Month: February 2021

Nov 14, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Alan Bowman (10) calls signals in the second half in the game against the Baylor Bears at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Ex-Texas Tech QB Alan Bowman transfers to Michigan

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman is transferring to Michigan, he announced Sunday.

“Lets get to work!! #GoBlue,” he captioned a photo he posted on Twitter that showed him wearing a Michigan uniform.

A graduate transfer, he’ll be eligible to play immediately, and he has three years of eligibility remaining.

The arrival of a veteran quarterback should be welcome news to coach Jim Harbaugh.

Joe Milton, who started the 2020 season as Michigan’s quarterback, entered the transfer portal 10 days ago, becoming the second QB to leave the program. Dylan McCaffrey opted out of the 2020 season and since transferred to Northern Colorado, where he’ll play for his father, former NFL receiver Ed McCaffrey.

Bowman becomes the fourth scholarship quarterback on Michigan’s roster, joining Cade McNamara, redshirt freshman Dan Villari and incoming freshman J.J. McCarthy, a five-star prospect in the Class of 2021.

Bowman played in 19 games over three seasons with the Red Raiders. He was the starter for four games in 2020, then replaced by transfer Henry Colombi. A partially collapsed lung in 2018 limited him to eight games, and he played in three games in 2019 before taking a redshirt after suffering a shoulder injury.

At Texas Tech, Bowman had a 67 percent completion rate, throwing for 5,254 yards with 33 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; An Michigan Wolverines helmet during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Five-star CB Will Johnson commits to Michigan

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Michigan landed the top-ranked player in the state in the Class of 2022 on Sunday with the commitment of five-star cornerback Will Johnson.

The 6-foot-3 Johnson, who attends Grosse Pointe South High School, is the No. 11 overall prospect in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite.

He announced his decision with a video posted to social media.

Johnson had offers from numerous Power Five programs and selected the Wolverines over rival Ohio State and Southern California.

His father, Deon Johnson, was a defensive back at Michigan in the 1991 and 1992 seasons.

Michigan is off to a good start in the 2022 recruiting cycle, holding the No. 10-ranked class so far, according to 247Sports.

–Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2020; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) on the sidelines in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: All-ACC CB Derion Kendrick off team at Clemson

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Clemson cornerback Derion Kendrick, an All-ACC selection in 2020, is no longer with the team, multiple outlets reported Sunday.

Clemson247 reported that coach Dabo Swinney dismissed him from the program.

Kendrick was a five-star recruit from Rock Hill, S.C., in the Class of 2018 but has run into disciplinary issues. He announced in January that he would return to the Tigers for his senior season, which would have meant Clemson had all 11 starters on defense coming back.

He appeared in nine games (eight starts) in 2020 and was credited with 20 tackles (one for loss), six pass breakups, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery in 382 snaps. He returned the fumble 66 yards for a touchdown at Virginia Tech on Dec. 5.

In 39 career games (23 starts), he made 71 tackles (four for losses) and had 12 pass breakups and three interceptions. He also had 15 career receptions for 210 yards and returned 15 kickoffs an average of 23.3 yards.

–Field Level Media

Jan 11, 2020; Frisco, Texas, USA; North Dakota State Bison head coach Matt Entz reacts to a touchdown on a fake field goal in the second quarter against the James Madison Dukes at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Southern Illinois halts North Dakota State’s 39-game winning streak

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Small-college powerhouse North Dakota State saw its FCS-record 39-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday when it was routed 38-14 by Southern Illinois in Missouri Valley play at Carbondale, Ill.

It was the first setback for the top-ranked Bison since a 33-21 road loss to South Dakota State on Nov. 4, 2017. North Dakota State (2-1, 1-1 MVC) has won the past three FCS titles and eight of the last nine.

“We didn’t show up and play very well,” Bison coach Matt Entz said after the loss. “There was not any position group that played well.”

Nic Baker passed for 254 yards and one touchdown in his first career start for the Salukis (2-1, 1-1).

“The talk before the game was that, in life, you just don’t get many opportunities like this,” Salukis coach Nick Hill said. “You get an opportunity to knock off the No. 1 team in the country and do something that leaves a legacy. This game will be recognized for a long time.”

It marks the second time the Salukis have defeated a No. 1-ranked team. They beat host Western Kentucky 31-20 on Oct. 27, 2005.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2019; Charlotte, NC, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon (10) catches a pass against Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Report: WR Josh Gordon signs with FCF league

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Former NFL wide receiver Josh Gordon has found a new team — the Zappers of the Fan Controlled Football league, team owner Bob Menery told ESPN on Saturday.

Gordon will join Johnny Manziel — his former teammate on the Cleveland Browns — on a squad that competes in a 7-on-7 game in which fans set the rosters and call plays in a league that combines traditional football with esports.

The FCF league is amid a six-week season and its games, which are held on a field 50-by-35 yards with a 10-yard end zone, are live-streamed on Twitch from a facility in Atlanta.

The league’s players are from the FBS and FCS college levels, along with the CFL, XFL and the Indoor Football League, though the Heisman Trophy-winning Manziel is the league’s biggest name.

In January, Gordon, who was with the Seattle Seahawks, was suspended indefinitely after the NFL rescinded his conditional reinstatement and he was removed from the roster. Gordon violated the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, which caused for his reinstatement to be revoked, according to ESPN.

Gordon, who had signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks prior to the 2020 season, was reinstated this past December, but he didn’t play this past season. He has been suspended six times since the 2013 season.

Gordon has 247 catches for 4,252 yards and 20 touchdowns in 63 NFL games.

The Browns took him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft out of Baylor.

In his second year in the NFL in 2013, Gordon became the first Browns player to lead the NFL in receiving yards, finishing with a team-record 1,646 yards on 87 receptions. He also was the first receiver to amass more than 200 yards receiving in consecutive games, which he did against the Jaguars and Steelers, that season en route to being named first-team All-Pro.

He played in five games the following season before he was suspended for the next two seasons for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He returned to the Browns in 2017 and hasn’t posted more than 737 yards in a season since 2018, as his career also included a stop in New England.

–Field Level Media

iSep 15, 2018; South Bend, IN, USA; A general view of the Golden Dome on the campus of the University of Notre Dame before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Vanderbilt Commodores at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Former Notre Dame standout Louis Nix III reported missing by family

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Former Notre Dame standout and NFL defensive lineman Louis Nix III was reported missing in Florida by his family on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Nix was last seen at his father’s home in Jacksonville on Tuesday, according to a missing persons’ flyer posted by his family.

The family said Nix drives a 2014 gray Hyundai Azera. Nix’s mother told Action News Jacksonville that she believes her son is in danger as this behavior “…is out of the normal for him.”

Nix was shot in an attempted robbery in December when he said he was putting air into his vehicle’s tires at a Jacksonville gas station.

Nix posted the following on Twitter on Dec. 9: “I’m alive everyone. The bullet that hit me ricocheted off my sternum into my lung. Surgery is the next step so keep praying for me. Thank you all for the positive energy and prayers.”

On Dec. 19, Nix posted that he was released from the hospital.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly was among the many people putting out the call for help on Saturday.

“NOTRE DAME Nation: Let’s all do our best to reach out and connect with Louis Nix. Louis, let us know you are doing alright or that you may need your NOTRE DAME family and friends for assistance,” Kelly tweeted.

Nix, a nose guard, recorded 122 tackles in 34 games (30 starts) over three seasons (2011-13) for the Fighting Irish. He had 14 tackles for losses, including 2.5 sacks.

Nix recorded career highs of 50 tackles and 7.5 stops for losses in 2012. He was limited to eight games in 2013 due to a knee injury.

Nix was a third-round selection (83rd overall) by the Houston Texans in the 2014 NFL Draft.

He spent 2014 on injured reserve and the Texans waived him shortly before the start of the 2015 campaign.

The New York Giants picked him up and he played in four games that season. He played 22 defensive snaps and 16 more on special teams.

The Giants waived Nix just before the start of the 2016 season. He later spent time on the practice squads of Washington and Jacksonville in 2016.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Alabama Crimson Tide player helmets on the ground after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 CFP national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Five-star QB Ty Simpson commits to Alabama

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Five-star quarterback prospect Ty Simpson committed to Alabama.

The 6-foot-2 Simpson, from Martin, Tenn., is ranked as the No. 3 pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2022. He had scholarship offers from more than 30 Power Five programs, plus Notre Dame.

He chose Alabama over finalists Tennessee, Ole Miss and Clemson.

“Roll Tide!!,” he posted to Twitter on Friday, along with a short video, in making his announcement.

His father, Jason Simpson, is the head coach at Tennessee-Martin.

At Westview High School last season, the younger Simpson passed for 1,888 yards with 20 touchdowns and four interceptions. He ran for 311 yards and four touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide added four-star quarterback Jalen Milroe of Texas in the 2021 class.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Texans running back Duke Johnson (25) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Texans release RB Duke Johnson

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Running back Duke Johnson was released by the Houston Texans on Friday.

According to multiple reports, Johnson was let go by the Texans as the team tries to dodge the full $5.025 million salary cap hit for 2021, the final year on his three-year deal with the team.

Johnson, 27, signed a three-year, $15.6 million deal in 2018 after four seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

In 2021, he was due a salary of $4,650,000 with a roster bonus of $275,000 and a workout bonus of $100,000, according to spotrac.

The makeup of the Houston backfield is in flux with quarterback Deshaun Watson demanding a trade. Running back has been a position of extreme turnover in recent years with Lamar Miller, Alfred Blue, David Johnson and Duke Johnson among the players the franchise turned to over the past three seasons.

David Johnson, acquired from the Arizona Cardinals in the DeAndre Hopkins trade in 2020, turns 30 in December. He’s in the final year of a three-year, $39 million deal he signed with the Cardinals and has a cap hit of $8.812 million, according to spotrac.

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown (78) jogs on the field prior to an AFC Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Ravens OT Orlando Brown drawing trade interest

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Ravens right tackle Orlando Brown covets a role at the exclusive left tackle position and is pushing for a trade out of Baltimore.

Brown made his desire public via social media, and reports indicate the Ravens are amenable to a deal. ESPN reported the Jacksonville Jaguars are among the teams who kicked the tires on a trade for Brown.

Brown was drafted to play right tackle out of Oklahoma. He moved to left tackle for the final 10 games of the 2020 season due to an injury to Pro Bowl starter Ronnie Stanley.

The Ravens signed Stanley to a five-year, $98.75 million contract extension in October.

The 24-year-old Brown was a third-round pick in 2018. He’s entering the final season of a four-year, $3.49 million deal with the Ravens.

He has never missed a game as a pro, including 18 starts last season (playoffs included).

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (15) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Texans will not use franchise tag on Will Fuller

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The Houston Texans will not place a franchise tag on wide receiver Will Fuller, likely prompting his departure via free agency, according to a report Thursday from the Houston Chronicle.

The 26-year-old Fuller had career highs with 53 catches for 879 yards and eight touchdowns in only 11 games in 2020. But his breakout season came to a sudden stop when the NFL suspended him for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Fuller’s suspension will carry over into Week 1 of the 2021 season.

The likely departure of Fuller marks the latest change in a busy offseason for the Texans, who already cut ties with star defensive end J.J. Watt. Star quarterback Deshaun Watson reportedly also has requested a trade.

Houston drafted Fuller in the first round (No. 21 overall) out of Notre Dame in 2016. He has 209 career receptions for 3,110 yards and 24 touchdowns in 53 career games (52 starts).

–Field Level Media