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USC football is out-recruiting every college football program for the 2026 cycle. Including pilfering more talent compared to rival UCLA.
The Trojans even landed a lifelong Bruins fan for this recruiting class. That "die hard" UCLA fan broke his silence with Chris Trevino of 247Sports Monday about how and why he chose USC instead.
Three-star offensive tackle Chase Deniz became an under-the-radar verbal commit for Lincoln Riley and company. The Cathedral Catholic of San Diego star was lifting weights at his school when the interest from USC began.
The 6-foot-7 lineman became a UCLA fan thanks to his mother -- Bruins softball legend Stacey Nuveman-Deniz, who also is the softball head coach at San Diego State. The '26 OL believed Trojans offensive line coach Zach Hanson was there to scout someone else.
"I could see him talking to my head coach and I could see them talking about me and looking at me. I was like, 'There's no way I'm going to go USC. He's just here to just check in and see who this guy is.' You know, this isn't going to turn anything," Deniz said to Trevino.
Hanson, however, spent 30 to 45 minutes talking to Deniz instead. Deniz started realizing this could turn into an offer -- and turn a UCLA household upside down.
Deniz verbally illustrated the next scene involving he and USC: Stepping inside Riley's office in March.
I asked him if [the offer] is committable. He's like, 'Yeah.' And I was like, 'Let's just do this right now,' " said Deniz. "I shook his hand, and I [committed] right there in Lincoln Riley's office."
Deniz returned home where his house and even bedroom is UCLA themed. He even admitted he was anti-USC for the longest time. Now he joked only his bedroom can have USC inside, while the rest of the house can have UCLA.
He added his mother "was crying happy tears." Yet told her son "my worst nightmare came true, you went to USC."
Deniz brings towering 6-foot-7, 295-pounds to the Land of Troy for the '26 class. He adds Hanson plans to try him at multiple spots on the line from center to both tackle spots.
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Rivals names Florida WR as No. 1 recruit of 2028 class
Wide receiver has always been a premier position in the game of football, but if recent years have taught us anything, it's that it might be turning into the premier position. For years, that was quarterback, and having an elite quarterback makes all the world of difference. With that said, game-changing wideouts like Travis Hunter, Jeremiah Smith and DeVonta Smith have proven that the position can be the most important player in the game. As such, it's not all that surprising to see that a wide receiver, five-star Brysen Wright from Jacksonville, Florida, has found himself ranked as the top 2028 recruit in the country by Rivals. “Definitely means a lot just knowing that I’m accomplishing my goals,” Wright told Steve Wiltfong of Rivals regarding the honor. “But knowing I’ve got to keep working hard and [keep] going.” Wright hasn't even played his sophomore season of high school ball yet, and already boasts 30 offers, with some of the top programs in the country after his commitment. We're talking about offers from Georgia, Miami, Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, Florida, LSU, Texas A M and many others. At this early stage, Ohio State, Miami and Florida are the top programs on his mind, but it's worth noting that there's a ton of time from this moment and his eventual signing day. Wright does know what he's looking for at the next level, though. “The development,” Wright explained. “Getting to the league. And just the relationship with the coaches. The guys I’m going against in practice and stuff like that. Being around guys I know that’s going to push me and keep me working hard.” Wright checks in at just under 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds with plenty of room to grow and, again, he only has a freshman year of experience under his belt. He caught 31 passes for 646 yards and eight touchdowns for Mandarin High School in 2024. Just imagine what he'll be able to do when he's a senior. The last WR recruit to have a top ranking like Wright was Jeremiah Smith, and we've seen what he's been able to do with the Buckeyes. It will be interesting to see how Wright develops, but he projects to be that kind of star player.
What teams are asking about Commanders’ Brian Robinson Jr. amid trade interest
After reports surrounding Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr.’s imminent exit amid trade interest, that notion was confirmed this week. Coach Dan Quinn confirmed the Commanders’ plans for Robinson Jr. as he was also inactive in Monday’s 31-17 preseason loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. After the loss, Quinn released a statement that the Commanders and Robinson Jr. would be going their separate ways, which means a potential trade should be coming down the pike soon, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. “Brian Robinson Jr. did not play, and Dan Quinn pretty much, confirming that they’re going to move on from Robinson here,” Garafolo said. “He is set to make a total of $3.5 million per this season in the final year of his deal. So, it’s looking like a potential trade. Both sides agreed he’s not going to play to play in that game to keep a trade alive — didn’t want him to get hurt in that case.” Still, there isn’t an apparent reason why the Commanders are actively shopping Robinson Jr. for potential suitors. “I know there’s interest because, as I’ve reported this, I’ve heard from teams that are saying, “What happened there?” How did he fall out of favor? Does he want a new contract? Yeah, I mean, eventually he does,” Garafolo added. “But this is a contract year, and right now, given this situation, my understanding is he wants the best possible situation for him to have the best possible season to set him up for a payday this offseason as a free agent. “So, right now, all about fit for Brian Robinson. I believe he’s going to have a new home. If it’s not via trade and they got to cut him, he’ll have a new home in short order,” Garafolo concluded. Dan Quinn hints at Brian Robinson Jr’s Commanders exit The plans to sit Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. against the Bengals only fueled trade interest until head coach Dan Quinn’s public interest confirmed suspicion. “There’s just a lot of moving parts this time of year,” Quinn said via a team transcript. “Those things take place. And so I just wanted to make sure that’s my responsibility to let the team know whenever I can, so they’re not hearing any information from anywhere else. So that was all more of the standard operating procedure for me.” Quinn added that he has too much respect for Robinson Jr. to reveal what led to the Commanders’ decision to part ways with their veteran running back.
Former Green Bay Packers RB to miss entire 2025 NFL season due to injury
The Green Bay Packers are dealing with some concerning injuries to significant members of their roster. As their fans are well aware, the Packers have seen multiple wide receivers projected to be at the top of the depth cart go down during training camp with various injuries. Christian Watson, of course, has not been practicing all offseason as he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 18 against the Chicago Bears. In addition to him, the Packers also played their previous preseason game without Romeo Doubs (back), Jayden Reed (foot) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf). And while Doubs returned to practice this week, Reed and Wicks remain out. Elsewhere around the NFL, other teams are dealing with injuries of their own, and some involve players that are former Packers. Former Green Bay Packers running back Patrick Taylor is out for the 2025-26 NFL season One of these players is former Packers running back Patrick Taylor, who played in Green Bay from 2021-2023. An undrafted free agent who often filled in as Green Bay’s third running back, he accumulated 261 rushing yards and a touchdown in his three seasons with the Packers. He found himself out of a job when the Packers revamped their running back room before the 2024 NFL season. Taylor ended up with the San Francisco 49ers last season and had the best year of his career with 183 rushing yards and a touchdown while appearing in 13 games. He will not be playing any games this season as San Francisco just put him on season-ending injured reserve: NFL teams can only have so many players on an injured reserve list. Interestingly, Taylor’s injury led to the 49ers to release another former Packer, wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, who was placed on injured reserve last week. In order to release an injured player, teams and that player must come to an injury settlement, which St. Brown received. He is now free to sign with any team in the NFL should he be able to pass a physical.
Browns officially make decision on starting quarterback
Cleveland Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand noted late Sunday night that head coach Kevin Stefanski was "undoubtedly" going to name veteran Joe Flacco the team's Week 1 starting quarterback as soon as Tuesday. It turns out Stefanski didn't need to wait that long. Kelsey Russo of the Browns' website confirmed on Monday afternoon that Flacco will serve as Cleveland's QB1 for its regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. That post officially ended what truly became a quarterback competition in name only after presumed backup Kenny Pickett suffered a hamstring injury on July 26 that kept him out of the club's first two preseason games. Even before Pickett experienced that setback, there was no indication that Stefanski wanted to start either 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel or 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders against the Bengals. Gabriel missed Cleveland's 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8 because of a hamstring issue but then had a solid outing in the Browns' 22-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles this past Saturday. Sanders played well against Carolina but sat out the Eagles contest because of an oblique injury. As for Flacco, the perception exists that the 40-year-old didn't need preseason reps to be ready to go for the Cincinnati game. During the 2023 season, the one-time Super Bowl MVP won four of five starts to guide the 2023 Browns to a playoff berth. For a piece published shortly before the Browns shared their expected announcement, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated mentioned that other players in the Cleveland locker room "know Flacco is their best option" regarding Week 1. Breer added that "the Browns are comfortable keeping four quarterbacks" on their active roster through at least the early parts of the upcoming season. As of Monday, it was unclear if Pickett will be able to play in Cleveland's preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Rams this coming Saturday. One wonders if Pickett will push to take the field on Aug. 23 so that he can audition for a team that may feel its long-term answer at the position isn't on the roster today. Then again, Browns general manager Andrew Berry may elect to hold onto Pickett until Stefanski decides that either Gabriel or Sanders is ready to face a live defense in a meaningful game. For now, the Cleveland starting job is officially Flacco's to lose for the first time since January 2024.
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