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With all the uncertainty surrounding Michigan football and five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the Wolverines have just lost 2025 four-star commit Carter Smith. The Fort Myers (FL) Bishop Verot prospect announced late Wednesday night that he was de-committing from the University of Michigan.
"I would like to start by thanking the coaching staff at Michigan for everything that have done for me. I would especially like to thank Coach Campbell for everything and for giving me such an incredible opportunity. With that being said, I would like to announce that I have decommitted from the University of Michigan."
Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot QB Carter Smith has decommitted from Michigan. Schools to watch moving forward include Clemson, possibly Penn State and Wisconsin. Story: https://t.co/6HtePrL0YG https://t.co/XQyR001cRa pic.twitter.com/jjGSKhOAUL
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) October 31, 2024
With Smith no longer in the fold, could that mean Michigan is in the driver's seat for Underwood? That's to be determined, but it's obvious Michigan is pitching some massive money toward the No. 1 ranked prospect in all of high school football. But now the Wolverines no longer have a QB committed in the 2025 cycle,
Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -
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Minnesota Vikings make shocking release of popular defender as final roster cut deadline approaches
Steelers Decide OT Competition
With mere hours to go before the 53-man roster cutdown deadline passes today, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made their decision on which reserve offensive linemen they're going to carry into the regular season. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Steelers have released offensive tackle Dylan Cook. He is now subject to waivers, though he could return to the team's practice squad if he goes unclaimed. Cook was steady throughout training camp and appeared in all three of Pittsburgh's preseason games this year. He first logged a total of 37 snaps against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 9, 28 of which came at left tackle, and received an overall grade of 55.8 from Pro Football Focus while allowing two pressures. Facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 16, Cook earned a fantastic 83.5 pass blocking grade after not giving up a single pressure in 49 reps, with 35 coming at left tackle and 14 at right tackle. In the Steelers' preseason finale vs. the Carolina Panthers last Thursday night, Cook played 19 snaps at left tackle and five at right tackle while allowing a pressure. It appeared as though Cook had a real shot at being Pittsburgh's swing tackle this season given his experience on both sides of the line. Calvin Anderson got the nod over him while working through a soft-tissue injury that's led to a prolonged absence, however, while the signing of Andrus Peat earlier this month also provided a hit to his chances of making the roster. Cook was placed on injured reserve during roster cutdown day last year with a foot injury. He was later waived in late October, but the Steelers re-signed him to their practice squad after he went unclaimed. The 27-year-old remained with the team for the rest of the season, though he did not appear in a game for them before agreeing to a reserve/futures deal in January. Cook began his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of Montana State University in 2022. He spent nearly his entire rookie season on their practice squad and inked a reserve/futures deal with the team before being waived in May 2023. The Steelers claimed him and placed him on their initial 53-man roster to begin the 2023 season, though he never appeared in a regular season game that year as well. Pittsburgh now has 10 offensive linemen remaining on its roster: Zach Frazier, Ryan McCollum, Mason McCormick, Andrus Peat, Max Scharping, Isaac Seumalo, Spencer Anderson, Calvin Anderson, Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones.
Commanders to release former first-round pick
Re-signed in March, Clelin Ferrell will not be part of the Commanders’ initial 53-man roster. Washington is releasing the former top-five pick, veteran reporter Ben Standig tweets. Ferrell played a key role for the team last season, starting 10 games. The 28-year-old DE will head back to free agency, getting a head-start on the non-vested veterans who must wait until 11am CT Wednesday to clear waivers. Given a $2MM deal to stay in Washington, Ferrell received just $100K guaranteed. That represented a sign his roster spot was not secure. That said, the Commanders could circle back to the former Raiders and 49ers edge rusher after next month’s guarantee vesting date for qualified vets. Had Ferrell been on Washington’s 53-man roster in Week 1, his $2MM would have become guaranteed. It is also quite possible Ferrell is done in Washington. Although the Commanders lost top 2024 sacker Dante Fowler (to the Cowboys) in free agency and exited their offseason program with an apparent need at D-end, they still roster Dorance Armstrong. The team added multiple DE pieces as well, with Von Miller‘s summer arrival headlining that group. The team also added Deatrich Wise and Jacob Martin in free agency. As ESPN.com’s John Keim notes, the Commanders used Ferrell extensively during the preseason — including fourth-quarter work against the Bengals. That evaluation preceded a release, and it comes after Ferrell — who did not live up to his No. 4 overall draft slot with the Raiders — started 17 games with the 49ers in 2023. Ferrell started over Commanders trade pickup Chase Young that year, though an injury prevented him from playing in Super Bowl LVIII. Ferrell registered 3.5 sacks in both the 2023 and ’24 seasons. Last season, he posted nine QB hits and four tackles for loss as a supplementary rusher alongside Armstrong and Fowler.
Zachary Yager, Veteran NASCAR Pit Crew Member, Dies Aged 35
Zachary Yager, who had served as an over-the-wall pit crew member in the NASCAR National Series ranks since the 2014 season, has died at the age of 35. TobyChristie.com had the initial report of Yager's death. Yager, a New York native, had pit crew stints with Richard Childress Racing, Team Penske, RFK Racing, and JTG Daugherty Racing (now known as HYAK Motorsports), where he won the 2023 Daytona 500, from 2014 to 2024. Ahead of the 2025 season, Yager moved to Elite Race Services, a Mooresville, NC-based company that specializes in assembling teams of pit crews for NASCAR National Series race teams. This season, Yager had been serving as the Jack Man for the No. 39 RSS Racing team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as well as the No. 88 ThorSport Racing team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The loss of Yager was absolutely unexpected for Elite Race Services, which is grieving the loss of one of its own, while issuing its deepest sympathy to Yager's family. “Obviously, nobody saw this coming and we’re in total disbelief,” Cory DeMarco, owner of Elite Race Services said in a statement given to TobyChristie.com. “All of the guys send our thoughts and prayers out to his dad and family, right now.” ThorSport Racing, likewise, expressed grief over the sudden and unexpected loss of Yager. “We are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of our friend and teammate, Zachary Yager,” said ThorSport Racing in a statement. “He was an important part of our family, and our hearts are with his loved ones and community as we grieve this loss together.” While he was serving as a Jack Man this season, Yager was well-known as a well-rounded pit crew member, who could perform at nearly every position on an over-the-wall pit crew. Yager previously served as a Tire Carrier and Fueler in addition to the Jack Man role. No details surrounding Yager's death have been released, but the veteran pit crew member had been missing since Monday, August 18, according to various social media posts from members of Yager's family.
Atlanta Falcons Surprisingly Cut Backup Quarterback
The Atlanta Falcons have until 4:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to trim their roster down to 53 players. In the effort to shave down the roster, they made a surprising move. Third-string quarterback Easton Stick has been released, per NFL insider Ian Rapaport via X. Stick started in all three of Atlanta’s preseason games in 2025. He played his best game in week one of the preseason, against the Detroit Lions, going 15 of 18 (83.3%) with 149 passing yards and a touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Blair. Stick had signed a one-year $1,337,500 contract with a $167,500 signing bonus and $567,000 guaranteed, per Spotrac. So the Falcons will be eating Stick’s guaranteed money in dead cap. They’re now down to three quarterbacks. They had three last year, but they moved on from Taylor Heinicke around the same time. It’s possible that they tried to find a deal and couldn’t. Atlanta began their first wave of cuts on Saturday, releasing 12 players, the most notable of which was recently signed defensive lineman Morgan Fox. The Falcons kicked off cut day by releasing undrafted free agent cornerback Cobee Bryant. Quarterback four, Emory Jones, suffered a concussion during Atlanta’s second preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. The Falcons signed Ben DiNucci and waived Jones prior to the final preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. DiNucci played just two drives against the Cowboys and was one of Atlanta’s preliminary roster cuts on Saturday. Now with the release of Stick, the Falcons have just two quarterbacks on their roster: Michael Penix Jr and Kirk Cousins. Atlanta could bring back Jones to be their third and final quarterback once he is back from injury. However, Stick has outplayed Jones in both camp and during the preseason. Jones had just 65 passing yards during his two preseason games. Jones was listed behind Stick in all three of Atlanta’s preseason depth charts. It would be unusual for the team to pick Jones over Stick. Most likely, the Falcons will turn to other quarterbacks who were cut and are now on the market to fill their new quarterback three spot. Players such as Mike White, Tyler Huntley, Hendon Hooker and Kyle Trask could fit this role for Atlanta. More From Atlanta Falcons on SI
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