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

Recent Pelicans contract extension one of NBA's biggest steals

Steal artist Jose Alvarado has rubbed off on the Pelicans. On Saturday, New Orleans signed him to a team-friendly deal that was one of the league's biggest steals.

Paperweights: Ole Miss exposed in stunning home loss to Kentucky

With its loss to Kentucky, Ole Miss is still the same underperforming program it's always been since Kiffin took over.

Pirates' Paul Skenes joins pitching royalty with incredible finish to rookie season

Pirates ace Paul Skenes capped his historic rookie season on Saturday with an incredible performance against the Yankees. 

CFB Week 5 winners and losers: Alabama's Jalen Milroe becomes Heisman front-runner with unbelievable performance

Georgia-Alabama delivered on the hype. But the biggest game of the 2024 college football season wasn't the only game this weekend that left our heads spinning.  So, strap your leather helmet on and dive in, because we're tackling Week 5's winners and losers.

Watch: Ole Miss starts strong in SEC opener against Kentucky

Ole Miss steamrolled through an easy out-of-conference schedule to begin the season, and it's doing the same early in its 2024 SEC opener.

Karl-Anthony Towns reunites with HC who guided him to best NBA seasons

Reunited with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, Karl-Anthony Towns is back with the coach who helped guide him to his best seasons in the NBA.

Army continues hot start in first season as AAC member

Army continued its undefeated march to begin the 2024 season.

Tigers closing in on improbable playoff berth after comeback win over Rays

On Thursday, Detroit rallied from a 3-0 deficit against the Rays to win 4-3, its fifth victory in a row and ninth in its last 10 games. The win moved the Tigers one step closer to an improbable AL wild-card berth.

Five potential landing spots for Bryce Young to resurrect his NFL career

After only 18 NFL starts, it's far too early for the rest of the league to give up on the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

NFC South rookie grades: How has each team's top pick fared?

After three weeks of the regular season, several rookies are already making their mark in the NFL. Here's an evaluation of each NFC South team's top draft pick, accompanied by a grade based on how they've fared.

Watch: Bills' Damar Hamlin records first career interception on 'MNF'

Nearly two years after going into cardiac arrest on the field during a "Monday Night Football" game between the Bengals and Bills, Hamlin picked off Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence as part of a first-half demolition.

Oklahoma HC Brent Venables makes right call with QB decision

Oklahoma freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins is in a tough spot entering his first collegiate start. That doesn't mean Sooners head coach Brent Venables erred in making a change.

'MNF' takeaways: Jayden Daniels arrives with historic game vs. Bengals

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels won the battle between former LSU Heisman winners against Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

Pac-12 must get creative to solve its numbers problem

The conference's future is again in doubt two weeks after appearing to rise from the ashes with four commitments from Mountain West programs Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Fresno State on Sept. 12.

Group of Five CFB power rankings: Which conference has the advantage entering Week 5?

With Group of Five members battling for one automatic College Football Playoff bid, overall conference strength could be a crucial tiebreaker.

NFL Week 3's worst QB performances: Pair of NFC South QBs spoil incredible 2024 starts

Life happens fast for NFL quarterbacks. For these five, Sunday couldn't end soon enough.

Watch: Nightmarish Jalen Hurts start continues with second turnover against Saints

It's been a rough beginning for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts against the Saints.

Watch: LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier throws perfect TD pass against upset-minded UCLA

LSU's offense is doing all it can. If only the defense would catch up.

Watch: Michigan takes early lead vs. USC with long TD run

Michigan is defending the Big House early.

CFB Week 4 winners and losers: Tennessee, Utah record statement wins

Who ruled Week 4 in college football and who wishes they had a do-over? Winners and losers from another action-packed Saturday.

Watch: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik's long TD run vs. NC State keeps Tigers rolling

Klubnik's scamper was the longest run by a Clemson quarterback since Trevor Lawrence's 67-yard touchdown run in 2019.

WNBA playoff preview: Eight players who will define the 2024 postseason

The 2024 WNBA playoffs tip off on Sunday with four games. Here are eight players to watch ahead of one of the most anticipated postseasons in league history.

Saints QB Derek Carr's fine shows NFL's hypocrisy knows no bounds

We're throwing a flag on this one. On Thursday, Pro Football Talk reported the NFL fined Derek Carr $14,000 for his touchdown celebration following a 1-yard QB sneak in a 44-19 romp over the Cowboys in Week 2.

Eagles DC Vic Fangio addresses edge-rusher Bryce Huff's role in Week 3 vs. Saints

Huff signed a three-year, $51.1 million contract in the offseason and has two quarterback pressures in two games.