The 2024 NFL Draft continued Friday with the second and third rounds picking through No. 100 overall. It began with wide receivers Keon Coleman of Florida State and Georgia’s Ladd McConkey going back to back at Nos. 33-34 to the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively, and ended with Rice’s Luke McCaffrey being picked by the Washington Commanders. No quarterbacks were selected after six went in the first round on Thursday.

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

More than 150,000 fans attended the draft on Thursday, and all 32 picks are listed in First Round Live Reaction: 2024 NFL Draft.

Michigan men go back-to-back in second round; Jim Harbaugh takes Los Angeles’ first Wolverine in third

Defending national champion Michigan sent an NFL Scouting Combine-record 18 participants to Indianapolis earlier this offseason.

Michigan saw six players drafted in the second and third rounds, bringing its total to seven so far this draft after quarterback J.J. McCarthy went No. 10 overall to the Minnesota Vikings.

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

Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins was the second Wolverine picked in the draft when he went No. 49 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round. He began back-to-back selections of former Michigan players as cornerback Mike Sainristil went next at No. 50 overall.

New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh drafted his first former Wolverine when he chose linebacker Junior Colson in the third round at No. 69 overall.

The crosstown rival Los Angeles Rams selected former Michigan running back Blake Corum at No. 83 overall in the third round. He started a string of three-straight Wolverines drafted when wide receiver Roman Wilson went No. 84 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers and guard Zak Zinter was picked No. 85 overall by the Cleveland Browns.

Harbaugh broke out in song among Chargers personnel during the draft in a video posted on X.

Kirby Smart shouts out drafted Bulldogs

Georgia continued its streak of at least six Bulldogs picked in every draft since 2018.

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

Four more of head coach Kirby Smart’s former players heard their names called in Detroit: McConkey and defensive backs Kamari Lassiter, Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith.

Smart shouted each of the four Bulldog draftees on Friday, as he did Thursday for former tight end Brock Bowers and tackle Amarius Mims.

About McConkey, Smart posted: “Congrats @laddmcconkey02 !! So excited to watch you be a part of the @chargers. You’re such a great young man & I’m thankful for your time in Athens. You meant so much to this team, school & community. Always grateful for your impact on this program. GO DAWGS !!”

Of Lassiter, Smart posted: “Another Dawg off the board @kamari_lassiter!! You were such a good player, teammate and leader for this program, and I am so thankful for your impact. The @houstontexans are going to get a great player for their defense. I know you’ll represent us the right way and you’ll be very successful.  Enjoy this moment! GO DAWGS!!”

Of Bullard, Smart posted: “Bull to Green Bay!! @cravejaaye I know you’ve worked really hard for this & so happy you were able to reach your goals and more. You have a bright future & I’m proud of you. The @packers are getting a great player and an even better person. I hope you can come back to Athens sometime this fall. GO DAWGS !!”

Of Smith, Smart posted: “Let’s go @TykSmith!! Can’t wait to see what you do in Tampa Bay. You’re such a great player, leader and person and I am so happy for you that your dreams are becoming a reality. Soak in this moment with your family! Thanks for all you’ve done & GO DAWGS!!”

READ: Jayden Daniels says he’ll ‘be ready’ for NFL after LSU Pro Day

2024 NFL Draft results

Here are the full results from rounds two and three of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Second round

No. 33: Buffalo Bills via trade with Carolina Panthers: WR Keon Coleman — Florida State

No. 34: Los Angeles Chargers via trade with New England Patriots: WR Ladd McConkey — Georgia

No. 35: Atlanta Falcons via trade with Arizona Cardinals: DT Ruke Orhorhoro — Clemson

No. 36: Washington Commanders: DT Jer’Zhan Newton — Illinois

No. 37: New England Patriots via trade with Los Angeles Chargers: WR Ja’Lynn Polk — Washington

No. 38: Tennessee Titans: DT T’Vondre Sweat — Texas

No. 39: Los Angeles Rams via trade with Carolina Panthers (from N.Y. Giants): DT Braden Fiske — Florida State

No. 40: Philadelphia Eagles via trade with Washington Commanders (from Chicago): CB Cooper DeJean — Iowa

No. 41: New Orleans Saints via trade with Green Bay Packers (from N.Y. Jets): CB Kool-Aid McKinstry — Alabama

No. 42: Houston Texans (from Minnesota): CB Kamari Lassiter — Georgia

No. 43: Arizona Cardinals via trade with Atlanta Falcons: CB Max Melton — Rutgers

No. 44: Las Vegas Raiders: OC Jackson Powers-Johnson — Oregon

No. 45: Green Bay Packers via trade with New Orleans Saints (from Denver): LB Edgerrin Cooper — Texas A&M

No. 46: Carolina Panthers via trade with Indianapolis Colts: RB Jonathon Brooks — Texas

No. 47: New York Giants (from Seattle): SAF Tyler Nubin — Minnesota

No. 48: Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Maason Smith — LSU

No. 49: Cincinnati Bengals: DT Kris Jenkins — Michigan

No. 50: Washington Commanders via trade with Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): CB Mike Sainristil — Michigan

No. 51: Pittsburgh Steelers: OC Zach Frazier — West Virginia

No. 52: Indianapolis Colts via trade with Los Angeles Rams: WR Adonai Mitchell — Texas

No. 53: Washington Commanders via trade with Philadelphia Eagles: TE Ben Sinnott — Kansas State

No. 54: Cleveland Browns: DT Michael Hall Jr. — Ohio State

No. 55: Miami Dolphins: OT Patrick Paul — Houston

No. 56: Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Marshawn Kneeland — Western Michigan

No. 57: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Chris Braswell — Alabama

No. 58: Green Bay Packers: SAF Javon Bullard — Georgia

No. 59: Houston Texans: OT Blake Fisher — Notre Dame

No. 60: Buffalo Bills: SAF Cole Bishop — Utah

No. 61: Detroit Lions: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. — Missouri

No. 62: Baltimore Ravens: OT Roger Rosengarten — Washington

No. 63: Kansas City Chiefs via trade with San Francisco 49ers: OT Kingsley Suamataia — BYU

No. 64: San Francisco 49ers via trade with Kansas City Chiefs: CB Renardo Green — Florida State

Third round

No. 65: New York Jets via trade with Carolina Panthers: WR Malachi Corley — Western Kentucky

No. 66: Arizona Cardinals: RB Trey Benson — Florida State

No. 67: Washington Commanders: OG Brandon Coleman — TCU

No. 68: New England Patriots: OT Caedan Wallace — Penn State

No. 69: Los Angeles Chargers: LB Junior Colson — Michigan

No. 70: New York Giants: CB Andru Phillips — Kentucky

No. 71: Arizona Cardinals (from Tennessee): OG Isaiah Adams — Illinois

No. 72: Carolina Panthers via trade with New York Jets: LB Trevin Wallace — Kentucky

No. 73: Dallas Cowboys via trade with Detroit Lions (from Minnesota): OG Cooper Beebe — Kansas State

No. 74: Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Bralen Trice — Washington

No. 75: Chicago Bears: OT Kiran Amegadjie — Yale

No. 76: Denver Broncos: EDGE Jonah Elliss — Utah

No. 77: Las Vegas Raiders: OT Delmar Glaze — Maryland

No. 78: Houston Texans via trade with Washington Commanders (from Seattle): SAF Calen Bullock — USC

No. 79: Atlanta Falcons (from Jacksonville): OT Matt Goncalves — Pittsburgh

No. 80: Cincinnati Bengals: WR Jermaine Burton — Alabama

No. 81: Seattle Seahawks (from New Orleans through Denver): OG Christian Haynes — UConn

No. 82: Arizona Cardinals via trade with Indianapolis Colts: TE Tip Reiman — Illinois

No. 83: Los Angeles Rams: RB Blake Corum — Michigan

No. 84: Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Roman Wilson — Michigan

No. 85: Cleveland Browns: OG Zak Zinter — Michigan

No. 86: San Francisco 49ers via trade with Houston Texans (from Philadelphia): OG Dominick Puni — Kansas

No. 87: Dallas Cowboys: LB Marist Liufau — Notre Dame

No. 88: Green Bay Packers: RB MarShawn Lloyd — USC

No. 89: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SAF Tykee Smith — Georgia

No. 90: Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): CB Elijah Jones — Boston College

No. 91: Green Bay Packers (from Buffalo): LB Ty’Ron Hopper — Missouri

No. 92: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Detroit): WR Jalen McMillan — Washington

No. 93: Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Adisa Isaac — Penn State

No. 94: Philadelphia Eagles via trade with San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Jalyx Hunt — Houston Christian University

No. 95: Buffalo Bills via trade with Kansas City Chiefs: DT DeWayne Carter — Duke

No. 96: Jacksonville Jaguars (Compensatory Selection): CB Jarrian Jones — Florida State

No. 97: Cincinnati Bengals (Compensatory Selection): DT McKinnley Jackson — Texas A&M

No. 98: Pittsburgh Steelers (from Philadelphia; Compensatory Selection): LB Payton Wilson — NC State

No. 99: Los Angeles Rams (Special Compensatory Selection): SAF Kamren Kinchens — Miami

No. 100: Washington Commanders (from San Francisco; Special Compensatory Selection): WR Luke McCaffrey — Rice

The post Notes and Reaction: Rounds 2-3 of 2024 NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Glory.

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.

Penix, swarmed by fans and Huskies supporters from all corners of the field, took in the moment that came after a top-10 victory at home. 

“Whoever the security guard was, man, he did amazing,” Penix said. “I’m sorry for some of the people that got shoved out of the way but like, it was just a blessing. I was just excited, and as much as I did want to celebrate with the fans, like you said, it was very hectic out there, but in a good way, in a good way, and I’m just super blessed to be in the position I’m in today.”

PODCAST: Top games, bounce backs and more in a busy week seven

Saturday was the first time Washington and Oregon faced one another in a top-10 setting, and Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer felt it ranks high in his books. 

“If there’s one that I’ve been a part of that was bigger, better, I can’t think of it right now,” DeBoer said. 

Penix led the Huskies on a fourth quarter comeback over No. 8 Oregon, taking advantage of a key stop on fourth down. 

With 2:11 left to play and his team trailing 33-29, Penix dialed up two plays to his wide receivers, and they were enough to will the team into the end zone and toward the win. 

All of it came after Washington could’ve put the game away earlier after missing a 4^th and 1 at Oregon’s 1-yard line. 

“We got a team full of dogs, man, just guys that’s going to compete all the way to the end, and that’s what it was all about,” Penix said. “The whole time on the sideline, once we didn’t get that fourth down down there, we already knew. We was talking to ourselves like, ‘Hey, we’re going get the ball back. We just got to go down there and execute at a high level and we’re going to come up with the win,’ and that’s what we was able to do.” 

Oregon’s man coverage wasn’t enough to stop the arm of Penix, who entered the day leading the NCAA in total offense averaging over 400 yards per game by himself.

READ: Big Board: Week 7

Penix found receiver Ja’Lynn Polk for 35 yards into Oregon territory, then connected with Rome Odunze on the 18-yard touchdown reception that turned out to be the game-winning score. 

“Just man on man, and my guy versus their guy. I’m going to take my guy every time,” Penix said. “Rome shows each and every day why he’s top receiver in the nation. He knew that I was going to trust him, and I gave him that fade route and we made it happen. That’s stuff we do all the time in practice. Every game y’all see it so I trusted it and I just made the play and he made the play, really.” 

The Ducks and Huskies were back and forth all afternoon. 

Washington took a 22-18 lead into halftime after Oregon made a two-point conversion on its first touchdown of the first half. The Huskies had outgained the Ducks 260 yards to 231, but later were outgained in the game 541 to 415. 

The Huskies had a lead as large as 29-18 with more than 10 minutes to go in the third quarter, but then they fell scoreless until the final two minutes of the game. 

This allowed Oregon and quarterback Bo Nix, who threw a pair of touchdowns, to take a 29-26 lead after Nix found receiver Troy Franklin 30 yards down the field for a score. 

“We felt like at times we were beating ourselves,” Penix said. “We allowed the game to be closer than what we wanted it to, but at the end of the day, like I said, they’re a good team and we’re a good team, and we know that rivalry games it comes down to the wire most of the time so we were just prepared to go out there and attack each and every play.” 

PODCAST: Kirby Smart is Right for Not Caring

Penix dealt with nagging cramps in the fourth quarter, he said, and it even required him to take a trip to the medical tent. 

But cramps denied, and a long time after two ACL injuries from his playing days at Indiana, and Penix was determined to lead Washington back ahead and victorious. 

“This is Michael,” DeBoer said. “He’s just been through it for so many years and I mean, there’s no way you’re pulling him off the field in that moment. I mean, he’s out there in the fourth quarter and we circle around him, and it’s a lot of energy to get out there and just really let it all out and talk to the whole team. And you know, who’s in the middle? It’s Michael, and so the production, the talent, all that, I mean, that’s one thing, but the heart that he’s got and the guts he’s got and the willingness to just grind through it, grit, I mean, there’s not enough words to describe how I feel about him and I think our whole team would echo that for sure.” 

Penix finished with 302 passing yards and four touchdowns. His lone interception came late in the second quarter. 

His performance through the first six weeks of the season had been enough to keep Penix in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Penix’s performance on Saturday, though, may’ve made him a frontrunner. 

“I’m just going to continue to keep my head down and keep going,” Penix said. “This is not the end.” 

The post Penix displays ‘the heart’ and ‘the guts’ during No. 7 Washington’s 36-33 win over No. 8 Oregon  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

And one yard was all No. 4 Ohio State needed to outlast No. 11 Notre Dame 17-14 on Saturday night. It was one of six ranked matchups on the docket in Week 4, and the better seed prevailed in all but one. 

READ: Ohio State climbs to No. 4, Fresno State enters latest AP Top 25 Poll

No. 16 Washington State upset Oregon State 38-35 in a high scoring affair. Cougars quarterback Cameron Ward threw 404 passing yards and four touchdowns to lead Washington State to its fourth win of the season. 

No. 1 Georgia once again took care of business, extending its winning streak to 21 games in a 49-21 victory over UAB. Quarterback Carson Beck tossed 338 yards and three touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ victory. 

Here are some of the top statistical performances from Week 2.   

Troy Franklin, Oregon 

Franklin had a hand in halting the Colorado hype train, as No. 9 Oregon defeated the Buffaloes 42-6 and had a 35-0 halftime lead. 

Franklin got the job done through the air. He was one of 10 Ducks to get a catch in the win over Colorado. 

Leading the receivers in the game was Franklin, who caught 126 yards on an impressive eight catches. He averaged 15.8 yards per reception. 

He also hauled in a pair of scores to lead Oregon backs behind Bo Nix’s three touchdown passes. Both Franklin’s touchdowns came in the second quarter on 16- and 36-yard receptions.

PODCAST: Here’s Why You Should Be Behind Ryan Day’s Comments to Lou Holtz

Nix had a solid outing, completing nearly 85% of his passes for 276 yards. 

Ashton Jeanty, Boise State 

A career day on the ground for Jeanty helped Boise State begin its Mountain West slate with a win. 

Jeanty rushed for 205 yards on the day against San Diego State, averaging almost nine yards on each of his 23 carries. 

Boise State didn’t get out to the best of starts. The Broncos had just 26 yards in the opening quarter before turning on the jets for 17 points in the second quarter.

READ: Travis ‘stood up in the moment,’ leads No. 4 Florida State to win over Clemson for first time since 2014 

Jeanty played a large role in igniting the Broncos offense. He broke off a 58-yard touchdown carry with 9:08 left to play in the first half finding space through the middle. 

Later in the second quarter Jeanty made way on a 36-yard rush that set up Boise State across midfield at the San Diego State 36-yard line. The drive ended with a 29-yard field goal. 

Jeanty’s second touchdown came on a 6-yard push that put Boise state ahead 34-24. He also added four catches for 49 yards and accounted for 12 of the team’s 19 first downs. 

Jeanty is the first Broncos running back to rush for at least 200 yards since Alexander Mattison in 2018, and his production on the ground is the most from a Mountain West player so far this season. 

Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington 

A pair of Washington receivers are next in this week’s Stat Pack, and both had over 100 yards receiving in the win over Cal. 

Odunze is a projected Day 1 or Day 2 pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, and he showed out with another big performance on Saturday. He delivered his fourth-consecutive 100-plus yard performance and added a few more touchdowns to his stat line. 

Odunze wasn’t Washington’s leading receiver as Polk totaled 127 receiving yards to Odunze’s 125. The pair combined for 13 catches, 252 receiving yards and four touchdowns. 

Polk had touchdown scores of 8 and 24 yards in the first and second quarters, respectively, while Odunze found the end zone on touchdowns of 35 and 13 yards. 

Receiving wasn’t all for Odunze, however. He returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown in the opening minutes of the first quarter, the first of his career. 

Jack Plummer, Louisville 

While Michael Penix Jr. is busy guiding the Huskies to a 4-0 start, a fellow transfer quarterback was doing the same for Louisville. 

Plummer followed head coach Jeff Brohm to the Cardinals program after the 2022 season following a year at Cal. The two are tasked with building on an 8-4 record from a year ago under predecessor Scott Satterfield and Deion Branch. 

Plummer has done his job so far. He entered Saturday having reached 238 passing yards in each of his first three starts. 

Plummer more than upped his totals this time around with a 388-yard performance against Boston College. He threw a 1-yard touchdown on Louisville’s first offensive drive of the game, and the Cardinals never looked back nor trailed against the Eagles.

PODCAST: When Do Conference Realignment Changes Begin to Feel Real?

A career-high five touchdown passes came from the game for Plummer. He found four different targets, including receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce twice, for touchdown scores, and Plummer completed his passes at a nifty 85.7%. 

Naiem Simmons, South Florida 

This week’s leading receiver put up video game-like stats in South Florida’s 42-29 win over Rice. 

Simmons set new career-bests in a number of categories on Saturday. He caught a career-high eight passes for 272 yards and hauled in a touchdown. 

Simmons’ big day came after catches of 53, 52, 51, 49 and 42 yards. His first three catches of the second half all went for at least 42 yards. 

Simmons’ production broke the South Florida program record for receiving yards in a game, topping Tyre McCants’ previous best of 227 yards set in 2017. 

The post Stat Pack: Week 4 appeared first on Saturday Glory.