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With Auburn losing Jerrin Thompson, it’s good to know that top safety recruit Anquon Fegans will call Auburn home. He’s one of the top prospects Auburn adds on National Signing Day.
Position: Safety
Size: 6-foot-1, 180 pounds
Hometown: Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson
Recruitment: Fegans holds offers from across the nation. In the end, his recruitment is a traditional who’s who list of tradition-rich college football programs down South. Clemson, Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, and LSU make up the bulk of teams Fegans truly considered before committing to come to the Plains on July 29, 2024. Fegans is ESPN’s #43 overall recruit.
Strengths: Fegans’ ability to track the football in the air is something that’s obvious to even a Novus football fan. During his freshman season, he picked off a pass during the state title game. He’s been doing it over and over since that game as well.
Closing speed represents a major reason for Fegans’ success. His ability to jump a route is also why many quarterbacks steer clear of him if possible. A physical defensive back, Fegans also does well in the run game and finds his way to the ball carrier during screen passes.
Area to work on: Fegans definitely needs to add strength. He’s lanky right now and another 10 pounds before next fall would do the talented defensive back good. Beyond that, he simply needs to learn the Auburn defensive playbook and continue to hone his craft. Fegans is an exceptional talent.
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Five under-the-radar national title contenders in college football
The 2025 college football season is just a few weeks away, and one of the most intriguing storylines is the lack of a true favorite for the national championship. Many fans and pundits believe Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State or Notre Dame could win the 2025-26 College Football Playoff National Championship. Yet, it still feels wide open. It wouldn't be shocking if any of those teams won it all or not. With a talented roster, the proper schedule, and most importantly, the right quarterback, more college football teams have the chance to secure a national title than ever before. Here are five under-the-radar contenders to win it all. 5. Florida | 2024 record: 8-5 Most difficult opponent: Georgia (Nov. 1) The Gators surged at the end of 2024 and rank 18th in returning college football production, according to ESPN. However, a lot depends on former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway. Lagway has immense dual-threat potential. Florida's schedule is brutal, but if he realizes his abilities, anything is possible for the Gators' talented roster. 4. South Carolina | 2024 record: 9-4 Most difficult opponent: At LSU (Oct. 11) Head coach Shane Beamer's team is a trendy pick to make the College Football Playoff this season after falling just a few spots short in 2024. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers had a breakout campaign for the Gamecocks with 25 total touchdowns, as well as 3,208 total yards (674 rushing). With one of the most talented athletes in the game in wideout Nyck Harbor, South Carolina could have one of the best offenses in college football in 2025. The Gamecocks also have multiple returning starters. 3. Michigan | 2024 record: 8-5 Most difficult opponent: Ohio State (Nov. 29) The Wolverines struggled for most of the 2024 season. That said, they beat Ohio State on the road and Alabama in a bowl game, with a team mainly comprised of players who will be back this season. Add five-star phenom QB Bryce Underwood to the mix, along with former five-star running back Justice Haynes, who transferred from Alabama, and Michigan might have a lethal offense. If the Wolverines can get the most out of Underwood as a freshman, the sky is the limit, especially if DC Wink Martindale's defense is as good as advertised. 2. Kansas State | 2024 Record: 9-4 Most difficult opponent: Iowa State (Dublin, Aug. 23) Quarterback Avery Johnson (3,315 total yards, 32 total touchdowns in 2024) will be key to Kansas State taking a significant leap this year. With a traditionally strong defense and a stellar running game, head coach Chris Klieman's team seems to have all the pieces to win the Big 12 championship in 2025. The first game of the season will be telling. It's in Ireland against a pesky conference opponent in Iowa State. If Kansas State wins there, the Wildcats could rack up 10 or 11 victories. If Johnson can take a big step as a passer after completing just 58 percent of his throws in 2024, then K-State is a team to watch. 1. Illinois | 2024 record: 10-3 Most difficult opponent: Ohio State (Oct. 11) Illinois has one of the best head coaches in the Big Ten in Bret Bielema and quite possibly the best quarterback in Luke Altmyer. The Fighting Illini, who won the Citrus Bowl last season, have the third-most returning production, according to ESPN. Combine that with a nasty defense and a favorable schedule, and a deep playoff run isn't just a pipe dream.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Could Have A New Favorite Redzone Target
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a lot of changes to their roster throughout the 2025 offseason, leading to a lot of storylines. From new signings to unexpected departures, there’s been no shortage of things for fans and analysts to talk about. Even with all the moves, however, some big questions still remain, especially when it comes to depth at key positions and who will step up to fill certain roles. One of the biggest storylines has been the addition of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and with him leading the offense, many are wondering who he’ll be throwing to in the passing game consistently. Recently, former Steelers Super Bowl champion Trai Essex released a new episode of his podcast, The Snap Count, where he and his co-host, Charlie Batch, talked about a variety of Steelers-related topics ahead of the upcoming season. Among the topics discussed on the podcast was the highly-talked about question of who Rodgers is expected to connect with the most in the Steelers’ passing game. Essex mentioned someone that hasn’t been talked about a lot during the offseason, someone he believes could have a big impact in the end zone this year. "You know, I think Darnell Washington is going to be a huge target for Aaron Rodgers in the end zone," Essex said. Darnell Washington, who is a tight end that was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, could have a bigger role this season. While Pat Freiermuth has remained the team’s first tight end, the arrival of Rodgers may create more opportunities for Washington to get involved in the passing game. With his combination of size, strength, and receiving ability, Washington has the ability to be a serious threat in the red zone, like Essex mentioned. Rodgers is a future Hall of Famer, with a historic and successful career behind him up until this point. However, as he begins the next step in Pittsburgh, some have concerns about his age and whether he can still perform at a high level in such a physical league. What has always set Rodgers apart is his arm talent, and according to a recent report, his arm strength remains his best attribute. That not only poses a challenge for opposing defenses, but also presents an exciting opportunity for the Steelers to have a dangerous passing game. The Steelers now have a crowded and talented tight end room, especially with the recent addition of Jonnu Smith, who adds proven receiving skills and versatility to the offense. With this depth at tight end, it’s clear the position will likely play a significant role in the Steelers' offense this season. As the team continues to build around Rodgers for this year, it will be interesting to see how the targets are distributed among the many weapons at his disposal. Steelers Have Plenty Of Receiving Options There’s been plenty of talk surrounding the Steelers' wide receiver group, especially given the amount of receiving talent across the offense, including a strong tight end unit. While DK Metcalf is the clear wide receiver one, the wide receiver two spot is possibly still up for grabs, despite wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni naming Calvin Austin III as the current second option. Like Washington, Austin has a real opportunity to step up and show just how valuable he can be in the offense, especially with a quarterback as talented as Rodgers throwing the football. With this potentially being Rodgers’ final season, there’s added pressure for the Steelers to deliver results now. While much of the spotlight will be on Rodgers to lead the offense effectively, there’s also significant expectation on key receiving players players like Austin and Washington to take a big step forward and make a meaningful impact.
Steelers Fans Watch As Stephen A. Smith Destroys George Pickens In Epic Rant: 'Pick Up A Book'
Now, the Steelers’ wide receiver room is in an interesting spot. With Pickens gone, Metcalf is the clear number one option, but there are questions about who will step up behind him. Meanwhile, Pickens seems to be enjoying his time in Dallas. He has taken a few subtle jabs at the Steelers, suggesting he is in a better place and even praising the Cowboys for their Super Bowl history. His comments have raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. One person who wasn’t impressed was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. During a passionate segment on First Take, Smith ripped into Pickens for his remarks about the Cowboys being a Super Bowl team. He reminded Pickens that the Steelers are the more successful franchise and questioned whether the receiver understood what he was saying. Smith didn’t hold back, calling on Pickens to "pick up a book" and making it clear that he found the comments not only disrespectful, but uninformed. "Let me pause for a second and look in the camera for a second at George Pickens," Smith said. "I like George Pickens. He can ball, and I am sorry that he is gone from the Steelers and has now been contaminated by that Dallas Cowboys fan base." Pickens’ comments were very interesting. It’s no secret he feels a certain way about how the Steelers traded him. He’s been trying to keep a positive mindset about his new situation in Dallas, but it’s clear he’s made it a priority to throw in a few subtle jabs. Pickens said he understands the camaraderie in Dallas more than he ever did with the Steelers. He also claimed the Cowboys are synonymous with Super Bowls, which was a controversial statement considering the Steelers have more championships all-time than Dallas. "Here’s the deal," Smith said. "George Pickens, do you have any idea? When you talk about the Super Bowl and the Cowboys, you do understand that the Steelers are the more successful franchise. Did you know that? Did you know that? Do you understand what the he** you are saying? I mean, my God, you talk about a brother who needs to pick up a book. I am sorry, but I just have to call him out on that." Smith made it very clear that he thinks Pickens is a great football player and that he’s still a fan of his, even though he’s no longer on the Steelers. When you consider what Pickens was able to accomplish during his three seasons in Pittsburgh, it’s impressive. He played in one of the worst offenses in the NFL, yet he still managed to produce and deliver some truly exciting moments despite the team’s struggles. Steelers Fans Still Curious About George Pickens Now he finds himself in a much better offensive situation in Dallas, but from a franchise and team standpoint, the Cowboys are in a worse position than the Steelers. That’s why Pickens’ recent comments didn’t make much sense and why Smith felt the need to call him out during his epic rant. Many Steelers fans remain divided on the Pickens trade. Although he’s no longer in Pittsburgh, a lot of fans will continue to keep tabs on how he performs with the Cowboys. Whether out of frustration, curiosity, or lingering support, Pickens' journey in Dallas will be closely watched by Steeler Nation.
Matt LaFleur sheds light on concerning Tucker Kraft situation
The Green Bay Packers continued work on the field on Saturday, with tens of thousands of fans in attendance watching amid the annual Family Night. However, one notable player who was not able to make it to the field and practice was tight end Tucker Kraft. The former South Dakota State Jackrabbits star is nursing a lower-body injury, forcing the Packers to take it easy on the tight end and keep him on the shelf rather than risk aggravation of the issue. Speaking to the media, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opened up about Kraft’s status, via Green Bay reporter Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “MLF said Tucker Kraft has been dealing with a groin injury and powering through it for the last two days but they decided to give him a couple days off.” Kraft is expected to be among the major targets in the Packers’ passing attack in his third year in the pros. Selected in the third round (78th overall) by the Packers in the 2023 NFL draft, the 24-year-old Kraft is looking to surpass his production in 2024, when he posted 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 50 receptions.
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