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With Week 3 of the 2024 high school football season in the books, Gators Illustrated takes a look at four Florida Gators’ commits, including two who matched up against each other, who had standout performances on Friday evening.
Four-Star WR Naeshaun Montgomery, Miami (Fla.) Central vs. Four-Star CB Ben Hanks Jr., Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington
In this season’s first matchup between two Gator commits, Montgomery and the Rockets bested Hanks and the Tornadoes in a 55-25 win.
Montgomery caught five passes for 160 yards, both of which were team-highs. It was his second game in three appearances with at least five catches and 100 yards receiving. Montgomery has 13 catches for 314 yards and two touchdowns, per MaxPreps.
Despite the loss, Hanks Jr. had a decent game while playing on both sides of the ball. Although no stats were publicized, his game tape showed him making multiple tackles as well as scoring a touchdown offensively.
Five-Star WR Vernell Brown III, Orlando (Fla.) Jones
The highest-rated commit of Florida’s 2025 class, Brown III caught 14 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers’ 28-21 win over Evans (Orlando, Fla.) while being double-teamed for most of the game, according to Swamp 247’s Blake Alderman.
Through two games, Brown III has 16 catches for 244 yards and three scores.
Four-Star WR Joshua Moore, Pembroke Pines (Fla.) West Broward
Once again, Moore shined despite a loss by West Broward. In a 25-21 loss to Plantation, he led all Bobcat receivers with seven catches for 167 yards and a touchdown. His highlights can be viewed here.
Through three games, Moore has 20 catches for 366 yards and three scores.
Gators’ 2024 Recruiting Class
As it stands, Florida’s recruiting class ranks No. 19 nationally by On3 with 14 total commits.
More must-reads:
- Steelers reporter shares big claim about how Aaron Rodgers has looked in training camp
- 10 Overvalued or Undervalued players in fantasy football entering training camp
- The 'NFL all-time touchdown receptions leaders' quiz
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Former Packers Star Already Turning Heads with New Team
The Green Bay Packers saw immediate dividends from Josh Jacobs’ signing in 2024, but the player who the former rushing champion’s arrival made expendable is already making waves with his new team. Jacobs figures to play a starring role in the Packers’ offense in 2025, once again, after rushing for 1,359 yards with a career-high 15 touchdowns last season. And, while Green Bay will likely feature former third-round draft choice Marshawn Lloyd in a prominent role, a former Packer appears to be carving a niche for himself elsewhere. Former Packers RB A.J. Dillon Impressing at Eagles Camp Former Packers running back A.J. Dillon began Eagles training camp as a player potentially on the bubble, with few carries to go around behind reigning NFL Offensive Player of The Year, Saquon Barkley, but has been an early standout in Philadelphia. According to Zach Berman of PHLY, Dillon has “caught the attention of the coaching staff,” during the early practices at the NovaCare Complex this summer. Since being chosen by the Packers with the No. 30 overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Dillon has logged 597 carries for 2,428 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Eagles signed Dillon to a one-year contract with the Eagles, and he has the chance to be the first back off the bench to give Barkley a spell, or as an insurance policy this season. Despite former second-round draft choice Will Shipley’s presence on the roster, and spot on the depth chart behind Barkley, Dillon could be a legitimate second option in Philadelphia’s backfield.
Phillies star confronted MLB commissioner in team clubhouse
Throughout the season, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred visits all 30 team clubhouses in an attempt to strengthen his relationship with the players. But when Manfred visited the Philadelphia Phillies last week, he did anything but strengthen his relations, at least not with Phillies star Bryce Harper. As reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, Harper wasn't a fan of a conversation that seemed to be heading toward the possibility of implementing a salary cap in the game. Harper stood nose to nose with Manfred, telling him, "If you want to speak about that, you can get the [expletive] out of our clubhouse." Passan's report says that Manfred reportedly responded that he was "not going to get the [expletive] out of here." Manfred's main source of argument comes from his view that it's an important issue to discuss and has a direct impact on the game of baseball. Nick Castellanos, who's been known to have a fiery side of personality himself, helped to mediate the situation by saying, "I have more questions" to Manfred. Because the meeting continued, things settled down, and eventually, Manfred and Harper shook hands. Though Harper did not answer phone calls from Manfred the next day. "It was pretty intense, definitely passionate. Both of 'em. The commissioner giving it back to Bryce and Bryce giving it back to the commissioner. That's Harp. He's been doing this since he was 15-years-old," Castellanos told ESPN. Both Harper and Manfred declined to comment to ESPN on the matter. Manfred is certainly in a difficult spot with players themselves against a salary cap, as well as the MLB Players Association, which is adamantly against it. But some team owners are for it, most notably Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein, who purchased the club in August 2024. It's certainly worth noting that the 1994 players' strike was a result of the league's effort to move to a salary-cap system. That is the worst-case scenario for MLB. And it seems to stress out Manfred. "Rob seems to be in a pretty desperate place on how important it is to get this salary cap," Castellanos added in his comments to ESPN, "because he's floating the word lockout two years in advance of our collective bargaining agreement [expiration]. That's nothing to throw around. That's the same thing as me in a marriage saying, 'I think divorce is a possibility. It's probably going to happen.' You don't just say those things." It's also important to note that Harper is a client of baseball super agent Scott Boras, and Castellanos is a former Boras client who now represents himself. Boras is known for bargaining for a ton of money for his clients, so that may provide one explanation of many for why Harper would be so against the discussion. It seems the only thing all parties can agree on is that no one wants a work stoppage in Major League Baseball. But that might just be where the agreements end.
Three-time All-Star placed on administrative leave amid MLB's betting investigation
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary administrative leave through Aug. 31 as part of Major League Baseball’s ongoing investigation into sports betting, per a league announcement. Clase’s teammate, Luis Ortiz, was the first (and thus far only other) player placed on leave under the ongoing investigation. Clase will continue to be paid while the league looks into any alleged wrongdoing. He will not count against the team’s 40-man roster while on leave. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Clase was being placed on leave shortly prior to MLB’s formal announcement. “The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that as part of their sports betting investigation Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave per an agreement with the Players Association,” the team said Monday in a statement, per Mike Axisa of CBS Sports. “We have been informed that no additional players or Club personnel are expected to be impacted. The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time, and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process as we continue to fully cooperate.” Clase’s name had surfaced as a potential trade candidate this summer, as several contenders around the league have been weighing a run at impact relievers with multiple years of club control remaining. A trade wasn’t seen as likely, given Clase’s below-market contract and general track record of excellence. The 27-year-old has pitched 47 1/3 innings of 3.23 ERA ball this year — a “down” season relative to his lofty standards. The right-hander boasts a superlative 1.84 ERA in 336 2/3 innings over the past five seasons. He’s saved 181 games, fanned just under one-quarter of his opponents, issued walks at a tiny 4.8 percent clip and piled up grounders at an elite 58.5 percent rate. Clase signed a five-year, $20M extension in April 2022. He’s being paid just $4.5M this year and has a $6M guarantee for the 2026 season. His extension included a pair of $10M club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, though he’s already maxed out a series of escalators that have pushed the value of each of those options up to $13M apiece. The news comes as a notable blow to the Guardians’ already-thin postseason hopes. Cleveland is eight games back of the division-leading Tigers and 3.5 games out of an AL wild-card spot (with three teams to leapfrog). They were already without Ortiz, their fourth starter, due to this ongoing investigation and had lost another rotation member, Ben Lively, to Tommy John surgery. Former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber was targeting a June return but has yet to pitch in the majors after a setback in recovery from his own Tommy John procedure — though he’s on a rehab assignment and on the cusp of a return to the majors. Clase’s bullpen-mate, Cade Smith, figures to take over closing duties for the time being. He’s arguably an even better reliever at this point than Clase is, and Smith himself has received plenty of attention on the summer trade market. As with Clase, a deal has been seen as unlikely, given the 26-year-old righty’s four-plus seasons of remaining club control. Depending on how one chooses to view the Clase suspension, it could make a Smith trade more or less likely. Smith now becomes even more of a focal point in the bullpen and all the more critical to whatever playoff hopes Cleveland has left. At the same time, losing Clase further dampens those postseason odds and could make the Guards more willing to turn the page on the 2025 season and focus on the future. Smith should be an integral part of that future, but he could also net a legitimate prospect haul if moved in the next three days, potentially adding multiple long-term contributors to the Guards in 2026 and beyond.
New suitor emerges for Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez
The Arizona Diamondbacks have plenty of suitors for third baseman Eugenio Suarez. A new team has reportedly entered the market for his services. Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Phillies have reached out regarding Suarez. While Lauber did not provide any indication as to whether or not those talks have gained traction, the Phillies are an intriguing suitor for the Diamondbacks' third baseman. The Phillies' interest may be a recent development. Jon Heyman of the New York Post speculated on Friday that the Phillies could emerge as a suitor in the wake of third baseman Alec Bohm landing on the injured list with a fractured left rib. Suarez is in the midst of what is arguably his best season thus far. He has produced a .249/.321/.587 batting line in 421 plate appearances entering Saturday with 36 homers and a major league-leading 87 RBI. Suarez would be more than just another powerful bat in the lineup. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Bryce Harper are both left-handed hitters — adding Suarez would provide more balance in the batting order. He would also provide a counter against opposing managers bringing in a lefty reliever to face Schwarber and Harper. The biggest question would be how the Phillies would handle an eventual logjam on the roster. Bohm is expected to return from the IL in mid-August and would not have a clear path to regular at-bats if Suarez were acquired. Schwarber could theoretically return to left field to open up playing time at the DH spot, but his outfield defense is mediocre at best. However, as the Phillies are also looking to upgrade the outfield, where Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh have been disappointments, adding Suarez could solve several problems in one fell swoop.
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