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Malvern, Pennsylvania, 2026 running back Ezekiel Bates posted on X Wednesday that he has verbally committed to the Gophers, giving them their first RB pledge in the class.
"1000% committed! Let’s Work!! #RTB #SkiUMah," he wrote.
1000% committed! Let’s Work!! #RTB #SkiUMah
— Ezekiel Bates (@bates_ezekiel) April 30, 2025
@CoachJ_Everett @Coach_Fleck @CoachWilsonUMN @WillxDrew @CoachGueriera @__CoachChris__ @MalvernPrepFB pic.twitter.com/2f2aWzwo8L
Listed at 5-foot-11, 210 pounds, Bates chose Minnesota over 16 other Division I offers from notable schools such as Virginia Tech, Boston College and Wake Forest. He is currently unranked as a recruit on 247Sports, On3 and Rivals.
Virginia Tech was his first power conference offer last May. The Gophers got involved and offered him a scholarship on Febuary 19. He took an unofficial visit to Minnesota on March 25 and then he verbally committed just over a month later. He previously scheduled an official visit to Boston College, but there's no confirmation if he plans to still take that in June.
Bates now gives new Gophers running backs coach Jayden Everett his first high school commitment and their first in the class of 2026. Injuries cut his junior season at Malvern Prep short, but he had eight touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023. With a big senior campaign, he could quickly rise up recruiting boards.
Updated 2026 recruiting class: 9 verbal commitments
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Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should absolutely see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
Yankees makes pair of roster moves following Phillies loss
After a crushing 12–5 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, the New York Yankees made a pair of roster changes aimed at strengthening a bullpen that surrendered 10 earned runs in the loss. Right-handed reliever Scott Effross and infielder Jorbit Vivas were both optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, clearing space for immediate reinforcements. Effross, 31, bore the brunt of the damage late in the game. Entering in the ninth inning with the Yankees trailing 8–5, he gave up four runs on four hits, failing to record the shutdown frame the team desperately needed. His ERA ballooned from 5.59 to 8.44 after the outing. Across 11 appearances in 2025, Effross has allowed 10 runs on 16 hits in 10.2 innings, striking out six and walking three. The outing proved costly, both in the game and for his place on the roster. Vivas, 24, didn’t fare much better this season. Used sparingly, he appeared in 29 games while slashing .161/.266/.250 with one home run and five RBIs. He entered Friday’s game as a late substitution at third base and flew out in his lone plate appearance. In their place, the Yankees activated third baseman Ryan McMahon, acquired earlier in the day from the Colorado Rockies. The 30-year-old 2024 All-Star brings experience and a needed defensive upgrade to the hot corner. Through 100 games this season, McMahon is hitting .217 with a .314 on-base percentage and .403 slugging percentage, while adding 16 home runs and 35 RBIs. Discussing McMahon’s fit with the Yankees, Paul Goldschmidt celebrated the addition, noting how exciting he fits within New York’s defensive identity. “He’s a really good player, great defender,” Goldschmidt said of McMahon. “He’s a good hitter, and he’s going to help us.” Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that McMahon would be active for Saturday’s matchup against the Phillies. The Yankees, currently 56–47, trail the Phillies, who improved to 59–44 with Friday’s win. Boone also acknowledged the bullpen’s ongoing struggles. The relief corps entered Friday ranked 20th in the league with a 4.07 ERA and has been thinned by injuries to Mark Leiter Jr., Fernando Cruz, and Ryan Yarbrough. With Clarke Schmidt out for the season and Luis Gil still recovering, reinforcements are expected before the July 31 trade deadline. The Yankees are expected to call up a fresh arm Saturday morning. Whether that move stabilizes the bullpen or not, more changes could be imminent.
'Ceiling Is Unlimited': Steelers Fans Get Great News About Key Offensive Piece Moving Forward
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a ton of question marks surrounding the roster heading into the 2025 NFL season. There are plenty of proven players on the team, but some are past their prime and there is the general question of how everything on the roster will gel together. The defense is the highest-paid unit in the NFL for the fourth straight season, so fans are fairly confident that the group will be able to play like one of the best defenses in the league, but there is some worry about the offense. The offense has struggled in recent years, and everyone in Pittsburgh is hoping that changes in 2025. A big mystery for the Steelers is how quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to perform during the 2025 season, especially with the wide receiver group he is working with. His chemistry with DK Metcalf seems to be improving, but outside of Metcalf, the receiver group is fairly bleak. Another factor in Rodgers' performance is going to be the offensive line, which is made up of a lot of young pieces. There is a lot to be worried about with the line, but insider Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Friday to discuss a bright spot. "[Mason] McCormick, I think his ceiling is unlimited," Kaboly said. "I think he's really, really good." Mason McCormick was a big surprise for the Steelers during the 2024 season. The team drafted him in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was not expected to see much playing time. However, James Daniels went down early in the year with a season-ending injury, and McCormick was thrust into the starting lineup at right guard. He played well throughout the season, and he got better as the year went along. If everything goes according to plan, it seems as though the Steelers have solidified the right side of the offensive line for years to come. Zach Frazier is shaping up to be one of the best centers in the NFL, McCormick is expected to turn into a potential Pro Bowl player, and hopes are high for second-year right tackle Troy Fautanu, who only played in one game during the 2024 season due to a knee injury. This gives Pittsburgh an advantage when it comes to running to that side, and it can make Rodgers feel comfortable in the pocket. It has been reported that the coaching staff in Pittsburgh believes Fautanu could be the team's best offensive lineman, which is high praise considering what Frazier did during his rookie season in 2024. McCormick could also join that conversation eventually after Kaboly's comments, but either way, that is something the fan base should be extremely happy with, considering the franchise drafted him in the fourth round. Steelers' Potential At Offensive Line Will Rely On The Production Of Broderick Jones Pittsburgh drafted Broderick Jones in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and his career has been a rollercoaster so far. He was drafted to be a left tackle, but he wound up playing his first two seasons on the right side of the line. He looked shaky at times, and he struggled with penalties. He is now being moved to his natural position at left tackle, which will hopefully change things. The team is relying on him to take a step forward, and if he doesn't, the offensive line could look ugly in 2025. Nearly every great team in the league has a reliable left tackle, and Pittsburgh is still struggling to find that.
Former Los Angeles Lakers Standout Is Still A Free Agent
Talen Horton-Tucker spent the 2024-25 season playing for the Chicago Bulls. He finished the year with averages of 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest while shooting 45.7% from the field and 33.6% from the three-point range in 58 games. This summer, Horton-Tucker became a free agent who is available to sign with any team in the league. On July 26, he still remains unsigned. Horton-Tucker was the 46th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Iowa State. He spent the first three years of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. During that span, Horton-Tucker became a fan-favorite. Via Ballislife.com (on December 14, 2020): "20-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker put on a show in the Lakers win over the Clippers! 33 PTS 11/17 FG 4/5 3PT 10 REB 4 AST 4 STL" Horton-Tucker has also spent time with the Utah Jazz (in addition to the Bulls and Lakers) over six seasons. The 24-year-old has career averages of 9.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest while shooting 42.7% from the field and 29.9% from the three-point range in 305 games. Via Legion Hoops (on April 8, 2022): "Talen Horton-Tucker as the Lakers’ first option tonight: 40 (!!!) points 54% FG 4 steals 3 assists 3 rebounds" As for the Bulls, they finished the 2024-25 season as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 39-43 record. They missed the NBA playoffs for the third straight season.
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