crazy to say this class could be the most productive class in their rookie year that Brandon Beane has had since the 2018 class that, of course, was headlined by Josh Allen.
There’s second-round pick T.J. Parker… could he give quarterbacks problems all season and come close to double digit sacks? We do know Parker has been training this offseason with veteran Bradley Chubb who signed with the Bills in free agency. Not a bad mentor to have as a rookie.
Cornerback Davison Igbinosun was the pick after Parker and again is a question mark in this draft class that could provide a huge impact. He’s a talented cornerback that could even push Maxwell Hairston for a starting spot. We also know that the injury bug has been known to affect Buffalo’s secondary year after year so it is likely that Igbinosun will play meaningful snaps at some point in the season.
In the fourth round the team was able to draft receiver Skyler Bell who is considered by some to be one of the best receivers in the draft and provides a fun blend of speed, quickness, and tenacity at the catch point. Bell has a reasonable path to being in the rotation at receiver. Keon Coleman certainly did not impress last season while Josh Palmer dealt with injuries the second half of the year. The only locks receiver are DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir.

#class #parker

The Washington Huskies are aiming at some of the nation's best defensive linemen in the 2028 class, and among their top priorities is four-star Kingston Brown.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound product of Carver High School in Georgia, who took an unofficial visit to Seattle in March for Junior Day, is ranked as the No. 193 overall prospect and No. 22 defensive lineman by the 247Sports Composite, and has quickly become one of the nation's most coveted underclassman pass rushers.
Brown holds 25 offers, with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M all among the programs in pursuit of his services, but after convincing him to take a cross-country trip to host him and extend an in-person offer, Jedd Fisch's coaching staff may have an early advantage in his recruitment.
During his sophomore year, Brown turned in 50 tackles, 21 for loss, with 3 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception, while showcasing the versatile skill set that defensive coordinator Ryan Walters covets along the interior of the defensive front.
On film, Brown is a disruptive presence who plays with great power and a strong motor while lining up at both defensive tackle and as a standup edge rusher. He also offers a high floor as a run defender, playing with the effort and explosiveness needed to succeed along the interior, where he's consistently able to shoot through gaps and make plays in the backfield.

#defensive #offers #along #interior

The Oklahoma Sooners enter the 2026 season believing they have the talent to compete for the program's eighth national championship. Oklahoma is still searching for its first national championship since the 2000 season.
The Sooners have had several opportunities to end that championship drought over the past two decades. Oklahoma reached the BCS National Championship Game three times: in 2003, 2004 and 2008, but came up short each time. The Sooners have also made the College Football Playoff five times but are still seeking their first CFP win.
ESPN's Bill Connelly identified the biggest "ifs" facing several national championship contenders entering the season.
If John Mateer's floor gets a little higher. Mateer is tough, fearless and, according to OU's social media, strong as ****** . But he finished 50th in Total QBR last season. Though some of that can be attributed to the numbers he posted while rushing back from a hand injury, he took 21 sacks in his last eight games and threw four picks with a 58% completion rate in his last three. A little consistency and finesse would go a long way. - Connelly, ESPN
Mateer has already shown he can be one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in college football. Now, the challenge is sustaining that level over an entire season. If the veteran can eliminate some of the inconsistency that surfaced late last year, Oklahoma may finally have the quarterback play needed to end its national championship drought.

#oklahoma #season #Football