#nfl recruitment 2019

[cfbtransferportal]

12/20/2022 CFB Transfer Portal Update #1

Starting last year, the NCAA Transfer Portal has become a major topic of interest and opened doors for players and schools that weren't available ever before.

Here are some of the highest-rated players by position to have recently entered their names into the college football transfer portal.

Quarterbacks: Hudson Card (Texas), Shedeur Sanders (JSU), D.J. Uiagalelei (Clemson)

Running Backs: LJ Johnson (TAMU), Trey Sanders (BAMA)

Receivers: RaRa Thomas (MSU)

Offensive Line: Ajani Cornelius (RI), Amari Kight (BAMA)

Defensive Line: Braden Fiske (WMU), Tunmise Adeleye (TAMU)

Defensive Back: Travis Hunter (JSU), Tony Grimes (UNC)

The Schools showing interest and why...

Hudson Card's name has come up mostly when talking about TCU as their Quarterback is leaving for the NFL and Cards is already in the state at the University of Texas.

Shedeur Sanders is probably the easiest uncommitted Player to project his destination as his dad, NFL hall of Famer, Deion Sanders recently accepted the head coaching job at the University of Colorado Boulder.

D.J. Uiagalelei has been getting a heavy recruiting buzz around schools like Fresno State and Hawaii. He most likely has an interest in these schools because Fresno State is closer to his parents and where he grew up while Hawaii is where his family was from before they moved to Southern California. Both of these schools give D.J. the opportunity to start day 1 with not as much competition as other schools that had offered him.

LJ Johnson joins a large group of players entering the portal that were listed on the Texas A&M roster last season. He was barely used last season only warranting 10 carries. With that being said 2 of these carries went for touchdowns. He has been predicted to commit to SMU by 247 sports analysts.

Trey Sanders was once the number one ranked RB prospect in the country coming out of high school where he played at IMG Academy. He joined a crowded running back room at Alabama where players typically have to wait their turn to get the starting job or get in the rotation. He was behind at least 2 other proven guys this past year which ultimately is the reason for his departure from the program. Sanders is from Florida and showed interest in Miami, Florida, FSU, and Georgia. Expect him to return to his home state.

RaRa Thomas is the number 1 receiver in the transfer portal after averaging 14.2 yards per catch with 7 touchdowns last season. He is a bigger body receiver who can play on the outside and has been gaining interest from school like Alabama and Georgia.

Ajani Cornelius is the top-rated offensive lineman in the portal because he has played out of his mind at Rhode Island. He has the size and athleticism you want to see in a lineman with massive upside and potential. He has shown interest in Oregon and USC.

Amari Kight is a tall and athletic tackle and a previous starter for the Crimson Tide. Schools such as USC and Georgia have shown interest in him. He is from Georgia and played high school football there before going to Alabama in 2019.

Braden Fiske is a 6'5 310-pound defensive lineman at the top of everyone's recruiting priority. He has recently shown interest in Texas A&M and USC. USC could be a good fit because of their need for defensive lineman and help on the defensive side of the ball.

Tunmise Adeleye is a big-body interior D-lineman who has posted multiple pictures with USC's head Coach Lincoln Riley at his house for recruiting visits. This would be a huge get for the trojans as they need help filling interior gaps and stopping the run. Knowing this, he has also grew a relationship with the coaching staff at Auburn.

Travis Hunter was the number one player in the class of 2021 and committed to Jackson State to play for Deion Sanders. He played like a top talent in 2022 and will look to continue showcasing his talent as well as develop at a power 5 school. Colorado is the favorite to land Hunter as Deion Sanders recently accepted the Coaching job there. He named Alabama, USC, and Miami as potential transfer destinations as well.

Tony Grimes is a plug-in starter for any defense in the country. He has proven that he is a top corner and has gained a lot of attention from schools in every conference. Texas A&M, USC, Alabama, and Georgia are considered the front runners for the talented North Carolina DB.

I will follow up this blog with updates on commitment decisions as well as the cover players that entered the transfer portal since this first update. If you have any questions, concerns, or players and schools you suggest I cover, please leave a comment or email 19tottenct@gmail.com. Thank you for reading. Until next time.

The following is a link to the 247 sports list of players in the transfer portal with constant updates and news.

[lboogie1906]

John Sherman “JuJu” Smith-Schuster (November 22, 1996) is a football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning second-team All-American honors in 2015. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. With the Chiefs, he won Super Bowl LVII over the Philadelphia Eagles.

He is the holder of several NFL records, including being the youngest player to reach 2,500 career receiving yards and the first player to have two offensive touchdowns of at least 97 yards. He holds several Steelers franchise records. He is known for his social media presence and affinity for TikTok, which has earned him the nickname TikTok Boy. In 2019, he was ranked by Sports Business Daily as one of the NFL’s most marketable players.

He began playing football at the age of eight. He changed his name in football program listings in 2012 from “John” to “JuJu,” a nickname an aunt gave him when he was young and legally changed his last name from “Smith” to “Smith-Schuster” while in college as a tribute to his step-father. He was coached by Snoop Dogg as long as you live, send me played youth football with the Snoop Youth Football League, where Snoop gave him the nickname “Sportscenter.

He attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, the high school that at that time had the record for sending the most football players to careers in the NFL out of any in the US. He played wide receiver and safety for the school’s Jackrabbits football team. He was rated by Rivals.com as a five-star recruit and was ranked as the second-best wide receiver in his class and the 24th-best player overall. He decided to attend Oregon, he announced he would attend USC. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[metaverseanalysis]

Aidan O'Connell vs Miami Dolphins

I have not provided a write up on Aidan O'Connell before, so let's dive into his background.

Who is Aidan O'Connell?

Aidan O'Connell, born on September 1, 1998, in Long Grove, Illinois, is the middle child among five brothers—Sean, Patrick, Liam, and Seamus. Raised in a family that seemingly embraced athleticism, O'Connell embarked on a journey that would lead him from relatively humble beginnings to becoming the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders.

In his formative years, O'Connell showcased his athletic prowess at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, where he played both football and basketball. Despite not being heavily recruited as a high school athlete, he made his mark during his sole season as a starter in 2016, setting a school record with 2,741 passing yards and 26 touchdowns.

After high school, O'Connell initially committed to play college football at Wheaton College in February 2017. However, fate had other plans for him, and less than a month later, he accepted a preferred walk-on spot at Purdue University. This marked the beginning of his college football journey.

O'Connell faced a slow start, not playing in 2017 and 2018. However, he emerged in 2019, playing in six games and starting three. His first career start against Northwestern showcased his potential, as he completed 34 of 50 passes for 271 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. In the 2019 season, he completed 103 of 164 passes for 1,101 yards, notching eight touchdowns and four interceptions.

The following year, O'Connell entered the 2020 season as the starter but faced a setback with a season-ending injury after just three games. Despite the abbreviated season, he managed to complete 88 of 136 passes for 916 yards, contributing seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

O'Connell's resilience and determination were evident in the 2021 season. Initially the backup to Jack Plummer, he eventually took over as the starter, completing an impressive 315 of 440 passes for 3,712 yards, with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Following this standout season, he decided to take his talents to the next level, entering the 2023 NFL Draft.

In a promising turn of events, Aidan O'Connell's NFL dreams materialized when the Las Vegas Raiders selected him in the fourth round with the 135th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. His NFL debut on October 1, 2023, saw him stepping in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo against the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite a commendable performance, the Raiders fell short, losing 24-17. However, O'Connell's resilience and potential were acknowledged, leading to his appointment as the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season on November 1, 2023.

Aidan O'Connell's journey—from a little-known high school athlete to a starting quarterback in the NFL—is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and ability to overcome challenges, showcasing the promising trajectory of his career in professional football.

Comments from the NFL Draft.

https://purduesports.com/sports/football/roster/aidan-o-connell/11413

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_O%27Connell

[sportyconnect]

Sean Clifford is a younger, gifted quarterback with excellent potential. The Inexperienced Bay Packers drafted him within the fifth spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he's anticipated to compete for the beginning job in coaching camp. Clifford performed faculty soccer at Penn State as a three-year starter. He completed his faculty profession with over 10,000 passing yards and 86 touchdowns. He was additionally named Large Ten Offensive Participant of the Week twice. Clifford is a good-sized quarterback at 6'2" and 212 kilos. He has a powerful arm, and he's an accurate passer. He's also a great runner and may use his mobility to increase performance. Clifford is an uncooked prospect. However, he has a variety of potential. He must work on his footwork and decision-making. However, he has the instruments to be a profitable NFL quarterback. Early Profession Clifford was born in Barrington, Illinois, and attended St. Xavier Excessive College. He was a four-star recruit and his class's No. 11 quarterback in the nation. He dedicated himself to playing faculty soccer at Penn State. Clifford redshirted his first 12 months at Penn State in 2017. He performed in 9 video games in 2018, and he began 4 video games in 2019. He took over because the beginning quarterback in 2020 led the Nittany Lions to a 4-5 document in a pandemic-shortened season. Clifford had a breakout season in 2021. He led Penn State to a 10-2 document and was named Large Ten Offensive Participant of the Yr. He completed the season with 3,045 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. NFL Profession The Inexperienced Bay Packers drafted Clifford within the fifth spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft. He's anticipated to compete for the beginning job in coaching camp. Strengths Robust arm Correct passer Good runner Good measurement Weaknesses Uncooked prospect He must work on footwork He must work on decision-making Outlook Clifford is an uncooked prospect. However, he has a variety of potential. He must work on his footwork and decision-making. However, he has the instruments to be a profitable NFL quarterback. He's anticipated to compete for the beginning job in coaching camp and probably be a franchise quarterback for the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Conclusion Sean Clifford is a younger, gifted quarterback with excellent potential. He's anticipated to compete for the beginning job in coaching camp and probably be a franchise quarterback for the Inexperienced Bay Packers. FAQs What are Sean Clifford's strengths and weaknesses? Strengths: Robust arm Correct passer Good runner Good measurement Weaknesses: Uncooked prospect He must work on footwork He must work on decision-making What's Sean Clifford's projected position for the Inexperienced Bay Packers in 2023? Clifford is predicted to compete for the beginning job in a coaching camp. He's an uncooked prospect. However, he has a variety of potential. If he can enhance his footwork and decision-making, he has the potential to be the Packers' beginning quarterback for years to return. What are Sean Clifford's long-term prospects within the NFL? Clifford has the potential to be a profitable NFL quarterback. He has the bodily instruments and the psychological toughness to succeed. Nevertheless, he might want to work diligently to enhance his sport. If he can do this, he can probably be a franchise quarterback for the Packers. What are Sean Clifford's long-term prospects within the NFL? Clifford has the potential to be a profitable NFL quarterback. He has the bodily instruments and the psychological toughness to succeed. Nevertheless, he might want to work diligently to enhance his sport. If he can do this, he can probably be a franchise quarterback for the Packers. What are a few of the issues Sean Clifford must address to enhance his sport? Footwork: Clifford wants to enhance his footwork to be extra correct and constant.

Determination-making: Clifford wants to enhance his decision-making to avoid making pricey errors. Studying defenses: Clifford wants to enhance his skill to learn causes to make higher throws. Pocket presence: Clifford should enhance his pocket presence to avoid getting sacked. Management: Clifford must turn into a pacesetter to rally his teammates and make them victory. What are a few of the issues Sean Clifford can do to assist the Inexperienced Bay Packers to win in 2023? Be a dependable quarterback: Clifford must be a reliable quarterback who can lead the Packers to victory. Make performs: Clifford must make when it issues most. Keep wholesome: Clifford wants to remain healthy to play at an excessive stage. Be a staff participant: Clifford must be a staff participant and put the staff first. #SportyConnect

[nfliplnews]

[ad_1] South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith is one of the top prospects, regardless of position, as we look ahead to the 2023 NFL Draft. A four-star recruit from Westwood High School in South Carolina, Smith stayed home to star for the Gamecocks. Over the past three seasons -- he redshirted in 2019 -- Smith made life difficult for SEC wide receivers due to his physicality and ball skills, evident by his 23 passes defensed and six interceptions in his career.Below is a comprehensive draft profile for Smith, including his scouting report, prospect ranking, pro comparison, combine results, college and high school accolades and overall NFL outlook.Note: This profile will be updated as more information becomes available.About Age: 22Hometown: Blythewood, South CarolinaInteresting fact: Allowed multiple catches in just two of 11 games in 2021Position: No. 4 CB | Overall: No. 19 | Rating: 90.23 (All-Pro)CBS Sports mock draftsRyan Wilson: N/AChris Trapasso: Jets (No. 13)Josh Edwards: Jaguars (No. 24)Pete Prisco: N/AWill Brinson: N/AKyle Stackpole: N/AExpected draft position (via Grinding the Mocks): 34.5 (CB5)To check out all of CBSSports.com's most recent mock drafts, click here.NFL combine measurements/resultsHeight: 6-1 | Weight: 180 lbs | Arms: 31 5/8" | Hands: 9 1/8" 40-yard dash: 4.49 seconds (unofficial pro day time)Broad jump: 11-feet, 2 inchesVertical jump: 38 inchesNFL comparison Scouting reportCam Smith is a noticeably aggressive, sticky, ball-magnet outside corner. He's not an otherworldly athlete but is plenty sudden to stick with most WRs in the NFL. There's lot to like about his ball skills and overall awareness at the catch point. He has size and length, and plays with a mean streak as a tackler, which helps him get to the football more frequently than others but also leads to more missed tackles. His 2021 film was more disruptive than 2022, but teams stopped targeting him as frequently. Speed looks good, but won't be his specialty. He's best in a face-to-face press man role in the NFL, where his emphatic nature can really shine. CB1 type but not a truly elite, monstrous prospect.StrengthsFound the football in coverage awesomely in his careerSticky mirroring skillsNasty demeanor of a true No. 1 cornerbackWeaknesses2021 was better than 2022Missed tackles on filmNot a tremendous athleteCollege stats202211271.051202111412.514320208160.0422019370.000College AccoladesHonors2021: Second-team All-SEC (Associated Press, PFF)Notable statistics2021: Ninth in FBS in passes defended per game (1.3)High school: Westwood (Blythewood, South Carolina)Class: 2019Composite Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0.9366)National: 150 | CB: 19 | South Carolina: 2High school accolades: All-American Bowl selection, Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas selection Check out Cam Smith's full 247Sports profile, here. For his MaxPreps profile, click here. 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[viralfresh]

Jared Goff: From small town quarterback to NFL superstar

Photo By: Flickr, Source, CC How much is Jared Goff contract worth? Lions quarterback Jared Goff is hitting the final two seasons of a contract extension, signed when Goff was with the Los Angeles Rams, that pays him $134 million over four years.   Introduction Jared Goff is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was born on October 14, 1994, in Novato, California. Goff grew up in Novato and played high school football at Marin Catholic High School. He then played college football at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a two-year starter and led the Golden Bears to an 8-5 record in his final season. Early years Goff grew up in a small town and was a standout athlete in high school. As a quarterback, he threw for over 7,500 yards and 93 touchdowns in his career at Marin Catholic. Despite his impressive high school stats, Goff was not heavily recruited by major college programs. He received offers from only a handful of colleges before committing to UC Berkeley. College career Goff was a highly touted recruit when he arrived at UC Berkeley in 2013. He quickly established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, throwing for over 3,500 yards and 18 touchdowns in his freshman season. Goff continued to improve throughout his college career, setting school and conference records in passing yards and touchdowns. In his junior season, Goff led the Golden Bears to an 8-5 record and a victory in the Armed Forces Bowl. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the game after throwing for 467 yards and six touchdowns. After the season, Goff decided to forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft. NFL career Goff was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He started his rookie season as the backup quarterback but was named the starter in the 10th game of the season. In his first game as a starter, Goff threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over the New Orleans Saints. Goff improved in his second season, throwing for over 3,800 yards and 28 touchdowns. He helped lead the Rams to their first playoff appearance since 2004. In the playoffs, Goff helped lead the Rams to a victory over the Dallas Cowboys before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2018, Goff had a breakout season, throwing for over 4,600 yards and 32 touchdowns. He helped lead the Rams to the Super Bowl but the team lost to the New England Patriots. After the season, Goff signed a four-year contract extension worth $134 million. Goff struggled in 2019, throwing for only 22 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. The Rams missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. In 2020, Goff was traded to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Conclusion Jared Goff's rise to NFL superstardom is a testament to his hard work and dedication. From his small town beginnings in Novato, California, to his record-setting college career at UC Berkeley, Goff has always been a talented quarterback. His success in the NFL with the Rams and now the Lions has made him one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Only time will tell what the future holds for Goff, but one thing is certain – he has already achieved more than most football players could ever dream of. References: - Jared Goff - ESPN profile - Jared Goff - NFL stats - Jared Goff - Wikipedia Read the full article

[thecollegefootballguy]

2021 Top Games of the Week: Week 1

Football is back! Week 0 was incredibly boring but Week 1 should more than make up for that. We’ve got a load of interesting games this week that should kick off the season in style. Let’s have a look!

The Top Ten Games of the Week

10. West Virginia at Maryland (Saturday 9/4)

The 10 spot goes to one of the fun rivalry games once again kicking off. West Virginia and Maryland have kept their non-conference rivalry going even as both schools changed conferences in the past 10 years. I hope they keep playing it moving forward. Neither team is expected to contend for their conference, or division in the Terrapins’ case, so winning the rivalry games is #1 on the list for many fans on both sides.

9. Michigan State at Northwestern (Friday 9/3)

The Big Ten is trotting out several conference games to open the season. Michigan State at Northwestern is perhaps the least interesting, but it does feature the defending champions of the West Division. In 2020, the Wildcats came out of nowhere last year to claim their second division title in three years. Meanwhile, the Spartans gutted their way through a season that would have been incredibly disappointing if not for their win over Michigan. Both squads have question marks but with this early conference game we’ll get a better idea where each team stands.

8. #4 Ohio State at Minnesota (Thursday 9/2)

Ohio State is ready to kick off another season with a national championship in their sights. The Buckeyes are quite clearly one of the best teams in the country and expect to go 12-0 or 11-1 at the very worst. Minnesota hasn’t had an opportunity like this is a while. The Gophers are expected to be loaded for bear as they prepare to take the next step forward under P.J. Fleck. Back in 2019, Minnesota defeated #4 Penn State to catapult themselves into a tie with Wisconsin for the West title. I’m sure they have a similar outcome on their minds here for OSU.

7. #16 LSU at UCLA 1-0 (0-0) (Saturday 9/4)

This one is going to hold my attention this weekend. LSU has had a strange two years, going from national champions with potentially the best football team of all time to 5-5 also rans nearly overnight. Sure, they have had time to reload now and the Tigers should be fine, but more than a few eyebrows have been raised already. Meanwhile, UCLA’s long rebuild under Chip Kelly has finally started to bear fruit. The Bruins mauled an overmatched Hawaii squad in week 0. Big deal, the Rainbow Warriors aren’t on the same level as Louisiana State, who will give UCLA a real litmus test to see how far they’ve come. Also it’s cool to see a PAC-SEC matchup, I feel like those conferences have the most infrequent combinations of matchups among the P5 leagues.

6. #10 North Carolina at Virginia Tech (Friday 9/3)

The ACC isn’t quite matching the Big Ten for Week 1 intrigue, but this early bout may have big ramifications on the Coastal race. North Carolina is favored in a race with Miami according to the experts, but things rarely ever go right in this strange division. Virginia Tech are in an awkward position. Things haven’t been going well in Blacksburg lately and fans wanted Justin Fuente fired years ago at this point. It would be a huge opportunity for the Hokies to turn their fortunes around if they can jump on the Tar Heels at home.

5. #23 Louisiana at #21 Texas (Saturday 9/4)

This is a trap game for sure. Steve Sarkisian’s first game as Texas head coach and it’s against a team that made their name last year upsetting regular season Big 12 Champions Iowa State. Louisiana will absolutely give the Longhorns a tougher test than they would normally expect from a G5 program and if they’re not careful UT could faceplant.

4. #17 Indiana at #18 Iowa (Saturday 9/4)

It’s not a sexy matchup in the conventional sense, but you have to give credit where it’s due. Indiana were one of the darlings of the 2020 season. The Hoosiers shocked the world last season with a breakout 6-2 record. With a full season’s worth of games to play now, IU is gunning for double digit wins. Iowa is their usual selves. The Hawkeyes were once again a strong team last year and that should be the case in 2021 as well. Iowa expects to contend for the West Division this year and have to win their cross-division games to give them their best chance at getting to Indianapolis.

3. #19 Penn State at #13 Wisconsin (Saturday 9/4)

The biggest of the Big Ten’s Week 1 matchups sees two of the best programs in the conference square off. Penn State had a bad year in 2020, no other way around saying it. The Nittany Lions need to rebound in 2021 or there will be a lot of question marks surrounding the direction of the program under James Franklin. Wisconsin is their usual selves, meaning the Badgers should once again be one of the top teams in the league but still a step (or two) behind Ohio State. Both Wisconsin and Penn State want to win their respective divisions, a loss in Week 1 would be a crucial setback for either side.

2. #1 Alabama vs #14 Miami FL (Atlanta, GA) (Saturday 9/4)

The defending champions start off the year in a high profile matchup with another high profile team. Miami isn’t quite playing up to their potential just yet, but the Hurricanes are on more solid footing than we’ve seen in a while. Many are expecting another breakthrough season similar to what we saw in 2017. It might not matter either way if the Canes get back to that level. It will be incredibly hard to unseat Alabama. The Crimson Tide are losing a lot of guys from their championship squad, but new faces with similar levels of talent are coming in to replace those who’ve left for the NFL. It feels foolish betting against Bama but a Week 1 loss would be one of the more likely scenarios for a regular season loss at all for the Tide.

1. #5 Georgia at #3 Clemson (Saturday 9/4)

This one is a no-brainer. Georgia and Clemson’s on again-off again rivalry is once again heating back up. The stakes haven’t been this high since the early 80′s, with both the Tigers and Bulldogs attempting to claim national championships this year. UGA is hoping to rebound and reclaim the SEC East after giving it away to Florida last season. The Dawgs are on the short list of 6 or so teams that are aiming to make the Playoff every year. Clemson is one of the other squads on that special list. The Tigers are hosting and may be favored, but we need to be wary of their lack of depth at the QB position. A loss here might not end a Playoff campaign, but it would be a bad start to one as well as a black eye against a regional recruiting rival. 

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5 G5 Games of the Week

5. Syracuse at Ohio (Saturday 9/4)

Frank Solich unfortunately won’t be the head coach in Athens, but I think his old team is in great position to claim a P5 scalp as hapless Syracuse makes the trek for a rare MAC road date.

4. Marshall at Navy (Saturday 9/4)

Two of the G5′s more consistent brands face off. Marshall is trotting out their first new coach in 15 years while Navy is attempting to spit out the bad taste in their mouths after a disappointing 2020 season.

3. Miami OH at #8 Cincinnati (Saturday 9/4)

The Battle of the Bell is one of FBS football’s oldest rivalries and I love giving it the spotlight. I don’t expect Miami to win of course, while they have been a solid MAC program in the last couple years, the RedHawks aren’t up to the same level as Cincinnati. The Bearcats are favored to repeat as the #1 G5 program in the nation. Cincinnati haven’t lost to their in-state rivals since 2005, giving Miami plenty of reason to try and solve the Cincy defense that gave teams such fits last season.

2. Texas Tech vs Houston (Houston, TX) (Saturday 9/4)

That’s right, Houston was able to call on to upgrade this game to NRG Stadium. The Cougars and Red Raiders are throwing a Southwest Conference reunion party and everybody’s invited. Both Texas Tech and Houston have been struggling lately and this game definitely has high stakes for both programs.

1. Boise State at UCF (Saturday 9/4)

Two of the G5′s biggest brands face off as Boise State travels to the Bounce House to take on UCF. The stakes are obvious: the winner here will be the G5′s #2 option after Cincinnati moving forward through the season.

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FCS Games of the Week

5. #14 Central Arkansas at Arkansas State (Saturday 9/4)

More likely to happen than you might imagine. Arkansas State moved on from coach Blake Anderson at the end of 2020 and Butch Jones (yeah) needs time to get things set. Central Arkansas has an opportunity to knock off their big brother in Jonesboro.

4. #9 Montana at #20 Washington (Saturday 9/4)

It’s the revival of an ancient PCC series dating back to the 1950′s. Montana will certainly be an underdog against a Washington squad that technically did win the PAC-12 North last year.

3. #21 Northern Iowa at #7 Iowa State (Saturday 9/4)

Iowa State has moved mountains to become this good, but the Cyclones aren’t impervious to upsets as last year showed us. Northern Iowa has their own chance to knock off big brother.

2. #6 Weber State at #24 Utah (Thursday 9/2)

This one should be tough no matter how good Weber State is. The Utes’ physical game will be tough for the Wildcats to overcome, but they’ll take their shot at glory no matter what.

1. #10 Jacksonville State vs UAB (Montgomery, AL) (Wednesday 9/1)

Now this is cool, an FBS-FCS game played at a neutral site. I love to see matchups like this. UAB is one of the best G5 programs of the last 5 years while Jacksonville State is one of the most consistent FCS squads in the deep South.

[lboogie1906]

Edward Nathan George Jr. (September 24, 1973) is a football coach and former player who is the current head football coach at Tennessee State University. He played as a running back in the National Football League for nine seasons, primarily for the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans franchise.

He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and won the Heisman Trophy in 1995. He was drafted in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft and played professionally for the Tennessee Titans (both in Tennessee and Houston when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers) and Dallas Cowboys. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player and the International Sports Hall of Fame.

He earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He guest-starred on Comedy Bang! Bang!. In 2016, he appeared on Broadway in the musical Chicago as the hustling lawyer Billy Flynn.

He was born in Philadelphia. He played Pop Warner football for the Abington Raiders. He attended Abington Senior High School until the tenth grade and transferred to Fork Union Military Academy. He decided to stay at Fork Union Military Academy for a fifth prep school year or postgraduate year. Such choices are commonly made by high school football players hoping to improve their recruitment status with colleges, it meant another year of the rigorous military lifestyle. He rushed for 1,372 yards in his postgraduate season at FUMA.

He was named the head coach at Tennessee State on April 13, 2021. He signed a five-year deal.

He married singer, rapper, actress, and author Tamara “Taj” Johnson (2004). She is known for being a part of the group SWV and being a contestant on the 18th season of Survivor.

His jersey was retired by the Titans during a halftime ceremony against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15, 2019.

He owns a restaurant in Columbus called Eddie George Bar and Grille 27. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #omegapsiphi

[harveyhyig091]

Take 10 Minutes To  Get Going With Betting Tips

Concepts Regarding Sporting Activities

" It was extra like the prompt future-- like staying alive," he claimed. Additionally, Craig Grialou and also Mike Jurecki praise the Cardinals' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year champion, Corey Peters and also examine just how the defense could assault Daniel Jones as well as the Giants. It was far from best yet it was an action in the appropriate direction.

Top 10 Matched Betting Pointers For 2020.

Relief has actually originated from the pointer of a needle considering that Amy Hubbard obtained the first of her 2 COVID-19 vaccinations. His mom is living the headlines on the cutting edge as Teaching hospital's nursing manager and also they've spent the season separated yet in touch. Brent is the writer of 4 published books concerning Texas A&M, three related to A&M sports.

What's the 100 for in the NFL?

Celebrating 100 Years of Football

The celebration of the NFL's 100th Season kicked off with a Super Bowl ad for the ages and will continue with a series of “NFL 100” events, initiatives and programs celebrating players, fans, and their communities.

Groups will be allowed to have greater than the common 85 players on scholarship, however not more than 123 on the lineup, Sitake has said. Due To The Fact That the Cougars (10-1) have actually played a less-than-difficult schedule, nevertheless, the concern needs to be asked before they tackle probably the very best group they will see in 2020, 6-3 Main Florida in the Boca Raton Dish on Tuesday. McKissic, holding him to a 1-yard gain on a third-and-4 in the third quarter. Adams has actually published a sack in 4 successive video games and also has 9.5 sacks on the season.

The Cowboys shed two of 3 meetings with Mines last season, losing to the Orediggers in the RMAC Tournament on March 3-- the last game Highlands played before this period was canceled, and the last until November of 2021.

Yet if you desire them to win in the actual word-- mentoring sporting activities skills is so much more than looking excellent.

The Sports Tourist Understanding Institute is the leading-edge education institute for the sporting activities occasions and tourism industry.

You like sports stats and also rewatch timeless ready the subtlety.

Your athletes require to be able to carry out sports skills in efficiency scenarios-- which means a re-think of the way you train skills.

Sheffield Football Association, the leader of later area organizations. Sheffield as well as London clubs played 2 matches versus each other in 1866, as well as a year later on a suit pitting a club from Middlesex versus one from Kent and also Surrey was played under the changed guidelines. In FA clubs accepted an invite to enter a mug competitors and to add to the acquisition of a prize. By 1877 the associations of Wonderful Britain had agreed upon a consistent code, 43 clubs were in competition, and the London clubs' initial prominence had actually lessened.

Who is the best football team of all time?

And be sure to vote in the poll to crown the greatest NFL team in history.1962 Packers.

1991 Redskins.

1999 Rams.

1989 49ers.

1979 Steelers.

1994 49ers.

1996 Packers.

1971 Cowboys. The 1971 Cowboys boasted a fast, multifaceted offense that scored 40-plus points five times during the 14-game regular season.

More items

In competitors utilizing two-legged matches, each group competes in the house when, with an aggregate score from both suits deciding which team advances. Where accumulations are equivalent, the away objectives regulation might be made use of to figure out the champions, in which instance the champion is the team that racked up the most objectives in the leg they played far from house.

In Information.

Today, Brallier is rated no more than 7th in line amongst the early-day gamers approving pay to play. While the PAC had suspected something prohibited was afoot, there was no instant evidence to support its idea that the AAA had deserted the basic practices of the day by in fact paying someone to play football. Each hire is weighted in the positions according to a Gaussian distribution formula, where a group's ideal recruit is worth the most points. This formula ensures that soccer prediction all commits contribute at least some value to the group's rating without greatly gratifying teams that have numerous extra dedications than others. Interim defensive planner Pole Marinelli, the Raiders defense must get over injuries to maintain playoff hopes active versus the Chargers.

Who won last 10 Super Bowls?

Super Bowl X / Champion

Similarly, Gaelic football is one of the most popular sport in Ireland in regards to suit participation, and the All-Ireland Football Final is one of the most enjoyed event of that country's showing off year. The laws of rugby union additionally altered during the 20th century, although much less considerably than those of rugby organization. By the 1870s, Rugby and also Organization football had actually begun to come to be preferred in Ireland. The regulations of the English FA were being distributed extensively. Standard types of caid had actually begun to give way to a "rough-and-tumble game" which enabled tripping.

Oliver W. Rafferty-- Allegheny Athletic Organization, Pittsburgh-- $50 per game for the whole 1893 season. James Van Cleve-- Allegheny Athletic Organization, Pittsburgh-- $50 per ready the whole 1893 season. Peter Wright-- Allegheny Athletic Association, Pittsburgh-- $50 per ready the whole 1893 period.

Who invented football?

The man most responsible for the transition from this rugby-like game to the sport of football we know today was Walter Camp, known as the “Father of American Football.” As a Yale undergraduate and medical student from 1876 to 1881, he played halfback and served as team captain, equivalent to head coach at the time.

He has enabled simply three pressures throughout 372 pass-blocking snaps in 11 games. Claim what you will certainly regarding the routine, that's still unbelievably excellent. There's a head instructor in Miami that remains in his second year during a rebuild with a rookie qb and also practice squad freelances off the road that simply got 9 triumphes of them on the edge of making the playoffs.

Which club is older City or United?

Just two years separate the existence of the two Manchester clubs, with United holding bragging rights as the oldest as they were formed in 1878, while City were established two years later.

Go back in time to see the Detroit Lions Cheerleaders' progression through 2019 tryouts, DLC training camp, making the group, and investing the 2019 period as participant of the Detroit Lions Cheerleaders. Prepare in Minnesota Vikings jerseys right below at the VikingsLockerRoom.com, the main on the internet shop of the Minnesota Vikings. Store the biggest option of Vikings Nike Video Game Jerseys of all your preferred gamers in males's, women's and also children' dimensions. It's the "Persistence" version of the Bengals Booth Podcast as Dan Heap as well as Dave Lapham look ahead to Sunday's video game against the Philadelphia Eagles with punter Kevin Huber. Also, today's "Know the Enemy" segment with NBC Sports Philly reporter Michael Barkann. It's the "Stronger" edition of the Bengals Cubicle Podcast as Dan Heap as well as Dave Lapham recall at the current for Bengals gamers, coaches, as well as fans, an overtime incorporate Philadelphia. information Sam Hubbard's Period Of Trial Obtains A Raise Bengals protective end Sam Hubbard is much eased today and definitely not because of Monday night's task of slowing down Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's split-second launches.

Assents for such violations might be levied on individuals or on clubs as a whole. Fines may include penalties, factors reductions and even expulsion from competitions. For example, the English Football League subtract 12 factors from any kind of team that goes into economic administration. To name a few management assents are fines against video game loss. Teams that had waived a game or had been surrendered versus would certainly be awarded a technological loss or win.

He started Washington's very first 4 video games this season, going 1-3. He was changed by Kyle Allen, who went down with a season-ending ankle joint injury in the Week 9 loss to the New york city Giants.

[thecollegefootballguy]

2021 PAC-12 Coaching Power Rankings

The power rankings roll on, time for the PAC-12.

Check out last year’s rankings here.

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As a whole, the PAC-12 lacks a superstar head coach. There’s no Nick Saban or Dabo Swinney or Lincoln Riley in this league. In a way it makes things more competitive, there isn’t a true elite program in the league at the moment that sucks up all the oxygen.

As far as the rankings go, there’s a lot of movement at the bottom as coaches with similar resumes jostle for position. There was a bit of a bloodletting in the conference during the 2019 offseason so only one change was made here. Arizona’s Kevin Sumlin led one of the worst teams in FBS football onto the field in 2020 and he was deservedly fired for it.

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12. Jedd Fisch

Overall Record: 1-1

Movement: N/A

Jedd Fisch has had a long coaching career that has taken him all over college football and the NFL. However, his only experience as a head coach was as an interim following the firing of Jim Mora at UCLA in 2017. Fisch enters a rebuilding situation as Arizona really began to fall apart towards the end of Sumlin’s tenure.

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11. Jonathan Smith

Record at Oregon State: 9-22

Movement: Down 1 spot

Believe it or not but I still believe in Jonathan Smith. The Beavers were very close to breaking through in 2019 and very well would have made a bowl if the full 2020 season had been played. The surprise win over Oregon certainly helped to soften the blow of a losing season. I think firing him because of his losing record so far would jeopardize the progress the program has made so far.

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10. Nick Rolovich

Record at Washington State: 1-3 Overall Record: 29-30

Movement: Down 1 spot

Washington State only played 4 games so it’s hard to accurately judge if the Cougars were really all that bad in 2020. I’m inclined to say no, but the on-field results weren’t stellar all the same. I think we need to see how Wazzu does in a full 12 game season to more accurately gauge if the program is heading in the right direction.

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9. Justin Wilcox

Record at California: 21-21

Movement: Down 3 spots

Moving Wilcox down was more bad luck than anything. Cal certainly wasn’t a 1-3 team if you watched them play. I mean their one win was an upset over conference champion Oregon. The Bears have built a solid foundation thanks to Justin Wilcox so I imagine they’ll be bouncing back soon.

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8. Herm Edwards

Record at Arizona State: 17-13

Movement: Down 1 spot

This one is more a function of time than anything. Everybody saw Arizona State play last year and started salivating for what’s to come. The pieces all seem in place for ASU to take a step forward. They’ll be a good team this year and it looks like further improvement is possible. Well, that’s if the NCAA doesn’t stamp out this whole administration.

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7. Karl Dorrell

Record at Colorado: 4-2 Overall Record: 35-27

Movement: Up 4 spots

We might as well congratulate Karl Dorrell on a much more successful than anticipated season. The Buffaloes punched above their weight in 2020, nearly unseating USC as South Division champion. CU hopes that Dorrell can keep the magic going and build a competitive program.

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6. Jimmy Lake

Record at Washington: 3-1

Movement: Up 6 spots

This one is more of a compromise move. I have a hard time placing Jimmy Lake because he’s only been the head coach of four football games. In those games the Huskies generally looked good and technically won the PAC-12 North. They had bad COVID outbreaks that left them out of several games and cost them a chance to play in the PAC-12 Championship Game. The upside is clear. I do think, however, that UW wasn’t the best team in the PAC-12 or even the North division. They’ll have to beat Oregon to truly contend for the championship here. 2021 will give us a real idea.

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5. Chip Kelly

Record at UCLA: 10-21 Overall Record: 56-28

Movement: Same

Much like Arizona State, a lot of people with their ears to the ground think this is the year that UCLA takes a step forward. We may have seen good improvement in 2020, the Bruins really were an improved team. The problem was the 7 game schedule they played and their 3-4 record. I’m pretty sure they’d have bowled last year if the full 12 games had been played. Either way, the verdict is the same for most of the coaches: the 2020 season shouldn’t count they way a real winning or losing season in a 12 game schedule should. If Kelly can get things back together for UCLA, it should be in 2021.

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4. Clay Helton

Record at USC: 45-23 Division Championships: 3 (2015, 2017, 2020) Conference Championships: 1 (2017)

Movement: Same

USC is probably the PAC-12 team that came away looking the best in 2020. The Trojans claimed another PAC-12 South title and rode it to a 5-1 record with a loss to Oregon in the Championship Game. Is that a good thing? I don’t know, it might keep Clay Helton around for longer because his hardware cabinet did get bigger. Helton keeps getting good results, but real greatness still seems remote.

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3. Mario Cristobal

Record at Oregon: 25-10 Overall Record: 52-57 Division Championships: 1 (2019) Conference Championships: 2 (2019, 2020)

Movement: Same

Mario Cristobal has won the past two PAC-12 Championships so he’s rising as high as possible given the circumstances. If he knocks on the door just a bit harder he’ll make a case to unseat the two truly established coaches in the conference. Oregon is starting to look and act like an elite program, maybe elite-lite, but the way they’re recruiting and winning they’re starting to separate themselves from the rest of the league. If Cristobal can keep it up the Ducks can enjoy the same conference-wide domination that Clemson enjoys in the ACC.

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2. Kyle Whittingham

Record at Washington: 134-66 Division Championships: 3 (2015, 2018, 2019) Conference Championships: 1 (2008)

Movement: Same

The Utes were again a very solid team in the PAC-12 in 2020. Kyle Whittingham has kept up a winning tradition in Salt Lake City and has established himself well. Utah should once again compete for the South title in 2021, as they seem to do pretty much every year thanks to Whittingham.

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1. David Shaw

Record at Stanford: 90-36 Division Championships: 5 (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017) Conference Championships: 3 (2012, 2013, 2015)

Movement: Same

A dreary start masked a rather successful comeback season for Stanford, who rebounded to a 4-2 record with a win over division champ Washington. The Cardinal seem far removed from their days of domination from 2009-2015, but they remain a dangerous force in the league. David Shaw seems keen to preserve what remains of the powerful engine he inherited from Jim Harbaugh. Stanford may no longer be favorites but they remain competitive in a tough division. I imagine at some point Shaw will fall off the list as long as things keep up this way, but first a coach has to come and knock him off the pedestal.

[a-dawgs-tale]

Jamie Newman Could be the Savior of Dawg Nation for Two Reasons?

By Iris Fambro Carter

After Jake Fromm declared for the NFL draft on January 8, 2020, Dawg Nation was left with a mystery as to who would get the nod to be the next signal-caller for the Dawgs. That mystery was seemingly solved three days later on January 11, 2020, when Jamie Newman officially enrolled at the University of Georgia. Many college football analysts praised this move by the Dawgs and Newman. For Georgia, the move provides a quarterback who posses collegiate competition experience with an opportunity to compete for the starting job. This in and of itself should bring out the best from each quarterback competing for the coveted position. For Newman, it provides a chance for him to prove that he can be an elite quarterback on a championship-caliber team.

In the public’s eye Newman has not shared how he feels about the possibility of being the next starting quarterback at Georgia. However, it’s safe to say that, barring injury, he should be the favorite to win the starting job. In his final season at Wake Forest Newman had 220 completions in 361 attempts (60.9% completion rate), 2,868 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He had a 145.3 QB rating. Also, he rushed 180 times for 574 yards (3.2 average) and had 6 rushing touchdowns. In 2019 his Demon Deacons went 8-5. Absent the win percentage, if Newman duplicates his individual numbers at Georgia in a Todd Monken offense, he should be able to lead the Dawgs to the play-offs, and possibly win a national championship.

Even when Newman was in the middle of the 2019 season, before he entered the transfer portal, some sports analysts were very high on him. In the 2019 Demon Deacon game against NC State, ESPN sports analyst Greg McElroy stated that Newman was “the best kept secret superstar” and compared his play to Cam Newton, who was the 2010 Heisman trophy winner. However, outside of receiving accolades within the ACC and sports analysts Newman has relatively been an unknown to the rest of college football. Possibly because he was not a highly touted high school recruit. As a three-star prospect in 2015 he was nationally deemed as the 17th best dual-threat quarterback in the nation, and 649th best player overall, as well as the 30th best prospect in North Carolina. Newman did not get many scholarship offers. In fact, he only received 14 that included schools like Elon, Appalachian State, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Needless to say, his recruitment from high school was non-dramatic.

However, Newman proved from his time at Wake Forest that some athletes develop later in their career. In Newman’s case, his stellar performance in his red-shirt junior year at Wake Forest prompted college sports analysts to ponder how high the talented Demon Deacon would be drafted. For some analysts, Newman’s professional career in the NFL seemed a sure one, but NFL scouts weren’t so sure. Although he thrived at Wake Forest, NFL scouts want to see how the dual-threat quarterback would perform in a pro-style offense that competes against tougher opponents. So, after the season concluded Newman entered the transfer portal and Georgia requested his services. It appears that the marriage between Newman and Georgia is a perfect one. But Newman proving to be a capable leader for the Dawgs is just one aspect that he possibly brings to the table.

If Newman gets the nod to be Georgia’s next signal-caller he will be the first African-American to be named the starting quarterback for the Dawgs since DJ Shockey took the helm in 2005. Prior to Shockley, there have been four other African-American starting quarterbacks to include James Jackson (1985-1987), Wayne Johnson (1988), Joe Dupree (1990-1991), and Quincy Carter (1998-2000). All of these quarterbacks thrilled us with their scrambling and passing attacks. They engineered some amazing comebacks and kept us on the edge of our seats. But none of them took the Dawgs to the SEC Championship until Shockley did so in 2005.

Shockley led the Dawgs to a 10-2 record (Georgia lost to Florida in the regular season that year when Shockley was injured in an earlier game and did not play), and the Dawgs won the SEC Championship. In that season, if it was not for a bizarre play that helped the Auburn Tigers beat Georgia in the waning minutes of the game, the Dawgs would have been in the mix for a BCS berth. Unfortunately, Shockley’s team missed the BCS and would go on to lose the Sugar Bowl to West Virginia 38-35. Who would have guessed that 15 years would pass before we could possibly see another African-American starting quarterback for the Dawgs? Some thought that Justin Fields would have gotten the nod for the Dawgs either in 2018 or 2019, but his sudden exodus to Ohio State ended that dream. Given the 15 years since we have seen an African-American starting quarterback at Georgia some in Dawg Nation have questioned if the Dawgs will ever end that drought, especially after Fields bolted.

If Newman lives up to the hype he should be named the next starting quarterback for the Dawgs. If his performance is similar to the one Shockley posted in 2005 you can pencil the Dawgs into the playoffs. Given the talent on both sides of the ball, even a performance by Newman that is less spectacular than the one by Shockley, the Dawgs should be on the precipice of greatness. Simply put, if Newman performs to his expectations, do not be shocked to see the Dawgs crowned national champions for the first time since 1980. This time, they would have done it with an African-American starting quarterback.

[lboogie1906]

Derrick Deshaun Watson (September 14, 1995) is a football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Clemson, where he led the team to a national championship in 2016. He was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.

He was born in Gainesville, Georgia to Deann Watson and Don Richardson. He attended Gainesville High School, Gainesville head coach Bruce Miller had planned to start a rising junior at quarterback to execute his spread offense, but he won the starting spot, becoming Miller’s first-ever freshman starting quarterback.

He set numerous state records, including those for total yards (17,134), total touchdowns (218), career passing yards (13,077), and career passing touchdowns (155). He rushed for 4,057 yards and 63 touchdowns. He excelled in his junior year, winning a state championship and earning accolades such as Junior All-American, 2014 Player to Watch, and 2014 Top 100 Recruit. During his sophomore and senior years, he led Gainesville to the state semifinals.

He received offers from numerous colleges before committing to Clemson University. He was ranked as the top quarterback recruit for the 2014 class by ESPN 300.

He guided the Texans to consecutive division titles in 2018 and 2019 and led the league in passing yards in 2020. He received Pro Bowl honors in each of his three seasons as Houston’s primary starter. He has the highest career completion percentage of all time and is second in all-time career passer rating.

Disagreements with the Texans’ front office and multiple sexual misconduct lawsuits kept him out for the entire 2021 season and led to a trade to the Cleveland Browns. In March 2022, he signed a five-year contract worth $230 million, one of the most expensive contracts in NFL history.

He is a Christian and converted to the Southern Baptist Convention after coming to Houston. When he was 11, Atlanta Falcons running back Warrick Dunn donated a home to his family. He donated his first NFL game check to three cafeteria employees affected by Hurricane Harvey who work at the Houston Texans’ NRG Stadium. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[sportsintersections]

16 Awesome Queer Sports Books: Books with LGBTQIA+ Athlete Representation

Image: Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images.

In some ways, the last few years has been a golden time for LGBTQIA+ athletes. The 2019 Women’s World Cup was a record tournament for LGBTQ+ visibility, with at least five players on the U.S. women’s national soccer team being openly queer (Ali Krieger and her now-wife Ashlyn Harris, Megan Rapinoe, A.D. Franch, and Tierna Davidson), as well as coach Jill Ellis, and another player coming out in the moment captured in the photo above, kissing her girlfriend in celebration. Rapinoe’s girlfriend, Sue Bird, another out lesbian athlete who plays in the WNBA, wrote an open letter to the President of the United States. A blockbuster movie told the story of iconic out lesbian tennis star Billie Jean King. Jason Paul Collins came out in 2013 (but retired the following year). Michael Sam was the first openly gay man to be drafted into the NFL in 2014 (but he has since retired).

But, according to the Human Rights Campaign, 70% of LGBTQIA+ people don’t come out to their teammates while still playing a sport, and 82% of athletes have witnessed homophobic and/or transphobic language in their sport. It is still more common, especially for male athletes, to come out after they have already left their sport (TW for homophobic slurs/statements and suicidal ideation), and many athletes who are still playing face backlash (TW for misgendering & general transphobia).

These books, from memoirs by professional queer athletes to YA romances with LGBTQIA+ athlete protagonists, explore these issues and more. 

Books are YA fiction unless otherwise noted.

Spinning, by Tillie Walden (graphic memoir)

This beautiful graphic novel memoir captures Tillie’s experience with figure skating and why she eventually decided to give it up. Full review here.

Girl Crushed, by Katie Heaney

Quinn thought her senior year would be perfect: college scouts recruiting her to her dream school for D1 soccer and her best-friend-turned-girlfriend at her side. But then Jamie dumps her, a month before the school year begins, and it’s getting a little late to have heard back from schools, if she’s going to end up on one of the top teams. Over the course of the school year, Quinn learns that her binary black-and-white, gay-and-straight, success-and-failure ways of seeing her world could stand to be a little more complicated. This book is about identity, self-esteem, friendship, crushes, and soccer. There are also many fun USWNT references! TW for some (challenged) bisexual erasure.

The Reappearing Act: Coming Out on a College Basketball Team Led by Born-Again Christians, by Kate Fagan (adult memoir)

Kate was thrilled to be playing basketball for a nationally-ranked school and to have a close-knit group of teammates. Her best friends were part of Colorado’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and she tried to join them and learn about their church, but she started to realize that she might be one of those people whose “sinful lifestyles” they talked about. She had to figure out how to come out without losing her friends, and her team.

Check, Please! Volume 1, by Ngozi Ukazu (graphic novel)

This adorable graphic novel (which was originally published as a popular webcomic) follows Bitty, a former junior figure skating champion and enthusiastic baker, who somehow ended up on the Samwell University hockey team. He’s terrified of checking (what if he gets hurt??), trying to figure out if he can win over the guys with pies, and also feeling some kind of way about the hot but grumpy captain.

Keeper of the Dawn, by Dianna Gunn

Lai wants to become a priestess, like her mother and grandmother were before her, but first she must prove herself in the trials she’s been training for her whole life. Nothing goes according to plan, but she can still depend on herself and her skill as a fighter and a horseback rider and take matters into her own hands. This fantasy novel features an asexual protagonist and a f/f romance.

The Passing Playbook, by Isaac Fitzsimmons (2020/2021 release)

This book hasn’t been released yet, but there are so few (if any) own voices YA sports books with trans characters that I decided to include it anyway. A queer, biracial, trans soccer player is benched, and has to decide whether to fight the ruling, even though that would mean coming out to everyone…including the Christian teammate he’s falling for.

Running with Lions, by Julian Winters

This coming-of-age novel follows Sebastian, a bisexual rising senior who’s excited for his last summer at soccer camp, where his teammates are great and the coach doesn’t expect anyone to stay in the closet. But then Emir Shah, a Muslim British-Pakistani new recruit, shows up. He also happens to be Sebastian’s former best friend, and they left things on pretty bad terms. So why is he finding himself attracted to Emir all of the sudden?

None of the Above, by I.W. Gregorio

I am hesitant to recommend this non-ownvoices intersex representation, but it’s the only book I know of about an intersex teen athlete, and, while it is imperfect and seems geared towards a non-intersex audience, there are certainly some good things to be said about it. It is informative, well-researched, and moving. Kristin, a homecoming queen and champion hurdler with a cute boyfriend, seems to be having a great high school experience. But a doctor’s visit reveals that she’s intersex, and, while she’s still coming to terms with what that might mean for her and her identity, her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school. TW for transphobic/anti-intersex slurs and bullying.

Forward: My Story, Young Readers’ Edition, by Abby Wambach (memoir)

U.S. Women’s National Team soccer star Abby Wambach tells her story with honesty and vulnerability, sharing how she came to lead her team to a World Cup win in 2015. She is open about her sexuality and romantic life (including a named mention of a certain pink-haired teammate, who also happens to be her ex-girlfriend) and how it affected her career.

We Ride Upon Sticks, by Quan Barry (adult fiction, with teen protagonists)

The 1989 Danvers high field hockey team finds themselves winning…a lot. Is it because they all wrote their names in a mysterious notebook with Emilio Estevez on the cover, and pledged themselves to dark forces so they could make the state championships? This darkly funny story explores friendship, sportsmanship, and what means to find power and sense of self as a teen girl.

Beautiful on the Outside, by Adam Rippon (adult non-fiction)

In his comedic memoir, Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon shares his journey from poverty and uncertainty to success and becoming a self-professed American sweetheart. He opens up about anxiety attacks, coming to terms with his sexuality and coming out, and some enjoyable behind-the-scenes gossip. He also narrates the audiobook.

Ana on the Edge, by A.J. Sass (middle-grade, fall 2020 release)

Twelve-year-old Ana-Marie is the reigning U.S. Juvenile figure skating champion, but that doesn’t mean everything feels easy or figured out. When Ana meets Hayden, a transgender boy, at the rink, Hayden mistakes Ana for a boy…and Ana doesn’t bother to correct him. In fact, it feels good to be seen as a boy. Now Ana must decide which identity feels the most right, in time for a big competition coming up. This book isn’t out yet, but it’s due to be released in fall 2020, and it is written by a non-binary (and autistic) author, who is also a figure skater.

Heartstopper, Volume 1, by Alice Oseman (graphic novel)

Charlie is neurotic and openly gay (after he was outed last year and bullied for months), and hoping that Year 10 at the British all-boys grammar school will be better. He meets Nick, an upbeat, sweet rugby player, and they become friends. Soon he finds himself hoping that their friendship turns into something more.

Fearless: Portraits of LGBT Student Athletes, by Jeff Sheng (non-fiction)

This is a memoir of an American artist who uses his story as a closeted high school athlete in the 1990s as a jumping-off-point to depict hundreds of photos of other LGBTQ+ high school and college athletes in the U.S. and Canada between 2003 and 2015.

Amateur, by Thomas McBee (adult memoir/non-fiction)

In this memoir, Thomas McBee describes grappling with the meaning of masculinity, violence, and sports. As a trans man, he has noticed since his transition that the world treats him completely differently and expects different things from him. But what does he want, and how does he want to define masculinity and strength for himself? He decides to train for a charity boxing match at Madison Square Garden as a way to find out.

Dryland, by Sara Jaffe

Julie is a cynical teen in Portland at the height of the grunge movement, struggling to define herself and her sexuality. No one in her family is willing to talk about her older brother, who at one point seemed destined for the Olympics but then fell off the map. Julie has never considered swimming herself, but then the swim team captain convinces her to join. Is this what she’s been looking for -- a way to get closer to her brother and maybe herself?

[All book covers belong to their respective publishers].