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Alabama offers scrappy Georgia freshman DL: 'I think the program has a great future'
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Dawson Jacobs reeled in offers from Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, Ohio State and Oregon on last week.

Jacobs is a 2028 prospect out of Blessed Trinity in Georgia. He now holds offers from some of college football’s top programs.

The Crimson Tide offered Jacobs Wednesday, and it was a special moment for the freshman.

“It meant a lot to me coming from arguably the most dominant program In college football history,” Jacobs said. “I think the program has a great future ahead of them. They have just been needing to adjust as Nick Saban left and a lot of kids hit the transfer portal.”

Jacobs is listed as being around 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, and he proved to be a scrappy young defender by making plays at different spots along the defensive front while not weighing as much as your typical dominant player in the trenches in 2024.

“I think I do well with my get-off, my pass rushing technique for how much I weighed this year,” Jacobs told Touchdown Alabama when asked what he does well. “I had to keep good leverage.”

Watch Dawson Jacobs Highlights Below:

This article first appeared on Touchdown Alabama Magazine and was syndicated with permission.

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Green Bay Packers 4th Round Rookie Heralded As Steal Of The Draft
NFL

Green Bay Packers 4th Round Rookie Heralded As Steal Of The Draft

The Green Bay Packers’ front office has made a habit of unearthing underappreciated talent in the NFL Draft, and rookie Barryn Sorrell might be their latest gem. A fourth-round pick out of Texas, Sorrell has turned heads in training camp and delivered a standout performance in the Packers’ preseason opener against the New York Jets. It’s early, but the buzz is building—Sorrell could be the steal of the entire 2025 NFL Draft. Here’s a closer look at Sorrell’s impressive week, why coaches are raving about him, and what his role on the team could look like as the season unfolds. Green Bay Packers Barryn Sorrell: Preseason Debut Though the Green Bay Packers fell short against the Jets in their preseason opener, Sorrell’s debut was nothing short of promising. Lining up on the defensive edge, the rookie flashed the explosiveness and technique that made him a standout for the Texas Longhorns in college. Pro Football Focus gave Sorrell a team-best pass rush grade of 87.9 for the game, showcasing his ability to generate pressure. While Green Bay didn’t record a sack as a team, Sorrell came close on multiple occasions, recording two quarterback hits and two pressures. On one notable snap, he effortlessly tossed Jets tackle Max Mitchell aside before delivering a clean shot on quarterback Brady Cook, demonstrating a pass rush technique well beyond his years. “He looked sharp out there—really sharp,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said after the game. “For a young guy stepping into this environment, his ability to impact the game with consistent pressure is what we want to see moving forward.” The Work Ethic That Sets Him Apart What has impressed coaches just as much as Sorrell’s on-field performance is his relentless effort and commitment to improvement. Practice reports continually highlight his hustle during drills and scrimmages. From chasing down plays to perfecting minor details in his technique, Sorrell has demonstrated the kind of mindset that coaches love to see in young players. “He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop,” linebackers coach Sean Duggan said. “When you see a guy like Barryn putting in that level of effort, it elevates the whole group. That’s been his reputation since he arrived in Green Bay.” That reputation has driven Sorrell to stand out during training camp and preseason, setting him apart despite a crowded defensive rotation. Why Sorrell Is Being Dubbed a Steal Draft analysts have been quick to call Sorrell one of the smartest picks of the 2025 Draft, though hindsight reveals just how much of a sleeper he was going in. Coming out of Texas, Sorrell had been productive at the collegiate level, showcasing a knack for disrupting plays in the backfield. However, concerns about his relatively modest size (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) for an every-down edge rusher caused him to slide to the fourth round. It’s now becoming clear that those concerns were overstated. General manager Brian Gutekunst, who has built a reputation for finding value in the mid-to-late rounds, once again seems to have struck gold. Sorrell’s early success highlights why many now believe that he should have gone much earlier in the draft. “There’s zero reason he should’ve fallen that far,” said one AFC scout. “The Packers got a guy with Day 2 talent in the fourth round, and it won’t take long before he proves it.” Eyes on the Future The Packers’ philosophy of building through the draft has rarely been more evident than in their approach to Barryn Sorrell. With veteran leadership guiding him and coaches invested in his development, the rookie appears to be in a near-perfect situation to succeed. For a team looking to solidify its defensive identity, finding a player like Sorrell is invaluable. His work ethic, playmaking ability, and high football IQ give him every chance of being a long-term cornerstone for Green Bay’s pass rush. Final Thoughts It’s far too early for definitive conclusions, but Barryn Sorrell’s introduction to the NFL has Green Bay Packers fans excited. His performance in camp and the preseason has already exceeded expectations, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what could be an immensely bright future. If his current trajectory holds, Sorrell won’t just be a steal of the draft—he’ll be a key piece in the Packers’ ongoing pursuit of greatness.

Brewers' dominance is a reality check for Cubs' World Series ambitions
MLB

Brewers' dominance is a reality check for Cubs' World Series ambitions

The Chicago Cubs held the top spot in the NL Central for nearly five months. Having sent a prized haul to the Houston Astros for one year of Kyle Tucker, Chicago became a win-now team with the imperative task of reaching the World Series. It seemed the Cubs were well on their way to achieving their lofty aspirations; however, on July 28, they walked into a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers, both tied for first place. In a battle for the lead, the Brewers prevailed, taking two of three. Since then, the Cubs’ competitiveness has evaporated. After cruising to their 12th consecutive win on Wednesday, the Brewers hold an eight-game lead over their once-fierce division rival. The top spot in the NL Central now appears out of Chicago’s reach. Nonetheless, with a 3.5-game lead in the wild-card race, the Cubs still have a viable route to the postseason. But the overarching question isn’t about whether the Cubs can make it to the postseason, but whether they can topple the Brewers when they get there. Regardless of their 1-2 series loss to the Brewers, the Cubs have been on a downward spiral. Since the trade deadline (and just after their bout with the Brewers), the Cubs have lost six of their last 10 games. Both Tucker and fellow All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong have been slumping heavily at the plate, weighing on the Cubs’ potent offense. And making their future even more gloomy is that they did not pick up a starter at the trade deadline, instead opting to rely on Javier Assad upon his return from the IL (four earned runs in four innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, his season debut). The Brewers, on the other hand, recently came off a 10-game win streak and have now embarked on a 12-game (and counting) win streak. Their pitching staff owns the third-best ERA in the game at 3.59, and this comes with only a marginal contribution from rookie fireballer Jacob Misiorowski, who owns a 2.70 ERA in seven starts (33.1 innings). Misiorowski made his debut on June 12 and fell on the IL (left tibia contusion) after boosting Milwaukee over the Cubs on July 28. The Brewers offense, while not astounding, has compiled the second-highest cumulative batting average and on-base percentage in MLB (.259, 332). Their power numbers are far from impressive, but it’s worth mentioning that they scored 103 runs over their 12-game win streak. This includes tagging Paul Skenes for four earned runs in four innings for the second time this year. Right now, the Brewers are looking invincible. If they can maintain this momentum into the postseason, or at least perform similarly, the World Series is theirs to lose. If the Cubs have one thing on their side, it’s history. The Brewers have won the division three times in the past four years without claiming a single postseason series victory. Milwaukee made it to the postseason in five of the last six years, but never advanced past its opening round. The last time the Brewers won a postseason series was in 2018, sweeping the Colorado Rockies in the NLDS. The Brewers' awful postseason luck aside, should the two teams face off in October, the Cubs will need to play much better than they are now if they are going to win.

'He's different': Vikings' J.J. McCarthy gets compared to future Hall of Famer
NFL

'He's different': Vikings' J.J. McCarthy gets compared to future Hall of Famer

Before Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones shared a locker room with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Jones and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers were teammates with the Green Bay Packers from 2017 through the 2022 season. Jones recently claimed that he sees some of Rodgers in McCarthy heading into what could become a franchise-altering campaign for the Vikings. "[McCarthy] is a very, very hungry and driven player, but also a leader," Jones explained, Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame shared. "He’s different. In terms of the smarts, I put him in that category with Aaron Rodgers, in terms of how smart he is and really having an understanding for the game." That's high praise considering Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP and a Super Bowl MVP who is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. That said, nobody knows what McCarthy will be as a pro after the 2024 first-round draft pick spent his first NFL season recovering from a meniscus repair. McCarthy returned to the playing field when he completed four of seven pass attempts for 30 yards in Minnesota's 20-10 preseason win over the Houston Texans on Saturday. He also tested his surgically-repaired knee when he used his legs to pick up a first down on a fourth-and-4 situation in the game's first quarter. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell could've pushed for the club to re-sign Sam Darnold after he guided Minnesota to a 14-3 record last season. O'Connell and Co. had "conversations" about possibly signing Rodgers before McCarthy received the keys to the Minnesota offense ahead of training camp. Jones seems to believe O'Connell and Co. made the right call. "He’s been amazing," Jones added about McCarthy. "I’m honestly confident in what we have here. I feel like we have everything we need, all the pieces we need here. I feel like J.J. is going to surprise a lot of people." As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Vikings seventh among the betting favorites at +1100 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX. It will be interesting to see how McCarthy handles the pressure when Minnesota opens the regular season with a "Monday Night Football" matchup at the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8.

Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
NFL

Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension

Few know how to spend money like an NFL front office. This offseason, teams handed out over $4 billion in extensions alone, not to mention the several other billions spent in free agency. But which were the shrewdest investments? Below, we examine the best value signings at five positions on offense: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith Contract: Two years, $75 million ($65.5M guaranteed) Shortly after acquiring Smith in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders extended the 2022 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year to a contract that raises the Raiders' floor while maintaining flexibility. Smith has a manageable $26.5M cap hit in 2026, when Over The Cap projects Las Vegas to have the third-most cap space ($78.7M) based on an estimated 5.8 percent cap increase. Since 2022, Smith has the third-highest completion percentage (68.5 percent) among 32 quarterbacks with at least 20 starts during that span. He's also tied with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the second-most fourth-quarter comebacks (10) and trails only Mahomes in game-winning drives. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook Contract: Four years, $48M ($30M guaranteed) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams pierced Cook's bubble when he signed a three-year, $33M extension on Aug. 5. The Bills running back sought $15M per year, making his $12M in annual average value (AAV) a huge win for Buffalo. Over Cook's first three seasons, he's averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In 2024, he led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns. With just 533 career tackles, Cook doesn't have the wear-and-tear of other backs who've made splashes early in their careers, raising hopes that he can withstand the workload that comes with being Buffalo's featured back. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins Contract: Four years, $115M ($40.9M guaranteed) The Bengals retained Higgins at a remarkable price, keeping him in Cincinnati at less than $30M per year, the going rate for the league's top wideouts. Per Spotrac, while Higgins is No. 10 in AAV among wide receivers, he ranks just outside the top 20 in guaranteed money. Last season, Higgins averaged 75.9 receiving yards per game, his most since 2021, and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride Contract: Four years, $76M ($43M guaranteed) The 2024 first-team All-Pro ranks No. 1 among tight ends in guaranteed salary. However, if he continues producing numbers more akin to WR1s — last season, he had 111 receptions, 1,146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — his contract will be one of the league's better bargains. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley Contract: Three years, $60M ($44M guaranteed) Stanley's journey back from a devastating 2020 lower leg injury culminated in the 2019 first-team All-Pro being named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his first nine seasons last year. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was rewarded with a contract that will keep him in Baltimore through his age-33 season. In terms of average annual value, his extension ranks below other left tackles who signed contracts this offseason, and not just younger players such as Rashawn Slater (Los Angeles Chargers), who was recently lost for the season, and Bernhard Raimann (Indianapolis Colts). Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews, 33, is averaging $22.5M on his current deal, while Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller, 29, is set to earn $22M per year through 2028.

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