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A Nebraska Cornhusker in the first round? That could happen next April.
The latest mock NFL Draft from ESPN has NU cornerback Tommi Hill going in the first round. Hill would be the first Husker taken in the draft since Ochaun Mathis and Trey Palmer went in the sixth round in 2023, and the first first-rounder since Prince Amukamara in 2011.
ESPN Insider Field Yates predicts the San Francisco 49ers will take Hill with the final pick of the first round, at No. 32 overall. Yates says the 49ers will likely need to replace Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir who are both free agents in March.
"Hill is a star with even more room to grow, as he played wideout early in his college career and is still refining the nuances of the cornerback position," Yates wrote. "He has a nose for the football (seven pass breakups and four interceptions in 2023) and is fearless, unafraid to make plays near the line of scrimmage in the run game."
Hill led the Nebraska in pass breakups and interceptions last season, adding a fumble recovery.
Other predictions of note:
No. 1 - New York Giants (trade with NE) take Georgia QB Carsen Beck
No. 4 - Tennessee Titans take Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders
No. 6 - New England Patriots (trade with NYG) take Michigan CB Will Johnson
No. 7 - Minnesota Vikings take Michigan DT Mason Graham
No. 11 - Seattle Seahawks take Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter
No. 15 - Jacksonville Jaguars take Ohio State CB Denzel Burke
No. 17 - Chicago Bears take Ohio State Edge JT Tuimoloau
No. 18 - Los Angele Chargers take Michigan TE Colston Loveland
No. 22 - Atlanta Falcons take Penn State Edge Abdul Carter
No. 25 - Cincinnati Bengals take Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka
No. 26 - Buffalo Bills take Ohio State OG Donovan Jackson
No. 31 - Kansas City Chiefs take Michigan DT Kenneth Grant
MORE: Dave Feit: What to Expect From Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola in Year 1
MORE: Alex Bullock: Nebraska Football 'Unlimited on Offense' with New Weapons
MORE: Blackshirts Dominate Single-Digit Jerseys as Nebraska Football Announces 'The Ten'
MORE: Kicking Competition Continues at Nebraska Football Preseason Camp
More must-reads:
- Texas' Arch Manning has concern on OL after season-ending injury
- New preseason poll increases pressure on Texas QB Arch Manning
- The 'NBA playoff point-per-game leaders' quiz
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Ohio State Insiders Keep Saying the Same Thing About Julian Sayin
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin is definitely the consensus favorite to win the starting job over Lincoln Kienholz heading into the 2025 college football season, but it definitely has not been easy for the former five-star prospect. Sayin struggled in spring practice, and while he has looked alright in fall camp, he hasn't been overly impressive, which has resulted in a rather surprising quarterback competition between him and Kienholz with the season opener mere weeks away. Throughout the early stages of camp, we keep hearing very similar reports about Sayin, and Cameron Teague Robinson of The Athletic was the latest to mention it following Ohio State's practice session on Saturday. "Overall, I thought that was the best day for both quarterbacks, but there wasn’t a play that stood out with a major 'wow' factor, good or bad," Robinson wrote. While it's obviously good that Sayin didn't have a particularly bad day, the fact that he still hasn't "wowed" anyone throughout camp is obviously a concerning sign and indicates that he really has not made the type of progress that most had anticipated thus far. Just 19 years old, Sayin is attempting to fill the shoes of Will Howard, a Columbus cult hero who led the Buckeyes to their first national championship win in a decade last season. That certainly isn't an easy task, especially not when you are burdened with the type of expectations that have been placed upon the shoulders of Sayin. Hopefully, the youngster is able to turn on the jets over these next few weeks to position himself for a potentially flashy debut against Texas on Aug. 30.
Michael Hage’s Dominance Clear at World Juniors Showcase
The World Junior Showcase showed the dominance of multiple Montreal Canadiens prospects this past week. After discussing Koivu’s play in the mini tournament earlier today, it is now time for a discussion on the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Michael Hage. Much like his Finnish counterpart, the Canadian forward Hage stood out from his teammates throughout the showcase. Hage, who is arguably a top 3 prospect within the Montreal Canadiens pipeline, put on a show that should help him secure a role within Canada’s 2026 World Juniors team. The fact that he proved to be one of the best players for Canada this past week shows that not even getting an invite to the team’s final selection camp, despite a very strong freshman season at the University of Michigan, seemed silly, as even last year, he likely should have had a shot at making the team. Now that he managed to score a goal in all 4 games that he played for Canada at the World Juniors Showcase, there is almost no way that Canada can leave him off the roster. One of the most memorable moments throughout the whole tournament for Hage was definitely when he was in a scrum, mixing it up with his former Canadiens Development camp roommate, Aatos Koivu, as previously mentioned in my article from earlier today. Another amazing moment in that game was Hage’s goal, where he completely deked around the Finland goalie to put the puck in the net. It will be interesting to see where in the Canada lineup Hage will land, as a lot of notable names such as Michael Misa, Beckett Sennecke, and Tij Iginla did not play at the showcase. The good news is that the first two names may end up playing in the NHL, allowing a spot higher in the lineup for Hage. Another thing that will work well in Hage’s favour is that he is very versatile and can play on the wing or at centre for Canada. His coach even praised his “hard skills” for Canada during those four games he played. After watching Hage’s play over the last year, one thing is clear: he could be a play driver on whatever line he plays on for Canada. His game also seems like it will translate well at the pro level. Many may say that Hage must play a top 6 role for Canada, but the fact that he can play an aggressive style and has a strong defensive game could mean that he is also able to play in a bottom-six role if need be. The truth is it would be unlikely he would have to be on the bottom 6, but if the guys mentioned above aren’t in the NHL and are instead on the team, there is a chance that it could happen. This upcoming season with the Michigan Wolverines should be a big one where Hage could find his way in the Hobey Baker conversation if he improves on his 13 goals and 34 points in 33 games. The first half of the season will be telling for his place with Hockey Canada, whereas the 2nd half could also help him earn some time at the pro level. The way Hage has played since being drafted, it feels more like it’s more about when he’ll play for the Canadiens in a regular-season game, rather than if he will. Will Hage prove that he’s ready to play at the pro level this year at Michigan?
Minnesota Vikings roster move ahead of night practice raises major cause for concern for injured rookie
The Minnesota Vikings are set to have their annual night practice on Monday night, and just like last year, they have some news coming right before it's set to begin. This time, it's not quarterback J.J. McCarthy missing practice with an undiagnosed knee injury that ended his season. The Vikings signed tight end Nick Vannett and waived offensive tackle Marcellus Johnson Vannett has been around the block during the course of his nine year career. After being a third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2016, the player who was once nicknamed "Baby Gronk," Vannett has played for eight teams. He was most productive in 2018 with the Seahawks, catching 29 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. In 2024 with the Tennessee Titans, Vannett caught 17 passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns. He's been the number two or three tight end for the majority of his career. Even so, Vannett has started 53 of his 111 career games. This is the second time that the Vikings have added depth at the tight end position this offseason. Right before mandatory minicamp, they added Giovanni Ricci with sixth-round pick Gavin Bartholomew nursing a back injury. He is still on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which is a cause for concern as we move forward in the preseason. Vannett is another veteran to add in a room with multiple rookies who could learn a thing or two. Also, he can eat up some snaps during the course of the preseason to keep both T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver off the field. What does this mean for the Vikings and the tight end position? From the onset of the addition, Vannett is a threat to make the roster, as he's a versatile depth piece who can play a multitude of different roles on the offense. It could also spell disaster for Bartholomew, as his back injury could be worse than we realize, especially with Vannett being the second tight end that has been added in as many weeks.
Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh 'hopeful' deal is done with Keenan Allen after workout
The Los Angeles Chargers fanbase has been anxiously awaiting a potential deal with a fan favorite in former Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen. While nothing has yet to be announced officially, it feels that a reunion between the Chargers and Allen will be inevitable. Head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke to the media about Allen's recent workout, and the comments should make anyone happy who is hoping for this reunion. Harbaugh said the veteran receiver was doing "Keenan Allen things" during his workout, and the hope is that the team can get a deal done with Allen soon. Allen spent the first 11 years of his career with the Chargers. In that time, Allen earned six Pro Bowl selections and became one of the most popular players in franchise history. The Chargers attempted another reunion this offseason with receiver Mike Williams; however, Williams decided that it was time to move on from football, announcing his shocking retirement. The team has been looking for veteran leadership at wide receiver and may have found just that with someone who will be a future Chargers hall of famer. Adding Allen could be huge for players like Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who could learn from a talented veteran.
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