Yardbarker

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans. You can find him on Twitter/X and Threads at @ericsmithling and at Bluesky at @ericsmithling.bsky.social.

EXPERTISE:

NFL, College Football, NBA, Men's and Women's College Basketball, NHL

Parity hits college basketball as last of the unbeatens go down

For only the second time since 1976-77, every college basketball team has a loss this early in the season, just as conference play kicks into gear. 

Six players from hyped 2022 recruiting class among those fleeing Texas A&M

The exodus from Jimbo Fisher's disappointing Texas A&M football team is astonishing.

Ryan Clark, Scott Van Pelt praised for Damar Hamlin coverage

Clark and Van Pelt hit all the right notes in their coverage of a horrifying event. Operating without a playbook, they set the standard for how an event like this should be covered. We can only hope no one ever has to follow their path. 

What you should know about Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin

Details highlighting the kind of person Damar Hamlin is have emerged following his terrifying health scare during "Monday Night Football."

USC's Cotton Bowl implosion another sign Lincoln Riley only knows one side of the football

“New year, new me,” doesn’t apply to USC head coach Lincoln Riley. USC blew a 15-point lead against Tulane with under five minutes left in regulation, losing 46-45 in part due to another horrible defensive performance.

Draft decisions by Alabama's Bryce Young, Will Anderson could put them in rarefied air

Young and Anderson, who both declared for the NFL Draft on Monday, have a realistic shot of becoming the first teammates drafted first and second overall since 2000.

Potential conflict arises with NFL's Week 18 schedule

The NFL released the schedule for Week 18, flexing a win-and-in game for Green Bay against Detroit into primetime as the last game of the season. The news is less than ideal for the Seahawks.

TCU opens as biggest underdog in championship game era

The college football world has grudgingly come to respect the TCU Horned Frogs, but oddsmakers are not ready to join that trend. 

Wrong Scott Stallings receives Masters invite

PGA Tour pro Scott Stallings waited for days for an invitation to the 2023 Masters that never came. On New Year's Day, he finally discovered why. 

Bears ridiculed for decision to keep playing Justin Fields

 Fields added another electrifying run to his breakout season, this time against the Lions. 

TCU's turnaround is already among the most impressive this century

TCU is a win away from completing the most impressive single-season turnaround in college football this century. The Horned Frogs won a thriller in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl, defeating No. 2 Michigan 51-45 in a game that featured 1,016 total yards of offense.

Watch: RGIII leaves ESPN broadcast mid-game after finding out wife is in labor

A chaotic third quarter of the VRBO Fiesta Bowl extended to events off the field after Griffin III received a phone call that his wife had gone into labor.

Watch: Maryland HC Mike Locksley gets mayonnaise bath after bowl win

 In what's become the most disgusting tradition in college football, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley was rewarded by having a bucket of mayonnaise poured on him. 

Cardinals rookie gets signed J.J. Watt jersey after comical exchange

Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Jesse Luketa's wish came true after teammate J.J. Watt revealed a hilarious exchange between the two.

Why Eagles should sit Jalen Hurts against New Orleans

The QB's recovery from a sprained throwing shoulder apparently is going well, but the team shouldn't play him Sunday against New Orleans.

Former NFL star believes Cowboys are being held back by this player

The Cowboys have a strong defense and running game, but former NFL running back Eddie George believes QB Dak Prescott is the team's weakness.

Florida State's stunning turnaround shows patience isn't always a bad thing in college football

Norvell needed time, but he finally has Florida State trending in the right direction for the first time since it won its last national championship.

Sonny Dykes misses mark with recent comments on SEC

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes kicked a hornet's nest when he suggested Big 12 teams have more difficult schedules than SEC teams. His argument, to put it kindly, is absurd.

Titans starting former practice squad player at QB is unfair to NFL fans

Ten days ago, Josh Dobbs was on the Detroit Lions practice squad. On Thursday night against the playoff-bound Cowboys, he'll start for the Titans.

Derek Carr was always better than the Raiders

After benching QB Derek Carr on Wednesday, Las Vegas excused the league's longest-tenured starting QB from the Raiders' final two games. It's just another on-brand move for "Team Dysfunction," which has stuck it to Carr for nine seasons.

Zion Williamson takes over down stretch on career-best night

If it wasn't obvious before, it most certainly is now. Williamson is the captain of this ship, and he looks ready to steer the Pelicans to places they've never been before.

LSU's Kayshon Boutte makes right call in declaring for NFL draft

After initially announcing he'd return to LSU for the 2023 season, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte reversed course and decided to declare for the NFL draft.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy's tired act surfaces again

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy has serious questions to answer after his team's collapse down the stretch. A tense exchange after his team's bowl loss to Wisconsin on Tuesday night shows those are questions the longtime head coach isn't ready to confront.

What surging Panthers should do with interim HC Steve Wilks

With the Carolina Panthers turning their season around under interim coach Steve Wilks, here is what the team should do with him at the end of the year.

Should Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa consider retirement?

With Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in the concussion protocol for the second time this season, opinions on the quarterback's next steps are flooding social media and the Internet. For his sake, should Tagovailoa consider retirement?