December 2024 - footballzones.online

New Year’s Resolutions Giants Must Make While we wait to see the Giants’ ownership plans with GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll, here are some resolutions the franchise must make for 2025. As the calendar flips to 2025, the New York Giants face another off-season of soul-searching after a dismal 2024 campaign. This team doesn’t just need tweaks; it needs a complete overhaul. While some issues plaguing the Giants have persisted for years, others emerged as harsh realities this season. These four resolutions will help the franchise escape its rut and restore its reputation. End the Quarterback Carousel The Giants’ quarterback chaos was the defining storyline of 2024, and for good reason. Cycling through every passer on the depth chart after releasing Daniel Jones—including Tim Boyle from the practice squad—led to disastrous results. The passing game has averaged a scrimpy 193.1 yards per game, ranking near the bottom of the NFL, and their six yards per reception was dead last. This revolving door under center left the offense in shambles. A lack of consistency at the quarterback position has stunted the offense’s development, creating an environment where receivers struggled to find chemistry and timing with their quarterbacks—this was evident with standout rookie receiver Malik Nabers most of the season. The solution is clear: find a franchise quarterback. The 2025 draft offers promising options like Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, who have shown impressive skills at the collegiate level. For instance, Sanders posted an impressive completion percentage of 74% with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns, and Ward threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, completing 67.2% of his passes in the 2024 season. The Giants cannot afford to miss out on an opportunity like this. Once the Giants secure a quarterback in the draft, they need to bring in an experienced veteran, perhaps Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, or Jimmy Garoppolo, strong options flirting with free agency in 2025. Pairing a rookie with a seasoned veteran could create great mentorship and help the rookie acclimate to the NFL environment after college. Rebuild the Offensive Line—Again Even the best quarterbacks would struggle behind the Giants’ porous offensive line, which is why a rebuild is necessary alongside the draft of a potential franchise quarterback. While signs suggested improvement in early 2024, the unit ultimately unraveled, allowing a disheartening 48 sacks—ranking 30th in the league—and sending a clear message about the need for change. Daniel Jones took 29 of those sacks in just 10 games before his release. Per PFF, the Giants have surrendered 216 pressures. Injuries factor heavily into the equation; however, that can’t be used as an excuse. Andrew Thomas, who had shown promise as a cornerstone left tackle, suffered a season-ending injury, forcing the Giants to rely on less experienced linemen who were ill-equipped to handle NFL defenses. Depth remains a glaring weakness, and the Giants can’t keep blaming bad luck; they need a proactive strategy. The 2025 draft and the free agency class will be crucial for rebuilding the offensive line—assuming they take advantage of them this year. Revitalize the Defense Like the offensive line, the Giants’ defense exhibited promise early in the season but ultimately fell apart as the season wore on. Allowing 349 yards per game ( 24th in the league), this unit struggled against the run, giving up an average of 141.6 yards per game—second worst in the NFL—while their inability to generate turnovers became glaringly apparent as they forced just 15 takeaways (26th) heading into Week 18. The secondary showed a small amount of growth during the season’s final weeks, improving to 10th in passing yards allowed but surrendering 208 yards per game. The lack of a consistent pass rush compromised the unit’s effectiveness. Key players like Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence need reinforcements to help bolster the defense. Investing in an additional edge rusher—or a run-stuffing interior lineman to improve their 31st ranking in run defense—would significantly improve the squad’s performance. Furthermore, adding a play-making safety and a shutdown cornerback could transform a defensive unit that’s teetering on the brink of mediocrity, allowing it to regain its physicality and toughness. Reignite a Winning Culture A strong culture is the backbone of any successful franchise, and the Giants desperately need to foster one. Since 2022, when Brian Daboll was named “Coach of the Year” after leading the Giants to their first playoff berth in six years, the Giants have failed to find success and stay competitive. The team has struggled to find its identity, posting an overall record of 17-31-1 (.357) during the Daboll era thus far. The diminishing sense of accountability, identity, and direction has impacted player performance on and off the field. Other teams, like the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, have reversed their fortunes through strong leadership. The Lions, in particular, have embraced a culture built on positivity and accountability, which has resonated with their players and front office. Daboll needs to create an environment where players are motivated, buy into the system, and act with a unified purpose. This could be anything from improved game-day execution to encouraging small victories during practices, as these moments can cultivate a renewed sense of determination and purpose across the entire organization.

31 December 2024

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Pros and cons for Reed Sheppard returning to Kentucky: Father Jeff addresses Mark Pope hiring A new era in Kentucky basketball is on the horizon after longtime coach John Calipari stepped away from the program to take the job at Arkansas. Just days after Calipari’s stunning exit, UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart zeroed in on BYU coach Mark Pope to succeed him. Pope has deep ties to the Bluegrass State dating back to his time as a player from 1994-96. Pope was teammates and roommates with Jeff Sheppard, the father of current Kentucky star Reed Sheppard. The younger Sheppard has yet to decide whether to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft or return to Kentucky for his sophomore season. “It’s a good question,” Jeff Sheppard told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Friday. “You know, Mark has been a friend for a long time. I don’t know. Last night was a late night, and I haven’t really gotten to talk to Reed much about that. He’s trying to go through a process of gathering information to really see truly where he is. There’s obviously all kinds of talk.” Sheppard ranks as the No. 5 prospect on CBS Sports’ NBA Draft prospect rankings. Sheppard was named CBS Sports Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 steals. Here are a few pros and cons of Sheppard returning to Kentucky for another season. Pro: Strong connection with Pope It’s no secret that the Sheppard family has deep ties to the new Kentucky coach. The older Sheppard and Pope were key members of Kentucky’s 1996 national championship team and have stayed in touch. In fact, the Jeff Sheppard told The Athletic that he’s already spoken with his former teammate as Reed mulls his future. “We’re open for everything,” Jeff Sheppard said. “Mark and I have had some conversations already, and Reed is still in the process of making that decision. There’s considerable interest right now from the NBA, so we have to listen to that. There’s also considerable interest from the fans at Kentucky, so that makes it hard. That makes it very difficult.” That connection could be a key factor in Sheppard’s pending decision. Con: His draft stock is already high The saying “take the money or leave it” could be applied here. If Sheppard declares for the draft, he’s almost guaranteed to be at least a lottery pick. In CBS Sports’ latest mock drafts, Kyle Boone and David Cobb have Sheppard going No. 4, and Gary Parrish has him going No. 2. Sheppard has worked his way up from a four-star recruit ranked No. 79 in the 2023 recruiting cycle by 247Sports to one of the most intriguing draft prospects in his class. Sheppard’s draft stock has soared over the last five months, and it could rise even more depending on how he tests at the NBACombine next month. Sheppard was one of the most efficient players in college basketball last season. He should be able to find a role from Day 1 on whatever team drafts him for that reason. Pro: Sheppard would start from Day 1 Despite logging 28.9 minutes per game, Sheppard made only five starts in 33 games. Sheppard played behind a starting backcourt of Antonio Reevesand D.J. Wagner and came off the bench alongside fellow freshman Rob Dillingham. With Reeves out of eligibility and Dillingham heading to the NBA, Sheppard would have a strong chance of sliding into the starting lineup. With an increased role in his second season, Sheppard could soar up draft boards. Another reason for a potential return could stem from Name, Image, and Likeness. Kentucky Sports Radio’s Matt Jones reported that two UK donors pledged at least $4 million into the program to help Pope build the roster. Con: 2025 NBA Draft class is stacked The 2024 NBA Draft is considered one of the weaker draft classes at the top in quite some time. While Sheppard projects a surefire top-10 pick this summer, there’s no guarantee he would hold that spot if he returns for another season. Sheppard will likely increase his overall stock by returning to school, but the 2025 NBA Draft is shaping up to be much stronger at the top. That could ultimately result in Sheppard getting pushed back in the pecking order even if he puts up better numbers in Year 2. The headliner of that future draft class is Duke signee Cooper Flagg – the projected No. 1 overall pick. Other players projected to go in the lottery include Duke signee Khaman Maluach, Rutgers signees Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, Baylor signee V.J. Edgecombe, and Texas signee Tre Johnson.

31 December 2024

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Tennessee made a promise to Boo Carter during his recruitment; Now it’s time for Vols to honor it to keep Boo on Rocky Top The Tennessee Vols are reportedly at risk of losing one of the top young players on their roster. On3’s Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos reported on Friday that true freshman defensive back Boo Carter, a former four-star recruit from Chattanooga, is considering entering the NCAA transfer portal. According to , Carter is having conversations with Tennessee’s staff about seeing time on offense in 2025. Sources tell Wiltfong and I that Carter wants a role in the offense moving forward, no matter where he plays in 2025,” wrote Nakos. Chattanooga Times Free Press sports editor Stephen Hargis offered a similar report on Friday. “Boo wants to remain a Vol, he just wants a chance to play some offense,” noted Carter. This isn’t an unreasonable request by Carter. In fact, Carter told On3 last year that Tennessee told him before he committed that the Vols would use him on offense at some point. “When I had the meeting with them, they told me they were going to use me on both sides of the field,” said Carter in June 2023. “I’m going to be on defense more, but they’ll use me for both.” “Coach (Josh) Heupel wants me to play offense, but since I got an offer as a DB first, he said I’ll play DB but I can learn the plays to get to offense,” added Carter. “He keeps it real, he’s a good coach, and I like how he treats the players. I know I could fit in at that program.” This seems pretty simple. Tennessee told Carter they’d use him on offense. It seems like a no-brainer to commit to giving the dynamic athlete some snaps on the offensive side of the ball. Not only would it fulfill the promise the Vols made to Carter, but it would instantly give Tennessee’s offense an electric playmaker. It was obvious in the Vols’ loss to Ohio State earlier in December that the Vols need more playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Giving Carter some snaps on that side of the ball is an an easy decision. Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava even mentioned in November that he hopes to see Carter on offense soon. “I’ve been seeing Boo Carter making plays since my junior year of high school,” said Iamaleava after Tennessee’s 56-0 win against UTEP. “Played a couple of 7-on-7 tournaments with him, so I know how special he is with the ball in his hands. And, man, hopefully, we get him on offense in a little bit. So we’ll see.” The Vols’ offense needs a spark in 2025. Carter wants to play on offense and he wants to remain a Vol (according to Hargis). If Tennessee doesn’t hang on to Carter, it’ll be a massive misstep by Josh Heupel and his staff.

28 December 2024

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Netflix unveils new docuseries spotlighting Tennessee, SEC football Netflix tweeted Wednesday morning it’s producing a season-long series following the 2024 SEC college football season. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee Football program will be featured in a new documentary series on , according to the school’s athletics communication officer. Netflix tweeted Wednesday morning it’s producing a season-long series following the 2024 SEC college football season. “Over the course of eight 45-minute episodes, viewers will gain unprecedented access to the players and coaches that make their favorite (and rival) teams forces to be reckoned with,” Netflix said in a press release. WBIR Sports saw the Netflix crew at the UTEP and Vanderbilt games filming Nico Iamaleava and his family in the stands. The crew was also at Tuesday’s press conference where Iamaleava spoke to the media. “This behind-the-scenes docuseries will bring all the drama and pageantry of Southeastern Conference Football to a worldwide Netflix audience,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in the Netflix press release.

27 December 2024

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Auburn Tigers Sign No. 1 Wide Receiver in Transfer Portal The Auburn Tigers have picked up a big weapon, signing the nation’s No. 1 transfer portal receiver in former The Auburn Tigers have added another highly-rated player out of the transfer portal, signing former Georgia Tech wide-out Eric Singleton Jr. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore has played in all 24 games throughout his two seasons with Georgia Tech and started 22 of them. Singleton has totaled 104 receptions for 1,468 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the team in receiving yards in 2024 with 754. The Douglasville, Ga. native is a four-star transfer and the No. 1 wide receiver in the transfer portal according to 247Sports. Coming out of high school, Singleton was a three-star recruit who reported offers from Auburn, Michigan State, and Nebraska among others. The addition of Singleton could be beneficial for Auburn as it would help it replace KeAndre Lambert-Smith who led the Tigers in receptions and receiving yards with 50 and 981 respectively, while co-leading in receiving touchdowns with Cam Coleman, each having eight. Lambert-Smith was another top portal receiver, landed by the Tigers ahead of the 2024 season. His addition gave Auburn’s group of talented, young prospects at the position time to develop. Singleton joins former Wake Forest wide receiver Horatio Fields, a four-star transfer, the No. 27 player and the No. 9 wide receiver in the portal according to 247Sports, as the second player Auburn has added at that position via the portal. The Tigers signed three wide receivers, four-star Derick Smith and three-stars Sam Turner and Erick Smith (Derick Smith’s brother). The addition of Singleton gives Auburn its 14th transfer in and has its portal class ranked fourth according to 247Sports behind Texas Tech, LSU and Ole Miss. Click here to read about the 15 players who have announced their intention to transfer from Auburn as well as keep track of the Tigers’ activity in the portal.

24 December 2024

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Ohio State football signs highly touted transfer running back The Ohio State Buckeyes are a program that has developed some of the best of the best at the highest level in football. That’s one reason why they continually get some of the top recruits in the country. Now, with the transfer portal such a big deal in college athletics, they have consistently gone that route, adding players like Seth McLaughlin and Caleb Downs. Add another transfer to the list of players taking the field for Ohio State next season. CJ Donaldson Jr., who played for West Virginia this past season, has signed with the Buckeyes. Donaldson has played the last three seasons with the Mountaineers, spending his freshman season as a tight end before transitioning to running back. Last season, he played in 13 games and ended the year with 734 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, adding in a career-best 104 receiving yards and a score as well. The best Buckeyes incoming freshman at the position is four-star Bo Jackson from Cleveland, so the added depth, especially if Donaldson can be a multi-position athlete, should be welcome.

24 December 2024

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Report: Michigan is battling one other school for Alabama RB Justice Haynes Michigan has received commitments — and signatures — from seven players in the transfer portal. The latest being former Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene who committed to the Wolverines on Monday afternoon. The Wolverines wanted a veteran signal-caller to compete with Bryce Underwood and they got that from the 5-foot-11 Keene who had almost eclipsed 3,000 yards the past two seasons. But Michigan is still searching for more prospects to add to its class from the portal and there is still a big fish out there. Former Alabama running back Justice Haynes, the No. 1 transfer portal running back, has been to Ann Arbor recently for a visit and Michigan is right in the thick of it to land the sophomore. According to a recent report from On3, Haynes is set to decide between Michigan and South Carolina. Haynes played two years with the Crimson Tide and was a co-starter this past season. During his time at Alabama, Haynes rushed for 616 yards and nine touchdowns. With Michigan losing both Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, Michigan will have a new starting duo next season in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines do return freshman Jordan Marshall and sophomore Ben Hall who both figure to have a role next season. But Haynes could find himself a prominent role with Michigan if he chose to come there. During Haynes’ high school recruitment, Ohio State was one of his top choices and the Buckeyes’ running backs coach was Tony Alford who is now with Michigan. That relationship could end up paying dividends if Haynes comes to Ann Arbor.

24 December 2024

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The Tennessee Vols’ main goal in 2024 was to win a national championship. Tennessee took a big step toward achieving that goal by making the 12-team College Football Playoff, but a 25 point loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first round of the playoff ended what the Vols were hoping would be a championship run. The Volunteers were simply overmatched against Ohio State. The Buckeyes had the more talented roster and they handled the bright lights of the playoff better than Tennessee. For all of the talk about coaches, play-calling, roster depth, and preparedness, the loss to Ohio State really came down to those two things — talent and being ready for the moment. Tennessee fans badly want to see the Vols win a national championship. But the truth is that it doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t go from being 3-7 and facing a major NCAA investigation in 2020 to dominating the sport in 2024. It’s going to take some time for Josh Heupel and his players to build Tennessee into a annual championship contender. Programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State — arguably the biggest brands in the sport right now — have consistently been on the playoff stage over the last decade. It’s not new territory for those programs. Tennessee, meanwhile, was on that stage for the first time this past weekend. It was new for UT football. That experience will serve the Vols well moving forward, but this idea that Tennessee was supposed to arrive on the playoff scene and dominate while the program is still rising from the ashes of the Lane Kiffin/Derek Dooley/Butch Jones/Jeremy Pruitt eras just isn’t realistic. The Vols essentially started from scratch in early 2021 when Heupel was hired. Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State, meanwhile, had been consistent winning programs for well over a decade at that point. Tennessee, however, is still catching up. And there’s no shortcut that can make that process faster. The Vols have to continue to string together 10 and 11 win seasons while consistently making the playoff to earn the trust of elite recruits. Because here’s the thing — Tennessee isn’t going to win a national championship until they have one of the top five most talented rosters in the sport. Coaching is obviously important, but the team with the best players usually wins it all. There are only so many schemes and plays that coaches can run. Ultimately, it comes down to 11 versus 11. And the 11 that can execute consistently while creating explosive plays is the team that’s going to win 10 times out of 10. That team is usually the team with more talent. Tennessee can be a national powerhouse. They can win national championships and dominate on the recruiting trail. But it’s going to take Heupel some time to get there. The Vols have to show that they aren’t going to have a sudden drop off. They have to show that they can have sustained success, something that hasn’t happened on Rocky Top since Phillip Fulmer was roaming the sidelines. Heupel is off to a nice start — 30 wins in the last three seasons is impressive — but Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State (among others) still have more proven track records that can be sold to recruits. I know we live in an on-demand world and fans can be inpatient. But the process of building a program — even in the transfer portal era — doesn’t include shortcuts. Tennessee has to keep stacking solid seasons while making small gains on the recruiting trail. If the Vols stay the course, and if the fan base remains positive, Tennessee can get to the top of the mountain. But the fans have to stay positive and trust the process. Otherwise, opposing programs will use the negativity of the Vols fan base to sway recruits away from Tennessee. Remember, only two active coaches (Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney) have national championships on their resumé. Winning a natty in college football is one of the hardest things to accomplish in sports. Give Heupel some time, he’ll get there if Vols fans will let him.

24 December 2024

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Alabama QB signee Keelon Russell named Maxwell National High School Player of the Year Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide coaching staff are still getting their footing on the SEC field, but they have figured it out on the recruiting trail. DeBoer earned his first marquee commit last Winter in phenom five-star WR Ryan Williams, who was sensational as a freshman this past season. Five-star QB Keelon Russell out of Duncanville, TX, is the next big name up for the Tide. Russell was initially a four-star SMU commit, but after committing to Alabama and a remarkable senior season, he has catapulted up to being the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. As a senior, Russell completed 69.4% of his passes for 4,177 yards and 55 TDs to just 4 INTs in the highest level of Texas football. Russell was recognized as the Gatorade National Player of the Year earlier in the week, but the accolades didn’t stop there, as he was also named the Maxwell National High School Player of the Year on Friday. It seems more likely than not that Jalen Milroe will be headed to the NFL after the season, leaving the Tide with a loaded QB room of Russell, Ty Simpson and Austin Mack. However, your guess is as good as mine as to who will be QB1 when the Tide open up their 2025 season at .

23 December 2024

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LSU Tigers dominate Week 16 of the NFL Season: Jefferson, Thomas, Chase, go off All season long, the LSU Tigers in the NFL have been putting up dominant performances as every week 5-6 Tigers are putting up incredible numbers. This weekend truly felt like the best weekend yet from the LSU Tigers in the NFL as everywhere you looked an LSU wide receiver was scoring a touchdown or a Tiger defender was making a massive play. This season, Joe Burrow is playing with an incredible sense of swagger as he puts up MVP Caliber numbers. On Sunday, Burrow opened the scoring for the Bengals making one of the most incredible plays you’ll ever see. Later in the game, Burrow did it once again while being spun around by the Browns defense finding Drew Sample for a first down. Burrow finished the game with 252 yards and 3 touchdowns setting the NFL record for the most consecutive games with 250 or more yards and 3 touchdowns with 7 straight games. Ja’Marr Chase had what has become a typical performance from him catching six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, his 16th touchdown of the season. One of Chase’s career goals was to pass the 1,500 yard mark in a season which he accomplished on Sunday breaking his own franchise record. Fellow LSU Tiger Cade York chipped in for the Bengals making all three extra points and one of two field goal attempts with his make coming from 59 yards. � While the Giants haven’t had many plays to cheer for this season, Cor’Dale Flott gave the fans one on Sunday intercepting a pass juggled by Kyle Pitts to keep the Falcons out of the endzone. Malik Nabers continues his impressive rookie campaign adding 68 yards on 7 catches setting the Giants Rookie Receptions record surpassing Odell Beckham Jr. Malik Nabers remains a huge bright spot for the Giants this season As the Commanders look to stay in the Playoff picture, they got a massive performance from Jayden Daniels. The Commanders turned the ball over five times including two picks by Daniels but, his game winning touchdown helped the Commanders draw closer to clinching a playoff birth. This season, Daniels has four passing touchdowns in the final 30 seconds of a game the most by any rookie. Daniels finished the game 24 of 39 passing for 258 yards, 5 touchdowns, and two interceptions rushing for another 81 yards. The only receivers with an argument as the NFL’s best wide receiver are Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. After seeing what Ja’Marr Chase did earlier in the day, Justin Jefferson answered with 10 catches for 144 yards and a pair of touchdowns including the game winner. No matter who the Seahawks put on Jefferson and if they gave him help it didn’t matter because Jefferson was coming down with the ball.

23 December 2024

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