The USC Trojans landed elite three-star receiver Roderick Tezeno after a second visit to USC last weekend. Tezeno is the fourth receiver coach Lincoln Riley has added to his No. 1 ranked 2026 recruiting class.
Tezeno joins fellow three-star receivers Ja'Myron Baker and Kohen Brown, committed to USC. The Trojans' four-star wide receiver commit is Trent Mosely, who is ranked as the No. 11 wide receiver in the country according to 247Sports.
.... However more receiver commits could be on the horizon.
Instead of having a spring game, the USC Trojans held the first “Trojan Olympics” this past weekend as they hosted an impressive list of recruits.
“My visit went great. Had a good time being around all the coaches and the staff, great hospitality and they made me feel welcome, like at home,” Tezeno told On3. “What excites me is that everything is just getting started around there and I think they’re gonna be doing some big things here in the future.”
Tezeno is not the only receiver USC has made an impression on as of late. Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame four-star receiver Luc Weaver picked up an offer from his hometown school on April 24 and the Trojans quickly became the favorite to land him.
Weaver will return to USC for an official visit on June. 20. The 6-foot-3, 194-pound Weaver is the No. 339 overall prospect and the No. 53 wide receiver according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
St. John Bosco (Calif.) four-star receiver and Texas A&M commit Madden Williams picked up an offer from the Trojans in late March. USC already holds a commitment his teammate, three-star athlete Joshua Holland. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Kobe Pepe and redshirt freshman cornerback Marcelles Williams also come from one the premier high school.
Williams is the No. 247 overall prospect and No. 43 receiver in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
The Trojans were not involved in Williams’ recruitment when he announced his pledge in December. USC is late to the mix and still has a ton of ground to make up, but an offer from the local school has caught Williams’ attention.
Williams was on campus April 5 for an unofficial visit and was joined by Sierra Canyon (Calif.) three-star athlete and USC commit Madden Riordan.
“Definitely one of my closer football friends, played against and with each other growing up and I’m pushing him as hard as the coaches,” Riordan said. “I came to practice just because I heard he was going.”
Mater Dei (Calif.) four-star receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is a high priority as USC coach Lincoln Riley and his staff work to rebuild their pipeline with the national powerhouse. His teammate, four-star defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui is locked in with the Trojans after officially shut down his recruitment in April.
Dixon-Wyatt has been on campus at least three times this calendar year and will return on June 6 for his official visit. The Orange County product is the No. 107 overall prospect and No. 15 receiver in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
USC has been hot on the recruiting trail and currently boasts the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2026 cycle with 23 commitments, including three receivers, Santa Margarita (Calif.) four-star Trent Mosley, Sierra Canyon (Calif.) three-star Ja’Myron ‘Tron’ Baker and Waxahachie (Texas) three-star Kohen Brown.
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Michigan football will finally hear a verdict from the NCAA regarding the sign-stealing saga, and fans are wondering what college football’s governing body has in store for the Wolverines after its long investigation into the program. Some have speculated that a postseason ban could be in the offing, or that the NCAA could make a grab for Michigan’s national title, but ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel doesn’t think the final ruling will be that severe. What does the NCAA have in store for Michigan? What can Michigan expect? Apparently, it will have to fork over some serious money. “We’re going to find out tomorrow any potential punishment for Michigan... which is likely to be a hefty fine,” Thamel said on The Pat McAfee Show. “And there’s not an expectation there’s going to be any postseason ban, and there’s not an expectation that any of their accomplishments are going to be taken away.” Sherrone Moore could be targeted Michigan football fans will rejoice to hear their team’s national championship likely won’t be touched as a result of the NCAA’s investigation. But their head coach could still find himself in the NCAA’s cross-hairs. “The real news that’s going to come out of tomorrow is going to be regarding the suspension of Sherrone Moore,” Thamel added. “What we’re going to find out from the NCAA tomorrow, is that accepted, or if they’re going to add any additional suspensions. Remember, he obviously deleted a threat of 52 text messages in this.” Those text messages were allegedly sent between Moore and Connor Stalions, the now-former Michigan staffer and center of the sign-stealing allegations, and was a turn of events in the scandal that NCAA investigators were particularly bothered by. Deleting conversations with the target of an NCAA probe is basically the dictionary definition of interference with an investigation, something the body looks very severely on. Michigan already suspended Moore for two games of the 2025 football season, notably the third and fourth games of the year, against Central Michigan and Nebraska. The school likely did so in the off chance that by showing the NCAA it was willing to suspend its head coach, then maybe the higher-ups won’t feel they have to add any more suspensions of their own. Or that if they were to add more suspensions, it wouldn’t be for too long. “As these things go, when you self-impose, it’s like buying a used car. You don’t go above the bluebook value when you make your first offer. You go below the bluebook value,” Thamel said of Michigan’s logic. “So there’s an expectation that there could be a slight addition to it potentially. If you look at the history of these cases, when people do self-impose, sometimes it’s accepted, sometimes there’s an added [suspension], but it won’t be radically different than the two [games] that are already there.” Michigan could appeal any further suspension levied against Moore. But given how poorly the NCAA looks on perceived interference with investigations, most analysts believe the body will come down with further suspensions for Moore this season, and that any appeal would likely be struck down. Which would likely mean Moore would not be on the Michigan sideline for the opener against New Mexico, or a critical Week 2 game at SEC opponent Oklahoma. Michigan's sign-stealing saga The scandal first came to light in October 2023, the season Michigan won the national championship, and the Big Ten suspended then-head coach Jim Harbaugh for the final three games of the year. Sign stealing is not itself a violation of NCAA rules, but bylaw 11.6.1 prohibits “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents” in the same season. Stalions is alleged to have purchased tickets for several Big Ten games and paid third parties to attend and film opponents’ sidelines to pick up their football signals. Now it appears the scandal could be coming to an end, while Michigan awaits what the end looks like. --
It's not just a lack of spending or money that keeps the Pittsburgh Pirates at the bottom of the Major League Baseball standings every year. It's also the fact that they are poorly run. Especially when it comes to player development throughout their own farm system. One of their newest prospects, catcher Rafael Flores, who was just acquired before the trade deadline in the David Bednar trade with the New York Yankees, unintentionally gave an example as to one of the flaws with the Pirates. As Flores explained to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this week, the Yankees' minor league focus is almost entirely on individual player development, while the Pirates — in his early view — seem more focused on team success at the minor league level. He also explained that the Yankees give their catchers every piece of information and data that they possibly can, while the Pirates only give their catchers the information that they specifically ask for. Those are two very eye-opening comparisons, and the first one is by far the most problematic and shows a very serious flaw with the Pirates' approach. The major league team should never, under any circumstances, care about the team success of a minor league team. Those teams do not exist to win games or win championships. They exist as an avenue to teach players how to play professional baseball, develop their skills and get them ready to be contributors for the major league team. Everything else is secondary. Now, Flores has only been in the Pirates system for two weeks. It is possible his initial perception is not the entire reality. But it's still an eye-opening comparison for a player to make when coming over from a completely different — and far more successful — organization. It would also track with a lot of the recent Pirates issues in developing players. They have been awful at developing position players, especially under general manager Ben Cherington, and tend to be slow to promote players through the system. (Paul Skenes was a rare exception to both issues.) It would also make sense that they want their minor league teams to do well. It makes it easy to sell hope to a frustrated fan base. If the major league team is not winning, it is easy for the Pirates to point out the success of their farm teams and say, "see, they are doing well ... there is help on the way" even if it is entirely misleading. The Pirates do have two of the best prospects in baseball in infielder Konnor Griffin and starting pitcher Bubba Chandler, but neither is currently in the major leagues. It remains to be seen if they will develop them into top-tier major leaguers. Recent history suggests the odds are not in their favor. Especially if the team is more concerned about its minor league teams winning games over individual players developing.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting closer to regular-season form, and tight end Pat Freiermuth is already liking what he sees. After Thursday’s joint practice between Pittsburgh and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium, the fifth-year veteran offered high praise for his new quarterback, while also pointing to strides being made across the offense. Aaron Rodgers’s joint practice performance was under the microscope — and Freiermuth’s take was clear. In an article posted by Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley, she noted that Freiermuth has been encouraged by what the team has shown offensively. He especially liked what he saw from the offensive line and their new signal-caller. “I thought the offensive line played pretty solid. I thought Aaron played really well. I think we came out here and did our job, and I thought we all looked pretty solid as an offense. We have to continue to grow, but I think we’re taking steps in the right direction.” The comments from Freiermuth reflect a broader theme from the day, progress with room for growth. Pittsburgh’s offense reportedly won the majority of the Seven Shots period during Thursday’s session, with strong execution in red-zone situations. The two-minute drill was more mixed, but the exposure to Tampa Bay’s different defensive looks — including four-man fronts — added real value to the day’s work. The Steelers offense update comes as Rodgers continues ramping up in live action after sitting out the first preseason game. Thursday’s joint practice marked his most substantial work of August so far, and his timing with the 2021 draft pick out of Penn State and the rest of the offense appears to be coming together. With a retooled wide receiver group and a revamped offensive line, joint sessions are providing valuable live reps in simulated game conditions. Rodgers is not expected to suit up for Saturday’s preseason matchup, as Pittsburgh continues to manage his workload ahead of Week 1. Freiermuth remains a key target in the red zone and in middle-field route concepts, and his chemistry with the 41-year-old quarterback is already drawing attention. The offensive line, meanwhile, earned a public shout-out — a sign that communication and protection are trending in the right direction. The staff continues to manage preseason usage carefully, meaning Rodgers and other starters may be limited again in Saturday’s exhibition against the Buccaneers. The Steelers and Buccaneers joint-practice offered the kind of controlled but competitive reps that coaches and players value most. No major injuries were reported, and the work helped refine offensive timing, especially in pressure moments. While Freiermuth emphasized that the unit is still building, Thursday’s showing was a positive sign. With Week 1 of the regular season approaching, the offense looks like it’s beginning to click — and the veteran tight end seems confident they’re headed in the right direction.
A major injury suffered by a starting quarterback can ruin a season if an NFL team doesn't have a solid backup plan. Ahead of the regular season, which begins Sept. 4, Yardbarker NFL writers rate the backup QB situations of every NFL team on a scale of "1" (dynamic) to "5" (disaster). NFC East DALLAS COWBOYS | Rating: 4 | QBs: Dak Prescott (starter), Joe Milton III, Will Grier | Milton, acquired in an offseason trade with the New England Patriots, was subpar in a Week 1 preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams (17-of-29 for 143 yards, one TD pass and an interception). "I think our plan all along has been that we need to find out about Joe Milton," first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer told the team’s website. The 2024 sixth-rounder must show more for the rest of the preseason for the Cowboys to feel confident about their backup situation. NEW YORK GIANTS | Rating: 3 | QBs: Russell Wilson (starter), Jameis Winston, Jaxson Dart, Tommy DeVito | The Giants have assembled one of the league’s more bizarre QB rooms. Winston is much more entertaining than good, just as likely to throw two pick-sixes as 400 yards in a game. DeVito is competent but offers little upside, while 2025 rookie Dart is the wild card and should be the first name called if HC Brian Daboll pulls the plug on Wilson. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Rating: 2 | QBs: Jalen Hurts (starter), Tanner McKee, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Kyle McCord | McKee has made the most of his opportunities, including acing his most recent test in preseason Week 1, finishing a win over the Cincinnati Bengals 20-of-25 for 252 yards and two TD passes. The Eagles should feel confident that he can win games, but they should be skeptical of Thompson-Robinson or McCord. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Rating: 4 | QBs: Jayden Daniels (starter), Marcus Mariota, Josh Johnson, Sam Hartman | Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, was fine for the Commanders a season ago, completing 77.3 percent of his pass attempts with four TD passes and no interceptions in three appearances. But let’s be real: Washington will only go as far as Daniels takes it. The backup situation for the Commanders is bleak, with journeyman Johnson and 2024 undrafted free agent Hartman also offering limited upside. — Eric Smithling NFC West ARIZONA CARDINALS | Rating: 4 | Kyler Murray (starter), Jacoby Brissett, Clayton Tune | Brissett has learned from great QBs (Tom Brady and Andrew Luck) and has had success in spurts. He's not a game-changer, but he can keep the Cardinals in games and give a young team stability in case Murray misses time. If Tune plays, though, the season has gone drastically wrong. LOS ANGELES RAMS | Rating: 2 | QBs: Matthew Stafford (starter), Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson Bennett, Dresser Winn | The Rams may already be thinking about playing Garoppolo because of Stafford’s lingering back injury. Garoppolo is accomplished, having nearly won Super Bowl LIV for the 49ers. Bennett flashed potential in the preseason opener against the Cowboys while working with second- and third-teamers. Winn is likely suited for a practice-squad role. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Rating: 3 | Brock Purdy (starter), Mac Jones, Carter Bradley | Jones has flourished in his first camp with the team. The 2021 first-round pick looks like he has been operating HC Kyle Shanahan’s system for years and could be the team’s next reclamation project success story. Bradley is just a camp body. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Rating: 3 | Sam Darnold (starter), Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe | Rookie Milroe boosts the ranking, as his stellar speed can directly impact any game. Lock is a serviceable option. The veteran is entering his second stint with the Seahawks. His decision-making is highly questionable, but he is an underrated passer. — Sterling Bennett NFC North CHICAGO BEARS | Rating: 2 | QBs: Caleb Williams (starter), Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum, Austin Reed | The Bears have faith in Bagent to keep the offense afloat if Williams misses time. The 25-year-old went 2-2 in four starts in 2023. Chicago might have the best third-string QB in the NFL in Keenum, who has started 66 games and has thrown for 15,175 yards. DETROIT LIONS | Rating: 4 | QBs: Jared Goff (starter), Hendon Hooker, Kyle Allen | Hooker attempted only nine passes in his rookie season in 2024, so who knows if he’s capable of running an NFL offense? As for Allen, he’s 7-12 in 19 starts with 26 TD passes and 21 interceptions, and he’s attempted only one regular-season pass since 2022. GREEN BAY PACKERS | Rating: 2 | QBs: Jordan Love (starter), Malik Willis, Sean Clifford, Taylor Elgersma | Willis stepped in for an injured Love last season and went 2-0 with four total touchdowns and no interceptions. He'll improve as he works more with HC Matt LaFleur. Clifford is a decent third-string option. MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Rating: 3 | QBs: J.J. McCarthy (starter), Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, Max Brosmer | Howell is a solid backup with 18 NFL starts and a gunslinger mentality, but his aggressiveness leads to too many turnovers. If anyone can get the best out of him, it's HC Kevin O’Connell. If Rypien or Brosmer play this season, Minnesota's in trouble. — Jack Dougherty NFC South ATLANTA FALCONS | Rating: 3 | Michael Penix Jr. (starter), Kirk Cousins, Easton Stick, Emory Jones | Cousins flopped in his first season with the Falcons, throwing one TD pass and nine interceptions over his final five starts before being benched for 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. The No. 8 overall pick’s development is crucial for the Falcons, who have little else behind him. Stick was sharp in preseason Week 1, going 15-of-18 for 149 yards and a TD in a loss to the Detroit Lions. CAROLINA PANTHERS | Rating: 3 | QBs: Bryce Young (starter), Andy Dalton, Jack Plummer | Dalton gives the Panthers a veteran presence behind incumbent Young, but is no more than a replacement-level player at this stage of his career. Plummer (no relation to retired former NFL QB Jake Plummer) is a 2024 undrafted free agent who ended his collegiate career as a fifth-year senior at Louisville, where he threw for 3,204 yards while leading the Cardinals to a 10-4 record. He didn’t take a snap during the last regular season. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Rating: 5 | QBs: Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, Jake Haener, Hunter Dekkers | The top three QBs on the depth chart (Rattler, Shough, Haener) are in a battle to start. They took turns turning the ball over in the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, with Rattler losing a fumble, Shough throwing a pick-six and Haener throwing another interception late in the fourth quarter. Three weeks before the regular season opens, New Orleans might not be any closer to deciding on a starter. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Rating: 4 | Baker Mayfield (starter), Kyle Trask, Teddy Bridgewater, Connor Bazelak | Trask, entering his fourth NFL season, is still an unknown with only 11 career pass attempts, but likely is more confident after a sharp preseason opener. Bridgewater hasn’t taken a regular-season snap since 2022, while Bazelak, a 2025 undrafted free agent after exhausting his college eligibility at six seasons, is practice-squad fodder. — Eric Smithling AFC East BUFFALO BILLS | Rating: 1 | Josh Allen (starter), Mitchell Trubisky, Mike White, Shane Buechele | In Trubisky, the Bills have one of the division's more experienced QBs (57 starts over eight NFL seasons). He and White each threw 13 passes and combined for three TDs in a preseason game against the Giants. Unless the Bills look to dump Trubisky’s $3.2M salary, these two offer Buffalo great depth behind Allen. MIAMI DOLPHINS | Rating: 5 | Tua Tagovailoa (starter), Zach Wilson, Quinn Ewers | Aside from Tagovailoa, Dolphins QBs were abysmal in the team’s first preseason game. Wilson was sacked four times, Ewers went 5-of-18 and neither threw for a TD. Wilson hasn’t taken a regular-season snap since going 4-7 with the Jets in 2023, and Ewers was the last QB taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. Considering Tagovailoa’s extensive injury history, Miami could be in deep trouble if it must turn to a backup. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Rating: 3 | Drake Maye (starter), Joshua Dobbs, Ben Wooldridge | An undrafted free agent, Wooldridge threw for 132 yards and a TD against the Commanders in the first preseason game. Dobbs, a five-year veteran and the NFL’s resident rocket scientist, would get the start should starter Maye miss time. Dobbs lost his only start with the 49ers last season but threw for 2,464 yards in 13 games with the Cardinals and Vikings in 2023 and started two games for HC Mike Vrabel when both were with the Titans in 2022. NEW YORK JETS | Rating: 4 | Justin Fields (starter), Tyrod Taylor, Adrian Martinez, Brady Cook | Taylor made the Pro Bowl after throwing for 3,035 yards and 20 TDs in 14 starts with the Bills in 2015, and has a 28-28-1 record as a starter in 14 seasons in the league. The 36-year-old will miss the preseason while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, but should still have a leg up on undrafted rookies Martinez and Cook. — Bruce Ewing AFC West DENVER BRONCOS | Rating: 3 | Bo Nix (starter), Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger | Stidham had a 1-1 regular-season starting record in his first two seasons with Denver, but looked sharp in its 30-9 preseason win against the San Francisco 49ers. The Baylor/Auburn product went 14-of-15 for 136 yards passing and two TD passes. Ehlinger last started for the Colts in 2022, going 0-3. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Rating: 4 | Patrick Mahomes (starter), Gardner Minshew, Bailey Zappe, Chris Oladokun | Minshew flopped with the Raiders in 2024, tossing more interceptions (10) than TD passes (nine) in 10 games. Zappe and Oladokun struggled in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Rating: 2 | Justin Herbert (starter), Taylor Heinicke, Trey Lance, DJ Uiagalelei | Heinicke looked serviceable when playing for the Washington Commanders from 2020-22, going 12-11-1 in 24 starts. Lance, a flop with San Francisco and Dallas, may be improving. The third pick of the 2021 NFL Draft went 20-of-34 for 175 yards passing and two TD passes in his first two preseason games. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Rating: 3 | Geno Smith (starter), Aidan O’Connell, Cam Miller | O’Connell looks like a career backup after logging 3,380 passing yards in 20 games in his first two seasons with the Raiders. However, 2025 sixth-rounder Miller may be an intriguing developmental QB. The former North Dakota State star went 6-of-7 passing for 76 yards and one TD in a 23-23 preseason tie with the Seattle Seahawks, which impressed Vegas head coach Pete Carroll. — Clark Dalton AFC North BALTIMORE RAVENS | Rating: 3 | Lamar Jackson (starter), Cooper Rush, Devin Leary | Rush is a capable backup, but he's a very different QB from starter Lamar Jackson and would require a different offensive approach if he were to play. He threw for 1,844 yards and 12 TDs last season for Dallas when pressed into service for injured starter Dak Prescott. CINCINNATI BENGALS | Rating: 2 | Joe Burrow (starter), Jake Browning, Desmond Ridder | Browning had a solid run in place of Burrow late in the 2023 season and would have a lot of weapons to use in the passing game if pressed into action. He's not a long-term starter, but Cincinnati would be in good hands if he had to start a few games. CLEVELAND BROWNS | Rating: 4 | Joe Flacco (presumptive starter), Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel | Every option, including Flacco, is backup caliber. Even worse, none seems to be a solid option as a backup, too. PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Rating: 2 | Aaron Rodgers (starter), Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Skylar Thompson | Rudolph would not be a great full-time starter, but as a backup, he is as solid as you can get. He has proved capable of winning games (9-8-1 as a starter), has a big arm and is not hesitant to stand in the pocket and make tough passes. — Adam Gretz AFC South HOUSTON TEXANS | Rating: 3 | C.J. Stroud (starter), Davis Mills, Kedon Slovis, Graham Mertz | Mills has not started a game since 2022 but has 26 career starts. (The Texans won just five of those games.) Mills has thrown for 35 TDs but also has 25 interceptions, so ball security is an issue for the 2021 third-round pick. Slovis and sixth-round rookie Mertz are unproven. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Rating: 4 | Daniel Jones (presumptive starter), Anthony Richardson Sr., Riley Leonard, Jason Bean | Jones is favored to win the starting job, but that could change before Week 1. Either way, the Colts will have a backup QB who has extensive starting experience in Jones or Richardson. The problem is neither QB is good, with Richardson having thrown 11 TD passes compared to 13 interceptions in 15 games. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Rating: 4 | Trevor Lawrence (starter), Nick Mullens, John Wolford, Seth Henigan | Mullens has 20 starts on his resume, but the results are poor (5-15 as a starter, 34 TD passes and 31 interceptions). In three starts with the Vikings in 2023, Mullens had eight interceptions. TENNESSEE TITANS | Rating: 5 | Cam Ward (starter), Brandon Allen, Trevor Siemian | With Will Levis out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, the Titans are relying on journeymen to back up rookie Cam Ward. Siemian has extensive starting experience, but most of it came in his first three seasons. He has completed just 58.5 percent of his passes in his career, slightly better than Allen’s 56.7 percent. — Steve DelVecchio