The Palm Beach County Sports Commission, which established the Lou Groza Award in 1992 that is presented annually by the Orange Bowl, announced last Tuesday that the award will be featured in College Football 25. It will be EA Sports’ first release of the college football video game since 2013.

READ: Charlie Baker believes antitrust settlement will ‘reshape the future of college sports’ in memo sent to members of NCAA

“EA Sports College Football 25 is one of the most anticipated and long-awaited video game titles in history and we are incredibly excited that the Lou Groza Award will be a part of the game,” Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission George Linley stated in a release. “The Lou Groza Award is the pinnacle of collegiate football kicking, and we could not be more excited that college football fans from around the world will have a chance to vie for a Groza Award of their own.”

EA Sports released a full reveal of the modes and features within College Football 25 on May 18 after unveiling an official teaser trailer in February. The video game has been among the most-talked about topics in college football as it will return to consoles for the first time in more than a decade. It will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

READ: Report: Former Nebraska, Washington RB Will Nixon transferring to Syracuse

According to Pete Nakos of On3, the Lou Groza Award is the only award under the National College Football Awards Association that will be included in College Football 25, which On3 also reported in March that other honors such as the Biletnikoff Award and Outland Trophy will not be included in the game.

The Heisman Trophy will be included in College Football 25, the Heisman Trophy Trust announced in a social media post in March.

Former Miami (OH) kicker Graham Nicholson, who announced his transfer to Alabama in April, received the Lou Groza Award last season after setting an NCAA record of 25-straight field goals, and he finished 27-of-28 on field goals and 35-for-37 on extra points.

The post Lou Groza Award will be included in EA Sports College Football 25 appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Set to launch worldwide on July 19, a full reveal of the modes and features of EA Sports College Football 25 was announced on Friday.

Dynasty and Road To Glory modes will be available in College Football 25, according to a release. Those two modes will allow players “to construct their own powerhouse program as a created coach or vie for the Heisman as a player” in what the video game introduces as CampusIQ, which will be “a suite of features that brings to life the true depth of college football through wide open, fast-paced gameplay across all 134 FBS schools in all areas of the game.”

READ: ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery introduce Venu Sports streaming service

Over 10,000 players have opted into College Football 25, it was announced in March. Any student-athlete who opts in and has their name, image and likeness used will receive $600 and a copy of the video game.

College Football 25 will also offer “the all-new Road to the College Football Playoff and College Football Ultimate Team” that will “bring fresh online experiences and ways to play.”

“EA SPORTS College Football is BACK! We’ve felt the passion and anticipation of college football fans every step of the way since we first announced this game, and we’re ecstatic to finally be able to show everyone what we’ve been building,” EA Sports SVP and Group GM Daryl Holt stated in a release. “College Football 25 is built with authenticity at its core, inspired by experiences our fans have loved from our games, and fully evolved to reflect modern college football – all of which will immerse them in the sights, sounds, and true-to-life gameplay of the sport they love.”

READ: Northwestern announces 2024 schedule, will play 2 games at Wrigley Field

READ: ABC, ESPN unveil Weeks 0-1 broadcast schedule

EA Sports unveiled the cover of College Football 25 on Thursday, showcasing Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colorado defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter. They will star on the covers of the Standard and Deluxe editions.

“Donovan, Quinn and Travis are extraordinary talents who impressed and entertained millions of college football fans on the field last season and are poised to do so again this year,” Holt stated in a release. “We’re proud to be able to incorporate thousands of current athletes in College Football 25, and featuring this trio of playmakers and their iconic college programs on the cover is a perfect fit as we usher in a new era for EA SPORTS and college football. I can’t wait for the world to learn more about the game tomorrow.”

ESPN broadcasters such as Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will “call marquee matchups,” along with other broadcast teams such as Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer and David Pollack will comprise the virtual booth and “take the mic for all other games.”

Among the gameplay features include Homefield Advantage, which will allow players to “through distractions like screen shaking, missing pre-play icons, and moving play art.” Additional features consist of Pre-Snap Recognition and the Wear & Tear System, which means virtual player stamina is affected by more play so it will be important to “manage your players’ health, limit fatigue, assess risk of injury, and avoid on-field mistakes by using strategic substitutions to ensure your players are at their best when it counts the most.”

The traditions within college football that make it one of a kind will be immersed in College Football 25. Along with team mascots and fight songs, the video game will include “unique team run-outs, rivalry rituals, synchronized crowd-chants, loudness meters as well as real game-day audio.”

READ: Colorado-Nebraska primetime kickoff announced for Week 2 matchup on NBC

Dynasty and Road To Glory modes are also offered in the video game alongside Road to the College Football Playoff, where players will “experience a new way to play competitively across consoles” and “earn rank by upsetting the toughest opponents and securing the votes you need to progress and level up divisions,” as well as College Football Ultimate Team.

College Football Ultimate Team will allow players to “build your dream team of college football stars and legends” in Solo Challenges or H2H seasons, and they can test their skill across consoles “in more competitive formats like College Football Ultimate Team Champs and Champs Gauntlet.”

EA Sports College Football 25 is available for pre-order now. According to Matt Brown of Extra Points, the video game will not be available for PC at launch. EA Sports is also offering an MVP bundle on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S that will include deluxe editions of College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25 “with 3-day early access and unlocks a multitude of benefits across both titles.”

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The Arizona Cardinals selected two first team all-conference standouts with their first round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Their first choice came No. 4 overall when choosing Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner became the Buckeyes’ fourth receiver to hear his name called in the first round in the past three drafts.

READ: Drake Maye believes he can ‘fit right in’ New England after No. 3 overall draft pick

Harrison will team up with former Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson, who ended his Tigers career with a 14-3 Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State last season. Robinson reportedly wore his Cotton Bowl ring at their introductory press conference, and he said he and Harrison talked about it.

“I was telling Marvin we was glad he didn’t play,” Robinson said. “I mean, the whole week leading up, you see Ohio State, everybody say, ‘OK. Marvin Harrison,’ and then we was like, ‘Is he going to play? Is he going to play?’ He didn’t play, so you know, we lucked out, so.”

READ: Former Oregon State, Nebraska coach Mike Riley appointed to CFP Selection Committee

READ: Georgia approves new contract for Kirby Smart; Smart becomes college football’s highest paid coach

Harrison has long heard conversations about following in the footsteps of his father Marvin Harrison Sr. who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame spending 13 years with the Indianapolis Colts.

Marvin Harrison Jr. became the most decorated wide receiver in Ohio State history after joining Terry Glenn in 1995 as the only Buckeyes to win college football’s top award for a receiver, and the new NFL rookie also is the only two-time All-American receiver in school history.

Marvin Harrison Jr. has embraced the pressure on the biggest stages, like the College Football Playoff. Now at football’s highest level, he’s comfortable with working his way up.

“I mean, yeah, I have high standards for myself,” Marvin Harrison Jr. said. “But I’m just going to go in there and try to work the best I can. I just want to help the team win really, so. And whatever role I play come September I’m going to just do my best and do that role.”

Marvin Harrison Jr. said it’s “awesome” reuniting with former Buckeyes offensive tackle teammate Paris Johnson Jr., who the Cardinals selected No. 6 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. The former All-American wide receiver said it’s “kind of like two years in the making” as the two discussed the possibility of playing pro football together while at Ohio State.

“Hopefully when I score some touchdowns he raises me up in his arms like he used to do in college, so super excited to play with him,” Marvin Harrison Jr. said. “I mean, not only is he going to be a great teammate, but a great friend to have as well.”

READ: MAC Offensive Player of the Year Peny Boone to transfer to UCF

About he and his father’s reaction to April’s draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. said “I don’t think it’s hit both of us yet” that he was chosen No. 4 overall. He said there’s “no better role model, coach, mentor you could have” than his father when he grew up going down a similar path on the gridiron.

Arizona expects Marvin Harrison Jr. to be the team’s top receiver, and he expects to connect with former Oklahoma Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Kyler Murray. Marvin Harrison Jr., who was a Heisman finalist last season after catching 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns, said his work ethic that’s led him to the NFL will remain an integral part of his routine that could help him wind up in Canton.

“It’s just being a pro,” Marvin Harrison Jr. said. “It’s kind how I was raised and grew up to do, and I keep the same mindset, same attitude that I’ve had throughout my whole career, once I get here. Continue to work hard, be consistent and disciplined in all that I do, so looking forward to putting in the work.”

The post Marvin Harrison Jr. brings ‘consistent and disciplined’ approach to Arizona after No. 4 overall pick in NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Glory.

In the 24 hours after Jayden Daniels heard his name called and he walked on stage in Detroit when the Washington Commanders selected him with the No. 2 overall draft pick, the reality of his childhood dream is setting in more and more.

Daniels thought back to waking up on Friday and texting former LSU wide receiver teammates Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., who were chosen No. 6 overall by the New York Giants and 23 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively. He said it “kind of” set in the night of Round 1 kick-starting the 2024 NFL Draft last Thursday.

READ: Entire UAB football team signs up for Athletes.orgEntire UAB football team signs up for Athletes.org – Saturday Glory

“I was just sitting, laying in bed, and I was texting with Malik and Brian, man, and we were just like, ‘You know, we woke up as pros officially,’” Daniels said. “We’re all on our teams and we’re able to live out our childhood dreams. So it still hasn’t hit me yet but it’s starting to get there.”

READ: Colorado RB Dylan Edwards to transfer to Kansas State

READ: No. 1 pick Caleb Williams says he wants to be part of ‘a big portion’ of winning with Chicago Bears after NFL Draft

Daniels grew up in San Bernardino, California, where he helped lead Cajon High School on multiple deep postseason runs, breaking both school and state records, on the way to becoming a four-star recruit as part of the class of 2019.

He began his college career at Arizona State under head coach Herm Edwards, then transferred before the 2022 season to play for Brian Kelly and LSU. Daniels led the Tigers to a 10-4 record and Citrus Bowl victory his first year before winning the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns to four interceptions as well as a 10-3 record.

Getting to the NFL was a dream Daniels said he’d had since he was a kid. In fact, he knew he wanted to get there when he was 7 years old.

“I got a blank piece of paper, wrote, ‘I’ll play in the NFL,’ and put it above my door so I’ve seen it every morning,” Daniels said. “The workouts with my dad, you know, when I didn’t want to work out, when I started doubting myself when I was younger, like, ‘Can I really do this, man?’ All the perseverance, I’ve been through the adversity in my life, led me to this point now.”

Daniels credited “the stability I was able to have at LSU” under Kelly and offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and others as a reason for his improvement from his first season as Tigers starting quarterback to his second — which ultimately would be the one he won college football’s top award.

“Same coaching staffs, same coordinators, and you know, it’s just the camaraderie and the trust that me and my guys built this past offseason and being able to find ways to take my game to another level,” Daniels said. “I didn’t want to come back to college to do the same thing I did the year before, so I wanted to take my game to another level. And you know, shout out to LSU and the support staff that helped me out whether that’s the Oculus VR stuff that I was doing or even after practice, the equipment people, the equipment assistants, the students catching footballs for me while when I’m the last one on the field, so I appreciate all of them.”

Daniels is the only player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to pass for 12,000 yards and run for 3,000.

In Week 11 last season, Daniels became the first player in FBS history to throw for 350 yards and 200 yards in the same game when he did it in a 52-35 win over Florida. He said that game “catapulted me back to win the Heisman Trophy.”

READ: Missouri hires Memphis’ Laird Veatch as athletic director

Daniels will now move on to professional football in Washington D.C., where he’ll be coached under a new regime led by Dan Quinn, who has coaching ties to both the NFL and college including a two-year stint at Florida as defensive coordinator from 2011-12.

There have been 12 quarterbacks to start at least one game for the Commanders since they moved on from Kirk Cousins following the 2017 season. Daniels aims to be the one to stick around and lead Washington into the future.

“God put me in this place for a reason,” Daniels said. “My life is already written out. He got a plan. I’m just following it. But that comes with the work at the end of the day. Nothing is given to me. It’s not a given I’m a starter Week 1. I got to go out, I got to earn it. I got to put in the work. I got to learn the playbook, earn the respect of my teammates and go out there and try to win football games.”

The post Jayden Daniels realizes draft dream after No. 2 overall selection by Washington Commanders appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Over 700,000 fans attended the draft this week in Detroit according to The Associated Press via NFL.com, a record-breaking number topping the previous best set in Nashville in 2019.

READ: No. 1 pick Caleb Williams says he wants to be part of ‘a big portion’ of winning with Chicago Bears after NFL Draft

READ: Malik Nabers showcases ‘dog mentality’ at LSU’s Pro Day

Like the previous two, offensive players began the third day of the NFL Draft with Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders going No. 101 overall to the Carolina Panthers and Troy Franklin reuniting with Oregon quarterback Bo Nix at No. 102 overall to the Denver Broncos.

Spencer Rattler, Jordan Travis become first QBs taken since Round 1

More than 100 picks went between the six taken in the first round on Thursday, which already set a record for most quarterbacks taken in the opening round of the draft.

Former South Carolina and Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler broke the streak in round four when he went No. 150 overall to the New Orleans Saints. 

Rattler leaves South Carolina as the all-time leader in completion percentage with 67.5% completion.

READ: ‘Adversity teaches a man a lot about himself’: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. pens letter to NFL GMs in Players Tribune

Former Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis was chosen No. 171 overall in the fifth round by the New York Jets. He later would be paired with wide receiver teammate Johnny Wilson when the Jets picked him in the sixth round.

Travis finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting last season despite suffering a season-ending broken leg in the second-to-last regular season game.

Alabama’s Jaylen Key is Mr. Irrelevant

Every year, the final pick of the draft is regarded as “Mr. Irrelevant.” It’s so widely recognized as a special selection that “Irrelevant Week” is an annual celebration that honors that last player picked in the draft recognized by the NFL, according to MrIrrelevant.org.

Alabama defensive back Jaylen Key is this draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant” as he was chosen No. 257 overall in the seventh round by the New York Jets.

READ: 5 takeaways from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Key played last season with the Crimson Tide after spending the previous four years with Alabama at Birmingham. He started 12 games at Alabama and made 60 tackles, one pass break-up and an interception.

Key earned an honorable mention nod in 2022 with the All-Conference USA team. He had three interceptions for the Blazers that season, tying for the team lead.

2024 NFL Draft results

Here are the full results from rounds four through seven of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Fourth round

No. 101: Carolina Panthers: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders — Texas

No. 102: Denver Broncos via trade with Seattle Seahawks (from Washington): WR Troy Franklin — Oregon

No. 103: New England Patriots: OG Layden Robinson — Texas A&M

No. 104: Arizona Cardinals: SAF Dadrion Taylor-Demerson — Texas Tech

No. 105: Los Angeles Chargers: DT Justin Eboigbe — Alabama

No. 106: Tennessee Titans: LB Cedric Gray — North Carolina

No. 107: New York Giants: TE Theo Johnson — Penn State

No. 108: Minnesota Vikings: CB Khyree Jackson — Oregon

No. 109: Atlanta Falcons: DT Brandon Dorlus — Oregon

No. 110: New England Patriots via trade with Los Angeles Chargers (from Chicago): WR Javon Baker — UCF

No. 111: Green Bay Packers via trade with New York Jets: SAF Evan Williams — Oregon

No. 112: Las Vegas Raiders: CB Decamerion Richardson — Mississippi State

No. 113: Baltimore Ravens (from Denver through N.Y. Jets): WR Devontez Walker — North Carolina

No. 114: Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Javon Foster — Missouri

No. 115: Cincinnati Bengals: TE Erick All — Iowa

No. 116: Jacksonville Jaguars (from New Orleans): DT Jordan Jefferson — LSU

No. 117: Indianapolis Colts: OC Tanor Bortolini — Wisconsin

No. 118: Seattle Seahawks: LB Tyrice Knight — UTEP

No. 119: Pittsburgh Steelers: OG Mason McCormick — South Dakota State

No. 120: Miami Dolphins via trade with Philadelphia Eagles (from L.A. Rams through Pittsburgh): RB Jaylen Wright — Tennessee

No. 121: Seattle Seahawks via trade with Denver Broncos (from Miami): TE AJ Barner — Michigan

No. 122: Chicago Bears (from Philadelphia): P Tory Taylor — Iowa

No. 123: Houston Texans (from Cleveland): TE Cade Stover — Ohio State

No. 124: San Francisco 49ers (from Dallas): SAF Malik Mustapha — Wake Forest

No. 125: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Bucky Irving — Oregon

No. 126: Detroit Lions via trade with Green Bay Packers: OT Giovanni Manu — University of British Columbia

No. 127: Philadelphia Eagles via trade with Houston Texans: RB Will Shipley — Clemson

No. 128: Buffalo Bills: RB Ray Davis — Kentucky

No. 129: San Francisco 49ers via trade with Minnesota Vikings (from Detroit): RB Isaac Guerendo — Louisville

No. 130: Baltimore Ravens: CB T.J. Tampa — Iowa State

No. 131: Kansas City Chiefs: TE Jared Wiley — TCU

No. 132: Detroit Lions via trade with San Francisco 49ers (Compensatory Selection): RB Sione Vaki — Utah

No. 133: Kansas City Chiefs via trade with Buffalo Bills (Compensatory Selection): DB Jaden Hicks — Washington State

No. 134: New York Jets (from Baltimore; Compensatory Selection): RB Braelon Allen — Wisconsin

No. 135: San Francisco 49ers: WR Jacob Cowing — Arizona

Fifth round

No. 136: Seattle Seahawks via trade with Denver Broncos (from Carolina through Cleveland): CB Nehemiah Pritchett — Auburn

No. 137: Los Angeles Chargers via trade with New England Patriots: CB Tarheeb Still — Maryland

No. 138: Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Xavier Thomas — Clemson

No. 139: Washington Commanders: LB Jordan Magee — Temple

No. 140: Los Angeles Chargers: CB Cam Hart — Notre Dame

No. 141: Buffalo Bills via trade with Carolina Panthers (from N.Y. Giants): OC Sedrick Van Pran-Granger — Georgia

No. 142: Indianapolis Colts via trade with Carolina Panthers (from Tennessee): WR Anthony Gould — Oregon State

No. 143: Atlanta Falcons: LB JD Bertrand — Notre Dame

No. 144: Chicago Bears via trade with Buffalo Bills (from Chicago): EDGE Austin Booker — Kansas

No. 145: Denver Broncos (from N.Y. Jets): CB Kris Abrams-Draine —Missouri

No. 146: Tennessee Titans (from Minnesota through Philadelphia):CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. — Louisville

No. 147: Denver Broncos: RB Audric Estime — Notre Dame

No. 148: Las Vegas Raiders: LB Tommy Eichenberg — Ohio State

No. 149: Cincinnati Bengals: CB Josh Newton — TCU

No. 150: New Orleans Saints: QB Spencer Rattler — South Carolina

No. 151: Indianapolis Colts: SAF Jaylon Carlies — Missouri

No. 152: Philadelphia Eagles via trade with Washington Commanders (from Seattle): WR Ainias Smith — Texas A&M

No. 153: Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Deantre Prince — Mississippi

No. 154: Los Angeles Rams: EDGE Brennan Jackson — Washington State

No. 155: Philadelphia Eagles via trade with Los Angeles Rams (from Pittsburgh): LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. — Clemson

No. 156: Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia through Arizona): WR Jamari Thrash — Louisville

No. 157: Carolina Panthers via trade with Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland): CB Chau Smith-Wade — Washington State

No. 158: Miami Dolphins: EDGE Mohamed Kamara — Colorado State

No. 159: Kansas City Chiefs (from Dallas): OL Hunter Nourzad — Penn State

No. 160: Buffalo Bills (from Green Bay): LB Edefuan Ulofoshio — Washington

No. 161: Washington Commanders via trade with Philadelphia Eagles (from Tampa Bay): SAF Dominique Hampton — Washington

No. 162: Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): OT Christian Jones — Texas

No. 163: Green Bay Packers via trade with Buffalo Bills: OC Jacob Monk — Duke

No. 164: Indianapolis Colts via trade with Detroit Lions: SAF Jaylin Simpson — Auburn

No. 165: Baltimore Ravens: RB Rasheen Ali — Marshall

No. 166: New York Giants (from San Francisco through Carolina): RB Tyron Tracy Jr. — Purdue

No. 167: Jacksonville Jaguars via trade with Minnesota Vikings (from Kansas City): RB Keilan Robinson — Texas

No. 168: Buffalo Bills via trade with New Orleans Saints (Compensatory Selection): EDGE Javon Solomon — Troy

No. 169: Green Bay Packers (Compensatory Selection): SAF Kitan Oladapo — Oregon State

No. 170: New Orleans Saints (Compensatory Selection): WR Bub Means — Pittsburgh

No. 171: New York Jets via trade with Philadelphia Eagles (Compensatory Selection): QB Jordan Travis — Florida State

No. 172: Philadelphia Eagles (Compensatory Selection): OG Trevor Keegan — Michigan

No. 173: New York Jets via trade with Kansas City Chiefs (Compensatory Selection): RB Isaiah Davis — South Dakota State

No. 174: Dallas Cowboys (Compensatory Selection): CB Caelen Carson — Wake Forest

No. 175: New Orleans Saints (Compensatory Selection): LB Jaylan Ford — Texas

No. 176: New York Jets via trade with San Francisco 49ers (Compensatory Selection): CB Qwan’tez Stiggers — Canadian Football League

Sixth round

No. 177: Minnesota Vikings (from Carolina through Jacksonville): OT Walter Rouse — Oklahoma

No. 178: Pittsburgh Steelers (from Arizona through Carolina): DT Logan Lee — Iowa

No. 179: Seattle Seahawks (from Washington): OG Sataoa Laumea — Utah

No. 180: New England Patriots: CB Marcellas Dial — South Carolina

No. 181: Los Angeles Chargers: RB Kimani Vidal — Troy

No. 182: Tennessee Titans (reacquired through Philadelphia): WR Jha’Quan Jackson — Tulane

No. 183: New York Giants: LB Darius Muasau — UCLA

No. 184: Miami Dolphins (from Chicago): WR Malik Washington — Virginia

No. 185: Philadelphia Eagles via trade with New York Jets: WR Johnny Wilson — Florida State

No. 186: Atlanta Falcons via trade with Arizona Cardinals (from Minnesota): RB Jase McClellan — Alabama

No. 187: Atlanta Falcons: WR Casey Washington — Illinois

No. 188: Houston Texans (from Las Vegas through New England and Minnesota): LB Jamal Hill — Oregon

No. 189: Detroit Lions via trade with Houston Texans (from Denver through L.A. Rams and Buffalo): DT Mekhi Wingo — LSU

No. 190: Philadelphia Eagles via trade with New Orleans Saints: OC Dylan McMahon — NC State

No. 191: Arizona Cardinals via trade with Indianapolis Colts: WR Tejhaun Palmer — UAB

No. 192: Seattle Seahawks: CB DJ James — Auburn

No. 193: New England Patriots (from Jacksonville): QB Joe Milton III — Tennessee

No. 194: Cincinnati Bengals: TE Tanner McLachlan — Arizona

No. 195: Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Ryan Watts — Texas

No. 196: Los Angeles Rams: DT Tyler Davis — Clemson

No. 197: Atlanta Falcons (from Cleveland): DT Zion Logue — Georgia

No. 198: Miami Dolphins: SAF Patrick McMorris — California

No. 199: New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia): DT Khristian Boyd — Northern Iowa

No. 200: Carolina Panthers via trade with Buffalo Bills (from Dallas through Houston): DT Jaden Crumedy — Mississippi State

No. 201: Indianapolis Colts via trade with Detroit Lions (from Tampa Bay): CB Micah Abraham — Marshall

No. 202: Green Bay Packers: OT Travis Glover — Georgia State

No. 203: Minnesota Vikings via trade with New York Jets (from Houston through Cleveland, Denver): K Will Reichard — Alabama

No. 204: Buffalo Bills: OT Tylan Grable — UCF

No. 205: Houston Texans via trade Detroit Lions: RB Jawhar Jordan — Louisville

No. 206: Cleveland Browns (from Baltimore): LB Nathaniel Watson — Mississippi State

No. 207: Seattle Seahawks via trade withDenver Broncos (from San Francisco): OT Michael Jerrell — Findlay

No. 208: Las Vegas Raiders (from Kansas City): RB Dylan Laube — New Hampshire

No. 209: Los Angeles Rams (Compensatory Selection): K Joshua Karty — Stanford

No. 210: Detroit Lions via trade with Philadelphia Eagles (Compensatory Selection): OG Christian Mahogany — Boston College

No. 211: Kansas City Chiefs via trade with San Francisco 49ers (Compensatory Selection): DB Kamal Hadden — Tennessee

No. 212: Jacksonville Jaguars (Compensatory Selection): K Cam Little — Arkansas

No. 213: Los Angeles Rams (Compensatory Selection): WR Jordan Whittington — Texas

No. 214: Cincinnati Bengals (Compensatory Selection): EDGE Cedric Johnson — Mississippi

No. 215: San Francisco 49ers (Compensatory Selection): OG Jarrett Kingston — USC

No. 216: Dallas Cowboys (Compensatory Selection): WR Ryan Flournoy — Southeast Missouri State

No. 217: Los Angeles Rams (Compensatory Selection): OC Beaux Limmer — Arkansas

No. 218: Baltimore Ravens (from N.Y. Jets; Compensatory Selection): QB Devin Leary — Kentucky

No. 219: Buffalo Bills via trade with Green Bay Packers (Compensatory Selection): CB Daequan Hardy — Penn State

No. 220: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Compensatory Selection): OG Elijah Kelin — UTEP

Seventh round

No. 221: Buffalo Bills via trade with Kansas City Chiefs (from Carolina through Tennessee): OT Travis Clayton

No. 222: Washington Commanders: EDGE Javontae Jean-Baptiste — Notre Dame

No. 223: Las Vegas Raiders (from New England): SAF Trey Taylor — Air Force

No. 224: Cincinnati Bengals (from Arizona through Houston): SAF Daijahn Anthony — Mississippi

No. 225: Los Angeles Chargers: Brenden Rice — USC

No. 226: Arizona Cardinals (from N.Y. Giants): DB Jaden Davis

No. 227: Cleveland Browns (from Tennessee): CB Myles Harden — South Dakota

No. 228: Baltimore Ravens (from N.Y. Jets): OC Nick Samac — Michigan State

No. 229: Las Vegas Raiders (from Minnesota): CB MJ Devonshire — Pittsburgh

No. 230: Minnesota Vikings (from Atlanta through Cleveland and Arizona): OC Michael Jurgens — Wake Forest

No. 231: New England Patriots (from Chicago): TE Jaheim Bell — Florida State

No. 232: Minnesota Vikings (from Denver through San Francisco and Houston): DT Levi Drake Rodriguez — Texas A&M-Commerce

No. 233: Dallas Cowboys (from Las Vegas): OT Nathan Thomas — Louisiana-Lafayette

No. 234: Indianapolis Colts: DT Jonah Laulu — Oklahoma

No. 235: Denver Broncos via trade with Seattle Seahawks: WR Devaughn Vele — Utah

No. 236: Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Myles Cole — Texas Tech

No. 237: Cincinnati Bengals: OC Matt Lee — Miami

No. 238: Houston Texans (from New Orleans): EDGE Solomon Byrd — USC

No. 239: New Orleans Saints (from L.A. Rams through Denver):OT Josiah Ezirim — Eastern Kentucky

No. 240: Carolina Panthers (from Pittsburgh): LB Michael Barrett — Michigan

No. 241: Miami Dolphins: WR Tahj Washington — USC

No. 242: Tennessee Titans (from Philadelphia): SAF James Williams — Miami

No. 243: Cleveland Browns: DT Jowon Briggs — Cincinnati

No. 244: Dallas Cowboys: DT Justin Rogers — Auburn

No. 245: Green Bay Packers: QB Michael Pratt — Tulane

No. 246: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TE Devin Culp — Washington

No. 247: Houston Texans: DT Marcus Harris — Auburn

No. 248: Kansas City Chiefs via trade with Buffalo Bills: OL C.J. Hanson — Holy Cross

No. 249: Houston Texans via trade with Detroit Lions: OG LaDarius Henderson — Michigan

No. 250: Baltimore Ravens: SAF Sanoussi Kane — Purdue

No. 251: San Francisco 49ers: LB Tatum Bethune — Florida State

No. 252: Tennessee Titans (from Kansas City): EDGE Jaylen Harrell — Michigan

No. 253: Los Angeles Chargers (Compensatory Selection): WR Cornelius Johnson — Michigan

No. 254: Los Angeles Rams (Compensatory Selection): OG KT Leveston — Kansas State

No. 255: Green Bay Packers (Compensatory Selection): CB Kalen King — Penn State

No. 256 Denver Broncos (from N.Y. Jets; Compensatory Selection): OC Nick Gargiulo — South Carolina

No. 257: New York Jets (Compensatory Selection): DB Jaylen Key — Alabama

The post Round 3 Recap: 2024 NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Caleb Williams had a historic draft night on Thursday.

After the Chicago Bears chose the former USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback No. 1 overall, many Williams jerseys sold quickly at Fanatics — so much so that it broke a draft night record.

READ: First Round Live Reaction: 2024 NFL Draft

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Williams “broke the Fanatics record for draft night merchandise sales for any draft pick in any sport, beating the previous record set last week by Caitlin Clark.”

Williams pointed to that record when asked about processing all of the events transpiring in the past 24 hours for him.

“I ended up — reposted it saying, ‘Well I guess that’s Chicago for you,’” Williams said. “So that’s probably my answer to that is all the love and support. It’s strong. I’ve heard about it, and so to get it, to get some of that love and support, that early is really awesome, really exciting.”

READ: Heisman Trophy Trust reinstates Reggie Bush’s 2005 Heisman

READ: ‘Adversity teaches a man a lot about himself’: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. pens letter to NFL GMs in Players Tribune

It wasn’t a surprise that Williams went first in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Bears. While he collected All-Pac 12 Conference Honorable Mention passing for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns, Williams said he “watched the Bears a little bit more than I ever have” last year.

“The anticipation part I’ve been waiting on,” Williams said. “I’ve been waiting for that day — yesterday — and now that it came true I’m excited. But I got a couple other goals to hit over the next few years so I’m excited.”

A long list of goals is likely for Williams, who shouldn’t have trouble getting to work in Chicago.

Williams showed he could pick up quickly in a new environment during his college career. He arrived at Oklahoma in 2021 earning the starting reins midseason before transferring with head coach Lincoln Riley to USC in 2022. The Washington, D.C. native won the Heisman that season throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns to five interceptions.

READ: Florida State’s Braden Fiske motivated by ‘huge impact’ leading up to NFL Draft

At USC Williams took the Trojans to the Pac-12 championship game and helped them reach as high as No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings as a sophomore in 2022.

Williams knows the expectations will be different in the NFL. He’s been preparing for that workload, and he already has his focus set.

“Just do my job,” Williams said. “I’m always going to have scrutiny. I mean, I do things like — I paint my nails. I’m always going to have scrutiny over that. I wear funky clothes and things like that, so you know, just do my job on the football field. Win games. I think you win a bunch of games here, you’ll make a lot of people, a majority, happy.”

USC became the record holder with six No. 1 draft picks after Williams’ selection. He joined Ron Yary in 1968, O.J. Simpson in 1969, Ricky Bell in 1977, Keyshawn Johnson in 1996 and Carson Palmer in 2003.

READ: Malik Nabers showcases ‘dog mentality’ at LSU’s Pro Day

Williams carried an intelligent approach throughout the lead up to the draft. He’s handled a strong work ethic proven to win games and hardware, and that’s something Williams hopes to continue to do, only this time in the NFL.

Williams said “it’s been a journey” navigating the draft process and becoming accustomed to the Bears. He also said he’ll start learning the playbook next week and he’s “excited” to get deeper into the X’s and O’s. The former All-American departs college football leaving a legacy at the quarterback position.

“It’s a team sport. That’s why I love the sport so much,” Williams said. “But you know, my reason to go out there is to win games. My reason why I play is to win games and championships, and so I want to be a big portion of it. I want to go out there. I want to have fun. I want to enjoy. I want to do it with my teammates, and so what better place to do it than the Chicago Bears?”

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Bush forfeited it in 2010 following an NCAA investigation into receiving impermissible benefits at USC in 2004-05.

READ: Former Miami (OH) K Graham Nicholson transfers to Alabama

On Wednesday, the Heisman Trophy Trust announced the historic reinstatement of Bush’s Heisman Memorial Trophy after it “considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” President of The Heisman Trophy Trust Michael Comerford stated in a release. “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie.  We are so happy to welcome him back.”

READ: ‘Adversity teaches a man a lot about himself’: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. pens letter to NFL GMs in Players Tribune

READ: Steve Sarkisian says Longhorns had to ‘recreate ourselves this spring’ after Orange-White Game

During his Heisman-winning season in 2005, Bush totaled 2,218 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns while the Trojans made it to the Bowl Championship Series national championship. He received the fifth-most first place votes in Heisman Trophy history with 784.

According to a release, the Heisman Trust returned the Heisman to Bush and the replica to USC. Bush will also receive invitations to all future Heisman Trophy ceremonies.

“The Trust’s decision to reinstate the Trophy follows a deliberative process in which it closely monitored the enormous changes in the college football landscape, including the Supreme Court’s 2021 decision, which questioned the legality of the NCAA’s amateurism model and opened the door to student athlete compensation; the ability of college football players to be paid for their name, image, and likeness (NIL); and the NCAA’s recent proposal to remove the cap on education-related payments,” the Heisman Trophy Trust stated in a release. “Recognizing that the compensation of student athletes is an accepted practice and appears here to stay, these fundamental changes in college athletics led the Trust to decide that now is the right time to return the Trophy to Bush, who unquestionably was the most outstanding college football player of 2005.”

Bush posted Wednesday on Instagram a photo of his 2005 Heisman along with a caption stating, “No one can take from you what God has for you.”

READ: Former Trojans WR Mike Williams joins USC as Director of Player Development

Bush also released a statement via Shore Fire Media.

“I am grateful to once again be recognized as the recipient of the Heisman Trophy,” Bush stated. “This reinstatement is not only a personal victory but also a validation of the tireless efforts of my supporters and advocates who have stood by me throughout this arduous journey. I want to make it abundantly clear that I have always acted with integrity and in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA. The allegations brought against me were unfounded and unsupported by evidence, and I am grateful that the truth is finally prevailing.”

The USC football team welcomed Bush back to the Heisman family on social media, posting on X, “back where it belongs.”

“What a historic day!” USC head coach Lincoln Riley stated in a release. “Reggie’s reintroduction to the Heisman Family is a special moment for every person that has been associated with USC football. We are thrilled that Reggie’s athletic accomplishments as one of the greatest to ever play the game can officially be recognized. For a long time, the Heisman and USC have been synonymous and being able to acknowledge all eight of our winners is extraordinary.”

READ: NCAA penalizes Arizona State for ‘impermissible in-person recruiting contacts’

READ: NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approves ‘optional technology rules’ for 2024 season

The Heisman Trophy Trust is represented by Ted Wells and Joshua Hill of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and Bush is represented by Levi McCathern and Ty Sheaks of the McCathern firm and Ben Crump, and both parties “worked collaboratively” with the Heisman Trophy Trust’s counsel, according to a release.

“We thank attorneys Ted Wells and Josh Hill for their excellent work and counsel for the past two years in helping us come to this decision,” Comerford stated in a release.

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The 2024 NFL Draft will begin Thursday at 8 p.m., and the former Washington quarterback is among plenty of quarterback hopefuls who will hear their name called. Penix is coming off a season during which he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, led the Huskies to the Pac-12 Conference Championship after a perfect regular season and advanced all the way to the national championship in the program’s second College Football Playoff appearance.

READ: Michael Penix Jr. set out to ‘write my own narrative’ at Washington Pro Day

Penix wrote a letter to NFL general managers that published Monday in The Players’ Tribune. He addresses immediately the question about his four season-ending injuries in four seasons including two ACL tears, and later in the letter he states he’d “be more worried if I had never been injured.”

Penix emphasized an important lesson he’s learned in the pre-draft process in that “there’s more to it than the All-22” football film.

READ: Penix displays ‘the heart’ and ‘the guts’ during No. 7 Washington’s 36-33 win over No. 8 Oregon

The Dade City, Florida, native recalled playing tackle football on concrete in 95-degree heat growing up, stating, “You find out quick if you’re built for this game or not.”

Penix’s college career began at Indiana in 2018, somewhere he didn’t expect to go as he stated “Two weeks before signing day I was told by the team I was committed to for two years that I no longer had a scholarship.” After one torn ACL Penix helped the Hoosiers rise to No. 7 in the Associated Press Top-25 poll in 2020, though he retore his ACL in the second-to-last game of the regular season that year.

Penix shouted out in his letter former Indiana offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer, who was his head coach at Washington and later took the Alabama opening after Nick Saban’s retirement. Penix credited DeBoer for seeing “something in me that the rest of the college football world didn’t,” and he stated they “left our imprint” on Washington.

“Today I look at Coach Kalen DeBoer, Ryan Grubb and Nick Sheridan,” Penix stated. “The ones that had to make the same decision that you’ll be faced with on draft day. They put their belief in me, and I did everything I could to pay it back to them. I look at the guys on the team that I talked into staying at Washington, who trusted that I was going to elevate them. Now seeing Troy Fautanu, Roger Rosengarten, Ja’Lynn Polk, Jack Westover, Rome Odunze, Devin Culp, Jalen McMillan, and Dillon Johnson all on the cusp of realizing their dream…. That is what brings me joy. As a QB, my job is to be an elevator. I need to uplift all those around me so that they too can be at their best. So just know if you put that same belief in me, history shows I hold up my end of the bargain.”

READ: Steve Sarkisian says Longhorns had to ‘recreate ourselves this spring’ after Orange-White Game

According to Daniel Jeremiah’s top 150 prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class on NFL.com, Penix is ranked No. 35 among the class of players.

In 2023, Penix led college football with 4,903 passing yards, nearly 400 more than the next closest passer. He threw for a career-high 36 touchdowns and averaged almost 327 passing yards per game.

Penix collected the 2023 Maxwell Award and made many All-America second teams after last season. In his career, Penix passed for more than 13,500 yards and 95 touchdowns in over 45 games. He has three-plus seasons of starting experience under his belt.

In a quarterback class containing two Heisman winners and several conference champions, Penix will have competition for a top draft spot. But Penix’s story is unique, and he’s stood tall through it all.

One team will select Penix in the draft later this week, and the experienced, veteran quarterback will begin his professional career seeking to make a similar impact he’s made throughout his football career — beat adversity.

The post ‘Adversity teaches a man a lot about himself’: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. pens letter to NFL GMs in Players Tribune appeared first on Saturday Glory.

According to Bobby Kownack of NFL.com, quarterbacks Jayden Daniels of LSU and USC’s Caleb Williams “are instead waiting until their respective pro days to throw and work out for scouts.”

READ: Reports: Iowa State promotes Taylor Mouser to OC

Daniels, last season’s Heisman winner, will likely throw at LSU’s pro day scheduled for March 27, and Williams, who won college football’s top honor in 2022, will likely do so at the Trojans pro day March 20, according to NFL.com.

Both Daniels and Williams will be in Indianapolis for the combine, according to NFL.com. They’ll both participate in interviews and meetings.

Daniels led college football with 40 passing touchdowns last season, and he also set the single-season passer rating record with a 208.01 clip.

Daniels became the third LSU player to win the Heisman Trophy and first since Joe Burrow in 2019.

READ: Reports: UCLA hires Eric Bieniemy as associate head coach, offensive coordinator

Both Daniels and Williams have their similarities. They both won the Heisman and they both transferred during their college careers.

Williams may not have produced at the same level as he did his Heisman Trophy season, throwing 12 fewer touchdowns and 904 fewer yards, but he led a larger role on offense and maintained his signature style of play beating opponents both on the ground and through the air.

Williams still played at a high level in 2023. He finished second in the Pac-12 Conference with a 170.1 passing efficiency rating, and his 68.6% completion was good for fourth.

Daniels and Williams will be two of 321 players invited to attend the combine, which begins Thursday with defensive line and linebacker drills and extends through Sunday.

The post Reports: LSU’s Jayden Daniels, USC’s Caleb Williams not throwing at 2024 NFL Scouting Combine appeared first on Saturday Glory.

The award given to the most outstanding player in college football in its 89th year, Daniels led the NCAA with 40 passing touchdowns and a 208.01 passing efficiency rating.

WATCH: Navy linebacker commit Dominic Purcell all over the field in state championship

Daniels and LSU went 9-3 this season. The fifth-year quarterback had at least 219 passing yards and a touchdown in all 12 games.

Daniels had 3,812 passing yards this season, third-most in college football and 1,134 rushing yards, the most by any quarterback and No. 22-most among ball-carriers this year.

Daniels was responsible for 50 touchdowns this season.

Some of Daniels’ standout moments from this season include his eight-touchdown performance, six passing and two rushing, against Georgia State in Week 12 and his five passing scores against Grambling State.

READ: LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. among college football award winners

Also, in Week 11, Daniels became the first player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to both pass for at least 350 yards and rush for 250 when he threw for 372 yards and ran for 234 more against Florida.

Daniels became the third player from LSU to win the Heisman, joining Billy Cannon in 1959 and Joe Burrow in 2019.

The Heisman voting resulted in its closest finish since 2018, according to ESPN, and fellow finalists Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Oregon’s Bo Nix and Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. rounded out the top-four in the voting.

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Daniels is widely considered the favorite to win the Heisman. According to BetMGM, Daniels’ Heisman odds are -1400, the best odds among the group.

READ: USC’s Lincoln Riley announces QB Caleb Williams won’t play in Holiday Bowl

This group of Heisman finalists should result in close competition. All three of Daniels, Nix and Penix are at the top of major passing categories, while Harrison is second with 14 receiving touchdowns.

Daniels leads college football with 40 passing touchdowns, 4,218 passing yards and a 208.01 passing efficiency rating.

Harrison averaged a career-best 18.1 yards per catch this season. He brought in 1,211 yards on 67 receptions, 10 fewer than what he had in 2022 which resulted in 1,263 receiving yards.

Nix trails closely behind Daniels in a number of passing categories. He also has 40 passing touchdowns, and he leads the NCAA with a 77.2% completion.

READ: Full list of Power 5 bowl games

Penix is the only Heisman finalist this season to compete in the College Football Playoff. He and No. 2 Washington won the Pac-12 Championship, and Penix leads college football averaging 324.5 passing yards per game.

The Heisman Trophy will be presented to the winner on Saturday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

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